Document Document Title
US07989631B2 Hydrate forms of AMG706
The anti-angiogenic drug AMG 706 is provided in the mono-phosphate hydrate form. Also provided is AMG 706 drug substance wherein the AMG 706 is present, in at least a detectable amount, as AMG 706 phosphate dihydrate. Also provided are processes for preparing AMG 706 phosphate dihydrate, AMG 706 drug substance of the invention, and a pharmaceutical composition of the invention. Also provided is a method of treating a medical condition or disorder in a subject where treatment with an anti-angiogenic is indicated, comprising administering, for example orally, a composition of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount.
US07989627B2 Optically active cyclic alcohol compound and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a method for preparing an optically active cyclic alcohol compound represented by general formula [I]: [wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for amino group, and * represents an astymmetric carbon atom.] which comprises a step of subjecting a cyclic ketone compound represented by general formula [II]: [wherein R has the same meaning as defined above.]to asymmetric reduction (A) in the presence of an optically active oxazaborolidine compound and a boron hydride compound, or (B) in the presence of an asymmetric transition metal complex obtained from a transition metal compound and an asymmetric ligand and a hydrogen donor, and relates to said compound.
US07989617B2 Crown ether derivatives
The invention describes crown ether chelators, including crown ethers having the formula:
US07989615B2 Separation of different isoforms of plasmid DNA using ultrafiltration
The invention is a method for isolating a desired plasmid DNA isoform, typically a supercoiled isoform, which includes the steps of obtaining a quantity of bioreactor produced plasmid DNA in liquid form for purification, and passing the plasmid DNA through an ultrafiltration membrane at a selected filtrate flux.
US07989612B2 RNA interference mediated inhibition of gene expression using chemically modified short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
US07989607B2 Corn event TC1507 and methods for detection thereof
The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize TC1507 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
US07989605B2 Compounds and methods for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis
Compounds and methods for inducing protective immunity against tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one immunogenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins and DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides. Such compounds may be formulated into vaccines and/or pharmaceutical compositions for immunization against M. tuberculosis infection, or may be used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.
US07989603B2 2′-arabino-fluorooligonucleotide N3′-P5′ phosphoramidates: their synthesis and use
Oligonucleotides with a novel sugar-phosphate backbone containing at least one 2′-arabino-fluoronucleoside and an internucleoside 3′-NH—P(═O)(OR)—O-5′ linkage, where R is a positively charged counter ion or hydrogen, and methods of synthesizing and using the inventive oligonucleotides are provided. The inventive phosphoramidate 2′-arabino-fluorooligonucleotides have a high RNA binding affinity to complementary nucleic acids and are base and acid stable.
US07989595B2 Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor
The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.
US07989593B1 Method for the preparation of a high-temperature stable oxygen-carrier-containing pharmaceutical composition and the use thereof
A high temperature-stable and highly purified cross-linked (optionally ≧70% β-β linked) tetrameric hemoglobin with high efficiency of oxygen delivery suitable for use in mammals without causing renal injury and vasoconstriction is provided. The dimeric form of hemoglobin is degenerated and purification processes are performed on red blood cells from whole blood. Controlled hypotonic lysis in an instant cytolysis apparatus prevents lysis of white blood cells. Nucleic acids from white blood cells and phospholipids impurities are not detected. Blocking of reactive sulfhydryl groups by a sulfhydryl reagent is performed in an oxygenated environment. Flowthrough column chromatography removes different plasma protein impurities. N-acetyl cysteine is added to the cross-linked tetrameric hemoglobin to maintain a low level of met-hemoglobin. The stabilized hemoglobin is preserved in an infusion bag with aluminum overwrap to prevent formation of inactive met-hemoglobin from oxygen intrusion. The product finds use in tissue oxygenation and cancer treatment.
US07989590B2 Peptides that increase collagen or hyaluronic acid production
The present invention relates to a novel peptide having a specified amino acid sequence or its derivative, or a salt thereof. Further, the present invention relates to a composition containing the novel peptide or the like, a method of utilizing the novel peptide or the like, use of the novel peptide or the like, a polynucleotide encoding the novel peptide, or the like. The novel peptide of the present invention or its derivative, or a salt thereof can be utilized for enhancing production of at least one member selected from the group consisting of collagen and hyaluronic acid in a cell.
US07989587B2 SSX-2 peptides presented by HLA class II molecules
The invention describes HLA class II binding peptides encoded by the SSX-2 tumor associated gene, as well as nucleic acids encoding such peptides and antibodies relating to the peptides. The peptides stimulate the activity and proliferation of CD4+T lymphocytes. Methods and products also are provided for diagnosing and treating conditions characterized by expression of the SSX-2 gene.
US07989585B2 Chronic treatment regimen using glucagon-like insulinotropic peptides
The present invention encompasses a method of treating a disease by maintaining chronic steady state serum levels of a GLP-1 compound within a specified range.
US07989582B2 Process for producing poly-tetrahydrofuran
The present invention relates to a process for producing tetrahydrofuran polymer or tetrahydrofuran copolymer by using heteropolyacid catalyst, and more particularly, to a process for producing tetrahydrofuran polymer by using hydronium ion water having a pH of 5.5 or less as a reaction initiator in the initiation step.
US07989577B2 Production of non-solid-stated polyester particles having solid-stated properties
A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.
US07989575B2 Phenol-formaldehyde resole resins, method of manufacture, methods of use, and articles formed therefrom
A composition is disclosed, which comprises a hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin comprising an aldehyde and a hydroxyaromatic compound, modified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. The hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin is prepared without ammonia or a primary amine and the composition does not contain a triazone or a substituted triazone compound. The composition has improved premix stability, improved cure efficiency, comparable tensile strength, and lower volatiles than the hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin unmodified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. Also disclosed are articles prepared therefrom.
US07989574B2 Curable silicone rubber composition and cured product thereof
Provided is a curable silicone rubber composition, including: (A) an organopolysiloxane containing two or more silicon atom-bonded aliphatic unsaturated groups within each molecule, and containing a phenyl group and/or cyclohexyl group, (B) an organopolysiloxane resin with a three dimensional network structure consisting essentially of Q units and M units, and containing one or more phenyl groups and/or cyclohexyl groups, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and (D) a platinum group metal-based catalyst, in which the component (B) exists in a quantity that represents from 20 to 80% by mass of the combination of the component (A) and the component (B), and in the component B, the quantity of low molecular weight substances, for which the weight average molecular weight measured by GPC and calculated against polystyrene standards is not greater than 500, is not greater than 5%. The composition is capable of forming a cured product with improved hardness, no surface tackiness, a high refractive index, and excellent resistance to thermal shock, without any loss in rubber-like properties such as elongation.
US07989571B2 Method for producing norbornene monomer composition, norbornene polymer prepared therefrom, optical film comprising the norbornene polymer, and method for producing the norbornene polymer
Disclosed is a method for producing a norbornene monomer composition, a norbornene polymer produced using the norbornene monomer composition, an optical film including the norbornene polymer, and a method for producing the norbornene polymer. The method includes reacting a reaction solution that contains cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, or a mixture of cyclopentadiene and dicyclopentadiene, an acetate compound, and a solvent so that a content of an exo isomer is 50 mol % or more. Variables such as a reaction temperature, a reaction time, a molar ratio between reactants, and addition of a solvent are controlled so that the exo isomer is contained in content of 50 mol % or more. Accordingly, it is possible to industrially produce an acetate norbornene addition polymer by using the acetate norbornene monomer composition containing the exo isomer in content of 50 mol % or more.
US07989568B2 Fluorosulfonates
A process comprising polymerizing in an aqueous medium at least one fluorinated olefin monomer other than vinylidene fluoride in the presence of a compound of formula (1): Rf(CH2CF2)m—(CH2)nSO3M  (1) wherein Rf is a C1 to C4 linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group, m is an integer of from 1 to 6, n is from 0 to 4, M is H, NH4, Li, Na or K, and a method of altering the surface behavior of a liquid comprising adding to the liquid the composition of a compound of formula (1).
US07989567B2 Method for production of water/oil repellent composition and article
To provide a method for producing a water/oil repellent composition which can impart water/oil repellency to a surface of an article and has excellent durability (wash durability and heavy-rain durability) and an article which has water/oil repellency and is less susceptible to deterioration of water/oil repellency when it is washed or in heavy rain.A method for producing a water/oil repellent composition which comprises polymerizing a monomer component comprising the following monomer (a) in coexistence with the following compound (x) in a medium in the presence of a surfactant and a polymerization initiator: monomer (a) is a compound of the formula (Z—Y)nX wherein Z is a C1-20 polyfluoroalkyl group or the like, Y is a bivalent organic group or a single bond, n is 1 or 2, and X is a polymerizable unsaturated group; and the compound (x) is a compound having at least two groups of —(CH2)a—CHR1—(CH2)b—SH, wherein R1 is a methyl group or an ethyl group, a is an integer of from 0 to 2, and b is 0 or 1.
US07989566B2 Process for producing fluoropolymers
An emulsion polymerization process for the production of non-elastomeric fluoropolymers is disclosed wherein at least one fluorosurfactant is employed as dispersant, said fluorosurfactant being a fluoroalkylphosphoric acid ester of the formula X-Rf-(CH2)n—O—P(O)(OM)2, wherein n is 1 or 2, X═H or F, M=a univalent cation, and Rf is a C4-C6 fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy group. Optionally, a second dispersing agent may be employed in the polymerization, said second agent being a perfluoropolyether having at least one endgroup selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, a salt thereof, sulfonic acid and a salt thereof, phosphoric acid and a salt thereof.
US07989560B2 Fluorine-containing polymer and resin composition
A polymer containing: a constitutional unit A that is derived from fluorosilsesquioxane having one addition polymerizable functional group in a molecule; a constitutional unit B that is derived from organopolysiloxane having an addition polymerizable functional group; and a constitutional unit C that is derived from an addition polymerizable functional monomer containing a group having active hydrogen, and optionally containing a constitutional unit D that is derived from an addition polymerizable monomer other than the fluorosilsesquioxane having one addition polymerizable functional group in a molecule, the organopolysiloxane having an addition polymerizable functional group and the addition polymerizable monomer containing a group having active hydrogen.
US07989559B2 Plant resin composition and plant resin molded product
The present invention provides a plant resin composition containing a polylactic acid, a thermoplastic resin, and a compatibilizer, in which the compatibilizer is a polymeric material formed from an alkyl methacrylate monomer and has a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 950,000 and not more than 4,100,000. The alkyl methacrylate monomer preferably is at least one selected from methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, and butyl methacrylate. By forming a plant resin molded product with this plant resin composition, the impact resistance and the heat resistance of the plant resin molded product can be enhanced.
US07989558B2 Crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, which contains silicon, and process for its preparation
The present invention is directed to crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, PET, which contains silicon in a bounded M and integrated into the molecular structure of PET form. The crystallized form preferably has been obtained by a temperature treatment of amorphous PET, which contains silicon in a bounded and integrated into the molecular structure of PET form. There is also described a process for the preparation of crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, PET, which contains silicon in a bounded and integrated into the molecular structure of PET form.
US07989554B2 Reacting polyalkylene oxide with base, tertiary alkyl haloacetate, then acid to prepare polyalkylene oxide carboxylic acid
A new method of preparing a tertiary alkyl ester of a polyalkylene oxide is provided. The new method employs milder conditions that avoid the back reaction to the starting polyalkylene oxide. The tertiary alkyl ester of a polyalkylene oxide is then reacted with a suitable acid to produce a polyalkylene oxide acid.
US07989553B2 Epoxy-amine composition modified with hydroxyalkyl urethane
Disclosed is a novel epoxy-amine composition modified a hydroxyalkyl urethane, which is obtained as a result of a reaction between a primary amine (C1) and a monocyclocarbonate (C2), wherein modifier (C) is represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 is a residue of the primary amine, R2 and R3 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and n satisfies the following condition: n≧2. Diluents, pigments and additives can be used. Doping with the hydroxyalkyl-urethane modifier imparts to the cured composition superior coating performance characteristics, such as pot-life/drying, strength-stress, bonding, appearance, resistance to abrasion and solvents, etc., in a well-balanced state.
US07989549B2 Polymer compositions and method of making pipes
A polymer composition comprises a low-molecular-weight (LMW) ethylene polymer component and a high-molecular-weight (HMW) ethylene polymer component. Preferably, the LMW polyethylene component and the HMW polyethylene component co-crystallize in the composition such that it exhibits a single or substantially single peak in a lamella thickness distribution (“LTD”) curve. The ethylene polymer for the LMW and the HMW polyethylene components can be either homopolyethylene or ethylene copolymer. Preferably, both components are an ethylene copolymer of the same or different composition (i.e., with the same or different comonomers). A method of making a pipe that includes selecting a polymer composition having a substantially single peak in the LTD curve is described.
US07989547B2 Fluoroelastomer composition containing process aid
Polyhydroxy curable fluoroelastomer compositions contain at least one process aid that is an aminosilicone having only a single primary amine group per polysiloxane molecule.
US07989543B2 Adhesive and marking compositions made from interpolymers of ethylene/α-olefins
An adhesive composition comprises: (i) at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer, (ii) at least one tackifÊer; and (iii) optionally at least one additive, such as a plasticizer, wax and antioxidant. Preferably, the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship: Tm≧858.91−1825.3(d)+1112.8(d)2. The composition has relatively higher SAFT temperature and can be used in hot melt adhesives pressure-sensitive adhesives, and thermoplastic marking paints.
US07989538B2 Flame resistant semiaromatic polyamide resin compositions and processes for the preparation of the compositions exhibiting increased melt flow and articles therefrom
There is provided high temperature flame retarded polyamides which provide superior properties in molded articles while maintaining high flow in the molding process. The resin compositions include, in addition to the polyamide and flame retardant, talc and at least one inorganic reinforcing agent and/or filler other than talc. Processes for their preparation and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed.
US07989537B2 Moulding compound comprising polyoxymethylene and zeolite
The present invention relates to a molding composition, comprising from 10 to 99.999% by weight of at least one polyoxymethylene as component (A1) and from 0.001 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of component (A1) present in the molding composition, of at least one zeolitic material whose pore diameter is in the range from 0.3 to 0.5 nm, determined to DIN 66134 and DIN 66135, where the size of the particles of the zeolitic material is in the range from 3 to 7 μm, determined to ISO 13320, and also to moldings that can be produced from this molding composition.
US07989534B2 Polymer-clay nanocomposites and methods of making the same
Polymer-clay nanocomposites and methods of making the same are provided. In an embodiment, a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprises a non-metal salt of an ionomer and a nanostructured layered clay. An example of the ionomer is a tetra-octyl ammonium salt of sulfonated polystyrene, and an example of the clay is sodium-montmorillonite.
US07989530B2 Nonlinear polymer composites and methods of making the same
A nonlinear composition comprises a polymeric material and at least one ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, or paraelectric particle, wherein the composition has a permittivity greater than or equal to about 5. A method of making a nonlinear composition comprises combining a polymeric material, and at least one ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, or paraelectric particle. The composition has a permittivity greater than or equal to about 5.
US07989525B2 Pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets, and surface protecting film
An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which is excellent in antistatic property of a non-electrification-prevented adherend (subject to be protected) upon peeling, and has reduced stainability in an adherend and is excellent in adhesion reliance, and electrification preventing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets using the same. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.1 to 100% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid alkylene oxide. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.5 to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing monomer and having a glass transition temperature Tg of no higher than 0° C. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.01 to 20% by weight of a reactive surfactant.
US07989524B2 Fiber-reinforced starch-based compositions and methods of manufacture and use
A fiber-reinforced and starch-based composition can be prepared by combining two fractions. The first fraction can include a gelatinized starch, water, and fibers, wherein the fibers are substantially homogenously mixed with the starch in an amount sufficient to structurally reinforce the mechanical characteristics of the starch-based composition. The second fraction is then combined with the first fraction, wherein the second fraction can include non-gelatinized starch, non-volatile plasticizer, and a water-resistant polymer. The composition is mixed so as to form a thermoplastic composition being capable of expanding when rapidly heated to above the boiling point of water and the softening point of the plasticized starch. Additionally, fiber-reinforced articles can be prepared from a method of processing the starch-based compositions. Such a method includes introducing the fiber-reinforced starch-based composition into a mold, and molding the composition into a fiber-reinforced article.
US07989520B2 Antifouling paint composition
The present invention relates to an antifouling paint composition which is pro-environmental because it does not contain organotin and copper compound which are the major causes of maritime environmental pollution, and has excellent inhibitory effect on the adhesion of marine organisms on the surface. The antifouling paint composition of the present invention characteristically comprises a resin, tourmaline and an alkali metal, an alkali earth metal and/or an oxide thereof.
US07989515B2 Filling foam composition, foam filling member, and filling foam
Filling foam composition capable of providing excellent rustproofing and also suppressing reduction of a foam ratio of the filling foam composition even when reusing unwanted parts thereof and inferior goods thereof; a foam filling member using the same filling foam composition; and a filling foam produced by foaming the filling foam composition. The filling foam composition is prepared by mixing foamable polymer, a foaming agent, and a basic oxide in such a mixing ratio that a ratio of the basic oxide can be in the range of 0.05-70 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of foaming agent. The mounting member for the filling foam composition to be mounted in an internal space of a hollow member is produced by mounting a mounting member on the filling foam composition obtained. The filling foam is formed by fitting the foam filling member in the internal space of the hollow member and, then, foaming the filling foam composition by the application of heat.
US07989511B2 Process and apparatus for synthesis gas and hydrocarbon production
A process and apparatus for preparing a synthesis gas suitable for feeding to a suitable hydrocarbon production reactor, such as a Fischer Tropsch reactor is described. According to one aspect, the process and apparatus utilize heat exchangers that thermally integrate the reaction steps such that heat generated by exothermic reactions, e.g., combustion, are arranged closely to the heat sinks, e.g., cool methane, water and air, to minimize heat loss and maximize heat recovery. Effectively, this thermal integration eliminates excess piping throughout, reduces initial capital and operating costs, provides built-in passive temperature control, and improves synthesis gas production efficiencies.
US07989507B2 Production of fuel materials utilizing waste carbon dioxide and hydrogen from renewable resources
The present invention is directed to a method for utilizing CO2 waste comprising recovering carbon dioxide from an industrial process that produces a waste stream comprising carbon dioxide in an amount greater than an amount of carbon dioxide present in starting materials for the industrial process. The method further includes producing hydrogen using a renewable energy resource and producing a hydrocarbon material utilizing the produced hydrogen and the recovered carbon dioxide.
US07989505B2 Synthesis of columnar hydrogel colloidal crystals in water-organic solvent mixture
The compositions of hydrogel colloidal crystals are made from mixing an aqueous suspension of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (“PNIPAM”)-co-allylamine microgels with dichloromethane, forming a PNIPAM-co-allylamine/dichloromethane mixture. The PNIPAM-co-allylamine/dichloromethane mixture is incubated for a period of time at a given temperature, forming the colloidal crystal material. The colloidal crystals can be stabilized by diffusing a glutaric dialdehyde solution into the colloidal crystal material. The concentration of polymer matrix microgels can determine the orientation of random or columnar crystals.
US07989503B2 Smooth muscle peristole inhibitor
An emulsion comprising L-Menthol, a fat or oil and a surfactant wherein oil particles have an average diameter of 100 nm or less inhibits a content reduction attributed to, for example, evaporation of L-menthol, enhances a light transmission through liquid and is stable despite long-term storage. Thus, the emulsion can be appropriately used in the temporary inhibition of contraction of gastrointestinal tract for, for example, observation of gastrointestinal tract by an endoscope. This emulsion can be obtained by heating an oil-in-water type emulsion comprising L-menthol, a fat or oil and a surfactant at 60° C. or higher.
US07989501B2 Treating renal cancer using a 4-[bis[2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]ethyl]amino]-benzaldehyde
The present invention features methods of treating a mammalian subject having renal cancer by administration of certain dimethylsulfonate compounds, such as a 4-[bis[2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]ethyl]amino]-benzaldehyde. The present invention further features administration protocols and dosing schedules for methods of treating patients having renal cancer and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the treatment methods provided herein.
US07989499B2 Compositions and methods for inhibiting an isoform of human manganese superoxide dismutase
The present invention is directed to methods of modulating the activity of an isoform of manganese superoxide dismutase which is useful for the treatment of diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and heart failure.
US07989498B2 Inhibitors of IMPDH enzyme
The present invention relates to compounds which inhibit IMPDH. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting IMPDH enzyme activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as therapeutic agents for IMPDH mediated processes. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of IMPDH using the compounds of this invention and related compounds.
US07989486B2 Use of diindolylmethane-related indoles for the treatment and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus associated conditions
The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of conditions associated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection. RSV-associated conditions include acute infections in mammals, typically bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and post-infectious chronic respiratory conditions. In particular, the present invention describes new therapeutic and preventative uses for 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), or a DIM-related indole, alone or in combination with an inhibitor of a membrane bound Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, to treat conditions associated with exposure to RSV.
US07989485B2 Imidazole compounds having pharmaceutical activity towards the sigma receptor
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well their use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US07989483B2 4-heteroarylimidazole-2-thione tyrosinase inhibitors and pharmaceutical/cosmetic applications thereof
Novel 4-heteroarylimidazole-2-thione tyrosinase inhibiting compounds corresponding to the following general formula (I): formulated into pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions are useful for the treatment or prevention of pigmentary disorders, or for preventing and/or treating signs of skin aging, and/or for body or hair hygiene.
US07989481B2 Indane derivatives as modulators of ion channels
The present invention relates to indane derivatives useful as inhibitors of ion channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US07989480B2 Aryl amino acid derivatives as inhibitors for treating inflammation
The present invention relates to a chemical genus of 3-(triaryl)-2-aminopropanol derivative inhibitors of LTA4H (leukotriene A4 hydrolase) useful for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases and disorders. The compounds have general formula III: A particular embodiment is
US07989478B2 Cinnamoyl compound and use of the same
The present invention relates to a cinnamoyl compound represented by the formula (I):
US07989469B2 Certain chemical entities, compositions, and methods
Provided are certain chemical entities, and methods of use to modulate skeletal myosin, skeletal actin, skeletal tropomyosin, skeletal troponin C, skeletal troponin I, skeletal troponin T, and skeletal muscle, including fragments and isoforms thereof, as well as the skeletal sarcomere, and methods of use in the treatment of neuromuscular disorders, conditions having muscle wasting, claudication, frailty, metabolic syndrome, muscle atrophy associated with disuse, and muscle fatigue, and other indications.
US07989465B2 4,6-disubstituted pyrimidines useful as kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides 4,6-disubstituted pyrimidine compounds useful as kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof, and methods of using the same. The present invention also provides probe compounds, such as compounds of formula V: wherein each of Ring A, Ring B, R1′, T, Rt, m, Rx, Ry, and W is described herein.
US07989462B2 4-arylamin-or-4-heteroarylamino-quinazolines and analogs as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis and the use thereof
Disclosed are 4-arylamino-quinazolines and analogs thereof effective as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. The compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.
US07989460B2 Quinazoline derivatives as angiogenesis inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I: wherein: ring C is an 8, 9, 10, 12 or 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic moiety which moiety may be saturated or unsaturated, which may be aromatic or non-aromatic, and which optionally may contain 1-3 heteroatoms selected independently from O, N and S; is —O— —NH— or —S—; is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and R2 and R1 are as defined herein; and salts thereof; their use in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the production of an antiangiogenic and/or vascular permeability reducing effect in warm-blooded animals; processes for the preparation of such compounds; pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and methods of treating disease states involving angiogenesis by administering a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I inhibit the effects of VEGF, a property of value in the treatment of a number of disease states including cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
US07989456B2 Pyrazine kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising those compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, and disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US07989451B2 Tricyclic 1,2,4-triazine oxides and compositions for therapeutic use in cancer treatments
The invention relates to novel tricyclic 1,2,4-triazine-1-oxides and novel tricyclic 1,2,4-triazine-1,4-dioxides of formula I and to related analogues, to their preparation, and to their use as hypoxia-selective drugs and radiosensitizers for cancer therapy, both alone or in combination with radiation and/or other anticancer drugs.
US07989450B2 Functionalized diarylisoxazoles inhibitors of ciclooxygenase
Isoxazole derivatives, in particular diarylisoxazole derivatives inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX), in particular cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), their pharmaceutical compositions, the process for their preparation and their use for the chemoprevention and treatment of inflammatory syndromes and in the prevention and treatment of carcinomas, in particular intestinal, ovarian and cutaneous carcinomas, in the treatment of pain syndromes, in particular after surgery, and in the cardiovascular field as antithrombotics/vasoprotectives/cardioprotectives.
US07989448B2 Prodrugs of 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds and their uses
The present disclosure provides compounds of the following formula, and methods of using the compounds to inhibit cellular degranulation and to treat diseases associated therewith.
US07989442B2 Progesterone receptor modulators
The present invention provides new progesterone receptor modulators which are (cis)-8-fluorodibenzo[b,f]pyrido[1,2-d]oxazepine-1-amine compounds and uses thereof.
US07989439B2 Substituted pyrazoles, compositions containing these, method of production and use
The disclosure relates to a compound of formula (I): and salts thereof; wherein Ar, L, A, X, R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, and R5 are as defined in the disclosure; compositions comprising said compounds, methods for their preparation, intermediates thereto, and the use thereof, particularly as drugs.
US07989436B2 Estrogenic compounds and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the same
Novel estrogenic compounds of Formula I are provided. wherein the bond represented by the wavy line may be a single or double bond such that when the wavy line is a single bond, R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate and glucoronate or other esters, and when the wavy line is a double bond, R1 does not exist; R2 is lower alkyl; R3 may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate, or glucuronide or other esters; and R4 through R13 may independently be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, ketone, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, and carbonyl groups and R14 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sulfate and glucoronide and other esters. When R1 is hydroxy, the hydroxy or ester substituent may have either an α or a β orientation. Compositions of matter including compounds of the present invention are also provided as are methods of treating mammals in need of treatment using compounds of the present invention.
US07989435B2 Phytic citrate compounds and process for preparing the same
The present invention provides a chemical compound or a salt thereof having the chemical formula of: wherein said R is H or citrate and wherein at least one R is citrate. The salt of the chemical compound is the Na+, K+, Mg2+, or Ca2+ salt of said chemical compound. The chemical compound is a chelator which chelates sodium, potassium or lithium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, lead, zinc, aluminum, mercury, cadmium, or chromium. It is also be used as an artery plaque dissolver and/or to treat age-related degenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The present invention also provides a method for producing the phytic citrate compound and/or its salt.
US07989433B2 Substituted thieno[3,2-D]pyrimidines as melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists
The present invention provides compounds having the following Formula IA and IB, which are useful as MCHR1 antagonists, and includes prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:
US07989426B2 Selective induction of apoptosis to treat ocular disease by expression of PEDF
The invention is directed to a method of prophylactically or therapeutically treating choroidal neovascularization, wherein the method comprises directly administering to the eye a therapeutic factor or a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a therapeutic factor, which he expressed to produce the therapeutic factor, to selectively induce apoptosis of endothelial cells associated with neovascularization of the choroid such that choroidal neovascularization is treated prophylactically or therapeutically. The invention also provides a method of prophylactically or therapeutically treating ocular neovascularization, wherein the method comprises directly administering to the eye a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutic factor to promote apoptosis of endothelial cells associated with neovascularization, such that the nucleic acid is expressed thereby producing the therapeutic factor to treat ocular neovascularization prophylactically or therapeutically.
US07989425B2 Vaccine enhancing the protective immunity to hepatitis c virus using plasmid DNA and recombinant adenovirus
The present invention relates to a vaccine enhancing the protective immunity to Hepatitis C virus using plasmid DNA and recombinant adenovirus, more particularly to a vaccine consisting of Δ core-E1-E2 expressing DNA vaccine, nonstructural protein NS3 and NS4 expressing DNA vaccine, nonstructural protein NS5 expressing DNA vaccine and recombinant adenovirus vaccine, and method for administration of the vaccine by priming with the DNA vaccines described above and boosting with the recombinant adenovirus vaccine thereby enhancing the protective immunity to Hepatitis C virus.
US07989424B2 Glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivatives and use thereof in medicines
The present invention provides glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivatives represented by the general formula: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a group forming a prodrug; one of Q and T represents a group represented by the general formula: (wherein P represents a hydrogen atom or a group forming a prodrug), while the other represents a lower alkyl group or a halo(lower alkyl) group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a halo(lower alkyl) group or a halogen atom; and with the proviso that P does not represent a hydrogen atom when R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which exert an inhibitory activity in human SGLT2 and have an improved oral absorption, and therefore are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications or obesity, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical uses thereof.
US07989419B2 Insulin composition
Pharmaceutical compositions for nasal administration to humans, or to warm-blooded animals, comprise: (A) a therapeutically effective amount of insulin; (B) a permeation enhancer; and (C) a liquid carrier; the compositions being further comprised of, or characterized by, any, or each, of: (D) a combination of non-ionic surfactants; wherein the combination of non-ionic surfactants comprises: (i) at least one fatty acid ester of a sugar or sugar alcohol and (ii) at least one pegylated fatty acid ester of a sugar or sugar alcohol; (E) an acidic pH, but no greater than a pH of 4.5; and (F) an osmolality of <200 mOsmol/Kg H2O.
US07989416B2 Lantibiotic biosynthetic gene clusters from A. garbadinensis and A. Liguriae
Characterization of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the lantibiotic actagardine, identification of a novel variant of actagardine and its biosynthetic cluster, and methods of production and use of actagardine are described.
US07989411B2 Composition which contains a mixture of mono-, di and triglycerides and glycerine
The present invention relates to a composition which contains a mixture of alkoxylated mono-, di-, and triglycerides and glycerine of formula wherein R′ represents H or CH3, and each one of m, n, or l represents, independently, a number from 0 to 20, the sum of m, n, and l being in the range of 1.5 to 20, characterized in that in the acyl group represented by —CO—R, R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group, linear or branched, of 6 to 11 carbon atoms, and the proportion by weight (i)+(ii)+(iii)/(iv) is in the range of 2.0:0.5 to 0.5:3; and to a method for the preparation of said composition, the detergent compositions which contain said compositions, and the use of said composition as surfactant or co-surfactant in the detergent compositions, particularly in detergent compositions, especially, but not exclusively, suitable for washing fabrics, suitable for manual dishwashing, for washing the hair or for personal hygiene.
US07989410B2 Method of enhancing perfume bloom in extruded diluted bars having low total fatty matter and using starch polyol structuring system
The present invention relates to a method of obtaining enhanced perfume bloom, e.g., bars providing enhanced perfume impact. By selecting specific bar compositions (e.g., with low TFM and specific starch-polyol structuring system), it has been unexpectedly found that bloom is actually increased upon dilution of such bars.
US07989409B2 Grease compositions
A grease composition is provided that exhibits good low temperature torque and low oil separation. The grease comprises a base oil having a VI greater than about 120, a pour point below about −20° C. wherein the base oil contains about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of a gas to liquid base stock and from 0 wt % to about 90 wt % of a polyalphaolefin fluid.
US07989408B2 Fuel economy lubricant compositions
The present invention provides a lubricating composition comprising a major amount of a GTL lubricating base oil and a friction modifier consisting essentially of oil soluble fatty acid esters of a polyol. Such lubricating compositions have reductions in their friction coefficients that are greater than similar compositions formulated with Group III or PAO base oils.
US07989406B2 Additive for diesel particulate filter
An additive to a fuel oil for a Diesel engine having a Diesel particulate filter (DPF), which comprises a molybdenum compound and having the function of improving the combustion property of a particulate matter (PM) trapped with DPF; a fuel oil comprising the additive; a lubricating oil composition for a Diesel engine having DPF, which has a sulfated ash content of 1.0% by weight or smaller, a sulfur content of 0.3% by weight or smaller and a molybdenum content of 100 ppm or greater; and DPF for removing PM in combustion gas discharged from a Diesel engine vehicle by trapping and burning PM, DPF comprising a filter supporting a molybdenum compound. The combustion property of PM trapped with the filter of DPF is improved, PM is burned at a low temperature with stability, the efficiency of removal of PM is improved and the life of DPF is increased.
US07989403B2 Corrosion inhibitors containing amide surfactants for a fluid
A method of inhibiting corrosion in a fluid is disclosed. The method comprises: adding to the fluid an effective corrosion inhibiting amount of a synergist, a synergist when H2S is present in the fluid, or no synergist when H2S is present in the fluid, and a composition comprising specified following formula and optionally salts thereof.
US07989389B2 Heat-sensitive recording material
The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material having a support, a heat-sensitive color-developing layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, and a protective layer, the heat-sensitive color-developing layer and the protective layer being formed on the support, wherein carboxylic-acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol with a weight average degree of polymerization of 100 to 400 and a modification degree of 0.2 mol % to 1.0 mol % is used as a dispersing agent for dispersing the leuco dye.
US07989386B2 Multi-layer catalyst made from niobium for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons
The invention relates to a multi-layer catalyst made from niobium for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons, comprising a) a support component made from a doped or undoped oxide or hydroxide of an element of the V sub-group of the periodic table, or mixtures thereof, b) a layer of a promoter compound, selected from oxygen, sulphur or phosphorus compounds of an element of the VI, VII and VIII sub-group or a phosphoxy compound and mixtures thereof and c) a layer comprising a compound of platinum metal. The invention further relates to a method for production of the catalyst and the use thereof.
US07989384B2 Catalysts, activating agents, support media, and related methodologies useful for making catalyst systems especially when the catalyst is deposited onto the support media using physical vapor deposition
Use of physical vapor deposition methodologies to deposit nanoscale gold on activating support media makes the use of catalytically active gold dramatically easier and opens the door to significant improvements associated with developing, making, and using gold-based, catalytic systems. The present invention, therefore, relates to novel features, ingredients, and formulations of gold-based, heterogeneous catalyst systems generally comprising nanoscale gold deposited onto a nanoporous support.
US07989383B2 Self limiting catalyst composition and propylene polymerization process
A catalyst composition for the polymerization of propylene comprising one or more Ziegler-Natta procatalyst compositions comprising one or more transition metal compounds and one or more esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acid internal electron donors; one or more aluminum containing cocatalysts; a selectivity control agent (SCA) comprising at least one silicon containing compound containing at least one C1-10 alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom, and one or more activity limiting agent (ALA) compounds comprising one or more aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids; alkyl-, cycloalkyl- or alkyl(poly)(oxyalkyl)-(poly)ester derivatives thereof; or inertly substituted derivatives of the foregoing.
US07989382B2 Solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, catalyst for olefin polymerization and process for producing olefin polymer
An olefin polymerization catalyst whose molar ratio of residual alkoxy groups to titanium is 0.60 or less, obtained by reacting (a1) an oxide of an element from Groups II to IV elements and which supports an alcohol-free halogen-containing magnesium compound, with (b1) an alcohol, at a hydroxyl group/magnesium molar ratio of 1.0 or more, then reacting that reaction mixture with (c1) a halogen-containing silicon compound, at a halogen/magnesium molar ratio of 0.20 or more, then reacting the resultant reaction mixture with (d1) an electron-donating compound, and (e) a halogen-containing titanium compound at a temperature of 120° C. to 150° C., washing the reaction mixture with an inert solvent, reacting the reaction mixture with (e) again at that temperature and washing the reaction mixture with an inert solvent, thereby providing a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization.
US07989380B2 High resistivity SiC material with B, N and O as the only additions
A dense silicon carbide (SiC) material with boron (B), nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) as the only additives and with excellent insulting performance (electrical volume resistivity greater than 1×108 Ω·cm). The SiC ceramic material, made from a powder mix of, by weight, from 0.1 to 7% boron carbide, from 0.1 to 7% silicon nitride, from 0.1 to 6% silicon dioxide, and a balance of α-SiC, consists essentially of (1) at least 90% by weight of α-SiC, (2) about 0.3 to 4.0% by weight of boron, (3) about 0.1 to 6.0% by weight of nitrogen, (4) about 0.06 to 0.5% by weight of oxygen, and (5) no more than 0.07% by weight of metallic impurities; wherein the boron and nitrogen are present according to an B/N atomic ratio of 0.9 to 1.5. In particular, this material is suitable for applications in plasma etching chambers for semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturing.
US07989379B2 Optical glass
The present invention provides a glass having a refractive index and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to those of quartz glass, respectively, and also having anti-devitrification properties excellent enough to avoid the development of defects such as devitrification on the glass surface even when it is molded by drawing process or reheat forming, more specifically an optical glass for use in optical communication devices, particularly an optical glass for use in a stub.The optical glass of the invention is composed of a borosilicate glass having a refractive index of from 1.44 to 1.46, a coefficient of thermal expansion of from 10×10−7 to 50×10−7/° C., and a liquidus viscosity of 105.5 dPa·s or more.
US07989377B2 Optical glass and optical element
Provided is an optical glasses that has high refractivity and low dispersion and anomalous partial dispersion capability and that has excellent processability and devitrification resistance and ensures that the occurrence of striae can be inhibited, the optical glass including an optical glass having a refractive index (nd) of 1.54 to 1.60, an Abbe's number (vd) of 65 to 78, a partial dispersion ratio of 0.530 or more, a specific gravity of 4.0 or less and a viscosity, measured at its liquidus temperature, of 4 dPa·s or more and an optical glass comprising as cationic components, by cationic %, 20 to 50% of p5+, 0.1 to 20% of Al3+, 0.1 to 20% of Mg2+, 0 to 20% of Ca2+, 0 to 20% of Sr2+, 0.1 to 30% of Ba2+ and 0 to 10% of Y3+, and further comprising, as anionic components, F− and O2−, wherein the ratio of the content of Mg2+ to the content of Al3+, Mg2+/Al3+, based on cationic %, is 1.2 or less.
US07989375B2 Glass fiber composition, glass fiber, and glass fiber containing composition material
An object is to provide a readily fusible glass fiber composition that can alleviate environmental problem and reduce raw material cost by decreasing boron content, and that can facilitate the manufacturing of fine-count glass filament. A glass fiber composition of the present invention is an oxide glass composition, and has compositions of 0.01 to 3% of P2O5, 52 to 62% of SiO2, 10 to 16% of Al2O3, 0 to 8% of B2O3, 0 to 5% of MgO, 16 to 30% of CaO, and 0 to 2% of R2O(R═Li+N+K), which are in terms of oxide represented in mass percentage.
US07989371B2 Meltblown fiber web with staple fibers
A porous nonwoven web and method of making are disclosed, wherein the web contains meltblown fibers and staple fibers. The meltblown fibers may be present as a bimodal mixture of microfibers and mesofibers, and comprise an intermingled mixture with staple fibers further intermingled therein.
US07989370B2 Interior wallboard and method of making same
A gypsum wallboard suitable for Level 4 finishing having a coated non-woven glass fiber mat facing material where the glass fiber mat has a majority of fibers of a fiber diameter between 8 and 11 microns and a fiber length between ¼ and ¾ inch and preferably between ¼ and ½ inch and preferably has a basis weight between about 0.8 lb./100 ft.2 and about 2.2 lb./100, and wherein the fibers in the non-woven glass fiber are bound together with an acrylic adhesive binder and wherein the non-woven glass mat has a coating of a dried aqueous mixture of (i) a mineral pigment, (ii) a polymer latex adhesive binder and optionally (iii) an inorganic adhesive binder such that the coated non-woven glass mat facing material has a porosity which allows water to evaporate through said coated mat from the gypsum core during preparation of the wallboard.
US07989368B2 Polymer particles mixed with fibers and products such as press fabrics made therefrom
A mixture contains polymer particles along with solids or fibers that can be utilized in press felts (or fabrics) for the press section of a papermaking machine and a method of making the mixtures are described.
US07989367B2 Reducing formaldehyde emissions from fiberglass insulation
A process for making a fibrous product using a binder based on a formaldehyde-containing resin and especially for making fiberglass insulation products, and to the fibrous products themselves, wherein the fibrous product has a backing sheet affixed thereto and the backing sheet is coated or impregnated with a formaldehyde scavenger composition, with the result that the fibrous products exhibit a reduced level of formaldehyde emission.
US07989359B2 Semiconductor module manufacturing method, semiconductor module, and mobile device
A semiconductor substrate having on its surface an electrode of a semiconductor device and a pattern unit is prepared. A copper plate is formed provided with a first principle surface having a bump and a second principle surface, opposite to the first principle surface, having a trench. By adjusting the position of the copper plate so that a pattern unit and the corresponding trench have a predetermined positional relation, the bump and the electrode are aligned, the first principle surface of the copper plate and a semiconductor substrate are pressure-bonded via an insulating layer, and the bump and the electrode become connected electrically while the bump penetrating the insulating layer. A predetermined rewiring pattern is formed on the side of the second principle surface.
US07989357B2 Method of patterning semiconductor structure and structure thereof
Method of patterning a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method involves crystallographic etching techniques to enhance a patterned monocrystalline layer as a hard mask. In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a monocrystalline silicon layer to a non-crystalline protective layer; patterning the monocrystalline layer to form a hard mask; enhancing the pattern of the hard mask; stripping the hard mask after conventional etching of protective layer; and forming a gate oxide thereon. The enhanced patterning of the hard mask is performed with crystallographic etching to replace optical effects of rounding and dimension narrowing at the ends of a defined region with straight edges and sharp corners. A resulting structure from the use of the enhanced patterned hard mask includes a layer of composite materials on the substrate of the semiconductor structure. The layer of composite materials includes different materials in discrete blocks defined by straight edges within the layer.
US07989356B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming enhanced UBM structure for improving solder joint reliability
A semiconductor device has a first conductive layer formed over a substrate. A first insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over first insulating layer and first conductive layer. A third insulating layer is formed over the second insulating layer and second conductive layer. An under bump metallization layer (UBM) is formed over the third insulating layer and second conductive layer. A UBM build-up structure is formed over the UBM. The UBM build-up structure has a sloped sidewall and is confined within a footprint of the UBM. The UBM build-up structure extends above the UBM to a height of 2-20 micrometers. The UBM build-up structure is formed in sections occupying less than an area of the UBM. A solder bump is formed over the UBM and UBM build-up structure. The sections of the UBM build-up structure provide exits for flux vapor escape.
US07989350B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device with recess gate
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a structure including a sacrificial layer and a hard mask over a substrate, performing a plasma treatment over the structure including the hard mask to form a protective layer over the hard mask, etching the sacrificial layer using the protective layer as an etch barrier, and etching the substrate using the protective layer and the patterned sacrificial layer as an etch barrier to form a recess pattern.
US07989349B2 Methods of manufacturing nanotubes having controlled characteristics
A method of forming a plurality of nanotubes is disclosed. Particularly, a substrate may be provided and a plurality of recesses may be formed therein. Further, a plurality of nanotubes may be formed generally within each of the plurality of recesses and the plurality of nanotubes may be substantially surrounded with a supporting material. Additionally, at least some of the plurality of nanotubes may be selectively shortened and at least a portion of the at least some of the plurality of nanotubes may be functionalized. Methods for forming semiconductor structures intermediate structures, and semiconductor devices are disclosed. An intermediate structure, intermediate semiconductor structure, and a system including nanotube structures are also disclosed.
US07989346B2 Surface treatment of silicon
A method of forming a resist pattern on a silicon semiconductor substrate having an anti-reflective layer thereon is described. The method includes the steps of a) modifying surface energy of the anti-reflective surface with a chemical treatment composition, b) applying a UV etch resist to the treated anti-reflective surface, and c) exposing the anti-reflective surface to a wet chemical etchant composition to remove exposed areas of the anti-reflective surface. Thereafter, the substrate can be metallized to provide a conductor pattern. The method may be used to produce silicon solar cells.
US07989342B2 Formation of a reliable diffusion-barrier cap on a Cu-containing interconnect element having grains with different crystal orientations
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a diffusion-barrier cap on a Cu-containing interconnect element that has crystallites of at least two different crystal orientations, comprises selectively incorporating Si into only a first set of crystallites with at least one first crystal orientation, employing first process conditions, and subsequently selectively forming a first adhesion-layer portion comprising CuSi and a first diffusion-barrier-layer portion only on the first set of crystallites, thus forming a first barrier-cap portion, and subsequently selectively incorporating Si into only the second set of crystallites, employing second process conditions that differ from the first process conditions, and forming a second barrier-cap portion comprising a Si-containing second diffusion-barrier layer portion on the second set of crystallites of the interconnect element. The processing improves the properties of the diffusion-barrier cap and secures a continuous formation of a diffusion-barrier layer on the interconnect element.
US07989340B2 Methods of forming CoSi2, methods of forming field effect transistors, and methods of forming conductive contacts
The invention included to methods of forming CoSi2, methods of forming field effect transistors, and methods of forming conductive contacts. In one implementation, a method of forming CoSi2 includes forming a substantially amorphous layer comprising MSix over a silicon-containing substrate, where “M” comprises at least some metal other than cobalt. A layer comprising cobalt is deposited over the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. The substrate is annealed effective to diffuse cobalt of the cobalt-comprising layer through the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer and combine with silicon of the silicon-containing substrate to form CoSi2 beneath the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07989339B2 Vapor deposition processes for tantalum carbide nitride materials
Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for depositing and compositions of tantalum carbide nitride materials. The methods include deposition processes that form predetermined compositions of the tantalum carbide nitride material by controlling the deposition temperature and the flow rate of a nitrogen-containing gas during a vapor deposition process, including thermal decomposition, CVD, pulsed-CVD, or ALD. In one embodiment, a method for forming a tantalum-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes heating the substrate to a temperature within a process chamber, and exposing the substrate to a nitrogen-containing gas and a process gas containing a tantalum precursor gas while depositing a tantalum carbide nitride material on the substrate. The method further provides that the tantalum carbide nitride material is crystalline and contains interstitial carbon and elemental carbon having an interstitial/elemental carbon atomic ratio of greater than 1, such as about 2, 3, 4, or greater.
US07989331B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including forming a mask layer on a polycrystalline silicon film formed on a semiconductor substrate via an insulating film; forming a dense pattern and a sparse pattern on the mask layer to form a mask; etching the polycrystalline silicon film with the mask by controlling a temperature of the semiconductor substrate placed in an etching chamber at 50 degrees Celsius or higher, supplying an etching gas composed of a hydrogen bromide containing gas and a fluoromethane based gas into the chamber, and generating plasma in the chamber.
US07989329B2 Removal of surface dopants from a substrate
A method and apparatus for removing excess dopant from a doped substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate is doped by surfaced deposition of dopant followed by formation of a capping layer and thermal diffusion drive-in. A reactive etchant mixture is provided to the process chamber, with optional plasma, to etch away the capping layer and form volatile compounds by reacting with excess dopant. In another embodiment, a substrate is doped by energetic implantation of dopant. A reactive gas mixture is provided to the process chamber, with optional plasma, to remove excess dopant adsorbed on the surface and high-concentration dopant near the surface by reacting with the dopant to form volatile compounds. The reactive gas mixture may be provided during thermal treatment, or it may be provided before or after at temperatures different from the thermal treatment temperature. The volatile compounds are removed. Substrates so treated do not form toxic compounds when stored or transported outside process equipment.
US07989327B2 Manufacturing method for a semi-conductor on insulator substrate comprising a localised Ge enriched step
A method of manufacturing a semi-conductor on insulator substrate from an SOI substrate, wherein a Si1-xGex layer is formed on a superficial layer of silicon having a buried electrical insulating layer. A silicon oxide layer is formed on the Si1-xGex layer. The resulting stack of silicon, Si1-xGex and silicon oxide layers is etched up to the buried insulating layer leaving an island of the stack, or up to the superficial layer leaving a zone of silicon and an island of the stack. A mask is formed to protect against oxidation on the etched structure, wherein the protective mask only leaves visible the silicon oxide layer of the island. The germanium of the Si1-xGex layer is condensed on the island to obtain an island comprising a layer that is enriched in germanium, or even a layer of germanium, on the insulating layer, with a silicon oxide layer on top of it.
US07989316B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
To provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which the space between semiconductor films transferred at plural locations is narrowed. A first bonding substrate having first projections is attached to a base substrate. Then, the first bonding substrate is separated at the first projections so that first semiconductor films are formed over the base substrate. Next, a second bonding substrate having second projections is attached to the base substrate so that the second projections are placed in regions different from regions where the first semiconductor films are formed. Subsequently, the second bonding substrate is separated at the second projections so that second semiconductor films are formed over the base substrate. In the second bonding substrate, the width of each second projection in a direction (a depth direction) perpendicular to the second bonding substrate is larger than the film thickness of each first semiconductor film formed first.
US07989313B2 Method and apparatus for creating RFID devices
A process is disclosed for creating semiconductor devices such as RFID assemblies wherein an array of dies mounted to a substrate is spaced apart at a first pitch, and the substrate is removed after the positions of the dies in the array is fixed by a solidifiable substance. The solidifiable substance is then removed without changing the relative positions of the dies in the array. All or a selected portion of the array of dies is then electrically attached to a plurality of straps or interposers arranged in a corresponding array. The spacing, or pitch, between the dies in the die array may be changed before or after the substrate is removed to match the pitch of the straps or interposers in the corresponding array. An RFID device created using the process inventive is also disclosed.
US07989307B2 Methods of forming isolated active areas, trenches, and conductive lines in semiconductor structures and semiconductor structures including the same
Methods of pitch doubling of asymmetric features and semiconductor structures including the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single photolithography mask may be used to pitch double three features, for example, of a DRAM array. In one embodiment, two wordlines and a grounded gate over field may be pitch doubled. Semiconductor structures including such features are also disclosed.
US07989303B2 Method of creating an alignment mark on a substrate and substrate
In an embodiment, a method of creating an alignment mark on a substrate includes forming a plurality of lines segmented into electrically conducting line segments and space segments, thereby forming spaces between the lines to form a macroscopic structure in a first layer of the substrate, creating a plurality of electrically conducting trenches in a second layer of the substrate, and arranging the plurality of trenches to be in electrical contact with the line segments and overlapping the space segments at least partially.
US07989301B2 Semiconductor device with bipolar transistor and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed is a semiconductor device with a bipolar transistor and method of fabricating the same. The device may include a collector region in a semiconductor substrate. A base pattern may be disposed on the collector region. A hard mask pattern may be disposed on the base pattern. The hard mask pattern may include a buffering insulation pattern and a flatness stopping pattern stacked in sequence. An emitter electrode may be disposed in a hole that locally exposes the base pattern, penetrating the hard mask pattern. A base electrode may contact an outer sidewall of the hard mask pattern and may be disposed on the base pattern. The flatness stopping pattern may contain an insulative material with etching selectivity to the buffering insulation pattern, the emitter electrode, and the base electrode.
US07989300B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming a silicon film over the gate insulating film, forming a resist pattern over the silicon film, etching the silicon film to form a protrusion portion of the silicon film, forming a dummy film over the silicon film, etching the dummy film so that the dummy film is partially remained on sidewalls of the protrusion portion, etching the silicon film using the remaining dummy film to form a gate electrode, and performing ion implantation into the semiconductor substrate to form source/drain regions.
US07989299B2 Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and method of evaluating semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has: a silicon (semiconductor) substrate; a gate insulating film and a gate electrode, which are formed on the silicon substrate in this order; and source/drain material layers formed in recesses (holes) in the silicon substrate, the recesses being located beside the gate electrode. Here, each of side surfaces of the recesses, which are closer to the gate electrode, is constituted of at least one crystal plane of the silicon substrate.
US07989298B1 Transistor having V-shaped embedded stressor
A semiconductor device and a method of making the device are provided. The method can include forming a gate conductor overlying a major surface of a monocrystalline semiconductor region and forming first spacers on exposed walls of the gate conductor. Using the gate conductor and the first spacers as a mask, at least extension regions are implanted in the semiconductor region and dummy spacers are formed extending outward from the first spacers. Using the dummy spacers as a mask, the semiconductor region is etched to form recesses having at least substantially straight walls extending downward from the major surface to a bottom surface, such that a substantial angle is defined between the bottom surface and the walls. Subsequently, the process is continued by epitaxially growing regions of stressed monocrystalline semiconductor material within the recesses. Then the dummy spacers are removed and the transistor can be completed by forming source/drain regions of the transistor that are at least partially disposed in the stressed semiconductor material regions.
US07989295B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor substrate made of a semiconductor material is prepared, and a hetero semiconductor region is formed on the semiconductor substrate to form a heterojunction in an interface between the hetero semiconductor region and the semiconductor substrate. The hetero semiconductor region is made of a semiconductor material having a bandgap different from that of the semiconductor material, and a part of the hetero semiconductor region includes a film thickness control portion whose film thickness is thinner than that of the other part thereof. By oxidizing the hetero semiconductor region with a thickness equal to the film thickness of the film thickness control portion, a gate insulating film adjacent to the heterojunction is formed. A gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. This makes it possible to manufacture a semiconductor device including the gate insulating film with a lower ON resistance, and with a higher insulating characteristic and reliability.
US07989289B2 Floating gate structures
Floating gate structures are generally described. In one example, an electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate, a tunnel dielectric coupled with the semiconductor substrate, and a floating gate structure comprising at least a first region having a first electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency coupled with the tunnel dielectric and a second region having a second electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency coupled with the first region wherein the first electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency is less than the second electron energy level or electron workfunction or carrier capture efficiency. Such electronic device may reduce the thickness of the floating gate structure or reduce leakage current through an inter-gate dielectric, or combinations thereof, compared with a floating gate structure that comprises only polysilicon.
US07989270B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming three-dimensional vertically oriented integrated capacitors
A semiconductor device is made by forming a plurality of conductive pillars vertically over a temporary carrier. A conformal insulating layer is formed over the conductive pillars. A conformal conductive layer is formed over the conformal insulating layer. A first conductive pillar, conformal insulating layer, and conformal conductive layer constitute a vertically oriented integrated capacitor. A semiconductor die or component is mounted over the carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die or component and around the conformal conductive layer. A first interconnect structure is formed over a first side of the encapsulant. The first interconnect structure includes an integrated passive device. The first interconnect structure is electrically connected to the semiconductor die or component and vertically oriented integrated capacitor. The carrier is removed. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second side of the encapsulant opposite the first side of the encapsulant.
US07989268B2 Small form factor molded memory card and a method thereof
A shape-molding structure of a memory card comprises a circuit substrate, at least one chip, and an encapsulant covering. The upper and lower surfaces of the circuit substrate have a circuit layer and a plurality of electric contacts, respectively. The chip is located on the upper surface of the circuit substrate and electrically connected with the circuit layer. The encapsulant covering is formed by using a mold to press encapsulant entering at least one encapsulant inlet provided on at least one side surface of the circuit substrate. The encapsulant covering encapsulates all the above components with only the electric contacts exposed. A trace mark of the encapsulant inlet remaining on the encapsulant covering is then cut to obtain a shape-molding structure of memory card with an smooth and intact outer appearance.
US07989264B2 Warpage resistant semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing the same is provided for minimizing or preventing warpage and twisting of semiconductor chip bodies as a result of thinning them during gringing. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip body and a substrate. The semiconductor chip body has a first surface, a second surface facing away from the first surface, through-electrodes which pass through the semiconductor chip body and project from the second surface, and a warpage prevention part which projects in the shape of a fence along an edge of the second surface. The substrate has a substrate body and connection pads which are formed on an upper surface of the substrate body, facing the second surface, and which are connected with the projecting through-electrodes.
US07989261B2 Fabricating a gallium nitride device with a diamond layer
In one aspect, a method includes fabricating a device. The device includes a gallium nitride (GaN) layer, a diamond layer disposed on the GaN layer and a gate structure disposed in contact with the GaN layer and the diamond layer.In another aspect, a device includes a gallium nitride (GaN) layer, a diamond layer disposed on the GaN layer and a gate structure disposed in contact with the GaN layer and the diamond layer.
US07989259B2 Methods of manufacturing phase-changeable memory devices including upper and lower electrodes
A phase-changeable memory device includes a substrate having a contact region on an upper surface thereof. An insulating interlayer on the substrate has an opening therein, and a lower electrode is formed in the opening. The lower electrode has a nitrided surface portion and is in electrical contact with the contact region of the substrate. A phase-changeable material layer pattern is on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is on the phase-changeable material layer pattern. The insulating interlayer may have a nitrided surface portion and the phase-changeable material layer may be at least partially on the nitrided surface portion of the insulating interlayer. Methods of forming phase-changeable memory devices are also disclosed.
US07989258B2 Apatite-containing film having photocatalytic activity and a process for producing it
An apatite-containing film having photocatalytic activity is produced by a process comprising the steps of preparing a liquid mixture comprising a Ca-containing compound and a P-containing compound, subjecting the liquid mixture to reaction to prepare an apatite-precursor composition, applying the apatite-precursor composition to a substrate, and drying the applied apatite-precursor composition. The process may further comprise a heating step after the drying step. The apatite-precursor composition is preferably in the form of a sol.
US07989257B2 Polysilazane, method of synthesizing polysilazane, composition for manufacturing semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device using the composition
Disclosed are polysilazane, a method of synthesizing the polysilazane, a composition for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the composition. The polysilazane is synthesized through a reaction, under a catalyst, between dichlorosilane, trichlorosilane, and ammonia added in a reaction solvent as a reactant. In this instance, a polystyrene conversion weight average molecular weight of the polysilazane is about 2,000 to 30,000.
US07989254B2 Method for fabricating color filter using surface plasmon and method for fabricating liquid crystal display device
Discussed are methods for fabricating a color filter using a surface plasmon and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of enhancing a transmittance ratio of an LC panel and simplifying entire processes, by forming a transmissive pattern consisting of a plurality of sub-wavelength holes having a period on a metal layer, and by implementing colors by selectively transmitting light of specific wavelengths with using a surface plasmon phenomenon.
US07989252B2 Method for fabricating pixel cell of CMOS image sensor
The present invention provides a method for fabricating a pixel cell of CMOS image sensor, comprising: preparing a semiconductor substrate divided into region I and region II; forming an insulation layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the region I and a gate dielectric layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the region II; forming a poly-silicon gate on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the region II; forming a deep doped well in the region I through an ion implantation with high energy; performing an ion implantation with low energy in the region I and an ion implantation for lightly doped source/drain in the region II simultaneously; and forming source/drain regions in the semiconductor substrate in the region II.
US07989249B2 Method of manufacturing a micro-electrical-mechanical system with thermally isolated active elements
A method of manufacturing a micro-electrical-mechanical system with thermally isolated active elements. Such a system may embody a bolometer, which is well suited for detecting electromagnetic radiation between 90 GHz and 30 THz while operating at room temperature. The method also discloses a generalized process for manufacturing circuitry incorporating active and passive micro-electrical-mechanical systems in a silicon wafer.
US07989245B2 Method for fabricating image sensor
An image sensor includes a first conductivity type substrate with a trench formed in a predetermined portion thereof, a second conductivity type impurity region formed in the first conductivity type substrate below the trench and being a part of a photodiode, a second conductivity type first epitaxial layer filling the trench and being a part of the photodiode, and a first conductivity type second epitaxial layer formed over the second conductivity type first epitaxial layer.
US07989242B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes: a gate line and a gate electrode on a substrate, the gate electrode connected to the gate line; a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the gate electrode, the gate insulating layer including an organic insulating material such that a radical of carbon chain has a composition ratio of about 8% to about 11% by weight; a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer over the gate electrode; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; source and drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer, the source electrode connected to the data line and the drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode; a passivation layer on the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode, the passivation layer having a drain contact hole exposing the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, the pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the drain contact hole.
US07989241B2 Method for making liquid crystal display screen
A method for making a liquid crystal display screen includes the following steps. Firstly, providing a base including a surface. Secondly, forming carbon nanotube structure on the surface of the base to obtain a first electrode plate preform, the carbon nanotubes of each carbon nanotube structure being oriented along the extending direction thereof. Thirdly, forming a fixing layer to cover the carbon nanotube structure, thereby obtaining a first electrode plate. Fourthly, repeating the above-described steps, thereby obtaining a second electrode plate. Lastly, forming a liquid crystal layer between the fixing layers of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, the carbon nanotubes of the first electrode plate being perpendicular to that of the second electrode plate, thereby forming the liquid crystal display screen.
US07989240B2 Methods of manufacturing active matrix substrate and organic light-emitting display device
A method of manufacturing an active matrix substrate that enables increased productivity due to a reduction in the number of patterning processes and low generation of particles during the patterning processes. The method includes forming a patterned electrode on a substrate, and covering the first electrode with an insulating film. A mono-crystalline semiconductor layer is then formed on the insulating film by attaching a first layer formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer to the first insulating film, and peeling off a portion of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor layer is then patterned and doped, in part, by utilizing the patterned electrode as a photo mask for light illuminated from a lower side of the substrate. This results in part in mono-crystalline active layers for thin film transistors, which are then configured to form a pixel for an active matrix substrate.
US07989239B2 Light emitting diode and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting diode having high light extraction efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The LED includes a semiconductor multiple layer including an active layer; a transparent electrode layer formed on the semiconductor multiple layer; and refraction field unit embedded in the transparent electrode layer and formed of a material having a different refractive index than the transparent electrode layer. The method of manufacturing the LED includes: crystallizing and growing a semiconductor multiple layer having an active layer on a substrate; evaporating a first transparent electrode layer onto the semiconductor multiple layer; forming a plurality of grooves in the first transparent electrode layer by patterning and etching the first transparent electrode layer; and evaporating a second transparent electrode layer onto the first transparent electrode layer at an angle to the grooves to form cavities filled with air between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer.
US07989230B2 Method for PMOS device processing using a polysilicon footing characteristic to achieve low leakage
A method for manufacturing a MOS device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method forms a gate dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate and a polysilicon gate overlying the gate dielectric layer. The polysilicon gate is characterized by a thickness, a width and a polysilicon footing profile. In a specific embodiment, the method performs a TCAD simulation and determines a response of device performance due to the polysilicon footing profile from the model. The method uses the model to provide a process control window for fabricating the polysilicon gate.
US07989228B2 Method and structure for sample preparation for scanning electron microscopes in integrated circuit manufacturing
A method for using a calibration standard. The method includes providing a calibration standard. In a specific embodiment, the calibration standard has a substrate, a thickness of material having an edge region; and a conformal material of uniform thickness disposed on the edge region. The standard also has an upper surface pattern having the uniform thickness provided on the edge region. The method also includes using the upper surface pattern for a calibration process on a scanning electron microscope process.
US07989225B2 Method for detaching layers with low magnetic permeability
A method for detaching a first material layer from a second material layer includes following steps. Firstly, a high-magnetic-permeability material layer is formed on a first material layer. Secondly, a second material layer is formed on the high-magnetic-permeability material layer. Thirdly, the first and second material layers are cooled such that the first and second material layers shrink, wherein the first and second material layers are low-magnetic-permeability materials. Finally, the high-magnetic-permeability material layer is heated by applying a high-frequency radiofrequency electromagnetic wave thereto such that the high-magnetic-permeability material layer expands, thus detaching the first material layer from the second material layer.
US07989223B2 Method of using spin injection device
A spin injection device capable of spin injection magnetization reversal at low current density, a magnetic apparatus using the same, and magnetic thin film using the same, whereby the spin injection device (14) including a spin injection part (1) comprising a spin polarization part (9) including a ferromagnetic fixed layer (26) and an injection junction part (7) of nonmagnetic layer, and a ferromagnetic free layer (27) provided in contact with the spin injection part (1) is such that in which the nonmagnetic layer (7) is made of either an insulator (12) or a conductor (25), a nonmagnetic layer (28) is provided on the surface of the ferromagnetic free layer (27), electric current is flown in the direction perpendicular to the film surface of the spin injection device (14), and the magnetization of the ferromagnetic free layer (27) is reversed. This is applicable to such various magnetic apparatuses and magnetic memory devices as super gigabit large capacity, high speed, non-volatile MRAM and the like.
US07989218B2 Protein fragment complementation assays for the detection of biological or drug interactions
The present invention describes a method for detecting biomolecular interactions said method comprising: (a) selecting an appropriate reporter molecule selected from the group consisting of a protein, a fluorescent protein, a luminescent protein and a phosphorescent protein; (b) effecting fragmentation of said reporter molecule such that said fragmentation results in reversible loss of reporter function; (c) fusing or attaching fragments of said reporter molecule separately to other molecules; followed by (d) reassociation of said reporter fragments through interactions of the molecules that are fused to said fragments; and (e) detecting said biomolecular interactions by reconstitution of activity of the reporter molecule.
US07989217B2 Method for determining hCG levels in fluid samples
The subject invention is an immunoassay for the semi-quantitative test kit for determination of human chrionic gonadtropin (hCG) in fluid sample (such as urine) as an aid in the diagnosis of a certain stage of pregnancy. The test device includes five strips having each having a dipping end or sample ends where sample can be applied. Results are indicated by coloration of two bands across a clear area of the strips, one band being coated with a reagent such as hCG antigens and the other with a reagent such as goat/rabbit polyclonal antibody gold conjugate. The combination of color indications on the bands provides the test results.
US07989214B2 Self-sealing microreactor and method for carrying out a reaction
A microreactor includes a shell structure (2, 3), having a bottom wall (2) and a peripheral wall (3); a layer (5), accommodated in the shell structure (2, 3) and having cavities (9, 10) formed therein, the cavities being accessible form outside the shell structure (2, 3); reagents (17), arranged between the bottom wall (2) and the layer (5), at locations corresponding to the cavities (9, 10). The layer (5) is made of a meltable material that is solid at room temperature, has a melting point (TMP) lower than a maximum operative temperature (TMAX) required by reactions performable through the microreactor (1) and is not miscible with water. The melting point (TMP) may be between 50° C. and 70° C. In one embodiment, the melting point (TMP) is lower than a minimum operative temperature (TMIN) required by reactions performable through the microreactor (1).
US07989213B2 Surface enhanced resonance raman scattering spectroscopy (SERRS) nanoparticle probes and methods of use
Disclosed are Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (SERRS) probes and their use in detection methods for bioassays. Further disclosed is signal optimization of surface enhanced resonance Raman probes achieved by chemical modification of the probes. Also disclosed are methods for increasing the Raman cross-section by varying the chemical composition of a linker group linking a signal molecule to a nanoparticle surface. The signal molecules, such as dyes, may be modified with a linker group designed to both enhance the SERRS signal and to couple the signal molecule to the nanoparticle surface.
US07989212B2 Detection of blood plasma schizadrin B of dissipating blood stasis botanical
A detection method of blood plasma schizadrin B of dissipating blood stasis botanical is disclosed. The method includes: (1) extracting schizadrin B from plasma of mammalian administered dissipating blood stasis botanical by ethyl acetate with the volume ratio 1:4, whirling 3-5 mins, centrifugating at 9600 rpm for 10 mins, drying and enriching the upper layer at 25-30° C., and redissolving with mobile phase; (2) UPLC/MS measuring: UPLC condition: chromatographic column: Acquity UPLC BEH C18, 2.1′100 mm, mobile phase A: water-acetonitrile-formic acid 95:5:0.1 v/v/v, mobile phase B: acetonitrile-formic acid 100:0.1 v/v; MS condition: electric spraying ion source (ESI), detecting with positive ion mode, scanning at the range of m/z 150-1200. The method can be used for pharmacokinetics study of schizadrin B in dissipating blood stasis botanical.
US07989210B2 IL1RL-1 as a cardiovascular disease marker and therapeutic target
Methods for evaluating the likelihood that a subject will benefit from treatment with an agent for reducing the risk of a cardiovascular condition, by evaluating levels of Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 (IL1RL-1) polypeptides in a sample comprising serum from the subject.
US07989209B2 Methods of chromogen separation-based image analysis
Methods for chromogen separation-based image analysis are provided, with such methods being directed to quantitative video-microscopy techniques in cellular biology and pathology applications.
US07989204B2 Hepatocyte lineage cells
Disclosed herein are methods for producing liver precursor cells as well as hepatocyte cells form pluripotent and/or multipotent cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of enriching isolating and/or purifying liver precursor cells and/or hepatocyte cells. Further disclosed are compositions comprising cell cultures and cell populations that are enriched for liver precursor cells or hepatocyte cells.
US07989202B1 Plant centromere compositions
The present invention provides for the nucleic acid sequences of plant centromeres. This will permit construction of stably inherited recombinant DNA constructs and minichromosomes which can serve as vectors for the construction of transgenic plant and animal cells.
US07989199B2 Integrated bio-reactor monitor and control system
Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. The controller receives information related to a condition of the process over a first communication network, determines a control signal based on the received information and the programmed process, and sends the control signal over a second communication network to a benchtop utility tower. In one example, the utility tower can include transmitters for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen that send information related to a condition of the process to the controller over the first communication network, and an agitation system, a gas control system, a temperature control system and a pump control system that perform a control action based on the control signal affecting the process condition. The utility tower can include a computer with a human-machine interface that communicates with the controller over a third communication network.
US07989196B2 Systems for genome selection
Systems, methods, compositions and apparatus relating to genome selection are disclosed.
US07989194B2 PCB-degrading recombinant bacterium, product for the bioremediation and method of bioremediation
A recombinant bacterium capable to completely degrade or mineralize pollutants such as polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), which corresponds to Cupriavidus necator strain JMS34, deposited under the access number NRRL B-30817 a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with PCBs, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of this recombinant strain and a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with PCBs, which uses this product for the bioremediation.
US07989191B2 Mutant 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase
The present invention relates to a polypeptide having a modified amino acid sequence of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (hereinafter abbreviated as GND) derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, said modification being substitution of the amino acid residue(s) at the position(s) corresponding to the 158th and/or the 361st amino acid(s) of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having GND activity; DNA encoding the polypeptide; a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA; a transformant carrying the recombinant DNA; a microorganism carrying the DNA on the chromosome; and a process for producing a useful substance which comprises culturing the transformant or the microorganism in a medium.
US07989190B2 Composition for analyzing nucleic acid
The present invention provides a firefly luciferase for inexpensive, highly accurate and highly sensitive nucleic acid analysis that uses dATP instead of an expensive reagent having low reactivity to DNA polymerase in the manner of dATPαS, a method of analyzing nucleic acid that uses that luciferase, and a kit for analyzing nucleic acid thereof.The present invention relates to a composition for analyzing nucleic acid that contains luciferase for which reactivity to dATP is equal to or less than 1/400 reactivity to ATP, a method of analyzing nucleic acid that comprises the use of that composition, and a kit for analyzing nucleic acid comprising that composition.
US07989184B2 Endoribonuclease
A polypeptide having a novel endoribonuclease activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; recombinant DNA having the nucleic acid therein; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the polypeptide comprising the steps of cultivating the transformant and collecting the polypeptide from the culture; a process for producing a digest of single-stranded RNA comprising the step of reacting the polypeptide with the single-stranded RNA; and a method for the digestion of single-stranded RNA.
US07989182B2 Nucleic acid encoding SCN1A variant
A method of identifying a subject predisposed to a disorder associated with ion channel dysfunction, comprising ascertaining whether at least one of the genes encoding ion channel subunits in said subject has undergone a mutation event such that a cDNA derived from said subject has the sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-134.
US07989178B2 Colony assay miniaturization with enumeration output
A system combining a clonogenic differentiation assay with an instrument-based ATP bioluminescence proliferation assay to produce a standardized colony-forming stem and progenitor cell potency assay is provided.
US07989175B2 Method of classifying human subjects having adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
A method for classifying human subjects having adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) into AIS subgroups, comprising detecting an impairment in the melatonin-signaling pathway in a cell sample from the subject, wherein the impairment is detected by an accumulation of cyclic adenosine 5′-monophosphate (cAMP) in the cell sample as compared to a control sample in the presence of a known melatonin-signaling pathway agonist, wherein the results of the detection step enable the classification of the subject having AIS into an AIS subgroup.
US07989173B2 Detection and diagnosis of inflammatory disorders
Soluble H4 (sH4) levels have been discovered to correlate with the stage or severity of inflammatory disorders including autoimmune disorders. In particular, circulating levels of sH4 can be used as a diagnostic for determining the severity of an inflammatory disorder or the propensity for developing an inflammatory disorder. The severity of an inflammatory disorder can be determined by assaying the levels of sH4 in a subject and comparing the levels of sH4 to reference sH4 concentrations that correlate to specific stages of an inflammatory disorder. The therapeutic efficacy of treatments for inflammatory disorders can also be determined by comparing levels of sH4 before and during treatment. Methods and devices for measuring sH4 are also provided.
US07989172B2 Method of identifying a compound capable of modulating the Th2 polarization of CD4+ lymphocytes
The present invention provides methods utilizing novel target genes related to immune-mediated diseases, such as asthma, allergy and autoimmune diseases. The invention is based on a molecular level description of the polarization of CD4+ precursor cells (Thp) from which T helper cells are known to originate. Particularly, the present invention provides a method of identifying a compound capable of modulating the polarization of CD4+ lymphocytes. The invention is also related to a method for assessing the presence of, or disposition to, an immune-related disorder in a subject.
US07989167B2 Method of prognosing and diagnosing hereditary spastic paraplegia, mutant nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides
A method for diagnosing the presence of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) or predicting the risk of developing HSP in a human subject, comprising detecting the presence or absence of a defect in a gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the sequence of FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO: 19), in a nucleic acid sample of the subject, whereby the detection of the defect is indicative that the subject has or is at risk of developing HSP.
US07989165B2 Tape stripping methods for analysis of skin disease and pathological skin state
The present invention provides non-invasive methods for detecting, monitoring, and diagnosing skin disease and pathological skin states such as irritated skin and psoriasis. The methods include using tape stripping to analyze expression in epidermal samples, of one or more skin markers. In illustrative examples, the tape stripping is performed using pliable tape that has a rubber adhesive. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for predicting and monitoring response to therapy for a skin disease, such as psoriasis or dermatitis. Finally, the methods can include the use of a microarray.
US07989155B2 Lithographic method
The present invention provides a method of lithographic patterning. The method comprises: applying to a surface to be patterned a photoresist (18) comprising a polymer resin, a photocatalyst generator which generates a catalyst on exposure to actinic radiation, and a quencher; exposing the photoresist (18) to actinic radiation through a mask pattern (12); carrying out a post-exposure bake; and then developing the photoresist (18) with a developer to remove a portion of the photoresist which has been rendered soluble in the developer. Either the polymer resin is substantially insoluble in the developer prior to exposure to actinic radiation and rendered soluble in the developer by the action of the catalyst, and by the action of the quencher during the bake, or the polymer resin is soluble in the developer prior to exposure to actinic radiation and rendered substantially insoluble in the developer by the action of the catalyst, and by the action of the quencher during the bake.
US07989154B2 Polymer or resist pattern, and metal film pattern, metal pattern and plastic mold using the same, and fabrication methods thereof
A method of fabricating a polymer or resist pattern over a substrate includes coating a photosensitive polymer or resist over the substrate to form a polymer or resist layer, determining a portion of the polymer or resist layer to be exposed to light, placing a light adjusting layer in an optical path of light shone on the polymer or resist layer, and adjusting the light adjusting layer to adjust a direction or intensity of the light shone on the polymer or resist layer. Based on the method, it is easy to fabricate a polymer or resist pattern, a metal film pattern, metal pattern structure, and a polymer mold, each having three-dimensional structures with various slopes or shapes by adjusting a direction or intensity of incident light when performing a lithography process.
US07989153B2 Method and apparatus for selectively patterning free standing quantum DOT (FSQDT) polymer composites
Free standing quantum do (FSQDT) polymer composites and a method and apparatus for patterning the FSQDT polymer composites is provided. The method for patterning the FSQDT polymer composites includes creating a solution including FSQDTs where each of the FSQDTs has a plurality of reactive ligands chemically attached thereto. The method further includes providing a substrate, forming a coated substrate by coating a surface of the substrate with a layer of the solution, and providing a photo mask having a predetermined pattern thereon transparent to a predetermined radiation over the coated substrate. Finally, the method includes exposing a portion of the coated substrate to the predetermined radiation passing through the mask to pattern a polymer matrix in the predetermined pattern while adhering the FSQDTs to the polymer matrix to form the FSQDT polymer composite.
US07989151B2 Resolution enhancement in optical lithography via absorbance-modulation enabled multiple exposures
A method to enhance resolution in optical lithography via absorbance-modulation involves exposing an opaque absorbance modulation layer (AML) to a first waveform having wavelength, 81, with the first exposure forming a first set of transparent regions in the opaque AML and forming a first pattern made of a set of exposed regions in a photoresist layer. Next, the AML is restored to its original opaque state. Next, the restored AML is re-exposed to the first waveform having wavelength, 81, with the exposure forming a second set of transparent regions in the opaque AML and forming a second pattern having a set of exposed regions in a photoresist layer. The first and second patterns in the photoresist layer form a final pattern with enhanced resolution and decreased spatial period than the first pattern. In another scenario, instead of exposing the AML to a first waveform, two waveforms are used (the second being complimentary to the first) to ensure that the transmitted image has sharper edges compared to the original image.
US07989146B2 Component fabrication using thermal resist materials
A method for producing a patterned material for electronic or photonic circuits, comprising the steps of: p) providing a substrate; q) coating the substrate with a polymer layer; r) coating a thermal resist solution over the polymer layer to form a thermal resist layer, wherein the polymer layer is substantially immiscible in the thermal resist solution; s) exposing predetermined areas of the thermal resist layer, corresponding to a desired image pattern, using infrared light; t) removing portions of the thermal resist layer corresponding to a desired image pattern, using a developer; u) removing the polymer layer where the thermal resist layer has been previously removed and undercutting a portion of the remaining thermal resist layer by an etching process; v) depositing a material using a substantially anisotropic process; and removing the remaining thermal resist layer and any overlying material with a solvent for the polymer or thermal resist layers leaving the material in a desired pattern.
US07989143B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an organic thin film transistor
An electrode substrate in which a lower electrode and an upper electrode are well positioned by way of an insulating film could not be formed by a printing method since positional displacement is caused. The cost was increased outstandingly when using photomasks for positioning. In the present invention, positional displacement does not occur even when using the printing method since the upper electrode and the lower electrode are positioned in self-alignment. Accordingly, a semiconductor device such as a flexible substrate using an organic semiconductor can be formed with low cost by using the printing method.
US07989142B2 Photo-masking method for fabricating TFT array substrate
An exemplary method for fabricating a TFT array substrate includes providing an insulating substrate (201); coating a gate metal layer (202) on the substrate; forming a plurality of gate electrodes (212) using a first photo-mask process; forming a gate insulating layer (203), a semiconducting layer (205), and a source/drain metal layer (206) on the substrate having the gate electrodes; forming a plurality of source electrodes (217) and a plurality of drain electrodes (218) using a second photo-mask process; forming a passivation material layer (209) and a photo resist layer on the gate insulating layer, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes; forming a passivation layer (219) and the photo resist pattern (234) using a third photo-mask process; forming a transparent conductive metal layer (204) on the photo resist pattern, the drain electrode and the gate insulating layer; and forming a pixel electrode (214) through removing the photo resist pattern.
US07989138B2 Fluorine-containing compound, resist composition for immersion exposure, and method of forming resist pattern
A fluorine-containing compound represented by a general formula (c-1) shown below: [Chemical Formula 1] RX-AN-(OR2)a  (c-1) [wherein, RX represents an organic group, AN represents a naphthalene ring that may have a substituent, R2 represents a base dissociable group, and a represents 1 or 2, provided that at least one among AN and said a R2 groups contains a fluorine atom].
US07989137B2 Resist composition and pattern-forming method using the same
A resist composition includes (A) a resin including: a repeating unit capable of decomposing by the action of an acid to increase solubility in an alkali developing solution and represented by formula (I), and a repeating unit represented by formula (II); and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation: wherein A represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, an alkyloxycarbonyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxy group, or an aralkyl group; Ra represents a group containing a group capable of decomposing by the action of an acid; Rb represents an alkylene group, a cycloalkylene group, or a group of combining these groups; Y represents a heterocyclic group; and m represents 0 or 1.
US07989133B2 Fixing liquid, fixing device using the fixing liquid, and image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device
The present invention provides a fixing liquid for fixing microparticles containing a resin to a medium, a fixing device using this fixing liquid, and an image forming apparatus comprising this fixing device. The fixing liquid of the present invention is a fixing liquid for fixing resin microparticles to a medium, and is a water-in-oil type fixing liquid comprising a continuous oil phase at least one portion of which comprises a softener for softening the resin microparticles by dissolving or swelling at least one portion of the resin microparticles, and an aqueous phase, as a separate phase, dispersed in the oil phase. As a result, the fixing liquid combines preservability during storage and drying property on a medium after application of the fixing liquid, is free of residual oily feel during application, and affords better fixing responsiveness than conventional fixing liquids.
US07989126B2 Metal mercaptoimidazoles containing photoconductors
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer, and where the at least one charge transport layer and the photogenerating layer contain a metal mercaptoimidazole.
US07989122B2 Photomask blank, photomask, and methods of manufacturing the same
A photomask blank is for manufacturing a phase shift mask having a light-transmitting substrate provided with a phase shift portion adapted to give a predetermined phase difference to transmitted exposure light. The phase shift portion is a dug-down part that is dug down from a surface of the light-transmitting substrate to a digging depth adapted to produce the predetermined phase difference with respect to exposure light transmitted through the light-transmitting substrate at a portion where the phase shift portion is not provided. The photomask blank includes, on the digging-side surface of the light-transmitting substrate, an etching mask film that is made of a material being dry-etchable with a chlorine-based gas, but not dry-etchable with a fluorine-based gas, and serves as an etching mask at least until, when forming the dug-down part by dry etching, the dry etching reaches the digging depth. The photomask blank further includes, on a surface of the etching mask film, a light-shielding film that is made of a material mainly containing tantalum and has a thickness so as to be removable during the dry etching for forming the dug-down part of the light-transmitting substrate.
US07989117B2 Fuel compositions
Fuel compositions, methods of making the compositions, and fuel cell systems including a fuel composition are disclosed. In some embodiments, a fuel composition includes a polymer, and a fuel such as methanol, wherein the composition has a hardness of at least about 2 grams peak force, as determined by penetration test using a texture analyzer.
US07989116B2 Electrolyte utilizing a lewis acid/bronstead acid complex
A proton conducting polymer is described herein which generally comprises a proton donating polymer and a Lewis acid. The Lewis acids may comprise one or more rare earth triflates. The proton conducting polymer exhibits excellent proton conductivity in low humidity environments.
US07989112B2 Fuel cell system and purging method therefor
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a membrane, which is adapted to perform power generation by a chemical reaction of two reaction gases each supplied to one side of the membrane, reaction gas paths through which the two reaction gases flow, a purge device for purging at least one of the two reaction gases from the reaction gas paths, a monitoring device for monitoring a state of the fuel cell after stopping of the power generation in the fuel cell, and a control unit for controlling the purge device so as to carry out a purge operation when it is determined by the monitoring device that the state of the fuel cell is a predetermined state.
US07989110B2 Reinforced ionic conducting material, use thereof in electrodes and electrolytes
The invention relates to a solid ionic conducting material which can be used as an electrolyte or as a component of a composite electrode. The material comprises a polymer matrix, at least one ionic species and at least one reinforcing agent. The polymer matrix is a solvating polymer optionally having a polar character, a non-solvating polymer carrying acidic ionic groups, or a mixture of a solvating or non-solvating polymer and an aprotic polar liquid. The ionic species is an ionic compound selected from salts and acids, said compound being in solution in the polymer matrix, or an anionic or cationic ionic group fixed by covalent bonding on the polymer, or a combination of the two. The reinforcing agent is a cellulosic material or a chitin.
US07989106B2 Bipolar battery cell and assembled battery for a vehicle
The invention relates to a bipolar battery cell having a built-in discharge circuit that can automatically balance the charged conditions. The bipolar battery cell includes a plurality of bipolar electrodes, each including a collector having a positive-electrode layer on one surface and a negative-electrode layer on another surface. The bipolar battery cell further includes a plurality of electrolyte layers that exchange ions between the bipolar electrodes; and a discharge circuit that electrically conducts adjacent bipolar electrodes. The discharge circuit is provided on the same surface of at least one layer of the positive-electrode layers, the negative-electrode layers, or the electrolyte layers. Multiple bipolar battery cells are combined to form an assembled battery for vehicular applications.
US07989101B2 Battery device, electronic apparatus, and battery system
Disclosed is a battery device including a battery enclosure incorporating a battery cell. The battery device further includes an output terminal that outputs power of the battery cell. The battery enclosure includes a first surface, a second surface, a first step surface, a second step surface, a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first groove, and a second groove formed in the second step surface and the second engaging portion, and a recess is provided in at least one of the first step surface and the second step surface.
US07989100B2 Sealed prismatic battery
A sealed prismatic battery according to the present invention comprises a laterally long cap sealing an opening of an upper surface of a battery can and a safety vent placed on the cap and having a thin-walled valve body which opens in an abnormal rise of a battery internal pressure. The safety vent has an oval-shaped circumferential groove formed inside an oval-shaped coining section provided on an outer surface of the cap and on one end side in a lateral direction of the cap and a thin-walled valve body surrounded thereby, and the oval-shaped circumferential groove is composed of lateral side sections parallel to the lateral direction of the cap and circular arc sections connecting these lateral side sections, with one lateral side section, other lateral side section, and the thin-walled valve body of the safety vent respectively having a thickness increased in this order.
US07989099B2 Information medium substrate and information medium
An information medium substrate is formed as a flat plate and includes a first convex part formed on one surface of the information medium substrate in a region between a rim part of a center hole and an inner circumferential edge of an information region and a second convex part formed on another surface of the information medium substrate at a position that overlaps a protruding end part of the first convex part in a thickness direction of the information medium substrate.
US07989093B2 Method of making a coated cutting tool and the resulting tool
The present invention relates to a method of making a coated cutting tool comprising providing a substrate, depositing on said substrate a cathodic arc evaporation PVD coating of nitrides, oxides, borides, carbides, carbonitrides, carbooxynitrides, or combinations thereof wherein the coating during deposition is subjected to more than one ion etching step.Cutting tools made according to the present invention will exhibit an increased life time due to increased smoothness of the PVD coating which is due to a reduced number of surface defects.
US07989084B2 Powdered metal manufacturing method and devices
A powdered metal assembly includes a mechanical part, a powdered metal part and a fastener configured to join the mechanical part and the powdered metal part. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for manufacturing a powdered metal assembly may include the steps of positioning the mechanical part in a forming apparatus, providing a powdered metal into the forming apparatus, compressing the powdered metal to form and bond a powdered metal part to the mechanical part to form the powdered metal assembly, and removing the powdered metal assembly from the forming apparatus.
US07989082B2 Composite with gloss reducing polymer composition
Thermoplastic polymer compositions are disclosed that can be processed into capstocks having a reduced gloss appearance, high impact strength and superior weatherability. The capstocks described herein are especially useful for extrusion into articles. They are also useful for application to various poor weathering structural plastic articles for preparing multi-layered composites having improved weatherability. Methods for manufacturing structural plastic capstocks and composites and articles produced therefrom having reduced gloss appearance are also described.
US07989077B2 Metal strip product
A coated steel product comprises a metallic strip material which has a coating comprising an electrically insulating layer doped with sodium. The thermal expansion coefficient of said metallic strip material is less than 12×10−6 K−1 in the temperature range 0-600° C. Said product may be coated with an electrically conducting layer of molybdenum. The coated steel product is useful as a substrate for flexible Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells.
US07989076B2 Organic-inorganic nanocomposite materials and methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates to materials comprising organic-inorganic polymeric networks. In some embodiments, the present invention provides an organic-inorganic composite material comprising an inorganic metal oxide matrix interpenetrating with a polymeric phase. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of producing organic-inorganic composite materials.
US07989072B2 Coated article with transparent conductive oxide film doped to adjust Fermi level, and method of making same
A transparent conductive oxide (TCO) based film is formed on a substrate. The film may be formed by sputter-depositing, so as to include both a primary dopant (e.g., Al) and a co-dopant (e.g., Ag). The benefit of using the co-dopant in depositing the TCO inclusive film may be two-fold: (a) it may prevent or reduce self-compensation of the primary dopant by a more proper positioning of the Fermi level, and/or (b) it may promote declustering of the primary dopant, thereby freeing up space in the metal sublattice and permitting more primary dopant to create electrically active centers so as to improve conductivity of the film. Accordingly, the use of the co-dopant permits the primary dopant to be more effective in enhancing conductivity of the TCO inclusive film, without significantly sacrificing visible transmission characteristics. An example TCO in certain embodiments is ZnAlOx:Ag.
US07989068B2 Articles having an interface between a polymer surface and a modified glass surface
An article includes (a) a glass substrate having a modified surface that comprises a glass surface and a layer of nanoscale inorganic oxide particles disposed in contact with and bound to at least a portion of the glass surface, and (b) a polymer layer disposed in contact with and bound to the modified glass surface. A method for improving the hydrolytic stability of an interface of a glass surface and a polymer surface, includes the step of, prior to forming the interface of the glass surface and the polymer surface, treating at least a portion of the glass surface with nanoscale inorganic oxide particles to modify the glass surface by depositing a quantity of such particles on the portion of the surface.
US07989065B2 Magnetically-responsive microparticles with improved response times
Magnetically responsive particles can include two or more magnetically responsive layers (“MRL”). As such, the particles can have the following: a polymeric core; a first magnetically responsive layer (“MRL”) on the core; a first polymeric layer bound to the first MRL; a second MRL layer bound to the first polymeric layer; and a second polymeric layer bound to the second MRL. The particles can have a faster magnetic response time compared to a similar particle having only a single MRL, which can be at least 25% faster. Also, the particle can have a magnetic squareness of less than about 0.1. Preferably, the particle can have negligible residual magnetism after being exposed to a magnetic field sufficient for the particle to respond thereto. Further, the particle can be colloidally stable in water at concentrations from about 0.1 to 10 grams of particle per 100 milliliters of water.
US07989059B2 Oxide coated cutting insert
A cutting tool insert, particularly useful for machining of cast iron, comprising a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel a hard and wear resistant coating; and at least (Al,Cr)2O3 layer applied to said body is disclosed. Methods of making a cutting tool insert are also disclosed. In addition, methods for machining of cast iron using the cutting tool inserts are disclosed.
US07989050B2 Building slab, floor panels in particular, and method of manufacturing the same
A building board, in particular a flooring panel, with a core comprising at least one upper layer and one lower layer of wood fibers or wood chips glued with an adhesive and pressed to one another, which is provided on at least its top side with a pattern that is covered with a sealing coat and in which sealing coat a structure corresponding to the pattern is embossed, is characterized in that at least the chips of the upper layer are glued with an adhesive having thermoplastic properties, and the upper layer has recesses formed at least directly beneath the pattern.
US07989049B2 Flexible graphite/metal multilayer gaskets suited to high-temperature service conditions
The present invention relates generally to a composite plate produced by an alternating stack of (n+1) flexible graphite foils and (n) perforated metal reinforcing foils with spurs (where n≧2). The thicknesses of the flexible graphite foils used are preferably such that any 2 mm slice of thickness of the composite plate comprises at least 3 layers of flexible graphite, and has a graphite density per unit area of at least 2.34 kg/m2. For each perforated metal reinforcing foil, the spurs present on the foil generally have a height in relation to the surface of that foil that does not exceed about 1.3 times the thickness of the thinnest of the flexible graphite layers to which it is attached. A composite plate of the present invention enables the manufacture of gaskets that resist temperatures up to 550° C. under continuous service.
US07989048B2 Flexible base for manufacturing flexible printed circuit boards
A flexible base includes a main region configured for forming flexible printed circuit board units; and two conveying regions respectively arranged on two sides of the main region. Each of the conveying regions includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of sprocket holes, and a patterned supporting layer. The sprocket holes are defined along a lengthwise direction of the insulating substrate. The patterned supporting layer is formed on the insulating substrate. The patterned supporting layer extends from an edge of each sprocket hole towards a periphery region of the corresponding sprocket.
US07989045B2 Elastic sheet structure and array type elastic sheet device using the same
An elastic sheet structure including a fixing section, a body section perpendicularly connected to the fixing section, an elastic section, and two support sections is provided. The elastic section perpendicularly connects to the body section so that a portion of the elastic section is substantially parallel to the fixing section. Two support sections perpendicularly connect to two opposite sides of the body section. The support sections are supported by the fixing section, and are higher than the body section concurrently with respect to the fixing section. The elastic section is located between and movable with respect to the two support sections, and a top of the elastic section is higher than a top of each support section concurrently with respect to the fixing section. Further, an array type elastic sheet device using the elastic sheet structure is also provided.
US07989041B2 Storage container for recorded media
A storage container for recorded media includes a substantially rigid disc-holding page connected to a cover member along the spine of the cover member so that the container may be open and closed like a book. The connection between the cover member and the page includes an adhesive connection along the spine of the cover member. The adhesive connection is only disposed along one edge of the rigid page.
US07989034B2 Method for continuous atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of workpieces
A method for continuous atmospheric plasma treatment of an electrically insulating workpiece. The workpiece is arranged at a distance beneath at least one high-voltage electrode which extends across a direction of movement. The electrode and the workpiece are set in motion relative to one another. The high voltage being applied to the high-voltage electrode, preferably is in the form of an AC voltage. A first space situated between the high-voltage electrode and the workpiece is filled with a first atmosphere and a second space on the side of the workpiece facing away from the high-voltage electrode is filled with a second atmosphere that is different from the first atmosphere. The second space is adjacent to a back side of the workpiece. The choice of high voltage and of the first and second atmospheres is made in such a way that a plasma discharge is ignited in the second atmosphere.
US07989032B2 UV-photopolymerizable composition for producing organic conductive layers, patterns or prints
A composition comprising a polyanion and a polymer or copolymer of a substituted or unsubstituted thiophene as a solution or as a dispersion in a liquid medium and at least one compound with at least two vinyl groups, wherein said liquid medium comprises at least one non-aqueous solvent and has less than 30% by weight of water; and said composition comprises more than 0.1% by weight of the polymer or copolymer of a substituted or unsubstituted thiophene and is capable of UV-photopolymerization due to said composition comprising at least one vinyl-compound capable of initiating UV-photopolymerization and/or at least one UV-photoinitiator; an ink with the composition of the composition; a process for preparing the composition; a process for producing a layer or pattern on an object with the composition; and a layer, pattern or print produced therewith.
US07989026B2 Method of use of epoxy-containing cycloaliphatic acrylic polymers as orientation control layers for block copolymer thin films
Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the orientation of microphase-separated domains in a block copolymer film, comprising forming an orientation control layer comprising an epoxy-containing cycloaliphatic acrylic polymer on a surface of a substrate, irradiating and/or heating the substrate to crosslink the orientation control layer, and forming a block copolymer assembly layer comprising block copolymers which form microphase-separated domains, on a surface of the orientation control layer opposite the substrate. The orientation control layer can be selectively cross-linked to expose regions of the substrate, or the orientation control layer can be patterned without removing the layer, to provide selective patterning on the orientation control layer. In further embodiments, bilayer and trilayer imaging schemes are disclosed.
US07989023B2 Method of improving mixing of axial injection in thermal spray guns
Method for performing a thermal spray process. Method includes heating and/or accelerating a gas to form an effluent gas stream, feeding a particulate-bearing carrier stream through an axial injection port into the effluent gas stream to form a mixed stream, in which the axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons located at a distal end of said axial injection port, and impacting the mixed stream on a substrate to form a coating.
US07989022B2 Methods of processing substrates, electrostatic carriers for retaining substrates for processing, and assemblies comprising electrostatic carriers having substrates electrostatically bonded thereto
A method of processing a substrate includes physically contacting an exposed conductive electrode of an electrostatic carrier with a conductor to electrostatically bond a substrate to the electrostatic carrier. The conductor is removed from physically contacting the exposed conductive electrode. Dielectric material is applied over the conductive electrode. The substrate is treated while it is electrostatically bonded to the electrostatic carrier. In one embodiment, a conductor is forced through dielectric material that is received over a conductive electrode of an electrostatic carrier to physically contact the conductor with the conductive electrode to electrostatically bond a substrate to the electrostatic carrier. After removing the conductor from the dielectric material, the substrate is treated while it is electrostatically bonded to the electrostatic carrier. Electrostatic carriers for retaining substrates for processing, and such assemblies, are also disclosed.
US07989019B2 Method and apparatus for administering passivator to a conductor
A method for administering passivator to a conductor in a power transformer, comprising providing a reservoir of the passivator, wherein the reservoir is provided by adding the passivator to solid insulation prior to impregnating the solid insulation with oil, and wherein the passivator is added to the solid insulation as the solid insulation is applied to a conductor.
US07989017B2 Canola protein isolate functionality II
A canola protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt % (Nx 6.25) is employed as an at least partial replacement for at least one component providing functionality in a food composition. The canola protein isolate is a blend of canola protein isolate in the form of an amorphous protein mass formed by settling the solid phase of a dispersion of protein micelles and mixing the amorphous mass with concentrated supernatant from the settling step and drying the mixture.
US07989016B2 Method for producing a low sodium salt composition
The present invention relates to a low sodium salt composition and the method used to make it. More particularly, the invention relates to a two step method of making a salt composition. The first step includes contacting a chloride salt with a modifier to form a chloride salt product, mixing the product with a carrier to form a modified chloride salt solution, and spray drying the modified chloride salt solution. The second step includes contacting the dried modified chloride salt with sodium chloride, and grinding the mixture to form a salt composition. The composition includes a combination of sodium chloride and carrier modified chloride salt.
US07989010B2 Method of reducing off-flavor in a beverage using silane-treated silica filter media
The present invention provides a method for preventing or reducing off-flavor in a beverage. Silane-treated silica filter media are synthesized. By contacting the beverage with the silane-treated silica filter, one or more off-flavor substances or off-flavor precursors bind to the silane-treated silica filter media and are removed. Beverages that tend to develop off-flavor upon storage such as alcoholic, fruit, and vegetable beverages, are suitable for the present invention. The present invention provides a method that can reduce the level of off-flavor substances such as trans-2-nonenal, diacetyl, and cis-3-nonenal. The present invention also provides a method that can reduce the level of off-flavor precursors such as linoleic acid. The silica filter media useful for the present method include rice hull ash, oat hull ash, or diatomaceous earth.
US07989005B2 Corosolic acid formulation and its application for weight-loss management and blood sugar balance
A soft gelatin capsule and method to deliver an efficable dose of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (marketed by Soft Gel Technologies under the trademark Glucosol™) for the assistance and maintenance of moderate weight loss through blood sugar maintenance. The product relies on the effects of corosolic acid on blood sugar levels to derive a healthy weight loss effect for Type II diabetics (non-insulin dependent) and healthy non-diabetics and the improved absorption of an oil based delivery system. The product provides safe and sustainable weight loss when combined with a restricted calorie diet and regular exercise. Its benefits include improvement of cardiovascular health, normalized blood sugar levels, and improved physical appearance with the positive psychological effects associated with successful and safe weight loss/maintenance.
US07989002B2 High gloss gel-based lipstick
Gel-based lipstick compositions are disclosed comprising an ester terminated poly(ester-amide) (ETPEA) polymeric gellant, a first wax component having a melting point above the sol-gel transition temperature of the ETPEA gellant, a second wax compositions having a melting point equal to of below the sol-gel transition temperature of the ETPEA gellant, optionally a silicone T-resin co-gellant, and one or more oils capable of forming a gel with the ETPEA gellant. The gel compositions are solid or semi-solid at room temperature and are capable of being molded into self-supporting sticks. The disclosed gels provide high gloss films when applied to the lips and/or provide a rheology characterized by a high viscosity over repeated shear cycles.
US07988997B2 Rapidly-decomposing administrable form for releasing active ingredients in the oral cavity or in bodily cavities
A dosage form which is, in particular, sheet-like and rapidly disintegrating or soluble in an aqueous environment for rapid release of active ingredients in the oral cavity, in body orifices or in body cavities, where the dosage form comprises a matrix which comprises one or more water-soluble polymers as base substances, and comprises at least one active ingredient, is characterized in that the dosage form is provided with spaces or cavities which are present in the polymeric matrix and whose contents differ in terms of the state of aggregation from the matrix.
US07988992B2 Superporous hydrogels for heavy-duty applications
The present invention features modified superporous hydrogels (SPHs) and methods for their formation. The SPHs of the present invention are prepared by careful selection of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic reactive ingredients and by harmonizing the foaming and polymerization reactions, which results in the formation of SPHs having a homogeneous structure and favorable physical and mechanical properties, including swelling, strength, ruggedness, and resiliency. The SPHs of the present invention are particularly useful when employed in very harsh swelling environments, such as the low pH environment of the gastric fluid of the stomach, for extended periods of time.
US07988988B2 Contact lenses with mucin affinity
A biomedical device, such as a contact lens, has a surface linked to a polymer comprising boronic acid moieties. The boronic acid monomeric units may be derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a boronic acid moiety, such as a vinylphenyl boronic acid or a (meth)acrylamido phenyl boronic acid. The boronic acid moieties may be complexed with mucin, especially epithelial mucin.
US07988987B2 Medical devices containing crazed polymeric release regions for drug delivery
A medical device that contains (a) at least one polymeric release region that either contains crazing or which is adapted to undergo crazing as a result of stresses (e.g., mechanical, chemical or thermal) that are applied during the implantation or insertion of the medical device into a patient; and (b) and a therapeutic agent disposed beneath or within the polymeric release region.
US07988986B2 Implant filling material and method
Compositions of cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are disclosed that are generally in the form of an elastic, hydrophilic, water-insoluble viscous cohesive mass of material that has many important medical uses including uses as a filler for implants. The present invention also involves a process for producing such compositions.
US07988985B2 Pest repellent compositions and methods
The invention is directed to a topical insect repellent with extended duration of protection and that was obtained by combining natural and organic plant essential oil compounds. The new natural repellent exhibits the longevity and repellency that is comparable to or better than N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), a synthetic compound employed in almost all commercial formulations, while at the same time is more acceptable than DEET, which has an unpleasant odor, imparts a greasy feel to the skin, and carries certain health concerns when used on children. The inventive insect repellent, formulated in a suitable carrier repels and incapacitates flying insects and other pests, such as mosquitoes and other biting flies or insects, thus demonstrating the utility of the novel insect repellent for protecting pets and livestock as well as humans. The invention provides an effective means to repel insects, without having deleterious effects on people, pets or the environment compared with prior insect repellant formulations. The repellant formulation disclosed herein may employ natural or organic active ingredient, e.g., plant essential oil compounds.
US07988982B2 Cosmetic composition with anti-free radical activity
A cosmetic composition has an association of at least three of the following substances with anti-free radical activity, selected from: 1) ebselen; or idebenone; or an association of the two; and 2) at least one substance with anti-free radical activity, or at least two substances with anti-free radical activity for obtaining said association of at least three substances with anti-free radical activity, said substance(s) being selected from: a) a substance of chemical formula (I) below: in which: R=a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C1-C16 hydrocarbon chain; and R1, R2 and R3 are identical or different and are a hydrogen atom or a methyl or methoxy radical, and its esters; b) an extract of Edelweiss; c) an extract of Emblica; and d) N-acetylcysteine. The anti-free radical activity is greatly improved.
US07988981B2 Multiphase cosmetic composition
The present invention relates to a multi-phase cosmetic composition for application to the body, which has a liquid and transparent appearance, becomes a homogeneous mixture after being stirred, the phases raps idly separating when at rest. The composition according to the present invention comprises at least one oily phase and at least one aqueous phase, further comprising a polyol, the oily phase comprising a mixture of at least one mineral oil and at least one vegetable oil, and the aqueous phase comprising a water-soluble salt.
US07988971B2 Human monoclonal antibodies against Hendra and Nipah viruses
The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies that bind or neutralize Hendra or Nipah virus. The invention provides such antibodies, fragments of such antibodies retaining Hendra or Nipah virus-binding ability, fully human antibodies retaining Hendra or Nipah virus-binding ability, and pharmaceutical compositions including such antibodies. The invention further provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. Additionally, the invention provides for prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods employing the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention.
US07988970B2 Methods of treatment comprising administering an anti-sclerostin antibody
Humanized and chimeric antibodies are provided that specifically bind human sclerostin and are characterized as having high affinity and strong neutralizing properties. The antibodies of the invention are useful for increasing bone mass, bone mineral density and bone strength and for the treatment of various disorders, e.g., osteoporosis, in human subject.
US07988964B2 NOGO-a neutralising immunoglobulin for treatment of neurological diseases
The present invention provides immunoglobulins, particularly antibodies that bind to NOGO and neutralise the activity thereof, polynucleotides encoding such antibodies, pharmaceutical formulations containing said antibodies and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases.
US07988963B1 Use of allogeneic cell lines to load antigen presenting cells to elicit or eliminate immune responses
Novel antigen-presenting cells, including but not limited to dendritic cells, that are loaded with antigens from dead or dying cells including allogenic cell lines, and the methods for making such antigen-presenting cells are described. These loaded antigen-presenting cells induce therapeutic immune responses in humans. Such loaded antigen-presenting cells are useful in the management of cancer. Antigen-loaded dendritic cells prepared as described here can prime naïve T cells to differentiate into effector cells able to recognize multiple and/or shared tumor antigens that are expressed either on the tumor cells that are used to load the dendritic cells and/or on other tumor cells. The cytotoxic T cells generated by exposure to antigen-loaded dendritic cells prepared as described here can be used in adoptive therapy. This induction of responses against multiple antigens shared between different cells, for instance tumor cells, as described here is important as it leads to broad immune responses.
US07988962B2 Use of polysulphated alginate in cellular matrices
The present invention describes an in vitro/ex vivo method for the cultivation of connective tissue cells or progenitor cells (e.g. chondrogenic cells) in matrix comprising polysulphated alginate. These cultivated cells can be used in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of osteochondral defects. The invention also describes a matrix comprising polysulphated alginate and mammalian connective tissue cells or progenitor cells thereof.
US07988960B2 Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic diseases
The present invention is in the field of prophylaxis of allergies, and relates specifically to primary prevention of atopic diseases by administering probiotic bacteria, beneficial microbes of the healthy gut flora, pre- and postnatally to children at high risk of atopic diseases.
US07988959B2 Method of treatment using organotypically cultured skin tissue comprising niks cells that express exogenous HIF-1a
The present invention relates to in vitro cultured skin tissue, and in particular to cultured skin tissue comprising exogenous genes encoding angiogenic growth factors. In some embodiments, the keratinocytes express exogenous angiopoietin-1, HIF-1α, or a member of the VEGF family, preferably VEGF-A. In particularly preferred embodiments, the keratinocytes are incorporated into cultured skin tissue.
US07988954B2 Hair treatment composition comprising sugar lactone
An aqueous hair treatment composition comprising: a) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition of beeswax; and b) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition of a sugar lactone.
US07988952B2 Delivery of drug esters through an inhalation route
The present invention relates to the delivery of drug esters through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing drug esters that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, a drug ester is delivered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises a drug ester, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles with less than 5% drug ester degradation product. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering a drug ester through an inhalation route is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of a drug ester composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.
US07988951B2 Method for inducing selectively suppressed immune response to transplanted tissue or cells
Transimmunization methods incorporating skin immunologic challenges are described for either selectively suppressing the immune response of recipients of transplanted tissue or cells or monitoring induced anti-cancer immunity. In one embodiment, skin from the transplant donor is allografted to the transplant recipient to induce an immunological response to the transplanted skin. A quantity of blood is taken from the recipient and treated to render the T cells in the blood apoptotic and to induce differentiation of blood monocytes into dendritic cells. The treated blood is incubated and administered to the recipient to induce formation of suppressor T cell clones which reduce the number of T cells attacking the transplanted tissue or organ. This tolerogenic approach can be complemented by also feeding the immature dendritic cells apoptotic or necrotic cells from the organ donor. In a second embodiment, dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens are injected intradermally to monitor the anti-cancer immunity induced by Transimmunization.
US07988947B2 Mesoporous oxide of titanium
This invention pertains to mesoporous oxide of titanium and processes of making mesoporous oxide of titanium particularly crystalline oxide of titanium.
US07988945B2 Niobium monoxide
An object of the present invention is to provide a niobium monoxide able to realize large capacitance in a miniature sized capacitor. The invention relates to a niobium monoxide having a porous structure comprising particles, characterized in that the niobium monoxide has a full-width at half maximum of an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (111) plane or an X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to a (200) plane of 0.21° to 1.0°. The niobium monoxide has a large specific surface area and porosity, and is especially suitable for use in a capacitor.
US07988944B2 Peroxide decomposition catalyst
An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst which decomposes a peroxide effectively and economically under a high temperature while suppressing generation of free radicals, and the present invention provides a peroxide decomposition catalyst containing a base metal atom, wherein a value A indicating a free radical generation amount represented by the (equation 1) is not more than 0.20, and a value B indicating a reaction rate represented by the (equation 2), which can be easily applied to utility such as an agent for preventing deterioration of a polymer electrolyte-type fuel cell and a water electrolysis apparatus, and an antioxidant for medicaments, agrochemicals and foods. A=(Mw(S)/Mw)−1  (equation 1) (wherein Mw is a weight average molecular weight of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) after a hydrogen peroxide decomposition test in the test at 80° C. in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), and Mw(S) is a weight average molecular weight of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) before the test) B=N(PO)/N(cat)  (equation 2) (wherein N(po) is a mole number of hydrogen peroxide decomposed per 20 minutes in a hydrogen peroxide decomposition test in the (equation 1), and N(cat) is a mole number per metal atom of a catalyst used).
US07988937B1 Decontamination of radioactive metals
The present invention relates to a method for the volumetric decontamination of radioactive metals. The method includes the step of precipitating out radioactive gamma and beta emitting nucleotides and then recovering non-radioactive metal compounds.
US07988936B2 Chemical reactor including heat exchangers
The present invention discloses to a chemical reactor with high heat efficiency and small volume, the chemical reaction of the present invention comprises a first unit for performing heat exchange of exothermic reaction products with exothermic reaction raw material fed for exothermic reaction; a second unit including a plate assembly for exothermic reactions and a plate assembly for endothermic reactions; and a third unit for performing heat exchange of endothermic reaction products with endothermic reaction raw material fed for endothermic reactions.
US07988933B2 Identification system for a clinical sample container
A clinical analyzer with a vision system proximate a sample tube rack, the rack having a number of different insert adapters, the adapters having markings to identify the insert, thereby identifying the type of tube. The adapters are of heights selected to position tubes of various heights at a common aspiration level. A 2-D imaging device is employed to read the markings and for analyzing various distinguishing characteristics of the sample tubes.
US07988930B2 Portable chemical sterilizer
A portable, lightweight, easy-to-carry, reusable, durable, and environmentally-friendly assembly for sterilizing contaminated equipment using conditions of a chemical sterilant, heat, and humidity generated in situ without requiring external electricity, fuels, or other exogenous energy sources for operation. The carry assembly includes a plastic carry-case or insulated aluminum pressure vessel having an inner chamber for accepting microbiologically contaminated objects, a vessel disposed in the chamber for serving as a reaction chamber and/or boiler, a chemical combination which upon mixing generates at least minimally sufficient conditions of the sterilant, heat, and humidity to effect sterilization of the objects, and outlet valves mounted on the carry-case for controllably venting pressures above ambient air pressure.
US07988929B2 Solid product dispenser
A solid product dispenser includes a housing and a product holder. The housing includes a concentrated solution outlet, a diluent outlet, and an outlet tube in which concentrated solution from the concentrated solution outlet and diluent from the diluent outlet are mixed to form a use solution. Proximate the housing and the product holder is an overflow outlet from which a vacuum breaker is at least 3.50 inches.
US07988926B2 Hydrogen-consuming system and method for the operation thereof
In a hydrogen consuming system and a method for the operation thereof wherein the system comprises a hydrogen-consuming unit and a hydrogen storage arrangement comprising a compressed gas storage part and a solid material storage part and a cooling circuit with a radiator extending through the solid material storage part and the consuming unit, hydrogen bypass lines are provided for the solid material storage part and for the hydrogen consuming unit together with control valves for selectively by-passing the solid material storage part and the hydrogen consuming unit.
US07988925B2 Fuel processing device
An improved fuel processor for fuel cells is provided whereby the startup time of the processor is less than sixty seconds and can be as low as 30 seconds, if not less. A rapid startup time is achieved by either igniting or allowing a small mixture of air and fuel to react over and warm up the catalyst of an autothermal reformer (ATR). The ATR then produces combustible gases to be subsequently oxidized on and simultaneously warm up water-gas shift zone catalysts. After normal operating temperature has been achieved, the proportion of air included with the fuel is greatly diminished.
US07988921B2 Hexagonal-cell honeycomb catalyzer for purifying exhaust gas
A hexagonal-cell honeycomb catalyzer is for purifying an exhaust gas. The catalyzer comprising a support that has a plurality of cells and a purification layer that has an HC absorption layer and a three-way catalyst layer. The HC absorption layer is formed on the honeycomb-formed surface of each wall of the support. The three-way catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the HC absorption layer. Provided that the HC absorption layer has a thickness a1 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b1 at a thin portion of the purification layer of which thickness is minimum and the HC absorption layer has a thickness a2 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b2 at a thick portion of the purification layer of which thickness is maximum, a ratio of a1/b1 and a ratio of a2/b2 are both within a range of 1/20 to 5/1.
US07988912B2 Robotic grip and twist assembly
A microtiter plate transport device is configured to grip a microtiter plate in a first location. The microtiter plate transport device is configured to make a vertical approach to the microtiter plate and grip the microtiter plate in either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation along either the opposing longer sides or the opposing shorter sides of the microtiter plate. The device comprises a Cartesian coordinate robot including a first gripping member and a second gripping member opposed to the first gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are supported by an arm configured to move along a vertical axis which extends between the first gripping member and the second gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are configured to rotate about the vertical axis.
US07988908B2 Filler metal alloy compositions
Provided is a filler metal alloy composition capable of improving appearance of a welded zone and fluidity, penetration, etc., of an inexpensive filler metal by minimizing a content of silver (Ag) and adding tin (Sn) and silicon (Si) components. The filler metal alloy composition, brazed to a joint between parent metals to stably join the parent metals formed of the same material or different materials, is characterized in that the composition comprises silver (Ag), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), silicon (Si), and other unavoidable impurities.
US07988898B2 Method of manufacturing a bowling pin
A bowling pin including a body having a head, a neck, a ball line portion, and a base all integrally formed of a synthetic material. The body includes a hollow area and a longitudinal axis of the hollow area extends generally perpendicularly to a substantially planar bottom surface of the base. A method of manufacturing a bowling pin includes providing a mold shell having a mold cavity shaped substantially as a bowling pin, disposing a mandrel inside a mold cavity, introducing material into the mold cavity, cooling the material inside the mold cavity, removing the mandrel from the mold cavity, removing the material from the mold cavity, and cooling the material outside the mold cavity.
US07988893B2 Method for fabricating carbon nanotube yarn
A method for fabricating a carbon nanotube yarn includes providing a plurality of carbon nanotube arrays; pulling out, by using a tool, a first carbon nanotube structure from one of the carbon nanotube arrays; pulling out a subsequent carbon nanotube structure from another one of the carbon nanotube arrays; joining a leading end of the subsequent carbon nanotube structure to a trailing portion of the carbon nanotube structure already formed by contacting the leading end of the subsequent carbon nanotube structure with the trailing portion of the already-formed carbon nanotube structure, with the contact occurring along a common lengthwise direction of the two carbon nanotube structures, thereby forming a lengthened carbon nanotube structure; repeating the pulling and the joining until the lengthened carbon nanotube structure has a desired length; and treating the lengthened carbon nanotube structure with an organic solvent.
US07988892B2 Preparation and sterilization of green state devices using a supercritical fluid sterilant
The invention relates to a method for forming a molded article during sterilization and under high pressure utilizing a supercritical fluid as a sterilization fluid, whereby the pressurization and depressurization rates are controlled to form molded articles.
US07988890B2 Method for manufacturing lens mold
In a method for manufacturing a lens mold, a raw mold is provided. The raw mold defines a cavity therein. The cavity defines a raw molding surface. The raw molding surface includes a molding surface portion. The molding surface portion includes a center. Photoresist material is filled in the cavity, covering the molding surface portion. A photo mask is provided. The photo mask defines a through hole. The size through hole is the same as the molding surface portion of the lens mold. The photo mask is placed above the photoresist material with the through hole aligned with the center. The photoresist material is exposed and developed to form a photoresist portion. A rigid molding material is filled in the cavity. The resist portion is removed to expose the molding surface.
US07988889B2 Mold for molding lenses and method for making the mold
An exemplary method for making a mold used for molding lenses includes the following. First, a base is provided. The base has parallel lines marked on a surface thereof. Second, a dispenser is provided. The dispenser dispenses lumps of molding material on selected positions on the surface of the base guided by the lines. Third, a roller is provided. The roller has a peripheral side surface. The peripheral side surface has spaced molding surfaces defined thereat, each molding surface corresponding to a surface of a lens to be formed. The roller is applied above the base, with the molding surfaces press-molding the lumps of molding material, thereby forming molding portions on the base. Thus, a mold including the base and the molding portions formed on the base is obtained.
US07988886B2 Conductive pattern forming ink, conductive pattern and wiring substrate
A conductive pattern forming ink for forming a conductive pattern on a substrate by a droplet discharge method includes: metal particles; an aqueous dispersion medium in which the metal particles are dispersed; inositol; and a polyglycerol compound having a polyglycerol skeleton. In the ink, H shown in the following formula (I) is 0.050 to 0.70; H = OH ⁡ ( A ) Mw ⁡ ( A ) ⁢ X ⁡ ( A ) + OH ⁡ ( B ) Mw ⁡ ( B ) ⁢ X ⁡ ( B ) Formula ⁢ ⁢ ( I ) where OH(A) represents an average number of hydroxyl groups in one molecule of the polyglycerol compound, Mw(A) represents a weight-average molecular weight of the polyglycerol compound, X(A) represents a content of the polyglycerol compound in the conductive pattern forming ink in weight percent; and OH(B) represents a number of hydroxyl groups in one molecule of the inositol, Mw(B) represents a molecular weight of the inositol, and X(B) represents a content of the inositol in the conductive pattern forming ink in weight percent.
US07988882B2 Polymerizable liquid crystal compound, phase difference film and liquid crystal display using the same
A polymerizable liquid crystal compound is represented by the following formula (1): P-Sp1-L1-M1-L2-Sp2-Ox   (1) wherein P represents a polymerizable group; one of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a branched alkylene group, or an alkylene group containing, in the chain thereof, at least one divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —C≡C— and —S—; the other of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a straight chain alkylene group; each of L1 and L2 independently represents a divalent linking group; M1 represents a mesogenic group; and Ox represents a substituent containing an oxetanyl group.
US07988879B2 Method for preparing lithium metal phosphate
Disclosed is a method for preparing a lithium metal phosphate represented by the following Formula 1 by using a mixture of a metal (M) with a metal oxide containing the same metal: LixMyPO4  [Formula 1] wherein M is a transition metal element selected from Group 3 to 12 elements in the Periodic Table, Mg, Al, Ga and B; 0.05≦x≦1.2; and 0.8≦y≦1.2. Also, an electrode comprising the lithium metal phosphate as an electrode active material, and a secondary battery comprising the electrode are also disclosed.
US07988876B2 Method for reducing and homogenizing the thickness of a semiconductor layer which lies on the surface of an electrically insulating material
To reduce and homogenize the thickness of a semiconductor layer which lies on the surface of an electrically insulating material, the surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed to the action of an etchant whose redox potential is adjusted as a function of the material and the desired final thickness of the semiconductor layer, so that the material erosion per unit time on the surface of the semiconductor layer due to the etchant becomes less as the thickness of the semiconductor layer decreases, and is only from 0 to 10% of the thickness per second when the desired thickness is reached. The method is carried out without the action of light or the application of an external electrical voltage.
US07988874B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device and synchronous pulse plasma etching equipment for the same
Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor device and synchronous pulse plasma etching equipment for the same. The method includes outputting a first radio frequency (RF) power and a control signal and outputting a second RF power. The first RF power is pulse-width modulated to have a first frequency and a first duty ratio, and is applied to a first electrode in a plasma etching chamber. The control signal includes information on a phase of the first RF power. The second RF power is pulse-width modulated to have the first frequency and a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio, is applied to a corresponding second electrode among second electrodes in the plasma etching chamber, and is supplied for a time section in which the first RF power is supplied.
US07988869B2 Reactor and method for anoxic treatment of a material in a fluid reaction medium
A reactor for treating with pressurized water a material in a fluid reaction medium. It comprises a body (2) delimiting a reaction area (10), an inlet (48) for the material to be treated in the reaction area (10), a point (46) for introducing an oxidant into the reaction area (10), at least one outlet for the treated material outside the reaction area (10), the material to be treated follows a path defined in the reaction area between its inlet and its outlet. The point (46) for introducing the oxidant in the reaction area (10) is located downstream from the inlet (48) for the material and is spaced apart from the latter by a certain distance so as to define an anoxic area (20) comprised between the inlet for the material to be treated and the point for introducing the oxidant, an area in which the fluid medium is in anoxia.
US07988868B2 Method and device for dewatering and drying solid or liquid mixtures
A method is provided for both dewatering and drying solid-liquid mixtures and a device is provided designed as a filter press drier for the application of the method. The filter press drier is equipped with a defined number of metal heating chamber filter plates (1) and/or membrane heating chamber filter plates (2) arranged next and/or in parallel to one another. The method includes feeding of the suspension, draining off the filtrate while retaining the solid components as a filter cake at the same time, heating of the filter cake, pressing of the filter cake formed during the dewatering, drying of the filter cake by evacuating the vapor space (4) and the interconnected pore volume in the filter cake, filling of the vapor space (4) and the interconnected pore volume in the filter cake with air or an inert gas to an excess pressure of up to 1 bar, where a resting phase is initiated in drying, and the filter cake is again heated, repeating the drying and filling steps until the intended degree of drying is reached, switching off the heating circuit and terminating the membrane pressing an removing the dried filter cake. A surprising increase in the rate of drying is achieved.
US07988866B2 Method of treating fumed silica-containing drainage water
In a process for treatment of powdery fumed silica, fumed silica to be discarded is collected by dispersing the fumed silica in water. Disclosed is a method for treatment of a fumed silica-containing wastewater collected in the process. The method comprises the steps of: adding an inorganic coagulant containing a metal to a fumed silica-containing wastewater in an amount of 15 to 300 mg/l. in terms of the metal, wherein the wastewater is either a wastewater containing fumed silica at a concentration of 0.05 to 3.0% by mass or a wastewater whose fumed silica content is adjusted to 0.05 to 3.0% by mass; and adding an organic polymeric coagulant to the mixture.
US07988862B2 Treatment device for magnetically treating liquids including dual figurines and associated methods
A treatment device is for magnetically treating liquid in a liquid container including a plurality of figurines configured to define a container holder to receive the liquid container. At least one permanent magnet is associated with the plurality of figurines to generate a magnetic field within the liquid in the liquid container.
US07988859B2 Countercurrent tangential chromatography methods, systems, and apparatus
This invention relates to a breakthrough in the art of chromatography allowing 1) larger scale of operation; 2) faster processing time; 3) disposability; 4) reduction of media/resin expenses; and 5) a reduction of capital equipment investment. In this invention, the chromatography column is replaced by a module that consists of two or more interconnected tangential flow filters and static mixers. The chromatography resin flows through this module in a single pass, while similar operations to a regular chromatographic process are performed on the resin (binding, washing, elution, regeneration, and equilibration). The buffers for these operations are pumped into the module in a countercurrent direction to the flow of resin, and permeate solutions from later stages are recycled back into previous stages. This creates concentration gradients in the permeate solutions of the tangential flow filters in the countercurrent direction to resin flow, thus saving buffer volume and increasing process efficiency.
US07988856B2 Waste water treatment
The present invention relates to wastewater treatment in general and to methods of controlling odors and degrading compounds contained in wastewater in particular.
US07988855B2 Membrane bioreactor having single header membrane module
A cartridge apparatus for water treatment includes a header having a permeate cavity, a plurality of support elements spaced apart from the header, and a plurality of subgroups of hollow fiber membranes, the membranes in each subgroup having first ends potted in the header, and second ends potted in a respective one of the plurality of support elements.
US07988848B2 Activating hydroprocessing catalysts using carbon monoxide and use of catalysts for hydroprocessing
This invention relates to a process for activating a hydroprocessing catalyst and the use of activated catalyst for hydroprocessing. More particularly, hydroprocessing catalysts are activated in the presence of carbon monoxide. The catalysts that have been activated by CO treatment have improved activity.
US07988845B2 Integrated lancing and measurement device and analyte measuring methods
An integrated lancing and measurement device is provided comprising a sensor designed to determine the amount and/or concentration of analyte in a biological fluid having a volume of less than about 1 μl. A piercing member is adapted to pierce and retract from a site on the patient to cause the fluid to flow therefrom, and the sensor is positioned adjacent to the site on the patient so as to receive the fluid flowing from the site to generate an electrical signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the fluid. The sensor is comprised of a working electrode comprising an analyte-responsive enzyme and a redox mediator, and a counter electrode. An analyte monitor is operatively connected to the sensor and adapted to measure the signal generated by the sensor. Also provided are analyte measuring methods that optionally employ the integrated lancing and measurement device.
US07988843B2 Method and apparatus for electrochemical plating semiconductor wafers
A method of electroplating conductive material on semiconductor wafers controls undesirable surface defects by reducing the electroplating current as the wafer is being initially immersed in a plating bath. Further defect reduction and improved bottom up plating of vias is achieved by applying a static charge on the wafer before it is immersed in the bath, in order to enhance bath accelerators used to control the plating rate. The static charge is applied to the wafer using a supplemental electrode disposed outside the plating bath.
US07988839B2 Capillary electrophoresis systems and methods
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a capillary electrophoresis apparatus comprising a plurality of separation micro-channels. A sample loading channel communicates with each of the plurality of separation channels. A driver circuit comprising a plurality of electrodes is configured to induce an electric field across each of the plurality of separation channels sufficient to cause analytes in the samples to migrate along each of the channels. The system further comprises a plurality of detectors configured to detect the analytes.
US07988836B2 Method of making window unit including diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating
A method of making a coated article (e.g., window unit), and corresponding coated article are provided. A layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) is formed on a glass substrate. Then, a protective layer is formed on the substrate over the DLC inclusive layer. During heat treatment (HT), the protective layer prevents the DLC inclusive layer from significantly burning off. Thereafter, the resulting coated glass substrate may be used as desired, it having been HT and including the protective DLC inclusive layer.
US07988834B2 Conductive catalyst particles and process for production thereof, gas-diffusing catalytic electrode, and electrochemical device
Conductive catalytic particles which are composed of a conductive powder and a catalytic material adhering to the surface thereof are provided. The catalytic material is an alloy of a noble metal material with an additive material which is thermally solid-insoluble in the noble metal material, or an alloy of MI and MII, where MI denotes at least one species selected from noble metal elements, and MII denotes at least one specifies selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Al, Cu, Hf, Zr, Ti, V, Nb, Ta, W, Ga, Sn, Ge, Si, Re, Os, Pb, Bi, Sb, Mo, Mn, O, N, C, Zn, In, and rare earth elements. The conductive catalytic particles are produced by causing the noble metal material and the additive material or MI and MII to adhere at the same time to the surface of a conductive powder by physical vapor deposition. The conductive catalytic particles are not susceptible to sintering and are used for a gas-diffusing catalytic electrode and an electrochemical device provided therewith.
US07988832B2 Work piece with a hard film of AlCr-containing material, and process for its production
A work piece or structural component is coated with a system of film layers at least one of which is composed of (AlyCr1-y)X, where X=N, C, B, CN, BN, CBN, NO, CO, BO, CNO, BNO or CBNO and 0.2≦y<0.7, with the composition within said film being either essentially constant or varying over the thickness of the film continually or in steps, as well as a process for producing it.
US07988831B2 Method for purifying an aqueous patassium hydroxide solution having rich silicon impurities
A method for purifying an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution having rich silicon impurities has been disclosed in the invention, which is particularly related to a method that utilizes a low-carbon alcohol (such as ethanol) for extracting said aqueous potassium hydroxide solution, and includes the steps of mixing a low-carbon alcohol with an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution having rich silicon impurities; allowing the resulting mixture therefrom to divide into an aqueous phase layer and a low-carbon alcohol phase layer that contains the aqueous potassium hydroxide solution with reduced silicon impurities, and subjecting the low-carbon alcohol phase layer to a separation process for removing the low-carbon alcohol, thereby resulting in an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution having reduced silicon impurities.
US07988829B2 Papermaking machine employing an impermeable transfer belt, and associated methods
A papermaking machine for making paper includes a forming section, a press section, and a drying section. The paper web is pressed between two press members while enclosed between a press felt and a transfer belt having non-uniformly distributed microscopic depressions in its surface, the web following the transfer belt from the press to a transfer point at which the web is transferred via a suction transfer device onto a structuring fabric, the web then being dried on a drying cylinder. The transfer point is spaced a distance D from the press nip selected based on machine speed, a basis weight of the web, and the surface characteristics of the transfer belt, such that within the distance D a thin water film between the web and the transfer belt at least partially dissipates to allow the web to be separated from the transfer belt.
US07988822B2 Treatment vessel for straw or other light bulky material
A method to chemically treat light weight, bulky cellulosic material including: introducing the material to an upper inlet of a substantially vertical treatment vessel; maintaining the material in the vessel at a pressure of at least 20 bar and at a temperature of at least 200° C.; treating the material with a cooking liquor in the vessel; moving the material past at least one anti-compression ring on an inside surface of the vessel, as the material moves downward through the vessel; agitating the material in the vessel, and discharging the treated material from a lower discharge port of the vessel.
US07988821B2 Process for the treatment of fibre material and new composition
The invention relates to a process for the treatment of a fibre material comprising the step of contacting the fibre material in an aqueous medium with a chelating agent and a polymer having following general formula wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is —COOM or —CH2COOM, M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, an ammonium ion or a mixture thereof, n, m and k are molar ratios of corresponding monomers, wherein n is 0 to 0.95, m is 0.05 to 0.9, and k is 0 to 0.8, and (n+m+k) equals 1, and the weight average molecular weight is between 500 and 20,000,000 g/mol. The invention also relates to a composition comprising a chelating agent and the above polymer.
US07988819B1 System and method for preparing at least one flavorant having an aroma and taste of a predetermined form of grilling
A system and method for preparation of meat flavorants, and flavorants, having increased flavor and aromatic intensity and which more closely resemble the natural flavor and aroma of cooked meat. Preheated edible, food grade oils and fats are exposed to temperatures between 290° C. and 475° C. under vacuum, in the presence of oxygen. The developing flavor vapors are immediately and completely removed from the heated oils and fats. The mixture of air-purge/flavor-vapor is immediately carried away from the heat transfer surface of the edible oil or fat. An evaporator, preferably a spinning disc, spinning band or thin film evaporator, without a condenser is used as process equipment. The air-purged flavor-vapors are diffused and absorbed in an absorption device into suitable food-grade liquids.
US07988818B2 Device for liquid treatment of wafer-shaped articles
A device for liquid treatment of a defined area of a wafer-shaped article, especially of a wafer, in which a mask is kept at a defined short distance to the wafer-shaped article such that liquid can be retained between the mask and the defined area of the wafer-shaped article by capillary force.
US07988816B2 Plasma processing apparatus and method
A plasma etching apparatus includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode, between which plasma of a process gas is generated to perform plasma etching on a wafer W. The apparatus further comprises a cooling ring disposed around the wafer, a correction ring disposed around the cooling ring, and a variable DC power supply directly connected to the correction ring, the DC voltage being preset to provide the correction ring with a negative bias, relative to ground potential, for attracting ions in the plasma and to increase temperature of the correction ring to compensate for a decrease in temperature of a space near the edge of the target substrate due to the cooling ring.
US07988812B2 Substrate treatment apparatus
A substrate treatment apparatus is provided. The substrate treatment apparatus includes a process room, a load port in which a container receiving wafers is disposed, and a wafer transfer module disposed between the load port and the process room to transfer the wafers between the load port and the process room. The wafer transfer module includes a first barrier, a second barrier extending from a first end of the first barrier or from a portion near the first end of the first barrier at a predetermined inclined angle with respect to the first barrier, and a third barrier extending from a second end of the first barrier or from a portion near the second end of the first barrier at a predetermined inclined angle. The load portion is provided along the first barrier. The process room includes a plurality of chambers arranged along the second and third barriers.
US07988811B2 Adhesive composition and method for temporarily fixing member by using the same
To provide a method for temporarily fixing an optical member suitable for processing of optical members, and an adhesive composition useful for such a method.An adhesive composition comprising (A) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate and (C) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the glass transition temperature of a cured resin obtained from the adhesive composition is from −50° C. to 40° C. A method for temporary fixing a member, which comprises bonding and temporarily fixing the member by means of the above adhesive composition, processing the temporarily fixed member, and immersing the processed is member in warm water of at most 90° C., thereby to remove a cured resin of the adhesive composition from the member.
US07988810B2 Sleeve unit, method of manufacturing thereof, and motor using the sleeve unit
An adhesive is applied to an inner surface of a sleeve housing, and a sleeve is relatively moved toward the sleeve housing from inserted into the sleeve housing. The adhesive is cured while a predetermined distance is maintained between a first bearing surface of the sleeve and a lower surface of a flange portion of the sleeve housing.
US07988808B2 Bonding structure with buffer layer and method of forming the same
A bonding structure with a buffer layer, and a method of forming the same are provided. The bonding structure comprises a first substrate with metal pads thereon, a protection layer covered on the surface of the substrate, a first adhesive metal layer formed on the metal pads, a buffer layer coated on the protection layer and the metal pads, a first metal layer covered on the buffer layer, and a second substrate with electrodes and a bonding layer thereon. The first metal layer, the electrodes and the bonding layer are bonded to form the bonding structure. Direct bonding can be performed through surface activation or heat pressure. The method uses fewer steps and is more reliable. The temperature required for bonding the structure is lower. The bonding density between the contacted surfaces is increased to a fine pitch. The quality at the bonding points is increased because fewer contaminations between the contacted surfaces are generated.
US07988806B2 Method for manufacturing a rubber magnet with a colored facial gum material layer and a rubber magnet thereof
A method for manufacturing a rubber magnet with a colored facial gum material layer and a rubber magnet thereof. A colored gum material layer is paved on a surface of the rubber magnet. A surfactant is added into the colored gum material layer. An identical surfactant or a surfactant with very close polarity is added into the material of the rubber magnet, whereby the surfaces of the gum material layer and the rubber magnet can tightly adhere to each other without easy peeling. In addition, antiscaling agent, wetting/spreading agent and defoaming agent are added into the gum material layer to fully wet the color and uniformly spread the color over the gum material so as to enhance the evenness of the color.
US07988804B2 Material and method for bonding zircon blocks
A process for making large zircon blocks by bonding multiple zircon components, and bonding materials for use in such process. The invention enables the manufacture of large zircon blocks without the need of larger-size isopressing equipment. The invention is particularly useful in making large-size isopipes for use in a fusion down-draw process in making glass sheets for use in, e.g., LCD production.
US07988803B2 Device and method for joining substrates
A device for joining substrates (11) is provided inside a clean booth (12). a single axis robot (46) and a five axis robot (47) convey a wafer (25) and a glass substrate (33). A transcribing station (91) obtains a transcribing film (112) on which adhesive is applied from a film supplying section (113), and presses the transcribing film (112) to the glass substrate (33) so as to transcribe the adhesive to the glass substrate (33). A peeling station (92) peels the transcribing film (112) from the glass substrate (33). A joining station (57) positions the wafer (25) and the glass substrate (33), adjusts parallelism of joining surfaces of the wafer (25) and the glass substrate (33), and joins these substrates together. Since the handling and the joining of the wafer (25), the glass substrate (33) and the transcribing film (112) are performed in the clean booth, it is prevented that a yield ratio of the product decreases because of the adhesion of foreign matters.
US07988798B2 Amorphous alloy ribbon superior in magnetic characteristics and lamination factor
The present invention provides an amorphous alloy ribbon superior in magnetic characteristics and lamination factor by defining the slip property of the amorphous alloy ribbon surface in a specific range, that is, an amorphous alloy ribbon superior in magnetic characteristics and lamination factor produced by the single roll method, characterized in that the slip property of the ribbon surface satisfies the following equation: 0.1≦F=P/M≦1.0 where, F is the slip friction coefficient, P is the force pulling the intermediate part of the amorphous ribbon when applying weight from above to three amorphous ribbons stacked together, and M is the load applied from the top of the amorphous ribbon (5 kg).
US07988792B2 Automatic egg washing apparatus
A method for automatically washing eggs by (a) dispensing a detergent-wetting agent mixture having a detergent concentration onto the eggs; (b) determining if the detergent concentration is at least a pre-set minimum, and going to step (a) if it is; (c) activating a detergent pump pumping at a rate; (d) activating a wetting-agent pump at 1/Nth the rate of the detergent pump, to form the detergent-wetting agent mixture; (e) determining if a pre-set interval has expired, and going to step (b) if it has not; otherwise (f) stopping the detergent pump and the wetting agent pump.
US07988789B2 System and method for low temperature hydration of food soils
A system and method for low temperature hydration of food soils allows for hydration of food soils between washing cycles in a dishwasher. A user selects a hydration button to actuate a hydration cycle between dishwashing cycles. During the hydration cycle, a plurality of atomizers are periodically actuated in accordance with a desired amount of hydration selected by the user. Water is supplied from a dedicated water supply line to the atomizers, preferably without being heated, and is distributed throughout a dishwasher chamber utilizing spray nozzles or fans associated with the atomizers. The hydration cycle ends when deactivated, or when a dishwashing cycle is initiated.
US07988782B2 Methods for restraining expansive concrete
Synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers, are mixed in a shrinkage compensating concrete to provide restraint in lieu of conventional steel reinforcement used in a shrinkage compensating concrete. While the synthetic fibers have a low elastic modulus and low strength, they act to restrain expansion of the concrete in the same way that conventional steel rebar does. In addition, only a small amount of the synthetic fibers are needed to restrain the expansion. As a result, shrinkage compensating concrete can be used in more varied applications, and can be provided more quickly, easily and inexpensively. Construction time requirements and expenses of concrete structures are correspondingly reduced.
US07988780B2 Titanium dioxide pigment particles with doped, dense SiO2 skin and methods for their manufacture
A method of predicting photostability of coatings with various dopants on titanium dioxide pigment particles is disclosed. Calculations of the density of states show that a doped coating which reduces the density of states near the band edge or increases the density of states within the band gap of the pigment particles increases the photostability of the doped pigment.
US07988778B2 Method of making composite coating and product formed with the composite coating
A method of making a composite coating includes the steps of: adding a proper quantity of inorganic metal salt into an organic dissolvent to form a first mixed solution and then stirring the first mixed solution for 30-60 minutes; adding a proper quantity of SiO2 precursor into the first mixed solution to form a second mixed solution and then stirring the second mixed solution for 30-60 minutes; adding a proper quantity of catalyzer and water into the second mixed solution for being reacted with each other so as to form a coating solution via being stirred for 4-8 hours; and putting the coating solution under the room temperature for 24 hours so as to obtain the composite coating. A product formed with the foregoing composite coating includes a base body and a layer of composite protective film formed by the composite coating on surfaces of the base body.
US07988776B2 Coloring composition, thermal transfer recording ink sheet, thermal transfer recording method, color toner, inkjet ink, color filter, and azo dye
A coloring composition containing an azo dye of the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R6 represent a monovalent substituent; R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; n is 0 to 4.
US07988774B2 Electroless deposition of cobalt alloys
Systems and methods for electroless deposition of a cobalt-alloy layer on a copper surface include a solution characterized by a low pH. This solution may include, for example, a cobalt(II) salt, a complexing agent including at least two amine groups, a pH adjuster configured to adjust the pH to below 7.0, and a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the cobalt-alloy is configured to facilitate bonding and copper diffusion characteristics between the copper surface and a dielectric in an integrated circuit.
US07988772B2 Air/oil separator for transmissions and transaxles
An air/oil separator includes a housing having an inlet for aerated oil or hydraulic fluid and outlets for the separated air and oil or fluid. The housing is generally cylindrical and defines an upper, inlet portion, a center, separator portion and a lower collector portion. The upper, inlet portion of the housing includes a first, tangential inlet passageway which merges with a second, spiral or circular passageway. The spiral or circular passageway communicates with the cyclonic separator portion which may be either cylindrical or frusto-conical. A coaxial outlet in the upper, inlet portion allows separated air to return to the engine or transmission housing while an outlet in the lower, collector portion returns oil or hydraulic fluid to the device.
US07988768B2 Dialysis systems having spiraling fluid air separation chambers
A dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining at least one valve chamber, the rigid portion further defining an air separation chamber, the air separation chamber when in an operating position including an inner surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and configured to cause a dialysis fluid to spiral around the inner surface toward the fluid outlet, such that air is removed from the dialysis fluid.
US07988766B2 Metal oxide system for adsorbent applications
Provided herein are adsorbents and methods of using the adsorbents to at least partially remove one or more adsorbates. In an aspect, an adsorbate within a phase is at least partially removed by providing an adsorbent material and contacting the adsorbent material with the phase having an adsorbate, to at least partially remove the adsorbate. Various adsorbents are disclosed having the chemical formula RE1-x-y-zBxB′yB″zOw, where RE is RE is a rare earth metal, B is a trivalent metal ion, B′ is a transition metal ion or an alkaline earth element, B″ is a transition metal ion, 0≦x≦0.25, 0≦y≦0.95, 0≦z≦0.75, w is a number which results in charge balance, and x+y+z<1.
US07988765B2 Systems and processes for processing hydrogen and carbon monoxide
In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process or a methanol synthesis process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled at high recovery and/or inert components removed to prevent build-up in the recycle system by using an arrangement of pressure swing adsorption systems designed to recover impure product gas streams.
US07988764B2 Process for producing a grain refining master alloy
A process is provided for producing an aluminium-titanium-boron grain refining master alloy containing titanium boride and titanium aluminide particles, the process comprising melting aluminium in a silicon carbide crucible in a medium frequency induction or an electric resistance furnace, adding to the melt at a temperature between 750 degrees Celsius and 900 degrees Celsius, KBF4 and K2TiF6 salts, pre-mixed in proportions to obtain a Ti/B ratio of 5 in the melt, gently mixing the salt mixture with the melt without introducing any stirring, transferring the molten alloy to an electric resistance furnace maintained at 800 degrees Celsius, decanting the K—Al—F salt, the by-product of the salt reaction, thoroughly stirring the molten alloy in the SiC crucible with graphite rods before finally casting the molten alloy into cylindrical molds in the form of billets and finally extruding the billet into 9.5 mm rods.
US07988760B2 Method of making nanocrystalline tungsten powder
There is described a method of making a nanocrystalline tungsten powder that comprises: (a) heating a tungsten-containing material in a reducing atmosphere at an intermediate temperature of from about 600° C. to about 700° C. for an intermediate time period; the tungsten-containing material being selected from ammonium paratungstate, ammonium metatungstate or a tungsten oxide; and (b) increasing the temperature to a final temperature of about 800° C. to about 1000° C. for a final time period.
US07988758B2 High thermal conductivity metal matrix composites
Discontinuous diamond particulate containing metal matrix composites of high thermal conductivity and methods for producing these composites are provided. The manufacturing method includes producing a thin reaction formed and diffusion bonded functionally graded interactive SiC surface layer on diamond particles. The interactive surface converted SiC coated diamond particles are then disposed into a mold and between the particles and permitted to rapidly solidify under pressure. The surface conversion interactive SiC coating on the diamond particles achieves minimal interface thermal resistance with the metal matrix which translates into good mechanical strength and stiffness of the composites and facilitates near theoretical thermal conductivity levels to be attained in the composite. Secondary working of the diamond metal composite can be performed for producing thin sheet product.
US07988756B2 Gas-solid separator
A gas-solid separator has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; and an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior, wherein a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 are formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes 4 is provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, and a part between the long holes 4 of the inner cylinder 10 is concaved in a center direction of the inner cylinder 10.
US07988749B2 Method for producing Mannich adducts that contain polyisobutylene phenol
Polyisobutenylphenol-containing Mannich adducts are prepared by a) alkylation of a phenol with highly reactive polyisobutene at below about 50° C. in the presence of an alkylation catalyst; b) reaction of the reaction product from a) with formaldehyde, an oligomer or a polymer of formaldehyde and at least one amine which has at least one secondary amino function and no primary amino function, or c) reaction of the reaction product from a) with at least one adduct of at least one amine which has at least one secondary or primary amino function and formaldehyde, an oligomer of formaldehyde, a polymer of formaldehyde or a formaldehyde equivalent, and are used as detergent additives in fuel and lubricant compositions, and additive concentrates, fuel compositions and lubricant compositions contain these Mannich adducts.
US07988737B2 Ready-to-use composition for oxidation dyeing of keratin fibers comprising at least one fatty substance chosen from fatty amides and fatty acid esters, at least one dye precursor, at least one oxidizing agent and optionally at least one alkaline agent, and methods and kits therewith
Provided is a ready-to-use composition for the oxidation dyeing of keratin fibers, and for example of human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising: A) at least one fatty substance present in an amount of greater than or equal to 25% by weight relative to the total weight of the ready-to-use composition, at least one of the at least one fatty substance being chosen from fatty amides and fatty acid esters, B) at least one dye precursor, C) at least one oxidizing agent and optionally D) at least one alkaline agent. Also provided is a method of dyeing of keratin fibres, comprising applying a ready-to-use composition to the keratin fibres for a sufficient time to develop the desired coloration.
US07988735B2 Mechanical apparatus and method for delivering materials into the inter-vertebral body space for nucleus replacement
The present invention relates to a device and method to perform 1) disk fusing, 2) an artificial replacement of the nucleus, 3) artificial replacement of the annulus, or 4), an artificial replacement of both the nucleus and annulus. The device is designed to be placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy. The invention includes a delivery catheter and an expandable continuous mesh that has a torus configuration with a lumen within the mesh and a center hole. The mesh can be diametrically expanded in diameter into the disc space whereby various materials can be injected into the lumen and/or the center hole.
US07988732B2 Sheaths for implantable fixation devices
Sheaths for implantable fixation devices are disclosed. Sheaths have a flexible body with a perforated wall, an open end, a closed end, and a body interior sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.
US07988726B2 Percutaneous mitral annuloplasty with cardiac rhythm management
An implantable device is positioned within the coronary sinus and tightened around the mitral annulus to reduce mitral valve regurgitation. The device carries at least one electrode, in electronic communication with a cardiac rhythm management device.
US07988724B2 Systems and methods for delivering a medical implant
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for endovascularly delivering and releasing a prosthesis, e.g., an aortic prosthesis, within and/or across a patient's native heart valve, referred to hereinafter as replacing the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the delivery system comprises a plurality of first actuatable element adapted to engage a plurality of second elements in a first configuration to capture the implant within the delivery system, and wherein the plurality of first actuatable element are adapted to engage the plurality of second elements in a second configuration and to release the implant from the delivery system.
US07988717B2 Longitudinally flexible expandable stent
Segmented articulatable stent of open structure comprised of end-connected struts of first and second lengths making up first and second segments with angular interconnects between adjacent first and second segments.
US07988714B2 Bone screw
In order to improve a bone screw with a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and with a head which can be brought into engagement with a bone screw receiving means of a bone plate for the releasable connection of the bone screw to the bone plate, wherein a securing element for securing a connection between the bone screw and the bone plate is provided, wherein the bone screw can be brought from a position of engagement, in which the bone screw is held on the bone plate, into a release position, in which the bone screw can be released from the bone plate, wherein the securing element can be brought from a non-securing position, in which the bone screw can be brought into the release position, into a securing position for securing the connection between the bone screw and the bone plate, in which the bone screw takes up the position of engagement, such that a bone plate can be fixed to bone parts more easily and more securely it is suggested that the securing element be supported on the bone screw so as to be movable.
US07988712B2 Method for resurfacing a lumbar articular facet
Methods for treating spinal pathologies, and more specifically methods for treating articulating surfaces of facet joints. The methods involve providing artificial articulating surfaces for facet joint articular facets. In addition, various types of rasps may be used to prepare the articulating surfaces prior to placement of the artificial articulating surfaces.
US07988711B2 Low profile vertebral stabilization systems and methods
Skeletal stabilization systems include a base, a longitudinal member, and a retaining member. The base includes an engagement surface with a surface area that is positionable in contact with a bone to atraumatically or traumatically engage the base to the bone. The retaining member engages the base to retain the longitudinal member relative to the base so that the longitudinal member can provide a desired stabilization effect to one or more adjacent bony portions.
US07988709B2 Percutaneous spinal implants and methods
Spinal implants and methods for the placement thereof are disclosed herein. In one variation, the implant includes a support member, a proximal retention member, and a distal retention member. The support member is configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes. The proximal retention member has a first configuration in which the proximal retention member is substantially disposed within a proximal portion of the support member, and a second configuration in which a portion of the proximal retention member is disposed outside of the support member. The distal retention member has a first configuration in which the distal retention member is substantially disposed within a distal portion of the support member, and a second configuration in which a portion of the distal retention member is disposed outside of the support member.
US07988707B2 Dynamic spine stabilizer
A dynamic spine stabilizer moves under the control of spinal motion providing increased mechanical support within a central zone corresponding substantially to the neutral zone of the injured spine. The dynamic spine stabilizer includes a support assembly and a resistance assembly associated with the support assembly. The resistance assembly generates greater increase in mechanical force during movement within the central zone and lesser increase in mechanical force during movement beyond the central zone. A method for using the stabilizer is also disclosed.
US07988704B2 Safe septal needle and method for its use
A method for puncturing a proximal membrane without puncturing a second, distal membrane is provided. The method comprises distally advancing an elongated body through an elongated tubular member to a first position where a distal end of the elongated body is in a first configuration. In the first configuration, the distal end of the elongated body is positioned outside the distal end of the elongated tubular member. The distal end of the elongated body has a distal tip, in this first configuration, that is sufficiently rigid and sharp to puncture the first, proximal membrane. From this first configuration, the distal tip of the elongated body is slightly advanced puncture the first, proximal membrane. After puncturing the first, proximal membrane, the elongated body is advanced through the punctured proximal membrane whereby the distal tip of the elongated body moves into a second configuration. In the second configuration, the distal tip of the elongated body curves into a j-shape, forming a blunt distal surface facing the second, distal membrane.
US07988697B2 Graft fixation device and method
A system for securing a graft within a bone includes a tubular cross pin having an interior surface bounding a passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the distal end terminating at a distal end face. A guide pin has an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the exterior surface including an outwardly projecting shoulder. The guide pin is removably received within the passageway of the cross pin such that the distal end face of the cross pin biases against the shoulder and a proximal portion of the guide pin freely projects beyond the proximal end of the cross pin.
US07988694B2 Spinal fixation system having locking and unlocking devices for use with a multi-planar, taper lock screw
Provided is a novel spinal fixation system that includes a novel multi-planar taper lock screw for connecting a connecting rod to bone as well as a novel locking device and a novel unlocking device, each being configured to selectively partially lock or fully the novel screw of the system. The screw is capable of multi-directional articulation while the connecting rod position can remain stable and aligned as needed. After the screw had been articulated and properly positioned, it can be locked such that the screw and the connecting rod will remain in relative position to the bone. The screw is configured for easy insertion and connection as well as easy removal and disconnection from the connecting rod. A method of fixing bones or bone fragments using the novel system is also provided.
US07988693B2 Chisels and procedure for insertion of spinal implant in a spinal disc space
A chisel with U.V-shaped, saw tooth or other shaped opposing blades is used to form channels in adjacent vertebrae. The chisel has a projection extending from at least one of the top and bottom surfaces to limit depth of penetration into the vertebrae. A guide member may be attached to the forward tip of the chisel to guide the chisel into the disc space to uniformly chisel both adjacent vertebrae simultaneously to form a channel in the vertebrae. The so formed channels serve as sa guide for a second chisel having no guide member. The second chisel, which may be a box chisel, is used to complete the channels to the desired depth to receive an associated implant, typically of cortical bone. Other embodiments are disclosed in which a two step box chisel has a retractable guide member for initially guiding the chisel as it forms partial channels in the vertebrae disc space. The guide member is then retracted and the channels formed to the desired depth. The chisels include guide member pins which serve to both limit the extension and retraction of the guide member and also to serve to limit the depth of penetration of the chisel, physically and visually. The guide member may be retracted with a rotatable knob and a threaded engaged rod or with an axially displaceable pin and rod assembly attached to the guide member. A procedure for using the chisels is also disclosed.
US07988690B2 Welding systems useful for closure of cardiac openings
A welding element is provided for applying heat, chemicals, pressure, or any combination thereof to tissues inside a patient's body, e.g., a patent foramen ovale. In one aspect, the welding element is connected to a radio frequency energy source and includes an electrode and a locator. The locator facilitates positioning of the welding element and is capable of moving from an open position to a clamping position. In another aspect, a needle is provided for transseptal puncturing before the application of heat. In yet another aspect, the welding element is configured as a coil. The welding element can be made of Nitinol.
US07988686B2 Device for the treatment of a medical fluid
A device for the treatment of a medical fluid including a permanently installed fluid treatment machine and a cassette with fluid-carrying channels as well as an elastic matt placed between these two items. The matt channels are recessed in the elastic matt and are provided with slits. Via the matt channels, an optimized vacuum distribution takes place and the slits serve the purpose of removing air between the cassette and the fluid treatment machine.
US07988680B2 Vacuum therapy and cleansing dressing for wounds
A wound dressing member is provided for use in a vacuum bandage connected to a vacuum source. The wound dressing member is also provided for use with a wound having a wound surface. The wound dressing member includes a wound facing surface adapted to be in contact with and generally conform to the wound surface and a plurality of discrete holes formed in the wound facing surface. The member further includes a port configured to communicate with the vacuum source and with each hole formed in the wound facing surface. The wound dressing member further includes a stand-off having interconnected portions coupled to the wound facing surface and configured to provide a space between the wound facing surface and the wound surface.
US07988676B1 Syringe and method of using
Syringes and methods of using are described which protect the syringe barrel cavity from contaminants. A first syringe is formed with a corrugated sheath or non-corrugated sheath which is positioned internal or external to the syringe barrel cavity. A second syringe is formed with a syringe barrel having a straight segment and a corrugated segment having the forward face of the plunger handle member molded to the rearward terminus of the corrugated segment of the syringe barrel. A third syringe is formed from mating syringe barrel and plunger member walls. The walls of the mating syringe barrel and plunger member are concentric and slide relative to each other while maintaining an enclosure around the plunger shaft. A fourth syringe is formed from inner and outer concentric syringe barrel walls mating with the walls of a plunger member. The mating walls are concentric and slide relative to each other while maintaining an enclosure around the plunger shaft. A fifth syringe is formed with an end cap contaminant shield having an extension wall that is mated with the inner wall surfaces of the syringe barrel cavity, or outer wall surfaces of the syringe barrel. Alternatively, the end cap contaminant shield can be provided with a flat design without the extending wall and is bonded or molded to the rearward end terminus of the syringe barrel. The end cap contaminant shield designs are provided with an opening defining the shape of the cross-section of the plunger shaft.
US07988672B2 Access assembly with adjustable seal member
A surgical access assembly for receiving instruments of various diameters is disclosed. The access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a surgical instrument. The access assembly may also include a mechanism disposed within the housing and having a passageway for reception and passage of the surgical instrument in substantial sealed relation therewith. The mechanism may be adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement within the housing between a first position corresponding to a first dimension of the passageway and a second position corresponding to a second dimension of the passageway. The mechanism may include a single seal element or first and second seal elements. The seal elements may be adapted for lateral movement during longitudinal movement of the seal. The first and second seal elements may be in at least partial overlapping relation when in the first position of the seal. The access assembly may include a lock or latch for preventing movement of the seal elements.
US07988666B2 Broadband infrared heating of medical fluids
A system for heating a medical fluid includes a container including a fluid path including an inlet side and an outlet side. A broadband infrared radiation source including a power supply is coupled to a broadband emitter for emitting infrared radiation. The broadband emitter provides a focal location within the fluid path to heat the medical fluid to generate a heated medical fluid. A flow turbulence enhancing structure mixes the heated medical fluid to reduce temperature gradients therein. A fluid detector senses a presence of the medical fluid in the fluid path and generates a fluid sensing signal. A controller is coupled to receive the fluid sensing signal and has an output coupled to the power supply for controlling a power output of the power supply based on the fluid sensing signal indicating a presence of the medical fluid in the container.
US07988665B2 Infusion fluid heating apparatus
An infusion fluid heating apparatus applicable to various types of infusion tube with different length dimensions includes a front-side tube fitting groove or a rear-side tube fitting groove formed on one of surfaces of a heating plate that receives an infusion tube in a first length between an inlet opening and an outlet opening open at the end surfaces of the heating plate. The groove also receives the infusion tube in a second length shorter than the first length. Therefore, the groove uses the second length for a relatively short infusion tube, capable of heating the tube appropriately and achieving high versatility. In addition, the tube fitting groove uses the first length for an infusion bag with a relatively long infusion tube, capable of heating the tube appropriately and increasing the maximum infusion fluid flow.
US07988664B2 Locking clip with trigger bushing
A safety shield incorporating a locking clip to prevent inadvertent sticks or punctures by a needle is provided. The needle can be a needle cannula or other piercing member, disposed in a sliding orientation in the safety shield, such that the needle slides within the locking clip between an aperture at a proximal end of the locking clip and a trigger hole at a distal end of the clip. Upon withdrawal of the needle after use, a binding orientation is triggered when the needle tip is withdrawn from the trigger hole. As further protection to the bi-directional lock afforded by the binding orientation, the needle is provided with a safety stop to prevent movement of the needle tip through the aperture. In other aspects, the safety shield includes a trigger bushing, in which the needle cannula is slidably received, that is sized larger than the aperture.
US07988663B2 Retractable needle syringe assembly
A syringe including a barrel (14), a retractable needle (12) and a plunger rod assembly (22) including inner (30) and outer (24) members with a stopper (46) for expelling fluids from the syringe is disclosed. An activation member (40, 44) associated with the plunger rod permits relative movement of the inner and outer members when activated. The stopper is configured to compress a sufficient amount when advanced distally in the barrel to cause the activation element to engage and cause retraction of the needle within the syringe.
US07988662B2 Metal electrode
The invention relates to a spreader structure (10) for introducing into a hollow organ, comprising spreader rods (12), which radiate from a first connection section (14) essentially in the longitudinal direction (36) of the spreader structure (10) up to a second connection section (16), are distributed around the periphery of the spreader structure (10) and can be placed against a wall of a hollow organ by means of radial expansion. The aim of the invention is to provide a spreader structure (10), which is versatile and cost-effective to produce. To achieve this, the spreader rods (10) have at least one zone (22) running in the longitudinal direction, which has a reduced flexural strength in comparison to neighboring zones (20, 24). The invention also relates to the use of said spreader structure, to a spreader device and to a method for positioning a spreader structure.
US07988660B2 Needle-free injection device
A fluid injecting device (30) generally including a fluid delivery assembly (32) and a needle-free injecting assembly (34). The fluid delivery assembly (32) delivers or transfers the fluid medicine from a cartridge (40) into the needle-free injecting assembly (34) for injecting into a patient. A drive train (112) applies a force to a piston (64) inside the cartridge (40) during the delivery of the fluid to the needle-free injecting assembly (34) to prevent adhesion or static friction between the piston (64) and the cartridge (40). In addition, sensors can be used to help ensure the proper amount of dosage is transferred to the needle-free injecting assembly, conserve power, reduce leakage during disassembly, among other functions.
US07988659B2 Indwelling balloon catheter for endoscope
An indwelling balloon catheter for an endoscope is provided with a flexible tube including a first lumen and a second lumen, the first lumen and the second lumen being arranged in parallel with each other and extending in an axial direction of the flexible tube over an entire length thereof, and a connector provided with a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe which protrude from a body of the connector, protruded portions of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe being configured to be removably inserted into the first lumen and the second lumen, respectively. A cross sectional shape of the first lumen is a non-circular shape, a cross sectional shape of the first connecting pipe corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the first lumen. The first connecting pipe protrudes longer from the connector than the second connecting pipe.
US07988651B2 Inflatable device for use in impulse therapy
A device for use in applying impulse therapy to a limb of a human body and including an inflatable bladder or pad that has opposing hermetically sealed first and second side walls. The device also includes an inlet tube connected to the inflatable bladder or pad for feeding intermittent pulses of fluid to the inflatable bladder or pad. The inflatable bladder or pad includes a fluid dispersal and noise reducing internal media interposed between the first and second side walls and over an outlet of the inlet tube, the fluid dispersal and noise reducing internal media configured to dissipate the intermittent pulses of fluid with an accompanying reduction in a fluid flow rate and noise generated during pressurization of the inflatable bladder or pad.
US07988648B2 Pancreas regeneration treatment for diabetics using extracorporeal acoustic shock waves
The method of stimulating a tissue of a subsurface organ is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the tissue to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves and away from a geometric focal volume or point of the emitted shock waves. In one embodiment the emitted shock waves are divergent or near planar. In another embodiment the emitted shock waves are convergent having a geometric focal volume of point at a distance of at least X from the source, the method further comprising positioning the tissue at a distance less than the distance X from the source. The subsurface organ is a tissue having cells. The tissue is a part of the incretin system. The subsurface organ is preferably the pancreas of a diabetic or at risk diabetic patient. The treatment stimulates the pancreatic tissue by an analgesic effect on the nerves and a stimulation of the insulin producing islets.
US07988647B2 Assessment of medical conditions by determining mobility
A mobility assessment detects abnormalities in motion using a stagger algorithm. The detected abnormalities are compared to known norms for a particular test to determine if the abnormalities are normal or not. The comparison can be made for abnormalities associated with different diseases and illnesses to classify whether or not the condition exists and its phase. The results may be used to generate a treatment regime.
US07988646B2 Catheter apparatus and methods for treating vasculatures
A catheter apparatus may have a flexible shaft, guidewire lumens passing through the shaft, and a positioning device for positioning the guidewires relative to an external lumen. The positioning device may be an expansible scaffold covered with a retractable sheath. The positioning device may also be one or more balloons that are inflated through an inflation port in the shaft. The catheter apparatus may be operated by inserting a guide catheter into a vasculature with a chronic total occlusion, inserting the catheter apparatus into the guide catheter, and advancing the guidewires through the guidewire lumens and into contact with a chronic total occlusion. The positioning device may be activated before and/or between attempts to pass the guidewires through the chronic total occlusion to interrogate various parts of the chronic total occlusion.
US07988644B2 Method and apparatus for a multi-use body fluid sampling device with sterility barrier release
A device for use with a gripper is provided. A cartridge is provided that defines a plurality of cavities. A plurality of penetrating members are at least partially contained in the cavities of the cartridge. The penetrating members are slidably movable to extend outward from the cartridge to penetrate tissue. Each cavity has a longitudinal opening that provides access to an elongate portion of the penetrating member. A sterility barrier is coupled to the cartridge. The sterility barrier covers a plurality of the longitudinal openings. The sterility barrier is configured to be moved so that the elongate portion is accessed by the gripper without touching the barrier.
US07988641B2 Apparatus and method for delivery of an aerosol
An apparatus for measuring lung ventilation, comprising: a pressure device to measure volume of air flow; an aerosol-generating device that provides aerosol particles to be released at a determined point in a breathing cycle; a mouthpiece with a detector that measures the concentration of aerosol particles for a given volume during the breathing cycle; and a computing device configured to provide lung ventilation data as a function of time constants.
US07988635B2 Methods for detecting and monitoring sleep disordered breathing using an implantable medical device
A method of identifying sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in a patient includes monitoring a hemodynamic pressure, deriving high, middle, and low values representative of the distribution of the hemodynamic pressure over a storage interval, measuring a ratio of a lower range to a full range of the hemodynamic pressure based on the derived high, middle, and low values, and using the ratio to determine whether the patient has experienced an SDB episode. Certain embodiments of the invention compare the ratio to a threshold value to identify the occurrence of an SDB episode, while other embodiments of the invention identify the occurrence of an SDB episode by monitoring for a simultaneous increase in both the ratio and the full range of the hemodynamic pressure. In certain other embodiments of the invention, activity level and/or duration criteria may be employed to confirm the occurrence of an SDB episode detected using the ratio.
US07988632B2 Method and apparatus for fast 3D ultrasound imaging
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fast 3D ultrasound imaging. The method comprises data acquisition, desired data selection, data smoothing, table construction, ray casting, table look-up, ray synthesis and final result output. The apparatus comprises an acquisition module, a table look-up module, a synthesis module and an output module. The present invention can avoid a huge amount of unnecessary reconstruction calculations by smoothing preprocessing and constructing the reconstruction table and the gradient table as well as transforming coordinates of the points where necessary. The present invention has greater practical applicability, because the existing imaging technology demands that the radius for rotating the probe be identical to the radius of the probe.
US07988630B1 Method and system for implantable glucose monitoring and control of a glycemic state of a subject
A method and system for monitoring and/or controlling a glycemic state of a subject, comprising a housing device having one or more chambers, extendable and retractable sensors, extendable and retractable catheters, insulin reservoir, neuroprotective agent reservoir, release mechanism for releasing insulin and neuroprotective agent into the subject, and a control mechanism with a processor for receiving and analyzing outputs from the sensors and for controlling the release mechanism, a clock mechanism for providing logging and/or circadian information to the processor.
US07988626B2 Lip and cheek expander
A lip and cheek expander for use when performing dental medicine, dental hygiene or dental-documenting activities has two tensioning frames (1, 2) and non-profiled film-like means (3) connecting the tensioning frames (1, 2). When the expander is fitted, the inner tensioning frame (1) inside the oral cavity and the outer tensioning frame outside lies against the lips and cheeks. The film-like means (3) are connected at one end to the inner tensioning frame (1) and at the other end to the outer tensioning frame (2). The film-like means (3) oppose forces (5) to the closure and contraction forces of the lips and cheek muscles and conduct them away onto the tensioning frames (1, 2). The mouth opening is thereby kept open and the lips and cheeks held back from the rows of teeth. A closing of the mouth is also possible when the lip and cheek expander is fitted.
US07988624B2 Devices and methods for percutaneous tissue retraction and surgery
Methods and devices for performing percutaneous surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion coupled to a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration to increase the size of the working channel along the length of the working channel while minimizing trauma to skin and tissue.
US07988623B2 Apparatus and methods for shielding body structures during surgery
An apparatus for shielding a body structure during surgical procedures which is configured for insertion into the internal passage of a support structure, and includes an elongated body portion with a distal tip portion configured to cover the body structure without substantially displacing the body structure. The apparatus also includes a mounting portion at a proximal end portion thereof for mounting the apparatus within the internal passage of the support structure, and a member connected to the mounting portion to release the mounting portion with respect to the internal passage of the wall portion.
US07988620B2 Capsule endoscope apparatus
A signal processing circuit of an external device includes a CPU and a memory which are not shown. A program for estimating at least one of the position and orientation of a capsule endoscope on the basis of strength signals received through respective antennas is installed in the signal processing circuit. A single-core coil to generate a magnetic field is arranged in the capsule endoscope. The generated magnetic field is detected by a plurality of coils arranged outside a body, whereby a distance that the capsule endoscope has traveled can be obtained with accuracy. This arrangement controls image-capture timing to reliably capture images necessary for a diagnosis and prevent unnecessary image capture.
US07988619B2 Diagnostic device for tubular anatomical structures
A diagnostic device for pathologies of tubular anatomical structures comprises a tubular elongated structure having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is suitable to be inserted in the tubular anatomical structure. The device includes a means for locally dilating the walls of the tubular anatomical structure that are associated with the distal end of said elongated structure. The means for locally dilating is movable between a closed position for introducing the device and at least one open position for viewing and evaluating the pathology. The device also has a control means on the proximal end of the elongated structure. The control means is operatively connected to the means for locally dilating, in order to move them between the closed position and the open position, and vice versa.
US07988618B2 Medical procedure via natural opening
The medical procedure via a natural opening according to the present invention includes: disposing a target on the body surface near a target site on the inner wall of a hollow organ; introducing a guide member into the hollow organ via a natural natural opening, guiding the guide member to the target site using the target, and confirming the target site by means of a observation device; and carrying out a procedure at the target site while observing the target site.
US07988617B2 Extragastric minimally invasive methods and devices to treat obesity
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.
US07988616B2 Implantable pump for operation of hydraulic implant
An implantable pump for pumping fluid to or from a hydraulic surgical implant inside a human's or an animal's body comprises a wall forming a chamber for the fluid, the wall including a base plate and a membrane, which is displaceable relative to the base plate to change the volume of the chamber to pump the fluid between the chamber and the surgical implant. The membrane is penetrable by an injection needle to add hydraulic fluid to or withdraw hydraulic fluid from the chamber, in order to calibrate the amount of fluid, and the membrane is self-sealing to seal the hole which is formed in the membrane by the penetrating injection needle. The implant typically is a hydraulic constriction device, which can be designed for treating reflux disease, urinary incontinence, impotence, anal incontinence or obesity.
US07988614B2 Organ assist system and method
An organ assist system having a closed fluid system having a ring-shaped prosthetic contactively surrounding at least a portion of a body part, including bladders adapted for selectable dilation and contraction in response to varying fluid pressure therewithin, a fluid pump, and apparatus for pressurizing the bladders; and a control unit for controlling operation of at least the fluid pump; pressure sensors within the fluid system; a power source, and shut off valves. The pressurization apparatus includes pressure cells arranged in an array, each pressure cell having a shut-off valve at its inlet, and a shut-off valve at its outlet, the shut-off valves being controlled by the control unit such that the pressurization apparatus is operable to provide a range of pressurizations to the bladders of the prosthetic for applying a controlled variable pressurizing effect to the body part thereby.
US07988609B2 Folding table and corresponding chopper folding device
A folding table, in particular for a folding device which is provided with a chopper folding device, includes a folding face which is suitable for receiving a flat product to be folded, and a folding aperture which extends in a conveying direction, the table extending along a table plane. The folding face includes guides which are capable of guiding at least one conveyor for conveying a flat product to be folded in the conveying direction.
US07988607B2 System and method for severing or perforating a web
A system, apparatus and method is provided for perforating a web such as a paper tissue or paper toweling into distinct and perforated sheets. The invention provides a laser array capable of providing an incident beam of light upon the surface of the web. The web travels at relatively high speed on a web support mechanism. The web is contacted by the laser light source, which is directed at predetermined locations upon the web to provide a perforation or severing of the web. The employment of a laser in the practice of the invention provides the ability to precisely measure and vary the length of the perforations along the web in a more efficient manner, for a precise cut.
US07988605B1 Exercise machine
A resistance exercise machine, equipped with two different types of resistance disks. Both disk types apply a frictional resistive force in one direction only, created by tension by means of a pressure plate and brake disk arrangement varied by a tension knob. One disk type, provides circular motion type exercises, by using a mounted accessory to rotate the disk repeatedly. Disk can be adjusted to any angle relative to the user, by means of the universal frame assembly. The other disk type provides motion simulation type exercises by using a remote accessory, a cable, and a rewind arm assembly. Pulling against the cable, urges a pawl to engage a gear situated on the disk's periphery, forcing the disk to rotate. Upon discontinuing the pull on the cable, the disk stops rotating, the pawl disengages the gear, and the rewind arm assembly rewinds the cable back onto the disk's periphery.
US07988604B2 Fitness equipment cable safety apparatus
A safety cable system for a fitness device including a resistance load and a user interface device. A redundant cable apparatus connects the resistance load to the user interface device for lifting the resistance load by a force applied to the user interface device. The redundant cable apparatus comprises two cables extending in redundant cable paths between the resistance load and the user interface device. The two cables can share the resistance load or one of the cables can be dormant until failure of the other cable.
US07988603B2 Leg press exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting seat
A leg press machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and having primary and secondary support portions which support spaced locations on a user's body throughout an exercise, and a leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted relative to the main frame. The exercise arm has a first pivot connection which pivotally links the exercise arm to the user support and a second pivot connection which is associated with the main frame to link movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts.
US07988600B2 Adjustable geometry exercise devices and methods for use thereof
An exercise apparatus comprises: a frame; a crank system comprising first and second crank system coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame; a right foot support member; a left foot support member; a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the right foot support member and the first crank coupling location; and a second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the left foot support member and coupled to the second crank coupling location, and an adjustment assembly, wherein the user of the exercise apparatus may undertake a stepping motion or an instantaneously variable striding motion, and wherein the structural geometry of the exercise apparatus can be changed with operation of the adjustment assembly.
US07988593B2 Creep control for motor system
The control system may have an electric motor and a traction device connected to an output of the motor. The control system may also have a decelerator and a controller. The controller may be in communication with the motor and the decelerator. The controller may be configured to determine a creep torque and apply the creep torque to the traction device when the decelerator is actuated.
US07988592B2 Method for controlling idle stop mode in hybrid electric vehicle
A method for controlling an idle stop mode in a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed. The control method accords an oil pressure drain time that a continuously variable transmission clutch oil pressure is fully drained, a final off time of an engine, and a final control time of a motor when a hybrid electric vehicle enters an idle stop mode, thereby preventing a shock or shaking of the vehicle.
US07988591B2 Control architecture and method for one-dimensional optimization of input torque and motor torque in fixed gear for a hybrid powertrain system
There is provided a control system for a powertrain system including an electro-mechanical transmission operative in a plurality of fixed gear modes and continuously variable modes. The control system is adapted to identify preferred operating conditions for operating the powertrain in a fixed gear operating range state. The method comprises determining a range of permissible input torques. States for input torque are iteratively selected, and a motor torque output from the first electrical machine is optimized based upon the selected state for the input torque. A motor torque output from the second electrical machine is determined based upon the optimized motor torque output from the first electrical machine. A cost for each of the iteratively selected states for the input torque and the motor torques from the first and second electrical machines is calculated. A preferred operating range is identified based upon the plurality of costs.
US07988587B2 Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US07988584B2 Locking power transmitting device
A power transmitting device includes a case and first and second dogs. The first dog is rotatably disposed in the case about an axis and includes a set of first dog teeth. The second dog is movable along the axis and is non-rotatably coupled to the case. The second dog has a set of second dog teeth. One of the sets of first and second dog teeth includes a plurality of pins. Each of the pins extends parallel to the axis and includes a centerpoint and first and second contact surfaces that are defined by first and second radii, respectfully. A width of the pin across the first and second contact surfaces is smaller in length than a sum of a magnitude of the first radius and a magnitude of the second radius. A method for forming a power transmitting device is also provided.
US07988582B1 Planet brake differential
A drive apparatus with a housing, a first and second axle mounted in the housing and a ring gear located within the housing is provided. A brake clutch assembly is located on each axle with a planetary gear arrangement, a drive plate engaged to the planetary gear arrangement, a brake plate mounted on the corresponding axle and an engagement assembly disposed about the drive plate and the brake plate. The engagement assembly may be remotely actuated, either electrically or hydraulically, and is used to selectively engage the drive plate or the brake plate.
US07988575B2 Driving mechanism for labeling machine
A driving mechanism for a labeling machine aims to drive a transmission assembly thereof from a power source through a linking member such as a belt. The transmission assembly concurrently drives rotation of an axle assembly so that a feeding wheel coupled on an axle can draw and convey a roll of film. A belt with teeth formed on two sides serves as a transmission member of the transmission assembly to transmit rotation to two axle wheels. The transmission assembly can transmit rotation accurately, rapidly and concurrently. The structure of the transmission assembly is simplified. Wearing can be reduced. Repair and maintenance also are easier.
US07988565B2 Golf club head
A head 2 is hollow. The head 2 has a sole part 8. The sole part 8 has a groove forming part k1 having a recessed outer surface g1 and a protruding inner surface s1. The sole part 8 has a first groove forming part k1 and a second groove forming part k1. The first groove forming part k1 and the second groove forming part k1 have a front-back directional length. A distance between the first groove forming part k1 and the second groove forming part k1 in a toe-heel direction is wider toward a back of the head. Preferably, the first groove forming part k1 and the second groove forming part k1 exist on a back of a face surface 13. Preferably, the sole part 8 has a connecting groove part r1. The connecting groove part r1 is formed by connecting a front end of the first groove forming part k1 to a front end of the second groove forming part k1 with each other.
US07988564B2 Golf clubs with progressive tapered face thicknesses
Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07988562B2 Midair and pseudo-underwater observation apparatus
The observation apparatus provided with the observation wheel comprises a water tank housing fish and being arranged around the substantially lower half of a rotation locus of the observation wheel in which at least an inside face facing the observation wheel of the water tank is formed of a transparent material.
US07988559B2 Computerized gaming system, method and apparatus
The present invention in various embodiments provides a computerized wagering game method and apparatus that features an operating system kernel, a system handler application that loads and executes gaming program shared objects and features nonvolatile storage that facilitates sharing of information between gaming program objects. The system handler of some embodiments further provides an API library of functions callable from the gaming program objects, and facilitates the use of callback functions on change of data stored in nonvolatile storage. The nonvolatile storage also provides a nonvolatile record of the state of the computerized wagering game, providing protection against loss of the game state due to power loss. The system handler application in various embodiments includes a plurality of device handlers, providing an interface to selected hardware and the ability to monitor hardware-related events.
US07988550B2 System, method, and apparatus for processing wagering game voucher images
A system, method, and apparatus for processing gaming voucher images are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes recording voucher information on a gaming voucher, creating an image of the gaming voucher, causing the image to be stored, and dispensing the gaming voucher.
US07988549B2 Electronic system for playing of reel-type games
There is disclosed an electronic gaming system (100) comprising one or more player interfaces (6, 7, 17), and a main video display screen (1). The system enables players to simultaneously play a plurality of reel-type games and to place bets on lines of the games. The system displays a plurality of display windows on the main display screen, each window being associated with a respective one of the simultaneously played games and displaying the reels of that game, each reel displaying reel indicia. The system is configured for any one of the games to enter a feature phase when a feature-triggering event occurs. At the start of the feature phase, all the display windows on the main screen, except the particular display window associated with the feature phase, reduce in size or disappear, while the size of the feature game's display window increases, and the other games are also suspended, until the feature phase is completed.
US07988543B2 Battery pack and HVAC air handling and controls
A system and method for controlling air flow through a passenger cabin and battery pack of a vehicle having a battery module is disclosed. A HVAC controller communicates with a battery pack controller to assure that air flow from the passenger cabin through the battery pack, and either out to atmosphere or returned to the passenger cabin, is coordinated to obtain desirable passenger cabin heating/cooling and battery cooling.
US07988537B2 Substrate holding apparatus and polishing apparatus
A substrate holding apparatus is for holding a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer in a polishing apparatus for polishing the substrate to a flat finish. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a vertically movable member, and an elastic member for defining a chamber. The elastic member comprises a contact portion which is brought into contact with the substrate, and a circumferential wall extending upwardly from the contact portion and connected to the vertically movable member. The circumferential wall has a stretchable and contractible portion which is stretchable and contractible vertically.
US07988534B1 Optical polishing pitch formulations
Optical polishing pitch formulations include synthetic polymers or other synthetic resins. As alternatives to traditional optical pitches, these materials offer improved stability in use, storage, and processing. In addition, these pitch compositions may be masterbatched and manufactured with precision to ensure superior reproducibility and quality control in polishing performance.
US07988530B2 Slicing method
The present invention provides a slicing method comprising winding a wire around a plurality of grooved rollers and pressing the wire against an ingot to be sliced into wafers while supplying a slurry for slicing to the grooved rollers and causing the wire to travel, wherein a cooling speed of the ingot when a slicing depth is equal to or above ⅔ of a diameter is controlled to perform slicing by supplying a slurry for adjusting an ingot temperature to the ingot independently from the slurry for slicing while controlling a supply temperature only in a period from the moment that the slicing depth of the ingot reaches at least ⅔ of the diameter to end of slicing. As a result, the slicing method is provided, in which rapid cooling of the ingot in the time close to end of slicing the ingot can be alleviated when a wire saw is used to slice the ingot, and generation of a nano-topography can be thereby suppressed and further high quality wafers having a uniform thickness are obtained by slicing.
US07988527B2 Belly and bottom adjustable support system
A support system includes: an abdominal band for supporting weight of an abdomen of a user, the abdominal band adapted for encircling a lower portion of the abdomen and resting on hips and lower back of the user; a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap adapted for passing over a respective shoulder of the user and fastening with the abdominal band over an anterior of the user and over a posterior of the user; and a pair of groin bands, each groin band adapted for passing under a crotch of the user and fastening with the abdominal band over an anterior of the user and over a posterior of the user. A method of use and another method for fabrication are provided.
US07988521B2 Simulated eye for toy
A simulated eye is capable of being rotatable along a circular track. The simulated eye includes an eyeball, a motor having a motor shaft, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is fixed to the motor shaft and is driven to rotate around the motor shaft by the motor. The eyeball is fixed to the transmission assembly at a position departing from the axis of the motor shaft, and is driven to rotate around the motor shaft.
US07988514B2 Method of varying transmittance of transparent conductive layer, flat panel display device and manufacturing method thereof
A method of varying a transmittance of a transparent conductive film includes forming the transparent conductive film on a substrate and injecting a high energy source into the transparent conductive film to vary the transmittance of the transparent conductive film.
US07988513B2 Electron-emitting device, electron source and display apparatus using the same device, and manufacturing methods of them
An electron-emitting device having little dispersion of its electron emission characteristic and a suppressed “fluctuation” of its electron emission quantity is provided. The electron-emitting device includes a substrate equipped with a first portion containing silicon oxide and a second portion arranged abreast of the first portion and having a higher heat conductance, and an electroconductive film including a gap therein, the electroconductive film arranged on the substrate, wherein the first and the second portions having a resistance higher than that of the electroconductive film, and the gap is arranged on the first portion.
US07988512B2 Inflatable device with electronic devices
An inflatable device that floats on water has an inflatable body that has a hollow interior, a speaker unit removably secured to the body, a battery box removably secured to the body, and wiring that electrically connects the speaker unit with the battery box. The wiring is housed inside a tube that extends inside the hollow interior of the body and exits the body at least one exit location, the wiring including a first electrical connector that is removably coupled to the speaker unit, and a second electrical connector that is removably coupled to the battery box.
US07988510B2 Flipper
A flipper for swimming or underwater activities or muscular training, includes a blade and a shoe, the ends of which facing one another are dynamically and kinematically separate. The blade has extensions projecting backwardly and fixed to the shoe in areas substantially corresponding to its central part. Elastic tier rods are provided between the blade and the front part of the shoe and are designed to control angular variations between the blade and the shoe.
US07988509B2 Flow control mechanism for ship having cooling system
A flow control mechanism is provided for controlling a stern flow field disturbed by cooling water discharged from the cooling water outlet of a ship. The flow control mechanism is located within a distance, which corresponds to three times the diameter of the cooling water outlet, from the cooling water outlet, is installed at an angle from 16° to 30° with respect to the horizontal plane of a hull, and has a vertical height, which is within a range from 0.2 times to 0.6 times the diameter of the cooling water outlet in a vertical direction of the hull, and a horizontal width, which is within a range from 0.5 times to 1.3 times the diameter of the cooling water outlet in a horizontal direction of the hull. Thereby, the flow control mechanism restores the distribution of wake flow that encounters a propeller so that the distribution of the wake flow is symmetrical around the central axis of the hull, and reduces the generation of a cavity. Thus, the vibration performance of the ship is improved, and the propulsive efficiency of the ship is also improved.
US07988508B2 Swimming propulsion device
A swimming propulsion device. The swimming propulsion device includes a fuselage having a forward section and an aft section, at least one propulsor pivotally connected to the forward section of the fuselage, and in some embodiments, at least one stabilizer affixed to the aft section of the fuselage. The device also includes a swimmer connection mechanism removably attached to the fuselage by a locking mechanism whereby the swimmer connection mechanism connects a swimmer to the device, and a control mechanism attached to the fuselage and the propulsor. A method for efficient swimming is also disclosed.
US07988507B2 Feedthrough for electrical connectors
A method (10) of forming an electrically conducting feedthrough. The method (10) comprises a first step (11) of forming an electrically conductive structure (21) comprising a sacrificial component and a non-sacrificial component. At least a portion of the non-sacrificial component can then be coated with a relatively electrically insulating material (35) prior to removal of at least a portion of the sacrificial component from the electrically conductive structure. The structure of the feedthrough provides electrical connection through the wall of a housing of an implantable component while preventing unwanted transfer of materials between the interior of the component and the surrounding environment.
US07988503B2 Open face electrical connector
An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection.
US07988501B2 IC socket with improved contact having deformable retention portion
An IC socket (1) for receiving an IC package includes an insulative housing (2) with a plurality of passageways (20) thereof and a plurality of contacts (3) mounted within the passageways (20) of the insulative housing (2) respectively. The contact (3) has a base section (30), an upward contact arm (31) and a downward contact arm (32) respectively extending from the base section (30), and a pair of retaining arms (33) extending from opposite sides of the base section (30). The retaining arm (33) includes an elastic section (330) engaging with an inner wall of the passageway (20) and an opening (332) adjacent to the elastic section (330).
US07988500B2 Socket and contact having anchors
A socket apparatus comprises a base portion defining an array of contact cavities. A plurality of contacts are inserted into the array of contact cavities defined in the base portion. The base portion includes a top side and a bottom side and a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom side. Each rib defines at least one sidewall that engages with an anchor of a contact to securely mount the contact. Each contact includes a mounting portion having a first anchor and a second anchor extending from the mounting portion and operable to engage a mounting surface of the base portion to securely mount the contact. The first anchor provides a first anchor force for the contact to the base portion that is substantially greater than a second anchor force provided by the second anchor to the base portion.
US07988498B1 Earphone jack
Disclosed is an earphone jack including a housing, a circuit connector mounted in the housing, and a plurality of first connecting terminals each including a first connecting section outwardly protruded from the housing, to be connected to a circuit of an audio appliance, and a second connecting section extending from the first connecting section while being bent to have a C shape such that the second connecting section elastically fits around an associated one of the connecting terminals of the earphone plug. It is possible to elastically support the earphone plug even after the earphone plug is repeatedly inserted into and separated from the housing, because the first connecting terminals have a structure bent to have a circular shape.
US07988497B2 Connector assembly with internal seals and manufacturing method
An implantable medical device connector assembly and method of manufacture include a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore, a circuit member including a one or more traces extending through the shell; one or more conductive members positioned along the connector bore and electrically coupled to the traces; and sealing members positioned between the conductive members.
US07988496B2 Electrical connector with improved elasticity contacts
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining upper and lower rows of passageways arranged in a longitude direction and each of passageway extends along a front-to-back direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction; upper and lower rows of contacts are assembled into the corresponding upper and lower rows of passageways, respectively; wherein each of said contact has a mating portion folded in half, the mating portion defines a pair of inner faces facing to each other and a pair of outer faces facing away from each other, at least one protruding portion protrudes from one of the inner faces to the other inner face.
US07988495B2 Connector
The present invention relates to a connector, wherein a connector is defined with an opening for connecting a USB connector. The connector is mainly assembled from a hollow casing, a first base and a second base, and two rear side walls of the hollow casing are respectively formed with a position fixing portion extending away from the opening. Moreover, after fixedly combining together the first base and the second base, two sides thereof are respectively formed with a guiding portion, which enable fixing portions extending from two sides of a printed circuit tongue to effect sliding inserted disposition. After assembly of the bases with the printed circuit tongue, then the fixing portions enable fastening to the position fixing portions. Accordingly, the bases not only enable achieving the objective of product customization, but also retaining positioning of the connector is enabled to prevent errors from occurring due to displacement.
US07988484B1 Electrical cord coupling device
An electrical cord coupling device includes an elongated generally cylindrical hollow body having an interior surface, a first end, and a second end. A first end cap is removably secured to the first end of the body. A hollow generally cylindrical adapter member is telescopingly received within the second end of the elongated body and a second end cap is removably secured the adapter member. The elongated body is adapted to house a plug of a first electrical cord and a socket of a second electrical cord coupled together. The first and second end caps prevent the cords from detaching when the end caps are secured to their respective ends of the elongated body and the adapter member. Each of the end caps is separable into two parts so as to be able to be positioned around the cords.
US07988483B2 Connector with a flange to attach to a mounting surface and a locking portion passing through an opening in the surface to secure a mating connector
In a connector including a to-be-fitted portion for fitting to a mating connector in a first direction and a conductive shell covering the to-be-fitted portion, the shell is provided with a flange extending from a shell body in a second direction crossing the first direction and with a to-be-locked portion extending from the flange in the first direction. When attaching the connector to an attaching object, the flange is caused to face one surface of the attaching object in the first direction and the to-be-locked portion is caused to pass through the attaching object in the first direction so as to project from an opposite surface of the attaching object.
US07988480B2 Card edge connector with an improved metal hook
A card edge connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a pair of opposed side walls (11), a end wall (12) connected to the side walls (11), a retainer (15) and a reinforcement wall (16) both of which protruding outwardly from the end wall (12) in a lengthwise direction of the housing (1); a plurality of terminals (2) received in the housing (1); and a metal hook (3) retained on the reinforcement wall (16) along an upper-to-lower direction of the housing (1), and having a soldering tail (32) extending beyond the housing (1) for being mounted to a mother board. The retainer (15) is connected to the reinforcement wall (16) and defines a latch projection (153) extending from an inner surface for latching a daughter board.
US07988477B1 Electrical connector having contacts with multiple mating portions in different direction
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a first mating face and a number of first contacts retained therein. Each first contact comprises a first mating board and a second mating board vertically protruding from the first mating face. The second connector is mated with the first connector and comprises a second housing with a second mating face confronting with the first mating face and second contacts. The second housing defines corresponding mating slots to receive the first contacts. Each of the second contacts comprises two pairs of holding arms which are arranged non-parallel to each other and each pair of the holding arm elastically perpendicularly projects in the mating slot thereby clipping one of the first mating board and the second mating board of the first contacts.
US07988474B2 Electronic apparatus and flat cable
An electronic apparatus includes: first and second electronic units opposed to each other and connected to relatively rotate in a given plane; and a flat cable electrically connecting the first and second electronic units. The flat cable includes: first and second extending portions respectively connected to the first and second electronic units sides, and each having a surface extending along the given plane; and a bent portion having a bent surface located between the first and second extending portions, and the bent surface bent to surround a normal line perpendicular to the given plane.
US07988471B2 Card connector with ejection damper
A card connector has a housing with a base and a side rail extending from the base to define a card-insertion cavity. A plurality of conductive terminals are supported by the housing and extend at least partially into the card-insertion cavity for contacting a card inserted into the card-insertion cavity. A push-push style card locking and ejection mechanism retains the card in the card-insertion cavity upon a first push and which ejects an inserted card upon a second push. The mechanism includes a slide member positioned for slidable movement on the side rail and a biasing member contacting the slide member for selectively exerting an ejection force on the slide member. The slide member includes a slide surface that slides along a guide surface of the side rail. A damping material is interposed between the slide member slide surface and the guide rail guide surface for retarding movement of the slide member on the side rail in response to an ejection force from the biasing member.
US07988468B2 Protective cover mechanism and portable electronic device using same
A protective cover mechanism for an interface opening of a portable electronic device includes a protective cover and a sliding member. The protective cover includes a cover body for covering the interface opening, and a shaft projecting from the cover body. The sliding member is engaged with the shaft of the protective cover so the cover body is rotatable relative to the sliding member to selectively cover or expose the interface opening.
US07988464B2 Beam clamp
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a clamp for securing a grounding connector to a structural member. The clamp includes a clamp body having a top section, a bottom section, and a side section, which define an opening for receiving the structural member. The top section includes a plurality of mounting sections separated by at least one slot. Each of the mounting sections includes a mounting hole for receiving a mounting fastener to secure the clamp to the structural member.
US07988459B2 Unified retention mechanism for CPU/socket loading and thermal solution attach
An apparatus for removably retaining an IC package in engagement with a socket such that the contacts of both the IC package and the socket are properly engaged is disclosed. Specifically, a universal retention mechanism (URM) which may be fabricated in a diecast material, may comprise a retention frame to engage a socket. A load plate hinged to the retention frame may be caused to press the socket and IC package together through force selectively applied through the use of a load lever. In addition, the frame may contain features to attach a thermal solution (e.g. a heat sink or other cooling device) directly to the frame thus eliminating the need to attach it directly to a motherboard or through a backplate.
US07988456B2 Orthogonal connector system
An orthogonal connector system for connecting a first circuit board and a second circuit board oriented orthogonally with respect to the first circuit board includes a receptacle assembly and a header assembly mated with the receptacle assembly. The receptacle assembly is connected to the first circuit board and the header assembly is connected to the second circuit board. The receptacle assembly and the header assembly both have a housing and contact modules held within the corresponding housing. The contact modules have contact tails extending from a mounting edge thereof, where the contact tails of the receptacle connector are connected to the first circuit board and the contact tails of the header assembly are connected to the second circuit board. The contact modules have mating contacts extending from a mating edge thereof, where the mating edges are generally orthogonal with respect to the mounting edges. The mating contacts of the receptacle assembly are directly connected to the mating contacts of the header assembly. The mounting edge of the receptacle assembly is generally orthogonal with respect to the mounting edge of the header assembly.
US07988455B2 Co-axial plug-in-insertion connector having a coding housing
The invention relates to a co-axial plug-in-insertion connector which has a center conductor part, an outer conductor part, and an insulating part made of a dielectric material which holds the center conductor part co-axial to the outer conductor part, a coding housing being provided in which the outer conductor part and the center conductor part are arranged, the co-axial plug-in-insertion connector having an insertion end for connection to a complementary co-axial plug-in-insertion connector. Provision is made for the insulating part to be of a one-piece form with the housing.
US07988454B1 Card connector assembly for portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a main body and a card connector assembly mounted inside of the main body. The card connector assembly includes a base including a protrusion and a protrusion plate, a cover, and a movable plate. The protrusion includes a plurality of contacts. The protrusion plate includes an electromagnet. The cover is rotatably connected to the base, and includes a retaining member for retaining an electronic card. The movable plate is slidably connected to the protrusion plate, and is made of magnetic material. When in use, the cover is rotated until the electronic card contacts the contacts, the electronic device controls to power for the electromagnet, the electromagnet generates a magnetic field which drives the movable plate to slide toward the protrusion along the protrusion plate until the movable plate moves below the cover to prevent the cover from rotating in one direction.
US07988453B2 Vehicle charge inlet structure
A vehicle charge inlet structure includes a first socket; a second socket; an electric power storage charged with power supplied from a first charge facility through the first charge connector or from a second charge facility through the second charge connector; a panel opening formed in a panel member defining a vehicle surface of the vehicle; and a box-shaped accommodating member positioned correspondingly to a position of the panel opening, wherein the accommodating member comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and the first wall portion extends in parallel with the vehicle surface and is provided with the first socket while the second wall portion extends diagonally toward the vehicle surface from an end of the first wall portion and is provided with the second socket.
US07988450B2 Dental impression tray and method of using the same
A dental impression tray has a base and a relator. The base has a biting portion and a handle. The biting portion is curved. The handle is formed on the biting portion and has an arc hole that is defined through the handle to receive impression material. The relator has a vertical bar and a horizontal bar. The relator is mounted in the arc hole and is fastened in the arc hole by impression material. The horizontal bar connects perpendicularly to the vertical bar. Therefore, the impression of the teeth to be crowned or veneered as well as the relation between the impression and the patient's face are obtained simultaneously.
US07988447B2 Formed sheet heat exchanger
A formed sheet heat exchanger is provided for exchanging heat between fluids is provided. The apparatus includes flow divider sheets that are positioned in a stacked configuration and extend in a longitudinal direction so that adjacent pairs of the sheets define flow passages therebetween for receiving first and second fluids. Each of the sheets is nonuniform in the longitudinal direction, having a manifold portion and a corrugated portion. The corrugated portions of each adjacent pair of sheets define a plurality of fluid channels therebetween that are connected to the portion of the flow passage defined between the manifold portions. The fluid channels are configured to receive the first or second fluids and transfer thermal energy therebetween through the flow divider sheets.
US07988438B2 Extrusion die vacuum seals
An extrusion die configured to have an interior chamber sealed from the atmosphere is disclosed. The extrusion die includes an extrusion die head disposed at a downstream end of the interior chamber; and a vacuum seal disposed at an upstream end of the interior chamber; wherein the vacuum seal is configured to selectively form a seal between the extrusion die and a product disposed in the interior chamber. The vacuum seal includes an annular sealing surface disposed at an inner diameter of the vacuum seal; a hollow, interior chamber; and a plurality of bellows disposed between the annular sealing surface and the extrusion die; wherein the vacuum seal is configured to selectively form a seal between the extrusion die and a product disposed in the interior chamber. A method of selectively sealing an end of an extrusion die is also disclosed.
US07988436B2 Vane machine
A vane machine includes a housing with a inlet port and an outlet port, a rotor mounted in a cavity of the housing. The rotor has a faceplate and a guide cylinder mounted eccentrically on an end surface of the housing opposite to the faceplate. The guide cylinder is rotatable and provided with a diametrical face groove open from a side of the faceplate, and one or more working vanes mounted on the faceplate such that the faceplate is rotatable and movable in the grooves of the guide cylinder as the faceplate rotates. The diameter of the guide cylinder 7 is D>4a−L, where e is the eccentricity of the axis of the guide cylinder and the length of the working vane is L≦4e×sin 90°/N, where N is the number of working vanes.
US07988433B2 Compressor having capacity modulation assembly
A compressor may include a shell assembly defining suction and discharge pressure regions, first and second scroll members disposed within the shell assembly, and a capacity modulation assembly. The first scroll member may include a first end plate defining a discharge passage, a biasing passage, a modulation port, a first spiral wrap extending from a first side of the first end plate, and an annular hub extending from a second side of the first end plate. The second scroll member may include a second spiral wrap meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap forming a suction pocket in communication with the suction pressure region, intermediate compression pockets, and a discharge pocket in communication with the discharge passage. A first intermediate compression pocket may be in communication with the biasing passage and a second intermediate compression pocket may be in communication with the modulation port.
US07988431B2 Capacity-variable rotary compressor
A variable capacity rotary compressor is provided, in which a vane may be restricted by a pressure difference generated between both side surfaces of the vane when the compressor performs in a saving driving mode. The vane may be restricted quickly and stably by rapidly decreasing a pressure of a vane chamber by leaking a discharge pressure of the vane chamber to an inlet via a low pressure passage and thereby increasing a pressurizing force applied to a side surface of the vane relatively greater than a supporting force applied to a rear surface thereof. In this way, the vane may be prevented from being vibrated due to a weak restriction force of the vane when a power driving mode of the compressor is switched into the saving driving mode, which prevents noise from increasing due to design conditions, thereby enhancing a comfort feeling of a user.
US07988429B2 Chemical liquid supply system
A chemical liquid supply system that prevents the generation of heat during operation in a pump and allows downsizing the discharge pump for instilling a chemical liquid from a tip nozzle. Compressed air is supplied to an upper space of a resist bottle and the chemical liquid is conferred positive pressure and sent out to a pump chamber of a discharge pump, thereby the pump chamber is filled with a resist liquid. This eliminates the need of a conventional construction where a spring or others are used to drive a flexible membrane of the discharge pump to the operation chamber side to take in the resist liquid. As a result, no electric motor is used, so there is obviously no risk of heat damage to a semiconductor wafer and the discharge pump itself can be further downsized.
US07988428B1 Axial piston machine
A pressure pump in a primary liquid flow is combined with a pressure exchanger for energy recovery from a secondary liquid flow. A motor-driven rotor portion, including two (primary and secondary) rotatable drum-type cylinder assemblies, is disposed between end blocks configured with input/output ports and cavities forming sliding synchronous reversing valves. Interconnected piston assemblies, including at least one primary piston and one secondary piston, are reciprocated axially by a central angled swash-plate in a progressive sequential manner by rotation of the rotor portion. The combination machine can be optimized for beneficial deployment in a reverse osmosis seawater desalination system to provide unusual simplicity, high efficiency energy recovery from the brine discharge flow and low overall operating cost.
US07988427B2 Compressor muffler
A compressor has first (26) and second (28; 30) enmeshed rotors rotating about first (500) and second (502; 504) axes to pump refrigerant to a discharge plenum (42). The compressor includes a muffler system (200) comprising a sound absorbing first element (232) and a sound absorbing second element (236). The second element at least partially surrounds the first element and defines a generally annular flow path portion (230) between the first element and the second element. A wall (250) at least partially surrounds the second element. A space (259) optionally containing a sound absorbing third element (261) surrounds the wall.
US07988423B2 Wind turbine blade
The invention relates to a wind turbine blade having at least one component formed of a fibrous composite material including two or more different types of carbon fibres having a different elastic modulus to each other. The proportions of the different types of fibres vary in the longitudinal direction of the blade such that the elastic modulus of the fibrous composite material increases towards the tip end of the blade. The two or more different types of carbon fibres may be incorporated in an inner beam and/or in the outer shell portions of the blade.
US07988422B2 Wind turbine blades with improved bond line
A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member defining an internal cavity therebetween. The shell members are joined with a bond paste along bond lines at the leading edge and trailing edge of the blade. A seal member is disposed between the upper and lower shell members at a designed width of the bond line along at least one of the trailing or leading edges. The seal member has a configuration such that excess flowable bond paste is prevented from migrating past the seal member and into the internal cavity upon mating the upper and lower shell members in assembly of the blade.
US07988411B2 Flow machine for a fluid with a radial sealing gap
A flow machine for a fluid is presented with a radial sealing gap (9) between stator parts (4) and a rotor (3), wherein at least one wear ring (5) is provided at the sealing gap and is fastened to a stator part (4) via an elastically deformable fastening part. The fastening part (6) is connected on the one side to the stator part (4). On this side a radial gap (8) is formed between an outer jacket surface of the wear ring and the fastening part and, on the other side, with the wear ring. On this side a radial gap (7) is formed between an outer jacket surface of the fastening part and the stator part.
US07988408B2 Two-piece bearing housing for a centrifugal pump
A two-piece bearing housing is provided for use in centrifugal pumps having or requiring multiple chambers for enclosing or confining bearings or seals, and/or providing lubricant or coolant to the bearings and seals of the pump, the two-piece housing providing several improvements including the ability to make the two pieces from different materials, the reduction in scrap castings due to imprecision achieved in the casting process and improved structures in the housing for monitoring the lubricant chambers in the housing.
US07988405B2 Pallet jack system and method for the transportation of stackable packaged goods pallets
A pallet jack is disclosed that comprises a left tine, center tine, and a right tine. The center tine is about 2 times the width of each of the left and right tines, though other widths of the center tine can also be implemented. Because the center tine is about twice the width of the left and right tines, two pallets, side-by-side, can be carried simultaneously with only three tines. According to another embodiment of the pallet jack, a portion of the center tine (a right-most portion) and the right tine can have raised areas that enable an operator of the pallet jack to lift a right pallet that sits on the raised areas higher than the left pallet. The left pallet sits on the left tine and center tine without the raised areas (at a lower height). Thus, the operator of the pallet jack can place the left pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the right pallet, or without lowering the right pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface). Alternatively, the raised areas can be located on the left tine and the left-most portion of the center tine, in which case, the operator of the pallet jack can place the right pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the left pallet, or without lowering the left pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface).
US07988403B2 Bulk materials cart having dual unload capability
The bulk materials cart has a dual unload system including at least two inclined belt conveyors bounding an enclosed cavity. A first belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials from the cavity to an unloading conveyor extendable from that side of the cart. A second belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials upwardly and over another side of the cart. The dual unload system is automatically operable in a first mode operating the first belt conveyor and the unloading conveyor for conveying the bulk materials away from the cart, and in a second mode operating the second belt conveyor for conveying the bulk materials over the side of the cart.
US07988398B2 Linear substrate transport apparatus
Substrate processing apparatus having a chamber, a generally linear array of process modules, a substrate transport, and a drive system. The chamber is capable of being isolated from the outside atmosphere. Each process module of the array is communicably connected to the chamber to allow a substrate to be transferred between the chamber and process module. The substrate transport is located in and is movably supported from the chamber. The transport is capable of moving along a linear path defined by the chamber for transporting the substrate between process modules. The drive system is connected to the chamber for driving and moving the transport along the linear path. The chamber comprises a selectable number of chamber modules serially abutted to defined the chamber. Each module has an integral portion of the drive system.
US07988392B2 Tonneau or cargo cover support system and method
A cargo support and storage system for use in a vehicle and method is provided and includes a first stabilizing element having a primary end and a secondary end. The primary end of the first stabilizing element is extendible from a first sidewall to a second sidewall of the vehicle. A second stabilizing element can include a primary end and a secondary end, the primary end of the second stabilizing element being extendible from the first sidewall to the second sidewall of the vehicle. The first and second stabilizing elements are spaced away from and substantially parallel to each other, and can be formed as belts. When in use, the first and second stabilizing elements can be maintained in tension, but can be removed or retracted when not in use so that they do not take up space in the cargo area of the vehicle. A storage box can be provided and tailored to include extension that mate with the stabilizing elements such that the box can be hung in the cargo area. The cargo support and storage system according to the disclosed subject matter provides for a lower cost, lower weight and space efficient solution to cargo storage needs in a vehicle.
US07988385B2 Ram style tensioner with fixed conductor and floating frame
A riser tensioner for an offshore floating platform has a frame stationarily mounted to the upper portion of the riser. Pistons and cylinders are spaced circumferentially around the riser and connected between the frame and the floating platform. A tubular guide member is mounted to the floating platform for movement in unison in response to waves and currents. The riser extends through the guide member. A guide roller support is mounted to and extends downward from the frame around the guide member. At least one set of guide rollers is mounted to the guide roller support in rolling engagement with the guide member as the guide member moves in unison with the platform.
US07988383B2 Transport attachment of a vibration plate
A transport attachment of a vibration plate and a vibration plate having transport wheels is provided. The transport wheels are pivotable between a transport position and an operating position, and are located further outward in the viewpoint of the vibration plate in the width direction in the transport position than in the state of the operating position.
US07988382B2 Artificial flagstone for providing a surface with a natural random look
An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of generally congruent irregularly-shaped first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle α of approximately 120°; a second pair of generally congruent irregularly shaped third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle β of approximately 120°; a third pair of generally congruent irregularly shaped fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle ω of approximately 120°; wherein the sides of each of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, whereby in use in combination with other flagstones, each one of the sides is matingly engageable with the sides of an equivalent pair of sides of a neighboring flagstone.
US07988377B2 Lotion dispenser with two compartments
A dispensing device includes inner and outer compartments for housing two different cosmetic liquid materials therein, the outer compartment secured to a cap by threading; a spring biased valve for blocking both openings of the inner and outer compartments when the device is in an inoperative position; and an outlet assembly partially fastened in the valve. An individual may unfasten and remove the cap from the device to unblock the valve, and squeeze both the outer and the inner compartments to push the cosmetic liquid materials to mix in the outlet assembly prior to dispensing out of the device.
US07988376B2 Fluid applicators and methods of making same
A fluid application device comprising a holder; a tube connected to the holder; and a porous fluid applicator contained within the holder wherein the holder contacts at least a portion of a bottom surface of the porous fluid applicator. The device allows the dispensing of fluid onto a target area without contacting a non-target area.
US07988371B2 Camera module
A camera module includes a mount for holding a lens directly or indirectly, a cover plate glass with transparency fixed to the mount. A solid-state imaging device is mounted on the cover plate glass. The cover plate contacts a plurality of ribs formed in the mount, and the mount and the cover plate are positioned.
US07988370B2 Camera with electroactive telescopic shutter module
A camera includes a lens module, an image sensor, and a shutter module. The centers of the image sensor and the shutter module are on an optical axis of the lens module. The shutter module includes a frame and an electroactive telescopic unit having a first electroactive polymer layer, two compliant electrode layers, and two second electroactive polymer layers. The center of the electroactive telescopic unit has a through hole through the first electroactive polymer layer, the two compliant electrode layers, and the two second electroactive polymer layers. A central axis of the through hole and the optic axis of the lens module are coaxial. The electroactive telescopic unit is contractible or expandable along a direction perpendicularly to the optic axis of the lens module in response to a change in a voltage applied between the two compliant electrode layers.
US07988367B2 Protective cover for field-installable connector
A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.
US07988359B1 Closeable food bag
The bag has a back panel, a front panel, an upper panel having an upper panel body and a flap and a floor panel. The back panel has a handle opening near the top of the panel. The front panel is shorter than the back panel and is connected to the back panel at the sides of the panel. The upper panel body is sealed to the back panel below the back panel handle, below the upper panel handle and above the flap fold line to form a bag top. The heat sealing desirably forms a seal strip that extends across the width of the bag below the handles and above the flap fold line to connect the upper panel body to the back panel. The top of the bag folds back away from the bag central opening so the handles are not soiled during loading.
US07988358B2 X-ray fluoroscopic apparatus
The X-ray fluoroscopic apparatus of this invention includes a slide arm for supporting an X-ray tube, a middle slider for holding the support arm to be movable in directions along an irradiation axis of the X-ray source, and a strut for holding the middle slider to be movable the directions along the irradiation axis. Thus, compared with an amount of stroke of the X-ray tube, an amount of movement of each of the middle slider and the support arm can be small, and each of the strut, middle slider and support arm can be shortened to reduce apparatus height. Therefore, the amount of stroke of the X-ray source can be secured appropriately, while inhibiting an increase in installation space.
US07988357B2 X-ray system
An x-ray system is provided. The x-ray system includes an x-ray emitter which can be adjusted by at least one arm as a first x-ray component and a recording system which can be adjusted independently of the at least one arm. The recording system may be adjusted by at least one additional arm as the further x-ray component. The two arms can be pivotably mounted about a common axis of rotation.
US07988353B2 Electric thermometer
An electronic thermometer includes a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of a part to be measured, a prediction means fro predicting an equilibrium temperature by using the temperature being sensed, and a temperature display means having a temperature display unit. The temperature display means switches the display of the temperature display unit from the predicted temperature predicted by the prediction means to the actual measured temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means, based on a variation state of a peak of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means. Accordingly, a variation in displayed temperature is reduced, when the display switching is performed from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature, and a determination of the display switching from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature can be achieved by a simple circuit.
US07988352B2 Probe structure
The present invention discloses an improved probe structure, which is installed in the body of an infrared clinical thermometer and comprises a plastic hollow casing having an opening; a curved block annularly arranged inside the opening; a hollow sleeve arranged inside the casing and along the perimeter of the opening; a temperature sensor arranged inside sleeve and below the curved block; a support element arranged inside the sleeve and supporting the temperature sensor; and a thermal insulation ring encircling the temperature sensor and pressing against the inner wall of the sleeve. The thermal insulation ring has an outer diameter larger than a width of the temperature sensor, and an air gap is thus formed between the temperature sensor and the inner wall of the sleeve; the top of the thermal insulation ring has an altitude higher than the top of the temperature sensor, and another air gap is thus formed between the temperature sensor and the curved block. Thereby is effectively retarded heat conduction from the external to the temperature sensor.
US07988349B2 Device and method for displaying objects
A device for displaying an item, wherein the item being displayed can be selectively changed. The device includes an annular body with an inside circumferential surface having an associated mounting arrangement including a shoulder, a groove and a snap ring. A changeable item for display is generally received in the annular body and held in place between the shoulder and the groove by positioning the snap ring into the groove. In some embodiments, the annular body may be adapted to be carried and used on a strap or band, generally in the manner a wristwatch is carried and used. In other embodiments, the annular body may be free-standing or adapted to be supported by a suitable support. The present invention may further include a cover hingedly attached to the annular body. In some embodiments, the cover may have generally similar characteristics as the annular body, it may interchangeably display other selected items, and/or it may include or display a watch face.
US07988344B2 Cycling computer with detachable lighting apparatus for bicycle or other vehicle
A lighting apparatus useable with a bicycle or other manually operated vehicle includes first and second housings, as well as a connection mechanism by which the first and second housings are attachable to and detachable from each other. A central processing unit and at least one power source are receivable within the first housing, while the second housing includes a light emitting element that is adjustable to multiple angular positions relative to the first housing to provide illumination at different emission angles. The second housing constitutes one of a plurality of second housings that are interchangeable to provide for varied lighting conditions. The connection mechanism allows relative pivotal movement between the first and second housings and permits electrical communication between the light emitting element and the power source when the first and second housings are attached to each other.
US07988343B2 Easy-glide offshore ready light tower system
An easy-glide portable light tower system having a transport enclosure for fully recessing and confining the system therein. The system includes a telescopic mast that is constructed to be stowed in a vertically upright position. The telescoping sections of the mast include frictionless pads to create frictionless surfaces between two adjacent and concentric telescoping sections or the mast base. The transport enclosure also includes stabilizing channels to stabilize arms supporting the lights.
US07988340B2 Prism sheet and backlight module
A prism sheet including a transparent substrate, a plurality of prism rods and at least one optical grating structure is provided. The transparent substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The prism rods are disposed on the first surface, wherein each of the prism rods extends along a first direction, and the prism rods are arranged along a second direction. The optical grating structure is disposed on the first surface and located between two adjacent ones of the prism rods, wherein the optical grating structure extends along the first direction. In addition, a backlight module using the above-mentioned prism sheet is also provided.
US07988337B2 Light source assembly
A light source assembly includes a light guide unit and a light emitting unit. The light guide unit includes a hollow enclosure and a lens unit enclosed in the enclosure. The enclosure has a top portion, a bottom portion and a sidewall connected between the bottom portion and the top portion. Protrusions extend from an outer surface of the sidewall and coil the sidewall. A light incident surface is positioned on the bottom portion. The lens unit extends from the bottom portion towards the top portion and has a inverted-frustoconical-shaped light guide portion. A inverted-conical-shaped groove is defined in a topmost portion of the light guide portion. A reflective surface is positioned on an inner wall of the groove. A refractive surface is positioned on an outer surface of the light guide portion and intersects the reflective surface. The light emitting unit is positioned adjacent to the light incident surface.
US07988331B2 LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a lamp cover, a plurality of brackets received in the lamp cover and interconnecting each other, a plurality of LED modules thermally attached to inner surfaces of the brackets and a plurality of light-guiding covers covering the LED modules, respectively. The brackets have different sizes and are coaxially positioned wherein a larger bracket encloses a smaller bracket. The LED modules are inclined relative to a bottom of the lamp cover and light emitted by the LED modules respectively travels through the light-guiding covers to generate a wide illumination area through the bottom of the brackets.
US07988330B2 LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a plurality of barrel-type holders and a plurality of LED modules mounted on an outer surface of each of the barrel-type holders. Each of the barrel-type holders has a small opening end and a large opening end opposite to the small opening end. The barrel-type holders are coaxial with each other, with a larger barrel-type holder enclosing a smaller barrel-type holder. The small opening ends of the barrel-type holders face downwardly, while the large opening ends face upwardly.
US07988326B2 Elective lighting fixture visors to reduce off-target glare and spill light
A method, apparatus and system for illuminating a large area with plural high power lighting fixtures. The method includes identifying fixtures having a likelihood of affecting playability or glare or spill light relative to a point of view on or off the large area. The method includes steps to identify such fixtures for the purpose of adding a component which improves lighting or decreases glare or spill light for the point of view. A further method does so for multiple points of view relative to the large area, whether on or off the large area. One component is a long visor that would be added only to identify fixtures.
US07988312B2 Light source apparatus with reflector gas-blasting structure
A light source apparatus having a housing including a mercury xenon lamp 3, a reflecting mirror 4, and a gas-blasting structure 5 including a plurality of spray ports for blasting an inert gas onto a reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror. The gas-blasting structure is positioned around an exit aperture of the reflecting mirror, and includes a supply port for receiving the inert gas from the outside. The spray ports are arranged to be off a line along a direction of the gas introduced through the supply port.
US07988309B2 Corner cube member illumination device and inspection system having the same
An illumination device has a light source that supplies illumination light to an object to be illuminated and also has a corner cube member disposed at the opposite side of the light source with respect to the object to be illuminated. With this feature, efficient illumination of the object to be illuminated is achieved without need for high precision in positioning.
US07988304B2 Video projector
A video projector includes a laser projection unit that has linear-polarization short-wavelength laser light sources and emits laser lights from the laser light sources, a lens system that collects the laser lights from the laser projection unit, a liquid crystal cell that spatially modulates the collected laser lights, a camera shake correcting optical system that is capable of translating vertically and horizontally on a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the laser projection unit, a prism that transmits the laser lights from the liquid crystal cell and branches the light reflected by the screen, and a camera device that can observe or capture the video image that is branched by the prism. The present invention provides a video projector that can prevent the camera shake and can be held in hands.
US07988299B2 Handy image projection apparatus
A handy image projection apparatus includes a main body containing a projection optical unit configured to project an image from its front part, with the main body having a gravity center, and an operation member provided on an outer face of the main body. The operation member is operated by a user's hand holding the main body when the image is being projected. When the apparatus is viewed from a first direction facing the outer face, at least part of the operation member is disposed in a front-rear direction of the apparatus, at one of a first position corresponding to the gravity center of the main body and a second position located at a distance within ⅓ of a length from the gravity center to the front part of the main body in the front-rear direction.
US07988298B2 Projector having a shifted or rotated optical axis
A projector includes a lighting optical system for emitting a lighting beam, a color separation/light guiding optical system for separating the lighting beam from the lighting optical system into optical paths for three colored light beams, a light modulation device provided for each of the colored light beams and for modulating the light beam, which is separated and guided to the optical path for each of the colored light beams by the color separation/light guiding optical system, in accordance with image information, a light beam combining optical system for combining the colored light beams each modulated by the light modulation device for each of the colored light beams, and a projection optical system for projecting the light beams output via the light beam combining optical system.
US07988296B2 Apparatus for projecting two-dimensional images as pairs of pseudo-stereoscopic images
An apparatus for creating two identical images with matching geometry and luminosity from a single two-dimensional image or series of moving images whereby they may be projected simultaneously or sequentially along two axis at substantially equal focal distance from the projection screen by a single film or digital projector as a pseudo-stereoscopic pair of images.
US07988294B2 Tear film measurement
The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer. In order to facilitate ease of measurement, the patient's head may be positioned on an observation platform when the illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of the patient's eye.
US07988289B2 Ophthalmic lenses useful for the correction of presbyopia which incorporate high order aberration correction
The invention provides methods for designing ophthalmic lenses, and lenses produced by this method, which lenses corrects both low order and high order wavefront aberrations of the lens wearer's eyes.
US07988283B2 Eyeglasses with detachable adjustable electronics module
A detachable adjustable electronics module may be removably or permanently connected to eyewear. The module may include electronics for processing audio and/or video signals. The module may be provided with an adjustable arm, for adjustably carrying a speaker. The module and/or the speaker may be adjusted relative to the wearer in any of the anterior-posterior direction, the inferior-superior direction and laterally. Rotation adjustments may also be accomplished. Eyewear may be provided with only a single module, on a single side, or with two modules, one on each side, such as to provide stereo audio or dual mono sound.
US07988279B2 Ink-discharging apparatus and image-recording method using the same
An ink-discharging apparatus includes a discharge head discharging an ink, of which viscosity is increased by being irradiated with a predetermined energy ray, from a nozzle onto a recording medium; a first light source radiating the predetermined energy ray; and an irradiation mechanism which irradiates an energy ray for increasing the viscosity of the ink to the nozzle. When the energy ray is irradiated to the ink remaining in the nozzle, the viscosity on the surface of the ink is increased to thereby form a film which covers or closes the nozzle. As a result, it is possible, with the film, to prevent the ink located inside the film from leaking out from the nozzle even when any shock is imparted to the body of the apparatus. Further, it is possible, with the film, to prevent the viscosity of the ink, located inside the film, from further increasing.
US07988275B2 Inkjet head
An inkjet head, comprises an ink jetting chamber unit in which a plurality of ink jetting chambers to jet ink from respective nozzles is arranged along at least one array; a manifold to distribute ink to the plurality of ink jetting chambers; a first ink flow path to supply ink from the outside to the manifold; an air chamber structured to form an air-liquid interface at which air contacts with ink in the air chamber; and a second ink flow path branched from the first ink flow path and connected to the air chamber.
US07988274B2 Ink consumption determination
An ink jet printer includes an ink feed apparatus. The ink feed apparatus includes an ink feed channel for conducting discrete substantially solid ink sticks along a feed channel path, a plurality of ink sticks in the ink feed channel, each of the ink sticks comprising an ink stick body having an ink stick sensing feature on an external surface of the ink stick body that is located between a first end and a second end of the ink stick body, and each of the ink stick bodies has substantially the same mass as the other ink stick bodies in the plurality, a detector positioned at a fixed position proximate the ink feed channel and configured to be triggered by an ink stick sensing feature on an ink stick in the ink feed channel as the ink stick moves along the ink feed path past the detector, and a counter configured to accumulate the number of times the detector is triggered.
US07988273B2 Droplet discharge apparatus
A droplet discharge apparatus includes a droplet discharge head which discharges droplets; a liquid retention unit which is configured such that a liquid surface of a liquid retained in the liquid retention unit is located below the droplet discharge head, the liquid retention unit including an atmosphere open port; a liquid channel which couples the droplet discharge head and the liquid retention unit; a liquid tank in which the liquid is retained, the liquid tank being sealed; a liquid inflow channel which couples the liquid retention unit and the liquid tank, an inflow port of the liquid inflow channel in the liquid retention unit being located below the atmosphere open port; a liquid sending channel which couples the liquid tank and the droplet discharge head; and a pump which sending the liquid in the liquid tank to the droplet discharge head.
US07988272B2 Image recording apparatus and inkjet apparatus for double-side recording
The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.
US07988270B2 Inkjet printer
An inkjet printer including a printhead unit. The printhead unit includes a printhead for ejecting ink onto a sheet and a plurality of sub-tanks for supplying the ink to the printhead. The printhead unit is configured to reciprocate in a main scanning direction that is perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. The plurality of sub-tanks is arranged such that two of the plurality of sub-tanks are adjacent to each other. The adjacent two sub-tanks overlap with each other, at least partially, both as seen in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction and as seen in a direction parallel to the sheet conveying direction.
US07988269B2 Liquid droplet ejecting device
The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.
US07988263B2 Liquid droplet ejection head, liquid droplet ejection device, and image forming apparatus
A liquid droplet ejection head having: a vibrating plate at which is formed a piezoelectric element which deforms when voltage is applied; a wiring board disposed above the piezoelectric element, an electric wire for deforming the piezoelectric element being disposed at the wiring board; a liquid storage chamber provided at a side opposite to the piezoelectric element, with the wiring board sandwiched therebetween; a pressure chamber provided at a side opposite to the wiring board, with the vibrating plate sandwiched therebetween; an ejection opening that ejects liquid droplets from the pressure chamber; a liquid supply opening that supplies liquid within the liquid storage chamber to the pressure chamber; and an electrical connection portion that passes through the wiring board and electrically connects the piezoelectric element and the electric wire through the liquid supply opening, is provided.
US07988260B2 Recording element substrate and recording head including recording element substrate
A recording element substrate includes a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements, a drive circuit configured to drive the recording elements, and a heater located to surround the recording element array as viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording element substrate and located above or below a capacitive element or a resistive element included in the drive circuit as viewed on a cross section of the recording element substrate.
US07988255B2 Full function maintenance station
An apparatus and method of operating a maintenance station in a printer are provided. The method includes providing a feed roller shaft including an end, the feed roller shaft being connected to a motor; providing a maintenance station disposed near the end of the feed roller shaft, the maintenance station comprising a first pinion; a second pinion; and a maintenance sled including a rack with the rack including teeth positioned along a length dimension of the rack to provide a travel path for the maintenance sled; and using the motor that is connected to the feed roller shaft to cause the maintenance sled to travel back and forth along the travel path by separately engaging the first and second pinions, respectively, with the rack teeth.
US07988254B2 Image recording apparatus and inkjet apparatus for double-side recording
The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.
US07988253B2 Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which can inhibit degradation of image quality resulting from ink drying unevenness regardless of the type of ink and the amount of ejected ink. To accomplish the object, the present invention determines, based on print data, drying characteristics of ink applied by a print head to a predetermined time control area in an image forming area to be formed on a print medium. Based on the result of the determination, a wait time is controlled which is set between a preceding scan and a succeeding scan in a plurality of scans performed within the wait time control area.
US07988250B2 Continuous printing using temperature lowering pulses
A printer includes a printhead and a source of liquid. The printhead includes a nozzle bore. The liquid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the liquid through the nozzle bore. The liquid has a temperature. A thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle bore. The thermal modulator is operable to transiently lower the temperature of the liquid as the liquid is ejected through the nozzle bore. An electrical pulse source is in electrical communication with the thermal modulator. The electrical pulse source is operable to provide a series of pulses to the thermal modulator that control the transient temperature lowering of the liquid. The series of pulses includes a first pulse applied at a first power level for transferring heat to the liquid, a second pulse applied at a second power level for transferring heat to the liquid, and a third pulse applied at a third power level for transferring heat to the liquid. The third power level is in between the first power level and the second power level.
US07988248B2 Print engine for rotated ejection nozzle correction
A print engine is provided having printhead modules and a controller. Each printhead module has a plurality of ejection nozzles. The nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules is rotationally displaced relative to the other printhead modules. The controller communicates ejection data to the ejection nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module, including printhead modules having non-rotationally displaced nozzles, to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.
US07988245B2 Clothing and textile system
A storage system for supporting clothing, textiles, or other delicate articles includes a pair of rails and a tray. The tray includes a frame and an inert liner located in the frame. Further, the frame includes guides for sliding engagement with the rails. Optionally, the rails permit unrestricted sliding movement of the tray so that the tray can be moved in opposed directions and removed or inserted from either side of the storage system.
US07988244B2 Modular merchandise pod
A modular merchandise pod includes a generally elongated merchandise pod base having first and second ends, a rack assembly carried by the merchandise pod base and disposed generally midway between the first and second ends and a rack assembly top panel carried by the rack assembly.
US07988243B2 Brake controller
A brake controller is provided that includes a braking force application mechanism that presses a friction member against a braked member so as to apply a braking force to a wheel of a vehicle; and a control unit. The control unit calculates an index, which indicates a difference between an expected braking effectiveness and an actual braking effectiveness, corrects a target value, which is set to control a pressing force of the friction member, in accordance with the index to reduce a variation in a braking effectiveness of the vehicle. The control unit further sets a variation range in accordance with a factor that causes the difference. The variation range limits a variation in a correction amount to correct the target value.
US07988238B2 Toothbrush and process for producing such a toothbrush
The invention relates to a toothbrush having a handle and a head part, on which bristle filaments and at least one flexible cleaning element are arranged. The at least one flexible cleaning element is arranged on a carrier element, which consists of a hard material, and is connected to the head part. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
US07988237B2 Chair providing ballistic defense shield
A protective chair having a base with a support platform having supporting legs extending therefrom to hold the platform and an engaged seat cushion elevated from a support surface. A seatback, and seat cushion and secondary cushions extending away from the seat cushion are engaged to the base. Each of the seatback, seat cushion and extending cushions have one or a plurality of bullet resistant layers which provide a ballistic shield for a user who picks up the chair and holds it in an as-used position, in-between the user and an assailant. A viewing slit positioned between the extending cushions and the seat cushion allows the user to view a potential assailant on the other side. Elongated members extending away from the seat cushion, on the side of the chair opposite the user, may be employed to attack the assailant.
US07988234B2 Headrest for vehicle
The present invention discloses a headrest for a vehicle which is constructed in such a way that a headrest body 100 of the headrest 1 can be folded by releasing the locking state with a fixed member 70 fixed on the horizontal frame portion 12 of the mounting frame 10 using a catch 60 that is rotated in an interlocking state with rotation of a lever 50.
US07988233B2 Seat reclining device
In a seat reclining device, a spiral spring includes an inner end portion engaged with the cam, an outer end portion engaged with the lower arm, and a wound portion formed by winding and provided between the inner end portion and the outer end portion. The outer end portion of the spiral spring includes a straight line portion extending consecutively from the wound portion and an accommodating portion includes a guide recessed portion accommodating the straight line portion therein and being in contact with the inner peripheral side surface of the straight line portion and being in contact with the outer peripheral side surface of the straight line portion at a further outer end than the contact point with the inner peripheral side surface.
US07988232B2 Vehicle seat, particularly commercial vehicle seat
A vehicle seat (1) is disclosed, particularly a commercial vehicle seat, with a seat base (3) which is designed as a scissors-type stand and is provided with intersecting rockers (15) and at least one frame (11, 13) that movably guides at least one of the rockers (15) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle seat (1) by a bearing mechanism (21). The bearing mechanism (21) features at least one compensating element that rests against a first guide (33), at least some sections of which are inclined at an angle (a) relative to the transversal direction (y) of the vehicle seat (1), and can be moved along the first guide (33) in the longitudinal direction (x). The bearing mechanism (21) further features at least one rotatably mounted wheel (23) which is supported on a second guide (35) and can be rolled along the second guide (35) in the longitudinal direction (x). A slider (31) which can be displaced along the first guide (33) is used as a compensating element.
US07988228B2 Foldable frame with detachable infant carrier capable of reclining the infant carrier
A foldable frame comprises a front leg frame and a rear leg frame, each having one or more leg units foldable or detachable with one another. The front leg frame and the rear leg frame are rotatable with each other such that the foldable frame can be folded to a small size. The foldable frame also utilizes a receiving frame pivotally or steadily configured on the frame body for receiving the detachable infant carrier. A recliner apparatus is further configured between the receiving frame and the frame body for adjusting the receiving frame together with the infant carrier to different reclining angle for convenient use.
US07988224B2 Cowl cover assembly for a motor vehicle
A cowl cover assembly for a vehicle includes a first fender and a cowl cover having a first lateral end and a second lateral end. A first coupling structure disposed on the first lateral end of the cowl cover. The first coupling structure has a groove that is engageable with the first fender for rigidly connecting the cowl cover to the first fender.
US07988216B2 Holding apparatus
A holding apparatus for holding a semiconductor wafer comprises a pneumatic cylinder, a plunger movably connected to the pneumatic cylinder, an inlet pipe connected to the pneumatic cylinder, and a relief valve connected to the inlet pipe. Clean dry air is pumped into the pneumatic cylinder through the inlet pipe to impel the plunger in a first direction to contact the wafer. A part of the air in the inlet pipe is discharged through the relief valve to regulate air pressure to the pneumatic cylinder.
US07988215B2 Surgical robotic system
A surgical robotic system includes a robotic arm, an end effector movably connected thereto and provided with a movable end effector element driven by an actuator, and a force sensor arranged between the robotic arm and the end effector. The actuator is formed by a hydraulic cylinder. The robotic arm is provided with a hydraulic line connected to said hydraulic cylinder of the end effector.
US07988214B2 Cargo spreader bar
The cargo spreader bar (100) is a rectangular frame with longitudinal sides (120) that are longer than the lateral sides (118e). Hooks (102) are attached to the frame along the longitudinal sides (120). The hooks (102) hold cargo hoisting chains (CH) and include actuator (206) controlled, pivoting safety locks (208) that close to secure the chains (CH) to the hooks (102). A tubular chain lifter (104) pivotally mounted to the frame extends along one of the longitudinal frame members (120). A second chain lifter (104) extends along the remaining longitudinal frame member (120). Inside sections of the tubular chain lifters (104) are pivotally coupled to a chain lifter actuator (400). When safety locks (208) are disengaged, an actuator arm (401) can be commanded to pivot the outside sections of the lifters (104) to swing upward to release the chains (CH) from the hooks (102).
US07988213B2 Carrying handle for bottle
A carrying device for bottle has a pair of hinged arms, one of which has a collar formed on it for receiving a beverage bottle neck, and the other of which has a pinch cam which engages the neck of the bottle, locking it within the collar, when the arms are squeezed together.
US07988212B2 Vehicle mounting and alignment bracket
A bracket for attaching and aligning a forward-looking radar (FLR) having a front face is disclosed according to one embodiment. The bracket includes a bracket frame having an attachment feature for attaching the FLR to the bracket frame. The bracket also includes a first mounting feature extending from the bracket frame for coupling the bracket face and the first mounting surface of the conveyance to define a first mounting surface angle. The bracket also includes a bracket member extending from the bracket frame. The bracket member includes an end portion disposed proximate to the bracket face and a distal end portion, which includes a second mounting feature for coupling the bracket member and the second mounting surface thereby defining a second mounting surface angle and aligning the FLR front face to an alignment angle.
US07988207B2 Couplings having stiffening ribs and keys with oppositely disposed camming surfaces
Mechanical pipe couplings for joining pipe elements in end to end relation have arcuate keys which engage circumferential grooves in the pipe elements and radially projecting stiffening ribs aligned with the keys. At the end of the keys on opposite sides are camming surfaces which are formed by a thinning of the key. The camming surfaces may be concave, convex, or angularly oriented surfaces and serve to guide the keys into grooves when the keys are not directly aligned with the grooves.
US07988206B2 Flareless-type pipe fitting, refrigerating device, and water-heating device
In a flareless-type pipe joint, a pressing surface, which presses a rear end portion of a ferrule in the axial direction and toward the inner periphery of the ferrule, is formed in a joint body or a coupling member in which a cam surface is not formed. The ferrule has a groove that extends radially outward from the inner periphery. By pressing the rear end portion in the axial direction and toward the inner periphery by the pressing surface, the distal portion of the ferrule is pressed against the cam surface and an edge portion of the distal portion is deformed to bite into a pipe. An edge portion of a rear end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the ferrule is deformed to bite into the pipe.
US07988195B2 Steering column assembly having rollers to reduce friction during column collapse
A steering column assembly includes a column jacket having a jacket portion and a compression bracket attached thereto. The compression bracket includes a planar wall spaced from the column portion and a sidewall extending between the planar wall and the jacket portion. The sidewall defines a telescope slot extending along a longitudinal axis. A shaft extends through the telescope slot of the sidewall. A roller is supported on and rotatable about the shaft, and in rolling engagement with the planar wall. The roller positions the shaft within the telescope slot to prevent sliding frictional engagement between the shaft and the sidewall. The rolling coefficient of friction between the roller and the planar wall is less than the sliding coefficient of friction between the shaft and the sidewall to reduce a frictional load produced during longitudinal collapse of the steering column assembly.
US07988191B2 Airbag midule
An airbag module including an airbag, an airbag covering, that defines an interior space of the airbag, that can be filled with gas for inflating the airbag, a gas generator for providing the gas needed for inflating the airbag, an insertion opening of the airbag covering, wherein the gas generator is inserted through the insertion opening into the interior space of the airbag, so that gas provided by the gas generator enters the interior space of the airbag, a boundary region of the insertion opening delimiting the insertion opening, which boundary region annularly encompasses the gas generator, and a sealing means for sealing the insertion opening. The sealing means is arranged between the boundary region and the gas generator so that the sealing means is widened by the gas provided by the gas generator and pressed against the boundary region of the insertion opening for sealing the insertion opening.
US07988190B2 Airbag deployment control using seatbelt-mounted sensor
Method and system for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle includes sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired, inflating the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash, incorporating an accelerometer in a seatbelt worn by the occupant, and adjusting the continued inflation of the airbag after contact of the airbag with the occupant based on the acceleration sensed by the accelerometer. The accelerometer may be arranged to determine movement or acceleration of the seatbelt which can be correlated to contact between the airbag and the seatbelt, i.e., based on changes in the measured acceleration of the seatbelt arising from contact of the airbag with the seatbelt.
US07988189B2 Air bag cover and air bag device
An air bag cover or air bag device that secures the escape path of an air bag in an upper part of a steering wheel. Developing lines are formed in an air bag cover. When the air bag is inflated and developed, the air bag cover is divided into an upper open portion, left open portion, right open portion, and lower open portion so as to be opened. A decorative part is formed on the left open portion, and the upper open portion is difficult to be caught on a wheel part of the steering wheel.
US07988188B2 Side airbag having hose as ventilation opening
A side airbag (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose (20) has an outlet opening (22) and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening (16) to the outlet opening (22), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose (20) comprises a first section (20a), which is situated at the height of the opening (16), and a second section (20b), which connects the first section (20a) to the outlet opening (22). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening (16) and the hose (20) is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section (20a) is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section (20b).
US07988184B2 Front passenger airbag device
A front passenger airbag device includes an airbag that deploys toward a front seat passenger, and an airbag door provided in a dashboard. The airbag door includes a central door that opens in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and lateral end doors that are provided on the lateral sides of the central door to open in the vehicle width direction due to the inflation pressure of the airbag. The inflation pressure of the airbag acts on the respective lateral end doors almost exclusively during the initial stage of the airbag deployment.
US07988182B2 Roof-side structure of vehicle
A roof-side structure includes a roof center rail which is engaged with the bottom surface of a roof panel and one end of which extends to a position of a curtain airbag, a roof rail gusset engaged between a roof side outer reinforcing panel and the one end of the roof center rail, and a side inner panel which is engaged with the roof rail gusset in a state that a curtain airbag is engaged with a front side of the one end of the roof center rail. Accordingly, since the roof rail gusset is arranged inside of the side inner panel so that it does not interfere with the curtain airbag, a layout of the curtain airbag is advantageous. Also, since it is not required to bend the roof rail gusset to connect the roof center rail and the side inner panel, in the event a broadside collision is applied to a vehicle, the roof rail gusset remains unbroken, and thus the rigidity of the roof center rail can be sufficiently reinforced.
US07988179B1 Tow bar having orthogonally-articulated towed-vehicle connectors
A tow bar having orthogonally-articulated towed-vehicle connectors includes a body element; a first connector element secured to and extending forwardly from the body element, the first connector element being structured to releasably connect the body element to a towing hitch arrangement of a towing vehicle; at least one tow bar leg having a fore end connected to the body element, and an aft end extending rearwardly from the body element; and a second connector element secured to and extending rearwardly from the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg, the second connector element being orthogonally-articulated and structured to releasably connect the aft end of the at least one tow bar leg to a towing hitch arrangement of the towed vehicle.
US07988177B2 Displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly adaptable for use with multiple vehicle hitch coupling systems
An adaptive displaceable fifth-wheel hitch system operable with a vehicle hitch coupling system comprising a fifth-wheel hitch, a displacement mechanism operable to couple and displace the fifth-wheel hitch in a bi-directional, an adapter configured to operably relate the displacement mechanism to a vehicle hitch coupling system, the displacement mechanism and vehicle hitch coupling system otherwise being incompatible and inoperable with one another, and the adapter comprising a first interface operable to relate the adapter to the displacement mechanism; and a second interface operable to relate and removably couple the adapter to the vehicle hitch coupling system.
US07988169B2 Bicycle without seat
A bicycle according to the present invention comprises of a steering axis and an axle of rear wheel that are attached in one unit with a frame to build a form; a pair of guide members with guide holes formed therein are attached to both cut ends of the frame; a pedal axle with the attachment of pedals and a rotating gear in a unit are respectively assembled and fixed onto the guide members; the bicycle according to the present invention comprises a crankshaft of which a pair of crank cams is assembled and fixed into both cut ends of the frame; a gear which engages with the gear; and a spindle which supports a unit of the gear and a sprocket to rotate; the bicycle according to the present invention is run by a running system in which the crank cam rotates when the pedals are reciprocated up and down.
US07988165B2 Suspension apparatus for vehicle
A suspension apparatus for an automotive vehicle employs, as its main element, a main suspension member 10. The main suspension member 10 includes a main portion 12 constituted by a pipe; two body-side attachment portions 14, 16 that are fixed to opposite ends of the main portion 12, respectively; and a wheel-side attachment portion 18 that is fixed to a rear-side portion of the main portion 12. The opposite ends of the pipe constituting the main portion 12 are located near to each other, such that the main portion 12 has a generally C-shaped configuration in its side view. The body-side attachment portions 14, 16 are attached to a body of the vehicle such that those portions 14, 16 are pivotable about their pivotal axes. The pivotal axes of the two body-side attachment portions 14, 16 are offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to those axes, or are inclined relative to each other. Otherwise, those pivotal axes are offset from each other in the direction perpendicular thereto, and simultaneously are inclined relative to each other. The wheel-side attachment portion 18 is attached to a wheel-holding member, not shown, that holds a wheel 30 such that the wheel 30 is rotatable. Thus, the main suspension member 10 can function as both a suspension spring and a suspension link.
US07988163B2 Balance compensation apparatus
The present invention relates to a balance compensation apparatus to be used by persons with one dysfunctional leg and one operative leg. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus with a frame having at least one lateral support with an aperture for slidably engaging a kneeling platform assembly and a steering column that is mounted on the frame to be offset from a longitudinal centerline of the frame. A handlebar is connected to the steering column. The platform and the handlebar are adjustable for added comfort, control and stability. The platform assembly may be offset of the longitudinal centerline to a side in common with the steering column and have cushions for added comfort. A hand brake may provide stability and safety and the steering column may fold for easy storage.
US07988154B1 Air actuated ball game
An air actuated ball game which utilizes a table-like member having an exterior frame supporting a circular top surface. The top surface has a plurality of holes therethrough and is divided into equal segments each having a different color. Air from a fan or similar air generating means is compelled through the holes for moving sets of balls, each set of balls having a different color, around the top surface of the table-like member. Each of the sets of balls has a color which matches one of the segments. As balls move around the top surface, players must retrieve certain balls which drop into openings in each segment and bounce the balls into a cup located at the center of the top surface. Various rules of play are anticipated based on these basic game components.
US07988152B2 Playing card shuffler
An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming. The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatus, a medial receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block a card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop.
US07988151B2 Media diversion mechanism for a sheet media processing device, and a media processing device
A check processing device conveys checks into branch paths without the check jamming. The downstream end of the check transportation path 7 of the check processing device 1 is split by a diversion unit 18 into first and second branch paths 11 and 12. The diversion unit 18 has diversion unit guide surfaces 18a and 18b that diverge to the right and left, and a diversion unit top 18c that connects the top edges of the diversion unit guide surfaces 18a and 18b. A branch switching lever or flapper 19 is located at the branching position A. The diversion unit top 18c slopes upward from the lever top 19c in the diversion direction on both right and left sides, and also slopes upward from the top edges of the diversion unit guide surfaces 18a and 18b perpendicularly to the diversion direction. If a check 6 with a drooping top is advanced to the branching position A, the drooping portion is guided by the diversion unit top 18c up and over the diversion unit 18, thereby enabling the check 6 to enter the first or second branch path 11 or 12 without colliding with the diversion unit 18.
US07988149B2 Sheet conveying device and image recording apparatus
A second support member supports a first support member so that the first support member is movable between a predetermined first position and a second position at an upstream side of the first position in a conveying direction of a recording medium. The first support member is moved to the first position during conveyance of the recording medium by a first conveying section. The first support-member is moved to the second position during non-conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveying section.
US07988148B2 Transporting path configuration and image forming apparatus
A transporting path configuration includes: a separating mechanism that separates from one of transporting members the other transporting member; an opening/closing transporting path member that is rotatably attached above the transporting members and has one surface that configures a first transporting path of the recording medium discharged from the transporting members; a transporting path member that forms a second transporting path between the transporting path member and the other surface of the opening/closing transporting path member in a state of covering the opening/closing transporting path member; a handle that is attached to the opening/closing transporting path member so as to be extended above the second transporting path and is further extended above a cover that covers a discharge member; and a moving mechanism that moves the handle in the direction away from the cover when the other transporting member is separated from the one transporting member by the separating mechanism.
US07988146B2 Media fixing device
A media fixing device includes a stationary plate, a bar linking member, a main pressure plate, an elastic member, an auxiliary plate and a pivot rod. The bar linking member is configured for movably connecting the main pressure plate. The elastic member is configured for movably connecting the main pressure plate to the stationary plate. The pivot rod is configured for pivoting the auxiliary plate on the main pressure plate.
US07988145B2 Hold-down device for multiple-ply or integrated forms in printer trays
A hold-down device is disclosed for holding down the leading edges of sheet materials, such as multiple-ply sheets or integrated forms, disposed in a tray of a printer in a horizontal or flat position prior to feeding the leading edge of the top sheet or integrated form into the printer feed mechanism. Because some sheet materials are prone to curling, which causes jamming in the feed mechanism or downstream in printing path within commonly used printers, the disclosed hold-down device maintains the leading edge of the top sheet in a flat or horizontal position so it can be reliably and evenly received in the feeder mechanism of the printer, thereby reducing the chances of jamming when sheet materials that are prone to curling, such as multiple-ply sheets or integrated forms, are being printed. The hold-down device includes a base with two ends. Each end may include a retainer or other means for detachably connecting the base to the paper tray of the printer. The base is hingedly connected to a pair of parallel arms. Each arm includes a distal end that engages or rests on the top sheet adjacent, but proximal to the leading edge of the top sheet to prevent curling.
US07988143B2 Sheet feeder
A sheet feeder comprising: a cassette; a feed roller; a sloping separation plate provided on a downstream side of the cassette in a sheet feeding direction; and a separation member that includes a first separation claw and second separation claw, the first separation claw being closer a bottom surface of the cassette than the second separation claw, the separation member and the feed roller cooperating with each other to separate and feed the sheets, sheet by sheet; wherein the sloping separation plate has openings so as to allow distal projecting portions of the first separation claw and second separation claw to project through the sloping separation plate, respectively, and wherein, a first angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the first separation claw and the sloping separation plate is larger than a second angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the second separation claw and the sloping separation plate.
US07988142B2 Sheet feeder, shutter opening and closing method, and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first sheet feeding unit; a second sheet feeding unit provided adjacent to the first sheet feeding unit; one or plural first shutter(s) provided in the first sheet feeding unit; a driving unit that drives the first shutter(s); and one or plural second shutter(s) provided in the second sheet feeding unit, the second shutter(s) opening and closing in association with the opening and closing of the first shutter(s) driven by the driving unit. According to the present invention, when plural shutters for designating a stacking range of sheets are provided, an operation of any one of the shutters can be suitably associated with operations of the other shutters.
US07988139B2 Sheet post-processing device and image forming apparatus
A reference member serves as a reference for aligning trailing edges of a stack of sheets stacked on a binding tray. A binding unit binds the sheets with the trailing edges aligned. A discharge unit discharges the sheets with or without performing the binding process from the binding tray to a discharge tray. The reference member is movable in a sheet width direction such that a first position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets without performing the binding process is closer to a center of the binding tray than a second position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets with performing the binding process.
US07988136B2 Stage device for a vacuum chamber
The disclosure relates to a transfer stage for moving an object in a vacuum chamber in at least a plane of movement, including at least a first and a second rod each having a first and a second end, the first and second rod being connected one to the other with their first ends by a first hinge, the second end of the first rod being provided with a first hinged support and the second end of the second rod being provided with a second hinged support, the first and second hinged supports being roller supports and the first hinge being provided with a short stroke stage for the object. Particularly when using this transfer stage in lithography systems fast and reliable movements are possible.
US07988135B2 Method and apparatus for humidifying gas and for condensing steam on condensation nuclet
For the reliable condensation of steam on condensation nuclei in an aerosol flow and therefore for enlarging the particles in the aerosol, the invention provides a method which is characterized in that condensation nuclei are passed through an inner area of an evaporating zone forming a flow area, the liquid to be evaporated is contacted with the flow area and evaporated therein and the thus produced steam is condensed on the condensation nuclei. the invention also provides an apparatus for condensing steam on condensation nuclei with an inlet for condensation nuclei and an evaporating zone constructed in such a way that a flow area for the condensation nuclei has a heated liquid duct open thereto and that a condensation flue is connected to the flow area. The invention also provides methods and apparatuses for counting particles, for producing monodisperse aerosols using the aforementioned method or the aforementioned apparatus.
US07988133B2 Combined guardrail and cable safety systems
A combined guardrail and cable safety system is disclosed. In one aspect, a safety barrier incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure may include a plurality of cable posts spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to a roadway. At least two cables may be releasably engaged with and supported by the cable posts. The cable posts and the at least two cables may cooperate with each other to prevent a vehicle from leaving the roadway. A plurality of guardrail posts may also spaced from each other and disposed adjacent to the roadway longitudinally spaced from the plurality of cable post. A box beam guardrail beam may be attached to the plurality of guardrail posts. The at least two cables may operably extend from the cable posts to engage respective cable anchor brackets attached to the box beam guardrail beam.
US07988128B2 Sealing luer
A connector (100) for a medical device including a body (110) having a proximal end (114), a distal end (112), and a passage (116) extending therethrough between the proximal end and the distal end that fluidly connects the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end (114) includes a connecting portion (119) for releasably connecting the connector to an external device. The distal end (112) is fluidly connected to a conduit. A cylinder (124) is rotatably disposed in the passage (116) between first position and a second position, wherein the cylinder includes an opening (128) extending generally diametrically therethrough. One or both ends (130,132;230,232) of the cylinder provide manually- or tool-engageable sections (136;236) to enable rotation of the cylinder between open and closed positions, allowing and preventing fluid flow through the connector (100), respectively.
US07988127B2 Valve with self-expanding seals
A valve device includes a valve body having a cavity, a stopper member in the cavity, and a fluid passage in fluidic communication with the cavity when the valve device is in an open state. A stem is coupled to the stopper member for driving the stopper member to open or close the valve. The stem extends through a stem aperture in the valve body. A first self-expanding seal around the stem is used to seal off an annular gap around the stem. A second self-expanding seal and a third self-expanding seal are disposed around the fluid passage substantially concentrically to prevent leakage. A method for assembling and sealing the valve device, and a valve system are also provided.
US07988125B2 Seal structure and control valve using said seal structure
A seal structure sealing a fitted part between the guide surface of a bearing part and a shaft part to prevent a fluid from flowing in a direction from a high-pressure fluid side to a low-pressure fluid side. The seal structure comprises a seal ring storage part having a radial contact surface surrounding the shaft part which is formed on the high-pressure fluid side of the bearing part and a seal ring disposed in the seal ring storage part, allowing its side surface facing the contact surface to come into contact with the contact surface, and allowing its inner peripheral surface to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft part. The seal ring is formed in such a relative dimension that, even if elastically deformed by the pressure of the sealed fluid, the elastically deformed expanded portion thereof is not brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the seal ring storage part.
US07988123B2 Compactable mold for forming building blocks
A compactable mold comprises a main mold frame structure and plural wall structures including two end wall structures and two side wall structures. The plural wall structures define a mold cavity for forming a block from a mixture introduced into the mold cavity. At least two of the plural wall structures are movable wall structures for compacting the mixture. A described compactable mold has end walls and side walls that are shaped for forming tongue and groove features on a compacted block, and the end walls and side walls are movable such that a formed block can be released easily from the mold. A described compactable mold comprises at least one tube attached to at least one of the compacting wall structures. The compacting wall structures are operable to compact the mixture by moving toward the center of the mold cavity while the at least one tube remains stationary.
US07988122B2 Vibration control pedestal and installation method thereof
A vibration control pedestal and an installation method thereof are disclosed, including a method for reducing particles and vibrations while moving equipment, including semiconductor equipment, from one vibration control pedestal to another. The vibration control pedestal includes an equipment support body having at least two equipment support cells. A cell connection unit passes through side surfaces of the equipment support cells and connects the equipment support cells to each other. A bottom structure installed under the equipment support body braces the equipment support body.
US07988119B2 Adjustable projector mount
A mount for attaching a projection device to an overhead structure includes a device interface operably attachable to the projection device and a device orientation adjustment structure operably coupled with the device interface. The device orientation adjustment structure has structure defining up to three independent axes for adjustment of projector pitch, roll, and yaw. A single selectively adjustable friction element may be provided to enable projector position to be fixed about for any one or all of the independent axes. A gear adjustment mechanism may be provided to enable fine adjustment of projector position. Moreover, any one or all of the independent axes may pass through the projector device, preferably proximate its center of gravity so that it is self balanced on the mount to ease adjustment.
US07988117B2 Container holder
A holder for a container such as a tissue box includes a lower jaw for mounting on a wall or other vertical surface, and an upper jaw telescopically slidable in the lower jaw. The jaws include opposed, outwardly extending ledges for clamping a container therebetween. Meshing teeth on the jaws permit releasable locking of the jaws in a container clamping position.
US07988116B2 Hanger for items
An ornamental hanger constructed with a soft ornamental figure having a bottom portion weighted with a deformable weight so that if the ornamental hanger is pulled off a mantle, or the like, it will not injure a person. The top portion of the figure is filled with a light weight filler to maintain the shape of the figure. The ornamental hanger includes an adjustable strap so that items can be suspended therefrom at different distances.
US07988114B2 Adjustable electronic device holder
An apparatus expanding around the perimeter of a box-shaped electronic device, the apparatus having a rectangular frame which is expandable lengthwise and widthwise and brackets for three-dimensional retention of an electronic device.
US07988111B2 Multimedia device bracket
An apparatus and method for mounting various audio devices to a flat panel display employing mounting holes disposed on a rearward face of the panel of the flat panel display that are otherwise normally employed to couple a support of the flat panel display to the panel of the flat panel display, wherein a hub supporting rods that in turn support the audio devices is coupled to the rearward face of the panel with the aid of those holes, and wherein the hub and rods together convey electrical signals between at least one of the audio devices and at least one cable.
US07988109B2 Fixing mechanism and a computer casing with the fixing mechanism
A fixing mechanism assembled on brackets of a computer casing. The fixing mechanism includes a main portion; a connecting portion disposed on the main portion, the connecting portion movably connecting to the bracket; at least one restriction portion connecting with the connecting portion; and a switching portion connecting between the connecting portion and the restriction portion; whereby the restriction portion switches from a first position to a second position by the switching portion for supporting hard disk drives with different heights. The fixing mechanism also includes a plurality of tighten means at the other said bracket for fixing the hard disk drive. Therefore, it is convenient for users to accommodate the hard disk drivers with different heights within the computer casing.
US07988097B2 Precision attitude control system for gimbaled thruster
A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft during an orbit transfer. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies during the orbit transfer results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
US07988096B2 Space manufacturing module system and method
A space based manufacturing system including a control module and a manufacturing module. The manufacturing module contains the tools required for automated processing of materials into finalized components. The control module allows command and control of the manufacturing module as well as communication with earth based systems. For component manufacture, the component requiring manufacture is identified in space, designed and engineered on earth, and manufactured in space using computer integrated manufacturing to tie these processes together. The astronaut in the control module monitors the safety of the manufacturing operation and may control manufacturing in real time.
US07988095B2 Device, method, and aircraft for illuminating in-flight operations
An device, method, and aircraft are provided for illuminating an in-flight operation, the device, method, and aircraft generating an electromagnetic radiation within the far-violet and ultraviolet spectrum, and thus being imperceptible to the naked eye, compatible with night vision equipment, and undetectable by night vision equipment.
US07988088B2 Tubular air transport vehicle
An air transport vehicle of the present invention comprises a tubular body, said body comprising an upper half and a lower half. The upper half is positioned above the lower half and connected thereto. A central bore is formed between the upper half and the lower half. The bore extends longitudinally from the nose end of the vehicle to the tail end of the vehicle. The vehicle also comprises at least one propulsion device, preferably positioned inside the bore. The vehicle further comprises at least one bulkhead. The bulkhead connects the upper half to the lower half, and extending longitudinally inside the bore, thus dividing the bore into parallel subsections. In preferred embodiments, the upper half and the lower half comprise cavities, used among other things, for cargo and passenger transport.
US07988086B2 Fuel tank system
Unsafe electric energies can exist in aircraft fuel tanks as a result of static build-up or induced currents from lightning strikes. The invention provides an aircraft fuel tank including two discharge paths for the safe discharge of electricity from the tank before it reaches levels where an arc, spark or other electric discharge, able to ignite fuel in the tank, could occur. The failure of both the discharge paths would significantly increase the risk of an ignition causing electrical discharge occurring. The tank thus also includes a circuit for monitoring the integrity of each discharge path. By having at least two discharge paths, should one discharge path fail (which failure being detected by the monitoring circuit, at least one alternative discharge path exists for the safe discharge of electrical energy from the fuel tank, until the failed discharge path is repaired.
US07988085B2 System for dispensing paper in roll form, method of manufacturing such a roll, and roll of paper
A system for dispensing a strip of absorbent product in the form of a roll, of the type comprising a roll, formed of a wound strip of absorbent product, axially delimited by a first lateral side and a second lateral side, a dispenser for dispensing the absorbent product in the form of a roll, of the type comprising a frame and a cover which is mounted such that it can move, means for holding and guiding the rotation of the roll with respect to the frame, which means comprise a first holding element for holding the roll and which is borne by the frame, and a second guiding and positioning element which is borne by the cover such that it is fixed in terms of rotation and which can be housed axially in a lateral housing of the roll, characterized in that the second guiding and positioning element comprises at least one projecting portion on which an internal wall of the second housing is able to slide for guiding the rotation of the roll if the roll is a complementary roll, and which is able to dig into the strip of product of which the roll is formed if the roll is not a complementary roll so as to prevent it from rotating.
US07988082B2 Bearing for a shaft of a gyratory crusher and method of adjusting the gap width of the crusher
A gyratory crusher has a crushing head fixedly attached to an upper portion of a substantially vertical shaft, on which crushing head a first crushing shell is mounted, and a frame on which a second crushing shell is mounted. The second crushing shell defines, together with the first crushing shell, a crushing gap. The gyratory crusher has a space adapted to contain liquid. The space is defined by a piston, which is formed at least partly of the lower end of the shaft, a cylinder, which is formed at least partly in an eccentric assembly, and a bottom element. The space is adapted to form a cushion with the aid of the liquid, so that the cushion can serve as a thrust bearing transmitting vertical forces from the crushing head to the bottom element.
US07988080B2 Rotary chopper element of an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester
A rotary chopper element for an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester, which rotary chopper element includes a cylindrical rotary member having a plurality of ring portions axially aligned in an ordered side-by-side arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the rotary member, with each ring portion having disposed annularly therearound a plurality of mounting lugs, each of which mounting lugs is designed to support or to have affixed thereto at least one knife blade. The mounting lugs on each succeeding ring portion are rotated or offset radially from the lugs of the preceding ring by a predefined amount and the knife blades are attached to the mounting lugs to form mounted assemblies that have beveled leading edges that extend substantially continuously from adjacent to the outer surface of the rotary member to the tips of the knife blades. The knife blades of such mounted assemblies define a plurality of spaced helical arrays that extend along and wrap around the rotary member. The rotary chopper element is configured to be mountable generally parallel to the grate portion of a counter knife assembly of the integral chopper assembly to define a material flow path between the grate portion and the rotary member and to be operable to transport crop residue past the integral chopper assembly.