| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07932738B1 |
Method and apparatus for reading a programmable anti-fuse element in a high-voltage integrated circuit
In a method for reading a programmable anti-fuse block of a high-voltage integrated circuit a first voltage is applied to a first pin of the HVIC, the first voltage being lowered to a second voltage at a first node. Current is shunted from the first node, thereby lowering the second voltage to a third voltage. An isolation circuit block is then activated to couple the third voltage to a common node of the programmable anti-fuse block, the common node being coupled to a plurality of anti-fuses, each anti-fuse having a programmed state. A read signal is generated that causes a voltage potential representative of the programmed state of each anti-fuse to be latched into a corresponding latch element. |
| US07932737B2 |
Prober for testing devices in a repeat structure on a substrate
A prober for testing devices in a repeat structure on a substrate is provided with a probe holder plate, probe holders mounted on the plate, and a test probe associated with each holder. Each test probe is displaceable via a manipulator connected to a probe holder, and a substrate carrier fixedly supports the substrate. Testing of devices, which are situated in a repeat structure on a substrate, in sequence without a substrate movement and avoiding individual manipulation of the test probes in relation to the contact islands on the devices, is achieved in that the probe holders are fastened on a shared probe holder plate and the probe holder plate is moved in relation to the test substrate. |
| US07932734B2 |
Individually heating storage devices in a testing system
A storage device transporter is provided for transporting a storage device and for mounting a storage device within a test slot. The storage device transporter includes a frame that is configured to receive and support a storage device. The storage device transporter also includes a conductive heating assembly that is associated with the frame. The conductive heating assembly is arranged to heat a storage device supported by the frame by way of thermal conduction. |
| US07932733B2 |
Apparatus for detecting defect by examining electric characteristics of a semiconductor device
An exemplary apparatus for detecting defect is capable of measuring temperature characteristics of a semiconductor sample without restrictions in the movement range of a sample stage and a probe device by a temperature control device. A heater heats a sample stage, and the sample stage is cooled by a refrigerant contained in a refrigerant container through a heat transfer line connected to the sample stage, a first heat receiving portion connected to the heat transfer line, a second heat receiving portion that is detachable from the heat receiving portion, a heat transfer line connected to the heat receiving portion, and a heat transfer rod connected to the heat transfer line, thereby adjusting the temperature of a semiconductor sample held by the sample stage. The heat receiving portions are separated from each other to release the restriction of the sample stage and a probe device such that the sample stage and the, probe device can be moved in a sample chamber. |
| US07932731B2 |
Device and method for testing a noise immunity characteristic of analog circuits
A device for testing noise immunity of a circuit includes: an analog circuit, an internal stable reference signal source, an internal power supply module to receive a high level voltage supply, and a signal modulator to provide a noisy signal to the power supply module. The power supply module outputs a noisy power supply to the circuit, in response to the noisy signal, and the device outputs a signal representative of a noise immunity of the circuit. A method includes: providing a high level supply voltage to an internal power supply module, receiving signals representative of the performance of an analog circuit, providing a noisy signal to an input of the power supply module, providing a noisy supply voltage to the circuit, by the power supply module, in response to the noisy signal, and evaluating a noise immunity characteristic of the circuit in response to the received signals. |
| US07932726B1 |
Method of design optimization and monitoring the clean/rinse/dry processes of patterned wafers using an electro-chemical residue sensor (ECRS)
A method of improving the clean, rinse and dry processes during the manufacture of ICs, MEMS and other micro-devices to conserve solution and energy while completing the process within a specified time. An electro-chemical residue sensor (ECRS) provides in-situ and real-time measurement of residual contamination on a surface or inside void micro features within the sensor representative of conditions on production wafers. The measured impedance can be used to determine what process variables and specifically how process conditions affect the rate of change of the measured impedance. The in-situ measurements are used to design and optimize a production process and/or to monitor the production run in real-time to control the process conditions and transfer of a patterned wafer through the processes. |
| US07932722B2 |
Transversely folded gradient coil
A gradient coil comprising: a pair of gradient coil units disposed so as to enclose a gradient axis, each gradient coil unit including: a gradient coil substrate with a primary coil section, a shield coil section, and first and second return path sections, the primary coil section disposed between the gradient axis and the shield coil section, the primary coil section configured to produce a magnetic gradient field at the gradient axis when conducting an electrical current; the first return path section foldably connected between the primary coil section and the shield coil section, and the second return path section foldably connected between the shield coil section and the primary coil section such that the gradient coil substrate forms a cylindrical surface having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the gradient axis; and a plurality of substantially parallel conductive paths disposed across the cylindrical surface in a direction transverse to the gradient axis. |
| US07932721B2 |
Inductive decoupling of a RF coil array
An apparatus for imaging includes: a radio frequency (RF) coil array having a first RF coil and at least one additional RF coil, where the RF coil array is adapted to generate an image signal; a preamplifier having an input impedance, where the preamplifier is adapted to receive the image signal from the first RF coil; and a transformer to couple the first RF coil to the preamplifier, where impedance of the transformer is adapted to match the input impedance of the preamplifier. |
| US07932718B1 |
System and method using magnetic anomaly field magnitudes for detection, localization, classification and tracking of magnetic objects
A magnetic anomaly sensing system and method uses at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of the TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. The TM sensors are arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another. The three-dimensional array defines a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. Information sensed by the TM sensors is to generate scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of the TM sensors, comparisons of the scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value, distance to a source of the magnetic anomaly field using the scalar magnitudes when the threshold value(s) is exceeded, and a magnetic dipole moment of the source using the distance. |
| US07932717B2 |
Test components fabricated with pseudo sensors used for determining the resistance of an MR sensor
Test methods and components are disclosed for testing resistances of magnetoresistance (MR) sensors in read elements. Test components are fabricated on a wafer with a first test lead, a pseudo sensor, and a second test lead. The test leads and MR sensor are fabricated with similar processes as first shields, MR sensors, and second shields of read elements on the wafer. However, the pseudo sensor in the test component is fabricated with lead material (or another material having similar resistance properties) instead of an MR thin-film structure like an MR sensor. Forming the pseudo sensor from lead material causes the resistance of the pseudo sensor to be insignificant compared to the lead resistance. Thus, a resistance measurement of the test component represents the lead resistance of a read element. An accurate resistance measurement of an MR sensor in a read element may then be determined by subtracting the lead resistance. |
| US07932713B2 |
Method and apparatus for amplifying a signal and test device using same
An amplifier circuit is used in a multimeter to amplify signals applied between a pair of test terminals. A voltage applied to one of the test terminals is amplified by a first operational amplifier configured as a voltage follower. An output of the first operational amplifier is applied to an inverting input of a second operational amplifier configured as an integrator. An output of the second operational amplifier is connected to the other of the test terminals. A voltage generated at the output of the second operational amplifier provides an indication of the magnitude and polarity of the voltage applied to the first and second test terminals. |
| US07932709B1 |
Stable high efficiency step-up voltage regulator with fast transient response and ultra low output voltage ripple
A regulator circuit and a method of generating a stable, low-ripple output, step-up or step-down voltage are disclosed. A low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) output capacitor is employed to provide low output voltage ripple. A voltage, −VESRi, is generated using information based on an input voltage and the output voltage. −VESRi is coupled onto an intermediate reference voltage generated by an integrator based on the output voltage and a constant reference voltage, to form another voltage, VREFi. VREFi is coupled to an input of a feedback comparator, instead of a plain constant reference voltage, to modulate the duty cycle of a main switch. The output voltage is inputted as a feedback signal to another input of the feedback comparator. −VESRi, is generated using information based on an input voltage and the output voltage in such a way that output voltage is stable without sub-harmonic oscillation. |
| US07932706B2 |
Single input dual output voltage power supply and method therefor
In one embodiment, a power supply controller is configured to form both positive and negative supply voltages from a single input voltage so the maximum differential voltage across a load that uses the positive and negative supply voltages is no greater than the maximum value of the input voltage. |
| US07932704B1 |
System and method of providing control pulses to control operation of a converter with high frequency repetitive load transients
A modulator for providing control pulses on a pulse control signal for controlling operation of a DC-DC converter is disclosed which includes a comparator, pulse control logic, a memory circuit and a switch circuit. The comparator compares a timing waveform with a compensation signal and provides a comparison signal with preliminary pulses. The pulse logic circuit receives the comparison signal and provides normal pulses on a normal pulse signal. The pulse logic circuit selects only those preliminary pulses which are provided during a permissible time window of each period of the periodic timing waveform. The memory circuit provides a pulse indication whenever a normal pulse does not occur on the pulse signal during any switching period. The switch circuit selects between the normal pulse signal and the comparison signal based on the pulse indication for providing the control pulses. |
| US07932703B2 |
System and method for switch mode power supply delay compensation
A delay applied to a turn-on time for a high side switch in a switch mode power converter prevents oscillation between continuous and discontinuous conduction modes under light load conditions. The delay equalizes turn-on time for a high side switch with respect to continuous and discontinuous modes, so that turn-on time is not treated differently between the different modes. The delay value can be set for be equivalent to a propagation delay through a driver for a low side switch, in addition to a turn-off time for the low side switch. The addition of the delay element tends to maintain the switch mode power converter in a discontinuous mode under light load conditions and avoids oscillation between discontinuous and continuous conduction modes. |
| US07932702B1 |
Method and apparatus for charging a battery to an enhanced capacity
A lithium-ion battery (126) is normally charged using a constant current/constant voltage charge regime (206, 210), where the battery is charged to a preselected normal voltage level (210) whereupon the voltage is maintained at the limit while the charging current diminishes. The battery charge capacity can be selectively increased by charging the battery to an enhanced voltage level (212). The enhanced charging mode is selected by a user via a device user interface (112), or alternatively by a broadcast command (304) transmitted to the device. |
| US07932686B2 |
Drive device, hybrid vehicle equipped with the drive device, and control method for drive device
A drive device having at least one electric motor that inputs and outputs motive power includes: a plurality of capacitors; a plurality of relays for capacitors that connects and disconnects the motor and the capacitors; and a relay control device that controls the relays for capacitors. The relay control device controls the plurality of relays for capacitors so that during a system start-up, a part of the plurality of relays for capacitors are connected, that is, a partially-on-state is established, after a first predetermined condition is satisfied during the partially-on-state, the part of relays for capacitors are disconnected and a remaining part of the plurality of relays for capacitors are connected, and after a second predetermined condition is satisfied during the remainder-on-state, all the plurality of relays for capacitors are connected. |
| US07932681B2 |
LED lighting device and LCD device using the same
A lighting device includes at least two lines connected in parallel, a constant current source for applying a constant current to at least one of the at least two lines, an ON/OFF controller, and a voltage detector for measuring a value of voltage flowing in each line of the at least two lines. Each line of the at least two lines is formed by one or more light-emitting diodes and a switch for turning ON/OFF the current flowing in the light-emitting diodes connected in series, and according to the voltage value of each line of the at least two lines measured by the voltage detector, the ON/OFF controller controls the duty ratio of the one or more light-emitting diodes of each line in accordance with the voltage measured. |
| US07932679B2 |
Method of forming an LED system
In one embodiment, an LED system is controlled to have a substantially unity power factor. |
| US07932677B2 |
Lamp, light-emitting device, and projector
A lamp includes a light emitter enclosing a material emitting light upon receiving irradiation of microwave, and a coil formed on an outer side of the light emitter. In the lamp, a position of the coil with respect to the light emitter is changed in response to a temperature. |
| US07932676B2 |
Plasma display panel
The present invention provides a plasma display panel (PDP) with a protective film improved so as to achieve a lower discharge starting voltage. A surface portion of the protective film 16 substantially is composed of magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O). The protective film 16 is formed so that in the surface portion of the protective film 16, a ratio of the number of atoms of the aluminum to a total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 2.1% but not more than 66.5%, a ratio of the number of atoms of the nitrogen to a total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen is at least 1.2% but not more than 17.2%, and a ratio of the total of the number of atoms of the nitrogen and the number of atoms of the oxygen to the total of the number of atoms of the magnesium and the number of atoms of the aluminum is at least 1.0 but not more than 1.35. |
| US07932675B2 |
Plasma display panel
There is provided a plasma display panel including: a front plate having display electrodes, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer formed on a glass substrate; and a rear plate that has electrodes, barrier ribs, and a phosphor layer formed on a substrate and is disposed opposite to the front plate. Peripheries of the front plate and the rear plate are sealed to form a discharge space, the display electrodes contains at least silver, the dielectric layer is configured to include a first dielectric layer that covers the display electrodes and second dielectric layer that covers the first dielectric layer and contains bismuth oxide, the thickness of the first dielectric layer is equal to or larger than 5 μm and equal to or smaller than 13 μm, and the ratio of the thickness of the first dielectric layer to the thickness of the display electrodes is larger than 1 and equal to or smaller than 3. |
| US07932674B1 |
Plasma-dome article of manufacture
A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) comprising a substrate and a multiplicity of hollow Plasma-domes filled with an ionizable gas having a flat side and an opposing domed side. One or more other sides or edges may also be flat. Two or more electrodes are in electrical contact with each Plasma-dome. A flat or domed side of the Plasma-dome is in contact with the PDP substrate and each electrode is in electrical contact with a flat or domed side of the Plasma-dome. The organic and/or inorganic luminescent material is located on an exterior and/or interior surface of the Plasma-dome and/or incorporated into the shell of the Plasma-dome. Up-conversion and down-conversion materials may be used. The substrate is rigid or flexible with a flat, curved, or irregular surface. |
| US07932671B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic electroluminescent display (OELD) device includes first substrate; a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines crossing each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; a power line parallel to and separated from the gate lines; switching and driving elements connected to each other in each of the plurality of pixel regions on the first substrate; a first electrode on the first substrate and connected to one of the driving element; an injection layer on the first electrode; an organic luminescent layer on the injection layer; a second electrode of a transparent conductive material on the organic luminescent layer; and a second substrate attached to and facing the first substrate. |
| US07932670B2 |
Organic electro-luminescence display device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an organic electro-luminescence display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic electro-luminescence display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including an organic electro-luminescence diode, and a sealant interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to seal the organic electro-luminescence diode from outside and attach the first substrate to the second substrate. Herein, the sealant is formed of a frit glass. |
| US07932668B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device and method of manufacturing organic electroluminescence device
An organic electroluminescence device includes a pair of electrodes; a hole injection layer and a luminescent layer disposed between the pair of electrodes; and a mixing-preventing layer disposed between the hole injection layer and the luminescent layer and preventing mixing of the material constituting the hole injection layer and the material constituting the luminescent layer. |
| US07932667B2 |
Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides an organic light-emitting element where a lower electrode, an organic compound layer and an upper electrode are laminated on a substrate, wherein the upper electrode of the organic EL element is formed by a laminate of at least a conductive first inorganic film, a conductive organic film and a conductive second inorganic film, in order to suppress the occurrence of dark spot, so that the occurrence of pinholes in the upper electrode leading to dark spots is suppressed. Here, pinholes refer to holes in the upper electrode that penetrate upper electrode from the organic compound layer underneath to the atmosphere above. |
| US07932666B2 |
Light-emitting device with fluorescent layer
A light-emitting device is provided, which includes a supporting member, a light-emitting element disposed on the supporting member to emit a light, and a fluorescent layer formed on the light-emitting element and having a thickness ranging from 80 to 240 μm, the fluorescent layer containing a light-transmitting member and a fluorescent substance having a particle diameter ranging from 20 to 45 μm at a concentration of 40 to 60 wt %. |
| US07932664B2 |
Flexural vibration piece
A resonator includes a base portion and a vibration arm. The vibration arm has first and second main faces opposite each other, the main faces have first and second grooves, the first groove has a plurality of first groove portions which are divided in the longitudinal direction of the vibration arm and arranged to be alternately shifted on both sides with respect to the longitudinal center line of the vibration arm, the second groove has a plurality of second groove portions arranged similar to the first groove portions on an opposite side to the first groove portions with respect to the longitudinal center line. A voltage is applied to excitation electrodes provided at the first and second grooves and second excitation electrodes provided on both side faces of the vibration arm, such that the vibration arm flexural-vibrates in the in-plane direction of the first or second main face. |
| US07932663B2 |
Piezoelectric transformer with pinwheel type electrode
Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric transformer having a pinwheel-type electrode. The piezoelectric transformer of the present invention includes a body, an upper electrodes and a lower electrode. The body is formed in a circular planar shape and is made of a piezoelectric material. The upper electrodes are formed to be adjacent to one of first and second planes corresponding to upper and lower surfaces of the body, formed in the same planar shape as that of the body, and formed to be separated in the shape of a pinwheel. In the upper electrodes, input voltage is applied to some of separate electrodes, and output voltage is obtained from the remaining electrodes. The lower electrode is adjacent to a plane opposite the plane on which the upper electrode is formed, the lower electrode being formed in the same planar shape as that of the body. |
| US07932660B2 |
Ultrasonic motor
An ultrasonic motor has a cylindrical rotor for performing a mechanical output, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each having two points in internal contact with the rotor, and a preload mechanism for pressing the ultrasonic vibrators from an inside toward an outside of the rotor, and the ultrasonic vibrators are provided to be rotatable relative to the preload mechanism. With this configuration, an internal contact type ultrasonic motor capable of performing efficient drive by using a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators each in contact with a cylindrical rotor at two points and allowing contact at all contact points without requiring a high machining accuracy can be provided. |
| US07932658B2 |
Interior permanent magnet motor including rotor with flux barriers
An electric machine includes a stator, and a rotor positioned adjacent the stator and configured to rotate with respect to the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of laminations having an outside diameter and stacked in a stackwise direction. Each lamination includes a plurality of non-linear slots positioned inward of the outside diameter. Each non-linear slot includes an inner portion spaced a first distance from the outside diameter and two end portions disposed a second distance from the outside diameter. The second distance is smaller than the first distance. The rotor also includes a plurality of permanent magnets. Each magnet is disposed in one of the non-linear slots. |
| US07932655B2 |
Magnetic bearing device with an improved vacuum feedthrough
A magnetic bearing device (1) with an improved vacuum-tight electrical feedthrough through its housing (10) is disclosed. The feedthrough (30) comprises a flat connection element (31) such as a rigid or flexible printed circuit board extending through the wall of the housing (10), preferably all the way along an inner circumference of the housing. The connection element is sealed in a gas-tight manner to the housing. The element preferably has a central opening (36) for receiving the rotor shaft. Connections to the bearing units and sensors may be achieved by flat-ribbon cables (51) or flexprints. The sensors are preferably also implemented as printed sensors. Thus a very compact and cost-efficient magnetic bearing device can be obtained. An alternative embodiment uses a connection element on a side wall of the housing as a feedthrough to the bearing components. |
| US07932654B2 |
Motor
A motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the motor includes a stator and a rotor, which is supported by the stator such that the rotor rotates. Here, the rotor includes a rotational axis, which is supported by the stator such that the rotational axis rotates, a rotating body, which rotates together with the rotational axis, and a hub, which has a ring-shaped body and a protruding part. Here, the ring-shaped body is interposed between the rotational axis and the rotating body, and the protruding part extends an outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped body coupled to the rotating body. Thus, the motor can improve the coupling strength between the rotational axis and the rotating body, securing the rotating rotor's stability. |
| US07932653B2 |
Electric motor endshield having variable bearing arrangement
An electric motor assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having a shaft disposed within a motor case. The motor case includes an endshield with a centrally disposed bearing-receiving core that is configured to receive any one of a plurality of bearing assemblies, including at least a ball bearing and a self-aligning bearing, for rotatably supporting the shaft. The core includes a bearing assembly engagement surface with a generally cylindrical first portion and a generally frustoconical second portion, such that any of the selected bearings received therein directly contacts and engages the first surface portion or the second surface portion. |
| US07932650B2 |
Motor stator and molded motor
A motor stator is disclosed. Each of a first phase, second phase and third phase of three-phase winding has multiple toroidal coils and crossover wires connecting the coils. The crossover wire of the first phase runs inside the second phase coil and the third phase coil. The crossover wire of the second phase runs over the first phase coil with a guide by guide posts and runs inside the third phase coil. The crossover wire of the third phase runs over the first phase coil and the second phase coil with a guide by the guide posts. |
| US07932648B2 |
Lens driving motor and elastic member of the same
Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. |
| US07932646B2 |
Exposure apparatus with a stage, driving unit,and force applying unit having a separate magnetic shield
A device includes a stage, a force applying unit configured to apply a magnetically repulsive force to the stage, the force applying unit including a first magnet provided at the stage, and a second magnet provided at an end of a movement stroke of the stage so as to face the first magnet, a driving unit configured to drive the stage within the movement stroke, a magnetic-flux reinforcement unit configured to reinforce magnetic flux of the second magnet, and a magnetic shield configured to shield the magnetic flux of the second magnet. |
| US07932644B2 |
Safety switch
A safety switch configured to determine whether a magnetically operated switch which forms part of the safety switch has been welded closed. The safety switch is configured to establish a first magnetic field in the vicinity of the magnetically operated switch. The magnetic field is arranged to move the magnetically operated switch from a first configuration to a second configuration. The safety switch monitors the state of the magnetically operated switch to determine if the magnetically operated switch has been moved by the first magnetic field, thereby determining if the magnetically operated switch has been welded closed. |
| US07932640B2 |
High voltage power supply
A high voltage power supply (HVPS) including first and second high voltage output controllers controlling output of a high voltage output signal; and a plurality of transformers transforming an output signal provided from the first and second high voltage output controller, disposed outside of the first and second high voltage controllers on the substrate, wherein output terminals in the secondary sides of the plurality of transformers are disposed along the edge of the substrate. Therefore, the volume of a system can be minimized by arranging circuits in each component for high voltage output in parallel, and spark and discharge can be reduced by minimizing interference between the primary sides and the secondary sides of the components for high voltage output, thereby preventing damage to a product. |
| US07932634B2 |
Fuel cell hybrid power supply
A hybrid power supply includes a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from a fuel cell and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, set to provide a fixed output voltage that is less than the full charge voltage of the rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply includes a circuit including a fuel cell current control that senses fuel cell current, and controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel cell side of the hybrid power supply. |
| US07932633B2 |
Apparatus for transferring energy using power electronics and machine inductance and method of manufacturing same
A traction inverter circuit includes a first energy storage device configured to output a DC voltage, a first bi-directional DC-to-AC voltage inverter coupled to the first energy storage device, and a first electromechanical device. The first electromechanical device includes a first plurality of conductors coupled to the first bi-directional DC-to-AC voltage inverter, a second plurality of conductors coupled together, and a plurality of windings coupled between the first plurality of conductors and the second plurality of conductors. The traction converter circuit also includes a charge bus comprising a first conductor coupled to the second plurality of conductors of the first electromechanical device, the charge bus configured to transmit a charging current to or receive a charging current from the first electromechanical device to charge the first energy storage device via the first electromechanical device and the first bi-directional DC-to-AC voltage inverter. |
| US07932628B2 |
Control device with terminal 15—holding circuit
A terminal state of a terminal 15 of a vehicle is enabled to be maintained for a minimum period of time even after a drop in the voltage supply. At the same time other loads are to have no effect on the holding time. A control device for controls access to a vehicle and has a voltage source, a voltage supply terminal to which a supply voltage can be applied, and a holding circuit to which the voltage source and the voltage supply terminal are connected in a common circuit point for the purpose of holding an On state for as long as the voltage at the voltage source does not fall below a predetermined value. A switching element that is connected into the circuit between the voltage supply terminal and the common circuit point serves to separate the common circuit point from the supply voltage. The holding time is thus decoupled from the VCC currents drawn by other loads. |
| US07932625B2 |
Ground-level power supply circuit, especially for a tramway
The ground-level power supply circuit includes two running ways each having a power supply track which includes a series of conducting track segments separated by insulated joints, and a power supply line. The power supply line is common to the two power supply tracks, and the power supply circuit includes switching devices for independently and selectively connecting the power supply track segments to the common power supply line. |
| US07932624B2 |
Semiconductor module, and hybrid vehicle drive device including the same
A bus bar constitutes a power line and another bus bar constitutes an earth line. The bus bars are layered in the normal direction of an insulating substrate via an insulating member. Here, the bus bar positioned at the upper side is formed by a metal member and the bus bar positioned at the lower side is formed by a wiring layer formed on the insulating substrate. Since one of the bus bars is the wiring layer fixed to the insulating substrate, it is possible to assure heat radiation of the bus bar. Thus, it is possible to make the bus bar a wiring layer having a comparatively small cross sectional area and reduce the semiconductor module size in the normal direction. By mounting the semiconductor module on the drive device for a hybrid vehicle, it is possible to reduce the vertical-direction size when mounted on the vehicle and lower the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to improve the running stability. |
| US07932623B2 |
Method and system for driving a vehicle trailer tow connector
In a method for driving electronic devices connected to a vehicle trailer tow connector a trailer electronic device control signal is receiving from a vehicle data communication network. In response to the received control signal, a solid state power control device is switched to connect electrical power to a selected pin of the trailer tow connector. The trailer electronic device control signal may be received from a wiring harness connector connected to a vehicle data communication network. A vehicle trailer tow connector module includes a module housing. A vehicle wiring connector and a trailer wiring connector are coupled to the module housing. A power control circuit is connected to a selected pin in the trailer wiring connector. A controller circuit is coupled to the vehicle wiring connector for receiving communication data from a vehicle data bus, and coupled by control lines to the power control circuit. |
| US07932621B1 |
Method and apparatus for an integrated wind-solar energy system utilizing an existing wind turbine infrastructure
The present invention provides a process and apparatus for an integrated wind-solar energy system utilizing an existing wind turbine infrastructure. This invention utilizes unused vertical space of an existing wind turbine steel support tower, and does not use the restricted ground around the wind turbine farm. Additionally, this invention uses the same electrical infrastructure as used for the wind turbine system. This invention provides a significant cost savings over other approaches. The present invention relates to a wind turbine support tower mounted solar system to increase the net electrical output using the existing wind turbine electrical circuits and transmission grid connection. The wind turbine energy support tower mounted solar array, pointed due South, provides about 25 KW of electrical energy per tower either as a Direct Current (DC) feed, or through an Alternate Current (AC) feed matching the wind turbine generator output needs, or directly to the wind turbine tower step-up transformer. |
| US07932614B2 |
Method of thinning a semiconductor substrate
A C4 grind tape and a laser-ablative adhesive layer are formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. A carrier substrate is thereafter attached to the laser-ablative adhesive layer. The back side of the semiconductor substrate is thinned by polishing or grinding, during which the carrier substrate provides mechanical support to enable thinning of the semiconductor substrate to a thickness of about 25 μm. A film frame tape is attached to the back side of the thinned semiconductor substrate and the laser-ablative adhesive layer is ablated by laser, thereby dissociating the carrier substrate from the back side of the C4 grind tape. The assembly of the film frame tape, the thinned semiconductor substrate, and the C4 grind tape is diced. The C4 grind tape is irradiated by ultraviolet light to become less adhesive, and is subsequently removed. |
| US07932612B2 |
Electronic component and semiconductor device, method of fabricating the same, circuit board mounted with the same, and electronic appliance comprising the circuit board
An integrated type semiconductor device that is capable of reducing cost or improving the reliability of connecting semiconductor chips together or chips to a circuit board. One embodiment of such an integrated type semiconductor device comprises a first semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip with electrodes, a stress-relieving layer prepared on the semiconductor chip, a wire formed across the electrodes and the stress-relieving layer, and solder balls formed on the wire over the stress-relieving layer; and a bare chip as a second semiconductor device to be electrically connected to the first semiconductor device. |
| US07932611B2 |
Device for alternately contacting two wafers
A method and device for alternately contacting two wafer-like component composite arrangements, in which the two component composite arrangements, provided with contact metallizations on their opposing contact surfaces, are brought into a coverage position with their contact metallizations to form contact pairs, in which position the contact metallizations to be joined together are pressed against one another, the contact metallizations being contacted by exposing the rear of one of the component composite arrangements to laser radiation, the wavelength of the laser radiation being selected as a function of the degree of absorption of the component composite arrangement , so that a transmission of the laser radiation through the component composite arrangement exposed to the laser radiation at the rear is essentially suppressed or an absorption of the laser radiation takes place essentially in the contact metallizations of one or both component composite arrangements. |
| US07932608B2 |
Through-silicon via formed with a post passivation interconnect structure
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a through-silicon via (TSV) extending into the semiconductor substrate, a pad formed over the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from the TSV, and an interconnect structure formed over the semiconductor substrate and electrically connecting the TSV and the pad. The interconnect structure includes an upper portion formed on the pad and a lower portion adjacent to the pad, and the upper portion extends to electrically connect the TSV. |
| US07932604B2 |
Configuration for multi-layer ball grid array
Disclosed herein is a method and circuit arrangement for a multi-layer ball grid array configuration. In one embodiment, there is presented a board comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of vias. The second surface is connected to the first surface. The plurality of vias are positioned to form a substantially straight line on the first surface. The plurality of vias comprises a first via and a second via. The first via is adjacent to the second via. The first via emerges on the second surface on one side of the substantially straight line. The second via emerges on another side of the substantially straight line. |
| US07932603B2 |
Chip structure and process for forming the same
A chip structure comprises a substrate, a first built-up layer, a passivation layer and a second built-up layer. The substrate includes many electric devices placed on a surface of the substrate. The first built-up layer is located on the substrate. The first built-up layer is provided with a first dielectric body and a first interconnection scheme, wherein the first interconnection scheme interlaces inside the first dielectric body and is electrically connected to the electric devices. The first interconnection scheme is constructed from first metal layers and plugs, wherein the neighboring first metal layers are electrically connected through the plugs. The passivation layer is disposed on the first built-up layer and is provided with openings exposing the first interconnection scheme. The second built-up layer is formed on the passivation layer. The second built-up layer is provided with a second dielectric body and a second interconnection scheme, wherein the second interconnection scheme interlaces inside the second dielectric body and is electrically connected to the first interconnection scheme. The second interconnection scheme is constructed from at least one second metal layer and at least one via metal filler, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected to the via metal filler. The thickness, width, and cross-sectional area of the traces of the second metal layer are respectively larger than those of the first metal layers. |
| US07932600B2 |
Electrical connecting structure and bonding structure
An electrical connecting structure including a conductive pad, a polymer bump and a patterned conductive layer is provided. The conductive pad is on a substrate and the polymer bump is disposed over the substrate. The patterned conductive layer is disposed on the polymer bump and electrically connects to the conductive pad, wherein the patterned conductive layer covers a portion of the polymer bump and exposes another portion of the polymer bump. |
| US07932592B2 |
Compound and organic light-emitting element
A novel organic compound and a high-performance organic light-emitting element containing the same. The organic light-emitting element contains a novel compound represented by general formula (1): |
| US07932591B2 |
Stacked semiconductor package having flexible circuit board therein
The present invention relates to a stacked semiconductor package having flexible circuit board therein. The semiconductor package comprises a substrate and a chip assembly. The chip assembly comprises at least a first chip, a second chip and a flexible circuit board. The second chip is disposed above the first chip, and is electrically connected to the first chip by the flexible circuit board. The chip assembly is electrically connected to the substrate. As a result, the interposer of prior art is omitted, the overall thickness of the stacked semiconductor package of the present invention is reduced, and the manufacturing procedure is simplified. |
| US07932590B2 |
Stacked-die electronics package with planar and three-dimensional inductor elements
An apparatus and a method for producing three-dimensional integrated circuit packages. In one embodiment, an electronics package with at least two dice are stacked one atop another is disclosed. A top die is of smaller size compared with a bottom die such that after a die attach operation, wire-bond pads of the bottom die will be exposed for a subsequent wire bonding operation. The bottom die contains contact pads on the front side that couple with one or more passive components fabricated on the back side of the top die to complete the circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, a method to form one or more three-dimensional passive components in a stacked-die package is disclosed wherein partial inductor elements are fabricated on the front side of the bottom die and the back side of the top die. The top and bottom elements are coupled together completing the passive component. |
| US07932589B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device capable of wireless communication, which has high reliability in terms of resistance to external force, in particular, pressing force and can prevent electrostatic discharge in an integrated circuit without preventing reception of an electric wave. The semiconductor device includes an on-chip antenna connected to the integrated circuit and a booster antenna which transmits a signal or power included in a received electric wave to the on-chip antenna without contact. In the semiconductor device, the integrated circuit and the on-chip antenna are interposed between a pair of structure bodies formed by impregnating a fiber body with a resin. One of the structure bodies is provided between the on-chip antenna and the booster antenna. A conductive film having a surface resistance value of approximately 106 to 1014 Ω/cm2 is formed on at least one surface of each structure body. |
| US07932588B2 |
Semiconductor device including a DC-DC converter having a metal plate
The electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device are enhanced. In the package of the semiconductor device, there are encapsulated first and second semiconductor chips with a power MOS-FET formed therein and a third semiconductor chip with a control circuit for controlling their operation formed therein. The bonding pads for source electrode of the first semiconductor chip on the high side are electrically connected to a die pad through a metal plate. The bonding pad for source electrode of the second semiconductor chip on the low side is electrically connected to lead wiring through a metal plate. The metal plate includes a first portion in contact with the bonding pad of the second semiconductor chip, a second portion extended from a short side of the first portion to the lead wiring, and a third portion extended from a long side of the first portion to the lead wiring. |
| US07932586B2 |
Leadframe on heat sink (LOHS) semiconductor packages and fabrication methods thereof
The invention relates to leadframe semiconductor packages mounted on a heat-sink and fabrication thereof. A system in package (SiP) comprises a leadframe having extension leads, configured with divisional heat sinks serving as power and ground nets. A set of semiconductor dies is attached by adhesive on the central region of the lead frame. Pluralities of wire bonds electrically connect the set of semiconductor dies to the leadframe and to the divisional heat sinks respectively. An encapsulation encloses the leadframe, but leaves the extension leads and the divisional heat sink uncovered, exposing a heat dissipating surface. |
| US07932585B2 |
Electrical component and film composite laminated on the component and method for production
At least one film composite is laminated on a surface of at least one electrical component. The film composite includes at least one electrically-conducting plastic film with at least one electrically conducting conductor. The electrically-conducting plastic film has a high-ohmic resistance. This method may be used in planar large-surface electrical contacting technology for the production of modules with power semiconductors, where an electrical contacting of the components is achieved by the plastic films. A low lateral electrical conductivity is achieved, such that an electrical charging of the plastic films required for the contacting technology is prevented on operation of the component or the module. |
| US07932584B2 |
Stacked chip-based system and method
A system has multiple discrete functional system subcomponents which, when interconnected form the system, each of the subcomponents being on a discrete substrate and being electrically interconnected to at least one of the other subcomponents by a through-chip via. A method of creating a system involves creating multiple discrete chips, each including at least one system subcomponent, forming electrically conductive vias in at least some of the chips such that some of the chips can be electrically connected to others of the chips, arranging the chips such that: some are coplanar in a first plane, at least one other lies in a second plane parallel to those in the first plane, and at least one of the chips in the first plane is connected to at least one of the chips in the second plane; and electrically interconnecting corresponding chips of the multiple discrete chips using the vias. |
| US07932581B2 |
Lateral bipolar junction transistor
A lateral bipolar junction transistor includes an emitter region; a base region surrounding the emitter region; a gate disposed at least over a portion of the base region; a collector region surrounding the base region with an offset between an edge of the gate and the collector region; a lightly doped drain region between the edge of the gate and the collector region; a salicide block layer disposed on or over the lightly doped drain region; and a collector salicide formed on at least a portion of the collector region. |
| US07932578B2 |
Semiconductor device having high frequency wiring and dummy metal layer at multilayer wiring structure
A semiconductor device includes, a metal wiring, which functions as an inductor or transformer, formed on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first dummy layers formed in a first density on the first portion of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of second dummy layers formed in a second density on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate, the second portion surrounding the first portion, and a plurality of third dummy layers formed in a third density higher than the first and second densities on a third portion of the semiconductor substrate, the third portion surrounding the second portion. |
| US07932576B2 |
Transparent conductive layer and method of manufacturing the same
A transparent conductive layer includes a substrate, a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate, and a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer comprises a textured surface and an opening which exposes the first conductive layer, wherein the opening comprises a diameter of about 1 micrometer to about 3 micrometers. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the transparent conductive layer and a photoelectric device. |
| US07932571B2 |
Magnetic element having reduced current density
A memory device includes a fixed magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer over the fixed magnetic layer, and a free magnetic structure formed over the tunnel barrier layer, wherein the free magnetic structure has layers or sub-layers that are weakly magnetically coupled. Thus, a low programming voltage can be used to avoid tunnel barrier breakdown, and a small pass transistor can be used to save die real estate. |
| US07932570B1 |
Silicon tab edge mount for a wafer level package
A Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) device having electrical connections (a metallization pattern) available at an edge of the MEMS die. The metallization pattern on the edge of the die allows the die to be mounted on edge with no further packaging, if desired. |
| US07932565B2 |
Integrated circuit structure having bottle-shaped isolation
An integrated circuit structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, a device region positioned in the semiconductor substrate, an insulating region adjacent to the device region, an isolation structure positioned in the insulating region and including a bottle portion and a neck portion filled with a dielectric material, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the device region and the insulation region. |
| US07932564B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a fin type MOSFET having a first gate electrode, and a first gate insulating film for generating Fermi level pinning in the first gate electrode; and a planar type MOSFET having a second gate electrode, and a second gate insulating film for generating no Fermi level pinning in the second gate electrode, or generating Fermi level pinning weaker than that generated in the first gate electrode in the second gate electrode. |
| US07932562B2 |
Gate protection diode for high-frequency power amplifier
A high-frequency power amplifier of the type to be mounted in an RF module for mobile phones having high-frequency power field effect transistors and gate protective diodes which are coupled between the gates and the sources of the high-frequency power field effect transistors. The gate protective diodes have an n type region formed over the main surface of a p type epitaxial layer, a first p type region formed at the center of the main surface of the n type region, a second p type region formed over the main surface of the epitaxial layer around the n type region from the periphery of the main surface of the n type region, and p+ type buried layers for coupling the second p type region to a substrate body. The distance between the end portions of the p+ type buried layers and the n+ type region is 7 μm or more. |
| US07932561B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus is equipped with an internal circuit (201) including a semiconductor element (202)(203) and a protection circuit (101) including a semiconductor (102)(103) for protecting the internal circuit (201) against damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD). The semiconductor elements (102)(103) (202)(203) constituting the internal circuit (201) and the protection circuit (101) include an impurity diffusion region (7)(8) connected by an external terminal and a guard band region (6)(5) formed near the impurity diffusion region (7)(8), respectively. A shortest distance (102L)(103L) between the impurity diffusion region (7)(8) and the guard band region (6)(5) in the semiconductor element (102)(103) of the protection circuit (101) is set to be shorter than a shortest distance (202L)(203L) between the impurity diffusion region (7)(8) and the guard band region (6)(5) in the semiconductor element (202)(203) of the internal circuit (201). |
| US07932559B2 |
Semiconductor device
A super-junction semiconductor substrate is configured in such a manner that an n-type semiconductor layer of a parallel pn structure is opposed to a boundary region between an active area and a peripheral breakdown-resistant structure area. A high-concentration region is formed at the center between p-type semiconductor layers that are located on both sides of the above n-type semiconductor layer. A region where a source electrode is in contact with a channel layer is formed over the n-type semiconductor layer. A portion where the high-concentration region is in contact with the channel layer functions as a diode. The breakdown voltage of the diode is set lower than that of the device. |
| US07932558B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes: an n-type first well diffusion layer; an n-type second well diffusion layer; a p-type source diffusion layer; a p-type third well diffusion layer; a p-type drain diffusion layer; a gate insulating film; a gate electrode; a device isolation insulating film; and a buffer layer. The buffer layer is formed between the first well diffusion layer and the third well diffusion layer to be in contact with an end of the third well diffusion layer opposing the source diffusion layer, and extends from immediately below the gate insulating film to a position deeper than a peak of curvature of impurity concentration distribution of the third well diffusion layer. The buffer layer has an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration in the third well diffusion layer. |
| US07932555B2 |
Transistor structure and method of making the same
A transistor structure includes a gate trench. The gate trench includes a bottle-shape bottom. The bottle-shape bottom includes a first conductive material wider than its top. The top includes a second material in a substrate, a gate structure on the gate trench and electrically connected to the first conductive material, a source/drain doping region adjacent to the gate trench and a gate channel between the source/drain doping region. |
| US07932553B2 |
Semiconductor device including a plurality of cells
A semiconductor device includes an insulated gate transistor and a resistor. The insulated gate transistor includes a plurality of first cells for supplying electric current to a load and a second cell for detecting an electric current that flows in the first cells. A gate terminal of the plurality of first cells is coupled with a gate terminal of the second cell and a source terminal of the plurality of first cells is coupled with a source terminal of the second cell on a lower potential side. The resistor has a first terminal coupled with a drain terminal of the second cell and a second terminal coupled with a drain terminal of the first cells on a higher potential side. A gate voltage of the insulated gate transistor is feedback-controlled based on an electric potential of the resistor. |
| US07932551B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of fabricating the same comprising a dual fin structure
A nonvolatile memory device is provided. In the nonvolatile memory device, a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type includes first and second fins. A common bit line electrode connects one end of the first fin to one end of the second fin. Control gate electrodes cover the first and second fins and expand across the top surface of each of the first and second fins. A first string selection gate electrode positioned between the common bit line electrode and the control gate electrodes may cover the first and second fins and expand across the top surface of each of the first and second fins. A second string selection gate electrode positioned between the first string selection gate electrode and the control gate electrodes may cover the first and second fins and expand across the top surface of each of the first and second fins. |
| US07932549B2 |
Carbon nanotube conductor for trench capacitors
A trench-type storage device includes a trench in a substrate (100), with bundles of carbon nanotubes (202) lining the trench and a trench conductor (300) filling the trench. A trench dielectric (200) may be formed between the carbon nanotubes and the sidewall of the trench. The bundles of carbon nanotubes form an open cylinder structure lining the trench. The device is formed by providing a carbon nanotube catalyst structure on the substrate and patterning the trench in the substrate; the carbon nanotubes are then grown down into the trench to line the trench with the carbon nanotube bundles, after which the trench is filled with the trench conductor. |
| US07932544B2 |
Semiconductor device and associated layouts including linear conductive segments having non-gate extension portions
A restricted layout region in a layout of a semiconductor device is disclosed to include a diffusion level layout including a plurality of diffusion region layout shapes. The plurality of diffusion region layout shapes are defined in a non-symmetrical manner relative to a centerline defined to bisect the diffusion level layout. A gate electrode level layout is defined to include a number of linear-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the number of the linear-shaped layout features within the gate electrode level layout of the restricted layout region is rectangular-shaped. The gate electrode level layout includes linear-shaped layout features defined along at least four different lines of extent in the first parallel direction. Each of a number of interconnect level layouts is defined to pattern conductive features within corresponding interconnect levels above the gate electrode level. |
| US07932539B2 |
Enhancement-mode III-N devices, circuits, and methods
A method of fabricating AlGaN/GaN enhancement-mode heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFET) using fluorine-based plasma immersion or ion implantation. The method includes: 1) generating gate patterns; 2) exposing the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure in the gate region to fluorine-based plasma treatment with photoresist as the treatment mask in a self-aligned manner; 3) depositing the gate metal to the plasma treated AlGaN/GaN heterostructure surface; 4) lifting off the metal except the gate electrode; and 5) high temperature post-gate annealing of the sample. This method can be used to shift the threshold voltage of a HFET toward a more positive value, and ultimately convert a depletion-mode HFET to an enhancement-mode HFET (E-HFET). |
| US07932537B2 |
Process-variation tolerant diode, standard cells including the same, tags and sensors containing the same, and methods for manufacturing the same
Process variation-tolerant diodes and diode-connected thin film transistors (TFTs), printed or patterned structures (e.g., circuitry) containing such diodes and TFTs, methods of making the same, and applications of the same for identification tags and sensors are disclosed. A patterned structure comprising a complementary pair of diodes or diode-connected TFTs in series can stabilize the threshold voltage (Vt) of a diode manufactured using printing or laser writing techniques. The present invention advantageously utilizes the separation between the Vt of an NMOS TFT (Vtn) and the Vt of a PMOS TFT (Vtp) to establish and/or improve stability of a forward voltage drop across a printed or laser-written diode. Further applications of the present invention relate to reference voltage generators, voltage clamp circuits, methods of controlling voltages on related or differential signal transmission lines, and RFID and EAS tags and sensors. |
| US07932535B2 |
Synthetic jet cooling system for LED module
An LED assembly is provided herein. The assembly comprises a thermally conductive housing (201), wherein a portion of said housing is equipped with a plurality of fins (203); an LED (205) disposed in said housing; and a synthetic jet actuator (207) adapted to direct a synthetic jet onto said portion of the housing. |
| US07932534B2 |
High light extraction efficiency solid state light sources
A solid state light source includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and at least one optically active layer on the top surface of the substrate. At least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, the optically active layer or an emission surface on the optically active layer includes a patterned surface that includes a plurality of tilted surface features that have a high elevation portion and a low elevation portion that define a height (h), and wherein the plurality of tilted surface features define a minimum lateral dimension (r). The plurality of tilted surface features provide at least one surface portion that has a surface tilt angle from 3 to 85 degrees. The patterned surface has a surface roughness <10 nm rms, and h/r is ≧0.05. |
| US07932532B2 |
Solid state lighting device with improved heatsink
A solid state lighting device includes a device-scale stamped heatsink with a base portion and multiple segments or sidewalls projecting outward from the base portion, and dissipates all steady state thermal load of a solid state emitter to an ambient air environment. The heatsink is in thermal communication with one or more solid state emitters, and may define a cup-like cavity containing a reflector. At least a portion of each one sidewall portion or segment extends in a direction non-parallel to the base portion. A dielectric layer and at least one electrical trace may be deposited over a metallic sheet to form a composite sheet, and the composite sheet may be processed by stamping and/or progressive die shaping to form a heatsink with integral circuitry. At least some segments of a heatsink may be arranged to structurally support a lens and/or reflector associated with a solid state lighting device. |
| US07932528B2 |
Segmented optic
An optical light guide (30) comprises a base (32); a body (34) extending from the base along a longitudinal axis (36); and N light-emitting segments (38) extending laterally from the body (34), at least some of the N segments (38) being spaced a different distance from the base (32). The light guide (30) is constructed of a light-transmitting material, such as glass or acrylic, and can be clear or colored. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the segments (38) would extend a different distance from the base; however, the exact degree of separation would be dependent upon the curvature of surface with which the optic is to be utilized. |
| US07932520B2 |
Organic light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting device is formed by assembling a first substrate and a second substrate. The second substrate includes several sub-pixels. The first substrate includes several transistors and, for each subpixel, a first connecting electrode. The transistors are electrically connected to each other, and the first connecting electrode is electrically connected to the respective one of the transistors. Each sub-pixel includes a light-emitting region and a non light-emitting region. A second connecting electrode is formed within the non light-emitting region and projects toward the first substrate. The first and second substrates are electrically connected via the connection of the first and second connecting electrodes. |
| US07932512B1 |
Implantation before epitaxial growth for photonic integrated circuits
Fabrication of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) including active elements such as a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and passive elements such as a floating rib waveguide. Selective area doping through ion implantation or thermal diffusion before semiconductor epitaxial growth is used in order to define the contact and lateral current transport layers for each active device, while leaving areas corresponding to the passive devices undoped. InP wafers are used as the substrate which may be selectively doped with silicon. |
| US07932510B2 |
Carbon nanotube grown on catalyst and manufacture method
A method for manufacturing carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: (a) depositing catalytic fine particles containing Al—Fe, Zr—Co or Hf—Co on a base body; and (b) growing carbon nanotubes on the catalytic fine particles deposited on the base body. |
| US07932509B2 |
Phase change memory element
A phase change memory device is disclosed, including a substrate. The phase change memory also includes a bottom electrode. A conductive structure with a cavity is provided to electrically contact the bottom electrode, wherein the conductive structure includes sidewalls with different thicknesses. A phase change spacer is formed to cross the sidewalls with different thicknesses. A top electrode is electrically contacted to the phase change spacer. |
| US07932508B2 |
Multi-value recording phase-change memory device, multi-value recording phase-change channel transistor, and memory cell array
A multi-value recording phase-change memory device that can stably record multi-value information, and that can reproduce information with high reliability, comprises a first electrode layer 26, a second electrode layer 28, and a memory layer 30 provided between the first and second electrode layers 26 and 28 and containing a phase-change material layer formed from a phase-change material which is stable in either an amorphous phase or a crystalline phase at room temperature, wherein the memory layer 30 includes a plurality of mutually isolated sub-memory layers 32, 34, 36, and 38 between the first and second electrode layers 26 and 28. |
| US07932504B2 |
Microscope system and VS image production and program thereof
A whole specimen image generated in the bright view field observation method is displayed, and arbitrary domains are designated. And the fluorescence VS image of each object of interest is generated by acquiring the shape of microscopic image for every small block which is formed by dividing the inside of that object of interest into plurality for every said object of interest, and combining two or more microscopic images generated in the fluorescence observation method. The object of interest is an area where a tumor etc., exist, for example. |
| US07932503B2 |
Method for pre-identification of spectral overlaps within fluorescent dye and detector combinations used in flow cytometry
This invention relates to the field of flow cytometry. It provides methods for identifying important dye-detector spectral overlaps for use in designing flow cytometry experiments. It further provides methods for quantifying the impact of spectral overlaps on dye selection and detector selection, the methods including the steps of: a) obtaining spectra of a dye; b) obtaining a laser configuration and an optical filter configuration of a detector; c) obtaining a spectrum yield value; and d) ranking the spectrum yield value. |
| US07932501B2 |
Particle-beam exposure apparatus and particle-beam therapeutic apparatus
A particle-beam exposure apparatus and a particle-beam therapeutic apparatus are obtained, in which, by reducing diameter increase, due to scattering in a range shifter, of a charged particle beam, the charged particle beam whose diameter is so narrow that spatially accurate exposure into the target is possible can be supplied, as well as, by placing the range shifter at a position apart from a patient, intimidation caused by a movement noise, etc. can be prevented. A particle-beam exposure apparatus and a particle-beam therapeutic apparatus include a range shifter 4 for varying energy of a charged particle beam with a thickness of the range shifter 4 being changed during exposure of the charged particle beam, so that a range of the charged particle beam at a target 5 to be exposed is set to a desired value; and a set of quadrupole magnets 6, being placed between the range shifter 4 and the target 5, based on the magnetization amount of the set of quadrupole magnets 6 being controlled corresponding to the charged-particle-beam energy varied by the range shifter 4, for reducing diameter increase, due to scattering at the range shifter 4, of the charged particle beam at the target 5. |
| US07932498B2 |
Method for generation of SPECT trajectory data from CT data
A method for optimizing the scanning trajectory of a radiation detector device, e.g., a SPECT scanning device, about an object generally includes: obtaining object image data using a different imaging modality, e.g., a CT scanning device, determining a maximum object boundary based on the image data, calculating an optimal scan trajectory of the SPECT scanning device relative to the object based on the maximum object boundary, scanning the object with the SPECT scanning device along the optimal scan trajectory to detect gamma photons emanating from the object, from which an image can be reconstructed from the detected gamma photons. Preferably, the SPECT device includes at least two detectors arranged at a pre-selected angle relative to one another and the optimal scan trajectory minimizes the distance between the detectors and the object while maximizing the geometric efficiency of the detectors relative to the object. |
| US07932495B2 |
Fast wafer inspection system
A charged particle beam device is provided including a particle source emitting a primary particle beam, a secondary particle beam generated by the impingement of the primary particle beam on the sample, a detection unit for detecting the secondary particle beam, the detector having at least two detector channels, and a distribution deflecting device for deflecting the secondary particle beam in a chronological sequence. Further, a detection assembly for a fast wafer inspection system is provided including a distribution deflecting device for distributing a secondary particle beam in a chronological sequence and a detector for detecting the secondary particle beam, the detector having multiple detector channels. Further, a method of operating a particle beam device with chronological resolution is provided. |
| US07932492B2 |
Electrospray device
An electrospray device includes an electrospray emitter adapted to receive electrospray fluid; an extractor plate spaced from the electrospray emitter and having at least one aperature; and a power supply for applying a first voltage between the extractor plate and emitter for generating at least one Taylor cone emission through the aperature to create an electrospray plume from the electrospray fluid, the extractor plate as well as accelerator and shaping plates may include a porous, conductive medium for transporting and storing excess, accumulated electrospray fluid away from the aperature. |
| US07932482B2 |
Diffuser with light emitting diode nightlight
An electrically operated diffuser has a fragrance-emitting element (8) for facilitating diffusion of an active material, and at least one light emitting diode (7). The at least one light emitting diode (7) serves as a nightlight and has a luminous intensity rating of at least about 5000 mcd at 20 mA. Also, the at least one light emitting diode (7) may be positioned at a back surface of the diffuser, such that when an active material is received in the compartment the at least one light emitting diode (7) shines through the active material. The diffuser may include a remote-use assembly to supply power to the diffuser from a wall socket remote from the diffuser. The diffuser may also include a light controller to change one or more of the color and the intensity of the at least one light emitting diode (7). |
| US07932479B2 |
Method for laser cutting tubing using inert gas and a disposable mask
A method for making a device includes providing a tubular member which will be formed into the device, masking at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular member with a removable sacrificial material, selectively removing a portion of the tubular member and sacrificial material using a laser device, and mechanically removing the sacrificial material from the inner surface of the tubular member. The method may also include applying a chemical solution to the tubular member and sacrificial material which primarily attacks the either the tubular member or sacrificial material. |
| US07932477B2 |
Electron beam heating system having carbon nanotubes
An electron beam heating system includes a cathode, an anode, a CNT string and a chamber. The CNT string includes an end portion and an emission portion, and the end portion is contacted with and electrically connected to the cathode. The cathode, the anode and CNT string are arranged in the chamber. The CNT string is composed of a plurality of CNT bundles packed closely, each of the CNT bundles comprises a plurality of CNTs, the CNTs are substantially parallel to each other and are joined by van der Waals attractive force. Electron beams emitted from the emission portion bombard and heat a predetermined point on the anode. The heating efficiency of the electron beam heating system is high. |
| US07932475B2 |
Electric switch
An electric switch with flexible, fork-shaped contactor having an end area with first and second contact points. At least one tension strip and at least one arched section extends from the contactor in such manner that changing the switch from a normal position, in which the first contact point is in contact with a first contact surface, to a switched position, in which the second contact point is in contact with a second contact surface, and vice-versa, takes place by deformation of the tension strip while an angle formed at the transition, between the arched section and the end area of the contactor, remains substantially unchanged. |
| US07932474B2 |
Illuminated dual action switch
An illuminated switch comprising a four-way knob and a push knob, wherein the push knob has two legs which slide along a guide surface on an internal pusher member. Tilt activation of the four-way knob results in the push knob also being tilted. When the user has pushed the push knob while the push knob and the four-way knob are in a tilted position, the push knob in conjunction with the four-way knob linearly move backward in the pushed direction, whereby an internal switch and an external switch are operated. The push knob is illuminated by an internal LED by way of a through hole in the internal pusher member. |
| US07932473B2 |
Actuator with means for determining the position of an activation element
Actuator comprising of a quick release unit and a means for determining the position of an activation element. With the quick release unit it is possible to release the activation element from the actuator's electric motor and the transmission or, at least part of it, to make a rapid adjustment to the activation element without the motor and transmission. The means typically used for determining the position of the activation element comprises of a potentiometer, an optical or magnetic encoder indirectly driven by the motor. By connecting the instrument for position determination (33) to the spindle (2) or the part of the transmission between the quick release and the spindle (2), the position of the activation element remains known regardless of whether it is released or connected, or has been released. |
| US07932470B2 |
Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board group includes a plurality of printed wiring boards wherein a difference (ΔΩ−AB) between an average electric resistance (A-ave.) of wires formed in one printed wiring board (A) and an average electric resistance (B-ave.) of wires formed in a printed wiring board (B) adjacent to the printed wiring board (A) is within a range of ±5% of an average electric resistance (AB-ave.) of the wires of the printed wiring boards (A) and (B); and a difference (ΔΩ−ab) between an electric resistance (a-3) of an outermost wire of the printed wiring board (A) and an electric resistance (b-3) of an outermost wire of the printed wiring board (B) is within a range of ±11.05%, preferably within a range of ±6.12%, and is particularly preferably within a range of ±6.00% of the average electric resistance (AB-ave.) of the printed wiring boards (A) and (B). |
| US07932468B2 |
Insulated electric wire
An insulated electric wire is composed of a conductor, and a lubricating layer containing a lubricant. The lubricating layer is formed around the perimeter of the conductor. The lubricating layer is not less than 0.06 and not more than 0.12 in an absorbance ratio A1/A2 expressed by an absorbance A1 of carbon-hydrogen stretching vibration and an absorbance A2 of benzene ring framework vibration, obtained by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis of a surface of the lubricating layer. |
| US07932466B2 |
Nautilus self pressurizing equipment enclosure
A gasketless waterproof ingress prevention enclosure for electronics wherein the enclosure does not rely on traditional sealing means to restrain water. The enclosure includes a five-sided open bottom air tight cavity comprising a liquid volume fluidly coupled to a gas volume creating a gas-fluid coupling layer, rising in elevation within cavity. Changing cavity pressure equal to rising compressed liquid pressure prevents exposure to said electronic enclosure components to a maximum design depth of 15 feet of water below surface level or a column height of 15 feet of water over the bottom of the enclosure bell bottom, independent of the enclosure's distance below surface grade. The apparatus forms a telescoped and recessed inner chassis assembly in its fully closed position. The prevention enclosure also provides a method for sealing including the steps of gasketless water prevention, electronics mounting, and water damage component protection. |
| US07932461B2 |
Solar collector framework
A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis may have a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a pair of adjacent reflector troughs, each trough having a base, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the solar energy collection system, a frame that is coupled to the support structure near the bases of the troughs to define a closed reflector support truss framework in cooperation with the support structure, wherein the reflector support truss framework is positioned behind the reflector troughs such that the reflector support truss framework does not shadow the reflector panels during normal operation of the solar energy collector, and a plurality of solar receivers. |
| US07932455B2 |
Method and apparatus for comparing musical works
The present disclosure relates to audio and music processing devices and methods. A system is provided that utilizes tonal and rhythmic visualization methods to accurately and empirically determine the level of similarity between two or more musical works. |
| US07932451B2 |
Musical instrument support methods and apparatus
At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be an item support apparatus (1) that comprises at least two fee (4); a base (5) from which said feet extend at a first retention element (6); at least two risers (7) retained to the base by a second retention element (8); and at least one arm (9) retained to each riser by an arm retainer (10). Disclosed is a novel, efficient yet strong item support stand that may be used to support an item such as a musical instrument (a keyboard, as but one example) and that may be collapsible and/or adjustable in certain embodiments. |
| US07932450B2 |
Capos
A capo has a string press element with an arm and a lever clamp that are coupled to form a clamping opening. The lever clamp has an adjustment end to adjust the size of the clamping opening. A trigger is provided to implement clamping operation. The clamping opening can clamp frets of a guitar. The capo can be quickly and easily deployed by a user single-handed through the trigger during playing the guitar. The capo is formed in a simple and neat profile, and provides a desirable match with performers or female performers to enhance appeal. |
| US07932440B2 |
Cotton variety
The present invention relates to a new cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) variety, and more particularly to cotton plants and cotton seeds of this new variety. The invention also relates to F1 hybrid cotton plants and seeds produced using the new variety, as well as to transgenic cotton plants and seeds produced by transformation of this new variety. |
| US07932439B2 |
Herbicide tolerant cotton plants and methods for identifying the same
The invention provides specific transgenic cotton plants, plant material and seeds, characterized in that these products harbor a specific transformation event at a specific location in the cotton genome. Tools are also provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification of the event in biological samples. |
| US07932437B2 |
Designer proton-channel transgenic algae for photobiological hydrogen production
A designer proton-channel transgenic alga for photobiological hydrogen production that is specifically designed for production of molecular hydrogen (H2) through photosynthetic water splitting. The designer transgenic alga includes proton-conductive channels that are expressed to produce such uncoupler proteins in an amount sufficient to increase the algal H2 productivity. In one embodiment the designer proton-channel transgene is a nucleic acid construct (300) including a PCR forward primer (302), an externally inducible promoter (304), a transit targeting sequence (306), a designer proton-channel encoding sequence (308), a transcription and translation terminator (310), and a PCR reverse primer (312). In various embodiments, the designer proton-channel transgenic algae are used with a gas-separation system (500) and a gas-products-separation and utilization system (600) for photobiological H2 production. |
| US07932428B2 |
Process for preparing 1-butene from technical mixtures of C4 hydrocarbons
The invention relates to a process for preparing 1-butene from technical mixtures which comprise at least 1-butene, isobutene, n-butane and 2-butenes by partial conversion of the isobutene present, distillative removal of a fraction comprising 1-butene and isobutene, and conversion of the isobutene present therein to tert-butyl ethers. |
| US07932425B2 |
Method of enhancing an aromatization catalyst
A hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising adding a nitrogenate, an oxygenate, or both to a hydrocarbon stream to produce an enhanced hydrocarbon stream, and contacting the enhanced hydrocarbon stream with an aromatization catalyst, thereby producing an aromatization reactor effluent comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the catalyst comprises a non-acidic zeolite support, a group VIII metal, and one or more halides. Also disclosed is a hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising monitoring the presence of an oxygenate, a nitrogenate, or both in an aromatization reactor, monitoring at least one process parameter that indicates the activity of the aromatization catalyst, modifying the amount of the oxygenate, the nitrogenate, or both in the aromatization reactor, thereby affecting the parameter. |
| US07932423B2 |
Removal of inerts from natural gas using hydrate formation
A method for separating a gas stream comprising methane and a contaminate gas comprises the steps of contacting the gas stream with water under temperature and pressure suitable for the formation of methane hydrates so as to form a water/hydrate slurry, separating the contaminate gas from the water/hydrate slurry, and recovering methane from the water/hydrate slurry so as to generate a water stream. |
| US07932422B2 |
Use of chlorine guanabenz derivatives for treating polyglutamine expansion associated diseases
The invention relates to chlorine Guanabenz derivatives for treating Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine expansion associated diseases. More specifically, it relates to the use of the molecule of formula (I) wherein R═H or Cl and the phenyl group is at least substituted twice, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for treating polyglutamine expansion associated diseases. |
| US07932421B2 |
N-cyclohexyl benzamides and benzeneacetamides as inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases
The present invention provides N-cyclohexyl benzamide and benzeneacetamide compounds according to formula (I): where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, m, n, p, and q are as defined in the description; as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, methods of use of the compounds and compositions of the invention for the treatment of conditions associated with hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (e.g., 11β-HSD1), and the use of the compounds of the invention in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-associated conditions. |
| US07932418B2 |
Process for the preparation of β-γ ene carbonyl derivatives
The present invention relates to a preparation of β-γ ene carboxylic or ketone derivatives, which may also have particular requirement on the configuration of the carbon-carbon double bond. The method requires a thermal treatment of α-β unsaturated malonate or acetylacetonate derivatives in the presents of at least one carboxylic acid and at least one alkaline, alkaline-earth or lanthanide halide or carboxylates. |
| US07932413B2 |
Precursors for CVD silicon carbo-nitride films
Classes of liquid aminosilanes have been found which allow for the production of silicon-containing films. These aminosilanes, in contrast, to some of the precursors employed heretofore, are liquid at room temperature and pressure allowing for convenient handling. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing such films.The classes of compounds are generally represented by the formulas: and mixtures thereof, wherein R and R1 in the formulas represent aliphatic groups typically having from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, e.g., alkyl, cycloalkyl with R and R1 in formula A also being combinable into a cyclic group, and R2 representing a single bond, (CH2)n, a ring, or SiH2. |
| US07932412B2 |
Method of manufacturing an aminoaryl-containing organosilicon compound and method of manufacturing an intermediate product of the aforementioned compound
To provide an aminoaryl-containing organosilicon compound with high efficiency, after protecting amino groups of a haloaniline compound with a specific compound, to form a Grignard reagent and to deprotect the aforementioned groups by reacting the Grignard reagent with a silicon compound. |
| US07932409B2 |
Process to produce polyols
A process for producing oleochemical polyols comprises the steps of epoxidizing unsaturated oil using an organic acid together with oxygenated water or a per-acid to obtain epoxidized oil; washing the epoxidized oil with salt water to remove unused organic acid together with oxygenated water or a per-acid; neutralizing acidic condition of the washed epoxidized oil with a base; washing the neutralized epoxidized oil with a salt solution until the pH of the neutralized epoxidized oil reaching 6.5 to 7.5 to removed the base residue; drying the washed neutralized epoxidized oil under vacuum; and reacting the washed neutralized dried epoxidized oil with polyhydric alcohol in the presence of boron trifluoride-diethylether complex to produce the oleochemical polyols. The oleochemical polyols are then subjected to the same washing, neutralizing, washing and drying process as in preparing the washed neutralized dried epoxidized oil. |
| US07932408B2 |
Catalyst with bimodal pore size distribution and the use thereof
The invention is directed to a catalyst for the epoxidation of an olefin to an olefin oxide, the catalyst comprising a support having at least two pore size distributions, each pore size distribution possessing a different mean pore size and a different pore size of maximum concentration, the catalyst further comprising a catalytically effective amount of silver, a promoting amount of rhenium, and a promoting amount of one or more alkali metals, wherein the at least two pore size distributions are within a pore size range of about 0.01 μm to about 50 μm. The invention is also directed to a process for the oxidation of an olefin to an olefin oxide using the above-described catalyst. |
| US07932407B2 |
Olefin epoxidation process and a catalyst for use in the process
A process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin, oxygen and an organic halide, in the presence of a catalyst comprising silver and rhenium deposited on a carrier, wherein the catalyst comprises rhenium in a quantity of at most 1.5 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst, and at most 0.0015 mmole/m2, relative to the surface area of the carrier, and in which process the reaction temperature is increased to at least partly reduce the effect of loss of activity of the catalyst while the organic halide is present in a relative quantity Q which is maintained constant as defined herein. |
| US07932406B2 |
Method for preparing 4β-amino-4′-demethyl-4-desoxypodophyllotoxin
The invention relates to a method for synthesizing 4.beta.-amino-4′-demethyl-4-desoxypodophyllotoxin of formula (1), characterized by comprising the following successive steps: a) reacting, in a pure weak acid or in a mixture consisting of acid, water and of organic solvent, without another solvent, at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, thiourea with 4.beta.-halogenoacetamido-4′-demethyl-4-desoxypodophyllotoxin, and; b) recovering the 4.beta.-amino-4′-demethyl-4-desoxypodophyllotoxin. |
| US07932405B2 |
Halogenated ester derivatives of coumarins for the treatment of coagulation disorders
The subject invention provides anticoagulant compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R3, n and Ar are as defined herein. The compounds of the subject invention can be used to treat at-risk populations thereby bringing relief of symptoms, improving the quality of life, preventing acute and long-term complications, reducing mortality and treating accompanying disorders. The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and salts of the invention, as well as methods of using the compounds, salts, and compositions of the invention. |
| US07932404B2 |
2,2-bipyridine ligand, sensitizing dye and dye sensitized solar cell
A dye sensitized solar cell, comprising a-heteroleptic polypyridil complex of Ru, Os or Fe. The donating ligand has an extended conjugated n-system increasing the light absorbance and keeing the LUMO energy level higher than that of the anchoring ligand. A compacting compound whose molecular structure comprises a terminal group, a hydrophobic part and an anchoring′ group may be co-adsorbed together with the dye on the semi-conductive metal oxide layer of the photoanode, forming a dense mixed self-assembled monolayer. |
| US07932402B2 |
Process for preparing an intermediate to opioid receptor antagonists
The invention provides an efficient method for preparing 3-endo-(8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl)benzamide by hydrogenation, under controlled conditions, of an amino-protected 3-(8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-3-yl)benzamide intermediate in which the amino-protecting group is removable by catalytic hydrogenation. |
| US07932399B2 |
2-substituted benzimidazoles as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS)
The present invention is directed to a novel 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor. |
| US07932398B2 |
Substituted phenylethynylgold-nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene complex
The present invention is directed to a substituted phenylethynylgold-nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene complex represented by the formula (1) or (2): wherein L represents a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene ligand, and X represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylmercapto group, an arylmercapto group or a substituted amino group; and one or a plural number of hydrogen atoms on the carbon atom(s) of X are independently optionally replaced by a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylmercapto group, an arylmercapto group or a substituted amino group. |
| US07932397B2 |
Olefin metathesis catalysts and related methods
The present invention provides methods for the synthesis of catalysts and precursors thereof. Methods of the invention may comprise combining a catalyst precursor and at least one ligand to generate a catalytically active species, often under mild conditions and in high yields. In some cases, a wide variety of catalysts may be synthesized from a single catalyst precursor. Methods of the invention may also include the preparation of catalysts which, under reaction conditions known in the art, may have been difficult or impossible to prepare and/or isolate due to, for example, steric crowding at the metal center. The present invention also provides catalyst compositions, and precursors thereof, which may be useful in various chemical reactions including olefin metathesis. In some cases, methods of the invention may reduce the number of synthetic and purification steps required to produce catalysts and/or other reaction products, as well as reducing time, cost, and waste production. |
| US07932396B2 |
2-pyridinylcycloalkylbenzamide derivatives and their use as fungicides
A compound of general formula (I): A process for preparing this compound. A compound of general formula (II): A fungicide composition comprising a compound of general formula (I). A method for treating plants by applying a compound of general formula (I) or a composition comprising it. |
| US07932393B2 |
Insecticidal (heteroarylalky)alkane thio and oxo amine derivatives
Certain novel N-(heteroarylalkyl)alkanediamine derivatives have provided unexpected insecticidal and acaricidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula I: wherein Ar, a, b, c, T, W, Y, R, Rf, Rg, Rh, Ri, Rj, Rk, Rm, Rn, and R7 are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of a second compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present. |
| US07932386B2 |
Preparation of 2-amino-thiazole-5-carboxylic-acid derivatives
A method for preparing a compound of the structure I, |
| US07932377B2 |
Complexing of medicinal substances with high-molecular carriers and injection and infusion solutions containing said complexes
A molecular complex of a high molecular weight carrier substance and of a medicinal substance. The carrier substance has functional groups whereby the carrier substance and the medicinal substance are bound non-covalently. The medicinal substance is insoluble or slightly soluble in water and the carrier substance is readily soluble in water. The carrier substance can be starch or a starch derivative and can have only one functional group for non-covalent binding of the medicinal substance in each molecule. |
| US07932367B2 |
Modulation of immunostimulatory activity of immunostimulatory oligonucleotide analogs by positional chemical changes
The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide analogs as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. The invention provides methods for enhancing the immune response caused by immunostimulatory oligonucleotide compounds. |
| US07932359B2 |
Anti-caveolin-1 polyclonal antibody, and antigen peptide sequence and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides a highly specific anti-Caveolin-1 polyclonal antibody, which is prepared by the following steps: (1) providing an antigen comprising a fragment of Caveolin-1 peptide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1; and (2) subcutaneously injecting said antigen into a rabbit to produce the anti-Caveolin-1 polyclonal antibody. The present invention also provides an antigen and a method used for preparing the anti-Caveolin-1 polyclonal antibody, and a kit used for detecting Caveolin-1 in a specimen. |
| US07932358B2 |
Antibodies to JTT-1 protein and cells secreting such antibodies
Novel cell surface molecules recognized by monoclonal antibodies against a cell surface molecule of lymphocytic cells that play an important role in autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases have been isolated, identified, and analyzed for their functions. The cell surface molecules are expressed specifically in thymocytes, lymphocytes activated by ConA-stimulation, and peripheral blood lymphocytes, and induce cell adhesion. Antibodies against the cell surface molecules significantly ameliorate pathological conditions of autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases. |
| US07932355B2 |
Virally-safe factor VIII with a low content of higher multimers
La present invention pertains to a composition of plasma-derived virally-safe factor VIII, obtained after nanometric filtration, said composition comprising von Willebrand factor (vWF) at a rate of 15% or less of decamers and higher multimers. Such compositions have a reduction factor of the virus titre higher than 4 log and are thus suitable for treatment of hemophilia. |
| US07932354B2 |
Process for the production of collagen material
The invention relates to a process for the production of a collagen implant for wound covering, in which a suspension comprising a telopeptide-containing collagen is produced and a phosphate buffer is added. An areal structure is produced by drying the collagen-containing mixture produced. |
| US07932349B2 |
Membrane separation process for removing residuals polyamine-epihalohydrin resins
This invention relates to a process for preparing polyamine-epihalohydrin resins having reduced levels of residuals. The process comprises (a) charging a membrane separation apparatus with an aqueous composition comprising at least one polyamine-epihalohydrin resin, and (b) separating the aqueous composition into a permeate and a retentate by passing the aqueous composition through the membrane of the membrane separation apparatus. The retentate comprises at least one polyamine-epihalohydrin resin having lower levels of residuals on an equal active component basis than the aqueous composition of (a). The permeate comprises residuals removed from the aqueous composition of (a) and less than 5% by weight of the active component of said at least one polyamine-epihalohydrin resin. The polyamine-epihalohydrin resins having reduced levels of residuals can be used to make wet strength agents, dry strength agents, creping adhesives for paper products, curing agents for wood product adhesives, and other products. |
| US07932340B2 |
Photo radical generator, photo sensitive resin composition and article
The invention provides a radical generator, although being a self-cleavage type initiator, which is capable of suppressing volatilization of low molecular weight decomposition materials at the time of light radiation and post-baking, and leaving no low molecular weight decomposition materials in the final product, a photosensitive resin composition and an article using the radical generator. The photoradical generator provided according to the invention contains a compound (a) having one or more self-cleavage type radical-generating parts and one or more ethylenic unsaturated groups in one molecule. |
| US07932334B2 |
Resin suitable for an acid generator
The present invention provides a resin which generates an acid by irradiation and is a salt of an organic cation and an anionic polymer wherein the anionic polymer has no carbon-carbon unsaturated bond. The present invention further provides a chemically amplified resist composition comprising the same. |
| US07932332B2 |
Isobutene polymerisation in the presence of a donor and fluorinated acids complex
The invention relates to a method for producing mainly ethylenically unsaturated isobutene polymers, wherein the sum of proportions of molecules with a double bond in an α position and molecules with a double bond in a position β is increased to 75% mol by polymerising isobutene in a liquid phase in the presence of a diluted or dispersed catalyst complex which comprises (i) an electron donor and (ii) a compound of general formula (I) Ha Meb [MFx]c, wherein Me is a metal with oxidation state m, M is an element selected from elements of the groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14 or 15 of the periodic table according to the IUPAC notation of an element oxidation number n, a is an integer ≧1, b is an integer ≧0, x is an integer ≧2 and c is [(a+mb)/(x−n)]. The catalyst is preferably embodied in the form of HBF4 O(CH3)2. The inventive method makes it possible to obtain an isobutene polymer having a low fluorine-content even using technical C4 hydrocarbon portions as an isobutene source. |
| US07932325B2 |
Azlactone telechelic polymer
A curable composition is described comprising a Michael donor component, a polyacryl component, and 1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a reactive azlactone functional group, or 2) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a reactive ring-opened azlactone functional group. A telechelic polymer that is the reaction product of these components is also described. |
| US07932320B2 |
Process for preparing electroconductive coatings
An aqueous dispersion of latex particles, said latex particles containing a polymer containing monomer units according to formula (I): in which R1 and R2 independently of one another represent hydrogen or a C1-5-alkyl group or together form an optionally substituted C1-5-alkylene residue and at least one polyanion compound. |
| US07932314B2 |
Electrically conductive thermoplastic polymer composition
This invention relates to a thermoplastic polymer composition that exhibits an excellent combination of properties for use in manufacturing shipping combs for use in conjunction with moving actuators for hard disk drives. The thermoplastic polymer composition of this invention is comprised of (1) from 10 weight percent to 90 weight percent polycarbonate, (2) from 1 weight percent to 6 weight percent carbon nanotubes, (3) from 5 weight percent to 85 weight percent of a sulfone polymer, (4) from 0.5 weight percent to 10 weight percent of a functionalized rubbery polymer, and (5) from 0.5 weight percent to 5 weight percent of a lubricant selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene and polyester wax, wherein all weight percentages are based upon the total weight of the thermoplastic polymer composition. |
| US07932312B2 |
Organosilicon compound and pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for liquid crystal element containing same
A novel organosilicon compound having a β-ketoester structure and a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for a liquid crystal element that includes the organosilicon compound are provided. The organosilicon compound is obtained by reacting, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, a compound represented by a formula (1): [wherein, R1 represents H or Me, R2 to R4 represent divalent hydrocarbon groups, A represents a group of a formula (i): (wherein, R6 represents an alkyl group or a phenyl group), R5 represents a group of a formula (ii): (wherein, B represents OH or a group represented by the formula (i)), and p, q and r represent integers of 0 to 6] with an alkoxysilane represented by a formula (2): (R7O)m(R8)(3-m)Si—H (2) [wherein, R7 and R8 represent monovalent hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m represents 1, 2 or 3]. |
| US07932305B2 |
Viscous α-cyanoacrylate compositions
A polymerizable adhesive composition comprises at least one α-cyanoacrylate monomer and at least one absorbable viscosity modifying agent. The absorbable viscosity modifying agent has repeated units of the following structure: R1 is a methyl group or a hydrogen. R2 is a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. R3 is a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and n is 2 or more. |
| US07932304B2 |
Polymer-coated glass filler for use in dental materials
Filler based on glass particles which contain a homo- or copolymer of vinyl chloride on the surface, process for its preparation and its use as a dental material. |
| US07932303B2 |
Materials based on radically polymerizable N,O-functionalized acrylic acid hydroxamides
A material contains at least a polymerizable N,O-functionalized acrylic acid hydroxyamide of the Formula (I) in which A is an n+m-valent linear or branched aliphatic C1 to C50 radical, in which the carbon chain can be interrupted by O, S, —CO—O—, CO—NH, O—CO—NH or NH—CO—NH, an n+m-valent aromatic C6 to C18 radical or an n+m-valent cycloaliphatic or heterocyclic C3 to C18 radical, wherein the radicals can carry one or more substituents, Y is not present, or is O, S, an ester, amide or urethane group, R1 is hydrogen, an aliphatic C1 to C20 alkyl or C3 to C8 cycloalkyl radical which can carry one or more substituents, R2 is H or a C1 to C10 alkyl radical, R3 is not present or is a C1 to C16 alkylene radical which can be interrupted by O, HG is not present, is —COOH, —P═O(OH)2; —P═O(OH)(OR4); —O—P═O(OH)2, —SO2OH or —O—P═O(OH)(OR4), R4 is a C1 to C15 alkyl radical, phenyl or benzyl radical and n is a number from 1 to 5 and m a number from 0 to 3. |
| US07932302B2 |
Radiation curable urethane (meth)acrylate polymer and adhesives formulated with them
UV curable urethane (meth)acrylate polymers of Formula (1), where: R1 and R′ are each independently hydrogen or C1-20hydrocarbo, R2, R′2, R3 and R4 are each independently optionally substituted divalent organo group, and p is an integer from about 6 to about 100 which are useful as laminating and/or pressure sensitive adhesives are disclosed as is methods of making them. The oligomers/polymers comprise a urethane extended backbone formed by reacting diisocyanates with polyols derived from rubber oligomers/polymers. |
| US07932301B2 |
Encapsulant composition and method for fabricating encapsulant material
An encapsulant composition is provided, including at least one resin monomer, a filler and a photoinitiator, wherein the at least one resin monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin monomer, epoxy resin monomer, silicone resin monomer and compositions thereof, and the filler is of about 0.1˜15 weight % of the encapsulant composition. A method for forming encapsulant materials is also provided. |
| US07932294B2 |
Prodrugs containing novel bio-cleavable linkers
The invention provides the compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of formula I or intermediates thereof and one more of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, vehicles or diluents. The invention further provides methods of preparation and methods of use of prodrugs including NO-releasing prodrugs, double prodrugs and mutual prodrugs comprising the compounds of formula I. |
| US07932293B2 |
Aldehyde compositions and methods for providing fragrance containing the same
The present invention is directed to the novel aldehyde compounds, represented by the general structure of Formula I set forth below: wherein R is a straight, branched hydrocarbon moiety consisting of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and may contain one or more oxygen heteroatom. |
| US07932292B2 |
Use of quaternary ammonium compounds in the remediation of mold, mildew, and funguses
The present invention relates to the use of quaternary ammonium compounds in the remediation of microbial growth such as mold, funguses, and mildew. |
| US07932288B2 |
Composition for relieving subjective symptoms of fatigue
There has been a demand in the marketplace for medicines, functional foods and so on which can relieve subjective symptoms of fatigue in persons having these subjective symptoms, and enabling the persons to have productive days. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a composition for relieving subjective symptoms of fatigue. According to the present invention, a safe and effective composition for relieving subjective symptoms of fatigue which contains ornithine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient can be provided. |
| US07932284B2 |
Indole sulfonamide modulators of progesterone receptors
Compounds of Formula (I), wherein n is 1 or 2, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined herein, their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use are disclosed. |
| US07932281B2 |
Amine-based compound and use thereof
Amine compounds represented by Formula (1) are efficacious against diseases such as a viral infectious disease with HIV, rheumatism, and cancer metastasis: |
| US07932279B2 |
Substituted tetrazole compounds and uses thereof
The present invention provides tetrazole compounds, and methods of preparation of these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the tetrazole compounds. The present invention provides methods of treating a cell proliferative disorder, such as a cancer, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention. |
| US07932276B2 |
Agent for curing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The present invention provides a useful and highly safe agent for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which contains, as the effective ingredient, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of thiazole derivatives and salts thereof represented by the general formula (1), wherein, R1 is a phenyl group which may have 1 to 3 lower alkoxy groups as the substituents on the phenyl ring; R2 is a pyridyl group which may have 1 to 3 carboxyl groups as the substituents on the pyridine ring. |
| US07932273B2 |
3-[(2-{[4-(hexyloxycarbonylaminoiminomethyl) phenylamino]methyl}-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-5-carbonyl)pyridin-2-ylamino]propionic acid ethylester methansulfonate and its use as a medicament
Ethyl 3-[(2-{[4-(hexyloxycarbonylaminoiminomethyl)phenylamino]methyl}-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-5-carbonyl)pyridin-2-ylamino]propionate methanesulfonate in the crystalline modifications I and II and as the hemihydrate and the use thereof as a pharmaceutical composition. |
| US07932270B2 |
Certain chemical entities, compositions, and methods
Chemical entities that modulate smooth muscle myosin and/or non-muscle myosin, and chemical entities, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with smooth muscle myosin and/or non-muscle myosin are described. |
| US07932267B2 |
Use of α-glucosidase inhibitors to treat alphavirus infections
The present invention provides methods for treating a flavivirus infection, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, in an individual suffering from a flavivirus infection. In some embodiments, the methods involve administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that inhibits enzymatic activity of a membrane-bound α-glucosidase inhibitor. In other embodiments, the methods involve administering to an individual in need thereof effective amounts of an α-glucosidase inhibitor and at least one additional therapeutic agent. |
| US07932266B2 |
Isoquinoline derivatives as calpain inhibitors
The invention relates to derivative compounds of partially-reduced isoquinoline with substitution of a sec-butyl group at position 3 with calpain inhibitor activity. The inventive compound comprises an ester or amide derived from (3-sec-butyl-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-4-yliden)-acetic acid and (3-sec-butyl-1-thioxo-2, 3-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-4-yliden)-acetic acid. Compounds having formula I or II can be used in the preventive or therapeutic treatment of a degenerative disease. |
| US07932263B2 |
Therapeutic treatment
A combination comprising candesartan and rosuvastatin for the prevention or treatment of arteriosclerosis and for the prevention of cardiovascular events is described. |
| US07932259B2 |
Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives substituted with a cyclic amino group
An object of the present invention is to provide an antagonist against CRF receptors which is effective as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for diseases in which CRF is considered to be involved, such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, eating disorder, hypertension, gastric diseases, drug dependence, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia, cerebral edema, cephalic external wound, inflammation, immunity-related diseases, alopecia, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, epilepsy, dermatitides, schizophrenia, etc. This problem can be solved with a pyrrolopyrimidine or pyrrolopyridine derivative substituted with a cyclic amino group represented by formula [I] below which has a high affinity for CRF receptors and is effective against diseases in which CRF is considered to be involved. |
| US07932248B2 |
1H-indazoles, benzothiazoles, 1,2-benzoisoxazoles, 1,2-benzoisothiazoles, and chromones and preparation and uses thereof
The present invention relates generally to the field of ligands for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), activation of nAChRs, and the treatment of disease conditions associated with defective or malfunctioning nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, especially of the brain. Further, this invention relates to novel compounds (indazoles and benzothiazoles), which act as ligands for the α7 nAChR subtype, methods of preparing such compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and methods of use thereof. |
| US07932243B2 |
Bile preparations for gastrointestinal disorders
The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions to offset, ameliorate and/or alleviate one or more unwanted and/or adverse gastrointestinal effects. For example, in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to compositions that include a bile acid, a carbohydrate and/or a pharmaceutical compound, wherein the pharmaceutical is associated with an adverse gastrointestinal effect in a subject (e.g., mammal or human). Non-limiting examples of pharmaceutical compounds may include a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a gastric irritating drug (e.g., an antibiotic, an adrenal cortocoid steroid and an anti-cancer drug) and combinations thereof. The disclosure further relates to methods of ameliorating or eliminating at least one adverse gastrointestinal effects of a composition, comprising administering to a subject an aqueous solution comprising a bile acid and a carbohydrate. |
| US07932238B2 |
Anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic composition for the intestine comprising branched maltodextrins
The invention concerns a fiber-enriched anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic composition for the intestine, characterized in that it comprises branched maltodextrins having between 15 and 35% of glucoside bonds, 1 to 6, a reducing sugar content less than 20%, a polymolecularity index less than 5 and a number molecular weight Mn not more than 4500 g/mole. |
| US07932236B2 |
Glycolipids
Novel synthetic gangliosides and pharmaceutical compositions containing such synthetic gangliosides are described. Methods of making the novel synthetic ganglioside compounds and compositions as well as their use in the field of neuroprotection is also described. |
| US07932234B2 |
Bispecific oligonucleotide for the treatment of CNS malignancies
CNS malignancy is treated in a subject suffering from a CNS malignancy by administering to the subject an antisense oligonucleotide having a sequence of bases that is complementary to portions of both the gene encoding IGFBP-2 and the gene encoding IGFBP-5, and which is of sufficient length to act as an inhibitor of the effective amount of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5, in an amount effective to reduce effective levels of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 in cells of the CNS malignancy. |
| US07932231B2 |
Compositions and methods for stimulating gastrointestinal motility
The present invention relates to a method of treating a transient impairment of the motility of the gastrointestinal system resulting from postoperative ileus in a patient wherein said method includes the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptidyl analog of ghrelin to said patient. |
| US07932227B1 |
Lacritin-syndecan fusion proteins
The present invention relates to methods and compositions useful for the regulation of lacritin, syndecan, and lacritin-syndecan interactions and the signaling pathway downstream of lacritin-syndecan interactions. The invention also relates to regulating lacritin-syndecan interaction to regulate ocular cell survival in response to an insult or injury, in protecting against ocular inflammation, and in promoting ocular wound repair. |
| US07932221B2 |
Solvent for cleaning
A solvent for cleaning that offers particularly superior results for cleaning pigment-dispersed photosensitive resin compositions used for forming color filters and black matrix patterns. The solvent for cleaning has a hydrogen bonding parameter (δH) among the Hansen solubility parameters that falls within a range from 5 to 10. |
| US07932219B2 |
Grease composition and method for production thereof, and rolling bearing having the grease composition sealed therein
The present invention provides a grease composition which prevents frictional wear of a lubricating surface in a high load-applied state or in a state in which sliding motion is generated and is durable for a long time, a method of manufacturing capable of easily determining an addition ratio of an extreme-pressure agent of the grease composition, and a rolling bearing in which the grease composition is enclosed. A grease composition is composed by adding a thickener and an extreme-pressure agent containing sulfur in a molecular structure thereof to base oil. The extreme-pressure agent is added to the base oil so that a product of an amount (mgS/g) of active sulfur contained in the extreme-pressure agent and an addition amount (wt %) of the extreme-pressure agent with respect to an entire amount of the grease composition is in a range of 3 to 13. |
| US07932212B2 |
Inhibition of placenta growth factor (PlGF) mediated metastasis and/or angiogenesis
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis and/or tumor growth, survival and/or metastasis. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions may concern ligands against placenta growth factor (PlGF), such as BP-1, BP-2, BP-3 or BP-4. Some methods may comprise administering one or more PlGF ligands, alone or in combination with one or more other agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, other anti-angiogenic agents, immunotherapeutic agents or radioimmunotherapeutic agents to a subject. The PlGF ligands are effective to inhibit angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, tumor metastasis, tumor growth and/or tumor survival. In certain embodiments, PlGF ligands may be administered to subjects to ameliorate other angiogenesis related conditions, such as macular degeneration. In some embodiments, PlGF expression levels may be determined by any known method to select those patients most likely to respond to PlGF targeted therapies. |
| US07932208B2 |
Transparent, stable titanium dioxide sols
A method of preparing stable, transparent photocatalytic titanium dioxide sots is disclosed which involves thermal treatment of a suspension of amorphous titanium dioxide in the presence of certain alpha-hydroxy acids. The sots comprise titanium dioxide particles in the anatase form having a crystallite size less than about 10 nm and exhibit excellent stability and transparency at basic, neutral, and acid pH. |
| US07932206B2 |
Magnesium dichloride-based adducts and catalyst components obtained therefrom
Solid Lewis adducts comprising MgCl2, a Lewis base (LB) belonging to ethers, esters, ketones, silanes or amines and an alcohol ROH, in which R is a C1-C15 hydrocarbon group optionally substituted with heteroatoms containing groups, which compounds are in molar ratios to each other defined by the following formula MgCl2(ROH)m(LB)n in which m ranges from 0.05 to 6, n ranges from 0.08 to 6. The solid Lewis adducts herein can be used to prepare catalysts having good morphological stability, and high polymerization activity. |
| US07932204B2 |
Method of regenerating catalyst in a fluidized catalytic cracking unit
Systems and methods of improving synthesis gas quality in a fluid catalytic cracking unit are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises reacting a first stage regeneration gas comprising oxygen with spent catalyst from a reactor in a first stage of a regenerator to consume the oxygen in the first stage regeneration gas. This reaction produces a synthesis gas output and partially regenerated catalyst. The method further comprises reacting a second stage regeneration gas comprising oxygen with the partially regenerated catalyst in a second stage of the regenerator to regenerate the partially regenerated catalyst. This reaction produces the first stage regeneration gas for reaction with the spent catalyst in the first stage of the regenerator. Through the first and second stage reactions, the spent catalyst is regenerated and the synthesis gas quality is improved. |
| US07932203B2 |
Method for producing an oil-binding agent and oil-binding agent produced according to the method
A method for producing an oil-binding agent of granular open-porous structure with a silicate ceramic matrix by using recovered paper material and clay. The method is characterized in that, in each case based on the entire raw material, 35 to 60 wt.-% sewage sludge with a water content of between 70 and 85 wt.-%, 25 to 55 wt.-% recovered paper material with a water content of between 35 and 55 wt.-%, 10 to 25 wt.-% clay and optionally 1 to 3 wt.-% zeolite, 1 to 2 wt.-% quicklime and/or up to 3 wt. % fly ash are mixed to a homogeneous mixture. The raw material thus obtained is subsequently processed in order to form particles having an average diameter of 4 to 6 mm. The particles are then dried and subsequently burnt at 950 to 1050° C. The oil-binding agents produced according to said method have a bulk density of between 0.4 and 0.75 kg/1 and a oil-binding capability of 0.7 to 1.0 1 oil per oil-binder. |
| US07932202B2 |
Y2O3 sintered body and corrosion resistant member for semiconductor/liquid crystal producing apparatus
A corrosion resistant member made of the Y2O3 sintered material that contains 99.9% by weight or more Y in terms of Y2O3, and has a difference in mean crystal grain size between the surface and the inside region of the Y2O3 sintered material not larger than 30 μm. |
| US07932199B2 |
Sintered compact
A sintered cubic boron nitride (cBN) compact for use in a tool is obtained by sintering a mixture of (i) cubic boron nitride, (ii) aluminum oxide, (iii) one or more refractory metal compounds, and (iv) aluminum and/or one or more non-oxide aluminum compounds. The sintered bodies may have sufficient strength and toughness to be used as a tool material in solid, i.e. not carbide supported, form, and may be useful in heavy machining of cast irons. |
| US07932196B2 |
Microporous stretch thinned film/nonwoven laminates and limited use or disposable product applications
Breathable laminates of a film and nonwoven with increased toughness and the ability to undergo strain without splitting for applications as components of personal care products and other uses. The film is formed using a carrier/letdown resin approach where the filled carrier resin is an ethylene polymer or copolymer having a density at least 0.003 g/cc higher than the letdown resin which is also an ethylene copolymer but has a density in the range of less than about 0.915 g/cc and a melt index less than about 6. The resin phases may be dry blended, formed into a film, stretched and bonded to a nonwoven support layer. |
| US07932191B2 |
Particulate compositions and their manufacture
A composition comprising particles which comprise a core material within a polymeric shell, wherein the core material comprises a hydrophobic substance, in which the amount of the polymeric shell forms at least 8% of the total weight of the particles, wherein the polymeric shell comprises a copolymer formed from a monomer blend which comprises, A) 5 to 90% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated water soluble monomer, B) 5 to 90% by weight of a multifunctional monomer, and C) 0 to 55% by weight other monomer, and wherein the amount of the polymeric shell and the proportions of. A, B and C are such that the particles exhibit a half height of at least 350° C. The invention includes a process for the manufacture of particles and the use of particles in articles, such as fabrics, and coating compositions, especially for textiles. |
| US07932189B2 |
Process of forming an electronic device including a layer of discontinuous storage elements
An electronic device can include a layer of discontinuous storage elements. A dielectric layer overlying the discontinuous storage elements can be substantially hydrogen-free. A process of forming the electronic device can include forming a layer including silicon over the discontinuous storage elements. In one embodiment, the process includes oxidizing at least substantially all of the layer. In another embodiment, the process includes forming the layer using a substantially hydrogen-free silicon precursor material and oxidizing at least substantially all of the layer. |
| US07932187B2 |
Method for fabricating a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a first interlayer insulating film formed on a substrate, having a first interconnection buried therein, and having a depressed portion and an insulating barrier film formed on the first interlayer insulating film. A second interlayer insulating film is formed to fill in the depressed portion, cover the upper surface of the insulating barrier film, and have a second interconnection buried therein. |
| US07932177B2 |
Field-effect transistor
A field-effect transistor is provided, which includes an organic thin film and which can realize a low threshold voltage while a stable, high field-effect mobility is ensured at the same time. In a field-effect transistor provided with a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor film, a gate insulating film, and a substrate, the gate insulating film is formed from a plurality of insulating layers. Here, a first insulating layer in contact with the semiconductor film is formed from poly-p-xylylene formed into a film by a CVD method. A second insulating layer is formed from, for example, cyanoethylpullulan, and the dielectric constant is specified to be higher than that of the first insulating layer. |
| US07932176B2 |
Self-aligned barrier layers for interconnects
An interconnect structure for integrated circuits incorporates manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride layers that completely surrounds copper wires in integrated circuits and methods for making the same are provided. The manganese silicate forms a barrier against copper diffusing out of the wires, thereby protecting the insulator from premature breakdown, and protecting transistors from degradation by copper. The manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride also promote strong adhesion between copper and insulators, thus preserving the mechanical integrity of the devices during manufacture and use. The strong adhesion at the copper-manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride interfaces also protect against failure by electromigration of the copper during use of the devices. The manganese-containing sheath also protects the copper from corrosion by oxygen or water from its surroundings. |
| US07932174B2 |
Method of making a semiconductor device having improved contacts
A semiconductor device and fabrication process wherein the device includes a conductive layer with a localized thick region positioned below the contact hole. In one embodiment of the invention, the thick region to which contact is made is formed by means of an opening in an underlayer of material. This embodiment of the device includes an underlayer of material having an opening therein; a layer of thin conductive material formed on the underlayer and in the opening; and overlayer of material having a contact hole therethrough formed on the layer of thin conductive material; a conductor contacting the layer of thin conductive material through the contact hole; and wherein the opening in the underlayer is positioned below the contact hole and sized and shaped to form a localized thick region in the layer of thin conductive material within the opening. |
| US07932168B2 |
Method for fabricating bitline in semiconductor device
A method of a fabricating a bitline in a semiconductor device, comprising: forming an interlayer insulation layer that defines a bitline contact hole on a semiconductor substrate; forming a contact layer to fill the bitline contact hole; forming a bitline contact by planarizing the contact layer; forming a bitline stack aligned with the bitline contact; forming a high aspect ratio process (HARP) layer that extends along the bitline stack and the interlayer insulation layer while covering a seam exposed in a side portion of the bitline stack by excessive planarization during formation of the bitline contact; and forming an interlayer gap-filling insulation layer on the HARP layer that gap-fills the entire bitline stack. |
| US07932164B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate by using monitor substrate to obtain optimal energy density for laser irradiation of single crystal semiconductor layers
Methods for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor device by which a high-performance semiconductor element can be formed are provided. A single crystal semiconductor substrate including an embrittlement layer and a base substrate are bonded to each other with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated along the embrittlement layer by heat treatment to fix a single crystal semiconductor layer over the base substrate. Next, a plurality of regions of a monitor substrate are irradiated with laser light under conditions of different energy densities, and carbon concentration distribution and hydrogen concentration distribution in a depth direction of each region of the single crystal semiconductor layer which has been irradiated with the laser light is measured. Optimal irradiation intensity of laser light is irradiation intensity with which a local maximum of the carbon concentration and a shoulder peak of the hydrogen concentration are observed. A single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with optimal laser light at energy density detected by using the monitor substrate, whereby a semiconductor substrate is manufactured. |
| US07932157B2 |
Test structure formation in semiconductor processing
Test structures are formed during semiconductor processing. The test structures allow performance characteristics to be monitored as the process proceeds. The test structures are formed with a single mask that is used in a manner that also allows alignment marks to be formed which do not interfere with one another as subsequent levels are patterned. The manner of using the mask also allows different types of test structures having different features to be formed. The different types of test structures can provide insight into performance characteristics of different types of devices. |
| US07932156B2 |
Bipolar transistor having a second, base-comprising region consisting of a first layer, a second, constrictive, layer, and a third layer
The invention relates to a semiconductor device (10) with a substrate (12) and a semiconductor body (11) of silicon comprising a bipolar transistor with an emitter region, a base region and a collector region (1,2,3) first conductivity type, a second conductivity type opposite to said first conductivity type and the first conductivity type, respectively, with a first semiconductor region (3) comprising the collector region or the emitter region being formed in the semiconductor body (11), on top of which a second semiconductor region (2) comprising the base region is present, on top of which a third semiconductor region (1) comprising the other of said collector region and said emitter region is present, said semiconductor body (11) being provided with a constriction at the location of the transition between the first and the second semiconductor region (3, 2), which constriction has been formed by means of an electrically insulating region (26, 27) buried in the semiconductor body (11). According to the invention a part of the semiconductor body that is formed above the buried electrically insulating region (26,27) is monocrystalline. This enables a strong lateral miniaturization of the device and results in excellent high frequency properties of the transistor. Such a device (10) is possible thanks to its manufacture with a method of manufacturing according to the invention. |
| US07932152B2 |
Method of forming a gate stack structure
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure on a substrate, the substrate includes a primary region and a secondary region. A first layer of a first material of a first thickness is formed over the substrate. A portion of the first layer is removed over the primary region to expose the substrate. The structure is exposed to an oxidizing medium. This forms a second layer, for example, of an oxide material primary region of the substrate. The second layer has a second thickness. Additionally, at least a portion of said first layer is converted to a third layer, for example, of an oxynitride material. The third layer has a third thickness. |
| US07932150B2 |
Lateral oxidation with high-K dielectric liner
Disclosed are methods of making and using a high-K dielectric liner to facilitate the lateral oxidation of a high-K gate dielectric, integrated circuit structures containing the high-K dielectric liner and/or oxidized high-K gate dielectric, and other associated methods. |
| US07932138B2 |
Method for manufacturing thin film transistor
A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor with improved current characteristics and high electron mobility. According to the method, when an amorphous silicon thin film is crystallized into a polycrystalline silicon thin film by metal-induced crystallization, annealing conditions of the amorphous silicon thin film and the amount of a metal catalyst doped into the amorphous silicon thin film are optimized to reduce the regions of a metal silicide distributed at grain boundaries of the polycrystalline silicon thin film. In addition, oxygen (O2) gas or water (H2O) vapor is supplied to form a passivation film on the surface of the polycrystalline silicon thin film. |
| US07932137B2 |
Thin film transistor and manufacturing method of the same
To achieve TFT having a high light-resistance characteristic with a suppressed light leak current at low cost by simplifying the manufacturing processes. The TFT basically includes a light-shielding film formed on a glass substrate that serves as an insulating substrate; an insulating film formed on the light-shielding film; a semiconductor film formed on the insulating film; and a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor film. Each layer of a laminate that is configured with three layers of the light-shielding film, the insulating film, and the semiconductor film is patterned simultaneously. Further, each layer of the laminate is configured with silicon or a material containing silicon. |
| US07932136B2 |
Source/drain junction for high performance MOSFET formed by selective EPI process
In a field effect transistor (FET), halo features may be formed by etching into the surface of a silicon layer followed by a step of growing a first epitaxial silicon (epi-Si) layer on the etched silicon layer. Source (S) and drain (D), as well as S/D extension features may similarly be formed by etching an epitaxial silicon layer, then filling with another epitaxial layer. Source and Drain, and extensions, and halo, which are normally formed by diffusion, may be formed as discrete elements by etching and filling (epi-Si). This may provide a shallow, highly activated, abrupt S/D extension, an optimally formed halo and deep S/D diffusion doping, and maximized improvement of channel mobility from the compressive or tensile stress from e-SiGe or e-SiC. |
| US07932135B1 |
Method of manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a TFT array substrate having a reduced number of mask processes. The method includes sequentially depositing a first conductive material, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second conductive material on a substrate, and forming a first resist pattern having three height levels on the second conductive material. The method further includes forming a gate line, a data line that crosses the gate line and has first and second slit units, a source electrode connected to the data line and having a third slit unit, and a drain electrode positioned opposite the source electrode with a channel interposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode and having a fourth slit unit, through a plurality of etching processes using the first resist pattern. |
| US07932132B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a casing, a board and a semiconductor chip. The chip includes: an element part; a heat sink bonded to the element part; an insulating layer located on the heat sink so that the heat sink is located between the element part and the insulating layer; and a side wall insulating layer covering all of end faces of the heat sink. The semiconductor chip is located between the casing and the board, so that the insulating layer is directed to the casing to enable heat radiation from the heat sink toward the casing via the insulating layer. |
| US07932127B2 |
Method of making CMOS image sensor-hybrid silicide
Techniques for manufacturing a CMOS image sensor are provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided, and at least one isolation region can be formed between a periphery region of the substrate and a photo-sensing region of the substrate. A first well in the periphery region and a second well in the photo-sensing region of the substrate are formed. A third well associated with a photodiode is also formed. A gate oxide layer, polysilicon layer, and first metal layer are respectively deposited. The polysilicon layer and first metal layer are etched to form an least one gate in the photo-sensing region and at least one gate in the periphery region. At least two doped regions in the first well are formed, as well as a doped region in the second well. A silicide block layer is deposited over the photo-sensing region of the substrate. A second metal layer is deposited at least over the periphery region after deposition of the silicide block. The substrate is exposed to a thermal environment to form silicide. The second metal layer is removed by etching. |
| US07932114B2 |
Method of manufacturing GaN substrate, method of manufacturing epitaxialwafer, method of manufacturing semiconductor device and epitaxialwafer
Assuming that r (m) represents the radius of a GaN substrate, t1 (m) represents the thickness of the GaN substrate, h1 (m) represents a warp of the GaN substrate before formation of an epitaxialwafer, t2 (m) represents the thickness of an AlxGa(1-x)N layer, h2 (m) represents a warp of the epitaxialwafer, a1 represents the lattice constant of GaN and a2 represents the lattice constant of AlN, the value t1 found by the following expression is decided as the minimum thickness (t1) of the GaN substrate: (1.5×1011×t13+1.2×1011×t23)×{1/(1.5×1011×t1)+1/(1.2×1011×t2)}/{15.96×x×(1−a2/a1)}×(t1+t2)+(t1×t2)/{5.32×x×(1−a2/a1)}−(r2+h2)/2h=0 A GaN substrate having a thickness of at least this minimum thickness (t1) and less than 400 μm is formed. |
| US07932110B2 |
Layers and patterns of nanowire or carbon nanotube using chemical self assembly and fabricating method in liquid crystal display device thereby
Disclosed are layers and patterns of nanowire or nanotube using a chemical self assembly for forming a semiconductor layer and a conductive layer of a thin film transistor by using a nanowire and/or nanotube solution and an diamine-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material. The Layers and patterns including layers and patterns of nanowire or nanotube using a chemical self assembly include: a substrate having a surface terminated with amine group (—NH2) by using a chemical self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material having at least one end terminated with amine group (—NH2); and a first nanowire or nanotube layer ionically coupled to the amine group (—NH2) of the surface of the substrate. |
| US07932109B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display and manufacturing method therefor
This invention provides a means for suppressing streaks of light emission in an organic EL display having an organic light-emitting layer formed by coating by an ink jet method. A manufacturing process of the organic EL display of this invention includes: preparing a display substrate having two or more linear banks in parallel to each other, and two or more pixel regions arranged in a region between the linear banks; arranging an ink jet head such that the alignment direction of nozzles and the line direction of the linear banks are in parallel; and relatively moving the ink jet head in a direction perpendicular to the line direction of the linear banks and discharging the ink from the nozzles to apply the ink to every region defined by the linear banks. |
| US07932108B2 |
Method of preparing a sealed light-emitting diode chip
A method for producing a light emitting diode chip encapsulation product, the method comprising covering a light emitting diode chip connected onto a substrate with a thermosetting film, and thermally curing the thermosetting film. |
| US07932107B2 |
Method for growing nitride semiconductor
A method for growing a nitride semiconductor has a first step for forming a surface reformation layer on a sapphire substrate, a second step for raising a temperature of the sapphire substrate with the surface reformation layer formed thereon up to a growth temperature of the nitride semiconductor in an atmosphere including ammonia, and a third step for growing a nitride semiconductor layer on a surface of the surface reformation layer. Alternatively, the second step is conducted in an atmosphere including an inert gas, or an atmosphere including the inert gas and hydrogen at a concentration of 10% or less relative to the inert gas. |
| US07932098B2 |
Microfluidic system utilizing thin-film layers to route fluid
Systems, including apparatus and methods, for microfluidic processing and/or analysis of samples. The systems include a microfluidic device having a substrate and a thin-film layer formed on the substrate. The thin-film layer may be included in electronics formed on the substrate. The electronics may provide electronic devices configured to sense or modify a property of the sample. The thin-film layer defines an opening for routing movement of fluid and/or sample within the device. |
| US07932096B2 |
Trioxyethylene gold nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA
A method of making a nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA strand comprising the steps of providing nanoclusters, combining said nanoclusters with thiolated DNA, incubating said nanoclusters and thiolated DNA mixture, combining said mixture with a solution comprising ethanol and dichloromethane; separating said mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, mixing said aqueous phase with a solution comprising dicholormethane and NaCl, and separating the mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase; wherein said organic phase comprises said nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA strand. Further, provided is a nanocluster functionalized with a single DNA strand comprising a nanocluster, said nanocluster being functionalized with a single DNA strand, said DNA strand having a length of about 10 to about 50 bases. |
| US07932094B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the stability of an electroless plating bath
The stability of an electroless plating bath for depositing a metal (e.g., nickel) is determined by titrating a sample of the plating bath with a titrant comprising ions of a catalytic metal (e.g., palladium) and detecting hydrogen released at the titration endpoint. The quantity of titrant required to attain the endpoint provides a measure of the stability of the electroless plating bath. |
| US07932092B2 |
Computerized method and apparatus for analyzing amino acids
A method for analyzing a plurality of amino acids in a fluid sample by a user is provided comprising the steps of introducing the sample into a buffer solution, passing the sample in the buffer solution through a separation column and setting a lithium ion concentration in the buffer to no more than 0.3 mols/L up to a time before β-aminoisobutyric acid (β-AiBA) is eluted. |
| US07932091B2 |
Colorant tracer for cooling water treatment formulations
Water-based colorant traced formulations (products) containing one or more water treatment agents, such as phosphonates, polyacrylic acids and/or polymers, co-polymers, terpolymers thereof, azoles, molybdate, polysilicates, phosphates, zinc, polyphosphates, etc., are provided wherein the water-soluble colorant is detectable in the visible light range of about 580-640 nm and is chemically inert relative to the water treatment agent(s). Measurement of an optical property of the colorant in the treated coolant water permits the concentration of the product therein to be ascertained, and the level of the product containing can be adjusted for controlling scale, corrosion, deposition, and/or microbial activity in commercial and/or industrial cooling water systems. These products may be reliably monitored and dosed to maintain a product level in treated water of 5 to 500 mg/L. |
| US07932085B2 |
Modified leukotoxin gene and protein
The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a modified leukotoxin protein, wherein the modification comprises the removal of nucleic acid sequences encoding amino acids within hydrophobic transmembrane domains of full length leukotoxin protein, preferably from Mannheimia haemolytica. The modified leukotoxin proteins are useful in vaccine compositions effective against Mannheimia haemolytica in animals. |
| US07932082B2 |
Device and method for extracting a smear sample
A device is disclosed for extracting a smear sample. The device includes a cavity, into which a sample carrier carrying a smear sample can be introduced. Liquid can be introduced into the cavity through at least one liquid feed connected to the cavity, and the liquid can be removed from the cavity through at least one liquid discharge connected to the cavity. |
| US07932076B2 |
Compositions for culturing spirochetes
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing spirochetes and treating spirochetal diseases. For example, the present invention provides serum-free media for culturing spirochete bacteria in vitro. The present invention further provides methods for identifying spirochete susceptibilities to antimicrobials and antimicrobial compositions and cocktails. The present invention also provides methods for treating subjects suspected of having a spirochete infection. |
| US07932074B1 |
Multivalent human-bovine rotavirus vaccine
The present invention provides vaccine compositions for protection against human rotaviral disease without significant reactogenicity. Human×bovine reassortant rotavirus comprising each of the four clinically most important VP7 serotypes of human rotavirus are combined in a multivalent formulation which provides a high degree of infectivity and immunogenicity without producing a transient febrile condition. Methods for producing an immunogenic response without producing a transient febrile condition are also provided. |
| US07932070B2 |
High fidelity DNA polymerase compositions and uses therefor
The subject invention relates to compositions comprising an enzyme mixture which comprises a first enzyme and a second enzyme, where the first enzyme comprises a DNA polymerization activity and the second enzyme comprises an 3′-5′ exonuclease activity and a reduced DNA polymerization activity. The invention also relates to the above compositions in kit format and methods for high fidelity DNA synthesis using the subject compositions of the invention. |
| US07932067B2 |
Detection, isolation and uses of renalase (monoamine oxidase C)
The present invention provides for the identification, isolation and uses of mammalian Monoamine Oxidase C (MAO-C), also known as renalase. |
| US07932066B2 |
Unique associated kaposi's sarcoma virus sequences and uses thereof
This invention provides an isolated peptide encoded by a nucleic acid which is at least 30 nucleotides in length and has a sequence which uniquely defines a herpesvirus associated with Kaposis' sarcoma, which herpesvirus is present in and recoverable from the HBL-6 cell line (ATCC Accession No. CRL 11762). |
| US07932063B2 |
Treatment of biomass to obtain fermentable sugars
Biomass is pretreated using a low concentration of aqueous ammonia at high biomass concentration. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation. |
| US07932062B2 |
Vector constructs
Improved vector constructs useful in the expression of double-stranded RNA are provided. The constructs are particularly useful for expression of double-stranded RNA in vitro and in vivo. |
| US07932061B2 |
Method enabling the use of extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) extracted from plasma of serum to detect, monitor or evaluate cancer or premalignant conditions
This invention relates to the use of tumor-derived or associated extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. Specifically, this invention enables the extraction of circulating RNA from plasma or serum and utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays for the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, premalignant, or malignant, in humans or other animals, which might be associated with that RNA. Further, this invention allows the qualitative or quantitative detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in the plasma or serum of humans or animals with or without any prior knowledge of the presence of cancer or premalignant tissue. |
| US07932055B2 |
Soluble heterodimeric CD94/NKG2 receptors fusion proteins
Soluble versions of heterodimeric receptors, e.g., CD94/NKG2 receptors, and methods of producing and using such constructs, are described. The constructs comprise soluble fragments of, each receptor monomer, and some constructs further comprise at least one immunoglobulin Fc domain. Exemplary constructs are those wherein (1) each soluble fragment is linked to an immunoglobulin Fc domain, which are then allowed to dimerize, (2) each soluble fragment is linked to an immunoglobulin Fc domain mutated to promote forced dimerization with the correct counterpart, and (3) single-chain constructs where the monomeric receptor fragments are linked, and the C-terminal fragment is linked to an Fc domain. |
| US07932054B2 |
Methods of using thermal tolerant avicelase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus
The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals. |
| US07932051B2 |
Blood and urine test
The present invention provides a test medium comprising a test microorganism, an indicator and a metal in ionized form, wherein the valence of said metal is at least 2 and the concentration of said metal is between 0.001 M and 1 M. Furthermore, there is provided a method for the determination of the presence of an antibiotic characterized in that a metal salt is added to said test medium and/or to said sample of fluid. Finally, there is provided a kit suitable for the determination of an antibiotic in a fluid. |
| US07932050B2 |
Enzymatic substrates derived from phenoxazinone and their use as developers in detection of microorganisms with peptidase activity
Enzymatic phenoxazinone substrates of formula (I): in reaction media containing the same are used for detecting, identifying and/or quantifying microorganisms expressing at least one peptidase activity. |
| US07932045B2 |
Method of isolating and proliferating autologous antigen-specific CD8+ T cell using anti-4-1BB antibodies
Provided are methods of isolating and proliferating antigen-specific CD8+ T cells using anti-4-1BB antibodies. The methods of isolating and proliferating CD8+ T cells may yield cells at a higher recovery rate than a conventional isolation method, and the isolation method using humanized anti-4-1BB antibodies may also yield cells at a high recovery rate. Further, in cell culture, cells may be grown at a high proliferation rate. The antigen-specific CD8+ T cells yielded according to the isolation and proliferation methods may be used to treat cancer without any side-effects. |
| US07932043B2 |
Use of monoclonal antibodies to distinguish protein conformational isoforms
Methods of preparing monoclonal antibodies that differentially bind to a single conformer of a protein of interest are described. Passive immunization using these antibodies as well as use of conformer-specific antibodies as diagnostic reagents for the purpose of stratification of patient populations with regards to disease outcome, drug efficacy or drug sensitivity is also disclosed as well as active immunization with the protein conformer. In the screening techniques, detection can be for example by tissue immunostaining, western blotting or solution IP. A specific mab termed 7VC which shows conformation specificity to CtmPrP, a prion protein conformer that triggers neurodegeneration under specific assay conditions of pH and copper concentration, is described. A second specific antibody termed 19B10 shows conformation specificity for NtmPrP, a prion protein conformer that downregulates total PrP expression and effects cell differentiation. |
| US07932040B2 |
Systems for genome selection
Systems, methods, compositions and apparatus relating to genome selection are disclosed. |
| US07932038B2 |
DNA collection sticker and method for isolating DNA from the sticker
The present invention relates a sticker for DNA collection and a method for isolating DNAs using the same. Particularly, the sticker for DNA collection is covered with a paint solution comprising EDTA, Tris, SDS and peyonine to isolate keratins exclusively when attached onto human skin and detached. Further, the specific sticker for DNA collection separates DNAs efficiently to amplify genes by using a PCR technique. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to identify a real child and investigate a crime with a fingerprint and to screen genetic diseases. |
| US07932028B2 |
Probe set, probe immobilized carrier and method for detecting microorganisms
A probe and a primer capable of collectively detecting microorganisms of the same species while differentiating microorganisms of other species with an object of classification by species of fungus. An oligonucleotide probe for detecting an infectious etiologic microorganism gene includes at least one base sequence selected from the base sequences belonging to one group of the following first to ninth groups. The base sequence groups of first to ninth groups are: first group (SEQ ID NOS:1 to 5); second group (SEQ ID NOS:6 to 10); third group (SEQ ID NOS:11 to 15); fourth group (SEQ ID NOS:16 to 21); fifth group (SEQ ID NOS:22 to 26); sixth group (SEQ ID NOS:27 to 31); seventh group (SEQ ID NOS:32 to 36); eighth group (SEQ ID NOS:37 to 41); and ninth group (SEQ ID NOS:42 to 46). |
| US07932026B2 |
EGFR mutations
The present invention relates to mutations in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and methods of detecting such mutations as well as prognostic methods method for identifying a tumors that are susceptible to anticancer therapy such as chemotherapy and/or kinase inhibitor treatment. The methods involve determining the presence of a mutated EGFR gene or mutated EGFR protein in a tumor sample whereby the presence of a mutated EGFR gene or protein indicates the tumor is susceptible to treatment. |
| US07932024B2 |
Method, chip, device and system for collection of biological particles
The present invention relates to a method, a chip, a device, and a system for collection of biological particles. The method makes use of electrostatic attraction of biological particles to charged electrodes and preferably operates with gaseous samples. The method, chip, device, and system are e.g. useful for collecting pathogenic biological particles, such as bacterial spores and vira, from air samples and allow for subsequent analysis of the collected biological particles. |
| US07932022B2 |
Dual-labeled molecular constructs for detection of biochemical reactions
The present invention relates to molecular constructs and methods of their use in detecting biochemical reactions. In particular, the invention relates to a molecular construct having a capture portion and a substrate portion, where the capture portion isolates the construct from a sample medium, and the substrate portion enables the construct to be acted upon and undergo a physical change which can be detected and measured. These molecular constructs may be used in diagnostic assays, genetic screening for potential risks of certain diseases in individuals, and drug discovery and toxicogenomics, using high throughput screening of compounds. |
| US07932018B2 |
Antireflective coating composition
The invention relates to an antireflective coating composition comprising a polymer, a crosslinker and a thermal acid generator, where the polymer comprises at least one unit of structure (1), at least one unit of structure (2) and at least one structure of structure (3), where R1 to R9 is independently selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl, R′ and R″ is independently selected from H and C1-C6 alkyl, X is C1-C6 alkylene, Y is C1-C6 alkylene. The invention further relates to a process for imaging a photoresist coated over the antireflective coating composition. |
| US07932011B2 |
Electrophotographic toner and manufacturing method thereof
An electrophotographic toner comprising a resin and a colorant, wherein: (i) a toner particle comprises a domain in the toner particle, the domain comprising a polar wax having a first polar group and a non-polar wax; and (ii) the resin contains a second polar group. |
| US07932009B2 |
Liquid developer and image forming apparatus
A liquid developer includes toner particles formed of a resin material and a coloring agent, and an insulation liquid in which the toner particles are dispersed, the insulation liquid containing ester-exchange oil obtained by an ester-exchange reaction of linseed oil and at least one of semidrying oil and nondrying oil. It is preferred that the insulation liquid further contains fatty acid monoester. Further, it is preferred that the amount of the fatty acid monoester contained in the insulation liquid is in the range of 5 to 50 wt %. |
| US07932004B1 |
Feature identification for metrological analysis
A method for selecting a set of features for monitoring a lithography process using a reticle, by identifying a set of candidate features, defining control regions around the candidate features, performing substrate level analysis using the reticle with different settings for the lithography process, determining which of the candidate features are most changed by the different settings, ranking the candidate features according to how much they are changed, and selecting the test set of features from those candidate features that are most changed. |
| US07932002B2 |
Reflection-type mask and method of making the reflection-type mask
To provide a reflection-type mask having a reduced shadowing effect, capable of phase shift exposure and having a shading frame of sufficient shading performance. The mask includes a substrate 11, a multilayer reflective film 12 which is formed above the substrate 11, and which reflects exposure light, a first photoabsorber layer 15 which is formed above the multilayer reflective film 12, and which absorbs the exposure light, a circuit pattern region 16 constituted, in conformity with a predetermined circuit pattern, of an opening formed as a result of removal of the first photoabsorber layer 15 and an absorbing portion where the first photoabsorber layer remains, and a shading region 18 having a reflectance with respect to the exposure light lower than that in the absorbing portion of the circuit pattern region 16. |
| US07932001B2 |
Method of fabricating halftone phase shift mask
A method of fabricating a halftone phase shift mask, comprising: forming a structure by sequentially stacking a light blocking layer pattern defining a side surface and a phase shift layer pattern over a light transmitting substrate; and treating the structure with heat to make the phase shift layer pattern flow and cover the side surface of the light blocking layer pattern. |
| US07931999B2 |
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and manufacturing method for electrode-membrane-frame assembly
In a manufacturing method for an electrode-membrane-frame assembly in a fuel cell, a first frame member and an electrolyte membrane member are arranged in a first mold for injection molding such that the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is arranged on the first frame member, a second mold is arranged to form a resin flow passage for forming a second frame member which is in contact with the first frame member by interposing the electrolyte membrane member, and a part of the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is pressed and fixed to the first frame member by a presser member mounted on the second mold and a molding resin material is injected into the resin flow passage to form a second frame member. |
| US07931998B2 |
Catalyst for fuel cell and fuel cell comprising the same
A catalyst for a fuel cell includes platinum. The catalyst has an oxide reduction potential (ORP) that is not less than 430 mV. The ORP is estimated by a cyclic voltammetry test using a saturation calomel electrode. |
| US07931994B2 |
Fuel cell system with recirculation system and purge valve
A fuel cell system which includes: a fuel cell (1); a supply system (Sc) for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell (1); a recirculation system (Rc) for recirculating unused fuel gas from the fuel cell (1), in which the fuel gas therein may contain nitrogen; a purge valve (8) for purging nitrogen contained in the fuel gas in the recirculation system (Rc); and a controller (100) for adjusting a valve opening of the purge valve (8) so that a nitrogen concentration of the fuel gas in the recirculation system (Rc) is kept constant. |
| US07931993B2 |
Method of preparation of bonded polyimide fuel cell package
Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuel cell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton™ polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuel cell system fabricated using this process is also described. |
| US07931992B2 |
Fuel cell system
Provided is a fuel cell system that include at least one fuel cell stack and at least one Venturi pump. The Venturi pump has a main inlet, a main outlet, and a secondary inlet. A main stream flows into the Venturi pump through the main inlet, and is mixed with a secondary stream, which flows into the Venturi pump through the secondary inlet. The fuel cell system of the present invention can include a carbon dioxide separator for separating water or fuel from exhaust outputted from the fuel cell stack, and a mixer for mixing fuel with water. In one embodiment, the Venturi pump can be installed between the carbon dioxide and the mixer. In another embodiment, the Venturi pump can be installed between the fuel cell stack and the carbon dioxide separator. In still another embodiment, the Venturi pump can be installed between the mixer and the fuel cell stack. More than one Venturi pump can be installed in the fuel cell system of the present invention. |
| US07931989B2 |
Thin-film batteries with soft and hard electrolyte layers and method
A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode's dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode's defects. The soft electrolyte layer both conducts ions across the gap between hard electrolyte layers and fills pinholes. |
| US07931986B2 |
Alkaline battery
An alkaline battery includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, and an alkaline electrolyte including potassium hydroxide. The positive electrode active material includes a manganese dioxide powder, and the negative electrode active material includes a zinc powder. In a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the manganese dioxide powder using CuKα radiation, the diffraction peak attributed to the (110) plane is in the range of 20.5° to 21.7°, and the ratio of the peak intensity of the (130) plane to the peak intensity of the (021) plane: I(130)/I(021) is 0.1 or less. |
| US07931985B1 |
Water soluble polymer binder for lithium ion battery
An electrode for a rechargeable lithium ion battery includes an electro-active material, a (polystyrenebutadiene rubber)-poly (acrylonitrile-co-acrylamide) polymer, and a conductive additive. A battery using the inventive electrode is also disclosed. |
| US07931984B2 |
Negative electrode for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
A negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same are provided. The negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a current collector, and a negative active material layer on the current collector. The negative active material layer includes an interpenetrating network network, and a negative active material in the interpenetrating network network. The interpenetrating network is formed by cross-linking a first polymer having a hydroxyl or amine group and a second polymer having a carboxylic acid group. The negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery minimizes volume expansion and imparts good cycle-life characteristics and initial formation efficiency. |
| US07931981B2 |
Separators for alkaline electrochemical cells
The present invention relates to a high capacity electrochemical cell having a cathode containing an oxide of copper as an active material, as well as an anode, an electrolyte, and separators for use with the cathodes of the invention in an alkaline electrochemical cell. |
| US07931977B2 |
Information storage media
The present invention relates to information storage media, and more particularly, to ultra-high density magnetic information storage media which comprises a plurality of discrete islands of magnetic material. |
| US07931967B2 |
Thermally foamable microsphere and production process thereof
The invention provides a thermally foamable microsphere having a structure with a foaming agent encapsulated in a shell formed of a polymer, wherein the shell contains an organosilicon compound, and a process for producing a thermally foamable microsphere having a structure with a foaming agent encapsulated in a shell formed of a polymer by suspension polymerization of a polymerizable mixture containing at least a foaming agent and a polymerizable monomer in an aqueous dispersion medium, wherein the polymerizable mixture is suspension polymerized in the presence of the organosilicon compound. |
| US07931966B2 |
Proppant material and formation hydraulic fracturing method
A proppant material is provided that is in the form of generally rigid, elastic plate-like particles having a maximum to minimum dimension ratio of more than about 5. The proppant may be formed from a corrosion resistant material or having a corrosion resistant material formed thereon. The plate-like particles may be substantially non-deformable and may be formed from stainless steel or carbon steel provided with a corrosion resistant coating. The particles may have a thickness of from about 100 to about 300 μm and may be in the form of a grating. A method of hydraulic fracturing in a formation penetrated by a wellbore is also provided wherein proppant material in the form of generally rigid, elastic plate-like particles having a maximum to minimum dimension ratio of more than about 5 are introduced into the wellbore. The particles may be formed from a corrosion resistant material or having a corrosion resistant material formed thereon. Non-plate-like proppant may be introduced into the wellbore in conjunction with the plate-like proppant. |
| US07931965B2 |
Cover tape for electronic component packing body and electronic component packing body
A cover tape for packaging electronic components is formed that causes no contamination of sealing bar due to the outflow of the cushion layer, and attains superior adhesion to the carrier tape. Embodiments include a cover tape, for packaging electronic components heat-sealable to a carrier tape for packaging electronic components, comprising: at least a base layer, a cushion layer formed of resin A, a following layer formed along the heat-seal layer of resin B, and a heat-sealing layer laminated in this order; wherein resin A has a Vicat softening temperature Ta measured in accordance with ISO 306 (rate of temperature increase:50° C./hour, load: 10N),and resin B comprises a linear low density polyethylene and has a Vicat softening temperature Tb measured in accordance with ISO 306 (rate of temperature increase:50° C./hour, load: 10N) satisfying the Relational Expression 1 below; and the thickness of the following layer is not smaller than 2 μm and not larger than 15 μm: Ta−Tb≧3(° C.). Relational Expression 1 |
| US07931960B2 |
Shaped bodies containing metal-organic frameworks
The present invention relates to shaped bodies containing a metal-organic framework material (MOF) as well as a process for the preparation thereof and their use especially as catalyst or storage medium. |
| US07931958B2 |
Prepreg and carbon fiber reinforced composite materials
A prepreg containing a carbon fiber [A] and a thermosetting resin [B], and in addition, satisfying at least one of the following (1) and (2). (1) a thermoplastic resin particle or fiber [C] and a conductive particle or fiber [D] are contained, and weight ratio expressed by [compounding amount of [C] (parts by weight)]/[compounding amount of [D] (parts by weight)] is 1 to 1000. (2) a conductive particle or fiber of which thermoplastic resin nucleus or core is coated with a conductive substance [E] is contained. |
| US07931948B2 |
Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel has front plate (2) and back plate (10) that are faced to each other. The front plate has a display electrode, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer on a front glass substrate, and the back plate has an address electrode, a barrier rib, and a phosphor layer on a back glass substrate. The periphery of the front and back plates is sealed with sealing material (50) to form discharge space. Sealing material (50) contains, as a glass component, bismuth oxide and at least one of molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide. |
| US07931945B2 |
Film forming method
The present invention provides a particle measuring system which is provided in a processing system 40 which generates an atmosphere obtained by exhausting air or a gas in a processing chamber 48 by a vacuum pump 98 and applies a process concerning semiconductor manufacture to a wafer W in the atmosphere, attached to an exhaust pipe 90 which connects an exhaust opening 86 of the processing chamber 48 with the vacuum pump 98, and measures the number of the particles in the exhaust gas, and a measuring method thereof, the system and method providing a processing system and a cleaning method which terminate etching process by determining an end point based on the number of the particles in the exhaust gas and perform cleaning of unnecessary films. |
| US07931937B2 |
System and method for depositing a material on a substrate
A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film. |
| US07931930B2 |
Delivery of active agents using a chocolate vehicle
This invention provides edible compositions comprising pharmaceutically or nutraceutically active agents in particulate form homogeneously dispersed in a fat matrix, such as chocolate or chocolate compound coating. |
| US07931928B2 |
Pellet drying process
A method for making an expandable half-product or pellet suitable for cooking by microwave oven (or other method such as frying) that results in a non-uniform, random design, while having a distinct pattern or style. The half product design is achieved by inducing stress cracks in the half product. The stress cracks are created by a controlled drying process whereby extruded half-products are first case hardened to create an outer skin that requires an internal build-up of pressure to penetrate. After creation of the outer skin, by drying in an oven or in ambient air, the half-product is heated to permit the vapor pressure of the moisture inside the half-product to break through the outer skin and escape. Such escape points induce stress cracks in random places in the half-product. The general pattern of the stress cracks can be varied by manipulation of the time-temperature profile of the case hardening and stress cracking steps. |
| US07931927B2 |
Preparation method of cooked rice with barley in aseptic packing system
The present invention relates to a method for preparing cooked rice with barley in an aseptic packing process, comprising mixing barley, which had been sterilization-treated and then dried, with non-glutinous rice. The method for preparing cooked rice with barley in an aseptic packing system according to the present invention is characterized in that by using barley that has been first gelatinized and then retrogradated, the cooked rice with barley has a reduced initial level of microorganisms in the barley, leading to excellent stability against microorganisms, a long storage life, of 6 months or longer at ambient temperature, excellent appearance, pleasant flavor, and soft, flexible, and sticky texture. |
| US07931924B2 |
Method of improving the properties of a flour dough, a flour dough improving composition and improved food products
A method of improving the rheological properties of a flour dough and the quality of the finished product made from such a dough, comprising adding an effective amount of an oxidoreductase capable of oxidizing maltose, in particular a hexose oxidase, e.g. isolated from an algal species such as Iridophycus flaccidum, Chondrus crispus or Euthora cristata and a dough improving composition comprising the oxidoreductase. |
| US07931921B2 |
Method of substantially preventing or inhibiting summer bentgrass decline
A method for substantially preventing or inhibiting summer bentgrass decline in an outdoor environment, by exposing bentgrass beds to increased amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The invention is particularly well suited for use in warm climates. It is expected to be useful in a variety of bentgrass applications, such as golf greens, pastures, lawns, athletic fields, and the like. Similar applications for other cool-season grasses are anticipated as well. |
| US07931920B2 |
Method for the isolation of nucleic acids from any starting material
A composition suitable for the isolation of a nucleic acid from a material containing the nucleic acid contains at least one buffer with a chaotropic component; at least one proteolytic enzyme; at least one buffer with an non-chaotropic component; at least one alcoholic component; and a detergent. |
| US07931916B2 |
Composition of biocompatible microparticles of alginic acid for the controlled release of active ingredients by intravenous administration
Composition of biocompatible microparticles of alginic acid for the controlled release of active ingredients by intravenous administration. The invention relates to a biocompatible composition which comprises microparticles of alginic acid or its salts and an active ingredient. More particularly, the invention relates to microparticles for the encapsulation of an active ingredient to be administered intravenously to a patient who needs it. These microparticles are of a combination of size sufficient to increase the half-life or survival of the active ingredient in blood, with a low uptake in the liver and a fast cell clearance when administered intravenously. |
| US07931915B2 |
Extended release venlafaxine formulation
A controlled release dosage form of venlafaxine that comprises an immediate release pellet and an extended release pellet. |
| US07931911B2 |
Pesticidal/ovicidal composition and pesticidal/ovicidal method
A pesticidal/ovicidal composition comprising: (a) 50-97.9 parts by mass of a triglyceride containing not less than 50% of oleic acid as a fatty acid component; (b) 0.1-20 parts by mass of a cationic surface active agent; and (c) 2-30 parts by mass of a glycerin derivative, and a pesticidal/ovicidal method using the same. The composition according to the invention has not only a pesticidal activity but also an ovicidal activity on crop pests, and provides a safe and high pesticidal/ovicidal effect. |
| US07931908B2 |
Chimeric MSP-based malaria vaccine
The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising MSPk-8 linked to an antigen. Methods of using the composition to induce an immune response in an animal are also provided. |
| US07931905B2 |
Cynomolgus gp80 receptor and uses thereof
Isolated polynucleotides encoding cynomolgus monkey gp80, polypeptides obtainable from expression of these polynucleotides, compositions, recombinant cells, methods of making and using these polynucleotides, polypeptides, and compositions are useful in development of human therapeutics. |
| US07931903B2 |
Internalizing anti-CD74 antibodies and methods of use
The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CD74 antibodies, CD74 antibody fusion proteins, immunoconjugates, vaccines and bispecific that bind to CD74, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II invariant chain, Ii, which is useful for the treatment and diagnosis of B-cell disorders, such as B-cell malignancies, other malignancies in which the cells are reactive with CD74, and autoimmune diseases, and methods of treatment and diagnosis. |
| US07931897B2 |
Therapeutic agent for hematopoietic tumors
An inducing agent or enhancing agent, for the expression of HM1.24 antigen in hematopoietic tumor cells, comprising interferon α, interferon γ, or the IRF-2 protein as an active ingredient, as well as an anti-tumor agent for hematopoietic tumors which comprises a combination of said inducing agent or enhancing agent and an antibody against HM1.24. |
| US07931893B2 |
Methods for producing and using in vivo pseudotyped retroviruses using envelope glycoproteins from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
The present invention provides novel pseudotyped retroviral vectors that can transduce human and other cells. Vectors are provided that are packaged efficiently in packaging cells and cell lines to generate high titer recombinant virus stocks expressing novel envelope glycoproteins. The present invention further relates to compositions for gene therapy. |
| US07931892B2 |
Compositions and methods for the maintenance of oral health
The invention provides compositions comprising one or more isolated LDH-deficient mutans streptococcus strains and one or more isolated S. oralis strains and/or one or more isolated S. uberis strains. Compositions of the invention are useful to maintain oral health, by for example treating and/or preventing one or more symptoms of dental caries, periodontitis and/or other oral cavity diseases or wounds. |
| US07931889B2 |
Method for producing hydrogen
A method for producing hydrogen from a light hydrocarbon gas with the hydrocarbon gas being converted to particulate carbon and hydrogen and thereafter quenched with liquid sulfur with the purified hydrogen being recovered as a product. |
| US07931886B2 |
Agglomeration of titania
According to the present invention there is provided a process for the agglomeration of titania slag particles comprising providing titania slag at a d50 particle size of below 106 μm; mixing the slag particles with an organic binder; and agglomerating the mixture of the slag particles and organic binder into agglomerated particles with a d50 particle size in the range from 106 μm to 1000 μm. The agglomerated particles have a (TiO2 and FeO)/C mass ratio of more than 3.4. The invention also relates to such agglomated slag particles and a chloride process for the production of TiO2 wherein such agglomerated titania slag particles are used. |
| US07931885B2 |
Method of preparing carbon nanotube complexes
A method of fabricating carbon nanotube complex is disclosed, which comprises, (A) dispersing carbon nanotubes in a solvent; (B) adding a filler to the above solution to give a precursor solution; (C) performing light illumination on the precursor solution; (D) washing the solution after light exposure; and (E) drying to evaporate the solvent contained in the solution. Therefore, the carbon nanotube complex of the present invention is obtained. |
| US07931884B2 |
Welding of carbon single-walled nanotubes by microwave treatment
Methods and processes for preparing interconnected carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) are disclosed. The SWNTs soot, synthesized by any one of the art methods, is heated to less than about 1250° C. in flowing dry air using the electrical field (E) component of microwave energy. The tubes of the SWNTs thus treated become welded and interconnected. |
| US07931883B2 |
Silicon feedstock for solar cells
The silicon feedstock for solar cells is made from metallurgical grade silicon by the successive steps of treating the silicon with a calcium-silicate slag, solidifying the treated silicon, leaching the solid silicon with acid, remelting the leached silicon, resolidifying the remelted silicon into an ingot, removing the upper part of the ingot and then crushing and sizing. |
| US07931878B2 |
Waste processing
Disinfection of waste can be carried out by first cutting the waste into small pieces to expose surfaces in the waste and then simultaneously spraying the waste pieces with disinfectant and agitating them. The waste pieces are agitated by applying sufficient vacuum to suck the waste pieces through a processing system, the vacuum creating a wind inside the system that sweeps up the waste pieces, suspends them in air, and keeps them separate from one another, thereby exposing substantially all surfaces of the waste pieces to the sprayed disinfectant. |
| US07931877B2 |
Needleless hub disinfection device
A device for disinfecting a portion of an implement such as a needleless hub or injection port. The device includes a body shaped to engage the implement with the portion to be disinfected exposed. A disinfectant area is located on the body so as to permit pivotal displacement of the area relative to the body such that in a first orientation the portion to be disinfected is exposed and in a second orientation the portion to be disinfected is covered and the disinfectant area engages the portion to be disinfected. |
| US07931871B2 |
Inner tray for a chamber
The invention concerns an inner tray, arranged inside a chamber, comprising a plurality of parallel beams (1), located in a common horizontal plane and fixed through their ends to the wall of the chamber, and, between said beams and supported thereby, rows of adjacent rectangular plates (2), completely covering the space between the beams. The invention is characterized in that the supporting edges (3) of the plates (2) through which the latter are supported on the beams (1), are folded downwards by two substantially right-angled folds, and in that each of the edges (4) of the plates (2), perpendicular to the beams (1) is folded so as to form a female part (4a) or a male part (4b) capable of being respectively nested in a male (4b) or female (4a) part formed by the folded edge of the adjacent plate. The invention also concerns a chamber containing such a tray. |
| US07931866B2 |
Micelle-controlled nanoparticle synthesis for SERS
The methods and apparatus disclosed herein concern nanoparticle layers uniformly distributed on a surface or substrate. In certain embodiments of the invention, the nanoparticle layers are of use for Raman spectroscopy. In certain embodiments of the invention, a micelle-metal ion complex is formed and deposited on a surface. The polymer component of the micelle-metal ion complex may be removed resulting in formation of nanoparticles of a uniform size and distribution. The polymers may contain one or more ligands. The number and type of ligands in a micelle will determine the type and amount of metal ion bound to the micelle, in turn determining the metal composition and size of the nanoparticles. The distribution micelle-metal ion complexes on a surface may determine the distribution and periodicity of the nanoparticle layer. In other embodiments, rod or columnar-shaped nanoparticles may be generated. Other embodiments concern the generation of uniform alloy nanoparticles. |
| US07931865B2 |
Apparatus for determining total organic carbon
An apparatus which comprises: an organic-substance oxidation part in which organic substances contained in a sample water supplied are oxidized into carbon dioxide; a carbon dioxide separation part in which the carbon dioxide contained in the sample water is caused to permeate and come into a measurement water; and a conductivity measurement part in which the conductivity of the measurement water is measured. The carbon dioxide separation part comprises: a sample water channel in which sample water flows; an intermediate water part in which intermediate water having a higher pH value in a neutral region than the sample water is present; and a measurement water channel through which the measurement water comprising deionized water flows. The sample water channel is in contact with the intermediate water part through a gas-permeable membrane, and the intermediate water part is in contact with the measurement water channel through a gas-permeable membrane. |
| US07931860B1 |
Waste treatment apparatus and method
An apparatus for treating waste comprises a gravity drop steam heating tower for heating the waste to the biological kill temperature using pressurized steam, a first feed member for feeding the waste to be sterilized to the gravity drop steam heating tower, and a vaporization system. The vaporization system includes a heating chamber for facilitating vaporization of liquids in the waste, a conveying member for conveying the waste from the lower end portion of the gravity drop steam heating tower into and through the heating chamber, and a vaporization chamber for receiving the waste from the heating chamber and for releasing vapor entrained in the waste into the vaporization chamber. |
| US07931853B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for conversion bonding of precursor subcomponents into a unitary monolith
A process for converting precursor objects into a unitary ceramic object produces, for example, a ceramic, optical scan mirror that is formed from at least two pieces. An optical section has at least one optical surface and at least one attachment surface, and a support section has at least one attachment surface and preferably has a mounting area. The optical and support sections are formed as separate pieces from a precursor material, such as graphite, such that a selected support section can receive any of a plurality of optical sections having different sizes, shapes, or orientations. To form the mirror, the attachment surfaces are placed adjacent each other, and then the sections are converted simultaneously to a ceramic material, such as silicon carbide, to form a monolithic scan mirror. |
| US07931852B2 |
Process and apparatus for reinforced polymer composites
A method for structurally reinforcing a part is disclosed. The method comprising forming a part into a desired shape; placing the part on a holding fixture; introducing a substrate lay-up of a reinforcing material onto at least a portion of the part; placing a flexible sheet impermeable to a resin of the reinforcing material over a portion of the part having the substrate lay-up of said reinforcing material placed on the part, wherein the flexible sheet includes at least one injection port; evacuating all air and vapor from a pocket between the flexible sheet and the part; introducing the resin of the reinforcing material into the pocket through the at least one injection port; allowing the substrate and the resin of the reinforcing material to cure at least partially; and, removing the flexible sheet from the part. |
| US07931847B2 |
Injection molding of part having nonuniform thickness
Injection molding of a part having a nonuniform thickness is provided. One disclosed embodiment of an injection molding device includes one or more side walls, a first mold surface intersecting the side walls and being stationary with respect to the side walls, and a second mold surface intersecting the side walls so as to define with the side walls and the first mold surface a cavity configured to receive a metered amount of injected molten thermoplastic material. The second mold surface is moveable toward the first mold surface in such a manner that a first end of the second mold surface moves a larger physical travel distance toward the first mold surface than does a second end of the second mold surface during a molding process. |
| US07931846B2 |
Method to control an atmosphere between a body and a substrate
Systems to control an atmosphere about a substrate are described. The systems include a wall coupled to the substrate to create a resistance of the flow between different regions of the substrate. |
| US07931845B2 |
Gravity injection of molding material for compression molding and related methods
A molding apparatus includes a bottom platen, a bottom mold portion carried by the bottom platen, and a top platen overlying the bottom platen and the bottom mold portion. The top platen includes slots extending therethrough for receiving a molding material. The molding material is to be gravity deposited into the bottom mold portion. A top mold portion is carried by the top platen and is moveable between a molding material loading position and an article forming position. An actuator is coupled to the top mold portion for moving the top mold portion between the molding material loading position and the article forming position. The molding material loading position corresponds to when the top mold portion is non-overlying the bottom mold portion so that the molding material can be gravity deposited therein. The article forming position corresponds to when the top mold portion is overlying the bottom mold portion for molding an article. |
| US07931841B2 |
Microreplicated article
A microreplicated article is disclosed. The article includes an opaque web having first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. The first microreplicated structure and the second microreplicated structure retain registration within 100 micrometers. |
| US07931839B2 |
Method of manufacturing composite single-tubed structures having ports
A method of manufacturing a structure using a single, hollow primary tube, preferably of a composite material, wherein ports are bonded to the walls of the hollow tube through aligned holes on opposite sides of the hollow tube. The ports improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics, and aesthetics of the structure. |
| US07931835B2 |
Heater control for cotton candy spinner head
Within a cotton candy machine a delay-on-break delay timer is used to delay the de-energization of the spinner-head motor for a predetermined period of time after the heater elements are turned off. Thus, while the heater elements are cooling down, the motor and spinner head continue to rotate. Once the heater elements are cooled to the point where they cannot melt or burn the sugar, then the motor can be de-energized and the spinner head allowed to stop. |
| US07931834B2 |
Process for formation and collection of particles using cryogenic material
A process for the formation of particles of a target material is disclosed, comprising: (i) introducing the target material into a particle formation vessel, and forming a continuous liquid surface of the target material in the particle formation vessel, and an interface between said liquid surface of the target material and additional gaseous contents of said particle formation vessel; (ii) introducing a stream of cryogenic material including solid particles of cryogenic material into the particle formation vessel and into contact with the target material in a liquid state below the continuous liquid surface; (iii) allowing rapid volumetric expansion of the cryogenic material into a gaseous state while in contact with the target material in a liquid state, and release of the expanded gaseous cryogenic material through the continuous liquid surface, and forming liquid droplet particles of the target material; and (iv) collecting the formed particles of the target material. |
| US07931831B2 |
Optical waveguide substrate manufacturing method
A voltage is applied on an interdigitated electrode provided on one main face of a single-domain ferroelectric single crystal substrate to form a periodic domain inversion structure. The interdigitated electrode is then removed. The optical waveguide is then formed in the substrate. An optical intensity center P1 of the optical waveguide is kept away from a location P0 of the end of the interdigitated electrode. |
| US07931829B2 |
Low-K interlevel dielectric materials and method of forming low-K interlevel dielectric layers and structures
A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature. |
| US07931828B2 |
Gas turbine engine and method including composite structures with embedded integral electrically conductive paths
A gas turbine engine and method of fabrication includes a gas turbine engine with a structure having movable portions and static portions. At least a portion of the structure includes a composite material having an electrically conductive path formed from carbon nanotubes configured for conducting electrical signals therealong. |
| US07931822B2 |
Compositions and methods for wastewater treatment
Methods and compositions utilizing aluminum, magnesium, and calcium-based additives for the treatment and neutralization of wastewater are described for removing contaminants from wastewater, including reducing phosphorous-containing compounds, total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), fats, oils, and greases (FOG), and total Kjedahl nitrogen (TKN) are described. Methods and compositions to control pH, sulfur and sodium loads present in wastewater and precipitatable solids are described. Concentrations of aluminum, magnesium, and calcium-based additives are maintained at mass action concentrations to the wastewater component levels present in the wastewater and bracketed approximately +/−0.5 pH units about the pK value of the soluble, buffering species. |
| US07931819B2 |
Method for pattern formation
There is provided a method for pattern formation, including a step of coating a composition comprising a block copolymer, a silicon compound, and a solvent for dissolving these components onto an object to form a layer of the composition on the object, a step of subjecting the layer of the composition to self-organization of the block copolymer to cause phase separation into a first phase, in which the silicon compound is localized, having higher etching resistance by heat treatment or/and oxygen plasma treatment, and a second phase comprising a polymer phase and having lower etching resistance by heat treatment or/and oxygen plasma treatment, and thereby forming a pattern layer with a fine pattern, and a step of etching the object using as a mask the thus formed pattern layer. |
| US07931817B2 |
Additive dispensing device and a thermally activated additive dispensing filter having the additive dispensing device
An additive dispensing device is provided. The additive dispensing device includes a reservoir configured to contain a supply of an additive. The reservoir is in fluid communication with a dispensing chamber of a metering valve device by a first one-way valve. The metering valve device is configured to dispense a portion of the additive from the dispensing chamber into a housing by a second one-way valve. The additive dispensing device further includes a thermal expanding member disposed in the dispensing chamber. The thermal expanding member is configured to expand and contract between expanded and contracted positions, respectively, in response to temperature. The thermal expanding member decreases a pressure in the dispensing chamber as the thermal expanding member moves toward the contracted position, such that additive is drawn from the reservoir into the dispensing chamber through the first one-way valve. The thermal expanding member increases the pressure in the dispensing chamber as the thermal expanding member moves toward the expanded position, such that additive previously drawn from the reservoir chamber into the dispensing chamber is dispensed through the second one-way valve. |
| US07931812B2 |
TiO2 nanostructures, membranes and films, and applications of same
The present invention relates to applications of TiO2-containing, macro-sized nanostructures in the fields including photocatalysis, information writing-erasing-rewriting, microfiltration, controlled drug release, and tire making. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of photocatalytically decomposing organic pollutants. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of mixing a solution containing organic pollutants and a plurality of TiO2-containing, macro-sized nanostructures to form a mixture and exposing the mixture to UV irradiation to decompose the organic pollutants. |
| US07931811B2 |
Dielectric barrier reactor having concentrated electric field
A fluid treatment device and method are provided for generating an electric field across a gap between first and second electrode and for concentrating the electric field within a fluid treatment chamber located in the gap. |
| US07931802B2 |
Water treatment system
A water treatment system having a biological treatment step (a secondary treatment step) and a membrane separation step (a tertiary treatment step), wherein a portion of the raw water to be treated and/or a portion of the primarily treated water in the pretreatment step are biologically treated and supplied into a reaction tank in the membrane separation step as the main channel system, while the remainder the raw water to be treated and/or the remainder of the primarily treated water in the pretreatment step are added together with a flocculating agent to the reaction tank in the membrane separation step, and then the membrane separation is conducted in the membrane separation step. |
| US07931798B2 |
Hydroconversion process for petroleum resids by hydroconversion over carbon supported metal catalyst followed by selective membrane separation
A heavy residual petroleum feed boiling above 650° F.+ (345° C.+) is subjected to hydroconversion at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure not normally higher than 500 psig (3500 kPag) using a dispersed metal-on-carbon catalyst to produce a hydroconverted effluent which is fractionated to form a low boiling fraction and a relatively higher boiling fraction which is subjected to membrane separation to produce a permeate which is low in metals and Microcarbon Residue (MCR) as well as a retentate, containing most of the MCR and metals. The process has the advantage that the hydroconversion may be carried out in low pressure equipment with a low hydrogen consumption as saturation of aromatics is reduced. |
| US07931797B2 |
Systems and methods for producing a crude product
A process for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstock is disclosed. The process operates in once-through mode, employing a plurality of contacting zones and at least a separation zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products. In the once-through upgrade system, little if any of the unconverted material and slurry catalyst mixture is recycled back to the system for further upgrading. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the heavy oil feedstock. The slurry catalyst feed comprises an active metal catalyst having an average particle size of at least 1 micron in a hydrocarbon oil diluent, at a concentration of greater than 500 wppm of active metal catalyst to heavy oil feedstock. |
| US07931795B2 |
Process for the on-site production of chlorine and high strength sodium hypochlorite
The present invention relates to a novel economical on-site electrochemical based membrane cell based process with the capability of producing high strength sodium hypochlorite and/or elemental chlorine gas in any ratio as required by the needs of a water or wastewater treatment plant. The system is compact and modular, using membrane cell based electrolyzers and utilizing novel process modifications and sensors to allow for the unattended control and safe operation of the process. The process allows the operator to produce elemental chlorine gas and sodium hypochlorite in any product ratio, such that 5% to 100% of the total chlorine produced by the process can be converted to high strength bleach. The process has the flexibility to produce stable high quality, low to high strength sodium hypochlorite solutions in concentrations ranging from about 2 to 15% trade as NaOCl. |
| US07931794B2 |
Method and system for electrolytic fabrication of atomic clock cells
The present invention relates to a method and system for electrolytic fabrication of cells. A cell can be formed of a silicon layer (cathode) sandwiched between layers of glass. One or more holes are formed in the silicon layer. An alkali metal enriched glass material is placed in or associated with the one or more holes. Electrolysis is used to make the alkali metal ions in the alkali metal enriched glass material combine with electrons from the silicon cathode to form neutral alkali metal atoms in the one or more holes. |
| US07931790B2 |
Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels
A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microehannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids. |
| US07931789B2 |
Device for charging separation buffer liquid to microchip, and microchip processing device equipped with the charging device, electrophoresis method in capillary channel and its microchip processing device
In a separation buffer solution filling device, a microchip is arranged such reservoirs are opened on a surface on respective ends of channels including at least a main separation channel in which analysis is performed while a solution moves inside a plate-like member, and the reservoirs face upward. The filling device fills separation buffer solution into the channels by supplying air from an air supply port which is pushed while maintaining air-tightness onto a top of the reservoir filled with the separation buffer solution on either end of said channels. The air supply port is an opening on a front end of an air cylinder, and has a seal part on that opening. The filling device is pushed onto the reservoir while maintaining air-tightness by that seal part. |
| US07931787B2 |
Electron-assisted deposition process and apparatus
Previous limitations in utilizing energetic vapor deposition means are addressed through the introduction of a novel means of vapor deposition, namely, an Electron-Assisted Deposition (EAD) process and apparatus. The EAD mode of film growth disclosed herein is generally achieved by, first, forming a magnetic field that possesses field lines that intersect electrically non-grounded first and second surfaces, wherein at least one surface is a workpiece, thereby forming a magnetic trap between first and second surfaces; second, introducing a high flux of electrons axially into the magnetic field existing between the first and second surfaces, so that the electrons form an electron-saturated space-charge in the space adjacent to the substrate, wherein plasma interactions with the substrate are substantially avoided, and modification of film growth processes is provided predominantly by electron—rather than plasma—bombardment. |
| US07931782B2 |
Method for recovering a liquid medium and system for recover a liquid medium
A method of recovering a liquid medium from a mixture containing the liquid medium, the method including: (a) blowing a first gas into the mixture containing the liquid medium to vaporize the liquid medium, in a first vaporizing means, thereby to form a second gas containing which is a mixture of the first gas and vaporized liquid medium; (b) continuously dropwise feeding the mixture containing the liquid medium into a second vaporizing means and counter-flowingly contacting the mixture containing the liquid medium, with the second gas to vaporize additional liquid medium to form a third gas which is a mixture of the second gas and additional vaporized liquid medium; and (c) feeding the third gas into a condensing means to condense the vaporized liquid medium into a liquid and separate the first gas, which is then blown into the first vaporizing means in step (a). |
| US07931781B2 |
Advanced dewatering system
A system for drying one of a tissue and a hygiene web including a drying apparatus, a permeable structured fabric, a permeable dewatering fabric and a mechanism for applying pressure. The permeable structured fabric carries the web over the drying apparatus. The permeable dewatering fabric contacts the web and is guided over the drying apparatus. The mechanism for applying pressure, applies pressure to the permeable structured fabric, the web, and the permeable dewatering fabric at the drying apparatus. |
| US07931777B2 |
Multi-layer web formation section
A multi-layer web formation section has two successive wire units (300, 310) with a common wire (11). A first headbox (100) supplies fiber pulp to the first wire unit (300) forming a first partial web (W1). A second headbox (110) supplies a new fiber pulp layer to the forward end of the second wire unit (310) atop the first partial web. A first non-pulsating dewatering zone (Z1b) in the forward end of a two-wire stretch of the second wire unit (310) has a first formation shoe (200b) with a curved cap (201) placed on the side of the new layer having openings (202) extending through the cap (201) with an under-pressure (P) affecting therethrough. A two-wire stretch of the second wire unit (310) has a second pulsating dewatering zone (Z2b) formed by fixed dewatering lists (210b), between which there are gaps (220b) and an under-pressure (Pb) affecting in these. |
| US07931774B2 |
Acrylic adhesives containing an amine plasticizer
Acrylic adhesives containing an acrylic polymer and a plasticizer are provided. The acrylic polymer includes copolymerized monomers of a first alkyl acrylate, a second alkyl acrylate, and a vinyl carboxylic acid. The alkyl group of the first alkyl acrylate has at least 4 carbon atoms, and the alkyl group of the second alkyl acrylate has 1-3 carbon atoms. The plasticizers include a di-ethoxylated tertiary amine segment. |
| US07931769B2 |
Method of forming temporary carrier structure and associated release techniques
A method of forming a temporary carrier structure is disclosed which includes forming a plurality of recesses in a carrier structure, the recesses extending to a depth that is less than a thickness of the carrier structure, forming a dissolvable material in the recesses and above a first surface of the carrier structure, securing a thin substrate above the first surface of the carrier structure using the dissolvable material to secure the thin substrate in place, performing at least one process operation on a second surface of the carrier structure to expose the dissolvable material in the recesses and contacting the exposed dissolvable material with a release agent so as to dissolve at least a portion of the dissolvable material. |
| US07931764B1 |
Desensitization of metastable intermolecular composites
A method to substantially desensitize a metastable intermolecular composite material to electrostatic discharge and friction comprising mixing the composite material with an organic diluent and removing enough organic diluent from the mixture to form a mixture with a substantially putty-like consistency, as well as a concomitant method of recovering the metastable intermolecular composite material. |
| US07931763B2 |
Burn rate sensitization of solid propellants using a nano-titania additive
Adding nanoparticles as a catalyst to solid propellant fuel to increase and enhance burn rates of the fuel by up to 10 times or more and/or modifying the pressure index. A preferred embodiment uses TiO2 nanoparticles mixed with a solid propellant fuel, where the nanoparticles are approximately 2% or less of total propellant mixture. The high surface to volume ratio of the nanoparticles improve the performance of the solid propellant fuel. |
| US07931762B1 |
Electrostatic charge dissipation compositions including energetic particles
An electrostatic charge dissipation composition having at least one energetic particle component and at least one oxidized electrically active polymer deposited on the energetic component. In another embodiment, the electrostatic charge dissipation composition includes at least one energetic particle component, at least one non-conducting polymer binder, and at least one oxidized electrically active polymer deposited on the energetic/binder composition. |
| US07931761B2 |
Micro thruster, micro thruster array and polymer gas generator
Disclosed is a gas generating polymer compound that when irradiated with light or other radiation sources makes a solid to gas phase transition due to chemically catylized degradation, irradiative degradation or both. This provides a low cost, stable and easily manufactured means of gas production. Also disclosed are possible uses for the gas generator such as a low cost micro thruster. |
| US07931759B2 |
Metal alloy compositions and articles comprising the same
Improved compositions are described for the protection of gas turbine parts at elevated temperatures. The compositions are of the MCrAlY type, wherein M is Nickel, or Nickel in combination with cobalt and/or iron. The compositions further comprise a lanthanide, a group 4 metal selected from hafnium, zirconium, titanium, or a combination of these, and optionally, a group 14 element selected from silicon and/or germanium. The combination results in improved Al retention properties. Also disclosed herein are articles comprising the coatings. |
| US07931757B2 |
Seamless steel pipe for line pipe and a process for its manufacture
A thick-walled seamless steel pipe for line pipe which has a high strength and improved toughness and corrosion resistance in spite of the thick wall and which is suitable for use as a riser and flow line has a chemical composition comprising, in mass percent, C: 0.02-0.08%, Si: at most 0.5%, Mn: 1.5-3.0%, Al: 0.001-0.10%, Mo: greater than 0.4%-1.2%, N: 0.002-0.015%, at least one of Ca and REM in a total amount of 0.0002-0.007%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities, with the impurities having the content of P: at most 0.05%, S: at most 0.005%, and O: at most 0.005%, the chemical composition satisfying the inequality: 0.8≦[Mn]×[Mo]≦2.6, wherein [Mn] and [Mo] are the numbers equivalent to the contents of Mn and Mo, respectively, in mass percent. |
| US07931748B2 |
Systems and methods for the production of highly tetrahedral amorphous carbon coatings
The invention provides systems and methods for the deposition of an improved diamond-like carbon material, particularly for the production of magnetic recording media. The diamond-like carbon material of the present invention is highly tetrahedral, that is, it features a large number of the sp3 carbon-carbon bonds which are found within a diamond crystal lattice. The material is also amorphous, providing a combination of short-range order with long-range disorder, and can be deposited as films which are ultrasmooth and continuous at thicknesses substantially lower than known amorphous carbon coating materials. The carbon protective coatings of the present invention will often be hydrogenated. In a preferred method for depositing of these materials, capacitive coupling forms a highly uniform, selectively energized stream of ions from a dense, inductively ionized plasma. Such inductive ionization is enhanced by a relatively slow moving (or “quasi-static”) magnetic field, which promotes resonant ionization and ion beam homogenization. |
| US07931747B2 |
Hydrophobized cement-containing compositions
The present invention relates to cement-containing compositions which are characterized in that they have a proportion of organosilicon compounds of greater than 0.15% by weight, based on the proportion of cement, the organosilicon compounds being based on at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of the alkoxysilanes and at least one selected from the group consisting of the alkoxysiloxanes, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof. |
| US07931742B2 |
Biocidal Structural Barrier (BSB)
A biocidal structural barrier of a raw concrete or a structure made of concrete is provided containing a specific insecticidal biocide product and/or a repellent that has been incorporated throughout the mass. The invention is particularly suitable for the building and construction sector and more particularly for concrete structures located close to the soil or in the soil (slab, foundations, buried walls, prefabricated concrete blocks, etc.). The preferred insecticide for protection against termites is chlorfenapyr. |
| US07931736B2 |
Pre-purification unit of cryogenic air separation unit, hydrocarbon adsorbent, and method of pre-treating feed air
A hydrocarbon adsorbent that includes a zeolite with either a H-FER structure or a MOR structure in which the pore diameter has been adjusted by ion exchange. A propane adsorbent that includes a zeolite with a MFI structure. A hydrocarbon removal unit that includes a TSA pre-purification unit having a column packed with sequential layers of activated alumina, a NaX zeolite, and the hydrocarbon adsorbent. A method of reducing the hydrocarbon content within liquid oxygen inside a cryogenic air separation unit that includes purifying feed air with the above pre-purification unit. |
| US07931733B2 |
Method of producing hypoxic environments in occupied compartments with simultaneous removal of excessive carbon dioxide and humidity
A method and a system for providing a hypoxic environment inside an enclosed compartment with simultaneous removal of carbon dioxide and moisture produced by occupants; said method and system designed for fire prevention and for simulated altitude training, wellness and hypoxic therapy, including equine and other animal applications. |
| US07931732B2 |
Method and apparatus for carrying out a metallurgical process
A metallurgical process involves providing an ingredient enclosure and placing a plurality of granules of a first material in the ingredient enclosure. The first material contains a first ingredient in a metallurgical process. A metallurgical process furnace having a chamber in which ingredients for the metallurgical process are added is provided and the ingredient enclosure and the first material are added to the chamber. The chamber is heated after the addition of the ingredient enclosure and the first material to the chamber, although it may also be heated prior to such addition. In one form, the granules comprise mill scale and the metallurgical process furnace is a blast furnace. |
| US07931731B2 |
Process for production of elemental iron
A process to prepare elemental iron by contacting an iron ore feed with a reducing gas at a pressure of between 1 and 10 bar to obtain iron and an off-gas includes preparing the reducing gas by performing the following steps: (a) partially oxidizing a mixture comprising a solid or liquid carbonaceous fuel and oxygen at a pressure of between 10 and 80 bar, thereby obtaining a gas comprising H2 and CO; (b) removing CO2 and H2S from the gas obtained in step (a) to obtain an intermediate gas comprising H2 and CO; (c) supplying the intermediate gas obtained in step (b) to a H2-selective membrane to obtain a H2-rich permeate gas and a CO-rich retentate; and (d) heating H2-rich permeate to obtain a heated H2-rich permeate as the reducing gas. |
| US07931730B2 |
Method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles, comprising: dissociating at least one metal precursor selected from the group consisting of silver, gold and palladium; reducing the dissociated metal precursor; and isolating the capped metal nanoparticles with an alkyl amine. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles which can be performed with simpler equipment compared to the gas phase method, can provide metal nanoparticles in high yield by only using alkyl amine without using any surfactant in high concentration which further allows mass production, and can provide metal nanoparticles having high dispersion stability and uniform size of 1-40 nm. |
| US07931723B2 |
Filter assembly with pleated media pockets, and methods
A panel filter for removal of contaminants from a gas, the panel filter having at least one V-pocket formed of two halves, each half composed of multiple pleats of filter media. The pleats extend generally parallel, often at an angle of less than 5 degrees or even less than 1 degree, to the overall filtration path, so that air or gas to the filtered passes through the pleats in a generally straight manner, with minimal bends. Each pleat has two legs of different length. The panel filter provides improved dust collection and retention while restricting pressure drop. |
| US07931718B2 |
Oil mist separator
An oil mist separator includes a body inside which a filtering chamber is formed for a filtering unit made up with several centrifugal dust collectors. With an air intake unit, the outside oil mist is sent into the filtering chamber. Then, the centrifugal dust collectors are used to cause a spiral airstream. With a centrifugal force caused by the spiral airstream, the oil mist is made to separate from the air. Next, the filtered air of zero pollution is vented to the atmosphere, and the separated oil mist is collected and recycled. Thus, the oil mist may be separated and the recycled oil mist may be made into a low-level oil product or a release agent used in the building industry for achievement of the effect of environmental protection. |
| US07931717B2 |
Vacuum cleaner with a removable cyclone array
A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a dirt inlet, a handle, a first cyclonic cleaning stage, a second cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel and a plurality of dirt collection chambers that are emptied concurrently, and the first cleaning stage is removed from the second cleaning stage prior to emptying the plurality of dirt collection chambers and, an air flow motor. |
| US07931713B2 |
Chemical mechanical planarization pad
A Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) Pad. The CMP pad may be hydrophobic due to the incorporation of metal complexing agents. The CMP pad substantially retaining planarization characteristics throughout planarization applications. Shearing, hardness, wearing, water absorption and electrical characteristics of the CMP pad remain substantially constant during CMP applications. |
| US07931711B2 |
Methods for supercritical water reformation of fuels and generation of hydrogen using supercritical water
Methods for using supercritical water to convert hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, or gasoline, into carbonaceous gases and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream generated by the fuel reforming reaction can then be further refined to increase hydrogen content, and the resultant hydrogen can be utilized to power fuel cells. |
| US07931710B2 |
Steam generator to contain and cool synthesis gas
A steam generator used to contain and cool the synthesis gas produced by coal gasification processes employs radiant and convection surfaces, and an integral gasifier, in a specific arrangement to achieve a cost-effective, compact design. |
| US07931708B2 |
Reformer burner
A reformer burner that includes a fuel supply tube through which a fuel is supplied and a fuel supply chamber that surrounds the fuel supply tube and has a plurality of atomizing holes to atomize a fuel into a combustion chamber of a reformer. |
| US07931704B2 |
Universal synthetic gasoline fuel conditioner additive, method and product-by-process
A process of producing a universal synthetic based gasoline fuel additive that cleans the fuel system including valves surface, lubricates the fuel pump, injectors and valves while allowing for a clean and more efficient burn. A major portion will consist of (a) Alfa-Olefins, (b) 2-propanol (c) Hydroisomerized High VI HT Base Oils, (d) Dimethyl Ketones, (e) Low Flash Mineral Spirits, (f) Low Aromatic Solvent, (g) Isomer Reformate, (h) Solvent Activated Dye. In a preferred embodiment, this universal synthetic gasoline conditioner additive for improving lubrication comprises: alpha-olefins comprising from 5 to 30 percent thereof, by weight; low odor aromatic solvents comprising from 3 to 27 percent thereof, by weight; 2-Propanol comprising of 3 to 30 percent thereof, by weight; and at least one a base oil comprising from 0.50 to 15 percent thereof, by weight; wherein: the percentages by weight are specified in relative proportion to one another. |
| US07931696B2 |
Cationic dyes
Disclosed are dyes of formula wherein D is the radical of anthraquinone, acridine, azo, azomethine, hydrazomethine, benzodifuranone, coumarine, diketopyrrolopyrrol, dioxaxine, diphenylmethane, formazane, indigoid, indophenol, naphtalimide, naphthaquinone, nitroaryl, merocyanine, methine, oxazine, perinone, perylene, pyrenequinone, phtalocyanine, phenazine, quinoneimine, quinacridone, quinophtalone, stilbene, styryl, triphenylmethane, xanthene, thiazine dye and thioxanthene dye; and Q is defined herein. |
| US07931695B2 |
Compliant osteosynthesis fixation plate
A bendable polymer tissue fixation device suitable to be implanted into a living body, comprising a highly porous body, the porous body comprising a polymer, the porous body comprising a plurality of pores, the porous body being capable of being smoothly bent, wherein the bending collapses a portion of the pores to form a radius curve, the polymer fixation device being rigid enough to protect a tissue from shifting. In a preferred embodiment the polymer fixation device may be capable of being gradually resorbed by said living body. In one embodiment, the polymer fixation device comprises a plurality of layers distinguishable by various characteristics, such as structural or chemical properties. In another embodiment, the polymer fixation device may comprise additional materials; the additional materials serving to reinforce or otherwise alter the structure or physical characteristics of the device, or alternatively as a method of delivering therapy or other agents to the system of a living being. |
| US07931694B2 |
Stomach peristalsis device and method
The invention relates to an implantable stomach prosthesis for surgically replacing or augmenting all or part of the antrum and/or pylorus of a stomach. The prosthesis controls the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. The prosthesis may be configured to churn ingested material and release it from the stomach through a prosthetic pyloric valve. At least one expandable member is arranged to be expanded to control the passage of food and/or to mimic the churning action of a patient's stomach. The prosthesis includes an outer support structure, a flexible inner member forming a conduit for the movement of material, and at least one expandable member located between the outer support structure and inner member. An implantable pump system is provided for inflating and deflating the expandable member(s). |
| US07931688B2 |
Expandable interbody fusion device
An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior plates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of expansion members or wafers. The superior and inferior plates include features that at least initially interlock the two plates until the superior plate is dislodged by pressure from the growing wafer stack. The wafers include features on their top and bottom surfaces that interlock the wafers in multiple degrees of freedom so that the wafer stack is not disrupted when the fusion device is fully expanded. Each wafer also includes features that interlock with the inferior plate until the wafer is dislodged by sequential introduction of another wafer. |
| US07931687B2 |
Tissue engineered osteochondral implant
Compositions, methods of production and use, and kits for an osteochondral graft involving both articular cartilage and underlying bone are provided. |
| US07931686B2 |
Small incision intraocular lens with anti-PCO feature
A thin intraocular lens for inhibiting posterior capsular opacification (PCO) includes an optic having an anterior concave region, a posterior concave region, a sharp edge which extends posteriorly and between the posterior concave region and at least a portion of an outer-most peripheral edge surface. |
| US07931683B2 |
Articles having ceramic coated surfaces
According to an aspect of the invention, articles are provided which comprise a substrate and a ceramic coating which covers at least a portion of the substrate surface. The ceramic coating includes raised ceramic shells connected by a ceramic layer that is conformal with the substrate. According to another aspect of the present invention, carbon nanotubes are provided, which comprise a ceramic coating covering at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes. |
| US07931682B2 |
Warming device with varied permeability
A warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with separately-inflatable sections, each adapted to enable a particular mode of warming. Each section has a surface or region with a permeability that varies from the permeability of a surface or region in another section. |
| US07931681B2 |
Anti-backout mechanism for an implant fastener
A retaining mechanism engages a bone fastener to a bone plate as the bone fastener is positioned through a retaining mechanism in a plate hole while preserving multi-axial capabilities of the fastener relative to the plate during insertion of the fastener. When the head of the fastener is positioned adjacent the plate, the head can optionally be received in the retaining mechanism and expand the retaining mechanism to fixedly engage the retaining mechanism into locking engagement with the plate and lock the bone fastener in position relative to the plate. In another form, the multi-axial capabilities of the bone screw is preserved or at least partially preserved when the bone fastener is finally positioned in the retaining mechanism. |
| US07931680B2 |
Plate for lengthening the lateral column of the foot
An implant for lengthening the lateral column of the foot is configured for engagement across the calcaneocuboid joint or across a space formed between two bone segments of the calcaneus bone. The implant includes a plate configured positioning on the bone segments and includes an array of screw holes at its opposite ends arranged for solid fixation to the corresponding bone using bone screws. The implant includes a wedge projecting from the bone engaging surface of the plate. The wedge has a width that is tapered toward the plantar aspect and toward the medial aspect of the foot. |
| US07931674B2 |
Interspinous process implant having deployable wing and method of implantation
Systems and method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can includes an implant comprising a first wing, a spacer extending from the first wing, and a distraction guide. The distraction guide is arranged in a first configuration to pierce and/or distract tissue associated with adjacent spinous processes extending from vertebrae of a targeted motion segment. The implant can be positioned between the adjacent spinous processes and once positioned, the distraction guide can be arranged in a second configuration. When arranged in a second configuration, the distraction guide can act as a second wing. The first wing and the second wing can limit or block movement of the implant along a longitudinal axis of the implant. |
| US07931670B2 |
Tissue puncture closure device with automatic tamping
A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for automatic tamping and/or cinching of the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic tamping and/or cinching is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by the withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping and/or cinching force. |
| US07931669B2 |
Integrated vascular device with puncture site closure component and sealant and methods of use
Apparatus and methods are provided for use in sealing a vascular puncture site. The invention comprises an integrated vascular device having a sheath with a closure component and puncture sealant. The closure component is disposed on and advanceable over the exterior of the sheath and may comprise any of a variety of apparatus suited for closing a vascular puncture. Once the closure component has been actuated to close the puncture, sealant is introduced to seal the puncture. The sheath and closure component are then removed from the patient. |
| US07931667B2 |
Medical instrument
A medical instrument has an instrument insert (4) and an instrument handle (2) which are detachably connected to one another via a locking connection. A grip (24; 57) and a closure (26; 50) are provided for securing the locking connection. The closure (26; 50) may be moved into an unsecured position by movement of the grip (24; 57) as well as independently of a movement of the grip (24; 57). |
| US07931665B2 |
Guidewire filter and methods of use
A filter system for temporary placement of a filter in an artery or vein is disclosed. The filter system includes a guidewire that is first positioned across a lesion within a vessel. The guidewire may include a distal stop. A slideable filter is then advanced along the guidewire using an advancing mechanism, typically an elongate member slideable over the guidewire and contacting the filter. A capture sheath may be disposed about the filter during advancement. Once the filter is positioned downstream of the lesion, the capture sheath is withdrawn, allowing the filter to expand. Further distal advancement of the filter is prohibited by the stop. After expansion of the filter, the capture sheath and the advancing mechanism are withdrawn from the region of interest, and removed from the patient's vessel. The filter may then be retrieved using a capture sheath or exchanged for a second filter after removing the first filter. |
| US07931663B2 |
Balloon catheter with non-deployable stent
An angioplasty balloon including a non-deployable stent to prevent or reduce the potential for slippage of the inflated balloon with respect to the vessel wall being treated. The balloon includes a non-deployable stent that is adapted to be secured to the balloon or angioplasty balloon catheter. The stent has a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one extension section, at least one set of serpentine rings and at least one set of elongation links that allow expansion of the strut to accommodate the inflation of the balloon. The stent is made of a material so that the stent collapses upon deflation of the balloon. |
| US07931662B2 |
Surgical marker/connector and method of installation
A surgical marker/connector in the form of a ring made of a shape memory alloy such as NITINOL is suitable for laparoscopic installation in a patient's body. The ring preferably includes a plurality of small suture attachments in the form of loops that are disposed on the periphery of the ring and which lie in a plane that includes the ring itself. The loops are large enough to receive sutures which, in turn, can be used to connect the ring to a portion of a patient's body, or to connect separate portions of a patient's body to each other using the marker/connector as an intermediate connector. Prior to installation, the ring can be wrapped tightly about an elongate member such as a mandrel, which than can be inserted into the patient's body through a trochar or cannula. After insertion, the ring will change temperature and resume its original configuration where it can be sutured in place as desired. |
| US07931659B2 |
System and method for treating ischemic stroke
A thromboembolic removal system for treating ischemic stroke includes an elongate member and a receiver on a distal portion of the elongate member. The receiver includes structural members arranged to form a sleeve having a central lumen. A plurality of the structural members form engaging elements having apex regions that extend into the central lumen. During use of the thromboembolic removal system, the receiver is advanced over a body of thromboembolic material within a blood vessel, causing the body to be received into the central lumen, and causing the engaging elements to engage the body within the lumen. |
| US07931653B2 |
Device at fixing means for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures
The present invention relates to a device at fixing means for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures, the fixing means (1) preferably being a spike for fixation of bone fragments at trochantery hip fractures. The fixing means (1) comprises a sleeve (5) and a pin (7) which is insertable into the sleeve (5) and displaceable in the longitudinal direction thereof. The pin (7) has a rear part (8) and at least two front parts (9, 10) with bent points or tips. Front parts of the sleeve (5) have openings (13, 14) through which the front parts (9, 10) of the pin (7) can be forced. The front parts (9, 10) of the pin (7) have a successively increasing thickness in backwards direction towards the rear part (8) of the pin (7) such that said front parts (9, 10), when forced or driven out of the sleeve (5) through the openings (13, 14), are formed into arcuate parts, the points (11, 12) of which are curved in backwards direction or substantially backwards relative to a geometric centre line along the pin (7), and such that those portions of the front parts (9, 10) which after said outward driving of the front parts (9, 10) are situated at the sleeve (5), are thicker and thereby stronger than those portions of the front parts (9, 10) which grip into the bone material (3). |
| US07931652B2 |
Orthopaedic plate and screw assembly
Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for treating fractures. The systems, devices and methods may include one or both of an implant, such as an intramedullary nail, and a fastening assembly, such as a lag screw and a compression screw assembly. The implant in some embodiments has a proximal section with a transverse aperture and a cross-section that may be shaped to more accurately conform to the anatomical shape of cortical bone and to provide additional strength and robustness in its lateral portions, preferably without requiring significant additional material. The fastening assembly may be received to slide, in a controlled way, in the transverse aperture of the implant. In some embodiments, the engaging member and the compression device are configured so that the compression device interacts with a portion of the implant and a portion of the engaging member to enable controlled movement between the first and second bone fragments. This configuration is useful for, among other things, compressing a fracture. |
| US07931650B2 |
Adjustable bone stabilizing frame system
By providing components securable to anchor pins or screws of different diameters as well as providing clamps which hold associated pins in any position during adjustments, an external fixation or adjustable frame structure is provided which is capable of being quickly and easily assembled in any desired configuration. In the present invention, the frame structure is retained in any assembled configuration in order to allow final adjustments to be made, prior to the final securement of the frame assembly in the precisely desired configuration by closure of each clamp member. In this way, an entire frame assembly is capable of being constructed, adjusted, and readjusted in order to assure each component is oriented in the precisely desired position prior to final closure of the clamping members. In one preferred embodiment, the clamping members employed in the frame structure of the present invention incorporate friction pins internally mounted in each clamp which engages the rod member once this rod is inserted into the jaws of the clamp. In this way, any rod member inserted into the clamping jaws contacts the surface of the jaws and the friction pin, preventing the rod member from sliding or moving relative to the clamp. In addition, by incorporating a uniquely constructed, moving wedge plate that is adjustably engageable with any cooperating anchor pin, secure affixation of the mounting member with the anchor pins of any diameter is easily achieved, regardless of the orientation configuration, or diameter of the anchor pin. |
| US07931644B2 |
Operator-controlled scanning laser procedure designed for large-area epithelium removal
Systems and methods for removing an epithelial layer disposed over a stromal layer in a cornea irradiate a region of the epithelial layer with a pulsed beam of ablative radiation. The ablative radiation is scanned to vary the location of the beam within the region in accordance with a pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is arranged to enhance optical feedback based on a tissue fluorescence of the epithelial layer. The penetration of the epithelial layer is detected in response to the optical feedback. The use of scanning with the pulse sequence arranged to enhance optical feedback allows large areas of the epithelium to be ablated such that an operator can detect penetration of the epithelial layer. |
| US07931643B2 |
Miniature pump for drug delivery
A miniature drug delivery pump utilizes a shape memory Ni—Ti alloy. A flow restrictor is provided and the pump is refillable. |
| US07931642B2 |
Infusion pump comprising a computer for calculating the respective maximum permissible dosage
Infusion pump for the delivery of a quantity of a medicament to the body of a patient determinable by means of an electronic control device, the pump being provided with a computer for calculating the maximum permitted administration quantity for each case as a function of the previously delivered quantity and with a blocking device for preventing further administration of the medicament on exceeding a predetermined, permitted maximum value, in which the computer determines the quantity or concentration of the active substance in the body of the patient resulting from the delivered medicament quantity and its breaking down in the body and compares it with the predetermined maximum value. |
| US07931639B2 |
Panty
The invention provides a panty realizing easy fit of a sanitary napkin for night use to a crotch portion, preventing the napkin from shifting out of position, alleviating digging into the crotch portion, and thus being comfortable to wear without giving feeling of constriction to the wearer. The panty includes a front part, a back part, a crotch part provided so as to bridge between the front part and the back part, a slightly elastic member is provided at the substantially center area of the back part, a highly elastic member is provided from a back parts lifting member to the entire area of the front part except for the waist hold part, a fixing member is provided on the substantially center area of the front part, a crotch lifting member is provided at the substantially center area of the crotch part. |
| US07931638B2 |
Diapers having a zoned non-attachable back sheet and methods of manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, an absorbent article to be worn about a wearer has a front portion and a back portion. The absorbent article includes an outer layer, an inner layer that is substantially co-extensive with the outer layer, an absorbent layer and one or more fasteners, which are located on the back portion of the absorbent article. The absorbent layer is interposed between the outer layer and the inner layer to form the absorbent article. The outer layer has a central portion between two side portions. The central portion of the outer layer is treated with a chemical to substantially inhibit attachment of the one or more fasteners to the central portion of the outer layer. The one or more fasteners secure the back portion to the outer layer of the front portion. Specifically, the one or more fasteners are configured to secure the back portion to a region of the outer layer which is not treated with the chemical. |
| US07931637B2 |
Hemostatic compositions and uses therefor
The present invention relates generally to the field of hemostasis, including methods, compositions, and devices that can be employed to achieve hemostasis at an increased rate. More specifically the present invention relates to hemostatic compositions that achieve a hemostatic effect at a distance from the site of application of the composition, and a method for administering such a composition to effectively reduce localized vascular complications associated with treating a breach or puncture in a vein or artery and reduce the time to achieve hemostasis. |
| US07931636B2 |
Simple disposable absorbent article
A simple disposable pant-like garment includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis, which can be extensible, includes a water-impermeable sheet folded laterally inward at both of its side edges to form opposing side flaps. Each side flap is attached to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent to its end edges. Each side flap has a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member attached adjacent to its proximal edge. The absorbent assembly is smaller in width and in length than the chassis. The side edges and end edges of the absorbent assembly can be disposed proximally relative to the respective side edges and end edges of the chassis. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that can contain superabsorbent particles contained inside pockets. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis to extend laterally. |
| US07931635B1 |
Method of making oversized adult incontinence diapers exceeding overall width capacity of converting machinery and diaper formed thereby
Oversized adult diapers are made on converting machinery designed for handling only components no greater than a maximum component width, while utilizing as an outer layer component of the diapers an elongate sheet-like web having a width exceeding the maximum component width of the machinery. The web is pre-formed with at least one folded pleat along a laterally outward margin of the web, such that the pleat reduces the width of the web to less than the maximum component width. The pleat is temporarily tacked to retain the pleat against unfolding while the web is handled by the machinery, but is yieldable to unfold when a diaper made with the web is donned for wearing. The pre-formed pleated web is delivered to the machinery, which is then operated in normal manner to incorporate the web into a plurality of diapers. |
| US07931631B2 |
Peelable and flushable ostomy pouch and method of use
An ostomy appliance having a face plate assembly and inner and outer pouches joined thereto, has its outer pouch provided with one or more peripherally-extending sealing seams that allow the walls of the outer pouch to be separated by peeling forces applied in directions transverse to such seam or seams. In preferred embodiments, the sealing seam, also peelably join the peripheral edges of the outer pouch to those of the inner pouch. A method of disposing of the pouch assembly of such an ostomy appliance is also disclosed. |
| US07931622B2 |
Tip protector for cannula, trocar and/or cannula trocar combination
A needle protector that protects the tip or distal end of a cannula, a trocar, or a cannula/trocar combination, is provided by an extruded tubing that has at least a section thereof that includes one or a plurality of protrusions or protuberances that are configured in a given fashion so that there is a slight bend created at that section of the tube, when the tube is fitted onto a cannula or trocar with the protrusions coming into contact with the outer diameter surface of the cannula or trocar. This results in friction contact between the protrusions and the cannula or trocar to maintain the tube protector in place relative to the cannula or trocar. The protrusions may be punched or lanced in the tube to a given depth towards the interior of the tube to establish a given friction contact. |
| US07931620B2 |
Self-sealing connection for housing shells of an administering device
Administering device for infusing or injecting a product, comprising a housing (1, 2) with a first housing shell (1) and a second housing shell (2), a receiver (3) for the product formed in the housing (1, 2), a conveying mechanism (4) for conveying the product and a seal (10), which connects the housing shells (1, 2) to one another in a pressing contact rendering them watertight, which seal (10) is or has a sealing lip (13) which establishes the pressing contact with the first housing shell (1). |
| US07931619B2 |
Power injection catheters
A power injection catheter for high flow rate delivery of fluids. The power injection catheter may include a pressure relief mechanism for preventing overpressurizing within the lumen of the catheter. The pressure relief mechanism may be configured to prevent sudden pressure build-up inside the catheter lumen by absorbing, buffering or releasing pressure inside the lumen during pressure spikes. The power injection catheter may also take the form of a multi-lumen catheter capable of simultaneous infusions of a single fluid through two or more of the lumens in the catheter. |
| US07931618B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for injecting medicines to a desired depth
A reloadable medicine injector and methods are described in which a barrel with a receiving cavity is adapted to slidably receive a syringe subassembly for axial movement therein. Upon removal of a safety and release of a syringe driver, the syringe driver moves forward and injects the syringe needle. A plurality of penetration controls are shown for controlling injection needle penetration depth. The penetration controls have an abutment and various lengths to provide different needle penetration depth positions. In one form of penetration control a sleeve is used against which the syringe or related parts contact. In another form the front return spring is used as a penetration control. A cushioning ring may be used to reduce syringe breakage. A load distribution and guide ring may be used to distribute loading applied to the syringe and help guide the moving syringe. |
| US07931610B2 |
Blood purification apparatus
A blood purification apparatus that can make the specific peak to be imparted to the blood more distinct, and therefore can detect blood recirculation reliably and precisely, is presented. It contains a blood circuit route, a blood pump, a dialyzer, dialysate introduction and discharge lines, a duplex pump, a pressurizing pump, a blood concentration means, and detection means that detect the specific peak imparted by the blood concentration means. The blood concentration means is configured to have an atmosphere release line, the tip of which is open to the atmosphere, that extends from between the pressurizing pump and the duplex pump in the dialysate discharge line, and to have an electromagnetic valve that can open or close the atmosphere release line. The electromagnetic valve opens the atmosphere release line to impart the specific peak by rapidly concentrating the blood flowing in the dialyzer for a short period of time. |
| US07931608B2 |
Pediatric splint
A splinting device for receiving and stabilizing a plurality of fingers. The splinting device has a main body having a generally rigid and planar upper surface and lower surface, a first side edge and a second side edge, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The main body has a hood at its distal end portion upending proximally over the upper surface of the main body. The hood has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the lower surface of the hood and the upper surface of the main body define an interior space for receiving a plurality of fingers. In one embodiment, the splinting device also includes a glove portion comprising a wrist attachment and a flap. The main body may comprise an attachment mechanism for attaching the main body to the wrist attachment of the glove portion. |
| US07931606B2 |
Compression apparatus
A compression apparatus is described having a sleeve and an inflatable member disposed within the sleeve, the inflatable member being movable in relation to the sleeve. The compression apparatus includes a hook and loop features attached to the foot sleeve for securing compression apparatus to the feet. |
| US07931605B2 |
Electro-mechanical sexual stimulation device to be worn during intercourse
A device for use by a female for sexual stimulation comprising an inner arm dimensioned for insertion into a vagina, to contact the wall of the vagina at or near the G-spot, an outer arm dimensioned to contact the clitoris, and a resilient U-shaped member connecting the inner and outer arms. |
| US07931601B2 |
Monitoring system for cardiac surgical operations with cardiopulmonary bypass
A monitoring system for cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass comprising: a processor operatively connected to a heart-lung machine; a pump flow detecting device connected to a pump of the heart-lung machine to continuously measure the pump flow value and send it to the processor; a hematocrit reading device inserted inside the arterial or venous line of the heart-lung machine to continuously measure the blood hematocrit value and to send it to the processor; a data input device to allow the operator to manually input data regarding the arterial oxygen saturation and the arterial oxygen tension; computing means integrated in the processor to compute the oxygen delivery value on the basis of the measured pump flow, the measured hematocrit value, the preset value of arterial oxygen saturation, and the preset value of arterial oxygen tension; and a display connected to the processor to display in real-time the computed oxygen delivery value. |
| US07931600B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting lung sounds using an implanted device
Adventitious lung sounds indicative of lung congestion are detected using an implantable sensor. The sensor is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a pulmonary system and to output signals indicative of lung sounds in response to pulmonary system activity. A controller receives the signals and processes the signals to detect the presence of adventitious lung sounds. A respiratory cycle sensor operating in conjunction with the lung-sound sensor enables classification of an adventitious lung sound according to its time occurrence within the respiratory cycle. Posture sensing in conjunction with lung-sound sensing provides valuable additional information as to the severity of the lung congestion. |
| US07931598B2 |
Implantable pressure monitor
An implantable pressure monitor. |
| US07931597B2 |
Anchored implantable pressure monitor
An anchored implantable pressure monitor. |
| US07931592B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring health and delivering drugs transdermally
The present invention pertains to a system and method for transdermal sampling, comprising: at least one sampler for retrieving and transferring at least one analyte obtained transdermally from the skin of a subject; at least one detector system for identifying and quantifying said at least one analyte; and at least one logic module for (i) receiving and storing input data from said at least one detector, (ii) relating the input data to other data obtained from the subject, (iii) displaying output information, (iv) transmitting the output information to another system, and (v) controlling the operation of said at least one sampler and at least one detector. |
| US07931584B2 |
Medical capsule housing formed by thermal welding
A medical capsule housing includes first and second outer members made of a resin material, both having an opening at one end. The first and second outer members are thermally welded by ultrasonic welding at an abutting portion. The abutting portion includes a sharp edged line portion which forms the opening end portion of the first outer member and an inclined surface portion which forms the opening end portion of the second outer member. The sharp edged line portion is provided in a closed space formed by the first outer member and the second outer member before the ultrasonic welding. |
| US07931582B2 |
Controlled impotence treatment
A male sexual impotence treatment apparatus comprises an operable restriction device (56) implanted in a patient and engaging the penile tissue (58) or the prolongation thereof to form a restrictable blood flow passageway through which blood flow leaves the penis. The restriction device is operable by an implanted operation device (60) to change the restriction of the blood flow passageway. A control device (62 and 64) is provided for controlling a source of energy, which may or may not be implanted, from outside the patient's body, to release energy for use in connection with the operation of the restriction device, i.e. to power the operation device. The patient uses the control device to restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection. |
| US07931577B2 |
Magnetic field applicator system
A magnetic field applicator system wherein a plurality of magnets are generally fixed within an applicator base, each of the plurality of magnets having a magnetic axis at an angle different to other magnets in the plurality of magnets. The magnetic axis may be random with respect to others within the plurality of magnets. Also disclosed is a system for making the magnetic field applicator system. |
| US07931576B2 |
Table for a chopper folding device and corresponding chopper folding device
This table for a chopper folding device comprises a surface (20) for application of products to be folded (17), the application surface (20) extending along an application plane (PA), a folding opening (22) suitable for the passage of the products to be folded (17), at least one first guide portion (28) disposed adjacent to the folding opening (22) and comprising a first guide surface (32) inclined with respect to application plane. The table (12) comprises guiding means suitable for urging the product to be folded towards the first guide surface (32) and a first main suction hole (36) which opens on the first guide surface (32). |
| US07931575B2 |
Apparatus for performing body exercises
A method of using a self-contained portable exercise apparatus for performing upper and/or lower body exercises. The method includes performing a body exercise without weights using an elastic cord, a stability ball, and/or a stretch cord with an apparatus having a ground-engaging base plate which rigidly supports first and second vertical members, where each vertical member has aligned clearance openings. Holding members are attached to the base plate for removably holding stretch cords and a support bar is removably received by two aligned clearance openings in the first and second vertical members. |
| US07931574B2 |
Apparatus for autonomously performing physiotherapic exercises
An apparatus for performing lumbar stretching treatments comprises a supporting structure where at least one electric motor vertically moves leg supporting members. A person that needs performing lumbar stretching treatments takes the right position at the apparatus and autonomously controls it powering the vertical movement of the leg supporting means which put into traction the lower section of the person's back. The apparatus may also be installed on specific beds having a lay surface horizontally translatable in order to improve the comfortable use of the apparatus. |
| US07931568B1 |
Ski exercising apparatus
A ski exercising apparatus includes a ski unit including two ski members each having a wavy slide rail extending in a front-to-rear direction, two pedal units mounted slidably and respectively on the slide rails of the ski members, at least one pull rope mounted movably to the ski members and having two opposite ends connected respectively to the pedal units, two handle units connected pivotally and respectively to the ski members, and at least one connection unit disposed between and interconnecting the ski members and adjustable to change the position and orientation of one of the ski members relative to that of the other ski member. |
| US07931567B2 |
Apparatus for isolating an injured ankle or foot during aerobic exercise
An exercise apparatus and method for isolating an ankle during aerobic exercise on a bicycle configured to be worn on the leg of a person having an ankle injury so that the person may operate the bicycle with the leg having the ankle injury without pressure on the ankle, wherein weight and force are distributed from the pedal to the calf and thigh without implicating the ankle. |
| US07931565B2 |
Swing exercise machine
In a swing exercise machine having a seat, a seat driving apparatus that moves the seat along a locus formed by a combination of a periodic swing motion around an anteroposterior swing shaft and a periodic swing motion around a transverse swing shaft, and a control circuit that can control rotation speed and rotation direction of a motor. The control circuit can switch the rotation direction of the motor, so that the seat can be moved in a reverse direction along the locus. Since the human body is asymmetrical in the anteroposterior direction, the regions of the human body where muscle activities occur when the seat is moved in the reverse direction are different from those when the seat is moved in a normal direction. Thereby, it is possible to vary the effect of the swing exercise on the human body. |
| US07931560B2 |
Method and arrangement for adapting shifting strategies in a heavy vehicle including an automated transmission and experiencing a PTO load
Method and arrangement for adjusting shift characteristics of a transmission of a heavy vehicle. A heavy vehicle is operated and that is powered by an internal combustion engine equipped with an automated manual transmission and a power take off. The power take off, when operating, imposes a torque-consuming load on the engine. Operation of the power take off is detected when the engine of the vehicle is in a power mode. At least one gear-shift event is adapted to occur at a higher engine speed when power take off operation is detected than when power take off operation is not detected. The gear-shift event is affected at an engine speed that is approximately five to twenty-five percent higher than when power take off operation is not detected. The gear-shift event may be an up-shift to a lower ratio gear engagement or a down-shift to a higher ratio gear engagement. |
| US07931557B2 |
Axle assembly method
A method that includes positioning a differential assembly between a pair of journals in a differential housing, threading hollow adjusters into the journals, installing a retaining member over each of the hollow adjusters such that the retainer engages a non-circular feature on a respective one of the hollow adjusters, and pressing each of the retaining members into a counterbore formed on an assocated one of the journals such that the retaining members engage the differential housing in via an interference fit to inhibit relative rotation between the retaining members and the differential housing. |
| US07931553B2 |
Bicycle sprocket apparatus with a chain support structure
A bicycle sprocket apparatus comprises a sprocket mounting member, a first sprocket, and a second sprocket. The sprocket mounting member includes a hub mounting portion and a sprocket mounting portion, wherein the hub mounting portion is structured to be mounted to a rotating hub that rotates around a rotational axis. The sprocket mounting portion includes a first sprocket mounting surface that faces in a first direction and a second sprocket mounting surface that faces in an opposite second direction. The first sprocket is disposed at the first sprocket mounting surface, and the second sprocket is disposed at the second sprocket mounting surface. A fastener fastens the first sprocket to the first sprocket mounting surface, and a chain supporting structure extends from the fastener in the first direction and projects in the first direction away from a side surface of the first sprocket that faces in the first direction. |
| US07931552B2 |
Pulley with torque-sensitive clutching
A pulley assembly for use in an automobile accessory drive system includes a shaft engaging member including a bore for receiving an accessory input shaft for engagement therewith. A pulley member includes a bore receiving an axially extending shaft of the shaft engaging member. The pulley member includes a first coupling surface and a peripheral belt-engaging surface. A shaft extension member transfers torque between the pulley member and the shaft engaging member. The shaft extension member includes a second coupling surface facing the first coupling surface. The first and second coupling surfaces couple together when torque applied to the shaft extension member is in a first direction such that the shaft extension member and the shaft engaging member rotate with the pulley member. The first and second coupling surfaces decouple when torque applied to the shaft extension member is in a second direction opposite the first direction such that the shaft engaging member rotates relative to the pulley member. |
| US07931548B2 |
Lacrosse head having a ball stop portion with lowered bottom surface
A lacrosse stick including a lacrosse head attached to a handle, wherein the lacrosse head has a taller, or thicker, ball stop, wherein a portion of the ball stop portion is lowered with respect to the immediately adjacent portions of the sidewall portions relative to a centerline of the handle. The net securing structures in the ball stop are preferably located in the lowered portion and therein provides increased ball retention characteristics. The lower portion of the ball stop portion includes a concave inner surface that is preferably flared, or sloped, slightly outwardly along its interior surface from its front side to its back side. The openings for attaching the netting in the ball stop are preferably slightly recessed with respect to the upper surface. |
| US07931547B2 |
Baseball pitcher's eye training and game
Provided are articles comprising targets useful in aiding persons desiring to improve their baseball pitching skills. An article according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a target area that corresponds substantially in size with the strike zone in American baseball, and the target area is divided into quadrants each of a contrasting color with respect to one another. A plurality of characters, such as numbers, are disposed about the periphery of the target area. |
| US07931546B2 |
Metal wood club with improved moment of inertia
A more efficient triangular shape for metal wood clubs or driver clubs is disclosed. This triangular shape allows the clubs to have higher rotational moments of inertia in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and a lower center of gravity. |
| US07931545B2 |
Metal wood club with improved hitting face
A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. Each material has a different tensile modulus of elasticity, where the center of the hitting face has a much higher tensile modulus of elasticity than the surrounding portions of the hitting face. This creates a stiff center and a more easily deflected concentric portion. In another embodiment, the materials have different yield strengths, where the center of the hitting face has a very high yield strength compared to the surrounding portions of the hitting face. The hitting face may then plastically deform around its periphery, while the center retains its original shape. |
| US07931543B2 |
Temporary golf club shaft-component connection
A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft. |
| US07931538B2 |
Torque dampening compensator for a vehicle
A torque dampening compensator for a vehicle including an isolator member disposed between an input member and an output member. The isolator member includes isolator elements disposed between corresponding lugs of the respective input and output members. The lugs of the output member have a draft angle, and the isolator elements have contact faces corresponding to the respective lugs with unequal axial depths to induce a moment on each isolator element that counteracts a thrust load between the input and output members initiated by the draft angle. One isolator element of the isolator member is formed to have a size corresponding to the space provided between adjacent lugs of the input and output members and a shape that is dissimilar from the space. The one isolator element is resiliently deformable into the space. |
| US07931537B2 |
Voice input in a multimedia console environment
Apparatus and methods are provided for enabling a microphone module that connects to a headset jack on a game controller. The microphone may include directional or omni-directional microphone element(s) that pick up voice input from people near a peripheral, such as a game controller, but reject background sounds from the room. User controls may also be available to set the microphone gain level, either manually or automatically, and/or to mute or unmute the microphone. The microphone of the invention can be used on a wired or wireless game controller. When used with a wireless game controller, wireless microphone capabilities and freedom of movement are provided without headdress requirements imposed by headsets. |
| US07931534B2 |
Control program for action game
A control program for an action game according to the present invention in which one of a plurality of characters moving in a game space is selected to be an attack target, in response to an operation of a game player, comprises: a selectable candidate object judging step of judging each of said plurality of characters as to whether or not it is a selectable candidate object which is qualified to be an attack target and which is in position relationship which could be selected as an attack target, a selection order deciding step of deciding an order of selecting those of said plurality of selectable candidate objects, which have been judged by the selectable candidate object judging step; and an attack target changing step of selecting, based on the selection order decided by the selection order deciding step, one of said plurality of characters as an attack target and sequentially changing the attack target in response to an attack target changing operation by the game player. The control program permits one of a plurality of characters contained in a game space to be efficiently selected as a game target. |
| US07931531B2 |
Gaming system and method providing an interactive game with automatic wagers
A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines or devices. The gaming machines include an interactive game and a wager triggering event. Upon the occurrence of the wager triggering event during play of the interactive game, the gaming machine causes the placement of a wager component and randomly determines a wagering outcome. Upon completion of the interactive game, the gaming machine provides the player with an interactive game outcome and provides the player with any awards based on any determined wagering outcomes. The players are ranked in the interactive game. Upon a triggering event, the gaming system provides one or more ranked players of the interactive game an award from funds derived from a marketing or advertising account. |
| US07931527B2 |
Video poker draw game
A method and apparatus for conducting a wagering game is provided. The method may comprise predetermining a predetermined payout award. The method may also comprise displaying a first hand, where the first hand includes a first plurality of cards. The method may also comprise accepting a selection of held cards selected from the first hand. The method may also comprise displaying a second hand, where the second hand includes a second plurality of cards including the held cards. The method may also comprise determining a third hand, where the third hand including a third plurality of cards so that at least one of the second hand and the third hand provides the predetermined payout award. The method may also comprise displaying the third hand. The method may also comprise awarding the predetermined payout award to a player. |
| US07931526B2 |
21 to the river
A method of playing a Blackjack game provides a side-bet against a bust. Should a bust occur the bust card is combined with four subsequently dealt playing cards to define a five-card poker hand. This resulting poker hand is compared to a predetermined hierarchy of poker hands, and payouts are awarded for winning outcomes. |
| US07931525B2 |
Air flow control in a ventilating pipe
The invention relates to a device (10) for controlling airflow (A) in a ventilation pipe (12) comprising one or several air throttle (32) which are synchronously actuated and prevent air flowing (A) in the air pipe in the closed position thereof. The ventilation pipe (12) is provided with a longitudinally extending fixing bar (16) which is arranged on a symmetry plane and provided with the pivot bearing (30) of an axis (28) for driving the air throttle(s) (32) and means (50, 52) for transmitting a force and/or torque to the drive axis (28) connected to the air throttle(s) (32). Said fixing bar (16) provided with different air throttles (12) is usable for the ventilation pipes having different cross sections and forms, an angle (β), preferably, ranging from 15° to 90°, with a longitudinal axis (L) or with a wall (18) of said ventilation pipe (12). |
| US07931517B2 |
LED-based white-light lighting module for preventing glare and providing adjustable color temperature
Disclosed is an illuminative module for enhancing the white balance while reducing thermal drift and color blocks. The illuminative module includes a substrate and light-emitting elements provided on the substrate to emitting light of the primary colors and a fourth color, respectively, so that the light of the primary colors is mixed with the light of the fourth color to provide white light. |
| US07931512B2 |
Manually operated watercraft
A personal watercraft (10) comprises a floatation platform (12) and a separate module (14) including a water propulsor driving crank mechanism (22) and a keel (38) mounting the water propulsor. The separate module (14), when mounted to the platform (12), extends at right angles to the platform with the keel (38) and propeller (40) extending below the platform (12) and the propulsor driving crank mechanism (22) extending above the platform. The separate module (14) is readily separable from the platform (12) for ease of storage and transport. |
| US07931510B2 |
Crimp contact device with adjusted crimping force
A crimp contact device includes a crimping member. The crimping member is configured to crimp a wire, and has a first portion and a second portion which is near to an end of the crimping member than the first portion. A pressure applied to the wire by the second portion is decreased according to a direction from the first portion toward the end of the crimping member. |
| US07931507B2 |
Conductive terminal assembly and electrical connector with the conductive terminal assembly
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a contact retaining member fixed to the insulative housing and a contact partly extending through the contact retaining member. The contact retaining member is fixed in a passageway defined in the insulative housing. The contact retaining member includes a ring and at least one elastic spring extending forwardly from the ring. The ring is closed along its circumferential direction while is central hollow. The contact includes a contact portion resided in the passageway and a fixing portion extending through the ring and the elastic spring under a condition that the fixing portion abuts against a free end of the elastic spring to limit backwardly removal of the contact. |
| US07931506B2 |
Wiring system and connector therefor
A wiring system that allows easy installation into a vehicle and includes a connector that allows functional signals to perform a function in a connector while passing through the connector. |
| US07931498B2 |
Coaxial cable connector with a deformable compression cap to form a constriction
A coaxial cable connector for connecting a coaxial cable to an RF port, wherein the cable connector is comprised of a connector subassembly and a compression cap. The connector subassembly is of simple inexpensive construction and is comprised of a fastener, a tubular post, and a connector body. The connector subassembly may function a stand-alone crimpable cable connector. The compression cap may be placed over the end of a coaxial cable, and compressed onto the connector subassembly to secure a prepared end of the cable within the compressed and assembled connector. |
| US07931493B2 |
Cable assembly with a firm connection between a plurality of wires and a connector
A cable assembly comprises an insulative housing defining an opening through two opposite top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of contacts are assembled in the insulative housing, each contact has a mating portion and a connecting portion. A plurality of wires are disposed on the top surface of the insulative housing, each wire defines a conductor electrically connected with the connecting portion and a metallic braiding layer surrounding the conductor. A conductive plate is assembled to the insulative housing and soldered with one side of the metallic braiding layers of the wires. A metallic shell encloses the insulative housing and defines a grounding tab extending into the corresponding opening of the insulative housing. The grounding tab is attached and soldered with another side of the metallic braiding layers of the wires facing to the opening of the insulative housing. |
| US07931489B2 |
Wire to board connector
An electrical connector for connecting wires to components includes an insulative body member having a longitudinally extending leg defined between opposite longitudinal ends. A plurality of spaced apart side walls define adjacently disposed connector positions along the leg. A wire insertion opening is defined in a front wall of the body member at each of the connector positions. A connector element is disposed transverse to the leg at each of the connector positions. The connector element includes a first resilient contact arm extending above the side walls for pressing mating contact with a conductive pad of a separate respective component. The connector element includes a second resilient contact arm in biased engagement against a shoulder of the body member. Upon insertion of an exposed conductive wire core through the wire insertion opening, the wire core causes the second resilient contact arm to flex towards and remain in biased electrical contact engagement against the wire core. |
| US07931487B1 |
Electrical terminal connector and method of connection
A connector for providing an electrical connection between two insulated covered electrical wires consists of a cylindrical member made of electricity conductive metal. The cylindrical member is made from a flexible plate appropriately rolled and configured to include two cylindrical elements interconnected by an intermediate section. The cylindrical elements each have a plurality of sharp blade elements which form jagged serrated edges around the perimeter of one end of each element. Insulated electrical wires are pushed through the cylindrical elements and their serrated edges and then pulled back. This causes the blade elements to pierce the insulation around the electrical wires, thus forming a secure electrical connection between the wires and the cylindrical member. |
| US07931481B2 |
Balanced transmission connector
A balanced transmission connector includes an insulation block including a contact connecting part for connecting with another connector at a front part of the insulation block and connecting with a substrate at a bottom part of the insulation block, a first signal contact including an upper contact portion projecting from the front of the insulation block and a first lead portion projecting from the rear of the insulation block and extending toward the substrate, a second signal contact including a lower contact portion projecting from the front of the insulation block and a second lead portion projecting from the rear of the insulation block and extending toward the substrate, retaining portions formed on a rear part of the insulation block retaining the first and second lead portions from both sides. The first and second lead portions extend substantially in parallel while maintaining a shortest distance with respect to the substrate. |
| US07931472B2 |
Apparatus for transferring electric power from a mobile unit placed in various orientation on a stationary unit
An apparatus and method for transferring power from a stationary unit to a mobile unit are introduced in order to improve on the existing methods of supplying power to appliances and mobile devices.The stationary unit is comprised of multiple magnetic and electromagnetic switches, which are activated only when in close proximity to a mobile unit comprising of a set of magnets of opposite polarity to the magnetic and electromagnetic switches in the stationary unit thus ensuring a safe and easy to use system for supplying power from the stationary unit to the mobile unit.The stationary unit may be large enough to allow the connection of multiple mobile units on a single stationary unit. Each mobile unit can then adjust the voltage supplied by the stationary unit to fit the requirements of its own appliance or mobile device thus allowing different types of devices to connect to the same source (the stationary unit). |
| US07931470B2 |
Interface device and method for interfacing instruments to medical procedure simulation systems
An interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a medical procedure simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock medical instruments to the medical procedure simulation system computer to enable simulation of medical procedures. The interface device includes a housing having a mock bodily region of interest to facilitate insertion of a mock instrument, such as an endoscope tube, into the interface device. The mock bodily region of interest may be pivotable to simulate various patient orientations. The instrument is engaged by a capture mechanism in order to measure rotational and translational motion of the instrument. An actuator is disposed within the interface device to provide force feedback to the instrument. The measured motion is provided to the computer system to reflect instrument motion on the display during the simulation. Alternatively, the interface device may be configured to accommodate instrument assemblies having a plurality of nested instruments (e.g., sheath, catheter and wire), whereby the interface device individually grasps, measures manipulation of and provides force feedback to the nested instruments. In addition, the interface device may be configured to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of independently inserted instruments. |
| US07931467B2 |
Method for determining an air ratio in a burner for a fuel cell heater, a fuel cell heater
A method for determining an air ratio in a burner for a fuel cell heater having an ionization sensor in the range of the flame and which is fed with two different gases for combustion, one of said gases being obtained from a gas treatment, wherein a measurement signal of the ionization sensor is converted into an actual value for the air ratio depending on one or more variable of states of the gas treatment. |
| US07931466B2 |
Flare gas flammability control
A plant gas to be flared in the atmosphere is periodically sampled and analyzed as to its Btu content, a first comparison made of 1) the most recent of such analyses with 2) a predetermined steady state set point, a second comparison made of 3) an average of a plurality of such analyses including an historical minimum Btu content with 4) a predetermined dynamic set point, and fuel added to the plant gas based on the larger fuel requirement of these first and second comparisons. |
| US07931463B2 |
Apparatus for potting membranes
An apparatus for potting membranes. The apparatus may include a mould for receiving ends of the membranes, means for forming a first layer of a curable resin material around the ends in the mould, and means for applying a second layer of a flexible resin material to the first layer prior to full curing of the first layer. The flexible resin material may be chemically reactive with the curable resin material to form an adhesive bond therebetween. A potting sleeve may be positioned within the mould. A centrifuge may receive the curable resin and/or the flexible resin material upstream of the mould. |
| US07931461B2 |
Mould member for moulding three-dimensional products, system and methods of manufacturing a mould member
A mould member for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of one or more food starting materials, which are suitable for consumption, in particular human consumption, includes a body having a porous structure and a plurality of mould cavities. The mould cavities each have a mould cavity wall defined by the body and an opening in a surface of the body. The body includes at least one essentially fluid tight barrier. |
| US07931460B2 |
Material delivery system for use in solid imaging
A disposable liquid build material feed cartridge for use in a solid imaging apparatus and a method of dispensing build material for use in such an apparatus with a radiation transparent build material carrier. The disposable liquid build material feed cartridge recovers unused liquid material from the radiation transparent build material carrier and recycles it through a filter into a supply reservoir for reuse. A dispersing roller is employed to express any entrapping air bubbles in the solidifiable liquid build material that is dispensed onto the radiation transparent build material carrier prior to its being imaged. |
| US07931458B2 |
Method and devices for producing fiber-reinforced components
Injection structure with a fiber-composite semifinished product for manufacturing a fiber-composite component, having a gate device for feeding matrix material, a distribution fabric, and a barrier layer that is impermeable to the matrix material, wherein the distribution fabric is arranged between the gate device and the fiber-composite semifinished product, and the barrier layer is arranged between the distribution fabric and the fiber-composite semifinished product, as well as device for manufacturing a fiber-composite component by this injection structure. |
| US07931455B2 |
Injection molding apparatus having magnetic valve pin coupling
An actuated part, such as a valve pin plate or actuator piston, is movable in forward and rearward directions. A coupling part is located rearward of the actuated part and held in position by magnetic attraction between the coupling part and the actuated part. A valve pin is coupled to the coupling part. The valve pin extends in the forward direction for opening and closing a mold gate. When a stopping force applied to the valve pin is greater than a force of the magnetic attraction between the coupling part and the actuated part, the actuated part moves away from the coupling part in the forward direction, thereby reducing the stopping force on the valve pin. |
| US07931453B2 |
Capacity variable device for rotary compressor and driving method of air conditioner having the same
A capacity variable device for a rotary compressor and an operation method of an air conditioner having the same are provided. The capacity variable device includes a valve hole in which a sliding valve slidingly inserted is formed at a cylinder, and a bypass hole formed to cross the valve hole and communicating with an intake hole of the cylinder such that resistance of a refrigerant being bypassed is reduced and the operation is performed with its cooling capability lowered. Various operation modes of the air conditioner employing the same are performed and a power consumption is reduced, thus, the efficiency of the compressor is improved. In addition, a structure of the capacity variable device is simplified, thereby lowering a manufacturing cost, simplifying assembly and thusly improving productivity. |
| US07931448B2 |
System and method for manufacturing a brushless DC motor fluid pump
A system and method for manufacturing a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor fluid pump is disclosed. The system includes an electromagnetic forming device, an upper fixture, a lower fixture, and a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. The electromagnetic forming device has a central cavity. The central cavity has a predefined depth from an outer surface of the electromagnetic forming device. The upper fixture is disposed in the central cavity. The upper fixture has a pump stop surface that contacts the BLDC motor fuel pump, and the pump stop surface is selectively spaced from the outer surface of the electromagnetic forming device. A lower fixture having a central cavity for receiving the housing of the BLDC motor fluid pump is provided. A cylinder is configured to move the lower fixture towards the upper fixture until the pump stop surface of the upper fixture contacts the BLDC motor fluid pump. The electromagnetic forming device is activated to seal the housing of the pump assembly once the pump assembly is properly positioned within the magneforming device. |
| US07931445B2 |
Apparatus and method for cleaning an active flow control (AFC) system of a wind turbine
An active flow control (AFC) system for use with a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade. The AFC system includes at least two manifolds at least partially defined within the at least one rotor blade, at least one aperture in flow communication with each manifold of the at least two manifolds, a gas supply coupled in flow communication with the at least two manifolds, and a valve system operatively coupled to the gas supply. The valve system is configured to block a gas flow to a first manifold of the at least two manifolds to redistribute the gas flow to a second manifold of the at least two manifolds. |
| US07931443B1 |
High twist composite blade
A turbomachine with a row of blades in which the blades are structured such that the blades can untwist at higher rotational speeds in order to provide optimal aerodynamics at different rotational speeds. Each blade is formed with a thin slot between the pressure side wall and the suction side wall so that stresses from centrifugal forces occurring during high rotations will not pass from adjacent walls and allow for the blade to untwist more than a solid blade. Each blade is formed from a fiber laminated composite material with the fibers oriented at different directions to form different stiffness in each direction so that a desired untwist can occur based upon a given blade mass and rotational speed. A thin sheet of a slippery material can be placed within the thin slot and between the adjacent airfoil walls to allow slippage between the adjacent walls and to promote damping for the blade. |
| US07931433B2 |
Apparatus for level ride lift
A lift having a platform with a substantially level ride is described. The lift reduces the distance between the ground and the platform in the ground position. An extension plate having receiving portions for accommodating portions of the lift when the platform is in a bed level position. |
| US07931430B2 |
Swagable washer locking plate
A locking device for a rotational based fastener for fastening an object to a substrate, the device including a washer for placement between the fastener head and the object a locking plate for removable engagement to the fastener head to prevent relative rotation of the locking plate and the fastener head, and a flexible, substantially non-elastic integral folded tab connecting the locking plate and washer, the locking plate has a first aperture to receive the the fastener shank such that the fastener head will upon tightening draw the washer into tight contact with the substrate, the locking plate is larger than the fastener head and has a second aperture of smaller or equal size than the fastener head, and the locking plate includes a swagable portion near the perimeter of the second aperture to bridge the fastener head when the locking plate is swaged over the fastener. |
| US07931428B2 |
Aircraft payload retention system for interior loads
An aircraft payload retention system includes a cable, a brake assembly, a hollow crushable member and a hollow structural member. The hollow structural member is fixed adjacent an aircraft internal cargo bay. In response to a high-G condition, the payload may break free from a tie-down system and move forward. The brake assembly engages the hollow crushable member within the hollow structural member and begins to crush the hollow crushable member as the cable is pulled therethrough to dissipate energy of the payload into the structure of the aircraft to arrest forward movement of the payload toward the cockpit. |
| US07931427B1 |
Programmable cutting tool coolant apparatus
A programmable apparatus for cooling cutting tools including a pair of channels formed in the apparatus and formed from a pair of circular channel members, a nozzle associated with each channel to direct fluid onto the cutting tool, and control means to selectively direct fluid to the channels. |
| US07931425B2 |
Cutting tool having coolant delivery system for providing cutting fluid in a fan-like pattern
A cutting tool includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end. The forward end includes an insert-receiving pocket. The body further includes a coolant delivery system comprising a main coolant passage having a main coolant inlet extending from the rearward end toward the forward end, a primary coolant passage in fluid communication with the main coolant passage and having a primary coolant outlet exiting from the insert-receiving pocket, and a secondary coolant passage in fluid communication with the primary coolant passage and having a secondary coolant outlet exiting into the insert-receiving pocket. The primary coolant outlet intersects the secondary coolant outlet to form an outlet having a substantially non-circular shape. As a result, the coolant fluid exiting the outlet is in a fan-like pattern and is evenly distributed over the cutting edge of the insert. |
| US07931423B2 |
Drainage element
A preassembled drainage line element is fabricated at least in part of a biodegradable material, such as kraft paper or a plastic film. The biodegradable material may be perforated to impart a characteristic of water permeability to the material. |
| US07931422B2 |
Water-ballasted protection barrier
A water-ballasted barrier system incorporates a concave reflective design, wherein outer walls of the barrier segment are configured in a concave manner. The concave section is designed to prevent the tire of a vehicle, impacting the barrier, from climbing up the side of the barrier segment, by pocketing the tire in the curved center portion of the barrier wall. Adjacent barrier segments are attached together using an interlocking knuckle design, having a lug pin connection system. In some embodiments, wire rope cable is internally molded into each barrier segment to strengthen the barrier system. |
| US07931420B2 |
Multivalent section for making frames, supports, supporting structures and the like
A section element for constructing frames, supporting structures and the like made up of a section body (10) having one or more flat surfaces (11) and one or more rounded sectors (12) as parts of a circumference with a preset diameter. In correspondence with each flat surface (11) a longitudinal groove (13) is provided with parallel borders defining undercuts (15). The section body can be connected to other elements by means of clamps (16) each one delimiting at least one cylindrical in diameter housing matching that of the cylindrical surface defined by the rounded sectors of the section body and having at least one additional centering member designed to fit in the groove along at least one of the flat surfaces. |
| US07931415B2 |
Knock-type writing instrument having a shock-relaxing device
Upon depressing a knock rod in a state of writing of FIG. 8A, a cam protuberance 3b of a rotor turns rightward to assume a position shown in FIG. 8B. Upon removing a finger, the cam protuberance 3b turns sliding on a tilted surface, arrives at a position shown in FIG. 8C through a first vertical motion (distance d) and, further, arrives at a position shown in FIG. 8D through a second vertical motion (distance e). Here, a tilted surface of cam protuberance 3b comes in collision with a tilted surface of an inner cylinder cam 2b twice, and shocks are transmitted to a refill 7. By forming a step between the front half and the rear half of the tilted surface of the inner cylinder cam 2b, however, a distance of vertical motion of the cam protuberance 3b each time is shortened to decrease the shock of collision imparted to the refill each time. |
| US07931413B2 |
Printing system ribbon including print transferable circuitry and elements
Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly. |
| US07931412B2 |
Extendable camera support and stabilization apparatus
A support system used to orient and utilize equipment remotely positioned from an operator and supported in a stabilized manner. The support system includes a balance pole with a master end and a slave end. Master component masses are connected to and balanced at the balance pole master end on a master sled with a master gimbal apparatus, and slave component masses are connected to and balanced at the balance pole slave end on a support structure or slave sled with a slave gimbal apparatus. A tertiary gimbal is attached to the balance pole at its center of balance. The system includes a mechanism to replicate the motion of the master gimbal at the slave gimbal so the orientation of the master sled is mimicked by the slave sled. |
| US07931406B2 |
Sensor-equipped cover for vehicular-wheel bearing assembly
A sensor-equipped structure of a vehicular-wheel bearing assembly mounted to an outer ring member of a vehicular-wheel bearing assembly, is provided with a sensor portion for detecting the rotation of an inner ring member rotatably disposed on a radially inner side of the outer ring member, and a cover formed of a metal. The sensor portion includes a sensor element for magnetically detecting the rotation of the inner ring member; a connector for supporting a terminal electrically connected with the sensor element; and a capacitor. The sensor portion is molded of a synthetic resin and unified with the cover. The cover has a through hole, the synthetic resin extends from an inner side of the cover through the through hole into the connector, the synthetic-resin is in contact with an inner surface of the cover and not in contact with a circumferential surface of the cover defining the through-hole. |
| US07931399B2 |
Chronograph watch
The invention comprises a chronograph watch including a chronograph mechanism. The chronograph mechanism includes a chronograph train (50), and a counter mechanism (64) kinematically connected to the train (50). The counter mechanism (64) further includes first and second wheel sets (78, 82) respectively provided with first and second display members (36, 38), wherein the first wheel set (78) is angularly positioned using positioning members (86) so as to rotate in steps, and the second wheel set (82) is angularly positioned by the first wheel set (78). |
| US07931396B2 |
Backlight and display
A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. Groove structures which are located on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide permit redistribution of light around obstacles that may be present within the light guide structure, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity of the backlight or illumination panel. |
| US07931393B2 |
Back-lit vehicle emblem
A back-lit vehicle emblem (1) having a body (2) with a front surface (3) and a rear surface (4). The body may be in the shape of a logo, lettering showing the make and model of a vehicle or any other design, such as a sports team's logo, a religious symbol, etc. At least one light emitting diode (“LED”) (5), is located in a hollow portion (6) of the body. The rear surface has at least one edge (7) with at least one partially raised edge (8) so that when the at least one LED is activated, light emitted from the at least one LED shines under the raised edge of the back-lit emblem, thereby illuminating the emblem. The back-lit vehicle emblem may have at least one spacer (10) located on the rear surface that creates a space between the rear surface of the back-lit vehicle emblem and a vehicle (14). In addition, predetermined areas of the front surface of the back-lit vehicle emblem may be translucent areas (9) to allow even surfaced emblems to be illuminated. |
| US07931392B2 |
Motorcycle having headlight disposed within cavity in fork assembly
A motorcycle includes a fork assembly and a headlight. The fork assembly is provided with a cavity. The headlight is at least partially disposed within the cavity in the fork assembly and is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the motorcycle. |
| US07931390B2 |
Jacketed LED assemblies and light strings containing same
A jacketed light emitting diode assembly is provided, which includes a light emitting diode, a lens body containing a semiconductor chip and a set of positive and negative contacts exiting said lens body from a base portion. An electrical wire set of first and second electrical wires are connected to the positive contact and the negative contact, respectively. An integrally molded plastic jacket is provided at the base portion of the lens body around said positive and negative contacts and connection points between the contacts and the wire set to provide a seal at the base portion and at the connection points against moisture and airborne contaminants, whereby a portion of the first and second electrical wires project from the jacket to define bendable contacts for providing an electrical connection with a lamp husk. An optional light transmissive cover may further be provided. A waterproof light string including one or more of the jacketed light emitting diode assemblies is also provided, as are related methods. |
| US07931388B2 |
Universal extensive sector light ring for microscopy and video inspection systems
An adjustable illumination apparatus includes an illumination source having a housing carrying an illuminatable element. A mount is adapted to surround an imaging system lens. An extensible and retractable support has first and second ends mounts the illumination source to the mount. First and second connections movably couple the first and second ends of the support to the mount and the illumination source. The support includes one or more telescoping legs or a cross link bar assembly. In one aspect, the apparatus includes multiple illumination sources. The connections allow each illumination source to be independently positioned relative to other illumination sources. The illuminatable elements in each illumination source may be independently controlled. |
| US07931386B2 |
Flexible LED lighting strips including overmolding encasement and attached parallel electrical conductors
A flexible lighting strip includes an insulated flexible electrical power cord and spaced apart modules connected therewith. Each module includes a circuit board with a cavity, indentation, or opening and an encasing overmolding defining a fastener-receiving slot or opening aligned with the cavity, indentation, or opening of the circuit board. Power cord conductors are separated at the connection with each module to define a gap receiving a portion of the circuit board. A separate tiedown is secured to the power cord. Conductive elements receiving electrical power from the power cord and delivering electrical power to the circuit board include an insulation-displacing portion and a recess receiving at least a portion of the power cord and including a retaining barb or hook. An adhesive tape or strip is disposed over at least one overmolding opening to prevent water ingress to the circuit board. |
| US07931385B1 |
Solar powered lighting for railing systems
A solar powered lighting unit is affixed to a railing system to project illuminating light from the railing system. Solar powered light assemblies each have a light receptor and a light emitter placed in a linear array along a housing molded of a synthetic polymeric material. Gripping members preferably are molded unitary with the housing and are resiliently flexible so as to engage a selected member of the railing system to urge gripping surfaces against the selected member for ready attachment of the housing to the railing system. The gripping members grip the selected structural member to affix the housing to the railing system with the light receptors in position to receive impinging solar light and with the light emitters in position to emit illuminating light from the railing system. |
| US07931383B2 |
Illumination device, display device and television receiver
An illumination device is provided on a backside of a display panel so as to irradiate a display panel with light, the illumination device including a plurality of rod-like light sources arranged in a planar configuration such that they do not cross each other, and columnar members being respectively provided adjacent to the rod-like light sources, each columnar member including a light incidence plane through which light emitted from a longitudinal direction of the rod-like light sources enters, a first light exit plane arranged to emit the incoming light from the light incidence plane toward the display panel, and a first light reflecting plane arranged to reflect the incoming light from the light incidence plane to the light exit plane. Therefore, with the illumination device applied as a direct backlight, it is possible to reduce luminance unevenness in both a front direction and oblique directions sufficiently, so as to reduce the luminance unevenness of the backlight sufficiently, as a whole. |
| US07931382B2 |
Illuminated beverage dispensing devices
An illuminated bar gun, having a first housing portion; a second housing portion dimensioned to connect with the first housing portion and form a unitary body; a recess formed in one or both of the first and second housing portions; and an illumination source fitted within the recess. The present invention also provides an illuminated beverage dispensing handle, having a first portion and a second portion; cavities formed in the first portion and a recess formed in said second portion; and an illumination source fitted inside the cavity, the recess, or both. |
| US07931378B2 |
Control system, projector, program, and information storage medium
A control system includes a principal light source for outputting light to a light path used for image projection, an auxiliary light source for outputting light to the light path, and a control section for controlling light intensity of the auxiliary light source, and the control section performs one of control of setting combined light intensity obtained by combining light intensity of the principal light source and the light intensity of the auxiliary light source with each other in a certain range, or control of setting the combined light intensity to be equal to or higher than a predetermined value. |
| US07931377B2 |
Screen and projection system
A screen including a first plane and a second plane opposite to the first plane, at least one of which is illuminated with light, includes a reflective portion that reflects the light incident on the first plane, a transmissive portion that transmits the light incident on the second plane toward the first plane, and an optical element that focuses the light incident on the second plane such that the focused light is incident on the transmissive portion. |
| US07931375B2 |
Illuminating optical system for projector including first and second integrators
An illuminating optical system that includes a first integrator that includes a plurality of lens, a second integrator that includes a plurality of lens cells on which the respective partial luminous fluxes are incident, a polarization converting element that uniformizes polarizing directions of the luminous fluxes that have passed through the respective lens cells of the second integrator, and color separating unit that separates each of the luminous flux from the polarization converting element into a plurality of color lights of different wavelengths. A field lens and a condenser lens are arranged between the polarization converting element and the separating unit to superimpose the luminous fluxes that have passed through the respective lens cells of the first integrator, on the plurality of display panels. The condenser lens is located closer to the color separating unit. |
| US07931373B2 |
Vision modification with reflected image
Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification. |
| US07931370B2 |
Eye movement sensor device
The eye movement sensor comprises a helmet (1) adjustable to the head of a patient who is undergoing an ophthalmologic examination, in a unit with seat (10) and projection screen (11) of light spots in front, the same helmet (1) incorporating a front light projector (2) which emits a light spot towards the screen (11), as well as means of image recording of each one of the eyes, which records their movements captured from an angle which permits viewing the eye in all its positions. Said means of recording preferably consists of a video camera (6) disposed below the projector (2) of the helmet (1), focussing a pair of mirrors (7), incorporated on different sides of the lower part of the helmet (1) downward, under each eye respectively, to capture the specular reflection of its movements; or instead, two cameras (5) under each eye. |
| US07931366B1 |
Expandable eyewear with snap-together bridge
The present eyewear includes a pair of lenses, a pair of releaseable connectors connected to respective inner ends of the lenses, a pair of temples pivotally connected to respective outer ends of the lenses and a rigid strap connected between rear ends of the temples. The strap is generally U-shaped having substantially parallel legs connected to an arc-shaped base, the substantially parallel legs being connected to rear ends of the temples and when worn, the arc-shaped base extends along the back of a user's head. The strap at its U-shaped base is provided with a telescoping segment for selectively altering the length of the arc-shaped base for altering the spacing between the strap's substantially parallel legs to adjust the strap for varying widths of a user's head. The inner ends of the lenses are releasably secured together by connectors. In use, the lenses are separated from each other and pivoted outwardly, the strap wrapped around the back of a user's head and adjusted for size The lenses are then pivoted towards each other and secured together in front of the user's eyes. The lenses are instantly separable for easily putting on or taking off the eyewear, but they are instantly connectable together for a secure and accurate fit. |
| US07931363B2 |
Open loop oil delivery system
A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes an applicator configured to apply a release agent to a surface of an intermediate transfer drum of an imaging device at a first flow rate, and a reservoir spaced from the applicator including a supply of the release agent for the applicator. A first fluid path fluidly couples the reservoir to the applicator for delivering release agent to the applicator; and a second fluid path fluidly couples the applicator to the reservoir for recirculating release agent back to the reservoir. A delivery pump is configured to pump release agent from the reservoir to the applicator via the first fluid path at a second flow rate; and a recirculation pump is configured to pump release agent from the applicator to the reservoir at a third flow rate. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate, and the third flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. |
| US07931359B2 |
Method of priming a printhead with concomitant replenishment of ink in an ink supply chamber
A method of priming a printhead. The method includes the steps of: (i) providing a printhead having a plurality of nozzles for ejection of ink, an ink inlet and an ink outlet; (ii) providing an ink chamber having an outlet port connected to the ink inlet via an upstream ink line, the ink chamber having an inlet port controlled by a valve; (iii) priming the printhead by pumping ink from the ink chamber, through the printhead and into a downstream ink line connected to the ink outlet; and (iv) opening the valve if a level of ink in the chamber falls below a predetermined first level and replenishing with ink from an ink reservoir when the valve is open. |
| US07931357B2 |
Ink jet printer
An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, an ink tank, an actuator, and a member. The ink jet head has an ink passage and a nozzle communicating with the ink passage. The ink tank communicates with the ink passage of the ink jet head. The ink tank is elastically deformable along a vertical direction. The actuator is capable of applying a pushing force to the ink tank in the vertical direction. The member is located at a position which is adjacent to a predetermined side surface of the ink tank. |
| US07931355B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and platen unit
There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material; an absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is discharged and has electrical conductivity to absorb liquid not attached to the recording material; an electrode member that is adjacent to a rear face of a face facing the nozzle plate in the absorbing member; and a potential difference generating means that generates a potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode member to electrically attract the liquid toward the electrode member. |
| US07931350B2 |
Waste liquid tank, liquid ejection device, and image forming apparatus
A waste liquid tank that holds waste recording liquid is disclosed. In the waste liquid tank, a waste liquid wetting liquid that forms a liquid layer on the surface of the waste recording liquid is placed in the form of a liquid. |
| US07931343B2 |
Parking brake with safety device
A parking brake having an electromechanical and hydraulic device for gripping a pack of movable sectors connected mechanically to the wheels to exert the desired braking force on the wheels. The parking brake is characterized by having an oil flow regulating valve assembly, in turn having a first control solenoid valve and a second safety solenoid valve in series with each other. |
| US07931342B2 |
Adhesive wheel weight dispensing apparatus
An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined amount of adhesive weighted tape includes a controller adapted to receive a request for a desired amount of adhesive weighted tape and an elongated track member adapted to receive a supply of the adhesive weighted tape. A sensor is mounted adjacent a second end of the track member. The sensor in communication with the controller is operable to transmit a signal to the controller corresponding to a measured amount of weighted tape passing thereby. A motive apparatus in communication with the controller is adapted to move the weighted tape from a first end to the second end of the track member in response to the signal from the sensor. A cutting member disposed adjacent the second end of the track member is in communication with the controller and is adapted to cut the weighted tape in response to the signal from the sensor. |
| US07931341B2 |
Narrow bench mining system
A launch vehicle (10) is provided for a continuous mining system including modular conveyor units (U) that are connected together to form a conveyor train. The launch vehicle (10) includes a main frame (12) for supporting a rearmost conveyor unit (U) of the conveyor train. The main frame (12) includes a first side over which additional conveyor units (U) are added to the conveyor train and a second side. A belly conveyor (14) is carried on the main frame (12). A drive assembly (42) is provided for selectively advancing and withdrawing the conveyor train. Further the launch vehicle (10) includes a canopy (18) overlying the main frame (12). The canopy (18) is mounted on at least one cantilever support (20) extending upwardly adjacent the second side of the main frame (12) whereby the first side is left open for adding additional conveyor units (U) to the conveyor train. |
| US07931336B2 |
Stadium seat
A seat frame of a stadium seat includes a lower cross beam, bench-engaging support arms configured to mount over a top, flat surface of the stadium bench, and upright support members. The upright support members include rounded upper ends that may be rearwardly canted. |
| US07931334B1 |
Custom controlled seating surface technologies
A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface. |
| US07931331B2 |
Headrest with energy dissipater for rear passenger
A headrest for mounting on one or more vertically extending posts positioned on the backrest of a vehicle seat, the headrest comprising one or more mounting sleeves positioned on the headrest and adapted to surround a portion of a respective one of said posts, pivot means extending between each mounting sleeve and the respective post to mount the mounting sleeve on the respective post in pivotal relation thereto about a pivot axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post, each mounting sleeve being shaped and otherwise dimensioned on an internal surface to resist pivotal motion of the headrest between first and second positions below application of a directed threshold force to the headrest. |
| US07931327B2 |
Vehicle having at least one tailgate
A vehicle includes at least one tailgate defining a door plane, wherein the tailgate is attached to the vehicle chassis in a jointed fashion by at least one multiple hinge having at least three pivot axes offset from one another and at least two pairs of pivotally connected hinge arms, of which a first hinge arm is pivotally connected to the vehicle chassis and a second hinge arm is pivotally connected to the tailgate. The multiple hinge is associated with a drivetrain controlling the motion of the hinge arms in the pivot axes. The door plane is moved along a predetermined motion path when the tailgate travels from a closed position, in which the tailgate spans a closed plane, to an open position, in which the tailgate spans an opening plane. The motion path of the door plane includes rotary and translational components, and the closed plane forms an angle to the opening plane in the range from 70° to 110°, preferably about 90°. |
| US07931306B2 |
Vented gas riser apparatus
A vented gas riser for use in a system for conducting pressurized gas through a gas carrier pipe from a gas supply source line located below ground level to a delivery point disposed above ground is provided. A fluid tight gas riser protective casing is disposed around said carrier pipe and creates a gas escape passageway in an elongate annular space between the carrier pipe and the casing. Any gas which leaks from the gas carrier pipe is captured in the gas escape passageway. A riser transition head, which includes at least one vent passageway, provides a fluid connection with said gas escape passageway and with the atmosphere such that any gas which leaks in the vicinity of the gas escape passageway can escape through the at least one vent into the atmosphere. |
| US07931303B2 |
Covering sheet for a printed product and method for packaging newspapers or magazines by means of said covering sheet
Printed products (2), in particular newspapers or magazines with different supplements are, for distribution, packed into a covering sheet e.g. made of paper. The covering sheet (1) comprises at least one region, which is completely punched-out and/or at least one region (7), which, due to a partial punching out is easily removable from the covering sheet (1). The punched-out region is a window (6), through which the title and/or the headline of a newspaper or magazine packed into the covering sheet (1) is visible. Partially punched-out regions (7) of the covering sheet (1) are marked by corresponding printing as voucher, reply card, collector's card, punch-out sheet or toy and are removed from the covering sheet (1) for functions other than the covering function of the covering sheet (1). |
| US07931301B2 |
Traveling vehicle
The purpose of the present invention is to make supplying fuel to a fuel tank easier without making the fuel tank interfere with a drive shaft or a front wheel drive shaft and without lowering the minimum ground clearance of a traveling vehicle. A fuel tank is disposed between an engine and a seat and below a steering wheel, and a groove is provided longitudinally at the substantial lateral center of the fuel tank. A power steering valve is attached to the lower portion of the steering wheel, and grooves in which hydraulic pipings connected to the power steering valve are arranged are formed in the fuel tank. |
| US07931298B2 |
Dynamic airbag venting
An example airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct. The duct has a duct opening for venting gas. The duct is moveable between a first position where the duct opening is outside the airbag and a second position where the duct opening is inside the airbag. Inflating the airbag moves the duct between the first position and the second position. The airbag is configured to be inflated by a first stream of gas moving from the duct opening to an interior of the airbag and by a second stream of gas moving from an airbag inflator to the interior of the airbag. The first stream of gas is separate from the second stream of gas. |
| US07931297B2 |
Airbag and airbag device
An airbag and an airbag device are provided in which an openable-closable vent hole opens or significantly opens even if an object, such as a child seat, comes into contact with a lower portion of the airbag in an inflated state. A covering member (20) covers an openable-closable vent hole (11) from the outside of an airbag (10). An upper tether (30) routed through an upper constantly open vent hole (12) and in the inside of the airbag (10) connects the covering member and a near-passenger face (10f) of the airbag (10). A lower tether (31) routed through a lower constantly open vent hole (13) and in the inside of the airbag (10) connects the covering member and a lower portion (10b) of the airbag (10). When a passenger comes into contact with the near-passenger face (10f) of the airbag (10), the upper tether (30) loosens and the covering member (20) is turned up, whereby the openable-closable vent hole (11) opens. When a child seat (6) comes into contact with the lower portion (10b) of the airbag (10), the lower tether (31) loosens and the covering member (20) is turned up, whereby the openable-closable vent hole (11) opens. |
| US07931287B2 |
Isolated spring clamp group
A clamp assembly of a vehicle leaf spring suspension is disclosed. The clamp assembly has an axle bracket secured to a vehicle axle and a top cap secured to the axle bracket by mechanical fasteners to define an axle seat. The axle bracket and top cap may include interlocking keys and keyways to cooperate with the mechanical fasteners in transmitting the load from the vehicle axle. A spring seat of the leaf spring is received within the axle seat and is tapered. The tapered spring seat, when combined with a deformable liner in the axle seat, effectively eliminates the inactive portion of the leaf spring to increase the effective length of the spring and minimize the spring rate. |
| US07931282B2 |
Automatically variable ride height adjustment apparatus
An automatically variable vehicle ground clearance for motor vehicles with semi-elliptical spring suspensions. A drive member is placed at each wheel corner to be height adjusted, the drive member being motor driven. An operator may select a height preference by operation of a switch, or a controller may provide a range of height selections based upon an algorithm which is responsive to sensed vehicle ride conditions, as for example vehicle speed, to optimize vehicle performance. |
| US07931281B2 |
Variable stiffness stabilizer device
A variable stiffness stabilizer device (1) has a stabilizer bar (2) and actuators (3). The stabilizer bar (2) has a torsion bar (4) extending in the lateral direction (X1) of a vehicle and arms (6) connected through bend portions (5) to the ends (4a, 4b) of the torsion bar (4) and bendingly deformed according to the strokes of wheel supporting members (11). Variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) of the arms (6) are rotatable about the axes (C1) of the arms (6), so that the bending stiffness of the arms (6) can be changed according to their rotational positions. The actuators (3) rotationally drive the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) about the axes (C1) to adjust the rotational positions of the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130). |
| US07931279B2 |
Metal fixture for dust cover
An annular metal fixture is embedded in a dust cover and has an annular base portion and an inward peripheral tooth integrally formed at the inner side thereof. The annular base part is formed from one layer of flat plate and has a plurality of three-dimensional structures, which have projected portions usable as a height position defining element when inserted into a mold for forming the dust cover. A plurality of notches are circumferentially formed at the inner periphery of the inward peripheral tooth to increase the diameter of the inward peripheral tooth when fitted to the dust cover. The three-dimensional structures are formed at positions radially aligned with at least a part of the notches. |
| US07931278B2 |
Seal assembly for a rotary member
There is described a seal assembly for sealing the gap between a rotary member and a fixed member, so as to prevent passage of a fluid from a first to a second environment located on opposite sides of the gap; the seal assembly has a first ring integral with the rotary member, a second ring integral with the fixed member, and an elastically deformable sealing member integral with the second ring and in turn having at least one lip cooperating in fluidtight manner with a mating portion of the first ring; and, on the side cooperating with the mating portion, the sealing member has a spiral groove which, in use, produces a fluid-dynamic pumping effect to pump the fluid away from the sealing area and towards the first environment. |
| US07931277B2 |
Hydrodynamic circumferential seal system for large translations
A circumferential seal system for sealing a high pressure region from a low pressure region separated by a runner with an outer circumferential surface and a seal ring disposed about the outer circumferential surface is described. The seal system includes a plurality of groove sets separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface. Each groove set further includes at least two grooves. At least one groove within each groove set exerts a lifting force via a fluid from the high pressure region onto the seal ring as the runner translates with respect to the seal ring along an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the runner. The continuous feed of fluid onto the seal ring ensures a thin film between the seal ring and the runner regardless of their relative arrangement during axial excursions of the runner resulting from conditions within a turbine engine. |
| US07931274B2 |
Hybrid control of sheet transport modules
A processing device to provide hybrid control of sheet transport modules. The processing device includes a first sheet transport module, a second sheet transport module and a control subsystem. The first sheet transport module and the second sheet transport module are configured to transport a sheet. The control subsystem is configured to set velocity of the first sheet transport module before a transfer of the sheet from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module. The control subsystem is further configured to set torque of the first sheet transport module to a torque value to control tension of the sheet to a first sheet tension value when the sheet transfers from the first sheet transport module to the second sheet transport module. |
| US07931271B2 |
Document feeding device with oppositely arranged document placing and ejection trays
A document feeding device includes: a document placing tray; a document ejection tray disposed above the document placing tray; a feeding path; a separating mechanism; and ejection rollers. A nip position of the ejection rollers is arranged in a side opposite to a side where the document placing tray is arranged with reference to a vertical plane passing through a separation position of the separating mechanism. |
| US07931270B2 |
Method and system for personalizing a multiplicity of security documents using a plurality of processing stations
A method for personalizing a plurality of documents and a personalization installation which comprises a plurality of processing stations arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the personalization installation for carrying out individual personalization steps, wherein in order to carry out the personalization steps the documents or smart cards run through one processing station in a first direction running transversely to the longitudinal axis and the other processing station in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and likewise runs transversely to the longitudinal axis, wherein all the processing stations are oriented with their run-through directions transverse to the longitudinal axis. |
| US07931269B2 |
Rotational jam clearance apparatus
A media path jam clearance apparatus installable in a supporting structure includes media drive mechanisms for moving flexible media through media paths and a rotatable, removable jam clearance element. Within the jam clearance element facing surfaces of guide elements define guide surfaces for media paths, with the guide elements having external surfaces capable of supporting the flexible media as it is wrapped around the external surfaces. A pivotal support element supports and enables rotational movement of the jam clearance element within the supporting structure. The jam clearance element may be partially or entirely extracted from the supporting structure. |
| US07931268B2 |
Device for braking flat products and corresponding folder
This device for braking a flat product, in particular a signature, has a support, a brake shoe for braking the flat product, the brake shoe being movable between a position allowing the passage of the flat product and a position effecting braking of the flat product, and a drive for driving the brake shoe from the passing position towards the braking position.The drive includes an eccentric element which is movable in rotation and co-operates with the brake shoe. |
| US07931266B2 |
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus
A sheet feeding device is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet holder to hold a sheet in a position to be fed, a feed roller to pick up the sheet, a first lifter to move a closer portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, a second lifter to move a further portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, and a coordinating system to move the first lifter and the second lifter in cooperation with each other to move the overall sheet holder in a direction to be closer to the feed roller, wherein an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the first lifter is greater according to a constant rate with respect to an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the second lifter. |
| US07931263B2 |
Image forming system having enhanced functionality
A sheet feed apparatus, e.g., coupled to an image forming apparatus, can include: a main frame; a storage unit mounted on the main frame and configured with a capacity to store a large quantity of sheet-like material; a transporter mounted on the main frame and configured to supply the sheet-like material to the image forming apparatus; an additional unit adapted to be mounted on the main frame and operable to enhance a functionality of at least one of the sheet feed apparatus and an image forming apparatus; and a supporting frame mounted on the main frame in place of the additional unit, and further adapted such that the additional unit is mountable thereon; the additional unit being mounted on the supporting frame. |
| US07931262B2 |
Image forming system including finisher with stapler for binding printed papers
In an image forming device, images of originals up to an upper limit number of stapling are read (S1 to S5) and image data thereof are processed (S6 to S8). If a paper sensor has detected a subsequent original even when the number of pages of the read images reaches NS0 (S1, S2), a finisher discharges a bundle of printed papers without stapling. Consequently, the number of the printed papers included in the discharged bundle is made less than the upper limit number. In a case where the number of the printed papers sent to the finisher (S12, S13) is less than a set number NS1 (S15), the bundle is discharged without being stapled after the number of the printed papers reaches NS1 (S17). |
| US07931260B2 |
Signature hopper with lap straightening device
A storage vessel for holding between shaves a wet razor with its head and cutting blade submerged in a liquid and its handle held out of the liquid and dry. The vessel liquid is comprised of a mixture of hydrophobic and hygroscopic materials and of anti-viral and anti-bacterial materials, effective to reduce cutting blade oxidation due to exposure to water and air during nonuse storage and to maintain the blade sharp and sanitary for shaving comfort. These materials specifically might be mineral oil and calcium chloride (CaCl2), and nano-gold or nano-silver. |
| US07931258B2 |
Fluid-elastomeric damper assembly including internal pumping mechanism
A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first substantially fluid-filled chamber and a second substantially-fluid-filled chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber. The housing structure is operable for pumping the fluid through the orifice. |
| US07931240B2 |
Cellular support structures used for controlled actuation of fluid contact surfaces
An assembly for controlling a vehicle, including a fluid contact surface constructed and arranged to act against a fluid passing over the fluid contact surface; and a support structure coupled to the fluid contact surface. The support structure is constructed and arranged to expand or contract between a first position and a second position, such that a first dimension of the support structure changes during movement of the support structure between the first position and the second position, while a second dimension of the support structure remains substantially constant during the movement of the support structure between the first position and the second position. |
| US07931239B2 |
Homeostatic flying hovercraft
A homeostatic flying hovercraft preferably utilizes at least two pairs of counter-rotating ducted fans to generate lift like a hovercraft and utilizes a homeostatic hover control system to create a flying craft that is easily controlled. The homeostatic hover control system provides true homeostasis of the craft with a true fly-by-wire flight control and control-by-wire system control. |
| US07931237B2 |
Universal launch vehicle payload adapter
A universal adapter system and method for coupling payloads and launch vehicles are disclosed to provide optimum payload configurability. A modular bulkhead panel may be used that can support a plurality of payload platforms such that the layout of the plurality of payload platforms on the bulkhead panel can be altered without requiring structural redesign. A carbon composite honeycomb structural frame panel may be used. Multiple bulkhead panels can be stacked to handle larger payload weights. Hollow hexagonal keyways can be used to permit cable access to and from a missile deployment module. Hexagonal payload adapter platforms may be used to join the payload to the honeycomb bulkhead panel. |
| US07931236B2 |
Deflection device for a stream body
The present application describes to a deflection device, for example, for a blunt stream body. The deflection device has an edge, which, for example, can be mounted to the stream body. In an advantageous manner, the deflection device allows an influencing of the slipstream in such a way that turbulences, which are connected with the slipstream and form downstream of blunt stream bodies, have as little influence as possible on the dragged object in order to avoid the formation of building-up motions of the dragged object, which lead to instabilities. |
| US07931232B2 |
Rigid framework for aircraft engine mounting structure and engine mounting structure comprising same
A rigid structure of a suspension pylon for an aircraft engine, which is in a shape of a box closed by first and second box side panels. The structure includes inter-rib spaces, each space delimited by two directly consecutive box transverse ribs. For each inter-rib space forming part of a group including at least three arbitrary and directly consecutive inter-rib spaces, a single access opening is provided on the side panels, the openings arranged alternately on the first and second side panels. |
| US07931228B2 |
Dispenser for sheet material
The present invention is a dispenser that, in one embodiment, includes a support for a roll of web material, a drive roller cooperating with an idler roller to feed web material supported by the roll support, and a mouth through which the web material is dispensed which has a floor but not a roof such that the web material does not jam when dispensed through the mouth. In another embodiment, the mouth is slot shaped. In various embodiments of the invention with either a slot shaped mouth or a wide mouth without a roof, a sensor is provided for selectively activating a drive motor in response to an incursion into a sensing field, wherein the sensor comprises an infrared emitter and receiver. |
| US07931227B1 |
Multifunctional electrical work caddy
An apparatus for transporting, storing, and deploying multiple spools or reels of electrical wires or cable using a transportable caddy with functional features to facilitate the process of pulling multiple wires or cables is herein disclosed. The caddy comprises a cart with an attachable set of wheels, a handle, and support legs allowing the caddy to be easily moved and set in place at a work site in a vertical, horizontal, or angled position. When in use, the support legs hold the cart in an angular position during a wire or cable pulling operation. The cart also provides a shield for the wire spools from work site contaminants. Integral to the design are a series of steel rods, spacers, and locking features that allow for the quick interchange of wire or cable spools or reels. |
| US07931223B2 |
Dust-proof structure of a cone crusher
A dust-proof structure of a cone crusher below a cone core of the cone crusher includes primarily a dust ring which is suspended under the cone core, allowing the dust ring to operate concurrently with the cone core. Lubricant oil is provided between the dust ring and the cone core, enabling the dust ring to be tightly attached with a lip part of the cone core and operate successfully. The dust is prevented from entering into the cone crusher by ineffectiveness of a dust-proof function. Furthermore, a dust collar is attached under the dust ring, and an adjustment washer is provided between the dust collar and the cone core. When the dust ring is worn out, the adjustment washer is removed, and the dust ring is tightened again by screwing elements, thus preventing the dust from entering into the cone crusher due to the ineffectiveness of the dust-proof function. |
| US07931222B2 |
Agitator mill
An agitator mill for treating free-flowing grinding stock has a grinding receptacle and an interior stator disposed therein. A rotatably drivable annular cylindrical rotor is disposed between the interior stator and the receptacle wall, with a grinding chamber being defined between said rotor and the receptacle wall. A grinding-stock discharge conduit is formed between the rotor and the interior stator (22) which is connected to the grinding chamber by means of a deflection conduit. Devices are provided for preventing the carry-over of auxiliary grinding bodies from the grinding chamber into the grinding-stock discharge conduit. |
| US07931217B2 |
Fuel injection valve
A coil is located radially outside of a pipe. An inner connector is located radially inside of the pipe. A moving core is located radially inside of the pipe and opposed to the inner connector. A housing surrounds both an outer circumferential periphery of the coil and one axial end of the coil. A cover surrounds an other axial end of the coil. An outer connector leads fuel into the pipe. The pipe and the cover are integrally formed and one single component as a with-cover pipe member. The inner connector and the outer connector are integrally formed and an other single component as a connector member. The connector member is partially inserted in the axial direction radially inside the pipe of the with-cover pipe member. |
| US07931215B2 |
Device and an installation for spraying a coating fluid, and including a reservoir
This device comprises a sprayer (10) and a reservoir (9) for feeding the sprayer with fluid. The reservoir (9) defines a cylindrical housing (L9) in which there slides (F1) a piston (91) forming a moving wall (91a) for a storage volume (V9) for storing the coating fluid. The housing (L9) is defined by a jacket (92) placed in a support-forming body (95). The jacket (92) has an end wall (93) co-operating with the peripheral wall (96) of the jacket (92) and with the piston (91), to define the above-mentioned storage volume (V9). No interstice are present in which the coating fluid could accumulate, thereby making the reservoir (9) easier to clean. |
| US07931214B2 |
Water sprinkler with tube adaptor member
A sprinkler apparatus comprises a sprinkler motor configured to rotate an output gear and a sprinkler tube configured to move in a repeating pattern in response to rotation of the output gear. The sprinkler apparatus further comprises a tube adapter interposed between the output gear and the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter is fixed in relation to the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter includes a first set of teeth and the output gear has a plurality of extending flexible fingers defining a second set of teeth which engage the first set of teeth. The output gear and the tube adaptor include water passages through which water advances from the sprinkler motor to the sprinkler tube. The flexible fingers on the output gear allow the second set of teeth to slide over the first set of teeth and provide a torque limiting relationship between the output gear and the tube adaptor. |
| US07931210B1 |
Tire tread railroad tie
Re-cycled tire treads are laminated into stacks and attached to a reinforcement element which has a first portion which provides increased compressive strength and a second portion which provides increased torsional and bending strength. Several embodiments with reinforcing elements ranging from T-bars, to I-beams to box beams, with variations including corrugated flanges. Pre-drilled holes can be provided in the flanges to facilitate insertion of the spikes. While steel-belted tires are preferred for use in creating stacks, provisions are made to ensure electrical isolation of the two rails to permit transmission of data thereby. The railroad tie can have electronic signaling hardware built-in by placing sensors and related circuitry between adjacent plies in a laminated stack. |