最新美国发明专利第2011-10-18期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08039391B1	Method of forming a contact in a semiconductor device with engineered plasma treatment profile of barrier metal layer A method of forming a contact in a semiconductor device provides a titanium contact layer in a contact hole and a MOCVD-TiN barrier metal layer on the titanium contact layer. Impurities are removed from the MOCVD-TiN barrier metal layer by a plasma treatment in a nitrogen-hydrogen plasma. The time period for plasma treating the titanium nitride layer is controlled so that penetration of nitrogen into the underlying titanium contact layer is substantially prevented, preserving the titanium contact layer for subsequently forming a titanium silicide at the bottom of the contact.
US08039390B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a groove forming step of forming a groove in an insulating layer made of an insulating material containing Si and O; an alloy film applying step of covering the side surface and the bottom surface of the groove with an alloy film made of an alloy material containing Cu and Mn by sputtering; a thinning step of reducing the thickness of a portion of the alloy film covering the bottom surface of the groove; a wire forming step of forming a Cu wire made of a metallic material mainly composed of Cu in the groove after the thinning step; and a barrier film forming step of forming a barrier film made of MnSiO between the Cu wire and the insulating layer by heat treatment.
US08039385B1	IC devices having TSVS including protruding tips having IMC blocking tip ends A through substrate via (TSV) die includes a plurality of TSVs including an outer dielectric sleeve and an inner metal core and protruding TSV tips including sidewalls that emerge from the TSV die. A passivation layer lateral to the protruding TSV tips is on a portion of the sidewalls of the protruding TSV tips. The passivation layers is absent from a distal portion of the protruding TSV tips to provide an exposed portion of the inner metal core. The TSV tips include bulbous distal tip ends including a first metal layer including a first metal other than solder and a second metal layer including a second metal other than solder that covers the exposed tip portion. The bulbous distal tip ends cover a portion of the TSV sidewalls and are over a topmost surface of the outer dielectric sleeve, and have a maximum cross sectional area that is ≧25% more as compared to a cross sectional area of the protruding TSV tips below the bulbous distal tip ends.
US08039383B2	Formation of a masking layer on a dielectric region to facilitate formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions separated by the dielectric regions A masking layer is formed on a dielectric region of an electronic device so that, during subsequent formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions of the electronic device that are separated by the dielectric region, the masking layer inhibits formation of capping layer material on or in the dielectric region. The capping layer can be formed selectively on the electrically conductive regions or non-selectively; in either case (particularly in the latter), capping layer material formed over the dielectric region can subsequently be removed, thus ensuring that capping layer material is formed only on the electrically conductive regions. Silane-based materials, such as silane-based SAMs, can be used to form the masking layer. The capping layer can be formed of an electrically conductive material (e.g., a cobalt alloy, a nickel alloy, tungsten, tantalum, tantalum nitride), a semiconductor material, or an electrically insulative material, and can be formed using any appropriate process, including conventional deposition processes such as electroless deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
US08039380B2	Procedure for obtaining nanotube layers of carbon with conductor or semiconductor substrate The present invention relates to a process for producing a carbon nanotube (CNT) mat on a conductive or semiconductor substrate. According to this process, a catalytic complex comprising at least one metal layer is firstly deposited on said substrate. Said metal layer then undergoes an oxidizing treatment. Finally, carbon nanotubes are grown from the metal layer thus oxidized. The present invention also relates to a process for producing a via using said CNT mat production process.
US08039376B2	Methods of changing threshold voltages of semiconductor transistors by ion implantation A method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes (i) a top substrate surface which defines a reference direction perpendicular to the top substrate surface and (ii) a semiconductor body region. The method further includes implanting an adjustment dose of dopants of a first doping polarity into the semiconductor body region by an adjustment implantation process. Ion bombardment of the adjustment implantation process is in the reference direction. The method further includes (i) patterning the semiconductor substrate resulting in side walls of the semiconductor body region being exposed to a surrounding ambient and then (ii) implanting a base dose of dopants of a second doping polarity into the semiconductor body region by a base implantation process. Ion bombardment of the base implantation process is in a direction which makes a non-zero angle with the reference direction.
US08039373B2	Pattern film forming method and pattern film forming apparatus A pattern film forming method includes a step of producing a transfer sheet in which a thin film is formed on a surface of a sheet-shaped material and a step of pressing the thin film against a pattern film formation surface of the substrate with a pressing member having convex portions corresponding to the pattern film from a reverse surface of the transfer sheet opposite to the thin film or a reverse surface of the substrate opposite to the pattern film formation surface to transfer the thin film to the substrate. A pattern film forming apparatus includes a sheet supply device, a pressing device and a substrate transport device. A high-definition pattern film having a desired pattern and a sharp edge can be formed with high productivity.
US08039365B2	Integrated circuit package system including wafer level spacer An integrated circuit package system that includes providing a wafer level spacer including apertures, which define unit spacers that are interconnected, and configuring the unit spacers to substantially align over devices formed within a substrate.
US08039363B2	Small chips with fan-out leads A method of expanding the contact pitch for un-diced chips in an array by pre-slicing the array in a first direction, attaching a lead frame to the chips' contacts, and then slicing the array and attached lead frame in the second direction. The lead frame has leads mechanically connected one another such that slicing the frame in the second direction along the mechanical connections separates the leads. Each lead has a first terminal which is conductively attached to a chip contact and a second terminal extending beyond the boundaries of the chip to which the first terminal is attached. In this manner, the contact pitch is effectively expanded to the terminal pitch of the leads.
US08039355B2	Method for fabricating PIP capacitor A PIP capacitor and methods thereof. A method of fabricating a PIP capacitor may include forming a field oxide film over a silicon substrate to define a device isolating region and/or an active region. A method of fabricating a PIP capacitor may include forming a lower polysilicon electrode having doped impurities on and/or over an field oxide film. A method of fabricating a PIP capacitor may include performing an oxidizing step to form a first oxide film over a polysilicon and/or a second oxide film on and/or over an active region. A method of fabricating a PIP capacitor may include forming an upper polysilicon electrode on and/or over a region of a first oxide film and forming a gate electrode on and/or over a second oxide film at substantially the same time. A method of fabricating a PIP capacitor may include forming a polysilicon resistor. A PIP capacitor is disclosed.
US08039354B2	Passive components in the back end of integrated circuits Passive components are formed in the back end by using the same deposition process and materials as in the rest of the back end. Resistors are formed by connecting in series individual structures on the nth, (n+1)th, etc levels of the back end. Capacitors are formed by constructing a set of vertical capacitor plates from a plurality of levels in the back end, the plates being formed by connecting electrodes on two or more levels of the back end by vertical connection members.
US08039353B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device The present invention provides a thin and bendable semiconductor device utilizing an advantage of a flexible substrate used in the semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has at least one surface covered by an insulating layer which serves as a substrate for protection. In the semiconductor device, the insulating layer is formed over a conductive layer serving as an antenna such that the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer in a portion not covering the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 1.2, and the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer formed over the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 0.2. Further, not the conductive layer but the insulating layer is exposed in the side face of the semiconductor device, and the insulating layer covers a TFT and the conductive layer. In addition, a substrate covering an element formation layer side is a substrate having a support on its surface is used in the manufacturing process.
US08039350B2	Methods of fabricating MOS transistors having recesses with elevated source/drain regions Methods of fabricating metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors having elevated source/drain regions are provided. The MOS transistors formed by these methods may include a gate pattern formed to cross over a predetermined region of a substrate. Recessed regions are provided in the substrate adjacent to the gate pattern. Epitaxial layers are provided on bottom surfaces of the recessed regions. High concentration impurity regions are provided in the epitaxial layers. The recessed regions may be formed using a chemical dry etching techniques.
US08039346B2	Insulated gate silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same An insulated gate silicon carbide semiconductor device is provided having small on-resistance in a structure obtained by combining the SIT and MOSFET structures having normally-off operation. The device includes an n− semiconductor layer on an SiC n+ substrate, a p-type base region and highly doped p-region both buried in the layer, a trench from the semiconductor layer surface to the p-base region, an n+ first source region in the surface of a p-type base region at the bottom of the trench, a p-type channel region in the surface of the sidewall of the trench, one end of which contacts the first source region, a gate electrode contacting the trench-side surface of the channel region via a gate insulating film, and a source electrode contacting the trench-side surface of the gate electrode via an interlayer insulating film and contacting the exposed first source region and p-base region at the bottom of the trench.
US08039344B2	Methods of forming a capacitor structure and methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same In a method of forming a capacitor, a seed stopper and a sacrificial layer is formed on an insulating interlayer having a plug therethrough. An opening is formed through the sacrificial layer and the seed stopper to expose the plug. A seed is formed on an innerwall of the opening. A lower electrode is formed covering the seed on the innerwall of the opening. The sacrificial layer and the seed are removed. A dielectric layer and an upper electrode are sequentially formed on the lower electrode.
US08039338B2	Method for reducing defects of gate of CMOS devices during cleaning processes by modifying a parasitic PN junction By incorporating nitrogen into the P-doped regions and N-doped regions of the gate electrode material prior to patterning the gate electrode structure, yield losses due to reactive wet chemical cleaning processes may be significantly reduced.
US08039337B2	Nonvolatile memory device with multiple blocking layers and method of fabricating the same A nonvolatile memory device with a blocking layer controlling the transfer of electric charges in a charge storage layer includes the blocking layer having a first blocking layer in contact with the charge storage layer and a second blocking layer over the first blocking layer, wherein the first blocking layer has a greater energy band gap than the second blocking layer and the second blocking layer has a greater permittivity than the first blocking layer.
US08039336B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabrication thereof A method includes the steps of: introducing insulation film into a trench to provide a trench isolation; planarizing the trench isolation to expose a passivation film; and removing the passivation film and depositing a second silicon layer on a first silicon layer and the trench isolation; and in the step of depositing the first silicon layer the first silicon layer is an undoped silicon layer and in the step of depositing the second silicon layer the second silicon layer is a doped silicon layer or an undoped silicon layer subsequently having an impurity introduced thereinto or the like and thermally diffused through subsequent thermal hysteresis into the first silicon layer.
US08039335B2	Semiconductor device comprising NMOS and PMOS transistors with embedded Si/Ge material for creating tensile and compressive strain By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.
US08039333B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: forming a SiGe crystal layer on a semiconductor substrate, the SiGe crystal layer having a first plane and a second plane inclined with respect to the first plane; forming an amorphous Si film on the SiGe crystal layer; crystallizing a portion located adjacent to the first and second planes of the amorphous Si film by applying heat treatment using the first and second planes of the SiGe crystal layer as a seed, thereby forming a Si crystal layer; selectively removing or thinning a portion of the amorphous Si film that is not crystallized by the heat treatment; applying oxidation treatment to a surface of the Si crystal layer, thereby forming a gate insulating film on the surface of the Si crystal layer; and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating film.
US08039330B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device The invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. The method comprises steps of providing a substrate having a gate structure formed thereon and forming a source/drain extension region in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. A spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate structure and a source/drain region is formed in the substrate adjacent to the spacer but away from the gate structure. A bevel carbon implantation process is performed to implant a plurality carbon atoms into the substrate and a metal silicide layer is formed on the gate structure and the source/drain region.
US08039329B2	Field effect transistor having reduced contact resistance and method for fabricating the same A field effect transistor includes a nitride semiconductor layered structure that is formed on a substrate and includes a capping layer made of a compound represented by a general formula of InxAlyGa1−yN (wherein 0
US08039328B2	Trench Schottky device with single barrier A process for forming a trench Schottky barrier device includes the forming of an oxide layer within the trenches in the surface of a silicon wafer, and then depositing a full continuous metal barrier layer over the full upper surface of the wafer including the trench interiors and the mesas between trenches with a barrier contact made to the mesas only. Palladium, titanium or any conventional barrier metal can be used.
US08039327B2	Transistor forming methods A transistor forming method includes forming a dielectric spacer in a trench surrounding an active area island, forming line openings through the spacer, and forming a gate line extending through the line openings, over opposing sidewalls, and over a top of the fin. Source/drain regions are in the fin. Another method includes forming an interlayer dielectric over areas of the fin intended for source/drain regions, forming contact openings through the interlayer dielectric, and forming a source/drain plug in contact with an exposed portion of the spacer and in electrical connection with the top, one of opposing endwalls, and both of the opposing sidewalls of the fin.
US08039326B2	Methods for fabricating bulk FinFET devices having deep trench isolation Methods are provided for fabricating Bulk FinFET devices having deep trench isolation. One or more deep isolation trenches are formed in a bulk silicon wafer. Mandrel-forming material is deposited overlying the bulk silicon wafer and dielectric pad layer thereon and simultaneously into the trench(es) as filler material. Mandrels are formed, overetching thereof creating a recess at the trench upper end. A conformal sidewall spacer material from which sidewall spacers are fabricated is deposited overlying the mandrels and into the recess forming a spacer overlying the filler material in the trench(es). Mandrels are removed using the spacer as an etch stop. Fin structures are formed from the bulk silicon wafer using the sidewall spacers as an etch mask. The mandrel-forming material is amorphous and/or polycrystalline silicon.
US08039325B2	Methods of fabricating semiconductor device having capacitorless one-transistor memory cell A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a capacitorless one-transistor memory cell includes forming a first floating body pattern on a lower insulating layer of a substrate and a first gate pattern crossing over the first floating body pattern and covering sidewalls of the first floating body pattern is formed. The first floating body pattern at both sides of the first gate pattern is partially etched to form a protrusion portion extending between and above the partially etched regions, and first impurity regions are formed in the partially etched regions of the first floating body pattern.
US08039324B2	Image sensor and method of fabricating the same An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a photodiode formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region formed in the semiconductor substrate spaced from the photodiode, a second impurity region formed in the semiconductor substrate spaced from the first impurity region, a first gate formed over the semiconductor substrate between the photodiode and the first impurity region, a second gate formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first impurity region and the second impurity region, a spacer formed over the fourth impurity region and a first sidewall of the second gate, and an insulating film formed over the photodiode, the first gate, the first impurity region and a second sidewall and a portion of the uppermost surface of the second gate.
US08039321B2	Electrical fuse, semiconductor device having the same, and method of programming and reading the electrical fuse Provided are an electrical fuse, a semiconductor device having the same, and a method of programming and reading the electrical fuse. The electrical fuse includes first and second anodes disposed apart from each other. A cathode is interposed between the first and second anodes. A first fuse link couples the first anode to the cathode, and a second fuse link couples the second anode to the cathode.
US08039317B2	Aluminum leadframes for semiconductor QFN/SON devices A post-mold plated semiconductor device has an aluminum leadframe (105) with a structure including a chip mount pad and a plurality of lead segments without cantilevered lead portions. A semiconductor chip (210) is attached to the chip mount pad, and conductive connections (212) span from the chip to the aluminum of the lead segments. Polymeric encapsulation material (220), such as a molding compound, covers the chip, the connections, and portions of the aluminum lead segments without leaving cantilevered segment portions. Preferably by electroless plating, a zinc layer (301) and a nickel layer (302) are on those portions of the lead segments, which are not covered by the encapsulation material including the aluminum segment surfaces (at 203b) formed by the device singulation step, and a layer (303) of noble metal, preferably palladium, is on the nickel layer.
US08039313B2	Method for producing a semiconductor device including connecting a functional wafer to a carrier substrate and selectively etching the carrier substrate A semiconductor device and method for producing such a device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor functional wafer having a first and second main surface. Component production processes are performed for producing a component functional region at the first main surface, wherein the component production processes produce an end state that is stable up to at least a first temperature. A carrier substrate is fitted to the first main surface. Access openings are produced to the first main surface. At least one further component production process is performed for producing patterned component functional regions at the first main surface of the functional wafer in the access openings. The end state produced in this process is stable up to a second temperature, which is less than the first temperature.
US08039312B1	Method for forming a capped micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device A capped micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device is formed using a device wafer and a cap wafer. The MEMS device is located on a frontside of the device wafer. A frontside of a cap wafer is attached to the frontside of the device wafer. A first stressor layer having a tensile stress is applied to a backside of the cap wafer after attaching the frontside of the cap wafer to the frontside of the device wafer. The first stressor layer and the cap wafer are patterned to form an opening through the first stressor layer and the cap wafer after applying the first stressor layer. A conductive layer is applied to the backside of the cap wafer, including through the opening to the frontside of the device wafer.
US08039311B2	Leadless semiconductor chip carrier system A semiconductor package system includes: providing a semiconductor die with bonding pad on the semiconductor die; attaching the semiconductor die to an intermediate layer; attaching one end of a bonding wire to the bonding pad; forming a bonding ball at the other end of the bonding wire, the bonding ball being fully or partially embedded in the intermediate layer; encapsulating the semiconductor die, the bonding pad, the bonding wire, and a portion of the bonding ball with a mold compound; removing the intermediate layer, resulting in the bonding ball protruding from the exposed mold compound bottom surface; and conditioning the bonding ball.
US08039310B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device with improved design freedom of external terminal A semiconductor method comprises a method for making a device comprising: a base; a semiconductor chip provided on the base which includes a first main surface 20a on which a plurality of electrode pads is provided, a surface protecting film provided on the first main surface, a second main surface which opposes the first main surface, and a plurality of side surfaces between the surface of the surface protecting film and the second main surface; an insulating extension portion formed so as to surround the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip; a plurality of wiring patterns electrically connected to the electrode pads, respectively and extended from the electrode pads to the surface of the extension portion; a sealing portion formed on the wiring patterns such that a part of each of the wiring patterns is exposed; and a plurality of external terminals provided on the wiring patterns in a region including the upper side of the extension portion.
US08039308B2	Integrated-circuit package for proximity communication Embodiments of a multi-chip module (MCM) are described. This MCM includes a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die, where a given semiconductor die, which can be the first semiconductor die or the second semiconductor die, includes proximity connectors proximate to a surface of the given semiconductor die. Moreover, the given semiconductor die is configured to communicate signals with the other semiconductor die via proximity communication through one or more of the proximity connectors. Furthermore, the MCM includes an alignment plate and a top plate coupled to the alignment plate. This alignment plate includes a first negative feature configured to accommodate the first semiconductor die and a second negative feature configured to accommodate the second semiconductor die, and the top plate includes a positive feature. Note that the positive feature is coupled to the first semiconductor die, and the positive feature facilitates mechanical positioning of the first semiconductor die.
US08039306B2	3D integration of vertical components in reconstituted substrates A reconstituted electronic device including: a first face and a second face; a plurality of individual chips placed perpendicular to the faces, each individual chip carrying, on one of its surfaces, at least one component, tracks, and a connection mechanism that are flush with one or other of the faces of the reconstituted electronic device; and an encapsulant that encapsulates the individual chips.
US08039301B2	Gate after diamond transistor A gate after diamond transistor and method of making comprising the steps of depositing a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a diamond particle nucleation layer on the first dielectric layer, growing a diamond thin film layer on the first dielectric layer, defining an opening for the gate in the diamond thin film layer, patterning of the diamond thin film layer for a gate metal to first dielectric layer surface, etching the first dielectric layer, depositing and defining a gate metal, and forming a contact window opening in the diamond thin film layer and the first dielectric layer to the ohmic contact.
US08039298B2	Phase changeable memory cell array region and method of forming the same A phase changeable memory cell array region includes a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The region also includes a plurality of conductive plugs disposed through the lower interlayer insulating layer. The region also includes a phase changeable material pattern operably disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer, the phase changeable pattern covering at least two of the plurality of conductive plugs, wherein the phase changeable material pattern includes a plurality of first regions in contact with one or more of the plurality of conductive plugs and at least one second region interposed between the plurality of the first regions, wherein the at least one second region has a lower thermal conductivity than the plurality of first regions. The phase changeable memory cell array region also includes an upper interlayer insulating layer covering at least one of the phase changeable material pattern and the lower interlayer insulating layer. The region also includes conductive patterns disposed through the upper interlayer insulating layer and electrically connected to a plurality of predetermined regions of the plurality of first regions.
US08039297B2	Plasma treating methods of fabricating phase change memory devices, and memory devices so fabricated Phase change memory devices may be fabricated by forming a first electrode on a substrate and forming a chalcogenide material on the first electrode. The chalcogenide material is plasma treated sufficiently to induce a plasma species throughout the chalcogenide material. A second electrode is formed on the chalcogenide material. Related devices are also described.
US08039292B2	Holey electrode grids for photovoltaic cells with subwavelength and superwavelength feature sizes A photovoltaic cell and a method of forming an electrode grid on a photovoltaic semiconductor substrate of a photovoltaic cell are disclosed. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic cell comprises a photovoltaic semiconductor substrate; a back electrode electrically connected to a back surface of the substrate; and a front electrode electrically connected to a front surface of the substrate. The substrate, back electrode, and front electrode form an electric circuit for generating an electric current when said substrate absorbs light. The front electrode is comprised of a metal grid defining a multitude of holes. These holes may be periodic, aperiodic, or partially periodic. The front electrode may be formed by depositing nanospheres on the substrate; forming a metallic layer on the substrate, around the nanospheres; and removing the nanospheres, leaving an electrode grid defining a multitude of holes on the substrate.
US08039290B2	Method of making photovoltaic cell Methods of making a photovoltaic (PV) cell are disclosed. The methods comprise at least the steps of, providing a first component comprising a cadmium telluride (CdTe) layer comprising an interfacial region, and subjecting the first component to a functionalizing treatment in the presence of a material comprising copper.
US08039288B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A high performance electric device which uses an adhesive layer over a substrate. A color filter is over a substrate, and an adhesive layer is also located over the substrate and color film. An insulating layer is over the adhesive layer, and thin film transistors cover the insulating film and the color filters. Light emitting elements cover the thin film transistors and emit light through the substrate that is through the adhesive layer and color filter. The substrate may be plastic, thus increasing the heat resistance.
US08039286B2	Method for fabricating optical device A method for fabricating an optical device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having an element region and a peripheral region. The element region has an element array comprised of semiconductor elements formed therein. The peripheral region has at least a bonding pad electrically connected to the element array. A dielectric layer with an opening exposing the bonding pad is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A filter array and a planarizing layer are sequentially formed on the dielectric layer, and an organic layer is filled into the opening. An inorganic layer is formed on the planarizing layer and covers the organic layer. A portion of the inorganic layer and the organic layer are sequentially removed until the bonding pad is exposed. The organic layer protects the bonding pad from corrosion during the step removing the inorganic layer, and thus the fabrication yield is improved.
US08039285B2	Thin film getter protection A method for installing a sorption element in a cavity including: disposing, within the cavity, a getter material, a reaction material, and a protective material, the protective material covering at least one part of the getter material so as to bury the at least one part; raising a temperature up to at least one removal temperature; and moving the protective material towards the reaction material by reaction between the protective material and the reaction material so that at least one portion of the part of the getter material is no longer covered with the protective material.
US08039282B2	Semiconductor optical device and method of fabricating the same In a method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device, a semiconductor region is formed by growing an InP lower film, a active region, an InP upper film and a capping film on a substrate sequentially. Material of the capping film is different from that of InP. Next, a mask is formed on the capping film, and the semiconductor region is etched using the mask to form a semiconductor stripe mesa, which includes an InP lower cladding layer, a active layer, an InP upper cladding layer and a capping layer. The active layer comprises aluminum-based III-V compound. A width of the top surface of the capping layer is greater than that of a width of the bottom surface of the capping layer. A width of the top surface of the InP upper cladding layer is smaller than that of the bottom surface of the InP upper cladding layer. The minimum width of the semiconductor mesa is in the InP upper cladding layer. After forming the semiconductor stripe mesa, thermal process of the semiconductor mesa is carried out in an atmosphere to form a mass transport semiconductor on a side of the InP upper cladding layer, and the atmosphere contains V-group material.
US08039280B2	Light emitting diode and method of fabricating the same The present invention provides a method of fabricating a light emitting diode, which comprises the steps of forming a compound semiconductor layer on a substrate, the compound semiconductor layer including a lower semiconductor layer, an active layer and an upper semiconductor layer; and scratching a surface of the substrate by rubbing the substrate with an abrasive. According to the present invention, the abrasive is used to rub and scratch the surface of the light emitting diode, thereby making it possible to cause the light emitted from the active layer to effectively exit to the outside. Therefore, the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diode can be improved.
US08039277B2	Providing current control over wafer borne semiconductor devices using overlayer patterns Disclosed are methods for providing wafer parasitic current control to a semiconductor wafer (1240) having a substrate (1240), at least one active layer (1240) and at least one surface layer (1240), Current control can be achieved through the formation of patterns (1240) surrounding contacts (1215), said patterns (1240) including insulating implants and/or sacrificial layers formed between active devices represented by said contacts (1215). Current flows through active regions (1260) associated with said contacts (1215) and active devices. Methods of and systems for wafer level burn-in (WLBI) of semiconductor devices are also disclosed. Current control at the wafer level is important when using WLBI methods and systems.
US08039270B2	Apparatus and method for performing ligand binding assays on microarrays in multiwell plates Ellipsometry systems for imaging binding events between analytes in a sample and an array of ligands in an evanescent field generated by a beam of light reflected from the plane of the ligands is adapted to a multiwell plate structure in common use. In one example, a film of prism arrays is affixed to the underside of the plate with each prism array located in registry with a well and ligand arrays being immobilized on the (planar) bottom surface of the wells. The prism array may be formed in a film and juxtaposed with the bottom surface of the plate or a prism array can be made integral with the plate bottom of a multiwell plate.
US08039269B2	Mechanically induced trapping of molecular interactions The invention provides devices and methods for surface patterning the substrate of a microfluidic device, and for detection and analysis of interactions between molecules by mechanically trapping a molecular complex while substantially expelling solvent and unbound solute molecules. Examples of molecular complexes include protein-protein complexes and protein-nucleic acid complexes.
US08039266B2	Methods to radiolabel natural organic matter by reduction with hydrogen labeled reducing agents Methods to radiolabel natural organic matter by reduction with a hydrogen labeled reducing agent, and compositions, are provided.
US08039265B1	Determining oxygen content of metal species in heterogeneous catalysts The oxygen content of metal species in a heterogeneous catalyst is determined using volumetric adsorption measurements. Such measurements are employed to quantify the amount of reduction gas that it takes to reduce metal species of a catalyst sample, and the oxygen content is derived from this amount and the reaction stoichiometry. This method can be applied to mono-metallic and multi-metallic heterogeneous catalysts and has been shown to provide at least 10 times better detection sensitivity than typical TCDs in TPR-TCD methods.
US08039261B2	Promoters exhibiting endothelial cell specificity and methods of using same for regulation of angiogenesis Isolated polynucleotide sequences exhibiting endothelial cell specific promoter activity, novel cis regulatory elements and methods of use thereof enabling treatment of diseases characterized by aberrant neovascularization or cell growth are disclosed.
US08039259B2	Buffer solution for electroporation and a method comprising the use of the same A buffer solution for suspending animal or human cells and for dissolving biologically active molecules in order to introduce the biologically active molecules into the cells using electric current. The buffer solution includes at least one of sodium succinate, mannitol and sodium lactobionate. The buffer solution has a buffer capacity of at least 20 mmoll−1pH−1 at a change in the from pH 7 to pH 8 and at a temperature of 25° C., and an ionic strength of at least 200 mmol * l−1.
US08039251B2	Biological indicator A biological indicator for monitoring the effectiveness of a sterilization or disinfection treatment or process. The biological indicator comprises a substrate having a surface layer containing functional groups thereon desirably free of silicon linking groups. The functional groups are added to the surface through the use of a functionalized silane coupling agent, wherein two different functional groups are generally utilized and the functionalized silane is applied in a uniform and consistent manner thereby assuring that the microorganism or etiological agent indicators are attached to the substrate in a uniform and consistent manner through non-covalent bonding to the functional groups. After being subjected to sterilization or other similar disinfecting treatments or processes along with various articles such as instruments, the indicator can be cultivated or cultured to determine the effectiveness of the sterilization or disinfection treatment or process.
US08039236B2	Process for producing dipeptides The present invention provides a protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide different from L-Ala-L-Ala, a process for producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, a process for producing a dipeptide using the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, and a process for producing the dipeptide using a culture of a microorganism producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide or the like as an enzyme source.
US08039235B2	Oligonucleotide sequences and DNA chip for identifying filamentous microorganisms and the identification method thereof A DNA chip for identifying filamentous microorganisms, including a substrate and a plurality of probes, wherein the probe includes SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, complementary sequences thereof, derivatives thereof or combinations thereof. The derivative is 5′ and/or 3′ end of the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 with at least one thymidine residue added or is 5′ and/or 3′ end of the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 with one or two nucleotides added or deleted.
US08039232B2	Method for producing a dipeptide DNA and recombinant DNA that encode a peptide-forming enzyme, a method for producing a peptide-forming enzyme, and a method for producing a dipeptide are disclosed. A method for producing a dipeptide includes producing a dipeptide from a carboxy component and an amine component by using a culture of a microbe belonging to the genus Sphingobacterium and having the ability to form the dipeptide from the carboxy component and the amine component, a microbial cell separated from the culture, treated microbial cell product of the microbe or a peptide-forming enzyme derived from the microbe.
US08039231B2	Methods for enhanced production of bone morphogenetic proteins Methods and processes for improved recombinant protein production are provided. The methods are useful for production of growth factors, particularly those of the TGF-β superfamily, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), such as BMP-2. Suitable host cells are cultured in media where iron is present at a concentration of at least 2.25 μM and if pyridoxal is present, it makes up less than 55% of the molar concentration of vitamin B6 in the media.
US08039225B2	Method to identify patients at risk for lung transplant rejection Various embodiments include methods for diagnosing and treating medical conditions that involve an autoimmune response to connective tissue such as collagen found in organs such as the lung. In one method pulmonary disease and disorders such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) are diagnosed by analyzing fluid or tissue samples obtained from a patient for evidence of an autoimmune response to various types of collagen including, for example, Type V. One type of assay for evidence of an autoimmune response to Type V collagen comprises the steps of obtaining a fluid or tissue sample from a patient, contacting at least a portion of the sample with antigen to anti-Type V collagen antibody and monitoring the mixture of sample and antigen for changes indicative of the presence of anti-Type V collagen in the sample. Another embodiment includes treating pulmonary diseases such as IPF by administering a therapeutically effective dose of epitopes of various collagens including Type V collagen.
US08039224B2	Gene specifically expressed in postmitotic dopaminergic neuron precursor cells A novel gene 65B13 expressed specifically and transiently in dopaminergic neuron precursor cells immediately after cell cycle exit was obtained by the present invention. The cellular expression of 65B13 can be used as an index to select cells that are suitable in terms of their safety, survival rate, and network formation ability, for transplant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
US08039223B2	Method of selectively assaying adiponectin multimers Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.
US08039221B2	Methods for identifying and using MarR family polypeptide binding compounds Methods for identifying MarR family inhibiting compounds are described. The methods include the use of computer aided rational based drug design programs and three dimensional structures of MarR family polypeptides.
US08039217B2	Proteomic interaction and genomic action determinations in the presence of associated redox state conditions Genomic actions and/or proteomic interactions for pathophysiological processes and for physiological processes are determined at associated redox state conditions. Protein interactions are correlated with oxygen tensions. Identification of markers for disease including epitopes is effected in the presence of simulated redox state perturbations. Screening for previously unknown receptors and activating ligands is carried out in the presence of alteration of redox state.
US08039214B2	Synthesis of tagged nucleic acids The present invention relates generally to methods, compositions and kits for synthesizing sense RNA molecules from one or more RNA molecules of interest in a sample. In exemplary embodiments, the methods use a terminal tagging oligoribonucleotide (rTTO) to join a DNA sequence tag to the 3′-termini of first-strand cDNA molecules. The use of an rTTO comprising ribonucleotides results in decreased oligonucleotide-derived background synthesis of RNA in the absence of sample RNA and, surprisingly and unexpectedly, also results in significantly increased yields of sense RNA molecules that exhibit sequences that are substantially identical to those of the RNA molecules of interest in the sample. The sense RNA molecules also have an RNA sequence tag on their 5′-termini that is useful for fixing the lengths of sense RNA molecules that are synthesized in a second or subsequent round.
US08039209B2	Yeast screens for treatment of human disease Screening methods for identifying substances that provide therapeutic value for various diseases associated with protein misfolding are provided. Genetic and chemical screening methods are provided using a yeast system. The methods of the invention provide a rapid and cost-effective method to screen for compounds that prevent protein misfolding and/or protein fibril formation and/or protein aggregation which includes numerous neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease as well as non-neuronal diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
US08039208B2	Automated strategy for identifying physiological glycosylation markers(s) One can identify and quantify one or more glycosylation markers of a physiological condition such as a disease or a stage of disease by utilizing quantitative HPLC analysis of glycans which have been released from unpurified glycoproteins. The unpurified glycoproteins can be total glycoproteins or a selection of the total glycoproteins. The identified glycosylation marker can be a native glycan or a digestion product which has been segregated and amplified by exoglycosidase digestions. This strategy is compatible with a high throughput format and glycan data base searching. One can utilize the identified glycosylation marker, for example, for monitoring the physiological condition in a subject. One can also use the glycosylation marker to identify glycoproteins that carry the glycosylation marker which can also be used to monitor the physiological condition. The biomarker may also be a subset of glycoforms of a glycoprotein that are separated in trains of spots on 2D gel.
US08039206B1	Detection of micro-organisms Improved methods for detecting microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria in mixtures, are disclosed. Methods include passing a sample mixture through a filter device, which has been pretreated with a detergent, resuspending the filtrand in the filter membranes and detecting the presence of microorganisms in the filtrand.
US08039205B2	Fluidic MEMS device A method includes depositing a sacrificial material on a substrate, and depositing a polymer layer on the substrate and the sacrificial material. The method further includes removing the sacrificial material to at least partially define boundaries of at least one fluidic channel of a fluidic micro electromechanical system (MEM) device, the at least one fluidic channel is at least partially defined by a portion of the polymer layer and a portion of the substrate.
US08039200B2	Photosensitive composition and pattern-forming method using the photosensitive composition A photosensitive composition comprises (A) a sulfonium or iodonium salt having an anion represented by one of formulae (I) and (II): wherein Y represents an alkylene group substituted with at least one fluorine atom, and R represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group.
US08039199B2	Negative resist composition for immersion exposure and method of forming resist pattern A negative resist composition for immersion exposure including a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F) containing a structural unit having a base dissociable group, an alkali-soluble resin component (A) excluding the fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F), an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and a cross-linking component (C); and a method of forming a resist pattern including applying the negative resist composition for immersion exposure to a substrate to form a resist film, subjecting the resist film to immersion exposure, and subjecting the resist film to alkali developing to form a resist pattern.
US08039198B2	Sulfonium salt-containing polymer, resist composition, and patterning process A polymer comprising recurring units of a sulfonium salt represented by formula (1) is provided as well as a chemically amplified resist composition comprising the same. R1 is H, F, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 to R4 are C1-C10 alkyl or alkoxy, R5 is C1-C30 alkyl or C6-C14 aryl, k, m and n are 0 to 3. The recurring units generate a sulfonic acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation so as to facilitate effective scission of acid labile groups in the resist composition. The resist composition exhibits excellent resolution and a pattern finish with minimal LER.
US08039197B2	Positive type resist composition for use in liquid immersion exposure and a method of forming the pattern using the same A positive type resist composition for use in liquid immersion exposure comprises: (A) a resin having a monocyclic or polycyclic cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon structure, the resin increasing its solubility in an alkali developer by an action of acid; (B) a compound generating acid upon irradiation with one of an actinic ray and a radiation; (C) an alkali soluble compound having an alkyl group of 5 or more carbon atoms; and (D) a solvent.
US08039194B2	Photoacid generators for extreme ultraviolet lithography A photoacid generator P+ A− comprises (a) an antenna group P+ comprising atoms with high EUV photoabsorption cross-sections according to FIG. 1 and A− anions; or (b) an antenna group P+ and A− comprising anions with low photoabsorption cross-sections for EUV; or (c) an antenna group P+, comprising atoms with high EUV photoabsorption cross-sections according to FIG. 1 and A− comprising anions with low photoabsorption cross-sections for EUV. Novel compounds comprise DTFPIO PFBuS, and DTBPIO CN5.
US08039191B2	Toner A toner having a BET specific surface area of from 1.5 to 3.5 m2/g, obtainable by a process including the steps of; step (1): pulverizing a toner composition containing at least a resin binder and a colorant in the presence of fine inorganic particles having an average primary particle size of from 6 to 20 nm to obtain mother toner particles having a volume-median particle size of from 3 to 8 μm; and step (2): externally adding silica having an average primary particle size of from 25 to 60 nm to the mother toner particles obtained in the above step (1). The toner of the present invention is suitably used for, for example, developing a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US08039186B2	Toner for developing electrostatic image, developer for developing electrostatic image, and method for forming image A toner for developing an electrostatic image comprises: a binder resin; and a releasing agent, wherein the binder resin comprises a polycondensation resin obtained by polycondensing a polycondensation monomer in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst, the releasing agent comprises a condensation compound obtained by condensing a condensation monomer in the presence of a condensation catalyst, the toner contains a metallic element derived from the polycondensation catalyst and the condensation catalyst in an amount of from 0 to 10 ppm, and the toner contains a sulfur component in an amount of from 100 to 20,000 ppm.
US08039185B2	Toner for developing a latent electrostatic image, method for producing the same, image-forming apparatus and process cartridge using the same To provide a toner for developing a latent electrostatic image comprising at least a colorant, a wax, and a binder resin, wherein Iwax (s) is a value measured by FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy before heating a mirror-surfaced pellet formed by compressing and molding the toner, and Iwax (t) is a value measured by FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy after heating the pellet at a surface temperature thereof of 130° C. for 1 minute satisfy Formulae (1), (2), (3), and (4), Iwax (t)≧0.2*100/[T½(° C.)] Formula (1) Iwax (s)≦0.26 Formula (2) Iwax (t)≦0.50 Formula (3) Iwax (t)>Iwax (s) Formula (4) wherein both Iwax(s) and Iwax(t) are obtained by a formula: absorbance derived from the wax (2850 cm−1)/absorbance derived from the binder resin (828 cm−1).
US08039182B2	Circuit pattern formation device and method of forming circuit pattern to substrate An object is to improve the adhesion strength between a circuit pattern and its substrate without increasing the resistance value of the circuit pattern in preparation of a circuit pattern holding substrate. A circuit pattern formation device 100 forms, after forming a precursor circuit-pattern 12 in the surface of a dielectric thin film body 4, a circuit pattern 14 onto a target substrate 23 from the dielectric thin film body. After forming an electrostatic latent image 2 in the upper surface of the dielectric thin film body, the electrostatic latent image is exposed using an exposure unit 3 to prepare a pattern. A development apparatus 7 supplies a conductive particle dispersion solution 6 to this pattern to form a precursor circuit-pattern. By energizing the circuit pattern holding substrate 8, in which an adhesive layer 22 is formed, the precursor circuit-pattern is temporarily transferred to the circuit pattern holding substrate. The transferred precursor circuit-pattern is heated using the heater 13 to form a circuit pattern. The circuit pattern and the adhesive layer are released from the circuit pattern holding substrate, thereby transferring to the target substrate.
US08039175B2	Method for shrinkage and porosity control during sintering of multilayer structures The present invention provides a method for producing a multilayer structure, comprising the steps of: providing a composition comprising a Fe—Cr alloy powder and at least one of the oxides of Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu; forming a first layer of said composition; forming at least one additional layer on one side of said first layer; heat treating said layers in an oxygen-containing atmosphere; and sintering in a reducing atmosphere so as to provide a final alloy, wherein the amount of Fe in the final alloy of the first layer after the sintering step is in the range of from about 50-90% by weight, based on the total weight of the final alloy.
US08039172B2	Cathode catalyst for a fuel cell, and a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a fuel cell system comprising the same A cathode catalyst for a fuel cell, and a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a fuel cell system that includes the same. The cathode catalyst includes an active material of an A-B-X compound where A is one of Cu, Ag or a combination thereof, B is one of Nb, Hf; Ta or combinations thereof, and X is one of S, Se, Te or combinations thereof, and a carbon-based material supporting the active material as a carrier.
US08039171B2	Current-collecting composite plate for fuel cell and fuel cell fabricated using same A current-collecting composite plate for a fuel cell configured with unit cells according to the present invention, which comprises: an insulator layer; and a plurality of pairs of conductor layers, the conductor layers being bonded to the insulator layer to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, each pair being used for adjacently disposed anode and cathode electrodes for a different one of the unit cells by sandwiching an electrolyte assembly therebetween. And, each conductor layer includes: a first conductor layer of a corrosion resistant metal treated with an electrically conductive surface treatment; a second conductor layer of a metal with low electrical resistivity; a through-hole penetrating the first conductor layer and the insulator layer; and a connecting portion formed of the second conductor layer for connecting the unit cells.
US08039163B2	Separator and fuel cell using that separator A separator of a fuel cell, which is inserted between single cells, each single cell having an electrolyte sandwiched between electrodes, in order to stack the single cells together, includes gas diffusion portions which are arranged so as to cover a surface of the electrodes and in which are formed multiple air holes for gas diffusion, and spacer portions which form parallel divided gas passages on the back side of portions of the gas diffusion portions which cover the surface of the electrodes. The gas diffusion portions and the spacer portions are integrally formed by bending a wire mesh member to have a rectangular corrugated plate shaped cross-section. As a result, the air holes are formed evenly between the electrodes and the separator and high contact pressure is ensured by the contact of the fine wire mesh, thereby making it possible to both have the gas diffuse evenly and reduce the power collection resistance.
US08039157B2	Startup method for fuel cell stack structure, temperature control method for fuel cell stack structure, and fuel cell stack structure A fuel cell stack structure and a method of starting up the fuel cell stack structure are disclosed. The fuel cell stack structure includes a stack of a plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cells, each equipped with a solid electrolyte simplex cell accommodated in a cell space surrounded by a metallic thin plate-like separator and having one surface exposed to the outside, and a gas flow channel formed in and extending through the solid electrolyte fuel cells to supply gas to the respective cell space areas of the solid electrolyte fuel cells, wherein an area with high-heat capacity is preferentially supplied with and heated by high temperature gas at the stage of increasing temperatures of the plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cells during startup thereof.
US08039154B2	Fuel cell system, method of starting fuel cell system Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.There are provided a fuel cell 121 which generates electric power from a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas, a fuel gas feed pipe 161 and a first switch valve 129 as fuel gas supplying unit which supplies the said fuel gas into the said fuel cell on the anode side thereof, an oxidizing gas supplying pipe 162 and a second cut-off valve 131 as oxidizing agent gas supplying unit which supplies the said oxidizing agent into the said fuel cell on the cathode side thereof, a raw material gas supplying pipe 151 and a third switch valve 143 as raw material gas supplying unit which supplies raw material of the said fuel gas into the fuel cell and a control portion 127 which controls the supply of the said fuel gas, the supply of the said oxidizing agent and the supply of the said raw material and the control portion 127 controls during the starting of electricity generation of the fuel cell 121 such that the said raw material gas supplying unit purges the fuel cell 121 at least on the cathode side thereof with the said raw material gas before the oxidizing agent gas supplying unit and the fuel gas supplying unit supply the fuel gas and the said oxidizing agent gas into the fuel cell 121, respectively.
US08039149B2	Bismuth oxyfluoride based nanocomposites as electrode materials The present invention relates to bismuth oxyfluoride nanocomposites used as positive electrodes in primary and rechargeable electromechanical energy storage systems.
US08039146B2	Electrochemical device comprising alkaline electroylte An electrochemical device, such as an alkaline battery, that is excellent in leakage-resistance and storage characteristics is provided by controlling at least one of the following two conditions with respect to at least the inner side surface of a battery case comprising a nickel plated steel plate. The two conditions are: (1) the intensity ratio of Fe to Ni (IFe/Ni) as determined by electron probe microanalysis; and (2) the ratio of the area with an intensity ratio of Fe to Ni (IFe/Ni) of greater than 1.0 as determined by electron probe microanalysis to the whole area.
US08039145B2	Secondary battery module with exposed unit cells and insulation between terminals Disclosed herein is a high-output, large-capacity secondary battery module, having a plurality of unit cells electrically connected to each other, for charging and discharging electricity. A plurality of unit cells are stacked one on another and mounted on a plate, preferably, between an upper case and a lower case, which are separated from each other, circuit units are continuously mounted at the side surfaces of the module for sensing the voltage, the current, and the temperature of the battery, controlling the battery, and interrupting electricity when overcurrent is generated, whereby the secondary battery module is constructed in a compact structure, design of the battery module is easily changed depending upon electrical capacity and output, and components of the battery module are stably mounted.
US08039144B2	Electrochemical cell with singular coupling and method for making same An electrochemical cell (400) is provided having a singular electrical coupling. A flexible substrate (200) having an interconnect extension (209) is coupled to an electrochemical cell structure (300). The assembly is then placed into an enclosure (301), such that a portion of the flexible substrate (200) is disposed within the enclosure (301). The enclosure (301) is then sealed about the interconnect extension (209) such that the interconnect extension (209) projects distally from the closure (404) as a singular electrical coupling. Embodiments of the invention facilitate the manufacture of narrow cells without compromising cell reliability.
US08039143B2	Electrode unit for prismatic battery, prismatic battery, and method of manufacturing electrode unit for prismatic battery To provide an electrode unit for a prismatic battery capable of increasing the output of the battery while suppressing the battery internal resistance value and improving the degree of freedom of the size of the electrode plate. An electrode unit for a prismatic battery including an electrode group in which positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates in an almost rectangular shape are alternately stacked with separators interposed therebetween. In each of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, core material exposed portions are formed at least on two side edges. The positive electrode plates and the negative electrode plate are stacked such that their core material exposed portions are directed not to overlap each other in the stack direction. The electrode unit for a prismatic battery includes a positive current collector having a shape capable of joining to all of the core material exposed portions of the positive electrode plates constituting the electrode group, and a negative current collector capable of joining to all of the core material exposed portions of the negative electrode plates constituting the electrode group, not in contact with the positive current collector.
US08039142B2	Battery case The present invention provides a battery including a case, a connector, the holding member, and a resilient conductive plate. In the case, two battery cells each in the form of a flattened rectangular plate are accommodated. The connector is exposed from the case. The holding member is for holding the two battery cells in the case. The holding member is made of a nonconductive resilient material and has a first battery accommodating section and a second battery accommodating section in which the battery cells each in the form of a flattened rectangular plate are accommodated in a juxtaposed relationship so as to form a rectangular shape as viewed in plan. The resilient conductive plate extends on the holding member for electrically connecting the two battery cells accommodated in the first and second battery accommodating sections and the connector to each other.
US08039139B2	Prismatic-cell battery pack with integral coolant passages A prismatic-cell battery pack is provided with integral coolant passages including an intake plenum, an exhaust plenum, and a distributed array of coolant channels coupled between the intake plenum and the exhaust plenum. Coolant medium forced into the intake plenum enters the coolant channels in parallel, draws heat away from the battery cells, and then enters the exhaust plenum for expulsion into the atmosphere. The battery pack is configured as a set of stackable interlocking battery cell modules including at least one battery cell in thermal proximity to an array of coolant channels distributed over the profile of the battery cell, and a pair of peripheral chambers joined to opposite ends of the coolant channels to form the intake and exhaust plenums when the modules are arranged and interlocked in a lineal stack.
US08039137B2	Battery cooling device, air flow control device, and computer readable medium In a battery cooling device for cooling a battery with air from a cooling unit, such as a cooling fan, the air flow of the cooling unit is optimally controlled. A air flow control device calculates a calorific value of the battery based on an internal resistance of the battery and a charge/discharge current measured by a current measurement unit, calculates the difference as a differential temperature between battery temperature measured by a battery temperature measurement unit and ambient temperature measured by an ambient temperature measurement unit, and controls the air flow of the cooling fan on the basis of the calculated calorific value and the differential temperature.
US08039126B2	Materials for organic electroluminescent devices The present invention relates to triarylamines which are substituted by defined groups. These compounds can be used for producing organic electroluminescent devices.
US08039123B2	Phosphorescent heteronuclear copper(I)-iridium(III) complex and organic electroluminescence device using the same Provided are a high-efficiency, photoluminescent heteronuclear copper (I)-iridium (III) complex and an organic electroluminescent device using the complex. The photoluminescent heteronuclear copper (I)-iridium (III) complex can be used to form an organic layer of an organic electroluminescent device, can emit light of 590-630 nm as a high-efficiency, photoluminescent material, and provides a high brightness and a low turn-on voltage.
US08039115B2	Metallic aircraft component The invention relates to metallic aircraft components which can preferably be used for aircraft structures in the fuselage region. A damage-tolerant design is usual for aircraft components in the fuselage region. It is the object of the invention to provide metallic components in which metal sheets are connected to one another by weld seams which have an improved damage tolerance behavior and fatigue crack propagation behavior. In an aircraft component in accordance with the invention, at least two metal sheets are welded to one another as butt joints. The centerline of the join line of the weld seam is predetermined by the outer edge contour of the metal sheets connected to one another. In this connection, it is formed deviant from a continuously straight line shape such that the total length of the weld seam is increased by changes in direction periodically occurring at the edge contours engaging into one another in a complementary manner.
US08039113B2	Environmental barrier coatings providing CMAS mitigation capability for ceramic substrate components Environmental barrier coating having CMAS mitigation capability for oxide components. In one embodiment, the barrier coating includes an outer layer selected from AeAl2O19, AeHfO3, AeZrO3, ZnAl2O4, MgAl2O4, Ln4Al2O9, Lna4Ga2O9, Ln3Al5O12, Ln3Ga5O12, and Ga2O3.
US08039108B2	Member for cavitation erosion resistance and method for manufacturing same A member (1) resistant to erosion by cavitation on which an amorphous carbon film coating is formed on a surface of a base material has at least a first amorphous carbon film coating (4) having a plurality of columnar structures (4a) on the surface of the base material (2), and a second amorphous carbon film coating (5) having a plurality of granular structures (5a) deposited with no orientation on the surface of the first amorphous carbon film coating (4).
US08039104B2	(Meth)acrylate block copolymer pressure sensitive adhesives Articles are provided that include an optical film and an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive layer on at least one outer surface of the optical film. Additionally, articles are provided that include a pressure sensitive adhesive layer that resists bubble formation when adhered to an outgassing substrate. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer in the various articles contain a (meth)acrylate block copolymer.
US08039101B2	Radio-opaque dental prosthetic member The invention relates to a prefabricated radio-opaque dental prosthetic member made of a composite material that comprises fibers embedded in a resin, said resin containing at least one radio-opaque component, characterized in that the radio-opaque component consists of nanoparticles having a size lower than 50 nm in order to transmit a portion or the totality of the wavelengths ranging from 400 to 600 nm of an incident radiation.
US08039098B2	Coating composition, optical film, antireflective film, polarizing plate, and display device using the same A coating composition capable of improving evenness in drying and evenness in airing and causing no impairment of evenness in coating, which is useful for an antireflective film having high uniformity in surface conditions and attaining sufficient antireflection performance and for a polarizing plate and a display device each using such an antireflective film. A coating composition including a fluoroaliphatic group-containing copolymer that includes a repeating unit corresponding to the fluoroaliphatic group-containing monomer represented by the following formula (1) and a repeating unit corresponding to the monomer represented by the following formula (2) was found: in formula [1], R0 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a methyl group; L represents a divalent linkage group; and n represents an integer of 1 to 18, and in formula [2], R11 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a methyl group; L11 represents a divalent linkage group; and R13, R14 and R15 each represents a 1-20C linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group which may have a substituent.
US08039094B2	Machine-readable security element for security products The invention relates to a machine-readable security element for security products, containing at least one particulate substance that has electroluminescent properties and a transparent, electrically conductive pigment. Also disclosed are a printing ink for producing such a security element and a security product comprising said security element.
US08039093B2	Method for preparing tamperproof ID documents A method for preparing a tamperproof ID document comprising in order the steps of a) providing an ID document having at least one image on at least one outermost surface of said ID document; b) printing or coating a curable liquid on at least one of said outermost surfaces of said ID document thereby forming an outermost layer on said printed or coated outermost surface at least partially covering said at least one image; and c) curing said outermost layer; wherein said curable liquid comprises a polymerizable and/or a polymeric abherent agent and said printed or coated outermost surface is the surface of a layer or foil exclusive of porous pigment. Also disclosed is an ID document wherein the surface of an outermost layer at least partially covering an image on the ID document has a surface energy of less than 28 mN/m; and the use of an abherent agent-comprising curable composition to provide ID-documents with a substantially non-printable and substantially non-laminatable abhesive surface.
US08039091B2	Decorative panel with surface printing A decorative panel includes a body constructed from a single layer of a polymer based blanket material having a surface zone. Printing is directly applied to an exposed face of that surface zone. The surface zone may be densified relative to the remainder of the body to tune the acoustical and physical properties of the panel for a particular application and/or to allow for high definition printing.
US08039088B2	Honeycomb structure A honeycomb structure includes at least one honeycomb unit. The at least one honeycomb unit has a longitudinal direction and includes plural cell walls extending from one end face to another end face along the longitudinal direction to define plural cells. The at least one honeycomb unit includes inorganic particles, an inorganic binder, and inorganic fibers. A degree of orientation of the inorganic fibers in an a-axis direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is about 0.5 or less.
US08039084B2	Honeycomb structure There is disclosed a honeycomb structure 1 having a plurality of cells 4 partitioned by cell walls 2 to function as fluid passages, a predetermined cell 4 being plugged by a plugging material at one end face, a remaining cell 4 being plugged by the plugging material at the other end face, wherein a Young's modulus of the plugging material is lower than that of the cell wall 2. A strength of the plugging material is lower than that of the cell wall. A porosity of the plugging material is 97% or more of that of the cell wall. There is provided a honeycomb structure whose end face is not easily cracked and which is superior in durability.
US08039081B2	Fuzzy woven layers, geocomposite laminates incorporating them, and related methods Void-maintaining laminates comprising fuzzy woven or fuzzy membrane layers are provided. Laminates of the present invention comprise at least one sheet-like core element, typically comprising void spaces or channels and, bonded thereto, at least one layer of fuzzy woven composite for use in geotechnical applications. The superior adhesion or bonding of the respective layers to one another, and its contribution to the structural integrity of void spaces or channels, enables the construction and positioning of drainage composites having the desirable characteristics of high permittivity and high transmissivity. Numerous embodiments of the invention are possible. Fuzzy geocomposites of the invention can be used, for example, underneath buildings, foundations, roadways and other paved structures, or in landfills or other types of geotechnical installations to replace or complement conventional drainage materials such as sand, stone and gravel. Methods for making the fuzzy geocomposites are also provided.
US08039080B2	Segmented insulative device and related kit A segmented insulative device and related kit for insulating components of a thermal distribution system. The kit includes a sheet of segmented insulation formed by a composite layer of segmented, flexible, pre-sewn insulation that is easily cut to size in the field using scissors, utility knives or other simple, hand-held cutting devices. The kit also includes two-sided hook-and-loop straps as fasteners, also easily cut to length, using hand-held devices. The segmented insulation and the hook-and-loop straps are attached to one another in the field using a stapler or other hand-held attachment device. This provides an installation kit that an installer can use to provide a versatile insulation in the form of the assembled segmented insulative device. The segmented insulative device lends itself to quick customization on-site rather than requiring costly off-site manufacture or pre-assembly and subsequent quick installation on the pipe component requiring thermal installation.
US08039079B2	Low permeance segmented insulative device and related kit A segmented insulative device and related kit for insulating components of a thermal distribution system, and particularly chilled fluid systems. The kit includes a sheet of segmented insulation formed by a composite layer of segmented, flexible, pre-sewn insulation that is easily cut to size in the field using scissors, utility knives or other simple, hand-held cutting devices. The composite layer includes at least one outer layer of low permeance laminate devoid of stitching and adhered to the pre-sewn insulation. The kit also includes low permeance pressure-sensitive adhesive tape as fasteners, also easily cut to length, using hand-held devices. The low permeance laminate and the low permeance pressure-sensitive adhesive tape form a contiguous outer water vapor barrier free of stitching that would otherwise compromise low permeance. The segmented insulation and the fasteners are attached to one another in the field. This provides an installation kit that an installer can use to provide a versatile insulation in the form of the assembled segmented insulative device that insulates against heat gain to the chilled surface and retards the intrusion of water vapor into the insulation as well as to the chilled surface. The segmented insulative device lends itself to quick customization on-site rather than requiring costly off-site manufacture or pre-assembly and subsequent quick installation on the pipe component requiring thermal installation.
US08039076B2	Dye and recording media utilizing the same The invention provides dyes for optical disc recoding media, having the general formula: wherein m, n is independently selected from integers 0-3; X represents oxygen, sulfur, C—R1, or N—R2R3; Y is oxygen or sulfur; each of R1, R2, and R3 can be the same or different; and Z⊕ is a cation. The dyes have a maximum absorption in wavelength of 300-500 nm and can be used in recording layers of high density optical disc recording media.
US08039069B2	Composite structural part formed of multiple layer fibrous preforms inter-fitted with one another and reinforced with a polymer matrix coating A composite part including a fibrous assembly including at least two preforms each of which includes layers of fibrous cloths. Each preform includes at least one opening or protruding structure which is substantially complementary to the structure of the other preform. The first and second preforms are engagement with one another and are firmly connected by a polymer matrix being injected around the preforms.
US08039067B2	Cellulose acylate film and method for producing same, and retardation film, polarizer and liquid crystal display device comprising the film A cellulous acylate film in which X-ray diffractive intensity satisfies the following Formulae (I) to (V) and in which a half-value width of the peak at 2θ2 is 2.8° or less as observed in the sectional view in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the film: 0.60≦Ici/Ico Formula (I) Iam=I1+{(I3−I1)/(2θ3−2θ1)}×(2θ2−2θ1) Formula (II) Ic=I2−Iam Formula (III) Ici=Ic11/Ic12 Formula (IV) Ico={(Ic21/Ic22)+(Ic31/Ic32)}/2. Formula (V)
US08039063B2	Liquid crystal display device having organic alignment layer and fabrication method thereof A method for fabricating an alignment film is provided. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a plurality of region defining strips at an interval on the substrate, and forming organic alignment strips for aligning liquid crystal molecules between the region defining strips by applying an organic alignment material on the substrate.
US08039056B2	Polymer thin film, patterned substrate, patterned medium for magnetic recording, and method of manufacturing these articles A polymer thin film in which cylindrical phases are distributed in a continuous phase and are oriented in a pass-through-direction of the film includes at least: a first block copolymer including at least a block chain A1, as a component of the continuous phase, composed of polymerized monomers a1, and a block chain B1, as a component of the cylindrical phases, composed of polymerized monomers b1; and a second block copolymer including at least a block chain A2, as a component of the continuous phase, composed of polymerized monomers a2, and a block chain B2, as a component of the cylindrical phases, composed of polymerized monomers b2, with the second copolymer having a degree of polymerization different from that of the first copolymer. A film thickness of the polymer thin film and an average center distance between adjacent cylindrical phases have a relation represented by a predetermined expression.
US08039054B2	Layer deposition methods A layer deposition method includes: feeding a reactant with a first flow of an inert gas as a carrier gas into a reaction chamber to chemisorb the reactant on a substrate; feeding the first flow of the inert gas to purge the reaction chamber and a first reactant feed line; and feeding the second flow of the inert gas into the reaction chamber through a feed line different from the first reactant feed line.
US08039053B2	Method for making a part of composite material with ceramic matrix and resulting part An interphase coating is formed by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) on the fibers constituting a fiber preform, the interphase coating comprising at least an inner layer in contact with the fibers for embrittlement relief to the composite material, and an outer layer for bonding with the ceramic matrix. The fiber preform is then kept in its shape by the fibers provided with the interphase coating and is consolidated by being impregnated with a liquid composition containing a ceramic precursor, and by transforming the precursor into a ceramic matrix consolidation phase. The consolidated preform is then densified by an additional ceramic matrix phase. No support tooling is needed for forming the interphase coating by CVI or for densification after consolidation using the liquid technique.
US08039046B2	Friction reduction composition and method The present invention relates to compositions which are suitable for use as friction reducing agents, which can be particularly useful as release agents. The compositions comprise water and a surfactant capable of forming liquid crystals. The invention also relates to methods of production of such compositions, their use and substrates treated with such compositions.
US08039035B2	Batch rice production system and improved microwavable, commercially sterile, shelf-stable rice product A batch rice production system suitable for retort sterilization operations is provided. The system includes blanching a dry rice product to a desired hydration pick-up to yield a partially hydrated rice product; and topically coating the partially hydrated rice product by mixing with an oil-in-water lubricating slurry including oil, an amount of water, desired seasonings, and optional additives, wherein the amount of water includes an amount necessary to substantially achieve a desired target hydration pick-up prior to charging a retort pouch with the hydrated rice product. The system permits manipulation of two points of hydration pick-up to achieve a target hydration pick-up enabling use of gentler fill feed mechanisms and increasing versatility in the selection of rice types and flavoring additives. A superior microwaveable, shelf-stable, commercially sterile, highly palatable rice product that resembles consumer-preferred stove-top prepared rice products is also provided.
US08039033B2	Method and device for preparing coffee Device (1) for the preparation of coffee, wherein a water/coffee powder mixture is introduced into a cylindrical space (10). The cylindrical peripheral wall (15) is made as a vertical screen and by rotation/centrifugation the prepared beverage is forced through the filter to the outside, whilst granular coffee material remains behind. The top part (17) and the bottom part (19) of the holder (16) are made such they can be moved with respect to the cylinder wall. The motor (26) for rotation is above or below the top part or, alternatively, bottom part. Furthermore, there is a construction for producing the displacement of the top part or bottom part of the holder with the same motor.
US08039032B2	Method for processing ovulated eggs of aquatic animals into delicacy foods A method for processing ovulated eggs of an aquatic animal into delicacy foods. Ovulated eggs are harvested without harmful intervention of the aquatic animal. The harvested ovulated eggs are exogenously treated in an aqueous solution by adding at least one signal transduction molecule. Accordingly the membrane of the egg is physiologically stabilized by ovoperoxidase activation. The signal transduction molecule is naturally occurring in the egg cell. The eggs are then preserved.
US08039031B2	Methods and apparatus for treating plant products using electromagnetic fields The disclosure relates to the use of electromagnetic field energy in methods and apparatus for treatment of plant products. The energy can be in the form of pulsed EMF or continuous EMF waves. The methods and apparatus are applicable, for example, in a variety of plant products including the treating of corn, soybeans, peas, wheat, wheat flour, and durum pasta and in a variety of industrial processes including wet and dry milling and refining operations. The methods and apparatus in particular embodiments relate to the drying of corn with potential for high energy efficiency while achieving advantageous, high quality dried corn, with a low to very low level of cracks.
US08039024B2	Device and composition for the delivery of a preservative-free balsamic cream A device and composition for delivering menthol, camphor, eucalyptus essential oils, and other essential oils with balsamic benefits, to be used for the relief of symptoms of common cold.
US08039023B1	Composition for relief of menstrual cramps and muscle cramps A composition is disclosed which provides relief from menstrual cramps and muscle cramps within three to seven minutes after ingestion. The composition is preferably a mixture in the form of an aqueous solution with components mixed within approximately fifty percent of the following amounts: 60 mg/liter of calcium gluconate, 75 mg/liter of potassium bicarbonate, 90 mg/liter of L glutamine, 5 mg/liter of calcium chloride, 150 mg/liter of potassium chloride; 60 mg/liter of calcium ascorbate; 100 mg/liter of magnesium glycinate, and 15 mg/liter of potassium citrate. The liquid solution is taken by a human in a dosage of one to four ounces, depending upon the body weight of the person, whether the person is experiencing menstrual cramps or muscle cramps, and the area affected when the person is seeking relief from muscle cramps.
US08039021B2	Bioresorbable polymer matrices and methods of making and using the same A bioerodible composition for delivery of a bioactive agent is the reaction product of a reaction mixture which includes an oxidized dextran solution, and a mixture of solids containing a dihydrazide, a bioactive agent, and optionally a pH adjusting agent in an amount sufficient to achieve a pH of the reaction mixture of 6 or less. The composition may include a release agent for controlled release of the bioactive agent from the composition. A bioactive agent may therefore be administered to a body site in need of the same by providing a first aliquot portion of a reaction mixture comprising an oxidized dextran solution, and a second aliquot portion of a reaction mixture comprising a mixture of solids comprised of a dihydrazide, a bioactive agent, and a solid acid which is present in an amount sufficient to achieve a pH of the reaction mixture of 6 or less, mixing the first and second aliquot portions to form the reaction mixture thereof, and thereafter installing the reaction mixture at the body site and allowing a solidified bioerodible drug delivery composition to be formed thereby in situ.
US08039017B2	Wound care device A wound care device for local treatment of pain in a wound, said device comprising an active pain relieving composition, the device being constructed in such a manner that the pain killing agent is released to the wound in such a way that substantially no effective systemic plasma concentration of the pain killing agent can be found and wherein a majority of said pain killing agent is in direct contact with the wound.
US08039016B2	Malleable implants containing demineralized bone matrix Described are malleable medical compositions such as pastes or putties that include solids combined with a liquid carrier. The solids can include particulate collagen and particulate demineralized bone matrix. The liquid carrier includes an aqueous medium comprising one or more polysaccharides. Also described are methods for making and using such medical compositions.
US08039013B2	Synergistic fungidical active substance combinations The present invention relates to novel active substance combinations which contain spiroxamine, which is known, a known azole and a known carboxamide and which are very suitable for controlling undesired phytopathogenic fungi.
US08039012B2	Topical compositions for anti-aging and methods of using same A pharmaceutical composition for treatment of skin aging including a pharmaceutically effective amount of estriol; a pharmaceutically effective amount of estradiol; a pharmaceutically effective amount of hyaluronic acid; a pharmaceutically effective amount of green tea extract; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is provided. In some embodiments, the composition further includes ascorbic acid, date palm extract, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a method for treating symptoms of skin aging and photoaging by administering a pharmaceutical composition having estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally, ascorbic acid and date palm extract. A method of promoting urogenital function is likewise provided wherein a pharmaceutical composition having estriol, estradiol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract is applied intravaginally.
US08039011B2	Skin cooling compositions Provided is a temperature change composition including a neurosensory component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature between about 15 degrees C. and about 40 degrees C. Also provided is a temperature change composition including an evaporative cooling component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature. Also provided is a temperature change composition for cooling skin, the composition including a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature; and a second phase change component having a second phase change temperature different from the first phase change temperature.
US08039008B2	Identification of residues critical for the function of the vibrio cholerae virulence regulator ToxT by scanning alanine mutagenesis Disclosed are Vibrio cholerae comprising a mutated transcriptional regulatory protein (ToxT) amino acid sequence, wherein the mutation results in a reduction in the expression of cholera toxin by the Vibrio cholerae. Also disclosed are Vibrio cholerae comprising a mutated transcriptional regulatory protein (ToxT) amino acid sequence, wherein the mutation results in an increase in transcription of the nucleic acid encoding the mutated ToxT. Vaccines comprising the aforementioned Vibrio cholerae are disclosed. Also disclosed are amino acid sequences that encode a mutated ToxT protein.
US08039007B2	Polypeptides from Neisseria meningitidis Various specific meningococcal proteins are disclosed. The invention provides related polypeptides, nucleic acids, antibodies and methods. These can all be used in medicine for treating or preventing disease and/or infection caused by meningococcus, such as bacterial meningitis.
US08039006B2	Solid composition containing bacillus-type non-pathogenic bacterial spores The invention relates to a composition of spores of nonpathogenic bacteria of the Bacillus genus, adsorbed onto a matrix made up of at least one water-insoluble adsorbent compound and a cellulose derivative, which can be obtained by the fluidized air bed technique, useful in the pharmaceutical, veterinary and nutrition fields.
US08038999B2	Breast cancer eradication program A method of treating breast cancer that is at least partially ER+ is disclosed. The method comprises administering at a tumor site in a mammalian subject a pharmaceutically acceptable form of Fe(II) or Fe(III) in a suitable carrier. A four-part program aimed at eradicating breast cancer includes (a) local treatment and prevention of spread from a contained breast site, preferably using local administration of a ferric iron composition, (b) treatment of disseminated (metastatic) breast cancer, (c) reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer, preferably by enhancing dimeric/polymeric IgA and polymeric IgM inhibition of estrogen responsive cell growth, and (d) protection against cancer causing agents.
US08038997B2	Anti-marinobufagenin antibodies and methods for their use Described herein are deposited hybridoma cell lines and the monoclonal antibodies produced by these hybridomas, and antigen binding fragments thereof. These monoclonal antibodies and antigen binding fragments specifically bind marinobufagenin. The disclosure also encompasses the use of these monoclonal antibodies or antigen binding fragments in a method for detecting the presence of marinobufagenin in a biological sample. Also provided are methods for the use of these monoclonal antibodies or antigen binding fragments as prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic agents for the detection, inhibition and treatment of a cardiovascular disease, for example, essential hypertension, hypertension associated with preeclampsia, eclampsia, or renal failure, or myocardial fibrosis in a subject.
US08038987B2	Process for the preparation of coated polymer particles A process for the preparation of coated polymer particles containing superparamagnetic crystals, said process comprising reacting porous, surface-functionalized, superparamagnetic crystal-containing polymer particles of diameter 0.5 to 1.8 μm with at least one polyisocyanate and at least one diol or at least one epoxide.
US08038985B1	Pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08038977B2	Carbon powder suitable as a negative electrode material for nonaqueous secondary batteries Carbon powder having low temperature calcined carbon derived from pitch adhered to a portion of the surface of natural graphite powder is obtained by solids mixing of natural graphite powder and pitch powder as a carbon precursor followed by heat treatment at 900-1500° C. to carbonize the pitch. The amount of pitch powder is such that the ratio V2/V1 of the pore volume V2 of pores having a diameter of 50-200 nm to the pore volume V1 of pores having a diameter of 2-50 nm in a pore size distribution curve obtained by analysis of the nitrogen desorption isotherm of the resulting carbon powder by the BJH method is at least 1. This carbon powder can be used as a negative electrode material for a nonaqueous secondary battery able to operate at low temperatures.
US08038975B2	Process for preparing crystalline hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid A process for preparing crystalline hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid by a. reacting hydroxylamine or a hydroxylammonium salt with oleum/sulfuric acid or with chlorosulfonic acid/sulfuric acid at a temperature in the range from 90 to 130° C., b. continuing to stir the reaction mixture at a temperature in the range from 90 to 130° C. for a period of from 2 to 24 hours, c. cooling the reaction mixture to a temperature in the range from 10 to 40° C. within a period of from 1 to 12 hours and d. subsequently removing and washing the hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid which has crystallized out.
US08038972B2	Higher order silane composition, method for manufacturing film-coated substrate, electro-optical device and electronic device A higher order silane composition, includes: a higher order silane compound; and a solvent containing one of a substituted hydrocarbon based solvent and an unsubstituted hydrocarbon based solvent. As the solvent, a solvent having a refractive index of 1.53 or more is selected so that the higher order silane compound is dissolved therein.
US08038971B2	Fumed silica of controlled aggregate size and processes for manufacturing the same The invention provides fumed silica comprising aggregates that have an aggregate size and a surface area that satisfy particular formulas relating aggregate size to surface area, as well as aggregates that exhibit particular viscosity, power law exponent index, and/or elastic modulus characteristics when dispersed in liquid media. The invention also provides processes of preparing such fumed silica by combining a silica precursor with a stream of combustible gas, combusting the stream, and producing a stream of combusted gas and fumed silica particles, wherein dopants are introduced, the time/temperature profile, or history, of the stream of combusted gas and fumed silica particles is adjusted to allow for post-quench aggregate growth, and/or additional silica precursor is introduced into the stream of combusted gas.
US08038970B2	Process for producing metal peroxide films Disclosed are adhesive coating compositions containing a metal peroxide for producing clear colorless adhesive coatings on substrates, particularly micro particulate substrates. In one preferred embodiment the nanoparticle coatings are chemically active and function at a high level of efficiency due to the high total surface area of the micro particulate substrate. Also disclosed are coated substrates and compositions having nanoparticles bound to a substrate by the coating compositions.
US08038966B2	Composition formed of moldable polymers possessing a lasting hydrophilic nature, channels for aqueous fluids based on this composition, microfluidic system incorporating these channels and its process of manufacture The invention relates to a durable hydrophilic non-porous surface-modified polymer composition, to aqueous fluid channels based on said composition, to a microfluidic system comprising said channels, to a method for the production thereof and to a microfluidic chip or cells incorporating said composition.
US08038965B2	Diagnostic kit The present invention relates to a diagnostic kit and more specifically to a self contained diagnostic kit providing analysis of a sample by a sample collectin element and an immunochromatography test strip.
US08038964B2	Device for studying individual cells A device for studying individual cells including a picowell array (such as an array of microwells, dimples, depressions, tubes or enclosures) and a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the picowells through channels is disclosed. Preferably, the device has a moveable lid that in one rest location allows loading of cells in the picowell array. Preferably the channels of the device are capillary channels.Also disclosed is a device for the automated study of cells including a picowell-bearing device having a picowell array with a moveable lid, a lid-moving component, at least one solution dispensing component and a control system functionally associated with the lid-moving component as well as with the solution dispensing component.
US08038959B2	Reacting device A reacting device includes a base plate, a first reaction unit provided on the base plate, a reaction material being supplied thereto, the first reaction unit being set at a first temperature, a reaction flow channel being formed such that the reaction material flows therein, the first reaction unit causing a reaction of the reaction material and at least one heating unit which sets the first reaction unit at the first temperature. The first reaction unit has a plurality of reactors that communicate with each other, and the heating unit is provided between the adjacent reactors.
US08038955B2	Catalyst supporting honeycomb and method of manufacturing the same A catalyst supporting honeycomb including a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure having a plurality of cells formed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall interposed therebetween, and catalyst particles supported on the honeycomb structure. The catalyst particles include an oxide catalyst, an average particle diameter of which is at least about 0.05 μm and at most about 1.00 μm.
US08038954B2	CSF with low platinum/palladium ratios An emission treatment system including a catalyzed soot filter comprising a wall flow monolith and a catalyst comprising at least two types of support particles is described. The first support particle contains at least a platinum component, the second support particles contains at least a palladium component. The wall flow monolith may be washcoated with a slurry comprising at least two types of particles without applying a passivation layer to the wall flow monolith.
US08038950B2	Fluidized-bed reactor for carrying out a gas-phase reaction A fluidized-bed reactor for carrying out a gas-phase reaction, in which a gaseous reaction mixture flows from the bottom upward through a heterogeneous particulate catalyst forming a fluidized bed and internals are arranged in the fluidized bed, wherein the internals divide the fluidized bed into a plurality of cells arranged horizontally in the fluidized-bed reactor and a plurality of cells arranged vertically in the fluidized-bed reactor, with the cells having cell walls which are permeable to gas and have openings which ensure an exchange number of the heterogeneous particulate catalyst in the vertical direction in the range from 1 to 100 liters/hour per liter of reactor volume, is proposed.
US08038944B1	Electrokinetic device for capturing assayable agents in a dielectric fluid Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. In one embodiment, the agents are directed electrokinetically to the sample collection assay device with no intermediate transfer steps. The agents are directed by creation of an electrokinetic potential well, which will effect their capture on to an assay device. Environmental agents such as biowarfare agents, pathogens, allergens or pollutants are collected autonomously on to the assay device, without any human intervention. The dielectric fluid medium, such as air, is sampled by electrokinetic propulsion with no moving parts or optionally, by transporting the dielectric fluid by a fan, pump or by breath. A further embodiment for collection of pathogen samples entails breathing into a tube where the sample is exposed to an electric plasma in the neighborhood of a high voltage electrode or electrodes, further transported by the breath through a potential well created at a sample collection device, where charge particles are electroprecipitated. The dielectric fluid medium may further include non-conductive liquids, such as oils. Oils may be sampled for the presence of contaminants, contaminating organisms or bio-degrading organisms.
US08038940B2	Automated machine for transferring solution from a source microwell plate to a destination microwell plate An automated machine for transferring solution from a source microwell plate to a destination microwell plate. A plurality of pins is used for transferring the solution. The pins are attached to pin assemblies. The pin assemblies are attached to the circumference of a circular dial that is rotatably connected to the automated machine. The circular dial rotates the pins form a solution removal position to a solution transfer position and then to a pin cleaning position. Solution is removed from individual wells at the solution removal position and the solution is transferred to individual wells at the solution transfer position. The pins are cleaned at the pin cleaning position. A computer is programmed to control the automated machine and the transfer of solution. In a preferred embodiment, the computer is programmed to: 1) execute a saved transfer list, 2) accept a customized input list from an operator, 3) execute the customized input list, and 4) save the customized input list for later execution. In a preferred embodiment, the automated machine is utilized for transferring variable volumes of solution from the source microwell plate to the destination microwell plate.
US08038934B2	High-strength spring steel excellent in brittle fracture resistance and method for producing same A spring steel having a high strength of 1900 MPa or more and superior in the brittle fracture resistance, as well as a method for manufacturing the same, are provided.The high strength spring steel comprises, as basic components in mass %, C: 0.4-0.6%, Si: 1.4-3.0%, Mn: 0.1-1.0%, Cr: 0.2-2.5%, P: 0.025% or less, S: 0.025% or less, N: 0.006% or less, Al: 0.1% or less, and O: 0.003% or less, the amount of solute C being 0.15% or less, the amount of Cr contained as a Cr-containing precipitate being 0.10% or less, and a TS value represented by the following equation being 24.8% or more, and in point of structure, the pre-austenite grain diameter being 10 μm or smaller, wherein TS=28.5[C]+4.9[Si]+0.5[Mn]+2.5[Cr]+1.7[V]+3.7[Mo] where [X] stands for mass % of element X.
US08038929B2	Method of making a molded body using a chopper blade and a planetary blade A method of manufacturing a sintered body is provided. A molding powder, a gel-forming material powder and a solvent are mixed at a temperature not higher than a dissolving point of the gel-forming material. A treatment of pulverizing agglomerates containing the molding powder, gel-forming material powder and solvent absorbed in the gel-forming material powder is carried out. The mixture is then heated to a temperature not lower than the dissolving point thereby forming a sol. The sol is then cooled to a temperature not higher than the gel point, thereby forming a molding material. The molding material is used for producing a sintering body.
US08038928B2	Method for manufacturing a ceramic filter element In a method for manufacturing a ceramic filter element for an exhaust gas filter for internal combustion engines, a combustible non-ceramic support web provided with flow channel is impregnated with ceramic slurry. Subsequently, the support web, formed in a desired geometric shape, is fired until the support web is combusted and a rigid filter body is produced. Before impregnating the support web, a combustible sealing bead is applied such onto the support web that the flow channels are closed alternatingly by the sealing bead.
US08038920B2	Methods of producing PVA hydrogel implants and related devices Methods of fabricating elastomeric implants employ a mold with PVA crystals and irrigant added to the mold independent of each other. Related molds are also described.
US08038918B2	Multiple component container and method of molding same A container and method of forming intimately bonded plastic components including a lower base with a closed bottom and an upstanding peripheral wall, and an upwardly extending ring telescopically engaged with the base and extending from a lower edge at an intermediate height on said base wall to an upper edge vertically spaced above the base wall to define three distinct zones along the height of the container.
US08038909B2	Solution-based fabrication of photovoltaic cell An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H2Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.
US08038907B2	Aligned nanostructured polymers Novel, simple methods are presented directed to the synthesis of aligned nanofibers of polyaniline and substituted derivatives on a substrate. The production of these fibers is achieved via various methods by controlling the concentration of aniline monomer or substituted aniline derivatives or an oxidant in the reaction medium and maintaining said concentration at a level much lower than conventional polyaniline synthesis methods. Methods are disclosed relating to the use of a permeable membrane to control the release of a monomer and/or oxidant as well as a bulk polymerization method.
US08038896B2	Plasma processing method and apparatus Plasma processing of plural substrates is performed in a plasma processing apparatus, which is provided with a plasma processing chamber having an antenna electrode and a lower electrode for placing and retaining the plural substrates in turn within the plasma processing chamber, a gas feeder for feeding processing gas into the processing chamber, a vacuum pump for discharging gas from the processing chamber via a vacuum valve, and a solenoid coil for forming a magnetic field within the processing chamber. At least one of the plural substrates is placed on the lower electrode, and the processing gas is fed into the processing chamber. RF power is fed to the antenna electrode via a matching network to produce a plasma within the processing chamber in which a magnetic field has been formed by the solenoid coil. This placing of at least one substrate and this feeding of the processing gas are then repeated until the plasma processing of all of the plural substrates is completed. An end of seasoning is determined when a parameter including an internal pressure of the processing chamber has become stable to a steady value with plasma processing time.
US08038889B2	Cleaning device A screen cleaning apparatus for use, for example, in connection with a discharge conduit of a sewage pumping station, may include a housing, a screen, a rake and a float. The housing may operate to contain a fluid (and/or define a container for the other components) and include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The screen may be positioned in the housing and define one or more apertures. The rake may also be positioned in the housing and have one or more protrusions, with each protrusion extending into a respective aperture in the screen. The float may apply a force to the rake so that the rake moves relative to the screen and in dependence upon variations of a volume of fluid received in the housing. Accordingly, the rake may rise and fall will the fluid level to remove debris from the screen.
US08038888B2	Fluid treatment device for fluid activation A periphery of a fluid passage (1) extended through a casing (10) is enclosed by a conductive metal layer (5) formed from a non-magnetic material. Four permanent magnets (M1 to M4) are arranged along an outside surface of the inside conductive metal layer (5). The individual permanent magnets (M1 to M4) are closely spaced from each other as defining gaps (G) therebetween. The north poles and the south poles of the magnets are closely spaced from each other at a gap (G) between a first permanent magnet (M1) and a second permanent magnet (M2), and a gap (G) between a third permanent magnet (M3) and a fourth permanent magnet (M4). The permanent magnets (M1 to M4) are totally and solidly enclosed by a magnetic material layer (7).
US08038887B2	Membranes for nanometer-scale mass fast transport Nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material were fabricated for fluid mechanics and mass transfer studies on the nanometer scale and commercial applications. Average pore size can be 2 nm to 20 nm, or seven nm or less, or two nanometers or less. The membrane can be free of large voids spanning the membrane such that transport of material such as gas or liquid occurs exclusively through the tubes. Fast fluid, vapor, and liquid transport are observed. Versatile micromachining methods can be used for membrane fabrication. A single chip can comprise multiple membranes. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.
US08038885B2	Formation and encapsulation of molecular bilayer and monolayer membranes Disclosed herein are compositions, methods, and devices related to bilayer and monolayer membranes, their encapsulation in a hydrogel, and their formation. Methods of using the disclose compositions and devices are also disclosed.
US08038883B2	Process to prepare salt The present invention relates to a process to prepare salt comprising the following steps: (i) preparing an aqueous salt solution containing at least 100 g/l of sodium chloride and at least 0.01 ppm of polyvalent cations by dissolving a sodium chloride source in industrial water, (ii) adding an effective amount of at least one positive retention enhancing component to the aqueous salt solution, (iii) subsequently subjecting the solution to a nanofiltration step, thereby separating the solution into a retentate which is enriched for the polyvalent cations and a permeate which is the purified aqueous salt solution, and (iv) concentrating the permeate to produce salt.
US08038882B2	Intermittent gas flow apparatus and membrane separation apparatus Intermittent gas flow and membrane separation apparatus and methods of use including an internal gas chamber including an upper wall; at least one inlet for supplying gas to the internal gas chamber; a column pipe that extends above the upper wall of the internal gas chamber, the column pipe including a lower end portion including a lower end portion opening in the internal gas chamber, the column pipe linking the internal gas chamber to an area external to the internal gas chamber for fluid flow between the internal gas chamber and the external area; an auxiliary pipe including one end portion connected to the column pipe for fluid flow between the auxiliary pipe and the column pipe, and another end portion branched off from the column pipe, the another end portion including an opening located in the internal gas chamber at a position higher than the lower end portion opening of the column pipe by a predetermined height; and an auxiliary pipe external tubular member including a closed end, the auxiliary pipe external tubular member surrounding the another end portion of the auxiliary pipe with the closed end being positioned below the opening in the another end portion of the auxiliary pipe, and spaced from the another end portion by a predetermined distance permitting fluid flow into the space between the wall of the tubular member and the auxiliary pipe.
US08038881B2	Wastewater treatment A system and method for treating wastewater by continuously flowing wastewater into a chemostat and continuously discharging clean water out of the chemostat. The system can include sensors and an electronic controller for on-line measuring ambient parameters in the chemostat and adjusting the chemostat's operating conditions accordingly.
US08038879B2	Fluid strainer assembly A fluid strainer device is disclosed. The device includes a housing which defines an open chamber, the chamber having both at least one fluid input port and at least one fluid outlet port. A plurality of spaced strainer baskets are disposed within the chamber. Each basket has a pair of spaced perforated side panels, a perforated rear panel, a perforated top panel and an open front portion in fluid communication with the chamber fluid input port. Finally, each strainer basket is aligned within the chamber for fluid flow from the chamber input port into the basket's open front portion and out through the perforations thereof to filter debris from the fluid while preventing substantial fluid pressure drop between the input and outlet ports substantially independent of debris buildup within the basket.
US08038878B2	Integrated filter system for a coolant reservoir and method A simple, low cost, replaceable coolant filtering is integrated in a coolant reservoir bottle or reservoir tank of an internal engine liquid cooling system. The coolant filtering system intercepts coolant flowing between the engine cooling system and the coolant reservoir, removing particulates from the coolant by filtration, entrapping the removed particulates on the filter media as well as capturing larger particulates into a drainable cup-like depression provided within the coolant reservoir. Also a coolant bypass passage is operative to permit coolant to bypass the filter should the filter media become blocked with contaminants.
US08038876B2	Filter assembly of washer A filter assembly of a washer is disclosed, by which laundry can be prevented from being damaged by friction with the filter assembly in a manner of efficiently filtering off particles contained in water in the course of washing the laundry. In a washer including an inner wall having an outlet and a circulation passage provided between the inner wall and a wash tub to enable water to circulate to the outlet from a bottom of the wash tub, the present invention includes a filter unit filtering off particles from the water discharged from the outlet and a cap having an injection hole to enable the water through the filter unit to be injected into the wash tub.
US08038870B2	Centrifuges with rotating feed pipes A centrifuge includes a rotational mechanism, a housing, a rotating feed pipe and a basket. The housing includes at least one side and defines an interior volume. The basket is positioned in the interior volume of the housing and is operatively coupled to the rotational mechanism such that rotation of the rotational mechanism is imparted to the basket. The rotating feed pipe extends into the basket through a pipe support positioned over the basket. The rotating feed pipe includes a nozzle operable to direct a flow of liquids, solids or combinations thereof onto a sidewall of the basket. The rotating feed pipe is operable to rotate from a first position towards a second position thereby increasing the distance between the nozzle and the sidewall and varying an angular orientation of the nozzle with respect to a normal to the sidewall.
US08038868B2	Micro PH electrode (reference electrode) An improved combination ion-selective electrode has a thin ion-sensing body extending from an outer reference body. The exposed portion of the ion-sensing body is encompassed by a sleeve which effectively forms an extension of the reference body and also provides mechanical stability to the ion-sensing body. One or more fluid channels are formed interior to the sleeve to provide an electrically conductive path from the reference solution within the reference body to the tip of the electrode.
US08038866B2	Process for producing high etch gains for electrolytic capacitor manufacturing Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a sulfate and a halide, such as sodium chloride. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.
US08038865B2	Diaphragm for electrolytic cell Describes a diaphragm for an electrolytic diaphragm cell, e.g., a chlor-alkali cell, in which the diaphragm comprises fibrous material substantially resistant to the environment within the electrolytic cell and spheroidal ceramic microspheres at least partially resistant to the environment within the electrolytic cell associated with said diaphragm. Also describes a diaphragm for an electrolytic cell in which the diaphragm comprises a base mat of fibrous material chosen from asbestos fibers, resin-modified asbestos fibers, synthetic fibers, or mixtures of such fibers on which base mat is applied a coating comprising spheroidal ceramic microspheres. Further describes a synthetic diaphragm for an electrolytic cell, e.g., a chlor-alkali cell, on which is applied a coating comprising substantially water-insoluble inorganic particulate material, e.g., clay material, and spheroidal ceramic microspheres. Still further describes adding a dopant composition comprising spheroidal ceramic microspheres to the anolyte compartment of an electrolytic cell, e.g., a chlor-alkali cell, while the cell is operating.
US08038860B2	Biosensor A biosensor can supply a sample solution accurately and easily, and includes a capillary for collecting a sample solution and analyzes a specific substance in the sample solution, an air hole, and at least two supply ports, i.e., a sample supply port and an auxiliary sample supply port, so that supply of the sample solution can be performed from either of the supply ports. Even when the sample supply port is closed up with a fingertip or the like and supply of the sample solution is stopped, the sample solution can be quickly supplied from the other auxiliary sample supply port.
US08038859B2	Electrochemical sensor and method for analyzing liquid sample An electrochemical sensor for analyzing a liquid sample, which is adapted to be connected with an electrochemical meter, comprises a channel for delivering the liquid sample; and a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion separated and exposed in the channel; wherein the first conducting portion generates a first pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample, and the second conducting portion generates a second pulse signal when it is contacted by the liquid sample. The electrochemical meter obtains viscosity of the liquid sample according to a time difference between the first and second pulse signals.
US08038858B1	Coaxial plasma arc vapor deposition apparatus and method An apparatus for deposition of plasma reaction films includes a substrate for the deposition of either thin or thick films. The substrate also allows for a film deposition which adheres to the substrate, and also films which may be removed after deposition. The cathode may be fabricated from individual wires, or it may be fabricated from a single conductor. A macro-particle filter which preferentially traps larger particles may be introduced between a porous cathode and the deposition surface. The macro-particle filter may also carry electrical current as is useful for generating a magnetic field such that a Lorentz force acts preferentially on ionized particles, allowing them to pass through the filter while trapping macroparticles that are not influenced by the magnetic field.
US08038856B2	Method and apparatus for fluid processing a workpiece A method of fluid sealing a workpiece is provided. The method includes placing a workpiece on a ring, engaging at least one engagement feature of the ring with at least one retaining feature defined by the member and flexing the member to provide a force to the at least one engagement feature to cause the ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece.
US08038855B2	Anode structure for copper electrowinning An electrode for use in producing copper in either a conventional electrowinning cell or the direct electrowinning cell is provided. The electrode includes a hanger bar and an electrode body coupled with the hanger bar. The electrode body includes at least one conductor rod having a core and an outer layer surrounding the core and a substrate coupled with the conductor rod.
US08038852B2	Fluorine gas generator A fluorine gas generator for generating highly pure fluorine gas in a stable and safe manner by electrolyzing an electrolytic bath 2 comprising hydrogen fluoride in the form of a molten mixed gas is provided which comprises an electrolytic cell 1 divided, by a partition wall 16, into an anode chamber 3 in which an anode is disposed and a cathode chamber 4 in which a cathode is disposed, pressure maintenance means for maintaining the anode chamber 3 and cathode chamber 4 at atmospheric pressure, and liquid level sensing means 5, 6 capable of sensing the levels of the electrolytic bath 2 in the anode chamber 3 and in the cathode chamber 4, respectively, at three or more level stages.
US08038851B2	Device for the treatment, particularly galvanization, of substrates A contacting device for a galvanization apparatus comprises contacting rollers with a continuous rigid external face, which is joined to a jacket section. The jacket section is provided with an inner opening that is wider than a rotating shaft on which the contacting roller sits. This allows the contacting roller to be moved in a radial direction, wherein electric contacting and securing of a basic position is obtained via springs in every one of the radially moved positions. The moveability of the contacting roller ensures good contact as the contacting roller rests against substrates also when the substrates are uneven. The contact pressure can be relatively small.
US08038846B2	Composition and method for paper processing According to the present invention, a process is provided for making paper or board comprising forming a cellulosic suspension that may or may not comprise a filler, flocculating the cellulosic suspension, draining the cellulosic suspension on a screen to form a sheet, wherein the cellulosic suspension is flocculated using a flocculation system comprising the sequential or simultaneous addition of a siliceous material and an organic, cationic or anionic, water-in-water or dispersion micropolymer in a salt solution.
US08038845B2	Wet-end manufacturing process for bitumen-impregnated fiberboard A process for manufacturing fiberboard by preparing a fiber slurry mixture including containing cellulose fibers and water then atomizing a liquid bituminous material, such as asphalt. The liquid bituminous material is atomized by mixing it with a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, forming a mist comprising droplets of bituminous material having a diameter between 20 microns and 50 microns. A water spray solidifies the bituminous material droplets thereby forming bituminous particles which fall into the fiber slurry within the spray chamber. From there the slurry is sheared, dewatered, and dried, forming a finished fiberboard.
US08038840B2	Process for refining and producing cellulose, lignin and xylose from biomass material A process for refining and producing cellulose, lignin and xylose from biomass material comprises the following steps: pulverizing and screening the biomass material; and then dipping the biomass material in organic acid with lower boiling point and decomposing it into xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, cellulose and lignin to make the biomass material fluidify; cooling the fluidified biomass material after finishing the reaction, adding organic solvent, and mixing uniformly and standing; separating, washing and drying the precipitation to obtain amorphous cellulose after precipitating; distilling the mother solution of precipitation of cellulose and recovering the organic acid and the resulting volatile organic substance; standing the distilled mother solution after cooling, and then separating, washing and drying the precipitation to obtain xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide after precipitating; distilling and recovering the organic solvent in the mother solution of precipitation of xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide, and separating and drying the precipitation separated out from the distilled mother solution.
US08038835B2	Processing device, electrode, electrode plate, and processing method A processing gas fed from a gas feed pipe (8) through a gas introducing port (9) flows first into an outer annular gas flow channel (20a), where it is circumferentially diffused, and then into an inner annular gas flow channel (20b) via a passageway (23), and from this inner annular gas flow channel (20b) it flows into a gas diffusion gap (7) in the back surface of a shower head (6) via a gas feed hole 25. Thereafter, the processing gas is diffused in the gas diffusion gap (7) and delivered from gas delivery holes (5) to a semiconductor wafer (W). This makes it possible to improve the uniformity of in-plane process, as compared with the prior art, and to make a uniform process.
US08038831B2	Radio frequency identification device support for passport and its manufacturing method A method for manufacturing an identity booklet cover provided with a radio frequency identification device having an antenna and a chip (12) connected to the antenna, the method including the following steps: producing an antenna (12) having contacts (13 and 14) on a support (10), creating a recess (20) between the contacts (13 and 14), placing adhesive dielectric material (25, 26) near the contacts of the antenna, positioning an integrated circuit module (19) on the support so that the groups of contacts of the module are opposite the contacts of the antenna and the encapsulation of the module is in the recess (20), placing on the face of the support featuring the antenna at least one layer of thermo-adhesive film (40, 50, 60), placing a cover layer (70) on the layer (or) layer(s) (40 or 50 and 60) of thermo-adhesive film, laminating all the layers.
US08038830B2	Composition for matte layer formation, release sheet using the same, and synthetic leather produced using said release sheet There are provided a composition for matte layer formation suitable for the production of a matte synthetic leather having a matte surface with a high level of jet-blackness even without the practice of embossing, raising, etc., and a release sheet for the production of a matte synthetic leather by using the composition. The composition for matte layer formation suitable for the production of a matte synthetic leather comprises a thermosetting resin and a matting agent as indispensable components. The matting agent comprises one or at least two types of organic or/and inorganic porous fine particles. The porous fine particles have a mean particle diameter in the range of 0.5 to 20 μm and a specific surface area in the range of 1 to 1000 m2/g. The release sheet is produced by using the composition.
US08038823B2	Peel ply masking device for an adhesive bonded attachment A peel ply conformable masking device for protectively overlying a pre-cleaned bonding surface of an adhesive attachment adapted for bonded affixation to a selected substrate, such as an adhesive attachment of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,391 and 6,773,780 having a bonding surface circumscribing a temporary attachment member for holding the attachment against the substrate for the duration of a bonding agent cure time. The bonding surface of the adhesive attachment is pre-cleaned as by sand blasting and/or etching, and the masking device comprising a peel-off film carrying a thin layer of a peel-off adhesive is placed thereover to prevent contamination thereof. The masking device includes at least one aperture surrounding the temporary attachment member, and further includes at least one outwardly protruding and easily grasped pull tab for facilitated peel-off separation from bonding surface immediately prior to bonded affixation to the selected substrate.
US08038822B2	Multilayered screens with light-emitting stripes for scanning beam display systems Multilayered screens with parallel light-emitting stripes for scanning beam display systems. The light-emitting materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials.
US08038816B2	Method and apparatus for separating protective tape from semiconductor wafer A method of this invention involves capturing an image of an outer periphery of a semiconductor wafer, by use of a CCD camera, performing image analysis on data about the captured image, detecting defects such as chips and cracks on the outer periphery of the semiconductor wafer, storing positions of the respective defects, calculating a clearance between the adjacent defects from information about the stored positions, comparing the calculated clearances with a preset width of a separation tape, and obtaining the clearance larger than the width of the separation tape, by arithmetic processing. If some of the clearances are larger than the width of the separation tape, this method also involves setting an appropriate one of the clearance as a position where the separation tape is joined, performing alignment on the semiconductor wafer, joining the separation tape to a protective tape joined to a surface of the semiconductor wafer, and separating the protective tape together with the separation tape from the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US08038813B2	Heat-generating mixture and device and method for heat generation The invention relates to a heat-generating mixture, to a method and a device for generating heat, especially for heating food such as water, coffee, etc.
US08038810B2	Clad textured metal substrate for forming epitaxial thin film thereon and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a oriented substrate for forming an epitaxial thin film thereon, having a more excellent orientation than that of a conventional one and a high strength, and a method for manufacturing the same. The clad textured metal substrate includes a metallic layer and a copper layer bonded to at least one face of the above described metallic layer, wherein the above described copper layer has a {100}<001> cube texture in which a deviating angle Δφ of crystal axes satisfies Δφ≦6 degree. The substrate has an intermediate layer on the surface of the copper layer, to form the epitaxial thin film thereon.
US08038804B2	Method for drying a surface Method for drying a surface of a disc-shaped article includes covering the surface with a rinsing liquid, whereby a closed liquid layer is formed, and removing the rinsing liquid, wherein the rinsing liquid containing at least 50 wt. % water and at least 5 wt. % of a substance, wherein the substance lowers the surface energy of water, wherein the removing of the liquid is initiated by blowing gas onto the closed liquid layer, whereby the closed liquid layer is opened at on discrete area.
US08038803B2	Method of descaling metallic devices Methods are provided for descaling metallic components devices such as stents. The devices or components are cleaned under ultrasound in a cleaning solution of ammonium hydrogen fluoride at a temperature within a range of about 60° to 80° C., then rinsed at that temperature with an aqueous rinse containing a nonionic surfactant and rinsed again with purified water.
US08038800B2	Method and device for cleaning the door of a coke oven The invention relates to a method and a device for cleaning the door of a coke oven, said door comprising a sealing edge and a membrane that is attached to the door panel of the coke oven. According to said method, cleaning tools comprising jet nozzles, which are supplied with a flow medium at high pressure, are situated and displaced back and forth in the region between the sealing edge and the door panel of the coke oven, in such a way that the interior surface of the membrane and the sealing edge are cleaned. The coke oven door is cleaned directly after the coke oven chamber is opened, by at least one jet nozzle element, which is supplied with compressed air and is displaced along the sealing edges. The jet nozzles are oriented in such a way that the air hits the surface to be cleaned at an acute angle.
US08038797B2	Apparatus and method for manufacturing magnetic recording medium A method and apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium uses a small-diameter insulating substrate. The apparatus includes a carrier for a special size of 3.5 inches for receiving a plurality of small-diameter insulating substrates. Seed layers are deposited on the substrates, then each substrate is rotated to shift the position of the substrate so that the movable claw contacts the deposited seed layer. A bias voltage is applied via the movable claw for subsequent deposition layers.
US08038793B2	Epitaxial growth method The invention provides an epitaxial growth method which is a single wafer processing epitaxial growth method by which at least a single crystal substrate is placed in a reaction chamber with an upper wall having a downward convexity and an epitaxial layer is deposited on the single crystal substrate by introducing raw material gas and carrier gas into the reaction chamber through a gas feed port, in which, after any one of the radius of curvature of the upper wall of the reaction chamber and a difference between an upper end of the gas feed port and a lower end of the upper wall of the reaction chamber in the height direction or both are adjusted in accordance with the flow rate of the carrier gas which is introduced into the reaction chamber through the gas feed port, an epitaxial layer is deposited on the single crystal substrate. As a result, a single wafer processing epitaxial growth method is provided that can obtain the effects, such as an increase in the quality of an epitaxial wafer and an increase in productivity, which are produced by the degree of the flow rate of carrier gas, and deposit an epitaxial layer on a single crystal substrate without deforming the film thickness shape.
US08038788B2	Coating systems Coating systems characterized in that they contain 0.5% by weight to 30% by weight of a hydrophilic, structurally modified, optionally reground, fumed silica.
US08038786B2	Composition for cutting off heat-ray, film formed therefrom, and method for forming the composition and the film Disclosed are heat-ray cutoff compounds, films and method using them. The heat-ray compound is produced by dispersing conductive nanoparticles in an amphoteric solvent with acids and dispersion sol, which provides a low cost production for the heat-ray cutoff films because it is able to any resin binder without sorting the kinds of resin binders (hydrolic or alcoholic, or anti-hydrolic).
US08038784B2	Non-aqueous pigment ink and non-aqueous pigment ink set A non-aqueous pigment ink comprising a pigment, a pigment dispersant and a non-aqueous solvent, wherein the pigment dispersant comprises a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and an alkene of 10 to 40 carbon atoms.
US08038782B2	Ink composition, inkjet recording ink and inkjet recording method An ink composition includes a colorant represented by the following formula (I); water; a guanidine-based compound; and a colorless water-soluble planar compound having more than ten delocalized π-electrons within one molecule: wherein the symbols in the formula (I) are defined in the specification.
US08038775B2	Separating contaminants from gas ions in corona discharge ionizing bars Clean corona ionization bars separate contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions by establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and directed toward an attractive non-ionizing electric field of a charge neutralization target, by establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream. The ionization bar(s) may be located sufficiently close to the charged neutralization target that a non-ionizing electric field of the target induces at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream and to the neutralization target as a clean ionized gas stream.
US08038763B2	Au-Pt heteroaggregate dendritic nanostructures and Au-Pt alloy nanoparticles and their use as catalysts Au—Pt heteroaggregate dendritic nanostructures and AuPt alloy nanoparticles, and their use as anodic catalysts in fuel cells.
US08038760B1	Molybdenum/molybdenum disulfide metal articles and methods for producing same A method for producing a metal article according to one embodiment may involve the steps of: Providing a composite metal powder including a substantially homogeneous dispersion of molybdenum and molybdenum disulfide sub-particles that are fused together to form individual particles of the composite metal powder; and compressing the molybdenum/molybdenum disulfide composite metal powder under sufficient pressure to cause the mixture to behave as a nearly solid mass.
US08038756B2	Air cleaner arrangements; components; and, methods An air cleaner assembly and components therefor are described. The components include features of an air cleaner housing; advantageous main filter cartridges; and, advantageous safety filter cartridge features. Features of the main filter cartridge are provided to engage an access cover of the assembly, and a cartridge support within the housing, in a preferred manner. Methods of assembly and use are also described.
US08038752B2	Metal ion-containing CMP composition and method for using the same The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising an abrasive, metal ions (M) having a M-O—Si bond energy equal to or greater than about 3 kcal/mol, and water. The invention further provides a method for polishing a substrate using the aforementioned chemical-mechanical polishing composition.
US08038747B2	Methods and systems for partial moderator bypass Methods and systems for a gasifier having a partial moderator bypass are provided. The gasifier includes a partial oxidation reactor including an inlet and an outlet and a primary reaction zone extending therebetween, the partial oxidation reactor configured to direct a flow of products of partial oxidation including fuel gases, gaseous byproducts of partial oxidation, and unburned carbon, and a secondary reaction chamber coupled in flow communication with the partial oxidation reactor, the secondary reaction chamber is configured to mix a flow of moderator with the flow of gaseous byproducts of partial oxidation and unburned carbon such that a concentration of fuel gases is increased.
US08038746B2	Reduced-emission gasification and oxidation of hydrocarbon materials for liquid fuel production A system and process are disclosed for the controlled combustion of a wide variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce thermal energy, liquid fuels, and other valuable products with little or no emissions. The hydrocarbon feeds, such as coal and biomass, are first gasified and then oxidized in a two-chamber system/process using pure oxygen rather than ambient air. A portion of the intermediate gases generated in the system/process are sent to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process for conversion into diesel fuel and other desired liquid hydrocarbons. The remaining intermediate gases are circulated and recycled through each of the gasification/oxidation chambers in order to maximize energy production. The energy produced through the system/process is used to generate steam and produce power through conventional steam turbine technology. In addition to the release of heat energy, the hydrocarbon fuels are oxidized to the pure product compounds of water and carbon dioxide, which are subsequently purified and marketed. The system/process minimizes environmental emissions.
US08038745B2	Process and appartus for the production of useful products from carbonaceous feedstock A carbonaceous feedstock to alcohol conversion process in which carbon dioxide and a portion of the hydrogen produced are removed from the syngas stream issuing from a feedstock reformer, to yield a reduced hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane syngas stream. The hydrogen and the carbon dioxide are passed through a Fischer Tropsch reactor which is catalyzed to favor the production of methanol. The methanol produced in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor is passed with the reduced hydrogen syngas through a second Fischer-Tropsch reactor which is catalyzed to favor the production of ethanol. Also disclosed, without limitation, are a unique catalyst, a method for controlling the content of the syngas formed in the feedstock reformer, and a feedstock handling system.
US08038742B2	Fuel for homogeneous charge compression ignition engine The present invention provides a fuel for homogeneous charge compression ignition engines, which can achieve a stable homogeneous charge compression ignition at a higher output. The fuel satisfies the following requirements (1), (2), (3), and (4): (1) certain distillation characteristics between an initial boiling point (IBP): 0° C. or higher and 60° C. or lower; and an end point (EP): 250° C. or higher and 380° C. or lower; (2) research octane number: 62 or greater and 85 or less; (3) density at 15° C.: 0.700 g/cm3 or higher and lower than 0.800 g/cm3; and (4) Reid vapor pressure at 37.8° C.: 30 kPa or greater and lower than 65 kPa.
US08038739B2	Manufacturing method A method of making an article comprises a heat cured composition with at least one foil or sheet applied on one face of the cured composition. The article may be an electrode. The composition may comprise titanium suboxide.
US08038738B2	Solid electrolytic capacitor with small leakage current and method of manufacturing the same A solid electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method includes a process of removing a roughened surface layer (10a′) from a distal portion (13) of a metal member (10) and from part of an intermediate portion (12) adjacent to the distal portion (13), a process of forming a resist (40) on the distal portion (13) and the intermediate portion (12) of the metal member (10), a process of forming a conductive polymer layer (30) of a conductive polymer on a proximal portion (11) of the metal member (10), and a process of removing a resist (40′) and a surface layer portion (13′) of the metal member (10) from the distal portion (13) of the metal member (10).
US08038735B2	Deep dyeing process of polyamide and polyolefin In a deep dyeing process of a polyamide (PA) including Nylon 4, Nylon 6, Nylon 46, Nylon 66, Nylon 7, Nylon 8, Nylon 9, Nylon 610, Nylon 1010, Nylon 11, Nylon 12, Nylon 13, Nylon 612, Nylon 9T, Nylon 13, MC Nylon, Nylon MXD6, and all polyamide derivatives, and a polyolefin (PO) including ethylene copolymer, propylene copolymer and their derivatives, a compatibilizer precursor is used for modifying the polyamide and polyolefin of an amino, hydroxyl or epoxy group containing chemical, and then a reactive dye and/or an acid dye is used for dyeing the polyamide and polyolefin, so that the dyed polyamide and polyolefin have excellent dye fastness, light fastness, rubbing fastness, washing fastness and low-temperature dyeability to overcome the shortcomings of conventional nylon fibers including a poor dyeing effect, a non-level dyeing quality, a high dyeing temperature (100° C. to 120° C.) and a high cost.
US08038734B2	Methods for forming dyed microspheres and populations of dyed microspheres Various methods for forming dyed microspheres are provided. One method includes activating a chemical structure coupled to a dye using heat or light to form a reaction intermediate in the presence of a microsphere. The reaction intermediate covalently attaches to a polymer of the microsphere thereby coupling the dye to the polymer and forming the dyed microsphere. Additional methods are provided for forming a dyed microsphere coupled to a molecule. These methods include dyeing the microspheres as described above in addition to synthesizing the molecule on an outer surface of the dyed microspheres. A population of dyed microspheres is also provided. Each of the dyed microspheres of the population includes a dye attached to a polymer of each of the dyed microspheres by a chemical structure. A coefficient of variation in dye characteristics of the population of dyed microspheres attributable to the dye is less than about 10%.
US08038733B2	Composition and system for hair coloring and color retention A composition and system for use in coloring hair and improving color retention properties in colored hair is described. The composition of the present invention preferably includes hair dye and a copolymer of isobutylmethacrylate and silicone grafted acrylate in isoparaffin, whereby these components are combined in an aqueous based, or alternatively, a nonaqueous based solution. The system includes the step of applying the hair coloring solution to the hair.
US08038732B2	Fluorescent entity, dyeing composition containing at least one fluorescent entity, and method for lightening keratin materials using said at least one fluorescent entity The invention relates to a dye composition comprising a thiol/disulfide fluorescent dye comprising amino groups, and to a dyeing process which has a lightening effect on keratin materials, in particular keratin fibers, especially human keratin fibers such as the hair, using said composition. It similarly relates to novel thiol/disulfide fluorescent dyes and to uses thereof in lightening keratin materials. This composition makes it possible to obtain a particularly resistant and visible lightening effect on dark keratin fibers.
US08038727B2	Treating textile materials with polyorganosiloxanes The invention concerns a method for treating textile materials providing said textile materials with a soft feel, absence of yellowing and good hydrophily, which consists of contacting the textile materials with a composition comprising at least a linear, cyclic or three-dimensional polyorganosiloxane of formula (I), wherein: the symbols Z, identical or different, represent R1, and/or V; and the symbols V represent a group of sterically hindered piperidinyl function(s).
US08038726B2	In-line system for processing textile material The present invention relates to an in-line system for processing textile material that has been finished beyond a greige state. The in-line system includes an upstream unrolling station adapted to generally continuously pay out the textile material from a roll, a downstream winding station adapted to take up the textile material into another roll, and a plurality of work stations in-line between the upstream unrolling station and the downstream winding station and through which paid out textile material passes. The work stations include at least a finish pad station adapted to apply a finish chemical to the textile material passing therethrough and a wash station adapted to launder the textile material passing therethrough, the wash station being downstream of the finish pad station. The processed textile material is ready for cut and sew operations whereat one or more textile products would be produced and ready for use without further washing.
US08038725B2	Hydrophilic polyolefin materials and method of producing same The invention relates to polyolefin materials, in particular fibers, and/or filaments, and/or nonwovens, and/or nonwoven products made from at least one polyolefin and a melt additive containing a fatty acid ester, wherein a subsequent activation of the fatty acid ester contained in the melt additive occurs on the surface of the polyolefin materials by applying a formulation, which contains a silicone compound and a quaternary ammonium compound.
US08038723B2	Epilatory compositions An epilatory composition, substantially provided as flat strips, comprises a gel-like matrix material, for example a rosin-based or sugar-based material and, mixed with the matrix material, a particulate material, for example colloidal particles of fumed silica, and a polyethylene in the form of a homopolymer. The particles reduce the tendency of the epilatory composition to flow, under warm ambient conditions with improved efficacy over known epilatory compositions.
US08038722B2	Method and apparatus for protecting data in a portable electronic device Data in a portable electronic device is protected by using external and internal status detection means to determine if the device is misplaced, lost, or stolen. The device then takes, singly or in combination, one of several actions to protect the data on the device, including declaring its location to an owner or service provider, locking the device or specific functions of the device to disable all data retrieval functionality, erasing or overwriting all the stored data in the device or, where the data has been stored in the device in an encrypted format, destroying an internally-stored encryption key, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the encrypted data in the device.
US08038721B2	Soft tissue filler An improved non-toxic soft tissue filler is provided. The soft non-toxic tissue filler consists of spherically shaped solid particles having a textured surface of a size range of between about 32 and 90 microns (depending on the concentration that is desired). The particles are suspended evenly in a gel as a carrier. The solid particles are preferably a non-ceramic cured polymer such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The gel is a combination of a cellulose polysaccharide such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and an alcohol such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dissolved in water or some other solvent. The filler is used by injection in order to augment a patient's soft tissue as well as to correct soft tissue defects.
US08038719B2	Methods for less invasive glenoid replacement The invention features a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and less invasive methods of their use for the treatment of an injured or damaged shoulder.
US08038717B2	Method of distracting vertebral bones A distraction method including inserting a spacer element into a space between bones to be distracted, removing the spacer element from the space, inserting a wider spacer element into the space, and removing the wider spacer element from the space.
US08038708B2	Implantable device with remodelable material and covering material Medical devices for implantation within a body vessel can include a remodelable material, such as an extracellular matrix material, positioned within a lumen defined by an outer covering material. The covering material is preferably substantially non-remodelable, and can be supported by a radially expandable frame. The medical device can also include a valve means positioned within the covering material. The valve means can include one or more valve leaflets formed from the remodelable material, and a separate valve support frame. One or more therapeutic agents can be associated with the remodelable material or the covering material.
US08038707B2	Helical stent having improved flexibility and expandability A stent includes a central portion of helically wound undulations formed of struts, cylindrical end portions, and transition zones between the helical portion and the cylindrical portions. According to a first aspect of the invention, the torsional flexibility of the stent is maximized by having bridges connecting adjacent winding be interrupted by the maximum possible number of undulations. In a preferred design, each winding includes nineteen undulations around the circumference, bridges are provided every five undulations. According to a second aspect of the invention, uniform, opening of the transition zone is achieved by altering the width, and thereby the flexibility, of a series of struts in accordance with their lengths. Specifically, the long transition zone struts are made wider.
US08038706B2	Crown stent assembly A stent assembly comprises a proximal stent and a distal stent. Each stent has a tubular body defining a stent lumen and a circumference. A proximal flap extends from the distal end of the proximal stent and a distal flap extends from the proximal end of the distal stent. Each flap defines only a portion of the circumference. In an expanded state the proximal flap and the distal flap form a side branch support having a side branch support lumen. The side branch support lumen is in fluid communication with the stent lumen and has a longitudinal axis different from that of the stent lumen.
US08038705B2	Intraluminal medical device having improved visibility A stent may be formed of at least one structural material having a pattern including at least one serpentine structure which extends about the longitudinal axis of the stent. The structure is formed of a plurality of struts. Adjacent struts are interconnected by end portions having inner turns and outer turns. At least some of the end portions are elongated and other end portions are non-elongated and have a predetermined length. The inner turns of the elongated end portions are substantially unaligned longitudinally with the inner turns of the non-elongated end portions. At least one of said elongated end portions is configured to serve as a fiducial marker.
US08038704B2	Stent and other objects removal from a body This disclosure contains methods, devices, and systems for object removal from a body, including removal of a stent from a body. Methods of the present disclosure include inflating a balloon on a catheter, engaging a stent with a socket defined by a surface of the balloon, the surface inwardly sloped toward a lumen of the catheter, and retracting a portion of the stent through the socket and into the lumen. The present disclosure also includes methods for making a catheter, including forming a balloon, inverting a portion of the balloon, and attaching the balloon to a catheter such that a surface of the balloon defines a socket that is inwardly sloped toward a lumen of the catheter.
US08038703B2	Selective organ cooling apparatus and method An endovascular heat transfer device which can have a smooth exterior surface, or a surface with ridges and grooves. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, with each having such a surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joints can be bellows or flexible tubes. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.
US08038701B2	Uni-planar, taper lock bone screw Provided is a novel uni-planar taper lock screw for connecting a connecting rod to bone. The screw is capable of being secured to the underlying bone while the screw head adapted to securely hold a connecting rod is articulated in a uni-directional manner to facilitate a stable connection to the connecting rod. After the screw had been articulated and properly positioned, it can be partially locked such that the connecting rod will remain in relative position to the bone while permitting flexibility of the screw head relative to the bone along a single plane. The screw head can then be fully locked securing the connecting rod into a selected position. The screw is configured for easy insertion and connection as well as easy removal and disconnection from the connecting rod. Also provided is a system for fixing two or more bones or bone fragments and a kit for fixing bones or bone fragments. A method of fixing bones or bone fragments is also provided.
US08038696B2	Sheath for use with an embolic protection filter An embolic protection filtering device and methods and making and using filtering devices. An example filtering device may include an elongate shaft or filter wire, a filter coupled to the filter wire, and a sheath. The methods for using the filtering device include using an introducer member to help back load a guidewire into the sheath and then advance the filtering device along the guidewire to a target region.
US08038694B2	Lancet instrument A lancet instrument detachably fitted to a lancing apparatus, comprising a lancet having a lancet body with a sharp lancet tip at its tip, a lancet hub fixed to the lancet body so that the lancet tip is exposed, and an elastic deformation part extended from the lancet hub in the tip direction and elastically deformable so that the distance thereof from the lancet body can be changed, a ring-like member fitted to the outer periphery of the elastic deformation part and releasable in the tip direction by changing the distance between the elastic deformation part and the lancet body, and a casing having a ring-like member contact part storing the lancet so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction and formed in the inner peripheral part thereof so that the ring-like member is brought into contact therewith and stopped to move in the tip direction and a tip opening through which the lancet tip can be projected. The lancet instrument thus obtained is so formed that the projection of the lancet tip through the tip opening of the casing is blocked by moving the ring-like member released from the elastic deformation part in the tip direction between the tip of the elastic deformation part and the ring-like member contact part to restrict the movement of the lancet.
US08038692B2	Modular design for ophthalmic surgical probe An ophthalmic surgical probe having a modular drive assembly and a skin that is removable from the drive assembly. This design simplifies probe manufacturing and provides greater manufacturing flexibility.
US08038688B2	Articulating suturing device and method Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot near a distal end of a shaft is inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot carries suturing attachment cuffs, and needles are advanced from the shaft through the vessel wall outside of the penetration and into engagement with the needle cuffs after the foot has been drawn proximally up against the endothelial surface of the blood vessel. The cross-section of the shaft within the tissue tract can be minimized by laterally deflecting the needles as they leave the shaft, while tapered depressions within the foot can guide the advancing needles into engagement with the cuffs. The cuffs lockingly engage the needles and can be withdrawn proximally along the needle paths and through the tissue tract so as to form a loop of suture across the puncture. The articulating foot may be realigned with the shaft and withdrawn proximally through the tissue tract without dilating the tissue tract.
US08038686B2	Clip applier configured to prevent clip fallout A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and a shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween. The surgical clip applier can include a variety of features to facilitate use of the device, including features to align a clip with the jaws, features to prevent unintentional migration of a clip, and features to prevent clip fallout during formation.
US08038684B2	Intraocular device for retaining a lens capsule A rod-shaped device holds the equatorial region of the lens capsule during cataract/intraocular lens implantation surgery of patients with a weak or ruptured Zinn zonule. The device has a handle with a length of 6 mm or more and a thickness ranging from 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm, a tip bent into an acute angle, with the length up to this angled tip being 1.5 mm or more from the trough of the bend, and the bent tip having a linear branched or flat pad, with the width between the branches being 1 mm or more or the flat pad having a surface area of 1 mm2 or more.
US08038682B2	Apparatus and methods for delivering compounds into vertebrae for vertebroplasty An apparatus for delivering bone cement into a vertebra includes a cannula and a mix and delivery device pivotally coupled to the cannula. The mix and deliver provides a single device in which a flowable compound may be mixed and the dispensed into the vertebrae through the cannula. The mix and delivery device includes a piston, slidably disposed within a barrel of the device, for advancing the bone cement through an outlet communicating with the cannula. An actuating device, which exerts a pressure, is connected to an inlet on the mix and delivery device (either directly or through a tube). The pressure created by the actuating device is used to advance the piston within the mix and delivery device.
US08038681B2	Modular femoral orthopaedic surgical instrument A femoral orthopaedic surgical instrument includes a posterior femoral trial having a cutting guide defined therein and an anterior femoral trial removably coupled to the posterior femoral trial. The anterior femoral trial may also include a cutting guide defined therein. The femoral orthopaedic surgical instrument may also include a base block couplable to the posterior femoral trial in place of the anterior femoral trial. A plurality of additional orthopaedic instruments may be coupled to the base block.
US08038679B2	Reaming device A bone reamer has an ablation device for forming cavities in body tissue, the ablation device is movable with respect to a head of the reamer, and is capable of protruding at least partially beyond a surface of the head. The amount of protrusion the ablation device protrudes beyond the surface of the head has a variable geometry and the geometry is remotely modifiable. More particularly, the amount the ablation device extends beyond the outer surface of a reamer head body can be varied by an actuator located on the reamer outside the body.
US08038678B2	Arthroscopic unicompartmental knee and method of formation A two sided cylindrical chondral resurfacing implant that covers areas of the highest contact between the tibia and femur. A dual-sided rotary drill cutter is employed to create a tibial socket from outside in. A full femoral trough is made with the opposite side of the rotary drill cutter by simply moving the knee through flexion and extension. In this manner, automatic alignment of femoral and tibial components is achieved due to the “transtibial” nature of the femoral preparation.
US08038673B2	Energy based devices and methods for treatment of patent foramen ovale Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to apply energy to PFO tissues to acutely, substantially close the PFO. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating or the like. Some embodiments of a catheter device further include one or more tissue apposition members near the distal end for helping bring PFO tissues together, such as a PFO covering member, a vacuum applying member and/or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.
US08038671B2	Energy based devices and methods for treatment of patent foramen ovale Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to apply energy to PFO tissues to acutely, substantially close the PFO. Applied energy may be monoploar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating or the like. Some embodiments of a catheter device further include one or more tissue apposition members near the distal end for helping bring PFO tissues together, such as a PFO covering member, a vacuum applying member and/or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.
US08038668B2	Cryosurgical device and method for cooling surfaces A cryosurgery device for dispensing a liquid refrigerant from a container having a valve stem extending outwardly therefrom. The device includes an actuator adapted to seat on the valve stem of the container in order to depress the valve stem to release the refrigerant from the container. The actuator includes an inner passageway having opposed ends disposed therein, one of the ends of the passageway being in fluid communication with the valve stem. An applicator tube is mounted to the actuator at the other end of the inner passageway. A cap is disposed on the top of the container. The actuator is movably positioned on the cap and a shield is attached to the cap to completely receiving the applicator tube. Liquid refrigerant can only be dispensed when the actuator is positioned properly and the applicator tube is disposed within the shield means.
US08038667B2	Catheter connection hub Fluid communication to an end of a catheter is afforded through a connection hub selectively attachable thereto. The connection hub includes a catheter receiving element and a fluid coupling element that are relatively rotatable coaxially between a catheter receiving condition and a catheter capture condition of the connection hub. The catheter capture condition, a compressible sealing sleeve disposed interior of the connection hub between a pair of clamping jaws projecting from the catheter receiving element is urged into sealing engagement with the exterior of the catheter, catheter is gripped mechanically through the sealing sleeve by the clamping jaws. The exteriors of each of the catheter receiving element and the fluid coupling element are formed into planar actuation handles that facilitate relative rotation of the catheter receiving element and the fluid coupling element into coplanar alignment in the catheter capture condition of the connection hub.
US08038665B2	Methods of administering a material into a patient for dermal enhancement The present invention is directed to methods of administering a material to a patient for dermal enhancement and/or as soft tissue fillers. The invention also relates to double-gloved methods of molding such a material after administration to a patient to achieve a desired orientation of the material in the patient. The invention also relates to the use of certain materials, including polylactic acid, hyaluronic acid, hydrogel, and/or collagen or other suitable materials for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for dermal enhancement and/or as soft tissue filler. The invention further relates to kits or packages that include a material for dermal enhancement and/or soft tissue filler and instructions as to how dermal enhancement or the filling of soft tissue is achieved.
US08038664B2	Apparatus and method to inject fluids into bone marrow and other target sites Apparatus for delivering a quantity of fluid to bone marrow of a bone or providing access to remove fluids from a target site is provided. The apparatus may include a driver, a plunger operating and cartridge assembly mechanism, a cartridge assembly having a fluid reservoir and a bone penetrating needle.
US08038661B2	Absorbent article with low cold flow construction adhesive Absorbent articles assembled using a low cold flow construction adhesive are described. The absorbent articles have an in bag compression opening force of less than about 0.75N. A method for making the absorbent articles is also described.
US08038660B2	Reusable breast shield A reusable, washable breast shield for use by lactating women. The shield may include an inner layer and an outer layer. The shield may be placed against the breast of the user and may be held in place with an article of clothing or may be used without supporting clothing.
US08038659B2	Disintegrating digestive tract interaction system Systems and methods are described for configuring several modules each individually small enough to pass through a digestive tract; and a tether or other means for releasably configuring at least the several modules in a group. Such a tether may (directly or indirectly) couple some of the modules via at least a gap in another module from which the tether may slip free, in some embodiments. Such methods may include modes of administering a medication or otherwise taking an action in response to the one or more phenomena.
US08038655B2	Latching control device A dose metering mechanism for use in administering doses of an injectable product from an injection device, the dose metering mechanism including a rack with teeth, a feed sleeve displaceable relative to the rack, a first catch element associated with the feed sleeve for latching in the teeth of the rack, a guide piece relative to which the rack is movable, a second catch element associated with the guide piece for latching in the teeth of the rack, and a latching control device associated with the toothed rack for controlling the latching of at least one of the first and second catch elements in the teeth of the rack. A method of preparing to administer and administering doses of an injectable product from an injection device including the dose metering mechanism is encompassed.
US08038652B2	Button cannula Flexible button cannulas for arthroscopic surgery made from silicone, or a similar flexible material. Exemplary embodiments of the button cannula have large inner and outer flanges for improved stability when installed into the body. Exemplary embodiments of the button cannula include two fluid dams. A first dam is located within the cannula elongated portal between the inner and outer flanges and prevents fluid from squirting out of the body when instruments are being inserted through the cannula. A second dam is located at the outer, or top, flange (i.e., the flange that remains outside of the body) to prevent fluid from squirting when the cannula itself is being inserted within the body. Exemplary embodiments of the button cannula also include an outer, or top, flange that is thicker than the inner, or bottom, flange, to prevent the over insertion of the cannula into the body.
US08038650B2	Slow release liquid drug delivery device A drug delivery device is formed from an elastomeric element, including an inflatable drug reservoir and a flexible sleeve, and an insert inserted within the flexible sleeve. The insert cooperates with the flexible sleeve to form an at least partially pressure compensated flow regulating mechanism.
US08038649B2	Automatic injection device with needle insertion The present invention relates to an injection device comprising a housing (10, 100), a container holder (12) arranged within said housing having a container (20) adapted to contain medicament to be delivered through a needle, plunger drive means (40), an energy accumulating member (80) adapted to accumulate and transfer energy to said plunger drive means wherein said device further comprises container driver means (30) arranged and designed to be connected to the plunger drive means and to the container holder for holding the container and its needle stationary within said housing before said energy is provided to the drive means and for urging the container towards the proximal end of the device when said energy is provided to the drive means whereby a needle penetration and respectively an injection are performed.
US08038648B2	Injection device and method An injection device (100) for injecting a substance into an organism (1) is described, comprising a guide device (10) with a lumen (11) in which an injection tool (21) is arranged in a displaceable manner, a displacement device (20) to which the injection tool (21) is connected, and a holder device (30) that forms a support for the guide and displacement devices (10, 20), said guide and displacement devices (10, 20) being displaceably arranged on the holder device (30). A method for injecting a substance into an organism (1) is also described.
US08038646B2	Body-insertable apparatus and manufacturing method thereof A body-insertable apparatus which can make the volume smaller by simplifying a mechanism taking in or throwing out predetermined fluid is realized. The body-insertable apparatus has a configuration having, in a housing, a balloon member, a communication adjusting mechanism, a control circuit, and a power source part and forms a storage chamber by the balloon member and an outer circumferential member (sheet holding substrate and part of the housing) covering the outer surface of the balloon member. In the body-insertable apparatus, a first communication pipe communicated with the inner space of the balloon member and a second communication pipe communicated with the outer space are formed. The communication adjusting mechanism communicates the first communication pipe with the second communication pipe based on an electric current output from the control circuit. The inner space of the balloon member is communicated with the outside of the body-insertable apparatus. The outside fluid is flowed into the storage chamber via an inlet with the contracting operation of the balloon member.
US08038644B2	Catheter A catheter (200) for insertion into a hollow viscus of a subject, comprising: a drainage opening (204) and an instillation opening at a distal end an inlet port (209) at a proximal end for instilling a fluid; an outlet port (205) at the proximal end for draining fluid from the viscus; a drainage channel (201) connecting the drainage opening to the outlet port; an instillation channel (211) connecting the inlet port to the instillation opening; a valve (223) proximate the drainage channel at the distal end for closing it against the entry of fluid from the viscus; a valve control port (220) at the proximal end for receiving a control fluid under pressure; and a control channel (222) connecting the valve control port to the valve such that the valve is responsive to admitted control fluid under pressure to close itself.
US08038641B2	Tools and methods for programming an implantable valve A two-part tool for reading and adjusting an implantable valve, and methods of use. The tool includes a locator-indicator component that, when placed matingly on the patient's skin over the valve, provides magnetic reading of the valve setting. The tool also includes an adjustor component that couples to the locator-indicator component and is rotatable to change a valve setting.
US08038636B2	Cervical collar having height and circumferential adjustment An orthopedic device in the form of a cervical collar having height and circumferential adjustment includes an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The anterior portion includes a main support piece having depending projections configured to engage a height adjustment mechanism. Each of the anterior and posterior portions also includes a proximal support portion having a three-dimensional anatomically configured shape to support, immobilize, and stabilize an anatomical portion of a wearer. The anterior and/or posterior portion includes circumferential adjustment mechanisms to accommodate different sizes or differing degrees of swelling of anatomical portions.
US08038635B2	Forward head posture correction collar A forward head position correction collar is provided which in combination includes a shoulder collar assembly, a chin mastoid piece for engaging and positioning the head of a wearer of the collar; and interconnecting means for interconnecting the chin piece to the collar assembly as to enable the chin piece to be manually and preferably incrementally adjustable with respect to the shoulder collar assembly in a Z-direction to thereby adjust the supported head of the wearer from the forward head position to an increasingly corrected position. The interconnecting means is further adapted for displacing the chin-mastoid piece in a vertical direction with respect to the shoulder collar assembly simultaneously with and proportional to the incremental adjustment of the chin-mastoid piece along the Z-axis. The proportional vertical displacement with respect to the z axis displacement for the chin-mastoid support piece is that yielded by a point moving at about a 5 to 25 degree slope with respect to the horizontal Z-axis. The correction collar may further include a lordosis correction assembly secured to the rear of the collar and engageable with the rear of the wearer for applying corrective forces to at least one or more of the cervical vertebrae of the wearer.
US08038633B2	High frequency chest wall oscillation system with crankshaft assembly An air pulse generator for providing high frequency chest wall oscillation therapy to a patient is provided. The air pulse generator has a housing and first and second diaphragms supported in the housing. The air pulse generator further has a crankshaft assembly coupled to the first and second diaphragms to reciprocally move the diaphragms back and forth to produce oscillating pressure pulses. The crank shaft assembly includes a motor with an output shaft that rotates about a first axis, a flywheel mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a first member coupled to the first diaphragm and pinned to the flywheel by a first stub shaft that is offset from the first axis, a second member coupled to the second diaphragm, and a cam interposed between the first member and the second member. The first member is pinned to the cam by the first stub shaft and the second member is pinned to the cam by a second stub shaft.
US08038630B2	Floating probe for ultrasonic transducers The present invention relates to a device with an ultrasonic-based probe for drilling and coring. The invention uses ultrasonic and subsonic vibrations produced by a frequency compensation coupler or free mass to produce the hammering action of a partially disengaged probe, with a relatively low axial force required. The invention can also be fitted with irrigation and aspiration capabilities. The invention can furthermore be furnished with a body sensor-feedback apparatus, which provides feedback to the operator as to the optimal frequency and power use of the generator. One embodiment of the invention also has a cooling mechanism to keep the drill or coring apparatus at an optimum temperature.
US08038626B2	Implantable tissue perfusion sensing system and method A medical device system for sensing cardiac events that includes a plurality of electrodes sensing cardiac signals utilized to identify a cardiac event, a plurality of light sources capable of emitting light at a plurality of wavelengths, and a detector to detect the emitted light. A processor determines a plurality of light measurements in response to the emitted light detected by the detector, determines changes in perfusion in response to first changes in the plurality of light measurements in a direction indicative of a decrease in blood oxygenation and second changes in a direction indicative of a decrease in blood volume, and adjusts delivery of therapy by the device in response to the determined loss of perfusion.
US08038622B2	Wired and wireless remotely controlled ultrasonic transducer and imaging apparatus A remotely manipulatable transducer element or linear transducer array for use with a remote work station including a display permits an operator of an ultrasound system to be remotely located from a patient. The transducer or linear transducer array comprises an assembly within a housing for fixation to a human body and intended to be placed one time and then remotely manipulated in directions of rotation, twist, and linearly in first and second perpendicular directions within a plane parallel to the surface of the human body under study. In one embodiment, the housing comprises a motor and a linear transducer array which are mounted to a rotor of the motor via an optional gear assembly for rotation, for example, in a range of 180 degrees so that multiple planes of imaging can be obtained, for example, of a heart or other body organ. The remotely manipulatable transducer or transducer array assembly may comprise a wireless transceiver having a unique identifier for communication with one or more work stations, each having a unique identifier.
US08038614B2	Establishing baseline data for physiological monitoring system A method for establishing baseline data for normalization in a physiological monitoring system which captures images of an individual in order to monitor the well being of the individual, including establishing the identity of an individual; assembling a set of personal data associated with the individual, including semantic data; using the semantic data to identify at least a portion of the wellness parameters to be monitored; acquiring images of the individual during separate capture events to establish baseline image-based wellness parameter data and baseline capture condition data for the individual and; using the baseline wellness parameter data and baseline capture condition data to monitor the physiological condition of the individual.
US08038609B2	Electronic endoscope apparatus and program An endoscope apparatus used in combination with a near infrared light irradiation unit that irradiates near infrared light on a target irradiation section. White light and the infrared light are irradiated on a target observation area including the target irradiation section. The imaging means spectroscopically images a reflected light image of the target observation area, which is outputted as a spectral image signal. The storage section includes estimated matrix data. The IR image signal generation means generates an IR image signal constituted by an estimated value of reflected light intensity of the near infrared light by performing a matrix operation on the spectral image signal using the estimated matrix data and spectral matrix data of the near infrared light. The color image signal generation means generates a color image signal based on the spectral image signal and the IR image signal.
US08038606B2	Endoscope insertion portion An endoscope insertion portion of this invention includes an air/water feeding portion for spouting gas or liquid from a spouting port to outer surfaces of the first observation optical system and the second observation optical system, which is disposed on the distal end portion so as to line up with the first observation optical system and the second observation optical system on a generally straight line. The air/water feeding portion is disposed on the distal end portion such that a spouting direction of the gas or the liquid has a first angle with respect to the first direction.
US08038605B2	Bending control device At a distal end side of an insertion portion of an endoscope, an image pickup portion for capturing an image and a bending portion capable of being bent are provided, and a bending instruction operation portion executes a bending instruction operation for the bending portion. According to the bending instruction operation by the bending instruction operation portion, the bending control portion executes the controlling bending of the bending portion. As a bending control mode for executing the operation of the bending control by the bending control portion, a first bending control mode for bending control corresponding to a first image captured by the image pickup portion and a second bending control mode for bending control displaying the distal end side of the insertion portion are provided.
US08038602B2	Portable imaging system employing a miniature endoscope A cart or man-portable system and method for performing endoscopic procedures is provided. A portable display device, such as a laptop computer, is coupled to a handle comprising a miniature camera and fiber optic illumination subsystem. A sterile disposable portion is fitted over the illumination subsystem and inserted into a target area on a patient. Images of the target area are conveyed from the camera to the display device while an endoscopic procedure is performed, thus facilitating real-time diagnosis during the procedure.
US08038597B2	Instrument for endoscope The instrument for an endoscope is an instrument for an endoscope is able to move reciprocally in the channel of the endoscope along a guide wire, and includes: a sheath portion having a guide lumen into which the guide wire is inserted and another lumen disposed along the guide lumen. The proximal end of the sheath portion is bifurcated into the first sheath portion having the guide lumen and the second sheath portion having the other lumen.
US08038596B2	Observation apparatus that detects position of a treatment tool from an image A body cavity observation apparatus includes a treatment tool to be inserted into a body cavity of a subject with an insertion tool as a guide, an observation section attached to an opening of a body wall of the subject, a monitor for displaying the body cavity captured by the observation section, and a marker position-detecting device for detecting a position of a marker part applied to the treatment tool or insertion tool from an image showing the body cavity captured by the observation section. The marker position-detecting device includes a pixel extracting device for extracting a group of pixels in the same color as the color of the marker part from the image and a calculation device for calculating a position of the barycenter of the group of pixels as a position of the marker part. The pixel extracting device extracts a pixel whose output value of a color component included in a color of the marker part among R, G, and B output values outputted from an image pickup device of the observation section is bigger than an output value of a color component that is not included in a color of the marker part by a predetermined threshold of the group of pixels.
US08038594B2	Prolapse repair Surgical instruments for prolapse repair are disclosed. The surgical instruments have straight portions and helical portions.
US08038593B2	System and method for network monitoring of multiple medical devices The present invention provides for a system an method of monitoring the status of a plurality of medical devices connected to a central computer or server using a wired or wireless network, and displaying information representative of the status of the medical devices to a user on a display screen using both graphics and text. The system is also capable of determining when a condition or alarm warranting notification of the care giver to correct the condition exists, and displaying information about the condition or alarm on the display, including associating a warning graphic or icon representative of the condition or alarm with an icon representing a specific medical device or portion of a medical device. The system includes a rules data base and decision engine that may be used to determine the existence of conditions that require notification to the care giver.
US08038587B2	Massage and resistance training method A resistance training and massage method simultaneously provides resistance training and massage. A vibrating strap is formed into a loop to extend around a body portion of a user. The strap is displaceable as the user exerts a pulling force on the strap. A motor is coupled to the strap and displaceable along with the strap as the user exerts a pulling force on the strap. The motor imparts vibration to the strap. Resistance means is coupled to the motor for elastically resisting displacement of the motor and the strap, and providing a resistance force to the pulling force exerted by the user.
US08038582B2	Articulated handles for rowing exercise devices A handle for an exercise machine, e.g. a rowing machine, which is mounted on an end of a connecting linkage, e.g. chain, strap or cord, which extends along an axis of force application in the exercise machine. The handle includes first and second arm structures pivotally connected at their ends to a mounting bracket, which is attached to the connecting linkage. Handgrips are mounted on an the outer free ends of the first and second arm structures for pulling towards the users body, while separating the first and second arms apart, thereby replicating actual rowing strokes. Preferably, the handle is adjustable to various positions to replicate various rowing styles, e.g. conventional or crossover.
US08038579B2	System for training and evaluating bilateral symmetric force output of upper limbs A system for training and evaluating bilateral symmetric force output of upper limbs has a force application unit of bilateral upper limbs, a movable link unit, a signal conversion unit, a computing unit and a driving unit. The force application unit of bilateral upper limbs has at least two force sensors. When stroke patients perform training, the system can instantaneously measure values of forces exerted by users and sensed by the sensors, and determine if the movable link unit is driven according to a pre-configured training pattern, so that both hands of patients are allowed to perform training movements pushing forward and pulling backward to promote training mechanism of dual-brain hemisphere organization and improve moving capability of upper limb of affected side.
US08038578B2	Apparatus and method for providing a user with a personal exercise program A convenient device, such as a mobile phone, provides a user interface for a system that generated personalised exercise programs and guides users through the exercises in a generated program. The generation of the program may be performed by the device providing the user interface.
US08038570B2	Axial thrust control for gearing An outboard thrust bearing assembly includes: a drawbolt, an inner end cap, an outer end cap, and at least one race of thrust bearings; the drawbolt for clamping the inner end cap to the outer end cap and about a pinion gear of a planetary gear, wherein the at least one race of outboard thrust bearings is retained in place by the outer end cap, the pinion gear, a planetary gear carrier and a hub cap. A wheel motor and a vehicle are disclosed.
US08038566B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four 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 may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08038565B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four 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.
US08038564B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
US08038563B2	Index table The index table includes a rotary table for setting a workpiece for a machine tool; a rotary table shaft fixedly provided on the rotary table; a driving motor mechanism, which is a driving source; and a planetary roller speed-reduction mechanism having a sun roller, which is a motor output shaft of the driving motor mechanism, a ring fixed to the speed-reduction mechanism, a plurality of planetary rollers arranged at equal angular intervals between the sun roller and the ring in a pressurized state, and a planetary roller harness that fixedly supports a plurality of planetary roller shafts pivotally supporting the planetary rollers in a rotatable manner and is fixedly provided coaxially with the rotary table shaft.
US08038562B2	Power transmission device A rotary shaft is provided so as to be coaxial with an inner member which comprises a hub ring and a bearing inner ring. External gears are rotatably provided around eccentric portions formed on the rotary shaft. The external gears mesh with internal teeth formed on the inner periphery of a casing. When the rotary shaft rotates, the external gears mesh with the internal teeth one after another, so that their centers rotate about the axis of the rotary shaft. When the rotary shaft rotates once, the external gears rotate about their own axes by an amount corresponding to the difference in number between the external teeth and the internal teeth. The rotation of the external gears about their axes is transmitted through a torque transmission to the inner member, thereby rotating the inner member at a reduced speed.
US08038561B2	Power transmission chain, and power transmission system having the same A chain is provided with a plurality of links, and connecting members for connecting those links such that the links are relatively bendable to each other. A first pin of the connecting member is clamped between pulleys thereby to transmit the power between itself and said pulleys. The chain includes a central area with respect to chain width directions, and side areas located on the sides of the central area. In the central area, links adjoining in the chain width directions are pushed to contact with each other, and rotate relative to each other while exerting frictional forces on each other as the chain is bent. In each of the side areas, the links adjoining in the chain width directions are arrayed through a predetermined clearance.
US08038553B2	Oil pressure control apparatus In one embodiment, an oil pressure control apparatus includes a belt-driven continuously variable transmission, a lockup clutch provided in a torque converter, a primary regulator valve that regulates a line oil pressure that becomes a source pressure of oil pressure of various parts, and a clamping oil pressure control valve that supplies a clamping oil pressure to a driven-side pulley of the belt-driven continuously variable transmission. Control of the primary regulator valve is performed with a control oil pressure of a linear solenoid valve that controls the clamping oil pressure control valve, and a control oil pressure of a linear solenoid valve that controls engagement/release of the lockup clutch.
US08038552B2	Fletching for arrow Disclosed herein is fletching for an arrow, which is light and displays sufficient air resistance, thus ensuring the linear travel and stability of the flight of the arrow, being easy to attach to a shaft, and reliably maintaining the shape of the fletching. The fletching includes a wing part and an adhesive part. The wing part includes a frame formed such that an inside portion of an outer edge thereof is open and defining an overall structure, a plurality of vertical ribs connecting upper and lower portions of the frame to each other and arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the frame, and a thin film provided in an empty space defined by the frame and each of the vertical ribs. The adhesive part is provided on the lower end of the wing part and attached to a shaft.
US08038551B2	Method for manufacturing a racquet frame for sports racquet and a racquet frame thereof A racquet frame has one or more string holes formed therein and a string bed plane, along which the string holes extend. The racquet frame is preferably formed by providing a frame bearing structure, which is aimed at providing flexural stiffness to said racquet frame, and structurally integrating the frame bearing structure with a frame binding structure, which is aimed at providing torsional stiffness to the racquet frame. The mutual integration of the frame bearing structure and the frame binding structure forms a composite frame structure, in which one or more of said string holes may be provided.
US08038547B2	Golf ball The present invention provides a golf ball composed of a core, an outermost cover layer and one or more intermediate layer therebetween. At least one intermediate layer includes a mixture composed of a base polymer made of, in a specific ratio, (a) a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid random copolymer and/or a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester random copolymer, (b) a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyester elastomers, thermoplastic block copolymers and thermoplastic polyurethanes, and (c) a thermoplastic block copolymer containing end blocks modified by a functional group having reactivity with an ionomer resin, both end blocks being formed of different comonomers. The mixture also includes (e) an organic acid of 18 to 40 carbons or a derivative thereof, and (f) a metal ion source selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and transition metals. The mixture has an optimized difference between the melt viscosities of (b) and (a) as measured under a shear rate of 6,000 sec−1 and 240° C. in accordance with JIS K-7199. The golf ball of the invention has a flight and control performance acceptable for use by professional golfers and skilled amateurs, and also has an excellent durability to cracking under repeated impact.
US08038545B2	Golf club head with concave insert A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club.
US08038539B2	Constant-velocity joint with torque-combining differential A constant-velocity drive system for an aircraft rotor has a gimbal mechanism and a differential torque-combining mechanism. The gimbal mechanism has gimbals driven in rotation by a rotor mast about a mast axis, the gimbals providing for gimballing relative to the mast about gimbal axes generally perpendicular to the mast axis. The differential torque-combining mechanism is connected to the gimbal mechanism and configured to be driven in rotation about the mast axis by the gimbal mechanism. The differential mechanism is capable of gimballing relative to the mast about the gimbal axes, the differential torque-combining mechanism having an output component attached to a yoke of the rotor for driving the yoke in rotation with the differential torque-combining mechanism.
US08038529B2	Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game includes a game similar to the well-known game of COLLAPSE.
US08038528B2	Wagering game with enhanced progressive game A method of playing a wagering game, the wagering game having a basic game and a multi-level secondary game. The method includes conducting the basic game at a gaming terminal. In response to achieving a first-level secondary game entry award, a first-level secondary game is activated. A first set of player-selectable game elements is displayed during the first level secondary game and a player selects, at least one of the first set of player-selectable game elements, which include at least one second-level secondary game entry award. Upon selecting the second-level secondary game entry award, a second-level secondary game is activated and a second set of player-selectable game elements are displayed. The player selects at least one of the second set of player-selectable game elements and a progressive game payoff is awarded based on the selecting.
US08038527B2	Method and system for managing game confirmations In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for outputting a confirmation message at a gaming device is presented. The method comprises determining whether a trigger condition has occurred, outputting a confirmation message at a gaming device, determining a response to the confirmation message, and initiating play at the gaming device.
US08038525B2	Dynamic generation of a profile for a spinning reel of a gaming system A gaming machine having spinning reels and methods for operating the gaming machine use a reel controller that controls motion of the spinning reels according to spin profiles for each reel. Each spin profile may be provided by the game play design and may be realized using curve fitting techniques, such as Bezier curves, splines, or approximations with line segments.
US08038518B2	Fluid cooler located in an air stream of a work assembly of an agricultural combine An agricultural combine includes a supporting structure. A work assembly is coupled to the supporting structure. The work assembly has a plurality of components to assist in the performing of crop processing operations. The work assembly is configured to define an air stream path. The work assembly has at least one rotary component that generates an air stream that flows through the air stream path to aid in crop processing in the work assembly. A fluid system is configured to circulate a fluid. The fluid system includes a fluid cooler that is positioned at a location in the air stream path to provide cooling of the fluid.
US08038517B2	Air conditioner and method for assembling the same In an air conditioner having a main body provided with a panel 1 including a front panel 1a and a top panel 1b, the main body incorporating an air passage connecting an air inlet 2 and an air outlet 3, an air filter 4, a heat exchanger 5, a blower fan 6, and a dedusting device 7 attached to the front face of the air filter 4 which is reciprocated along the surface of the air filter 4, the top panel 1b is opened/closed as the dedusting device 7 is reciprocated.
US08038516B2	Air vent, especially for a motor vehicle The invention relates to an air vent (1), especially for a motor vehicle, comprising an air channel for supplying air, and an air guiding device (4). The air channel is divided into at least two essentially cylindrical partial channels (11a, 11b) in the air guiding device (4), said cylindrical partial channels (11a, 11b) being parallel to each other. Especially other partial channels (12a, 12b) provided in the inventive air vent generate a swirling flow.
US08038515B2	Control of exhaust systems Exhaust capture and containment are enhanced by means of automatic or manual side skirts, a sensitive breach detector based on interference effects, a combination of vertical and horizontal edge jets, and/or corner jets that are directed to the center diagonally from corners. Associated control functions are described.
US08038511B2	Method for machining chamfer portion of semiconductor wafer and method for correcting groove shape of grinding stone According to the present invention, in a method for subjecting a roughly ground chamfer portion of a semiconductor wafer to helical grinding by relatively inclining the wafer and a second grinding stone to perform precise grinding, an edge portion of a discoid truer is formed into a vertically asymmetrical groove shape of a first grinding stone by using the first grinding stone having a vertically asymmetrical groove formed on a periphery thereof to grind the edge portion of the truer by the groove of the first grinding stone without being relatively inclined, a groove is formed on a periphery of the second grinding stone by relatively inclining the truer and the second grinding stone to subject the second grinding stone to helical grinding, and the chamfer portion of the wafer is precisely ground based on helical grinding by relatively inclining the semiconductor wafer with respect to a direction of the groove formed on the periphery of the second grinding stone. As a result, there is provided the method for machining a chamfer portion of the semiconductor wafer, which can machine the chamfer portion of the wafer into a vertically symmetrical shape when subjecting the chamfer portion of the semiconductor wafer to helical grinding, e.g. a resin grinding stone and the like.
US08038510B2	Apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive An apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive has adopted the principle of electromagnetic and magnetic abrasive along with a lead screw to polish the inner or outer surface of a precise screw or a complicated part. The apparatus includes a clamp, a lead screw, a first electromagnet, and a second electromagnet assembled in an airtight space, wherein the airtight space is filled with magnetic abrasive which is driven by the rotation of the lead screw and the electromagnetic function to polish a processed part in a regular shape or in an irregular shape.
US08038507B2	Eyeglass lens processing apparatus An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: an edge position detector which detects front and rear edge positions of an eyeglass lens based on target lens shape data; a bevel locus setting unit which includes: a) a provisional bevel locus calculator which obtains a provisional bevel locus by obtaining a bevel curve substantially equal to a frame curve; b) a nose-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at a nose-side edge position; c) an ear-side bevel position determining unit which determines a corrected bevel apex position at an ear-side edge position; and d) a corrected bevel locus calculator which obtains a corrected bevel locus which has a curve value equal to the bevel curve; and a processing controller which obtains beveling information based on the corrected bevel locus and controls an operation of the apparatus according to the beveling data.
US08038506B2	Brassiere with improved side panel construction A brassiere having flexibility, durability, and improved comfort for the wearer is provided. The side panel of the bra comprises a folded fabric and two elastic bands. The folded fabric has two opposing longitudinal edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge. Each of the two elastic bands is positioned in the interior of the folded fabric along a respective longitudinal edge, which also includes notches for orienting the bands. The folded fabric is sewn together at each of the top and bottom edges such that the two elastic bands are held in place. One of the longitudinal edges may be formed by sewing the folded fabric together to form a seam using a pull-out stitch. Each of the two elastic bands may include either of a woven elastic band or a knitted elastic band.
US08038503B2	Vibration powered toy An apparatus includes a body, an eccentric load, a rotational motor coupled to the body and adapted to rotate the eccentric load, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. At least a portion of the plurality of legs are constructed from a flexible material, are injection molded, are integrally coupled to the body at the leg base, and include at least one driving leg configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.
US08038501B2	Figurine for displaying a locket of hair A figurine for displaying a locket of hair in a simulative manner wherein the locket of hair is releasbly secured within a hair clip and the hair clip is removably attached to the top portion of a figurine's head thus simulating the figurine having a tuft of hair. The figurine may have a simulative appearance of that of a young child or baby and serves as a keepsake memento for those who wish to preserve and display a child's first locket of hair in an non-time consuming, non-complicated, and non-damaging manner.
US08038498B2	Method of manufacturing three dimensional image display device A method of manufacturing a three dimensional image display device includes: applying an adhesive member to any one of a lens plate and a display panel so as to form a continuous frame having an application height higher than a separation distance between the lens plate and the display panel in a bonding complete state; measuring the application height of the adhesive member; figuring out a volume of an enclosed space, which is formed by the display panel, the adhesive member and the lens plate, by using a lowest application height of the adhesive member, and figuring out a bonding pressure leading to obtaining of a necessary internal pressure in the enclosed space, by using the figured-out volume of the enclosed space; and bonding the lens plate and the display panel together with the adhesive member in a reduced pressure atmosphere with the figured-out bonding pressure.
US08038496B2	Method of manufacturing a light emitting device and using an electrode layer as a mask during manufacturing A light emitting device of the invention includes a thin film transistor, an insulating layer covering the thin film transistor, an electrode which is electrically connected to the thin film transistor through a contact hole formed on the insulating layer, and a light emitting element formed by interposing a light emitting layer between a first electrode which is electrically connected to the electrode and a second electrode. The light emitting device further includes a layer formed of a different material from that of the insulating layer only between the electrode and the first electrode over the insulating layer and the insulating layer. The structure of the light emitting device and its manufacturing method reduces the amount of water remaining in the light emitting device and suppresses the deterioration of the light emitting element due to water remaining in the light emitting device.
US08038489B2	Boat propulsion system, and control device and control method for the same An outboard motor includes a prime mover, a marine propulsion unit having a propeller arranged to be driven by a rotational force of the prime mover to generate a thrust force, a shift position changing mechanism, a shift position changing mechanism actuator, and a control unit arranged to control the shift position changing mechanism actuator. When the shift position is changed to one of the first shift position and the second shift position from the neutral position, the control unit inhibits a change in the shift position to the other one of the first shift position and the second shift position until a predetermined time period elapses. The above arrangement improves the controllability of a boat propulsion system having an electronically controlled shift mechanism.
US08038487B2	Electrode structure An electrode structure for connecting a battery module to a bus bar is provided. An electrode structure including a metal terminal having a base and a tip end, the base fixed to a body of a battery module, the tip end spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the body of the battery module and connected to a bus bar, a nut arranged between the tip end of the metal terminal and the body of the battery module, a rotation stopper in abutment with the nut and preventing the nut from slipping when fastening the bus bar, and a screw shaft screwed into the nut and penetrating through the tip end of the metal terminal and the bus bar.
US08038486B1	Connector A locking projection (29) of a housing (10) fits in a temporary locking concavity (65) of a retainer (60) to hold the retainer (60) at a temporary locking position and fits in a main locking concavity (64) to hold the retainer (60) at a main locking position. The main locking concavity (64) has a first slope (67) on a forward surface in a direction in which the retainer (60) is drawn out. The temporary locking concavity (65) has a first locking surface (69) on a forward surface and aligned orthogonal to the direction in which retainer (60) is drawn out. The locking projection (29) has a second slope (35) aligned along a surface of the first slope (67) at the main locking position and has a second locking surface (33) disposed along a surface direction of the first locking surface (69) at the temporary locking position.
US08038485B2	Electrical connector having contacts secured in a housing body An electrical connector includes a unitary housing body and a stamped and formed contact. The housing extends from a mounting side to an opposite mating side. The housing body includes a cavity extending through the housing body from the mounting side to the mating side, a contact slot, and a chamfered lead-in ramp disposed at the mating side to guide the contact pin into the cavity. The contact is held in the cavity and extends between a mating segment and a mounting segment. The mating segment is configured to receive the contact pin of the mating connector. The mounting segment is configured to mount the contact to a circuit board and includes a shoulder that is disposed proximate to the mounting side of the housing body. The shoulder engages the housing body in the contact slot to secure the contact in the housing body. A retention insert may be loaded through the mounting side into the cavity to help retain the contact in the housing and may include bumps on opposite sides to provide an interference fit in the cavity.
US08038482B2	High speed data communications connector with reduced modal conversion A plug including first, second, third, and fourth pairs of contacts connected to first, second, third, and fourth wire pairs, respectively. The first pair of contacts is positioned between first and second contacts of the third pair of contacts, the second pair of contacts is positioned alongside the first contact, and the fourth pair of contacts is positioned alongside the second contact. A first and second capacitive coupling member each including a sleeve and contact member are spaced from the plug contacts. The second wire pair extends through the sleeve of the first coupling member and the contact member of the first coupling member is electrically connected to the wire connected to the second contact. The fourth wire pair extends through the sleeve of the second coupling member and the contact member of the first coupling member is electrically connected to the wire connected to the first contact.
US08038481B1	Receptacle connector between controller and lighting fixture An electrical receptacle includes an exterior component and an interior component received inside the exterior component. Main electrical connectors have exterior end portions aligned with main connector openings of the interior component and have interior end portions disposed in alignment with main terminal channels of the exterior component. First and/or second central connectors each having substantially circular portions extend from an end plate of the exterior component and have exterior portions extending to a central connector opening of the interior component. Also featured is a method for electrically connecting the electrical receptacle to a controller device.
US08038479B2	Carbon nanotube-based electrical connectors Electrical connectors comprising carbon nanotubes, at least one polymer, and a metallic electrical conductor are described. The carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the polymer to create an electrically-conducting polymer dispersion. The metallic electrical conductor contacts the electrically-conducting polymer dispersion to form the electrical connector. The electrical connectors include standard electrical connections for incorporation into standard electrical circuit applications. Methods to prepare the electrical connectors are described.
US08038477B2	Card connector with a housing with two covers receiving two cards A card connector (100) for receiving two cards includes an insulative housing (1), a lower cover (5) disposed at one side of the insulative housing for defining a first card receiving space (102), an upper cover (4) disposed at an opposite side of the insulative housing for defining a receiving space, and a number of first contacts (2) and a number of second contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing. The receiving space includes a second card receiving space (101) and a third receiving space (103) sideways relative to the second card receiving space. The card connector further includes an ejector (6) which is assembled in the third receiving space. The ejector includes an ejecting portion (621) extending into the first card receiving space for ejecting one of the two cards.
US08038471B2	Coaxial cable connector An improved connector for coaxial cables includes a connector body, a compression sleeve and an attachment connecting the compression sleeve and the connector body. The attachment has a length defined to permit insertion of the compression sleeve into the connector body without having to detach the compression sleeve from the attachment.
US08038470B2	Connector assembly for a compressible gasket A connector assembly for use with a compressible gasket includes a housing having a mating end and a cable end, the housing being configured to hold a contact. The connector assembly also includes a deflectable shroud extending from the housing rearward of the cable end to the compressible gasket. The shroud surrounds a hollow chamber that is configured to receive the compressible gasket. The shroud is deflectable between an expanded state and a collapsed state, wherein a volume of the hollow chamber is reduced when in the collapsed state as compared to the expanded state. The shroud compresses the gasket when in the collapsed state.
US08038467B2	Connector having three-way interconnection An electrical connector (100) for electrically mating with two different mating interfaces includes an insulative housing (1) defining a first and a second mating spaces (114, 124) located at opposite ends, a plurality of contact terminals (2) received in the insulative housing (1) each of which integrally defines an upper beam (2a), a lower beam (2b), and a fulcrum portion (21) connecting the beams at middle thereof, an actuator (4) pivotally assembled on the housing (1) and capable of rotating between an opened position in which one of the mating spaces (124) is accessible, and a closed position in which the actuator (4) is substantially covering said mating space (124). Each contact terminal (2) forms a first contact portion (221, 231) extending toward a first mating space (114) from the fulcrum portion (21), a second contact portion (251) extending toward a second mating space (124) from the fulcrum portion (21), and a soldered portion (252) solderable onto a PCB (400) which the electrical connector (100) located thereon or therein.
US08038463B2	Device for securing a connector A device for securing a connector in an insulating module housing particularly a USB connector is disclosed. The module housing contains a connection region with at least one location spring arranged therein, wherein the spring end of the location spring is aligned in the connection direction. The spring ends protrude into the connection region so that connectors with non-standardized outside dimensions, inserted between the spring ends are prevented from falling out of the module housing.
US08038462B2	Water-tight electrical connector with laterally compressed O-ring An electrical connector housing system provides a water-tight o-ring seal between a receptacle housing and a plug housing without compressing the o-ring in the mating direction. The housing system includes at least two latch sliders that can be engaged to trap latch tabs within latch slots. The latch sliders are substantially unaffected by the o-ring compression, and are compatible with housing systems of almost any size and/or shape. Embodiments include a connector region surrounded by a curved wall having an o-ring groove in its outer surface, and the plug housing includes a shell which overlaps the curved wall and compresses the o-ring perpendicular to the mating direction. The housings can include integral electrical contacts and/or can accept one or more insertable contacts. The latch sliders. The latch mechanism can include a detent mechanism, and can require a tool for disengagement.
US08038461B2	Network line plug assembly A network line plug and network line, and more particularly to a network line plug, network line plug assembly and network line; the network line plug of the present invention comprises of a short-head main body, rubber core and eight welded terminals; the rubber core is fixed into the short-head main body; said welded terminals are inserted into the rubber core; the first and second ends of said welded terminal are an electrical contact portion and welding portion, respectively; the welding portions of the welded terminal penetrate selectively the through-holes of the rubber core; the welding portions of two welded terminals corresponding to the same core pair are arranged adjacent to one another.
US08038459B2	Connector protective cover A connector protective cover is provided which has a pair of cover members (2 and 3) to be joined together and which, using the pair of cover members (2 and 3), protects a latch lever that is operated to retain a pair of connectors (10 and 20) in engagement with each other, wherein the latch lever has an operating portion and an engagement effecting portion, and when the operating portion is operated, the engagement effecting portion is moved between an engaging position where the pair of connectors are retained in engagement with each other and a disengaging position where the pair of connectors are released from the engagement, and wherein the pair of cover members (2 and 3) joined together in an inseparable manner covers the operating portion and is fixed to the operating portion of the latch lever.
US08038457B2	Separable electrical connector with reduced risk of flashover A separable loadbreak connector system includes mating electrical connectors. At least one of the electrical connectors includes an electrically-resistive housing having a generally conically-shaped interior bore. A semiconductive insert is disposed within a portion of the interior bore and presents an inner radial surface that defines a generally conically-shaped recess. An elongated probe assembly is disposed within the housing and includes a probe and a sheath of insulative material disposed over at least a portion of a length of the probe. A portion of the sheath extends in a radially outward direction from a base of the probe. An electrically-resistive insulative layer extends from the conically-shaped interior bore, along at least a portion of the inner radial surface of the semiconductive insert. The insulative layer extends radially inwardly in overlapping engagement with a portion of the sheath.
US08038451B2	Multi-board printed circuit assembly having aligned connectors A multi-board assembly includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) assembly that is coupled to at least two secondary PCB assemblies. A positioning device situates the second PCB assemblies in a desired position such that electrical connectors on the second PCB assemblies align with and engage complementary connectors on the main PCB assembly.
US08038448B2	Method and apparatus for educating and influencing an individual A method and apparatus for influencing a person to develop, accept and/or understand a concept, position or idea using questioning, including a technique sometimes known as the Socratic Method. A universe of question and answer subsets comprising questions and respective multiple choice answers to each question designed in advance, arranged and inter-connected on a stand-alone computer, a computer on a local area network or computer network, or any computer network and displayed in such a way as to allow the participant to follow the individual's own path by selecting answers he accepts, which tend to logically lead the individual toward agreement and or understanding on the subject.
US08038445B2	Methods of forming at least one hole in a jaw bone A method is provided for forming a hole in a jaw bone at a drill site. The method can comprise forming an initial hole in soft tissue of the jaw bone, advancing a first portion of the drill through the soft tissue and into a bone portion of the jaw bone to form a guidance hole in the bone portion of the jaw bone, advancing the drill until a second portion of the drill contacts the soft tissue to form an enlarged hole in the soft tissue, and further advancing the drill until the second portion of the drill contacts the bone portion of the jaw bone to form a countersink hole in the bone portion. The countersink hole can be formed to have a flat bottom that is immediately adjacent to an inclined surface thereof.
US08038443B2	Fixture mount fixing tool To provide a fixture mount fixing tool for preventing damage of a fixture in the storage container, when a fixture mount and the fixture are engaged, the fixture mount fixing tool includes a top part (2) having a bolt insertion through-hole (1) and a droop part (3) drooped therefrom, the bolt insertion through-hole (1) includes an engagement hole (4) engaged with a regular polygonal-shaped part (Zb) formed on an end part outer face of the fixture mount (Z), and/or the droop part (3) includes engagement faces contacted with plane parts on an outer face of the fixture mount (Z), and the droop part (3) includes a locking part (3b) locked with a container holding hole of a base table for holding the storage container (Y) or a locking part (3b) locked with engagement part formed on the side face of the container (Y).
US08038441B2	Combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device The combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device. The device includes a housing having a rotating shaft therethrough. A compressible tube has two opposed ends, a first end which is rotated by the shaft and a second end having an opening therethrough. A brush is integral with, connected to, and rotated by the second end of the tube. Compression of the compressible tube forces dental paste inside of the tube out of an opening in the second end of the tube and onto the brush.
US08038439B2	Medical handpiece with a lighting device There is disclosed a medical handpiece, in particular a dental handpiece, having a lighting device which includes at least one optical semiconductor element, whereby the at least one optical semiconductor element is arranged at least partially in the interior of the handpiece and is detachably connected to the handpiece. On account of this design, it is possible for the user to easily connect the handpiece to an optical semiconductor element that is needed for a certain treatment and has, for example, a certain desired power level and/or emits a desired wavelength. The handpiece may thus be used for different applications without requiring any additional components such as switches, etc., that take up space. The outside dimensions of the handpiece remain substantially unchanged in comparison with known handpieces.
US08038438B2	Totally adjustable bracket system This invention refers to a totally adjustable, low-friction bracket system which allows the programming of the prescription in an individualized fashion reducing the quantity of adjustments in the archwires, in order to bring the teeth into their suitable positions in orthodontic treatments.
US08038437B2	Method and device for heat treatment of wooden staves designed to form aromatic inserts Method for treating wooden staves (5) designed to be subsequently contacted with an alcoholic medium such as wine, so as to provide same with aromas and flavours. The method includes the following steps: lining, at least partly, the inner side of a metal support (2) with the wooden staves (5); performing a thermal treatment of the wooden staves (5) using a cresset (7) arranged at the center of the support (2).
US08038436B2	Textile curing oven with active cooling An oven for bonding adhesives to the back surface of a textile article includes a housing with a transport frame for passing the textile article through a curing chamber within the housing. The oven also has an air source and a duct system that delivers an airflow into a cool zone on the opposite, pile surface side of the textile article. The airflow has a lower temperature than the elevated temperature of the curing chamber and is supplied to the cool zone in sufficient amounts such that the pressure in the cool zone exceeds the ambient pressure in the curing chamber.
US08038434B2	Moulds for moulding objects made of plastics and a method for producing a mould element A mould comprises at least two die parts, each die part comprising a recess for forming a portion of an object and a conduit arrangement through which a cooling fluid can flow, the conduit arrangement comprising a curved conduit which surrounds the recess, an inlet conduit having a supply portion which leads into the curved conduit and an outlet conduit having a discharge portion which leaves the curved conduit so as to define a path for the cooling fluid, the curved conduit, the supply portion and the discharge portion being arranged so as to be interceptable by a common plane that contains the path.
US08038433B2	Expandable cavity for injection molding tool An injection molding tool having a first section moveable with respect to a second section. In a first position, the first section contacts the second section along a parting line and forms a cavity. An expandable cavity part is moveably mounted with respect to the second section. In a closed condition, the expandable cavity part is in a retracted or molding position. The expandable cavity part can be moved away from the molding position or the closed condition to a release position or an expanded condition with allows access to molded part or other article. A core pin is either moveably mounted with respect to the expandable cavity part or is in a fixed position with respect to the expandable cavity part.
US08038432B2	Method of manufacturing thermoformed plastic articles and drink cup lid made by such method A method and apparatus for vacuum thermoforming disposable drink cups lids including the step of imparting printing to the lids in two or more colors while they are in contact with the vacuum thermoforming platen.
US08038430B2	Method of using image data in the production of thin wall extrusions A method of coating metal wire with extrudate using an extrusion system. The method includes the steps of advancing the metal wire through an extrusion die of the extrusion system and extruding molten extrudate over the metal wire as the metal wire is advanced through the extrusion die. Image data is generated, using one or several electronic cameras, concurrently with the advancing, and extruding to provide visual feedback indicative of the concentricity or non-concentricity of extrudate surrounding the metal wire as the metal wire exits the extrusion die.
US08038429B2	Device for producing blow mold segments The device according to the invention serves to retain a blow mould segment in the region of a blow molding station which is provided with a support element for the blow mould segment. The blow mould segment can be detachably fixed in the region of the support element by at least one locking element. The locking element is designed so as to provide both positively locking retention and non-positively locking retention of the blow mould segment.
US08038428B2	Manufacturing apparatus of fiber-reinforced resin strand A manufacturing apparatus of a fiber-reinforced resin strand including a roller offset angle adjusting device which can easily adjust roller offset angles of a pair of twisting rollers for twisting a fiber-reinforced resin strand, the device being simple in structure. An offset angle of a first twisting roller can be adjusted by only rotating a first shaft roller support member in the roller offset angle adjusting device of the manufacturing apparatus of a fiber-reinforced resin strand around the axis of a first driving shaft which is orthogonal to a first roller support shaft of the first twisting roller. Likewise, an offset angle of a second twisting roller can be adjusted by only rotating a second shaft roller support member around the axis of a second driving shaft which is orthogonal to a second roller support shaft of the second twisting roller.
US08038423B2	Electric pump with relief valve According to an aspect of the present invention, an electric pump includes: a housing; an outer rotor; an inner rotor; a base member facing one side surface of the outer rotor and one side surface of the inner rotor; a side plate member, having a facing surface facing the other side surface of the outer rotor and the other side surface of the inner rotor and a non-facing surface opposed to the facing surface; a shaft; a suction port; a discharge port; a negative pressure applied region; a positive pressure applied region; and a relief valve, discharging the fluid from the positive pressure applied region to a non-facing surface side of the side plate member when a pressure applied at the positive pressure applied region exceeds a predetermined value.
US08038417B2	Electric pump unit and electric oil pump apparatus In an electric pump unit, communication between arcuate ports provided in correspondence with a discharge side and a suction side of an internal gear pump is selectively permitted and prohibited in correspondence with movement of a spool of a relief valve. If fluid pressure at the discharge side of the internal gear pump becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the spool moves across an inner arc of one of the arcuate ports corresponding to the suction side of the internal gear pump and from a position at which the spool prohibits the communication between the arcuate ports to a position at which the spool permits the communication. As the spool moves away from the position at which the spool blocks the communication between the arcuate ports, the opening degree of the relief valve changes in accordance with a downward convex curve.
US08038416B2	Oil pump pressure control device A device including a first discharge passage from a first rotor assembly to an engine, a first return passage that returns to an intake side of the first rotor assembly, a second discharge passage from a second rotor assembly to the engine, a second return passage that returns to an intake side of the second rotor assembly, and a pressure control valve whose valve main body is provided between a discharge port from the second rotor assembly and the first discharge passage. The first discharge passage and the second discharge passage are coupled, and a flow passage control is executed in each of: a low revolution range; an intermediate revolution range; and a high revolution range.
US08038414B2	Rinsing device and method for the operation thereof A rinsing device, in particular for endoscopy, comprising an electrically driven pump, in particular a peristaltic roller pump, as well as a method of operating such a device. A control device is provided to detect and/or adjust a flow rate. In order to avoid an excessively high pressure in case of an unintended stenosis, e.g. kinking of the supply tube, or also intended stenoses, e.g. insertion of a narrow rinsing probe, a current-measuring device is provided to detect a current being received by the pump. The control device is adapted such that when the flow rate exceeds a prespecified limiting value and at the same time the current exceeds a first predetermined current value, the flow rate is reduced to a safe flow-rate value.
US08038412B2	Temperature management for electric motor driven pump A hydraulic pump system is provided that includes a pump driven by an electric motor. The electric motor includes windings that receive power from a power source. In one example, a temperature sensor is arranged in proximity to hydraulic fluid associated with the pump, such as at an input of the pump. In another example, the temperature sensor measures the ambient temperature to predict the viscosity of the pump based upon cool down rates of the system. A controller monitors a temperature at the temperature sensor and commands power to be provided to the windings to generate heat. Electric motor power consumption can be monitored to determine viscosity. The heat reduces the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. Bleed air may be selectively provided to a casing associated with the hydraulic fluid in response to a command from the controller. The controller actuates a valve to regulate the flow of bleed air to the casing to provide supplemental heat to the heat provided by the windings. In this manner, the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid is more efficiently managed to provide desired startup of the pump in cold conditions.
US08038411B2	Compressor turbine blade airfoil profile A turbine blade includes an airfoil having a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z arc joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08038409B2	Turbomachine with rotors of high specific energy transfer A turbomachine has at least one rotor blade row designed for extremely high work coefficients (high-load), which—in its center section and/or averaged over the blade height—provides for an essentially swirl-free relative outflow. The respective rotor in its trailing edge area is essentially orientated in meridional direction, with the mean or averaged exit metal angle of the rotor blade ranging from −10 to +5 degrees.
US08038408B2	Composite aerofoil A composite blade (26) comprises a three-dimensional arrangement of reinforcing fibres (58) and a matrix material (60) infiltrated around the three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (60). The three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (58) defines a plurality of cavities (56) within the aerofoil (28). The composite blade (26) comprises an aerofoil portion (38) and a root portion (36). The aerofoil portion (38) comprises a leading edge (44), a trailing edge (46), a concave pressure surface wall (50), a convex suction surface wall (52) and a tip (48). The aerofoil portion (36) comprises a plurality of webs (54) extending between, and being secured to, the concave pressure surface wall (50) and the convex suction surface wall (52) to produce a Warren girder structure. The three-dimensional arrangement of woven reinforcing fibres (58) are arranged to produce the concave pressure surface wall (50), the convex suction surface wall (52) and the plurality of webs (54). The matrix material (60) is an organic resin and the reinforcing fibres (58) comprise carbon fibres.
US08038405B2	Spring seal for turbine dovetail A spring seal system for a turbine dovetail tab. The spring seal system may include a sealing slot positioned about the tab and a spring seal positioned within the sealing slot. The spring seal may include a substantial “U” shape.
US08038404B2	Steam turbine and rotating blade A blade mountable to a disc comprises a blade platform and a blade root extending from the blade platform. The blade root comprises first, second, and third hooks and first, second and third necks. Each hook comprises a contact surface and a non-contact surface, and an angle between each contact surface and each non-contact surface is optimized to reduce local and average stresses.
US08038403B2	Turbomachine rotor wheel A turbomachine rotor wheel includes a disk carrying blades having roots engaged and held in an annular recess of the disk. The roots are connected to platforms for co-operating with an annular gasket mounted in an annular groove of the disk. The annular sealing gasket exerts a resilient force on the blade platforms holding the blades in a proper position for operation while the turbomachine is at rest.
US08038402B2	Compact geared drive train A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor hub and one or more blades. The drive train includes a first stage carrier connected to the rotor hub. The first stage carrier includes one or more first stage planet gears that interact with a fixed first stage ring gear and a rotating first stage sun gear. A second stage planet carrier includes one or more second stage planet gears. The second stage planet carrier is rigidly connected to the first stage sun gear. The second stage planet gears interact with a rotating second stage ring gear and a non-rotating second stage sun gear. A generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator, and the generator rotor is fixedly connected to the second stage ring gear so that both the generator rotor and the second stage ring gear rotate together.
US08038400B2	High-efficiency windmill A high-efficiency windmill includes an inner rotor having propellers for capturing wind blowing along a wind direction to push the inner rotor about an axis, and an outer rotor rotatable about the same axis independently of the inner rotor radially exteriorly of the inner rotor. The outer rotor is self-positionable in a rotor position about the axis in response to the wind direction. The outer rotor has an airfoil-shaped vane having a forward surface generally facing the wind in the rotor position, and a rear surface generally facing away from the wind in the rotor position. The rear surface creates a negative pressure zone by accelerating the wind across the rear surface. At least one of the propellers adjacent the airfoil-shaped vane in the rotor position is pulled by the negative pressure zone to assist the wind in pushing the propellers about the axis.
US08038396B2	Vortex generator assembly for use with a wind turbine rotor blade and method for assembling a wind turbine rotor blade A method of manipulating a boundary layer across a wind turbine rotor blade. The method includes coupling at least one vortex generator to the rotor blade. The vortex generator includes at least one sidewall that extends outwardly a radial distance from an outer surface of the rotor blade. The vortex generator is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. A control system calculates a condition of the boundary layer. The vortex generator is positioned at one of the first position and the second position based on the calculated condition of the boundary layer for moving the vortex generator between the first position and the second position.
US08038391B2	Vortex blower In the present invention, a partition wall which partitions a discharge port and a suction port provided on a static passage, in the rotating direction, has a discharge side shape which is identical with the shape of blades, and has a positional relationship in which the partition wall does not overlap with the discharge port in view of such a fact that the pressure variation on the suction side is higher than that of the discharge side, and noise on the suction side is dominant.
US08038388B2	Abradable component for a gas turbine engine A gas turbine engine component includes an airfoil having a radial outward end and a radial inward end. A seal member is positioned adjacent to the radial inward end of the airfoil. A tip of the radial inward end of the airfoil is coated with an abradable material. The seal member is coated with an abrasive material.
US08038386B2	Intermediate casing of a turbojet and a turbojet The present invention relates to an intermediate casing of a turbojet comprising, between an inner hub and an outer cylindrical shroud, a plurality of radial arms at least one of which is hollow, a radial transmission shaft for driving the auxiliary machines being mounted rotatably in said radial arm, a first end of the transmission shaft passing through the inner hub and the second end passing through the outer cylindrical shroud. The housing is notable in that the inner volume consists of a single compartment housing the transmission shaft and forming a passageway for a lubrication fluid.
US08038380B2	Position indication mechanism for a loader bucket A bucket position indication mechanism is provided for a material handling machine. The material handling machine includes a bucket and an operator's control station. The bucket position indication mechanism includes at least one position indicating element attached to the bucket at a position that is viewable by an operator at the operator's control station when a bottom plate of the bucket is aligned with a ground surface and at least a portion of the position indicating element extending in a direction parallel to the bottom plate of the bucket.
US08038379B2	Skid steer loader A skid steer loader comprises: a main frame assembly (1); a boom assembly (2); a pair of right and left travel assemblies (3); a cabin (4) mounted so as to be capable of being tilted; an engine (5) located so as to be oriented in a longitudinal direction and at a location closer to a rear; a hydrostatic transmission (8) and an oil pump (9) connected to a front portion of the engine (5). A utility space is defined between the oil pump (9) and a bottom (1a) of the main frame assembly (1). A fuel tank (6) and a hydraulic tank (7) are located on the bottom of the main frame assembly (1) and to one lateral side and to the other lateral side respectively of the engine (5) and forwardly of the engine (5) in a vicinity of the oil pump (9). At least one of the fuel tank (6) and the hydraulic tank (7) has a laterally extending portion that projects into the utility space.
US08038373B2	Folding pallet latch with integral rollout prevention A safety and restraint assembly allows transition of palletized cargo into a cargo bay and prevents the palletized cargo from inadvertently rolling backwards out through the cargo bay door. The assembly includes a wedge-shaped, spring-loaded, anti-rollout component that rotates downward as force from a pallet is applied to the anti-rollout component during loading of pallets, and the anti-rollout component returns to its original position after the pallet has traversed entirely over the anti-rollout component. The assembly also includes a folding restraint pawl for vertical restraint of adjacent pallets during transport. In an engaged position, the restraint pawl snaps into a slot in the anti-rollout component.
US08038370B2	Milling cutter tool for chip removing machining, as well as a cutting body therefor A milling cutter tool, including a basic body and a cutting body. The basic body includes an envelope surface and two opposite ends between which a geometrical center axis extends around which the basic body is rotated. The cutting body is fixed in a seating of the basic body and includes a pair of opposite main surfaces, a pair of opposite sides, and a pair of opposite end surfaces between which an imaginary, axial neutral plane extends situated halfway between the two main surfaces. The cutting body includes a set of chip removing teeth, which protrude from the envelope surface of the basic body, and are arranged in a row one after the other along at least one of the pair of opposite sides of the cutting body. Each one of the teeth includes a chip surface formed adjacent to a cutting edge from which the tooth extends between a pair of flanks along a length extension which is orientated at an angle (β) to the neutral plane. The angle (β) between the neutral plane of the cutting body and the length extension of each of the teeth is acute and amounts to at least 85°.
US08038368B2	Method and system for starting up a pipeline A system for starting up a flowline suitable for conveying hydrocarbons is provided. The flowline is extended over the seabed from a wellhead and terminated at a joint end. The joint end is suitable for connection to a subsea riser extended in a catenary. The flowline is able to stretch and a lock fixes the joint end with respect to the seabed for maintaining the flowline in its stretched position, and preventing its return movement.
US08038362B2	Assembly error prevention member and universal joint having same member An assembly error prevention member includes a first plate portion that is attached to a first tab and a third plate portion that is inserted into a slit. The third plate portion has a blocking portion that inhibits a bolt from being tightened into a bolt hole and a driven portion that moves the blocking portion. The second plate portion has a first end portion connected to the first plate portion and a second end portion connected to the third plate portion. The second end portion is wider than the first end portion.
US08038359B2	Printing medium supply device and image forming apparatus having the same An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus body, a printing engine installed in the image forming apparatus body and used to print an image on a printing medium supplied to the printing engine, a printing medium supply device having a loading plate to load printing media thereon and a frame to support the loading plate, the printing medium supply device being coupled to the image forming apparatus body to supply the printing media to the printing engine, and a pickup device to pick up the printing media loaded in the printing medium supply device one by one and to convey each picked-up printing medium to the printing engine. The printing medium supply device includes a printing medium aligning unit to push a lateral portion of the printing media when the printing media is loaded on the loading plate, so as to align the loaded printing media. With this configuration, the printing media loaded on the loading plate is automatically aligned by the printing medium aligning unit.
US08038358B2	Tape printing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium storing tape print program A tape printing apparatus includes an input device, a setting device, and a display device. The apparatus further includes a setting tape width image storage device, a character size image storage device, a tape width acquisition device, a character size acquisition device, a setting tape width image reading device that reads out one of setting tape width images from the setting tape width image storage device, and a character size image reading device that reads out one of character size images from the character size image storage device. The apparatus further includes a setting guide image generation device that generates a setting guide image by combining the one of the setting tape width images and the one of the character size images, and a setting display control device that displays the setting guide image on a setting screen.
US08038355B2	Connector A connector which makes it easy to view light from a light source. A light guide 7 guides light from LEDs 21 forward of the housing 5 in a fitting direction. The light guide 7 is configured to be mounted on the housing 5 that hold contacts 3, in a manner covering the same.
US08038348B2	Fluid filled units The present application relates to fluid filled pouches arranged in a row. The fluid filled units comprise elongate, heat sealable, face and back layers that are jointed together at a side edge, and by transverse seals to form pouches. The pouches are filled with fluid and are sealed at a split edge, defining fluid filled units. The fluid filled units can be separated along transverse lines of weakness. The transverse lines of weakness are defined by perforations, including perforations nearest the split edge that are shorter in length than perforations that are spaced further from the split edge and extend toward the side edge.
US08038344B2	Converter with a container for receiving molten metal and with a measurement device for the optical temperature determination of the molten metal and method for the temperature determination in such a converter The invention relates to a converter with a container for receiving molten metal and with a measurement device for the optical temperature determination of the molten metal. The converter has an optical waveguide for guiding electromagnetic radiation emitted by the metal to an optical detector for determining the temperature of the metal from an analysis of the electromagnetic radiation. The converter further has a line arranged between the optical detector and the container through which fluid flows for guiding and transporting the optical waveguide. The optical detector is arranged, spaced apart from the container, in a region in which the surrounding temperature is less than 150 DEG C. The invention further relates to a method for the temperature determination of the molten metal in such a converter.
US08038342B2	Method of analyzing the kinetics of gas hydrate formation in fluids The present invention relates to a method for determining the kinetics of gas hydrate formation in a fluid comprising water, wherein the following stages are carried out: a sample of the fluid is provided in form of a water-in-oil stable emulsion, DSC measurements are performed on the sample to obtain at least one peak corresponding to the gas hydrate conversion energy in the water drops of said emulsion, kinetic characteristics of the formation of hydrates in said fluid are deduced from the peak.
US08038339B2	Mixing member for blenders A mixing member designed for assembly in an axially rotating manner inside the cylindrical bowl of a blender; the mixing member having a number of longitudinal blades extending parallel to a longitudinal reference axis of the mixing member and spaced angularly about the longitudinal axis to form a “squirrel cage” structure bounded laterally by a cylindrical reference surface coaxial with the longitudinal axis; each of the longitudinal blades has an outer lateral edge lying on the cylindrical reference surface and having at least one scraping device, which includes a scraper hinged to the body of the longitudinal blade to project from and rotate about an axis of rotation locally substantially parallel to the outer lateral edge of the longitudinal blade and/or to the longitudinal axis of the mixing member, and an elastic member which pushes a wedge-shaped transverse edge of the scraper radially onto the cylindrical inner surface of the bowl.
US08038338B2	Blender arm and food processor A blender arm includes a tubular body equipped at one end with a connection for a power unit. The blender arm further includes a rotary shaft having a tool at the end opposite to the connection end. A peripheral protection is provided around the tool. The rotary shaft with the tool is attached movably in axial direction to the tubular body so that the tool may be positioned in a retracted position for operation or a protracted position for cleaning, without having to touch the tool with the hands. The blender arm may further include a resilient element, functionally connected to the tubular body and the rotary shaft, for moving the rotary shaft between the protracted and retracted positions. When the rotary shaft is releases, the tool automatically returns to the retracted position.
US08038335B2	Apparatus for providing even, focused illumination of a target surface The present invention discloses improvements on an apparatus for reading a document by illuminating it with a beam of focused light, directing the reflected light to an array of optical sensors, digitalizing the resulting image and storing it for future use. It discloses several aspects of the light pipe element aimed at improving the illumination of the targeted area for the aforementioned purpose, including the shape of the light pipe ends, the use of a refracting coat on the back of the light pipe and the shaping of the light pipe front surface to focus the light rays on the target surface.
US08038330B2	Movable multi-directional light stand A movable multi-directional light stand is revealed. The movable multi-directional light stand includes a retractable top support rod that can be received into and connected with a hollow middle support rod. The top support rod is disposed with a mounting slot on a wall, along an axial direction thereof. A sleeve with external threads is disposed around the top of the top support rod and is arranged with a guiding slot corresponding to the mounting slot of the top support rod. A retractable light rod is pivoted to the wall of the top support rod that is disposed with the mounting slot. The retractable light rod is formed by a hollow outer tube and an inner tube that slides in the outer tube and having a hook. The light stand further includes an adjustment nut with threads engaging corresponding external threads of the sleeve so that the adjustment nut can support the outer tube, locate the retractable light rod in the mounting slot and adjust the height of the light. Thereby the light stand is retractable and rotatable in a horizontal plane so as to illuminate in different directions.
US08038323B2	Apparatus for displaying an object having relief The present Invention is an apparatus for displaying a medallion in an item of memorabilia, such as a hockey puck or a model of a tire. A medallion is selectably retained by a cavity defined by the item of memorabilia. A light-emitting capacitor is disposed either in front of or behind the medallion, illuminating the surface of the medallion.
US08038321B1	Color mixing luminaire A luminaire housing designed to be installed to illuminate an illumination area, wherein a light source is oriented within the housing to direct a central axis of emitted light rays away from the illumination area and towards a reflective surface of a stationary reflector. In some embodiments the stationary reflector is oriented and contoured to reflect the light rays towards a light spread lens having one end positioned above at least a portion of a reflector lip and angled into the housing with respect to a light passageway. Optionally, the luminaire housing may be a recessed luminaire housing.
US08038318B2	Door frame mounted reflector system for fluorescent troffer A door frame mounted reflector system for a fluorescent troffer is depicted. The fluorescent troffer incorporates the utilization of a troffer housing and hingedly affixed to the troffer housing is a door frame which has attached thereto optical reflectors, the optical reflectors including optionally first and second lenses on either side of the centrally aligned basket and first and second upwardly extending downlight reflectors which extend upward from the longitudinal edge of the door frame towards the top wall of the troffer housing but which are not affixed to the top wall of the troffer housing. These downlight reflectors cover irregularities on the interior top wall of the troffer housing while providing smooth illumination characteristics to the lenses and basket.
US08038317B2	Lighting device and lighting method A lighting device comprising one or more solid state light emitters which emit ultraviolet light, one or more other emitters which emit light in the range of 430 nm to 480 nm and one or more other emitters which emit light in the range of 555 nm to 585 nm, to make a mixture which in the absence of any other light would be within an area defined by coordinates (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.48), (0.43, 0.45), (0.42, 0.42), and (0.36, 0.38). One or more of the other emitters is a lumiphor. One or more of the other emitters can be a solid state light emitter. The lighting device may further comprise one or more 600 nm to 630 nm light emitters, and the lighting device may emit light within ten MacAdam ellipses of the blackbody locus. Also, packaged solid state light emitters and methods of lighting.
US08038310B1	Glove illumination system and method An illumination system has a glove and an illumination device. The illumination device may be attached to an upper portion of the glove via first and second fastening materials. The illumination device includes a battery operably connected with a light source through a switch, for illuminating a selected part of a work space. A plurality of pliant support legs of the illumination device extend generally radially outwardly and downwardly, for supporting the housing upon the back of the hand. The first fastening material has a width and a length that are dimensioned so that the illumination device may be removably attached to the glove via the second fastening material to point in any of 360 degrees of rotation, such that the light source directs illumination in a selected direction with respect to the glove.
US08038309B2	Stereopsis aqua-lamp photo frame structure A stereopsis aqua-lamp photo frame assembly includes a base inside which a light-emitting element that generates heat is mounted. The base supports thereon an aqua-lamp photo frame that has front and rear surfaces respectively forming front-side and rear-side recessed chambers. One of the recessed chambers receives and holds therein a photo or a picture. The aqua-lamp photo frame forms therein a flow channel at a portion thereof corresponding to the two recessed chambers, whereby the heat generated by the light-emitting element causes a low boiling point flowable medium contained in the aqua-lamp photo frame to flow and spangles contained in the flowable medium entrain the flowing medium to pass through the flow channel, serving as embellishment of the photo or picture, thereby enhancing a stereopsis effect of the photo frame.
US08038308B2	Luminous body A luminous body is described, in particular in the form of a planar illumination device for general lighting or for backlighting of displays, wherein the luminous body comprises a plurality of light sources arranged in a housing (1) such as, for example, LED elements (3, 5). The luminous body is remarkable in that the light of the light sources is radiated at least substantially in a direction parallel to a light emission surface (6) of the housing (1), while the inner walls of the housing (1) reflect the light at least partly. Not only does this render it possible to achieve a very homogeneous light distribution on the light emission surface (6) also in the case of a small constructional height of the luminous body, but the fact that no optical waveguide plate is required in the housing (1) also provides advantages in the form of a simple manufacture and low cost.
US08038304B2	Projector system and video projection method A projector system is provided with at least one projector mobile in a specified space and adapted to project a video to a projection area included in the specified space in accordance with inputted video information, a plurality of position sensors each including a position detecting section for detecting a positional relationship of the projector with the projection area and arranged in a specified positional relationship with the specified space, and a controller for controlling a video to be projected from the projector to the projection area based on detection results by the position detecting sections of the plurality of position sensors.
US08038303B2	Projection apparatus and optical ranging method Disclosed is a projection apparatus including: a video display control section 53 to project and display a video according to input video data; and a projection distance obtainment section 14 to irradiate to a projection plane where the video is projected with a laser and displayed by the video display control section 53, and to obtain a projection distance to the projection plane, wherein when the projection distance is obtained by the projection distance obtainment section 14, the video display control section 53 adjusts a display status of at least a first video area 66 corresponding to a laser ranging point 63 which is an area where the laser is irradiated to a display status for obtaining the projection distance so that the distance from the projection apparatus to the projection plane can be measured fast and with high accuracy.
US08038302B2	Projector including an image projecting device and an interior cooling device A projector includes an exterior casing that includes an air intake port for introducing outside air into the interior thereof; and a cooling device that cools the interior of the exterior casing by the outside air introduced via the air intake port, in which the cooling device includes a first sirocco fan and a second sirocco fan that discharge air taken along axes of rotation of the fans to the direction along tangent of rotation, and an air intake port-side duct that guides the outside air introduced via the air intake port toward the first sirocco fan and the second sirocco fan, and in which the first sirocco fan and the second sirocco fan are disposed with axes of rotation thereof oriented so as to intersect with each other.
US08038298B2	Projector device A liquid crystal projector device of the present invention includes an optical system for receiving light from a lamp unit. The optical system is provided with a polarization beam splitter for extracting only an S wave out of P and S waves of the light emitted from the lamp unit, and also provided with a latter stage slit plate in contact with a light incidence surface of the polarization beam splitter. The latter stage slit plate is provided with a plurality of slits for allowing light incidence on the polarization beam splitter. A former stage slit plate is arranged in a position spaced apart from the latter stage slit plate along the optical axis toward the lamp unit. The former stage slit plate is provided with a plurality of slits overlapping in the optical axis direction with the respective slits of the latter stage slit plate.
US08038293B2	Optical system for enhanced vision An optical system including a vision device wearable by a user for seeing objects in a field of view (FOV), the vision device comprising a front section with a normal distortion of rays passing therethrough, and an anamorphic optical element extending from the front section that distorts rays passing therethrough with an extended distortion greater than that of the front section and which enlarges the FOV.
US08038291B2	Glasses and glasses box The present invention discloses glasses. The glasses include a pair of temples and a frame which is integrally formed with the temples. An inner side of the junction of each of the temples and the frame is formed with a corrugated surface. The temples are provided with magnetic members in relative positions. The magnetic members engage with each other to secure the temples in place when the temples are folded. The glasses may be attracted on a metallic board or a metallic frame for convenient storage and use. The present invention discloses a glasses box which includes a box body and a box cover. The box body and the box cover are buckled together to form an accommodating space for receiving glasses. The box cover has an outer side provided with a sucker and an inner side provided with a magnet. When in use, the glasses box provides an accommodating space for receiving glasses therein. When taking out the glasses, the sucker of the box cover could be secured on a desired place. The glasses when not in use could be attracted on the magnet. This is very convenient for specific glasses which have temples made of metallic material or magnetic members.
US08038290B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus includes a recording head that records an image on a recording medium. A conveyor supports the recording medium on an outer surface thereof so as to convey the recording medium in a conveying direction, and has an attachment region and a non-attachment region on its outer surface. The recording medium is attachable to the attachment region with a first attachment force greater than a second attachment force of the non-attachment region. A medium feeder is configured to feed the recording medium to the conveyor so that at least a part of a leading edge of the recording medium in the conveying direction is positioned on the non-attachment region.
US08038288B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a supporting member that supports a target transported from the upstream side; a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid toward the target supported by the supporting member; a supporting mechanism that supports the supporting member; and a heating device that heats the supporting member, in which the supporting mechanism supports the supporting member so as to allow the supporting member to be thermally expanded in the direction parallel to a supporting surface of the supporting member, which is a surface that supports the target.
US08038286B2	Liquid removal apparatus, image forming apparatus and liquid removal method A liquid removal apparatus which removes liquid on a base material, has; an absorbing member which absorbs and removes the liquid on the base material by making contact with or by approaching to the liquid; an internal rotating body which is disposed inside a hollow portion of the absorbing member and has an opening section in an outer circumferential surface of the internal rotating body; a pressure reducing device which reduces pressure of the hollow portion of the absorbing member, an internal rotating body drive device which causes the internal rotating body to rotate relatively with respect to the absorbing member; a movement device which causes relative movement of the base material with respect to the absorbing member and the internal rotating body; and an internal rotating body drive control device which controls the internal rotating body drive device.
US08038285B2	Intermittent application method and apparatus, and inkjet recording method and apparatus The intermittent application method of intermittently applying an application liquid to a continuously conveyed band-shaped or cut-sheet-shaped supporting body, includes the step of causing a lower surface of the supporting body, and a circumferential surface of an application cylinder which takes up the application liquid from an application liquid reservoir by rotation, to make contact with each other and separate from each other in a relative manner by means of a cam mechanism in such a manner that an application section where the application liquid is applied, and a non-application section where the application liquid is not applied, are formed on the lower surface of the supporting body.
US08038280B2	Ink-jet printer and method for decurling cut sheet media prior to ink-jet printing Ink-jet printing systems and methods are presented for decurling cut sheet print media for ink-jet printing, in which the cut sheets are transported along a path with a moisture source directing water droplets or mist toward all or a portion of a first side of the sheets in a moisturizing zone extending across the path to decurl the sheets prior to transportation past an ink-jet printing head with the first side of the cut sheets facing the printing head to receive ink droplets ejected by the printing head.
US08038275B2	Liquid containers A liquid container includes a case, a translucent portion, an ink supply portion, and a movable member. The case defines a liquid chamber which is configured to store a predetermined amount of liquid. The translucent portion extends away from the liquid chamber in a predetermined direction, and has an inner space formed therein. The ink supply portion has a center line which is parallel to the predetermined direction. The movable member is pivotably positioned within the liquid chamber, and includes a signal blocking portion, a float portion, and an arm portion. At least a portion of the signal blocking portion is configured to be positioned within the inner space. Moreover, when the liquid chamber stores the predetermined amount of liquid, at least a portion of the arm portion is positioned further from the center line than the signal blocking portion is positioned from the center line.
US08038269B2	Liquid ejecting device A liquid ejecting device is provided. The liquid ejecting device includes: a liquid ejecting head including a nozzle for ejecting a liquid; a liquid supply channel for supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting head; a discharge channel for discharging a gas in the liquid supply channel; a gas permeable film disposed in a connecting portion between the liquid supply channel and the discharge channel, the gas permeable film partitioning the liquid supply channel and the discharge channel; and a suction unit connected to the discharge channel so as to suction the gas in the discharge channel, wherein the liquid supply channel includes a first liquid flow channel extending in an extending direction intersecting a horizontal direction, and wherein the gas permeable film defines a part of the first liquid flow channel extending in the extending direction.
US08038268B2	Liquid applying apparatus and ink jet printing apparatus A liquid applying apparatus can prevent an applying roller from being degraded while contacting with an application liquid for a long time. Specifically, once an applying operation has been completely executed on an applying medium, the apparatus stands by for 60 seconds while holding the application liquid in a liquid holding member. When an applying instruction is not given during this period, the apparatus performs an application liquid collecting operation of discharging the application liquid from the liquid holding member. Thus, upon determining that no applying operation has been performed for a certain period after one applying operation has finished, the apparatus collects the application liquid from the liquid holding member. This avoids immersing the applying roller in the application liquid for a long time. Therefore, the applying roller is prevented from being degraded by the application liquid.
US08038266B2	Air bubble trapping apparatus, liquid transporting apparatus, and ink-jet recording apparatus An air babble trapping apparatus which traps an air bubble in ink includes: a filter having through holes formed in the substrate and an insulating layer with a low wettability formed in a surface of the substrate; and an electric potential control unit which controls an electric potential difference between the electroconductive substrate and the ink. When the electric potential difference is set to be zero, the air bubble in the ink is adhered to a surface of the filter because of the low wettability of the insulating layer. When the electric potential difference is set to be a predetermined value, the air bubble adhered to the surface of the filter is released since the wettability of the surface of the insulating layer of the filter is increased due to an electrowetting phenomenon.
US08038261B2	Droplet jetting head A droplet jetting head includes a nozzle plate having multiple nozzles arranged in a single line and multiple liquid passages respectively communicating with the multiple nozzles and extending in the same direction, a liquid chamber plate having multiple liquid chambers provided in the multiple liquid passages and configured to respectively communicate with the multiple liquid passages, and multiple piezoelectric elements provided so that an end of each of the piezoelectric elements can face a corresponding one of the multiple liquid chambers. Here, the distance between each of the nozzles and the corresponding liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle is changed in a cycle.
US08038256B2	Discharging apparatus and removing method When different liquids are charged in a plurality of nozzles, the liquids are drawn by suction or pushed out reliably from the nozzles, so that the liquids collected by suction or pushing out can be reused. For this purpose, a removing unit, which has a cap that operates to cover nozzle discharge ports and to come into tight contact with a head, is provided. Suction is performed from each nozzle separately. Different collection tubes and collection tanks are provided for the removing unit. A liquid having the same liquid composition is accumulated in one collection tank for the same liquid composition via the collection tube of a liquid channel for the same liquid composition.
US08038255B2	Cap member and fluid ejecting apparatus A cap member according to a first aspect of the invention is a cap member that covers a nozzle area of an ejecting head having a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting fluid. The cap member includes a cap member body having a bottom portion and a frame portion and an absorbing member being fixed to the bottom portion for absorbing the fluid. The bottom portion is arranged so as to oppose the nozzle area, and the frame portion is provided on a peripheral edge of the bottom portion and coming into contact with the ejecting head. An inner peripheral portion extending along the inner surface of the frame portion is a groove portion, and the height of the groove portion from the bottom portion is lower than the upper surface of the absorbing member over the entire circumference of the frame portion.
US08038253B2	Ink jet recording apparatus and maintenance method thereof The invention provides a configuration capable of judging whether an ink jet head is exchanged or whether it is replaced, and changing an amount of recovery operation when the ink jet head is exchanged or replaced. Thus a recording apparatus capable of avoiding a defective ink supply in case the ink jet head is exchanged or replaced, and not wasting the ink by unnecessarily excessive recovery operation, can be provided.
US08038248B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises a first roller pair disposed downstream of a recording unit; a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first roller pair; an inversion guide portion that connects a downstream portion of a conveying path positioned downstream of the recording unit to an upstream portion of the conveying path positioned upstream of the recording unit; a path changeover unit configured to send the recording medium conveyed from the recording unit with a first end as a leading end to the inversion guide portion with the second end as a leading end. In a stop operation, rotation of the first roller pair and the second roller pair stops in a state where the first roller pair nips a vicinity of the second end of the recording medium and the second roller pair also nips the recording medium.
US08038246B2	Liquid ejection control method and liquid ejection apparatus It is an object of the invention to achieve a liquid ejection control method and the like that allows the amount of consumed liquid to be reduced. The liquid ejection control method controls the ejection of liquid, from nozzles for ejecting liquid, onto a medium that is fed in a predetermined feed direction, and has a step of detecting a portion of the medium that is positioned on an upstream side in said feed direction, and a step of not ejecting liquid from nozzles of a plurality of nozzles that are located on the upstream side in the feed direction based on the results of the detection.
US08038245B2	Ink jet printer, method of controlling an ink jet printer, and computer program product for an ink jet printer A printer is provided with an ink jet head and a controller. The ink jet head prints on a print medium by discharging ink. The ink jet head comprises a plurality of units. Each unit comprises a nozzle for discharging ink, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element facing the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric elements form at least two element lines. Each element line is formed by at least two piezoelectric elements aligned in a first direction. Each element line is aligned in a sec direction which is different from the first direction. The controller controls the ink jet head to print on the print medium by changing voltage applied to each piezoelectric element of the ink jet head. The controller controls timings at which the controller changes voltage applied to each piezoelectric element by the element line. It is preferred that a timing at which the controller changes voltage applied to one of the two adjacent element lines is different from a timing at which the controller changes voltage applied to the other of the two adjacent element lines.
US08038243B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a level-data setting unit for setting a selected level data from a plurality of level data, based on an ejecting data; a driving-signal generator for generating a first driving signal and a second driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected level data and the first driving signal and the second driving signal. The first driving signal and the second driving signal are periodical signals having a same period. The first driving signal includes a first large-drop pulse-wave and a third large-drop pulse-wave. The second driving signal includes a second large-drop pulse-wave. The first large-drop pulse-wave, the second large-drop pulse-wave and the third large-drop pulse-wave have a same waveform, and appear in that order at regular intervals.
US08038237B2	Transport apparatus for flat materials to be printed A transport apparatus for flat materials to be printed is used in a printing apparatus having a printing module. The transport apparatus is disposed in the printing apparatus in a stationary manner relative to a pressing apparatus which presses an item of mail onto the transport belt that acts on a part of a surface of the item of mail with a predefined adhesion friction in the transport region. That part of the surface of the item of mail is not printed but lies close to a region which is to be printed. Two deflection rollers and a supporting plate are provided for the transport belt, in order to form the transport region. The printing module protrudes at least partially into an intermediate space between the two deflection rollers. The printing module has at least one ink cartridge with an inkjet print head which is situated outside the transport region.
US08038233B2	Device for supporting glass panels in a substantially perpendicular position to each other A device for supporting glass panels in a substantially perpendicular position to each other. The device includes a block having a plate intended for gluing to a respective glass panel, at least one structurally separate right-angled element having a plate intended for gluing to a respective panel and a fixing device for adjustable fixation of the at least one right-angled element to said the block.
US08038224B2	Motor-vehicle wheel structure having a main disk and an auxiliary disk A motor-vehicle wheel structure comprises a wheel rim and a wheel disk having a circumferential border bent and welded within the rim, and a central portion bearing a circumferential series of holes for engagement of bolts for fixing the wheel to the wheel support. The central portion is connected to the circumferential border of the disk by an intermediate annular portion having in cross section an arched configuration projecting outwards. Welded on the outer face of the wheel disk is an auxiliary disk having a substantially plane conformation, the outer border of which is welded to the main disk substantially in a position corresponding to the apex of the aforesaid projecting annular portion. The auxiliary disk integrates tubular columns that project from the inner face of the auxiliary disk and have their ends welded to the central portion of the main disk so that they are co-axial to the holes for the fixing bolts.
US08038222B2	Actively ventilated vehicle seat An actively ventilated vehicle seat includes a lower air-impermeable seat cushion or backrest part, an air-permeable intermediate layer made of a spacer fabric and an upholstered cover. The vehicle seat is divided into upholstered areas which are delimited from each other by seams anchored at the air-impermeable seat cushion. Air bridges are provided which extend transversely to the seams for connecting the intermediate layer between the individual upholstered areas. An unobstructed seat ventilating system and a permanently secure attachment of the seams are achieved in a simple manner in terms of production and without affecting the seating comfort in that the air bridges are integrated all around into the air-impermeable seat cushion and the seams are anchored above the air bridges in the air-impermeable material of the upholstered part covering the air bridges.
US08038217B2	Vehicle seat The present invention provides a vehicle seat capable of performing a tilt-down operation in which a seat back is widely tilted forwardly to be folded on a seat cushion while a seat cushion is moved forwardly and a walk-in operation in which the seat back is half tilted forwardly over a desired angle while the seat is slid forwardly via a slide rail. The seat includes a frame member that is capable of longitudinally sliding via the slide rail and that supports the seat back via a reclining device so as to tilt the seat back back and forth, a front link connecting the seat cushion to the frame member so as to allow the seat cushion to move longitudinally, and an interlock mechanism that can be controlled so as to move or to not move the seat cushion forwardly with respect to the frame member when the seat back is tilted forwardly. At the time of the tilt-down operation, the interlock mechanism is controlled so as to move the seat cushion forwardly when the seat back is tilted forwardly. At the time of the walk-in operation, the interlock mechanism is controlled so as to not move the seat cushion forwardly when the seat back is tilted forwardly.
US08038216B1	Portable seat for a wheelchair The portable seat is positioned on the two seat rail tubes of a standard wheelchair with brackets. The seat has a lower frame and an upper frame having four pivoted legs slidably mounted in channels. A horizontal arm connects the two front legs at the lower part thereof and has a pivoting and threaded drive nut. Another horizontal arm connects the two rear legs at the lower part thereof and has a pivoting and threaded drive nut, being oppositely threaded. A drive screw is mounted to both drive nuts and when rotated the legs are pushed together to raise the seat thereon. As an additional feature, a tilt seat section may be attached to the upper frame causing the seat to tilt forward allowing the user too more easily dismount. This feature may be activated when the seat is or is not elevated. Appropriate electronics operates the portable seat.
US08038214B2	Harness system for juvenile vehicle seat A child restraint having a juvenile vehicle seat, a harness for securing a juvenile to the juvenile vehicle seat, and a harness-positioning system for positioning the harness in an open juvenile-receiving position.
US08038212B2	Child vehicle seating system A child vehicle seating system, for fitment on a vehicle seat to support and restrain a child, comprises at least one seating component. Each seating component includes a closed frame over which a flexible membrane is stretched to define a support surface.
US08038211B2	Chair slip cover A seat cover for use with a chair is disclosed herein. The seat cover comprises a fabric cover, which has a back pocket, a seat form and a skirt portion. The seat cover also comprises a back form which has a front pad, a top pad, a first side pad, a second side pad and a first space defined by the front pad, the top pad, the first side pad and the second side pad. The seat cover further comprises a seat pad and a slip barrier.
US08038204B1	Replacement interchangeable grille for vehicles A replacement grille for a vehicle which replaces an original grille of the vehicle comprises a frame component comprising an outer frame defining a space, at least one design component received within the space of the frame, and a connector for connecting the design component to the frame component.
US08038203B2	Motor vehicle floor comprising locally reinforced rails The invention relates to an automobile floor (1) that comprises two rails (2) symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each rail (2) including two metal sheets (3) having a U section and superimposed in order to define a hollow body, one of the metal sheets (3) having a U section extending under the floor (1) while the other metal sheet extends above the floor (1), the ends of the side flanges of each of the metal sheets (3) having a U section being welded to the metal sheet of the floor (1), and each rail (2) including a bent area (2a), characterised in that the upper base (3a) of the U section of the metal sheet (3) extending above the floor (1) includes, in the bent area (2a) and solely in said bent area (2a), at least one reinforcement rib (5) obtained by folding said metal sheet (3).
US08038201B2	Vehicle body structure Provided is a vehicle body structure which can prevent a door from entering a vehicle interior by preventing deformation of a beam extending in a vehicle width direction in a seat of a vehicle even when a side collision has occurred in the vehicle. In the vehicle body structure, a seat leg is placed above a cross member and fixed to the cross member. Additionally, a pair of seat legs is arranged on the right and left sides, and the seat legs are interconnected by a rod member. A beam is coupled with an upper end of the seat leg. The side of the beam protrudes to the outer side of the seat leg in the width direction of the vehicle, and a portion protruding outside of the seat leg is a protruding portion. A load transmission member having a length in the vehicle width direction substantially equal to the length of the protruding portion of the beam is arranged on the side of the seat leg.
US08038198B2	Vehicle seats A vehicle seat includes a support base, a seat back tiltably supported on the support base, a seat cushion, a first link and a second link. Each of the first and second links is pivotally coupled to the support base and the seat cushion, so that a quadrant link mechanism is formed by the support base, the seat cushion, the first link and the second link. A coupling device couples the seat back to the first link at a position between a first coupling point and a second coupling point. The first coupling point couples the first link to the seat cushion, and the second coupling point couples the first link to the support base.
US08038196B2	Vehicle seat, especially motor vehicle seat A vehicle seat (1), especially a motor vehicle seat, has at least one lockable pair of seat rails (3) for adjusting various longitudinal positions of the seat, which the vehicle seat (1) can assume in the use position suitable for the transport of passengers. A rail actuation device (12) is provided for unlocking the pair of seat rails (3). At least one lock (5) is provided for locking with the vehicle structure, whereby after unlocking the lock (5), the vehicle seat (1) can be converted from the use position into a nonuse position. A lock actuation device (14) is provided for unlocking the lock (5). A stop (16) is provided which is operative between the pair of seat rails (3) and/or rail actuation (12), on the one hand, and the lock actuation (14) and/or lock (5), on the other hand.
US08038195B1	Storage container for a pickup truck bed The invention is a storage container for mounting on the bed of a pickup truck. The invention requires that the pickup truck be modified by imparting equally placed left and right cutouts in the sidewalls of the bed of a pickup truck, the cutouts extending from the bed rails to about midway down the sidewalls of the bed. The inventive storage container is mounted in the cutouts and is of a width wherein the sides of the container coexist in approximate flush planar relation with the bed sidewalls and cab of the pickup truck to which the invention is attached. The mounting position of the container is such that it remains suspended in the bed cutouts a substantial distance above the deck of the pickup bed, thereby allowing elongate items such as 4×8 sheets of plywood to be accommodated beneath the container.
US08038190B2	Waste retrieval and disposal device and method A waste retrieval device including a frame having a head portion, a member extending rearwardly therefrom and a retaining element, and a bag for containing at least partially the head portion, the bag including interconnected top and bottom panels sized to respectively extend over and under the head portion, a rear edge of the top panel being attachable to the frame by the retaining element, the top and bottom panels defining side portions providing extra bag material extending beyond the head portion when the bag at least partially contains the head portion to allow the bag to be inverted by moving a rear edge of the bottom panel under the head portion away from the member and back toward the member over the head portion and top panel.
US08038178B2	High pressure fuel pipe construction for an internal combustion engine A high pressure fuel pipe construction for an internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection engine. A conduit for the fuel is open at each end and a ball having a throughbore is slidably positioned over one end of the conduit. A reinforcing sleeve is positioned inside the end of the conduit so that the sleeve extends entirely through the ball. The sleeve, ball and the end of the conduit are then brazed together to attach the ball and conduit together. A double chamfer is provided at one end of the ball throughbore to facilitate inspection of the brazing quality. Additionally, a loop is formed in the conduit and a dampener is attached to the loop.
US08038174B2	Apparatus for repairing a core spray downcomer pipe slip joint coupling A slip joint clamp is disclosed which structurally replaces cracked welded joints in the core spray downcomer slip joint coupling, which is part of the lower portion of internal core spray piping internal to a reactor vessel of a Boiling Water Reactor plant. The internal piping delivers core spray cooling water to the reactor core region. The clamp assembly consists of a primary clamp housing and a secondary clamp housing, which are rotationally joined together by a hinge assembly including a hinge pin. The clamp assembly is installed at a desired elevation relative to the downcomer slip joint, and then secured to the downcomer piping by installing coupling bolts and associated coupling bolt keeper nuts that hold the primary and secondary clamp housings in a facing relationship to one another around the downcomer slip joint.
US08038172B2	Motorcycle To provide a compact fuel tank including a fuel pump in accordance with one or more embodiments. For example in an embodiment, a motorcycle includes a tank rail forming an upper part of a body frame, a fuel tank having a pair of tank sections disposed across the tank rail in a vehicle width direction and mounted on and across the tank rail, and a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine, in which a mounting surface for the fuel pump is formed on a bottom of one of the pair of tank sections and the mounting surface is formed to be tilted in an in-and-out direction with respect to the vehicle width direction.
US08038164B2	Vehicle with step assembly A vehicle includes a vehicle body. The body defines a wheel well and has a body panel that at least partially defines an opening of the wheel well. A wheel is operatively connected to the vehicle body, is selectively rotatable about an axis, and is at least partially disposed within the wheel well. A member has a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably mounted with respect to the body panel forward of the axis. The second end is rotatably mounted with respect to the body panel rearward of the axis.
US08038161B2	Folding structure for carrier's handlebar This invention relates to a folding structure for carrier's handlebar, wherein it essentially comprises: a first joint (2) fixed in the front end of a carrier body (1) and having positioning teeth (25) formed on the sidewall in the interior thereof, and a second joint (3) pivotally provided in the first joint (2); a rail block (33) being fixed in the interior of the second joint (3), the rail block (33) being formed with a sliding rail (331), a slider (34) being formed in the sliding rail (331), occluding teeth (341) being formed on the bottom end of the slider (34) to mesh with the positioning teeth (25) of the first joint (2), a wire body (35) and an elastic member (36) being provided on the top end of the slider (34), and a dragon head handlebar (12) being provided on the second joint (3). In this manner, it is convenient for user to adjust the angle of the dragon head handlebar. In addition, the elastic member enables the slider to mesh automatically with the positioning teeth so as to ensure the safety of user.
US08038158B1	Infant crawler An infant crawler includes a cover which can take many shapes, such as an animal shape or vehicle shape, secured to a wheeled crawler frame. The crawler frame can be moved around by an infant positioned in the crawler frame and the cover at least partially covers the infant positioned in the frame. The cover can include various pieces secured to various parts of the frame or can be or include a single piece removably secured to the frame. The crawler frame can be collapsible for easy transport and storage and can have a body supporting surface adjustable in height above the floor so can be adjusted for the particular user and for a particular user as the user grows to support the user at a proper height above the floor for the desired crawling action. In addition, the crawler frame can be length adjustable for adjustment as the user grows.
US08038155B2	Magnetically-controlled rotary seal A non-contacting rotary face seal assembly includes a first sealing member, including a first sealing face and a first magnetic element; and a second sealing member, including a second sealing face and a second magnetic element. The first and second magnetic elements of the first and second sealing members provide a magnetic repulsion force between the first and second magnetic elements such that the magnetic repulsion force separates the first and second sealing faces before hydrodynamic or hydrostatic forces associated with rotation of the second sealing member become sufficient to prevent the first and second sealing faces from contacting.
US08038149B2	Alignment/registration and conveyance apparatus An apparatus for registering sheet material while being conveyed along a feed path including: (i) a conveyance deck for conveying sheet material along a support surface, (ii) a registration member defining an abutment surface operative to align an edge of the sheet material as the sheet material is conveyed along the support surface of the conveyance deck, and (iii) a drive mechanism disposed adjacent to the registration member and along the conveyance deck. The drive mechanism includes a flexible belt disposed about and supported by at least two rolling elements, and a means for driving the flexible belt about the rolling elements. The flexible belt includes a twisted section defining a plurality of spiral edge segments operative to (i) frictionally engage a surface of the sheet material to urge the sheet material against the abutment surface and (ii) convey the sheet material along the conveyance deck.
US08038146B2	Post-processing device and image forming apparatus provided with the same A post-processing device includes an introductory feed path, a processing tray, a post-processing section, a catch tray, a sheet delivery section, and a control section. The post-processing section is configured to perform post-processing on the sheet placed on the processing tray. The catch tray is disposed below the processing tray. The sheet delivery section has an upper rotary member and a lower rotary member which are disposed at an end of the processing tray lying on a catch tray side so as to be movable toward and away from each other. The control section causes the upper rotary member and the lower rotary member to press against each other at latest by the time a leading edge of a first sheet of a group of sheets to be post-processed at a time is brought into contact with the catch tray.
US08038145B2	Printer A printer comprising a cover, and a stacker that is attached to the cover, the stacker being supported pivotably about a pivot axis on the cover between a protruding position where the stacker receives paper discharged from the printer, and a retracted position rotated a predetermined angle from the protruding position.
US08038144B2	Image forming apparatus In an image forming apparatus, a sheet reversing mechanism is configured to take over and transfer, at a transfer speed Vr, a print sheet with an image already formed on one side being transferred at the transfer speed Vr from a first transfer mechanism, to stop the print sheet once, then to start transfer of the print sheet in an opposite direction, and to pass the print sheet to a second transfer mechanism at the transfer speed Vr. The first and second transfer mechanisms are located on upstream and downstream of a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets respectively Upon lapse of a time T1 after detection of the print sheet by a print sheet detection unit, a transfer control unit drives the sheet reversing mechanism to start acceleration from a stopped state to the transfer speed Vr, the time T1 calculated based on the transfer speed Vr.
US08038139B2	Inserter The inserter including a storing unit, a sheet-feeding unit; a conveyance unit; and a controller that determines for every sheet a conveying speed of the sheet to be discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, in which the controller determines: the conveying speed of the sheet, which was discharged from the image forming apparatus, when the sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on the conveying speed when the inserter receives the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus; and a conveying speed of the insert-sheet, which was fed by the sheet-feeding unit, when the insert-sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on a conveying speed of one of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet, when one of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is discharged to the downstream side device.
US08038138B2	Holding unit having delayed conveyance time A finisher includes: a holding unit; a stapling unit; a discharge unit; and a control unit. The finisher forms a part of a second sheet bundle subsequent to a first sheet bundle until discharging the first sheet bundle. The holding unit receives a sheet of the first sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a first period. The holding unit receives the last sheet of the first sheet bundle and a first sheet of the second sheet bundle within a second period as same length as the first period. The holding unit receives a sheet of the second sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a third period different from the second period in time length.
US08038130B2	Two-stroke engine and method for operating a two-stroke engine A two-stroke engine with external fuel mixture generation in a carburetor. The engine including a suction funnel having an interior disposed upstream of the carburetor. The engine further includes a tapered insert having a narrow end and a wide end disposed in an area of an inlet port of the suction funnel. The insert at least partially defines the interior of the suction funnel, and the insert tapers in a flow direction of air flow from the wide end to the narrow end. Accordingly, a diameter of the interior of the suction funnel adjacent to the narrow end of the insert is substantially larger when compared to the narrow end of the insert.
US08038126B1	Breakaway support post for highway guardrail end treatments A support post for a guardrail has a strong axis and a weak axis which is substantially perpendicular to the strong axis. The support post is adapted to receive a guardrail such that the rail face of the guardrail runs generally perpendicular to the strong axis such that the support post resists an impact on the face of the guardrail and yields to an impact force on the end of the guardrail.
US08038124B2	Fuel injector having a disk valve with a floating, compliant injector seat An improved disk-valve fuel injector comprising a self-centering, floating valve seat insert disposed in a valve body. The valve seat insert includes a circular first valve seat and the body includes a circular second valve seat concentric with the first valve seat. A spring urges the valve insert into compliance with a disk-shaped valve head. The valve insert is able to adjust position in all three dimensions, allowing the disk head to mate precisely with both seats, thereby minimizing leakage when the valve is closed, improving metering precision, and extending the working lifetime of the valve head and valve seats.
US08038123B2	Fluid handling device and method of making same A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is in the inlet channel and an open position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing. The piston section, biasing section and outlet section are connected together such that they can be handled as one piece when assembled with the housing to make the needlefree access device. The access device can be configured as a Y-site access device, or used on other devices such as an IV bag. A check valve made by a two shot molding process is also disclosed.
US08038122B2	Device and method for controlling a valve with consumable energy monitoring The invention relates to a device for controlling a valve (1) between an opened position and a closed position, that includes a valve actuation organ (8), an elastic system (17, 20) for oscillating the actuation organ between two end positions, at least one electromagnet (14, 15) associated with a control unit (23) for attracting the actuation organ towards its end positions, wherein the control unit supplies power to the electromagnet for attracting the actuation organ into a first end position when the required energy amount is at most equal to a threshold and for allowing the actuation organ to move back to the other end position when this amount is higher than the threshold. The invention also relates to a control method.
US08038119B2	Metering device A metering device has an actuating unit within a housing in which an actuator is inserted and a hydraulic compensating element. The hydraulic compensating element is connected to the actuator and can be filled with a fluid when subjected to pressure. A first end of the actuator is provided with a first end cap. The metering device further has a stop that is disposed on the housing in the form of a seat, faces the first end cap, and defines a stopping position for the first end cap. The stop maintains a maximum distance between a sealing element and the end cap, the distance being smaller than the actuator traveling distance such that the actuator stroke beyond the end cap is sufficient for opening the valve. The first end cap hits the stop when moving in the direction of the hydraulic compensating element such that the movement is blocked.
US08038117B2	Supporting mechanism for electronic device A supporting mechanism for an electronic device includes a connecting bracket configured to connect to the electronic device and a supporting bracket connected to the connecting bracket. The connecting bracket includes an operating member. The supporting bracket is configured to support the electronic device. The supporting bracket includes an adjustable component having a pressing portion positioned thereon. The adjustable component is capable of elongating or shortening via pressing the pressing portion by the operating member of the connecting bracket, and being unmovable via removing the operating member from the pressing portion to change a length of the supporting bracket.
US08038116B2	Portable and collapsible bookstand A portable and collapsible bookstand apparatus includes a pair of main panels which is connected by a 180 degree foldable device; a pair of book-holding panels which is connected with the pair of main panels respectively by respective 90 degree foldable devices; a pair of bottom panels which is connected to the main panels respectively by respective 90 degree foldable devices; a plurality of height-control panels which is connected with respective bottom panels by respective 110 degree foldable devices, and are carved and inserted into the respective bottom panels when folded; and a plurality of notches in the main panels for the plurality of height-control panels to be inserted.
US08038115B2	Sliding seat track having a secondary retaining structure A seat track includes a stationary rail and a movable rail. The stationary rail has a plurality of windows formed therein and a plurality of tabs formed adjacent to the windows. The moveable rail engages the stationary rail for relative movement in a first direction and for restricted movement in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The moveable rail has a J-hook that cooperates with the plurality of tabs of the stationary rail to restrict relative movement therebetween in the second direction.
US08038114B2	Heat sink for notebook computer The present invention is able to guide the wind produced by a fan interior of a heat sink when rotating to the interior of a computer, and discharge heat energy from the interior of the computer. Moreover, a user can easily adjust and fix air outlets of fan assemblies to corresponding positions beneath air inlets of a notebook computer to achieve optimum heat dissipation effectiveness. In addition, the user can adjust the screen viewing angle and height of the notebook computer, as well as make forward and rearward displacement or right and left rotation of the computer, thereby facilitating operational use by the user.
US08038110B2	Article holding device for aerial work platform An article holding device, for an elevated work platform having a railing configured by a plurality of horizontal bars, includes a body member and at least one bracing member. The body member is adapted to be disposed on the railing and the at least one bracing member is capable of supporting the body member on the elevated work platform. The body member includes a first compartment, a second compartment and a channel unit disposed therebetween. The first compartment and the second compartment include a plurality of adjustable sections configured therein. The first compartment, the second compartment and the channel unit are capable of receiving articles therein. The at least one bracing member is capable of being adjustably positioned between at least two horizontal bars of the plurality of horizontal bars of the railing for supporting the body member on the elevated work platform.
US08038107B1	Method of retaining a lawn waste bag in an open position A method of retaining a lawn waste bag in an open position for includes providing a yard waste bag having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The perimeter wall has an upper edge defining an opening into an interior of the yard waste bag. A frame is provided as well as a plurality of legs each having has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the legs is pivotally coupled to the frame by one of the couplers. The yard waste bag is opened and the legs are extended into the yard waste bag and to abut the bottom ends against the bottom wall to retain the yard waste bag in an open configuration.
US08038103B2	Aircraft trailing edge devices, including devices having forwardly positioned hinge lines, and associated methods Aircraft trailing edge devices, including devices having forwardly positioned hinge lines, and associated methods are disclosed. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a wing and a trailing edge device coupled to the wing. The trailing edge device can be movable relative to the wing between a stowed position and a deployed position, with the trailing edge device having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface. The upper surface can have an intersection point with the wing when the trailing edge device is in the stowed position. The motion of the trailing edge device relative to the wing can include rotational motion about a hinge line positioned forward of the intersection point, and a gap can be positioned between the trailing edge of the wing and the leading edge of the trailing edge device when the trailing edge device is in the deployed position.
US08038102B2	System and method to control flowfield vortices with micro-jet arrays The present invention provides a system and method for actively manipulating and controlling aerodynamic or hydrodynamic flow field vortices within a fluid flow over a surface using micro-jet arrays. The system and method for actively manipulating and controlling the inception point, size and trajectory of flow field vortices within the fluid flow places micro-jet arrays on surfaces bounding the fluid flow. These micro-jet arrays are then actively manipulated to control the flow behavior of the ducted fluid flow, influence the inception point and trajectory of flow field vortices within the fluid flow, and reduce flow separation within the primary fluid flow.
US08038099B2	Bonded metal fuselage and method for making the same A bonded metal fuselage for aerospace vehicles includes a monocoque structure having an outer metal skin, metal tear straps bonded to the outer skin and metal stringers bonded to the outer skin and to the tear straps. The outer chords of fuselage frames are fastened directly to tear straps and to the skin, obviating the need for clips to fasten the frames to the stringers.
US08038086B2	Method of mounting an orifice plate guard to a grinding machine Self-correcting plate guards for installation over an orifice plate of a grinding machine are disclosed. Each plate guard has studs that fit into apertures of an orifice plate. The studs and apertures are sized so that the correct guard must be used with a particular orifice plate. Furthermore, the mounting ring that holds the orifice plate in place on the grinding machine cannot be tightened for use of the grinding machine without the plate guard being installed.
US08038085B2	Loosefill bag digester for blowing insulation machine Machines for distributing loosefill insulation from a package of compressed loosefill insulation are provided. The package of compressed loosefill insulation includes a bag encapsulating a body of compressed loosefill insulation. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of the chute is configured to receive the package of compressed loosefill insulation. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and configured to shred and pick apart the loosefill insulation. A bag digester is configured to shred the bag into short strips of shredded bag. The short strips of shredded bag are configured to mix with the shredded loosefill insulation. A discharge mechanism is positioned downstream from the bag digester and the shredders and is configured for distributing the shredded loosefill insulation and the short strips of shredded bag into an airstream.
US08038083B2	Fuel injector The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber, having a solenoid valve for controlling a mini-servo valve. A movable armature can be placed in a sealing fashion on a valve seat in a lower armature chamber, wherein in addition, the mini-servo valve is held in an injector body and seals a control line against a flat seat. By means of the flat seat, during an actuation of the solenoid valve, the control line can be relieved of pressure from a high fuel pressure to a return pressure into at least one return line. A mechanism for reducing pressure oscillations are provided in the at least one return line, which includes at least one diaphragm cell which is held in a recess and which is placed in fluidic connection with the at least one return bore. A fuel injector with the mechanism for reducing pressure oscillations is therefore created in the at least one return line which operates without a leakage flow and has a simple and effective function.
US08038079B2	Injection system and a method for producing an injection system An injection system for injecting fuel has: a housing for containing the fuel, with a first and second aperture, a piezo actuator having a first and second face plate aperture, a controllable piezo stack arranged between the face and base plate, a sealed casing laterally surrounding at least the piezo stack and arranged between the face and base plate and a transmission means arranged in an actuator interior space having a fluid, a first contact device guided through the first aperture and face plate aperture, a second contact device guided through the second aperture and face plate aperture, a first sealing device surrounding the contact device near the apertures and providing a seal between the housing interior and exterior space and a second sealing device surrounding the contact devices near the face plate apertures and providing a seal between the housing interior space and the actuator interior space.
US08038076B2	System and method for dynamic solenoid response adjust control A method is described for controlling a solenoid-operated fluid valve having an output hydraulic pressure that varies in accordance with an input solenoid control current delivered from a drive circuit. A model is provided characterizing the plant dynamics of the solenoid-operated fluid valve and the drive circuit where the model is dependent on at least one operating parameter. The method, during operation, involves measuring the value of the operating parameter and adjusting based on the measured operating parameter value one or more gain constants to be used in a selected control strategy. The model is used in adjusting the gains. Finally, the method involves determining a required solenoid control current according to the control strategy with the now dynamically-adjusted gain constants. The control strategy may be a PI control strategy. The model-based system allows easy migration of the general control strategy to different hardware configurations by developing target system specific data for the model.
US08038070B2	Noncontact data carrier When performing radio communication with a reader/writer (1), supply of a power source S4 from a battery (14) is started when a level judgment circuit (9) judges that the signal level of a reception signal S2 received by an antenna (5) of a noncontact data carrier (4) is equal to or higher than a predetermined amplitude and a timer circuit (10) judges that the state where the amplitude is equal to or higher than the predetermined value has continued for a predetermined period T1 or more, and further, the supply of the power source S4 from the battery is stopped when the level judgment circuit (9) judges that the signal level of the reception signal S2 is lower than the predetermined amplitude and the timer circuit (10) judges that state where the amplitude is lower than the predetermined value has continued for a predetermined period T2 or more, thereby ensuring communication reliability that causes no problem in practical use of the noncontact data carrier (4), and avoiding insignificant dissipation of the battery.
US08038067B2	Transaction card with oscillating member A transaction card includes a base member, an auxiliary member, and an account identifier. The base member defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a spiral cut extending through the base to define a spiral portion. The spiral portion is stretched to extend in a conic helical form in front of a portion of the first surface defined by a remainder of the base member. The auxiliary member is coupled to the spiral portion opposite the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the base member and the auxiliary member. The account identifier links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. Other cards, combinations and associated methods are also disclosed.
US08038066B2	Laser scanner with deformable lens A scanning apparatus comprises a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target, a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and convert the light into a signal, and a controller operatively associated with the detector for receiving the signal from the detector and decoding the signal. A focusing apparatus comprising a deformable lens element in optical communication with the laser source has a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam. The deformable lens element defines an index of refraction difference with an index of refraction of an adjacently disposed substance. In one embodiment the index of refraction difference is greater than 0.30.
US08038055B2	Blood and medical specimen collection In a method of tracking a specimen acquired from a patient, machine-readable codes present on a patient identification (ID), an order to obtain a specimen from the patient, and on a specimen-taker ID means, respectively, are stored in a computer storage. A specimen container having a fourth machine-readable code preapplied thereto is selected from a plurality of specimen containers having unique machine-readable codes preapplied thereto. In response to a processor determining that the first and second machine-readable codes are related to the same patient, the processor causes the first—fourth machine-readable codes to be relationally stored in the computer storage. Responsive to the processor receiving a signal that a specimen has been placed in the selected specimen container, the processor causes an indication thereof to be stored in the computer storage in a relational manner with the first—fourth machine-readable codes.
US08038052B2	Retractable dual-purpose file folder The present invention provides a retractable dual-purpose file folder, including a retractable chamber with a front panel, a rear panel, a retractable bottom wall, two retractable side walls and an accommodation space. A plurality of three-sided sealed spacers is arranged at intervals into the accommodation space of the retractable chamber, the bottom of which is coupled onto the retractable bottom wall. There is a multi-section locator, including first and second locators. The first locator is arranged onto the front panel, and the second locator arranged on the rear panel. The invention includes positioning bands, each with a positioning end located securely on the front panel and a moveable end with a mating portion mated securely with the first and second locators. The retractable dual-purpose file folder can be accommodated into the brief case and placed uprightly on the table for meeting the diversified customer requirements with better applicability.
US08038050B2	Solder ball printing apparatus The present invention provides a solder ball printing apparatus in which solder balls are uniformly dispersed on a mask surface and are loaded into an opening area of the mask. A solder ball shaking and discharging unit includes a solder ball reception unit which receives solder balls from a solder ball reservoir unit, a wire member in a convex shape which is attached to surround a solder ball shaking and discharging port of the solder ball shaking and discharging unit and in which a plurality of wire members are arranged at predetermined intervals, and solder ball rotating and collecting mechanisms which sweep and collect the solder balls at the wire member in a convex shape.
US08038041B2	Dispensing closure with obstructed, offset, non-linear flow profile A dispensing closure has a flow conduit that provides a sufficient flow restriction to prevent unwanted spurting of the product when the container is initially opened. The dispensing closure includes a closure body with an upper deck and a flow conduit extending through the upper deck. The flow conduit includes an entry orifice having an entrance axis and an exit orifice having an exit axis. The entrance axis is offset from the exit axis to provide a non-linear flow path from an interior of the closure to the exterior of the closure.
US08038040B2	Bottle with integral dip tube Described is a fluid dispensing container having a bottle and fluid withdrawing assembly for liquids, such as liquid cleaners and the like. The bottle has an integral dip tube formed therein, fluidly connecting the inside of the bottle with the top opening of the bottle. A fluid dispensing mechanism, such as a pump or trigger-sprayer, is attached to the top of the bottle to take fluid up through the integral dip tube and dispense the fluid accordingly. The fluid dispensing mechanism may be aligned to allow a direct connection between integral dip tube and the fluid dispensing mechanism. The fluid dispensing mechanism may be attached to the bottle with a snap-fit connection.
US08038038B2	Spring engine driven fluid dispensing system A fluid dispensing system provides a sprayer. The system has a container with liquid fluid, such as used in lawn and garden weed control and fertilization. The sprayer has a handle containing a spring engine and a pump for liquid from the container. The spring engine has a flat spring having a spring band extending from two coils wound on two shafts. One of the coils is manually wound by a crank connected to a shaft on which the coil is connected. The other shaft is connected to the pump by a rotary cam driver. Liquid is sucked by the pump into a pump chamber during part of a cycle of rotation of the other shaft when the coils are unwound and the liquid is pumped out of the chamber during the other part of the cycle of rotation to a sprayer head on the sprayer handle.
US08038035B2	Fuel can spout A spouted container comprises a container and a vented spout that fluidly communicates with the container. The vented spout defines a fluid passageway extending therethrough and includes a conduit housing and a cover that cooperatively form a vented chamber. The vented chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway through a pair of spaced apart vent openings presented by the conduit housing. The vented chamber also fluidly communicates with ambient through a vent opening presented by the cover. The vented spout further includes a locking valve assembly that restricts inadvertent opening of the spouted container. The assembly includes a shiftable valve that normally occludes the passageway and a trigger operably coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The trigger includes a catch that holds the trigger in a locked condition when the valve is closed.
US08038033B2	Beverage whipper A beverage whipper, including a whipper disk configured for spinning within the whipper and having a radius is disclosed. The whipper disk further includes a front surface and a plurality of forward-facing concave surfaces that divide the front surface into a plurality of front surface sections. The concave surfaces extend generally radially over more than half the radius and have a circumferential width and a depth, wherein the width is larger than the depth. The front surface sections have a total area that is at least 4-times the total area of the concave surfaces. Also, a beverage dispenser that includes the whipper for forming beverages having crema such as espresso or cappuccino.
US08038032B2	Topping dispenser A topping dispenser for dispensing serving portions of topping onto beverages and desserts comprises a housing having a front product compartment and a rear drive compartment separated by a partition. The product compartment is adapted to receive a pastry bag containing topping such that the bag is suspended against the partition, and a vertically displaceable roller is provided in the product compartment to roll down along the partition to squeeze contents of the bag out through a bottom dispensing tip of the bag that extends through an opening in the housing to direct product onto a waiting beverage. The roller is advanced downward in predetermined increments by a pawl drive mechanism located in the drive compartment and coupled to the roller by a mounting bracket extending through travel slots in the partition. The pawl drive mechanism is actuated by an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing.
US08038030B2	Floor cleaning machine A floor-cleaning machine which can be driven over the floor, includes a driven brush for sweeping the floor to be cleaned. The brush picks up dirt and debris from the floor and carries it, assisted by forced air flow, in an overhead motion and through a transfer duct to a pair of dirt containers in the form of buckets located side-by-side at the rear of the machine. A manual linkage at the rear of the machine moves a pivoted carrier frame which holds the dirt containers, between a raised use position in which the upper rims of the dirt containers are sealed to the machine for collection of debris, and a lowered access position for removal of the containers. Each container is independently accessible for emptying, and includes a bail-type handle pivotally attached such that a bucket, the opening of which faces forwardly and upwardly in the use position, extends generally horizontal when removed, to avoid spillage. Each container has a recess adjacent the inlet opening for receiving the handle in the operating position.
US08038029B2	Activation of a pressure relief device A pressure vessel for storage of a pressurized fluid is provided. The pressure vessel includes a composite layer having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an internal cavity. The pressure vessel further includes at least one pressure relief device in fluid communication with the internal cavity. At least one thermally conductive element is continuously wound on the outer surface of the composite layer and adapted to carry load and transport heat from a heat source adjacent the composite layer to the at least one pressure relief device. A method for producing the pressure vessel is also provided.
US08038026B2	Removable locking container cover with slotted outer skirt A container cover for use with a container having a neck. The cover includes a lid, a skirt extending downward from the circumference of the lid, a concentric plug seal extending from the lid inside the skirt. The cover also may include vent holes in the lid. The skirt preferably includes at least two lock panels. The sides of the lock panels are defined by vertical slots in the skirt, and each lock panel features at least one inwardly-projecting locking wedge. When the cover is locked on the container, the locking wedges engage a lip on the container neck. When a user wishes to remove the cover, the user pulls up on the edge of a lock panel, disengaging the locking wedges from the container lip and removing the cover.
US08038024B2	Holder with V-knife blade for bi-directional rupture disc assembly This invention relates to a cylindrical holder member for a bi-directional bulged rupture disc. The support body of the holder has a rim that supports the rupture disc with the concave surface of the disc facing the holder. The support body is provided with a unitary one-piece, centrally creased cutting element that is of generally V-shaped configuration in plan view. The cutting element has a pair of elongated converging leg components with each leg component being connected to and supported by the interior wall surface of the holder body, with each leg component having an arcuate cutting edge. The cutting edges of the leg components merge at the crease in the cutting element to define a central cutting edge peak section. The cutting element is positioned in the holder with the cutting edge peak section extending beyond the rim of the support body into the concave area of the disc. The V-shaped cutting element functions to provide for a fuller and more rapid opening of the disc upon reversal and engagement with the cutting element as compared with prior reverse buckling disc three-knife blade cutter units. The invention has especial utility in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications requiring sanitary pressure relief rupture disc structure.
US08038023B2	Molded container with degassing valve A molded plastic container includes a side wall having a valve seat feature molded into the side wall, the valve seat feature comprising a central recess in the outer surface of the side wall, and an annular valve seat surrounding the central recess. The container has one or more holes extending through a portion of the side wall bounded by the annular valve seat into the interior of the container for venting gas from the container. A label is affixed against the outer surface of the side wall and is under tension, the tension of the label causing the label to firmly abut the annular valve seat. Excess pressure of gas inside the container is able to momentarily lift the label away from the annular valve seat to establish a flow path between the label and the annular valve seat such that gas under pressure is vented from the container.
US08038021B2	Sectional rack A sectional rack, which can be assembled without using fastening elements and tools, includes rectangular vertical posts, foot members connected to lower front and lower rear ends of the vertical posts, hook members hooked to hanging holes provided on lateral faces of the vertical posts, and crossbars mounted to lower and higher positions between two adjacent vertical posts via the hook members. When the hook member is hooked to the hanging holes, an insertion slot is formed between the hook member and the lateral face of the vertical post. The crossbars are respectively formed on a lower portion at each of two lateral ends with an insertion section for firmly downward inserting into two insertion slots formed on two facing lateral faces of two adjacent vertical posts, so that the two vertical posts are supported by the crossbars to stably stand upright.
US08038020B2	Support for a set of tools A support for a series of tools, each tool including at least one head and one handle, includes a base; a plurality of housings, each housing being intended to receive and retain the handle; a plurality of means for receiving and retaining a head, each receiving and retaining means being intended to receive and retain the head; the housings and the receiving and retaining means being secured to the base, each housing comprising two partitions, at least one of the partitions including a means for positioning the handle. At least one partition, which is formed integrally with the base, is designed to flex elastically and transversely to allow the handle to overcome the means for positioning the handle.
US08038018B1	Vending machine product stabilizer A vending machine has one or more resilient members placed in each row from which products are vended. As product moves through the row, the product abuts against the resilient member and is forced into an upright and aesthetically pleasing orientation. Further forward movement forces the resilient member out of the path of the product's movement.
US08038014B2	Use of an aqueous polymer dispersion as a binding agent for cellulose fibers and for the production of filter materials The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous polymer dispersion comprising methacrylic acid and N-methylolacrylamide as a binder for producing filter materials and for base paper for decorative sheets.
US08038009B1	Suspension pad for a corrugated enclosure A suspension pad for suspending a workpiece with respect to a corrugated enclosure having a closure flap that is moveable between an open position, wherein an opening is defined in the corrugated enclosure, and a closed position, wherein the opening is obstructed by the closure flap. The suspension pad has a mid-section that is engageable with the workpiece and at least one end portion moveable between a raised position, wherein the end portion is disposed within the corrugated enclosure, and a lowered position, wherein the end portion extends through the opening to hold the closure flap in the open position.
US08038005B2	Felting needle package A felting needle package (1) in accordance with the invention consists of a case having the shape of a parallelepiped, said case's interior space being divided by a dividing wall (11), said wall extending diagonally with respect to the lateral walls but extending at a right angle with respect to the bottom (10). The dividing wall (11) may have one or more interruptions such as, for example openings for grasping. Additional dividing walls may be provided. In plan view, the dividing walls divide wedge-shaped, i.e., prism-shaped, partial spaces in the package, said partial spaces being disposed to accommodate felting needle bundles that are also wedge-shaped.
US08037999B1	Soap dish system A soap dish has a plurality of apertures for the passage of water. An imperforate tray is fabricated of a moisture impervious material for the retaining of water in the tray. A primary region supports the tray. A secondary region is laterally spaced from the primary region. A coupling assembly includes an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism has an internal end and an external end. The internal end is operatively coupled with respect to the primary region. The external end is operatively coupled with respect to the soap dish. The coupling assembly is adapted to allow the movement of the soap dish with respect to the tray between an inoperative orientation and an operative orientation and through an intermediate orientation.
US08037997B2	Bulk material handling system and control A bulk material handling system includes a bulk material handling apparatus to convey bulk material and a bulk material handling accessory to aid the bulk material handling apparatus in conveying the bulk material. The bulk material handling accessory includes a controller having one or more sensors. The controller generates a control signal to adjust operation of the bulk material handling accessory based upon at least one status signal of the one or more sensors. The controller also generates the control signal in accordance with a status signal to control signal response pattern defined by system parameter values. The system parameters include a minimum value to define a minimum level of the control signal associated with fail-safe operation and a maximum value to define a maximum level of the control signal associated with stable operation the bulk material handling accessory.
US08037996B2	Transfer apparatus for handling electronic components An apparatus for transferring a plurality of electronic components includes a row of pick heads operative to pick up the electronic components simultaneously from a first location and to place them at a second location. Additionally, there is a driving mechanism operative to drive the pick heads to move relative to one another in directions which are parallel to a length of the row of pick heads whereby to adjust a pitch width of the pick heads.
US08037989B2	Torque transmitting device actuation system using a piezoelectric pump A hydraulic control system for actuating a torque transmitting device in a transmission includes a sump for receiving a hydraulic fluid and a piezoelectric pump for pumping the hydraulic fluid from the sump to the torque transmitting device. A first fluid flow path communicates the hydraulic fluid from the sump to the piezoelectric pump and a second fluid flow path communicates the hydraulic fluid from the piezoelectric pump to the torque transmitting device. An exhaust means selectively communicates the hydraulic fluid from the torque transmitting device to the sump.
US08037987B2	Wet-type multi-plate clutch In a wet-type multi-plate clutch comprising an externally-toothed plate and an internally-toothed plate each of which is formed by adhering a friction material on a core plate and in which torque is transmitted by engaging the externally-toothed plate and the internally-toothed plate, the friction materials are adhered on opposed surfaces of the externally-toothed plate and the internally-toothed plate which are opposed to each other.
US08037982B2	Hydraulic shock absorber for vehicle A shock absorber has a spring positioned within a chamber. The spring provides a spring force on a piston that offsets a hydraulic force such that the forces on the piston are generally balanced when a vehicle is at rest.
US08037978B1	Eddy current braking system for trolley zip line cable An eddy current magnetic braking system that is based on drag created when a conductor moves through a stationary magnetic field. As the magnetic field increases the drag value also increases. The invention provides a magnetic braking system for use on zip line/cable rides and trolleys. Alternate designs of the present invention include a magnetic braking system having a trolley that moves on a zip line/cable to a brake block which is connected to a pulley cable, as the trolley pushes the brake block, the pulley moves the conductor into a magnetic field creating an eddy current brake that slows the trolley to a stop.
US08037971B2	Landing gear, a brake, a brake-and-wheel assembly for an airplane, and a method of maintaining such landing gear The invention provides airplane landing gear comprising at least one axle for carrying at least one brake-and-wheel assembly comprising a rim mounted to rotate on the axle and a stack of disks and a support carrying modular electromechanical actuators that are individually removable, the landing gear and the brake-and-wheel assembly being organized in such a manner that each actuator is in at least one of the following configurations: an empty space of dimensions sufficient for receiving the actuator extends on a disassembly path directly facing the actuator when it is in an operating position; the actuator is associated with displacement means enabling it to be moved from an operating position to a disassembly position, an empty space of dimensions sufficient to receive the actuator extending along a disassembly path directly facing the actuator when it is in the disassembly position.
US08037966B2	Roof-mounted muffler for system for generating electric power An exhaust system for an electric power generation system is disclosed. The exhaust system may include a muffler configured to suppress noise associated with operation of an engine associated with the electric power generation system. The muffler may be configured to be mounted in a roof of a housing configured to contain at least part of the electric power generation system. The muffler may be configured to form an outside surface of the roof. Removal of the engine from the housing may be facilitated by removal of the muffler from the roof, such that the engine can be lifted out of the housing.
US08037963B2	Hybrid working vehicle An engine room is divided into a left room and a right room by a cooling unit. An intake chamber is disposed at a left side and an engine and the like are disposed at a right side. A cooling heat sink is provided on a side of the intake chamber, and a storage and a controller for controlling hybrid electronic devices are formed in this order in a cooling heat sink. Further, a cooling pump for supplying cooling liquid to the cooling heat sink is provided in the intake chamber. A radiator for cooling the cooling liquid is provided in front of the cooling unit.
US08037961B2	Snowmobile front suspension A snowmobile having a double A-arm front suspension is disclosed. The double A-arm front suspension includes an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, and a spindle connecting the skis the upper A-arms and lower A-arms, the connection of the upper and lower A-arms to the spindle defines a caster angle, the upper A-arm and the lower A-arm are connected to the front portion of the frame such that the caster angle decreases when the front suspension is compressed. Also disclosed is a snowmobile having a suspension travel of at least 8 inches and a steering assembly having a single pitman arm.
US08037959B2	All terrain vehicle with radiator protection A vehicle including a main body frame having a length direction and a width direction includes a front frame carried by the main body frame. The front frame includes a first front cross frame having a generally height and extends along said main body's width direction. A second front cross frame is disposed frontward and offset from the first cross frame at an elevational height less than the first front cross frame. A first and second side frame interconnect with the first cross frame and the second cross frame to define radiator cage having an interior space. A radiator is disposed within the interior space of said radiator cage.
US08037957B2	Ground interface for a vehicle A ground connection for a vehicle comprising a wheel (1), a sliding suspension for a wheel carrier relative to a support (10) connected to the vehicle, the suspension comprising a substantially vertical pillar (8) fixed to the wheel carrier, the degree of freedom of suspension of the wheel carrier relative to the support (10) being permitted by the movement of the pillar in the guide means (11) connected to the support, means for driving the wheel by a first rotary electric machine (15) mounted in the wheel, the first electric machine driving the wheel by means of reversible reduction means, the reduction means comprising a ring gear (16) fixed to the wheel and a drive pinion (17) connected to the first machine and defining a reduction ratio between the speed of rotation of the first machine and the speed of rotation of the wheel, the reduction ratio being greater than 10, said ground connection having no mechanical service brake.
US08037956B2	Vehicle mounted with fuel cell power supply system A vehicle is described that can efficiently cool or heat a group of components, in view of appropriate operating temperature ranges of respective components configuring a fuel cell power supply system, while realizing saving of a mounting space in the vehicle and cost of the vehicle. The vehicle mounted with a fuel cell power supply system includes at least a fuel cell, and an accumulating unit includes a capacitor and a secondary battery connected to the fuel cell. A motor serves as a power source for the vehicle to which output sections of the fuel cell and the accumulating unit are connected. A PDU provided between the output sections and the motor. A component group of the power supply system, including the fuel cell, the accumulating unit, and the PDU, is cooled by a cooling medium which flows inside the vehicle, in order from one having a lowest heating generation amount.
US08037955B2	Method for operating a hybrid vehicle A method for operating a hybrid drive having at least one first and one second drive-connected drive machine, in which an actual torque of at least one of the drive machines is influenced by a reference-forming element in that, from a combined setpoint torque, a first setpoint torque is formed for a slow influencing path and a second setpoint torque is formed for a fast influencing path for the first drive machine and a setpoint torque is generated for a fast influencing path of the second drive machine. A provision is made for the lead setpoint torque for influencing the slow influencing path of the first drive machine to be obtained from the unfiltered combined setpoint torque before the combined setpoint torque is processed in the reference-forming element.
US08037947B2	Impact tool with shock absorbing element A shock-absorbing element is disposed frontward of an interjacent element within a housing of an impact tool, and a washer is disposed rearward of and adjacent to the shock-absorbing element. The interjacent element is configured to come in contact with the washer when the interjacent element is caused to advance by an impactor's strike under no-load conditions. A sleeve disposed rearward of and adjacent to the washer is configured to position the shock-absorbing element and the washer, and to allow the interjacent element to move rearward and frontward inside the sleeve.
US08037937B2	Method and a device for solvent injection in a subsurface well A method and a device for solvent injection in a subsurface well (1) where the solvent flows towards the formation wall (4) of the subsurface well (19) via a releasable duct (8).
US08037929B2	Evaporator An evaporator includes plural refrigerant flow members and corrugate fins disposed in corresponding air-passing clearances between the adjacent refrigerant flow members. Each refrigerant flow member includes plural flat tubes arranged in the front-rear direction. Each corrugate fin extends across all the flat tubes. A vertically extending drain portion is formed between the flat tubes adjacent each other in the front-rear direction. At each connection portion of the corrugate fin, a louver group including plural louvers inclining downward toward the front is provided to correspond to a front portion of each flat tube. At least the front-end louver of the louver group provided to correspond to the front portion of each flat tube except for the flat tube at the front end is located in the drain portion.
US08037927B2	Cooling device for an electronic component A cooling device for cooling an electronic component. The device has an enclosure adapted to contain a liquid coolant. The enclosure has an internal channel system comprising a cavity adjacent the electronic component, a first group of arborizing channels adapted to carry the liquid coolant away from the cavity, a second group of arborizing channels adapted to carry the liquid coolant to the cavity, and a plenum fluidically connecting the first and seconds groups of arborizing channels. Each group of arborizing channels has a parent branch and multiple successive sets of daughter branches with successively smaller cross-sectional areas, wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the daughter branches of any set is approximately the same as that of its parent branch. Distal sets of the daughter branches are most distant from the cavity, fluidically connected to the plenum, and have the smallest cross-sectional areas of the daughter branches.
US08037926B2	Method and apparatus for chip cooling In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for chip cooling. One embodiment of a system for cooling a heat-generating device, such as a semiconductor chip, includes a vaporization chamber for at least partially vaporizing a stream of liquid in a stream of a gas to produce a mixture of gas, vapor and liquid and a heat sink coupled to the vaporization chamber for transferring heat from the heat-generating device to the mixture.
US08037924B2	Immersion nozzle for continuous casting An immersion nozzle for continuous casting, including (1) a tubular body with a bottom, the tubular body having an inlet for entry of molten steel disposed at an upper end and a passage extending inside the tubular body downward from the inlet, and (2) a pair of opposing outlets disposed in a sidewall at a lower section of the tubular body so as to communicate with the passage, the nozzle comprising: a pair of opposing ridges horizontally projecting into the passage from an inner wall between the pair of outlets, the inner wall defining the passage.
US08037920B2	Retractable rigid awning and operating mechanism therefor A retractable rigid window awning includes a number of U-shaped panels pivotally attached to a building on the sides of a window. In the retracted position, the panels are disposed above the window, in tiers. Each panel has a pair of actuators that enable its extension and retraction. Each actuator is attached to the panel at one end and to a movable nut at the other end via articulated joints. The nuts are installed on a driving screw attached to the building. The awning is extended by rotating the screw, which causes the nuts to travel along the screw. The actuators push their respective panels out and tilt them down. Depending on the length of actuators, panels travel different distances from the building creating a continuous shade over the window. The awning is retracted by rotating the screw in the opposite direction.
US08037917B2	Shipping and packing tape dispenser and mount A shipping and packing tape type dispenser having a handle and a dispenser body for mounting a roll of tape for one-handed application to work surfaces. The dispenser includes a retractable press plate, tape retainer, spool anti-reverse and rotation-tensioning mechanism and exterior rails. A storage bracket has supports for mounting the dispenser through the exterior rails for a one-handed dispensing mode, a quick storage mode, and a more-secure quick storage mode. The handle has storage for pens, box-cutters, replacement cutting blades, a retractable tape measure and/or a retractable weigh scale. A cutting blade is frictionally mounted in an open-ended slot through a sidewall portion of the dispenser.
US08037916B2	Tire labeling system A tire labeling system (10) for printing a label (L) and applying the label (L) on a surface of a tire (T). A printer (12) is provided to print the label and an applicator (20) is provided to transfer the label (L) from the printer (12) to the tire (T) and apply the label (L) to the tire (T).
US08037915B2	Method and apparatus for forming insulated rotor conductors An apparatus is disclosed for forming an insulated rotor conductor by bonding an insulating material onto a single side of a flat electrical conductor under controlled heat and mechanical pressure. The rotor conductor is suitable for assembly into the rotor assembly of a rotating electrical machine such as an alternating current generator. The apparatus includes modules to facilitate easy relocation within a manufacturing environment and to make efficient use of available manufacturing space. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US08037912B2	Tire with low zone comprising a concentration of cords A tire comprising at least one reinforcement structure of the carcass type anchored on either side of the tire in a bead, the base of which bead is intended to be mounted on a rim seat, the reinforcement structure extending circumferentially from the bead towards the sidewall, at least one arrangement of main cords along a substantially circumferential path being arranged substantially adjacent to the structure, the arrangement of the cords of the at least one arrangement being such that the number of main cords arranged on the axially inner side relative to the structure is greater than the number of main cords arranged on the axially outer side relative to the structure.
US08037910B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire is provided including a multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E formed by main grooves 2 extending linearly in the tire width direction partitioning the tread surface 1, and having a designated mounting direction on a vehicle. Among the multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E, lug grooves are not provided in a ground contact region R of the land portions 3A and 3E positioned on both shoulder sides. Lug grooves 4 inclining in the tire circumferential direction that have terminating parts in the land portions and opening to the main groove 2 on the vehicle inner side are formed at specified intervals in the tire circumferential direction in the land portions 3B and 3D inwardly adjacent to the land portions on both shoulder sides.
US08037907B2	Method and device for the controlled foaming of a product introduced in bottles or similar containers A method and device for the controlled foaming of a product introduced in bottles or similar containers.
US08037906B1	Filling station for water-based toys An apparatus designed to fill multiple water balloons and other water-based toys at the same time is herein disclosed. The apparatus takes the form of a large stand approximately thirty-four (34) inches high and twenty-four (24) inches wide made using polyvinylchloride (PVC) piping and fittings. The apparatus is supported across the bottom using two (2) “T”-shaped legs, also made of PVC pipe. A water connection to a standard garden hose is provided on one (1) leg near the bottom. Four (4) angled valves are provided across a top portion, such that up to four (4) users can use the apparatus simultaneously to refill water-based toys such as squirt guns or water balloons. When finished at each station, each user can easily turn off an individual valve, thus avoiding the wasting of water.
US08037905B2	Gas fill process and inflator weld design simplification A method is provided for filling an enclosure with an ignitable mixture of gases. The enclosure has an outer wall comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a fill aperture extending therethrough. The method comprises delivering a predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture, delivering a first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a first pressurization rate, delivering a second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a second pressurization rate, welding a sealing member to the outer wall of the enclosure by a welding process to form a weld operable to seal the fill aperture and to permit the enclosure to store pressurized gas therein. The first pressurization rate allows the first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas to mix with the predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas to form an ignitable mixture. The second pressurization rate is lower than the first pressurization rate. The second pressurization rate allows stratification to form within the enclosure between a layer of the ignitable mixture and a layer of the second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas. The layer of the second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas is disposed between the layer of the ignitable mixture and the fill aperture.
US08037901B2	Solenoid valve having a hollow cap mounted on a leading end of a movable iron core A solenoid valve that is constructed as follows: a cap is mounted on a movable iron core such that forward movement thereof is restricted; a pressing member is displaceably arranged between abutting seat surfaces of the cap and the movable iron core; biasing forces F1, F2, and F3 of an iron core return spring for biasing the movable iron core toward a initial position, a cushioning spring provided between the movable iron core and the pressing member, and a valve return spring for biasing a valve member in a direction to open a valve are set so as to be F1>F2>F3; and gaps x and y are provided between the pressing member and the movable iron core and between the pressing member and the cap, respectively, when the movable iron core is at the initial position.
US08037900B2	Bi-directional adjustable energy dissipating near zero leakage head loss valve A bi-directional adjustable energy dissipating near zero leakage head loss valve comprising a valve body including and actuation shaft housing and a guide shaft mount disposed in opposition along the transverse valve actuation axis; a fixed plate having downstream orifices parallel to the flow axis; a mobile plate having upstream orifices parallel to the flow axis adapted to move along the transverse valve actuation axis: from a fully open position, wherein the upstream and downstream orifices are aligned to allow flow communication to a fully closed position, wherein the orifices are blocked by the mobile plate; a self adjusting taper ring located about the upstream inner perimeter of the valve body, the self adjusting taper ring having an inner surface engagingly biased against and parallel to the upstream side of the mobile plate, and having an outer surface engagingly biased against an upstream pipe gasket flange.
US08037895B2	Coolant line clip assemblies for use with fluid delivery systems The present disclosure provides a fluid clip for use with a coolant system for electrosurgical procedures. The fluid clip includes a clip housing having proximal and distal ends and a channel defined therethrough. The channel is dimensioned to receive tubing for carrying a cooling fluid from a cooling source. The fluid clip includes a luer that includes a passageway defined therethrough. The passageway is dimensioned to securely receive the tubing such that the tubing extends through the luer for reception within the channel defined in the clip housing. The luer includes one or more interface on a surface thereof that matingly engages a corresponding interface on the clip housing. The interface on the luer cooperates with the interface on the clip housing to limit rotation of the tubing.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10