最新美国发明专利第2012-02-07期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08110727B2	Wheat plants having increased resistance to imidazolinone herbicides The present invention is directed to wheat plants having increased resistance to an imidazolinone herbicide. More particularly, the present invention includes wheat plants containing one or more IMI nucleic acids such as a Teal IMI cultivar. The nucleic acids are preferably located on or derived from different genomes. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these wheat plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these wheat plants.
US08110726B2	Polynucleotides encoding cellulose synthase from pinus radiata and methods of use for regulating polysaccharides of a plant Novel plant polysaccharide synthesis genes and polypeptides encoded by such genes are provided. These genes and polynucleotide sequences are useful regulating polysaccharide synthesis and plant phenotype. Moreover, these genes are useful for expression profiling of plant polysaccharide synthesis genes. One aspect of the present invention therefore are polynucleotides encoding cellulose synthase from Pinus radiata and methods of using such a polynucleotide to regulate polysaccharides of a plant.
US08110725B2	Polynucleotides and polypeptides in plants The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant. Sequence information related to these polynucleotides and polypeptides can also be used in bioinformatic search methods and is also disclosed.
US08110723B2	Transcription factors The invention provides polynucleotide sequences isolated from plants encoding transcription factors. Polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides are also provided. Products and methods of use are disclosed.
US08110721B2	Methods for maintaining genetic stability of inbred animal strains The present invention provides novel methods of maintaining genetic stability of non-human animal inbred strains. In the methods, pedigree-tracked cryopreserved embryos derived from a foundation colony are produced and used to re-establish the foundation colony at appropriate intervals.
US08110718B2	Thin film delivery system and method of manufacture A carrier delivered dressing is disclosed which has a conformable backing with a pressure sensitive adhesive coated on a bottom face and removable carrier attached to the top face of the backing. A bond block material is positioned between the backing and the carrier. A cut line traverses both the carrier and the bond block material to form a tab.
US08110714B2	Polyacene compound and organic semiconductor thin film The present invention provides an organic semiconductor material which exhibits a high mobility, and excellent solubility in solvents and oxidation resistance. The present invention also provides an organic semiconductor thin film exhibiting a high mobility, and an organic semiconductor device exhibiting excellent electronic characteristics. A transistor structure is formed by coating the silicon substrate with a thin film of pentacene compound substituted halogens at 6 and 13 positions and aliphatic hydrocarbons at 2, 3, 9 and 10 positions, wherein the substrate is patterned beforehand with gold to have a source and drain electrodes.
US08110711B2	Processes for production of 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol and 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt Disclosed is a process for producing 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol, which comprises reducing a bromodifluoroacetic acid derivative represented by the formula [1] by using an ate hydride complex as a reducing agent. 2-Bromo-2,2-difluoroethanol thus produced can be used as the starting material to carry out the esterification step, the sulfination step and the oxidation step in this order, thereby producing a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt, wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, a heteroaryloxy group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom.
US08110709B2	Stabilization of hydroformylation catalysts based on phosphoramide ligands The present invention relates to a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalytically active fluid which comprises a dissolved metal complex of a metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements with at least one phosphoramidite compound as ligand, wherein the fluid is brought into contact with a base.
US08110701B2	Process for the preparation of functionalised benzocyclobutenes, and application in the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid Process for the preparation of compounds of formula (IV): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl group, a linear or branched (C1-C6)alkoxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a protected amine group, a protected hydroxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group in which the alkoxy group is linear or branched (C1-C6), or a CF3 group, or R1═R4═H and R2 and R3 together with the carbon atoms carrying them form a 1,3-dioxolane group, R5 represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl group, a linear or branched (C1-C6)hydroxyalkyl group in which the hydroxyl function is protected, or a CO2R7 group in which R7 is a linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl group, R6 represents a cyano group or a CO2R8 group in which R8 is a linear or branched (C1-C6)-alkyl group. Application in the synthesis of ivabradine, addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and hydrates thereof.
US08110694B2	Method for manufacturing dialkylaluminum monohalide A method for manufacturing dialkylaluminum monohalide is provided by which dialkylaluminum monohalide substantially including no zinc component after recovering dialkylzinc from a reaction product obtained by a reaction of zinc halide and trialkylaluminum used as raw materials can be efficiently obtained on an industrial scale at a high yield. According to the method for manufacturing dialkylaluminum monohalide of the present invention, zinc halide is reacted with trialkylaluminum to produce dialkylzinc and dialkylaluminum monohalide, and after the dialkylzinc is separated from a reaction product by distillation, metal aluminum in which a molar ratio is 0.40 or more to zinc component, that is dissolved in the reaction product, and then the mixture is distilled to separate the dialkylaluminum monohalide which substantially includes no zinc component.
US08110674B2	Therapeutic compositions Therapeutic sRNA agents and methods of making and using are enclosed.
US08110669B2	Apparatus and methods for detecting DNA in biological samples Apparatus and methods are described for detecting target DNA in a biological sample using capture probes and electrically-assisted hybridization. The reaction cell is formed with an attachment surface of aluminum oxide for better thermal and physical properties, and the aluminum oxide surface is coated with anti-DIG antibody to provide a convenient attachment layer for the capture probes allowing their correct orientation, while the capture probes are formed with a DIG-label so that they attach to the surface of the cell through an anti-DIG/DIG linkage.
US08110662B2	Antibody directed to protein involved in maintaining differentiation of smooth muscle cells A cDNA fragment participating in the maintenance of smooth muscle differentiation was isolated using a culture system of chicken gizzard smooth muscle cells, the differential display method and the subtracted hybridization method. Using the obtained cDNA sequence as a query, cDNA sequences of Helix Research Institute (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-118776) were retrieved, and thus, a novel gene “C-NT2RP3001495” was obtained. The protein encoded by this gene has two WW domains that participate in protein interactions in the N-terminal domain. Evidence suggests that this protein binds to other proteins, and thus regulates the intracellular signal transduction, gene expression, and so on, thereby participating in the maintenance of the differentiation of smooth muscle cells. This protein and compounds regulating the expression thereof are markedly useful in developing drugs for various diseases associated with abnormality in the maintenance of smooth muscle cell differentiation.
US08110656B2	Compositions and methods of a phosphatidic acid binding protein TGD2 proteins of Arabidopsis are proposed to be a substrate binding component of a lipid transfer complex in the inner chloroplast envelope membrane. Loss of function of this protein or other components of this complex may disrupt the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-pathway of thylakoid lipid biosynthesis. In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates a minimal binding domain capable of specifically binding phosphatidic acid. Alternatively, the minimal binding domain may further comprise accessory binding domains that, in combination, create a complete TGD2 phosphatidic acid binding domain. Consequently, phosphatidic acid may be quantitatively detected from samples as described in the methods herein.
US08110653B2	Collections of repeat proteins comprising repeat modules A collection of repeat proteins, each repeat protein comprising a repeat domain, which comprises a set of consecutive repeat modules, wherein each of the repeat modules is derived from one or more repeat units and wherein the repeat units comprise framework residues, which contribute to the folding topology of the repeat unit or contribute to an interaction with a neighboring repeat unit, and target interaction residues, which contribute to an interaction with a target substance, wherein the repeat proteins differ from other repeat proteins in the collection in at least one amino acid position of the repeat modules is described.
US08110650B2	Methods for making molding resins Methods of making unsaturated polyester compositions are provided and include reacting: (i) plant and animal oil triglycerides, an alkyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid or mixtures thereof; (ii) a difunctional, or polyfunctional glycol or mixtures thereof; (iii) a difunctional or polyfunctional acid, their anhydrides or alkyl esters and mixtures thereof; (iv) a strained cycloolefin; (v) a component(s) that function as a compound capable of initiating polymerization at high temperature and which is stable at room temperature; and (vi) low profile additives, fillers and reinforcements.
US08110649B2	Polycarbonates comprising cyclic oligomers and having an improved flow behavior The invention relates to polycarbonates that comprise defect structures and cyclic oligomers and have improved properties. The invention also relates to molded articles and extrudates made from said polycarbonates.
US08110644B2	Bimodal pipe resin and products made therefrom Disclosed is a bimodal Ziegler-Natta catalyzed polyethylene, having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc, and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, wherein an article formed therefrom has a PENT of at least 1500. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a tubular article including obtaining a bimodal polyethylene having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, and processing the polyethylene under conditions where a specific energy input (SEI) is less than 300 kW·h/ton, and wherein the article has a PENT of at least 1500. Further disclosed is a method for controlling the degradation of polyethylene including polymerizing ethylene monomer, recovering polyethylene, extruding the polyethylene, and controlling the degradation of polyethylene by measuring the SEI to the extruder and adjusting throughput and/or gear suction pressure keep SEI less than 300 kW·h/ton, and forming an article.
US08110640B2	Half-metallocene catalyst compositions and their polymer products The present invention provides polymerization catalyst compositions employing half-metallocene compounds with a heteroatom-containing ligand bound to the transition metal. Methods for making these hybrid metallocene compounds and for using such compounds in catalyst compositions for the polymerization and copolymerization of olefins are also provided.
US08110639B2	Transparent and flame retardant polysulfone compositions A polysulfone having a first polyphenylene sulfone unit (i.e. PPSU unit) based on one biphenol group and one diphenyl sulfone group and a second sulfone unit (i.e. PSU-AF unit) based on one hexafluorobisphenol A group and one diphenylsulfone group. The polysulfone is transparent and has a total heat release and peak heat release of less than 65 kW·min/m2 and 65 kW/m2, respectively. Compositions containing the polysulfone and articles made by molding and/or extruding the polysulfone.
US08110625B2	Rubber composition Provided is a rubber composition comprising an inorganic filler, a compound having at least one group A reacting with a rubber and two or more groups B adsorbing on the inorganic filler described above in the same molecule, a compound having the group A reacting with a rubber and an amino group in the same molecule or acrylate or methacrylate having a specific structure and further comprising, if necessary, a silane coupling agent. This makes it possible to provide a rubber composition which is excellent in the dispersibility of an inorganic filler, so that it does not elevate a viscosity of a non-vulcanized rubber and does not damage the processability and which does not bring about roughening on the surface of a rubber and is improved in a storage modulus.
US08110622B2	Aromatic polycarbonate resin composition and manufacturing process thereof A resin composition consisting of: (1) 100 parts by weight of an aromatic polycarbonate resin; (2) 0.008 to 0.13 part by weight of an alkali metal salt of a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid having a fluoride ion content measured by ion chromatography of 0.2 to 1 ppm in terms of weight based on the weight of component B; and (3) 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of silicone having a Si—H group and a phenyl group. A process of manufacturing the resin composition and a method of preventing the melt dripping during combustion of the resin composition. The flame retardancy of the above aromatic polycarbonate resin composition comprising the fluorine-containing organic metal salt compound is improved.
US08110620B1	Uncured rubber composition, process for producing the same, and pneumatic tire A process for producing an uncured rubber composition containing a rubber wet master batch obtained by using, as raw materials, at least a filler, a dispersing solvent, and a rubber latex liquid made mainly of a natural rubber latex, mainly comprising: a step (I) wherein at the time of dispersing the filler into the dispersing solvent, at least one portion of the rubber latex liquid is added thereto, thereby preparing a slurry containing the filler to which rubber latex particles adhere, a step (II) wherein the slurry is mixed with the rest of the rubber latex liquid, thereby preparing the rubber latex liquid containing the rubber-latex-particle-adhering filler.
US08110619B2	Tire compounds with improved tear, flex fatigue, and ozone resistance A method of producing a tire including mixing in a non-productive phase at least one elastomer with a polyamide having a melting temperature of less than 180° C. The polyamide is allowed to heat to at least its melting temperature. During the productive phase, at least one curing agent is added to the elastomeric composition. The curing agent may be a sulfur containing curing agent and/or a non-sulfur containing curing agent. The elastomeric composition may optionally include a crystalline EPDM elastomer. The resulting compositions may then be formed into a tire component which may be built into a tire and cured.
US08110618B2	Process for production of sealing agent A sealing agent stock solution 20 is prepared by preparing a mixed solution 14 by mixing a rubber latex, a resin emulsion and a surfactant, and a predetermined amount of water in a solution preparation vessel 12, followed by adding an anti-freeze agent 18 to the mixed solution 14. The sealing agent stock solution 20 is held (left standing still) at least over for 24 hr or more and preferably over for 48 hr or more without stirring in the solution preparation vessel 12, followed by filtering the sealing agent stock solution 20 with a filter member 26 made of a mesh filter having the mesh number from 50 to 400 mesh to remove latex aggregates 36 generated in the sealing agent stock solution 20, and thereby a sealing agent 10 that does not contain the latex aggregates 36 is produced.
US08110617B2	Aqueous ink composition and method of manufacturing the same An aqueous ink composition comprising: a pigment, having a particle diameter as determined by the light scattering method of no less than 20 nm and no more than 200 nm; and a water dispersible polymer, having a styrene-equivalent number average molecular weight of as determined by gel permeation chromatography no less than 5000 and no more than 200000, having a surface tension of no less than 20 mN/m and no more than 40 mN/m, and wherein the abovementioned pigment is a polymer-coated pigment that is coated with the abovementioned water dispersible polymer, is provided. The water-dispersible polymer may be a copolymer of monomers, mainly comprising acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and an acrylate and/or methacrylate. With this ink composition, the printing quality can be improved.
US08110616B2	Aqeous inkjet recording ink An aqueous inkjet recording ink including at least a resin (A), a pigment (B) dispersed with the resin (A), a resin emulsion (C), and an aqueous liquid medium (D), wherein the resin (A) includes hydrophobic structural units (a) and hydrophilic structural units (b), the hydrophobic structural units (a) include a hydrophobic structural unit (a1) in an amount of 40% by mass or more of the resin (A), the hydrophobic structural unit (a1) having an aromatic ring indirectly linked to an atom for forming the main chain of the resin (A), and a hydrophobic structural unit (a2) in an amount of 15% by mass or more of the resin (A), the hydrophobic structural unit (a2) being derived from a C1 to C4 alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, the hydrophilic structural units (b) include a structural unit (b1) derived from an acrylic acid or a methacrylic acid, and the content of the hydrophilic structural units (b) is 15% by mass or less in the resin (A).
US08110614B2	Adamantane derivative, method for producing the same, and resin composition containing adamantane derivative Adamantane derivatives are provided including a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing adamantane derivative, a glycidyloxy group-containing adamantane derivative, and an adamantyl group-containing epoxy modified acrylate, which exhibit excellent transparency, light resistance, and heat resistance properties. Also provided are resin compositions containing the adamantane derivatives. Further provided are corresponding methods for producing the adamantane derivatives, as well as the resin compositions containing the same.
US08110613B2	Process for producing silicon compound having oxetanyl group Provided is a method for efficiently producing a cationically curable condensed silicon compound. There was an unsolved problem that, in a condensation reaction, an oxetanyl group is subjected to ring-opening under an acidic condition, while gelation is easily caused under an alkaline condition. It was found that a silicon compound (C) having an oxetanyl group can be obtained without causing gelation even at a high concentration by the present method including a first step of separately subjecting a silicon compound (A) having four siloxane bond-forming groups and a silicon compound (B) having an oxetanyl group to alcohol exchange reaction with 1-propanol and a second step of subjecting silicon compounds (AP) and (BP) undergone the first step to hydrolytic copolycondensation under an alkaline condition at a specific ratio.
US08110611B2	Composition for image recording, image recording ink set, and recording apparatus A composition for image recording includes a curable material that is curable by an external stimulus, and an oil absorbing material.
US08110610B2	Amine co-initiators for radiation curable compositions A radiation curable composition comprising a curable compound, a photo-initiator and a co-initiator, characterized in that said co-initiator is a oligomer or polymer having a repeating unit, said repeating unit comprising at least two tertiary amines, and said polymer being prepared by the polycondensation of di- or oligofunctional Michael acceptors with mono- or oligofunctional aliphatic primary amines or with di- or oligofunctional aliphatic secondary amines or with a mixture thereof.
US08110606B2	Method of treating post-surgical acute pain A method is provided for treating pain in patients recovering from post-surgical trauma by administering between about 13 to about 30 mg of diclofenac potassium in a liquid dispersible formulation over a period of at least 24 hours, wherein the daily total amount of diclofenac potassium administered is less than or equal to about 100 mg. The method is particularly useful in treating acute pain in bunionectomy patients.
US08110602B2	Compounds comprising heterocyclic-substituted piperidine for treating pain The invention relates to Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compounds, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as pain, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Heterocyclic-Substituted Piperidine Compound.
US08110600B2	Formulation and delivery method to enhance antioxidant potency of vitamin E A formulation to deliver a full-spectrum of Vitamin E isomers for improved antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, dissolution and efficacy. The formulation includes dl-α-tocopheryl acetate or dl-α-tocopheryl succinate (synthetic Vitamin E), natural Vitamin E and mixed tocopherols, such as α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol, as well as four isomers (α, β, γ and δ) of tocotrienols. This formulation is designed to deliver at least 17-times the antioxidant capacity of synthetic Vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate), and at least twice the antioxidant capacity of natural Vitamin E (d-α-tocopherol) as measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The potent antioxidant capacity of this formula affords protection against oxidative damage of cell membranes, heart disease, cancer and eye and skin disease.
US08110599B2	AMPelopsin unsaturated sodium salt preparation and applications thereof The present application relates to a novel AMPelopsin unsaturated sodium salt compound (AMP-Na), a method for preparing the same and the applications thereof. The physicochemical properties of AMP-Na according to the present application are significantly altered compared to those of AMPelopsin (AMP). AMP-Na shows significantly reduced toxicity than AMP as evidenced by the in vivo acute toxicity studies. As demonstrated by pharmacological evaluation, AMP-Na exhibits synergistic action when administered in combination with clinically used anti-cancer drugs, therefore reducing their dosages without compromising their therapeutic effects.
US08110598B2	Heterocyclic compounds, their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in medicine The present invention relates to novel substituted pyrrole compounds, their derivatives, their analogs, their tautomeric forms, their stereoisomers, their polymorphs, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. This invention particularly relates to novel substituted pyrrole compounds of the general formula (I), their analogs, their derivatives, their polymorphs, their tautomeric forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and their pharmaceutical compositions containing them. This invention also relates to the process for preparing such compounds, a composition containing such a compound and the use of such a compound and composition in medicine.
US08110595B2	Ureas and their use in the treatment of heart failure Certain substituted urea derivatives selectively modulate the cardiac sarcomere, for example by potentiating cardiac myosin, and are useful in the treatment of systolic heart failure including congestive heart failure.
US08110592B2	Agrochemical formulations that can be dispersed in water containing polyalkoxytriglycerides as penetration enhances The present invention relates to novel water-dispersible agrochemical formulations such as, for example, water-based suspension concentrates and water-dispersible granules of agrochemically active compounds comprising a penetrant from the class of the polyalkoxytriglycerides, to a process for preparing these formulations and to their use for applying the active compounds comprised therein.
US08110589B2	Ectoparasiticide composition and a method for exterminating extoparasites An ectoparasiticide composition for animals including etoxazole as an active ingredient, a UV absorber and a phenol antioxidant, and a method for exterminating ectoparasites using the composition. The preferable blending ratio between etoxazole, a UV absorber and a phenol antioxidant in terms of mass ratio is 1: from 0.05 to 5: from 0.05 to 5.
US08110580B2	Thiophene pyrazolopyrimidine compounds The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of such compounds as corticotropin releasing factor 1 (CRF1) receptor antagonists in the treatment of psychiatric and neuroendocrine disorders, neurological diseases, and metabolic syndrome.
US08110575B2	Compounds The present invention relates to new CGRP-antagonists of general formula I wherein U, V, X, Y, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined as in the description, the tautomers, the isomers, the diastereomers, the enantiomers, the hydrates, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof and the hydrates of the salts, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, medicaments containing these compounds, their use and processes for preparing them.
US08110573B2	Pyrazole compounds that modulate the activity of CDK, GSK and aurora kinases The invention provides a compound of the formula (I): or a salt, solvate, tautomer or N-oxide thereof, wherein M is selected from a group D1 and a group D2: and R′, E, A and X are as defined in the claims. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, processes for making the compounds and the use of the compounds in the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease state mediated by a CDK kinase, GSK-3 kinase or Aurora kinase.
US08110567B2	Phenyl-piperazine derivatives as serotonin reuptake inhibitors The invention provides compounds represented by the general formula I wherein the substituents are defined in the application. The compounds are useful in the treatment of an affective disorder, including depression, anxiety disorders including general anxiety disorder and panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
US08110565B2	Enhanced drug delivery in transdermal systems A composition for transdermal administration resulting from an admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of a drug that includes a parent drug and a prodrug; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the parent drug and prodrug are individually present in an amount sufficient for a pharmacological effect. In a preferred embodiment, the admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent that includes a corresponding steroid and a steroid derivative; and a carrier for the pharmaceutically active agent. The steroid and the corresponding steroid derivative are present in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 steroid:corresponding steroid derivative. In a preferred embodiment ratio is 6:1 to 1:6. In a preferred embodiment, the corresponding steroid derivative is a steroid ester. In another preferred embodiment, the carrier is a polymer that includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, the parent drug is an ACE inhibitor such as ramipril and the prodrug is an ACE inhibitor prodrug such as ramipril ethyl and/or methyl ester.
US08110560B2	Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment via targeting of SMN2 splice site inhibitory sequences The present invention is directed to methods and compositions capable of blocking the inhibitory effect of a newly-identified intronic inhibitory sequence element, named ISS-N1 (for “intronic splicing silencer”), located in the SMN2 gene. The compositions and methods of the instant invention include oligonucleotide reagents (e.g., oligoribonucleotides) that effectively target the SMN2 ISS-N1 site in the SMN2 pre-mRNA, thereby modulating the splicing of SMN2 pre-mRNA to include exon 7 in the processed transcript. The ISS-N1 blocking agents of the invention cause elevated expression of SMN protein, thus compensating for the loss of SMN protein expression commonly observed in subjects with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
US08110559B2	Hindered ester-based biodegradable linkers for oligonucleotide delivery The invention provides hindered ester-based biodegradable linkers for the delivery of oligonucleotides in vivo, as well as method of making and using the same.
US08110555B2	7-hydroxy chromones as potent antioxidants The present invention describes the identification and purification of 7-hydroxychromes that exhibit potent antioxidant activity. In one embodiment the present invention includes a method for providing an antioxidant to a host in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones. The present invention includes methods that are effective in inhibiting free radical and oxidation caused damage through the simultaneous suppression of free radical generation and the suppression of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present invention also includes methods for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes. The method for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprised of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Included in this invention is an improved method to isolate and purify 7-hydroxychromones from plant sources.
US08110553B2	Methods and compositions for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders The present invention features compositions and related methods for treating IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders and conditions (e.g., gastrointestinal motility disorders, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory bowel disease, functional heartburn, dyspepsia (including functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia), gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (or colonic pseudo-obstruction), and disorders and conditions associated with constipation, e.g., constipation associated with use of opiate pain killers, post-surgical constipation (post-operative ileus), and constipation associated with neuropathic disorders as well as other conditions and disorders using peptides and other agents that activate the guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor.
US08110535B2	Semi-aqueous stripping and cleaning formulation for metal substrate and methods for using same The present invention relates to semi-aqueous formulations and the method using same, to remove bulk photoresists, post-etched and post-ashed residues, as well as contaminations. The formulation comprises: an alkanolamine, a water miscible organic co-solvent, a quarternary ammonium compound, a non-free acid functionality corrosion inhibitor, and remainder water. The pH is greater than 9.
US08110532B2	Antioxidant compositions The invention relates to antioxidant compositions for lubricants and organic polymers comprising a first antioxidant comprising a reaction product of p-cresol, dicyclopentadiene and isobutylene; and a second antioxidant comprising a diarylamine. The first antioxidant preferably has the structure: wherein n is 0-50, and R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, a straight or branched C1-C30 alkyl or alkylene group optionally substituted with one or more substituents, C3-C12 cycloalkyl, C5-C12 aryl, or C6-C12 alkylaryl. The second antioxidant preferably has the formula: (R3)a—Ar1—NH—Ar2—(R4)b wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are independently aromatic hydrocarbon groups and R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl groups having from 6 to about 100 carbon atoms and a and b are independently 0 to 3 but (a+b) is not greater than 4.
US08110530B2	Herbicidal composition The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition having a synergistic herbicidal effect against weeds, said herbicidal composition including 3-[(5-difluoromethoxy-1-methyl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazol-4-yl)methylsulfonyl]-4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethylisoxazole as a component A and a component B selected from the group consisting of quizalofop-P-ethyl, sethoxydim, pyrithiobac-sodium, bispyribac-sodium, pyrimisulfan, imazaquin, chlorimuron-ethyl, diuron, sulfentrazone, fluthiacet-methyl, sulcotrione, norflurazon, clomazone, bilanafos, asulam, flufenacet, dimethenamid-P, prosulfocarb, thiobencarb, 2,4-D, isoproturon, picolinafen, trifluralin and triallate.
US08110527B2	Alumina having a complex pore structure, and catalyst and process for selective hydrogenation of cracking gasoline The present invention discloses an alumina support having multiple pore structure, wherein the alumina support has a specific surface area of from 40 to 160 m2/g and a total pore volume of from 0.3 to 1.2 cm3/g; a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of less than 30 nm comprises 5 to 60% of the total pore volume; a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of from 30 to 60 nm comprises 20 to 75% of the total pore volume; and a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter of larger than 60 nm comprises 20 to 60% of the total pore volume. The present invention further discloses a catalyst used for selective hydrogenation of a pyrolysis gasoline, comprising: (a) the alumina support according to the invention; and (b) 0.01 to 1.2 wt. % of metal palladium or palladium oxides, based on the weight of the alumina support.
US08110525B2	Method of preparing oil absorbing fibers A method of preparing oil-absorbing fibers by: a) fully dissolving a dispersant and a deionized water in a reaction vessel, adding a methacrylate monomer and an initiator to a reactor and stirring to form a homogenous solution, transferring the homogenous solution into the reaction vessel, charging nitrogen gas, stirring, raising temperature to 70-80° C., allowing to react for 2-6 hours, raising temperature to 90-100° C., allowing to react for 2-4 hours, collecting a resultant product, washing, drying, and obtaining a white resin; b) drying the white resin, mixing with a swelling agent, and sealing the mixture at room temperature for 48-96 hours to yield a homogenous gel; c) grinding the gel completely, spinning by a plunger spinner, and coagulating with a coagulation bath to yield an as-spun oil-absorbing fiber; and d) drawing the as-spun oil-absorbing fiber with a draw ratio of 2-6 to yield oil-absorbing fibers.
US08110523B2	Highly attrition resistant and dry regenerable sorbents for carbon dioxide capture Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a dry regenerable sorbent which comprises the steps of obtaining a slurry through formulation, mixing, comminuting and dispersion of the sorbent raw materials, forming the slurry by spray drying to produce sorbent particles, and calcining the sorbent particles. In the step of obtaining a slurry, there is used organic additives (dispersant, a flow control agent, and an organic binder) necessary to obtain a well-dispersed, stable and free-flowing slurry in which the raw materials are present below a sub-micron level (nanosize). The organic additives are removed and decomposed through the calcining. The use of the hydrophilic and high specific surface area support allows the dry regenerable sorbent to have a high reactivity. The solid active component is used instead of a liquid amine used in a conventional wet carbon dioxide capture technology. In addition, the sorbent can be re-used through continuous sorption and regeneration processes.
US08110522B2	Methods for promoting syngas-to-alcohol catalysts The present invention provides methods of intercalating a catalyst promoter to form a catalyst composition suitable for converting syngas into alcohols, such as ethanol. Effective conditions for promoter intercalation are provided herein. This invention also provides novel compositions that can be characterized by interplanar spacings of the promoter within the catalyst composition.
US08110521B2	Synthesis methods of core-shell nanoparticles on a carbon support The present invention features a method for preparing core-shell nanoparticles supported on carbon. In particular, the present invention features a method for preparing core-shell nanoparticles supported on carbon, including: dispersing core nanoparticle powder supported on carbon in ethanol; adding a metal precursor which forms a shell and hydroquinone thereto; and mixing and reducing the same. Preferably, the disclosed method for preparing core-shell nanoparticles supported on carbon enables coating of transition metal nanoparticles including platinum on the surface of core metal nanoparticles at a monolayer level. Prepared core-shell nanoparticles of the present invention may be useful as catalysts or electrode materials of fuel cells.
US08110515B2	Optical glass A glass composition that simultaneously has a low temperature coefficient of refractive index and a good light transmittance, being suitable for use in environments of intense temperature change. There is provided an optical glass containing SiO2, B2O3 and La2O3, which has a temperature coefficient (20° to 40° C.) of relative refractive index (546.07 nm) of 10.0×10−6 (° C.−1) or below. Further, there is provided an optical glass mentioned above having a temperature coefficient (20° to 40° C.) of relative refractive index (546.07 nm) of 4.6×10−6 (° C.−1) or below. Still further, there is provided an optical glass mentioned above having an internal transmittance (τ;10 mm) at 400 nm of 80% or higher.
US08110514B2	Optical glass An optical glass that is an oxide glass having a very high refractive index in spite of its low-dispersion property, having excellent glass stability and having less susceptibility to coloring.
US08110513B2	Glass composition and optical member and optical instrument using the same A glass composition comprising: (A) TeO2 (50-95 mol %); (B) B2O3 (1-33 mol %); (C) ZnO (1-37 mol %); (D) Bi2O3 (1-18 mol %); (E) P2O5 (0-15 mol %); (F) R2O (0-13 mol %), where R represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, and K; (G) MO (0-13 mol %), where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; (H) TiO2 (0-13 mol %); (I) Nb2O5 (0-10 mol %); (J) Ta2O5 (0-13 mol %); (K) L2O3 (0-11 mol %), where L represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of yttrium and lanthanoids; and (L) the total amount of P2O5, R2O, MO, TiO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, and L2O3 described in (E) to (K), respectively, is 0-15 mol %.
US08110511B2	Methods and systems of transferring a substrate to minimize heat loss A method of transferring one or more substrates between process modules or load lock stations while minimizing heat loss is provided. In some embodiments the method comprising the steps of: identifying a destination location D1 for a substrate S1 present at an initial processing location P1; if the destination location D1 is occupied with a substrate S2, maintaining the substrate S1 at the initial processing location P1; and if the destination location D1 is available, transferring the substrate S1 to the destination location D1. In accordance with additional embodiments, the method is carried out on a system for processing substrates which includes two or more process modules, a substrate handling robot, a load lock chamber, and a transverse substrate handler. The transverse substrate handler includes mobile transverse chambers configured to convey substrates to process modules, wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during the conveyance of the substrates. The transverse substrate handler further includes a rail for supporting the mobile transverse chambers, wherein the rail is positioned adjacent to entry of the process modules, and drive systems for moving the mobile transverse chambers on the rail.
US08110510B1	Low temperature synthesis of nanowires in solution Methods synthesizing nanowires in solution at low temperatures (e.g., about 400° C. or lower) are provided. In the present methods, the nanowires are synthesized by exposing nanowire precursors to metal nanocrystals in a nanowire growth solution comprising a solvent. The metal nanocrystals serve as seed particles that catalyze the growth of the semiconductor nanowires. The metal nanocrystals may be formed in situ in the growth solution from metal nanocrystal precursors. Alternatively, the nanowires may be pre-formed and added to the growth solution.
US08110509B2	Method of fabricating light emitting devices A manufacturing apparatus is provided, which can improve a utilization efficiency of an evaporation material, reduce manufacturing costs of a light emitting device having an organic light emitting element, and shorten manufacturing time necessary to manufacture a light emitting device. According to the present invention, a multi-chamber manufacturing apparatus having plural film forming chambers includes a first film forming chamber for subjecting a first substrate to evaporation and a second film forming chamber for subjecting a second substrate to evaporation. In each film forming chamber, plural organic compound layers are laminated, thereby improving the throughput. Further, it is possible that the respective substrates in the plural film forming chambers are subjected to evaporation in the same manner in parallel, while another film forming chamber undergoes cleaning.
US08110508B2	Method of forming a bump structure using an etching composition for an under bump metallurgy layer In an etching composition for an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer and a method of forming a bump structure, the etching composition includes about 40% by weight to about 90% by weight of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of an aqueous basic solution including ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) or tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight of an alcohol compound, and about 2% by weight to 30% by weight of an ethylenediamine-based chelating agent. The etching composition may effectively etch the UBM layer including titanium or titanium tungsten and remove impurities. A method of forming a bump structure may employ such an etching composition.
US08110507B2	Method for patterning an active region in a semiconductor device using a space patterning process Disclosed here in is a method for patterning an active region in a semiconductor device using a space patterning process that includes forming a partition pattern having partition pattern elements arranged in a square shape on a semiconductor substrate; forming a spacer on side walls of the partition pattern; removing the partition pattern; separating the spacer into first and second spacer portions to expose a portion of the semiconductor substrate; and etching the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a trench, wherein portions of the semiconductor substrate overlapped with the first and second spacer portions define an active region.
US08110505B2	Lead frame manufactured from low-priced material and not requiring strict process control, semiconductor package including the same, and method of manufacturing the lead frame and the semiconductor package Provided are a lead frame, a semiconductor package, and a method of manufacturing the lead frame and the semiconductor package. The lead frame includes: a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is installable; a plurality of lead patterns formed around a circumference of the die pad; an insulating organic material filling etching spaces interposed between the die pad and the lead patterns and structurally supporting the die pad and the lead patterns; and a pre-plating layer formed on both upper and lower surfaces of the die pad and the lead patterns.
US08110502B2	Method of improving adhesion strength of low dielectric constant layers A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. In a specific embodiment, the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a surface region. The surface region includes one or more layers overlying the semiconductor substrate. Additionally, the method includes forming a dielectric layer overlying the surface region and forming a diffusion barrier layer overlying the dielectric layer. Moreover, the method includes subjecting the diffusion barrier layer to a plasma environment to facilitate adhesion between the diffusion barrier layer and the dielectric layer at an interface region. Also, the method includes processing the semiconductor substrate while maintaining attachment between the dielectric layer and the diffusion barrier layer at the interface region. The subjecting the diffusion barrier layer to a plasma environment includes maintaining a thickness of the barrier diffusion layer.
US08110498B2	Method for passivating exposed copper surfaces in a metallization layer of a semiconductor device When forming sophisticated metallization systems, surface integrity of an exposed metal surface, such as a copper-containing surface, may be enhanced by exposing the surface to a vapor of a passivation agent. Due to the corresponding interaction with the metal surface, enhanced integrity may be accomplished, while at the same time damage of exposed dielectric surface portions may be significantly reduced compared to conventional aggressive wet chemical cleaning processes that are typically used in conventional patterning regimes.
US08110493B1	Pulsed PECVD method for modulating hydrogen content in hard mask A method for forming a PECVD deposited amorphous carbon or ashable hard mask (AHM) in a trench or a via with less than 30% H content at a process temperature below 500° C., e.g., about 400° C. produces low H content hard masks with high selectivity and little or no hard mask on the sidewalls. The deposition method utilizes a pulsed precursor delivery with a plasma etch while the precursor flow is off.
US08110492B2	Method for connecting a die attach pad to a lead frame and product thereof Disclosed in this specification is a semiconductor package with a die attach pad and a lead frame which are electrically and mechanically connected to one another through a conductive wire ribbon. Such a configuration reduces the package footprint and also permits different styles of die attach pads and lead frames to be interchanged, thus reducing production costs.
US08110490B2	Gate oxide leakage reduction A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising forming a gate oxide layer over a substrate subjecting the gate oxide layer to a first nitridation process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a first anneal process after the first nitridation process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a second nitridation process after the first anneal process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a second anneal process after the second nitridation process, and forming a gate electrode over the gate oxide.
US08110487B2	Method of creating a strained channel region in a transistor by deep implantation of strain-inducing species below the channel region By incorporating a carbon species below the channel region of a P-channel transistor prior to the formation of the gate electrode structure, an efficient strain-inducing mechanism may provided, thereby enhancing performance of P-channel transistors. The position and size of the strain-inducing region may be determined on the basis of an implantation mask and respective implantation parameters, thereby providing a high degree of compatibility with conventional techniques, since the strain-inducing region may be incorporated at an early manufacturing stage, directly to respective “large area” contact elements.
US08110484B1	Conductive nitride semiconductor substrate and method for producing the same A method for producing a conductive nitride semiconductor substrate circuit includes the steps of forming, on an underlying substrate, a mask including dot or stripe masking portions having a width or diameter of 10 to 100 μm and arranged at a spacing of 250 to 10,000 μm; growing a nitride semiconductor crystal on the underlying substrate by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) at a growth temperature of 1,040° C. to 1,150° C. by supplying a group III source gas, a group V source gas, and a silicon-containing gas in a V/III ratio of 1 to 10; and removing the underlying substrate, thus forming a free-standing conductive nitride semiconductor crystal substrate having a resistivity r of 0.0015 Ωcm≦r≦0.01 Ωcm, a thickness of 100 μm or more, and a radius of bow curvature U of 3.5 m≦U≦8 m.
US08110481B2	Method of segmenting semiconductor wafer To provide a method of segmenting a semiconductor wafer, which is capable of preventing chippings.A semiconductor wafer 1 is partitioned into a circumferential ring-shaped region 1a and a segmentation region placed in the inner side of the ring-shaped region 1a. The semiconductor wafer 1 included in the segmentation region is cut into the form of a lattice along a plurality of perpendicular cutting lines 4 and is segmented into a plurality of chips 2. On the other hand, the semiconductor wafer 1 included in the ring-shaped region 1a is cut along two partition lines 5 extending in parallel to the cutting lines 4 from the center O of the semiconductor wafer 1 and is partitioned into four independent regions.
US08110480B2	Method and structure for fabricating solar cells using a thick layer transfer process A photovoltaic cell device, e.g., solar cell, solar panel, and method of manufacture. The device has an optically transparent substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface. A first thickness of material (e.g., semiconductor material, single crystal material) having a first surface region and a second surface region is included. In a preferred embodiment, the surface region is overlying the first surface of the optically transparent substrate. The device has an optical coupling material provided between the first surface region of the thickness of material and the first surface of the optically transparent material.
US08110479B2	Manufacturing method of SOI substrate provided with barrier layer To provide a method for manufacturing a large-area semiconductor device, to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with high efficiency, and to provide a highly-reliable semiconductor device in the case of using a large-area substrate including an impurity element. A plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates are concurrently processed to manufacture an SOI substrate, so that an area of a semiconductor device can be increased and a semiconductor device can be manufactured with improved efficiency. In specific, a series of processes is performed using a tray with which a plurality of semiconductor substrates can be concurrently processed. Here, the tray is provided with at least one depression for holding single crystal semiconductor substrates. Further, deterioration of characteristics of a manufactured semiconductor element is prevented by providing an insulating layer serving as a barrier layer against an impurity element which may affect characteristics of the semiconductor element.
US08110467B2	Multiple Vt field-effect transistor devices Multiple threshold voltage (Vt) field-effect transistor (FET) devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a FET device is provided including a source region; a drain region; at least one channel interconnecting the source and drain regions; and a gate, surrounding at least a portion of the channel, configured to have multiple threshold voltages due to the selective placement of at least one band edge metal throughout the gate.
US08110466B2	Cross OD FinFET patterning A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; providing a first lithography mask, a second lithography mask, and a third lithography mask; forming a first mask layer over the semiconductor substrate, wherein a pattern of the first mask layer is defined using the first lithography mask; performing a first etch to the semiconductor substrate to define an active region using the first mask layer; forming a second mask layer having a plurality of mask strips over the semiconductor substrate and over the active region; forming a third mask layer over the second mask layer, wherein a middle portion of the plurality of mask strips is exposed through an opening in the third mask layer, and end portions of the plurality of mask strips are covered by the third mask layer; and performing a second etch to the semiconductor substrate through the opening.
US08110465B2	Field effect transistor having an asymmetric gate electrode The gate electrode of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) comprises a source side gate electrode and a drain side gate electrode that abut each other near the middle of the channel. In one embodiment, the source side gate electrode comprises a silicon oxide based gate dielectric and the drain side gate electrode comprises a high-k gate dielectric. The source side gate electrode provides high carrier mobility, while the drain side gate electrode provides good short channel effect and reduced gate leakage. In another embodiment, the source gate electrode and drain gate electrode comprises different high-k gate dielectric stacks and different gate conductor materials, wherein the source side gate electrode has a first work function a quarter band gap away from a band gap edge and the drain side gate electrode has a second work function near the band gap edge.
US08110464B2	SOI protection for buried plate implant and DT bottle ETCH An SOI layer has an initial trench extending therethrough, prior to deep trench etch. An oxidation step, such as thermal oxidation is performed to form a band of oxide on an inner periphery of the SOI layer to protect it during a subsequent RIE step for forming a deep trench. The initial trench may stop on BOX underlying the SOI. The band of oxide may also protect the SOI during buried plate implant or gas phase doping.
US08110462B2	Reduced finger end MOSFET breakdown voltage (BV) for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection The present invention relates to electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry. Multiple techniques are presented to adjust one or more ends of one or more fingers of an ESD protection device so that the ends of the fingers have a reduced initial trigger or breakdown voltage as compared to other portions of the fingers, and in particular to central portions of the fingers. In this manner, most, if not all, of the adjusted ends of the fingers are likely to trigger or fire before any of the respective fingers completely enters a snapback region and begins to conduct ESD current. Consequently, the ESD current is more likely to be distributed among all or substantially all of the plurality of fingers rather than be concentrated within one or merely a few fingers. As a result, potential harm to the ESD protection device (e.g., from current crowding) is mitigated and the effectiveness of the device is improved.
US08110458B2	Fabrication of germanium nanowire transistors In general, in one aspect, a method includes using the Germanium nanowire as building block for high performance logic, memory and low dimensional quantum effect devices. The Germanium nanowire channel and the SiGe anchoring regions are formed simultaneously through preferential Si oxidation of epitaxial Silicon Germanium epi layer. The placement of the germanium nanowires is accomplished using a Si fin as a template and the germanium nanowire is held on Si substrate through SiGe anchors created by masking the two ends of the fins. High dielectric constant gate oxide and work function metals wrap around the Germanium nanowire for gate-all-around electrostatic channel on/off control, while the Germanium nanowire provides high carrier mobility in the transistor channel region. The germanium nanowire transistors enable high performance, low voltage (low power consumption) operation of logic and memory devices.
US08110456B2	Method for making a self aligning memory device A self aligning memory device, with a memory element switchable between electrical property states by the application of energy, includes a substrate and word lines, at least the sides of the word lines covered with a dielectric material which defines gaps. An access device within a substrate has a first terminal under a second gap and second terminals under first and third gaps. First and second source lines are in the first and third gaps and are electrically connected to the second terminals. A first electrode in the second gap is electrically connected to the first terminal. A memory element in the second gap is positioned over and electrically connected to the first electrode. A second electrode is positioned over and contacts the memory element. The first contact, the first electrode, the memory element and the second electrode are self aligning. A portion of the memory element may have a sub lithographically dimensioned width.
US08110449B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same The HVIC includes a dielectric layer and an SOI active layer stacked on a silicon substrate, a transistor formed in the surface of the SOI active layer, and a trench isolation region formed around the transistor. The dielectric layer includes a first buried oxide film formed in the surface of the silicon substrate, a shield layer formed below the first buried oxide film opposite the element area, a second buried oxide film formed around the shield layer, and a third buried oxide film formed below the shield layer and the second buried oxide film. Therefore, the potential distribution curves PC within the dielectric layer are low in density and a high withstand voltage is achieved.
US08110448B2	Two terminal multi-channel ESD device and method therefor In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
US08110447B2	Method of making and designing lead frames for semiconductor packages A lead frame with patterned conductive runs on the top surface to accept a wire bonded or flip-chip or COL configuration is disclosed. The top pattern is completed and the bottom is etched away creating cavities. The cavities are filled with a pre-mold material that lend structural support of the lead frame. The top is then etch through the lead frame to the pre-mold, except with the top conductive runs exist. In this manner the conductive runs are completed and isolated from each other so that the placement of the runs is flexible. The chips are mounted and the encapsulated and the lead frames are singulated. The pattern on the top and the bottom may be defined by first plated the patterns desired.
US08110444B2	Prepreg, method for manufacturing prepreg, substrate, and semiconductor device A prepreg which can meet a demand for thickness reduction is provided. The prepreg has first and second resin layers having different applications, functions, capabilities, or properties, and allows an amount of a resin composition in each of the first and second resin layers to be set appropriately depending on a circuit wiring portion to be embedded into the second resin layer. Further, a method for manufacturing the above prepreg, and a substrate and a semiconductor device having the prepreg are also provided. The prepreg according to the present invention includes a core layer including a sheet-shaped base member and having one surface and the other surface which is opposite to the one surface, the first resin layer provided on the one surface of the core layer and formed of a first resin composition, and the second resin layer provided on the other surface of the core layer and formed of a second resin composition, wherein at least one of a requirement that a thickness of the first resin layer is different from that of the second resin layer and a requirement that a constitution of the first resin composition is different from that of the second resin composition is satisfied.
US08110441B2	Method of electrically connecting a shielding layer to ground through a conductive via disposed in peripheral region around semiconductor die A semiconductor device is made by mounting a plurality of semiconductor die to a substrate, depositing an encapsulant over the substrate and semiconductor die, forming a shielding layer over the semiconductor die, creating a channel in a peripheral region around the semiconductor die through the shielding layer, encapsulant and substrate at least to a ground plane within the substrate, depositing a conductive material in the channel, and removing a portion of the conductive material in the channel to create conductive vias in the channel which provide electrical connection between the shielding layer and ground plane. An interconnect structure is formed on the substrate and are electrically connected to the ground plane. Solder bumps are formed on a backside of the substrate opposite the semiconductor die. The shielding layer is connected to a ground point through the conductive via, ground plane, interconnect structure, and solder bumps of the substrate.
US08110436B2	Method for manufacturing field-effect transistor A method for manufacturing a field-effect transistor is provided. The field-effect transistor includes on a substrate a source electrode, a drain electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer and a gate electrode. The method includes, after forming the insulating layer on the oxide semiconductor layer, an annealing step of increasing the electrical conductivity of the oxide semiconductor layers by annealing in an atmosphere containing moisture. The steam pressure at the annealing step is higher than the saturated vapor pressure in the atmosphere at the annealing temperature.
US08110435B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed, which is capable of realizing an extension of a cleaning cycle for a processing chamber, the method comprising preheating a substrate; placing the preheated substrate onto a substrate-supporting unit provided in a susceptor while the preheated substrate is maintained at a predetermined height from an upper surface of the susceptor provided in a processing chamber; and forming a thin film on the preheated substrate, wherein a temperature of the preheated substrate is higher than a processing temperature for forming the thin film in the processing chamber.
US08110433B2	Method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor and method of surface treatment for gate insulating layer A method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor is disclosed, which comprises steps of (S1) forming a gate electrode on a substrate; (S2) forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; (S3) providing a gas on the surface of the gate insulating layer to form hydrophobic molecules on the surface of the gate insulating layer; (S4) forming an organic semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode over the gate insulating layer having hydrophobic molecules thereon, wherein the gas of step (S3) is at least one selected from the group consisting of halogen-substituted hydrocarbon, un-substituted hydrocarbon, and the mixtures thereof. The method of the present invention utilizes gases comprising carbon or fluorine atom to perform surface treatment on the surface of the gate insulating layer, therefore the hydrophobic character of the surface of the gate insulating layer can be enhanced and the electrical properties of the OTFT can be improved. Also, a method of surface treatment for the gate insulating layer is disclosed.
US08110432B1	Gate-planarized thin film transistor substrates and related methods of fabrication Thin film transistor substrates with conductor components in conjunction therewith, and related methods of fabrication.
US08110429B2	Bridge resistance random access memory device and method with a singular contact structure A resistance random access memory in a bridge structure is disclosed that comprises a contact structure where first and second electrodes are located within the contact structure. The first electrode has a circumferential extending shape, such as an annular shape, surrounding an inner wall of the contact structure. The second electrode is located within an interior of the circumferential extending shape and separated from the first electrode by an insulating material. A resistance memory bridge is in contact with an edge surface of the first and second electrodes. The first electrode in the contact structure is connected to a transistor and the second electrode in the contact structure is connected to a bit line. A bit line is connected to the second electrode by a self-aligning process.
US08110427B2	Stacked-layered thin film solar cell and manufacturing method thereof A stacked-layered thin film solar cell and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The stacked-layered thin film solar cell includes a front electrode layer, a stacked-layered light-absorbing structure, and a back electrode layer. The stacked-layered light-absorbing structure has a p-i-n-type layered structure and consists essentially of I-III-VI compounds, wherein the group III elements at least include indium (In) and aluminum (Al). The p-type layer of the stacked-layered light-absorbing structure is near the front electrode layer while the n-type layer is near the back electrode layer. The Al/In concentration ratio in the p-type layer is higher than that in the n-type layer.
US08110426B2	CMOS image sensor A pixel of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes for sensing light to thereby generate photoelectric charges in different regions; a plurality of transfer transistors for transferring photoelectric charges of corresponding photodiodes in response to a first control signal; a floating diffusion region for receiving photoelectric charges transferred by the plurality of transfer transistors; a rest transistor connected between a power supply voltage and the floating diffusion region for resetting the floating diffusion region by controlling a voltage loaded on the floating diffusion region in response to a second control signal; a drive transistor connected between the power supply voltage and the floating diffusion region to serve as a source follower buffer amplifier; and a select transistor connected between the drive transistor and a pixel output terminal for performing an addressing operation in response to a third control signal.
US08110425B2	Laser liftoff structure and related methods Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided.
US08110424B2	Surface treatment method of group III nitride semiconductor and manufacturing method of the group III nitride semiconductor There is provided a surface treatment method of a group III nitride semiconductor including: providing a group III nitride semiconductor including a first surface having a group III polarity and a second surface opposing the first surface and having a nitrogen polarity; and irradiating a laser beam onto the second surface to change the nitrogen polarity of the second surface to the group III polarity.
US08110422B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor laser element Starting point regions for cutting 8a, 8b extending along lines to cut 5a, 5b are initially formed in an object to be processed 1. The starting point regions for cutting 8b have modified regions 7b formed by irradiating the object 1 with laser light while locating a converging point within the object 1 and are formed in parts extending along the lines to cut 5b excluding portions 34b intersecting the lines to cut 5a. This makes the starting point regions for cutting 8b much less influential when cutting the object 1 from the starting point regions for cutting 8a acting as a start point, whereby bars with precise cleavage surfaces can reliably be obtained. Therefore, it is unnecessary to form a starting point region for cutting along the lines to cut 5b in each of a plurality of bars, whereby the productivity of semiconductor laser elements can be improved.
US08110420B2	Light emitting element array A method of fabricating a light emitting diode array, comprising: providing a temporary substrate; forming a first light emitting stack and a second light emitting stack on the temporary substrate; forming a first insulating layer covering partial of the first light emitting stack; forming a wire on the first insulating layer and electrically connecting to the first light emitting stack and the second light emitting stack; forming a second insulating layer fully covering the first light emitting stack, the wire and partial of the second light emitting stack; forming a metal connecting layer on the second insulating layer and electrically connecting to the second light emitting stack; forming a conductive substrate on the metal connecting layer; removing the temporary substrate; and forming a first electrode connecting to the first light emitting stack.
US08110418B2	Organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same An organic electroluminescent display device includes a substrate, gate and data lines on the substrate and crossing each other to define a pixel region, a switching element at each crossing point of the gate and data lines, a driving element coupled to the switching element, a field control electrode coupled to the driving element and overlapping a channel of the driving element, and an organic electroluminescent diode coupled to the driving element.
US08110417B2	Method of forming pattern on group III nitride semiconductor substrate and method of manufacturing group III nitride semiconductor light emitting device There is provided a method of forming a pattern on a group III nitride semiconductor substrate. A method of forming a pattern on a group III nitride semiconductor substrate according to an aspect of the invention may include: irradiating a laser beam onto at least one first region for preventing etching in a group III nitride semiconductor substrate; and etching at least one second region exclusive of the first region using the first region irradiated with the laser beam as a mask.
US08110405B2	Fluorescent nanoscopy method An analysis of an object dyed with fluorescent coloring agents carried out with the aid of a fluorescent microscope which is modified for improved resolving power and called a nanoscope. The method is carried out with a microscope having an optical system for visualizing and projecting a sample image to a video camera which records and digitizes images of individual fluorescence molecules and nanoparticles at a low noise, a computer for recording and processing images, a sample holder arranged in front of an object lens, a fluorescent radiation exciting source and a set of replaceable suppression filters for separating the sample fluorescent light. Separately fluorescing visible molecules and nanoparticles are periodically formed in different object parts, the laser produces the oscillation thereof which is sufficient for recording the non-overlapping images of the molecules and nanoparticles and for decoloring already recorded fluorescent molecules, wherein tens of thousands of pictures of recorded individual molecule and nanoparticle images, in the form of stains having a diameter on the order of a fluorescent light wavelength multiplied by a microscope amplification, are processed by a computer for searching the coordinates of the stain centers and building the object image according to millions of calculated stain center co-ordinates corresponding to the co-ordinates of the individual fluorescent molecules and nanoparticles. With this invention it is possible to obtain a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional image with a resolving power better than 20 nm and to record a color image by dyeing proteins, nucleic acids and lipids with different coloring agents.
US08110400B2	Culture of mammalian pluripotent stem cells in the presence of hyaluronan induces differentiation into multi-lineage progenitor cells A method for the differentiation of mammalian pluripotent stem (PS) cells into a mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population is provided which comprises culturing the pluripotent stem cells in the presence of Hyaluronan (HA). The mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may be a population of mesenchymal stem cells. The mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may form cells of the mesodermal lineage, suitably osteoblasts. Alternatively, the mortal multi-lineage progenitor cell population may form cells of the endodermal lineage or of the ectodermal lineage, which may be neuronal progenitors.
US08110399B2	Stem cells of the islets of langerhans and their use in treating diabetes mellitus Methods and compositions are described for the treatment of type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and other conditions using newly identified stem cells that are capable of differentiation into a variety of pancreatic islet cells, including insulin-producing beta cells, as well as hepatocytes. Nestin and ABCG2 have been identified as molecular markers for pancreatic stem cells, while cytokeratin-19 serves as a marker for a distinct class of islet ductal cells. Methods are described whereby nestin and/or ABCG2-positive stem cells can be isolated from pancreatic islets and cultured to obtain further stem cells or pseudo-islet like structures. Methods for ex vivo differentiation of the pancreatic stem cells are disclosed. Methods are described whereby pancreatic stem cells can be isolated, expanded, and transplanted into a patient in need thereof, either allogeneically, isogeneically or xenogenically, to provide replacement for lost or damaged insulin-secreting cells or other cells.
US08110398B2	Stable cell lines and methods for evaluating gastrointestinal absorption of chemicals Nucleic acids and vectors for interfering with the expression of membrane efflux transport proteins in cells that express such proteins are provided. Also provided are cells and cell lines comprising such nucleic acids and vectors. Methods for screening chemicals and biomolecules for gastrointestinal absorption in animals, and kits for practicing such methods are also provided.
US08110397B2	Sample preparation apparatus A reconfigurable sample preparation device includes a rotary plunger device having a hollow body and a coupling device, provided above one end of the rotary plunger, and accommodating a sample. The device also includes at least one sealed reagent module. When the rotary plunger is rotated on the coupling device, a film of the reagent module is pierced, mixing the sample with a substance from the reagent module.
US08110396B2	Thermocycling device with a thermal switch comprising a magnetic or metal thermoconducting liquid and a stimulating unit The invention relates to a thermocycler module for heating and/or cooling of a thermocycling device comprising a thermal switch, a heating block and a heat sink. The thermal switch comprises a thermoconducting liquid, e.g. a magnetic fluid or a liquid metal, and a stimulating unit, e.g. a magnetic unit or a Lorentz-force unit, for moving the thermoconducting liquid. The movement of the thermoconducting liquid provides, in an on-state of the thermal switch, a thermal connection between the heating block and the heat sink.
US08110389B2	Family 6 cellulase with decreased inactivation by lignin A modified Trichoderma reesei Family 6 (TrCel6A) cellulase enzyme comprising amino acid substitutions at one or more positions selected from the group consisting of 129, 322, 363 and 410 of SEQ ID NO: 1 is provided. Genetic constructs and genetically modified microbes comprising nucleic sequences encoding the modified TrCel6a cellulase are also provided. The modified TrCel6A cellulase of the invention display at least a 15% decrease in inactivation by lignin relative to a parental TrCel6A cellulase from which the modified TrCel6A is derived. Such cellulases find use in a variety of applications in industry requiring enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in the presence of lignin, e.g., the hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic feedstocks for the production of fermentable sugars, sugar alcohols and fuel alcohols.
US08110386B2	Lipase powder, methods for producing the same and use thereof A lipase powder which is a granulated substance containing a lipase and a solid content of animal milk, a lipase composition wherein said lipase powder is immersed or impregnated in fatty oil, and a method for producing the lipase powder which comprises the step of adding animal milk or cream derived from the animal milk to an aqueous solution containing a lipase, and the step of spray-drying, freeze-drying or solvent-precipitating the mixture thereof are provided. According to the present invention, a lipase powder of which lipase activity and stability are improved can be provided.
US08110380B2	Starch-based biodegradable material composition A starch-based biodegradable material composition includes: an enzyme-hydrolyzed starch; and a biodegradable polyester selected from at least one of an aliphatic polyester of polybutylene succinate and an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. The enzyme-hydrolyzed starch is prepared by hydrolyzing a native starch using a starch-hydrolyzing enzyme. The starch-hydrolyzing enzyme has an activity unit ranging from 15000 to 40000.
US08110377B2	HGF β chain variants The invention provides HGF/Met modulators comprising HGF having mutations in regions that affect HGF function, and antagonists that target said regions. The invention further provides methods of identifying, making and using these modulators.
US08110375B2	High throughput assay for cancer cell growth inhibition A high-throughput, anchorage-independent assay is described, which screens compounds for inhibition of cancer cell growth. The assay utilizes a three-dimensional matrix or semi-solid media transfected with the subject compound, and enables live colony growth determination and imaging.
US08110371B2	Identifying organ damage The present invention provides methods for identifying whether or not a patient has, or is at risk of developing drug induced organ damage and methods of treating patients having drug induced organ damage. In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying whether or not a patent has, or is at risk of developing paracetamol induced liver damage.
US08110369B2	Methods, kits, reagents and devices for detecting mesothelin and/or megakaryocyte potentiating factor in peritoneal fluids Certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and kits for detecting and quantifying in patient peritoneal fluid, such as spent peritoneal dialysis buffer, peptides having amino acid sequences related to megakaryocyte potentiating factor. The methods and kits can be used to monitor the biological status of the mesothelial lining of the peritoneal cavity in a patient, to predict development of a pathology of the mesothelium in an otherwise asymptomatic patient, and/or to assess the risk and suitability of a therapeutic method. In particular, the method can be used to assess negative effects of peritoneal dialysis on the biological integrity of the peritoneum, and thus to determine the time point when peritoneal dialysis treatment should be discontinued in favor of hemodialysis in a patient with kidney dysfunction, in order to avoid the development of peritoneal hypertrophy and other progressive mesothelial disorders such as encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.
US08110368B1	Synuclein gamma as a biomarker of obesity and obesity-related disorders Disclosed is a method of identifying γ-synuclein expression, as a biomarker for adiposity and adiposity related disorders. Identification of γ-synuclein expression includes agonists and antagonists thereof which may be used in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of adiposity related disorders.
US08110366B2	Method for evaluating cell populations The invention describes specific sialylated structures present on human stem cells and cell populations derived thereof. The invention is especially directed to methods to control the status of stem cells by observing changes in sialylation of the cells; and control of potential contaminations of biological materials; and reagents and methods used in connection with the cells in order to avoid alterations of the cell glycosylation by contaminating materials. The invention is further directed to novel stem cells, the glycosylation of which has been specifically altered.
US08110365B2	Compositions and methods for detecting and treating renal injury and inflammation Renal injury and inflammation is diagnosed by detecting an elevation in GSK3b level or activity. Inflammation of bodily tissues such as renal tissue is inhibited by administration of GSK3b inhibitory compositions.
US08110360B2	Compositions and methods for the assembly of polynucleotides The present invention provides compositions and methods for rapid assembly of one or more assembled polynucleotides from a plurality of component polynucleotides. The methods of the invention utilize circular nucleic acid vectors that comprise a DNA segment D flanked by an annealable linker sequence, annealable linker sequence pairs LA and LB, or annealable linker sequence/primer binding segment pairs LA and PB or PA and LB. Restriction endonuclease digestion of a plurality of vectors containing the DNA segments to be assembled generates a plurality of DNA fragments comprising the elements PA-D-LB, LA-D-LB, and LA-D-PB or D-LB, LA-D-LB, and LA-D. The sequences of annealable linker sequences LA and LB provide complementary termini to the DNA fragments, which are utilized in host cell mediated homologous recombination or together with primer binding segments PA and PB in a polymerase cycling assembly reaction for the ordered assembly of the various DNA segments into one or more assembled polynucleotides.
US08110359B2	PCR method for identifiying a serotype of Klebsiella pneumoniae by using cps region primers and application thereof The present invention relates to a method of identifying a serotype of Klebsiella pneumoniae, in particular to a method using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets designed according to a fragment of a capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) region to identify a K57 or a NTUH-N1 serotype and its application. NTUH-N1 is a novel serotype which differs from the previously reported 77 serotypes. This PCR-based cps genotyping method not only solves the problems of insufficient specificity and sensitivity caused by conventional immune method, but can be applied in clinical diagnosis with the advantages of rapidity and low cost. In addition, the rate of unidentifiable strains can also be reduced by this method.
US08110358B2	Method of profiling gene expression in a subject having prostate cancer The present invention is directed to detection and measurement of gene transcripts in blood. Specifically provided is a RT-PCR analysis performed on a drop of blood for detecting, diagnosing and monitoring diseases using tissue-specific primers. The present invention also describes methods by which delineation of the sequence and/or quantitation of the expression levels of disease-associated genes allows for an immediate and accurate diagnostic/prognostic test for disease or to assess the effect of a particular treatment regimen.
US08110356B2	Method for generating hypermutable plants Blockade of mismatch repair in a plant can lead to hypermutation and a new genotype and/or phenotype. One approach used to generate hypermutable plants is through the expression of dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair genes in transgenic plants or derived cells. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic plants, new cell lines and plant varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation. Moreover, methods to inhibit the expression and activity of endogenous plant MMR genes and their encoded products are also useful to generate hypermutable plants.
US08110354B2	Use of Shigella invaplex to transport functional proteins and transcriptionally active nucleic acids across mammalian cell membranes in vitro and in vivo The in vivo and in vitro use of Invaplex to transport materials, including functional proteins and biologically active nucleic acids, across eukaryotic cell membranes. The eukaryotic cells include a variety of cell types, e.g. insect, reptile, fish, mammal and tumor cells. The suitable materials for transport include biochemicals such as reporter molecules, antibiotics, biopharmaceuticals and carbohydrates including polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, polynucleotides, such as DNA and RNA, and glycoproteins and proteins including antigens, enzymes, antibodies, receptors and hormones. In addition, Invaplex enhances the immune response to DNA vaccines and also can function by itself as a vaccine against shigellosis.
US08110352B2	Method of diagnosing and treating cancer using B-catenin splice variants The invention relates to method of diagnosing and treating cancer, in particular β-catenin related cancers. The invention further relates to methods of identifying CTNNB1 related cancer CTNNB1 therapeutics.
US08110348B2	Methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia Compositions and methods relating to the diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and bipolar disorders are disclosed. Also provided are methods for screening therapeutic agents having efficacy for the treatment of such disorders.
US08110342B2	Method for forming an opening A method for forming an opening is disclosed. First, a semiconductor substrate is provided, in which the semiconductor substrate includes at least one metal interconnects therein. A stacked film is formed on the semiconductor substrate, in which the stacked film includes at least one dielectric layer and one hard mask. The hard mask is used to form an opening in the stacked film without exposing the metal interconnects, and the hard mask is removed thereafter. A barrier layer is later deposited on the semiconductor substrate to cover a portion of the dielectric layer and the surface of the metal interconnects.
US08110336B2	Resin and chemically amplified resist composition comprising the same A resin comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (I): wherein Q1 and Q2 represent a fluorine atom etc., U represents a C1-C20 divalent hydrocarbon group in which one or more —CH2— may be replaced by —O— etc., X1 represents —O—CO— etc., and A+ represents an organic counter ion.
US08110334B2	Radiation-sensitive composition A radiation-sensitive composition containing a resist compound having a high sensitivity, a high resolution, a high etching resistance, and a low outgas which forms a resist pattern with a good shape is described. Further described is a method of forming a resist pattern using the radiation-sensitive composition. Still further described are a novel composition for forming a photoresist under coat film which is excellent in optical properties and etching resistance and contains substantially no sublimable substance and an under coat film formed by the composition. Still further described are a radiation-sensitive composition containing a solvent and a cyclic compound having a specific structure, for example, a cyclic compound (A) having a molecular weight of 700 to 5000 which is synthesized by the condensation reaction of a compound having 2 to 59 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 formyl groups (aldehyde compound (A1)) with a compound having 6 to 15 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 phenolic hydroxyl groups (phenol compound (A2)), and a cyclic compound for use in the radiation-sensitive composition.
US08110333B2	Resist composition containing novel sulfonium compound, pattern-forming method using the resist composition, and novel sulfonium compound A resist composition includes (A) a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein each of R1 to R13 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that at least one of R1 to R13 is a substituent containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group; Z represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; and X− represents an anion containing a proton acceptor functional group.
US08110329B2	Charge controlling agent and toner A charge controlling agent is provided as a compound in which an amide group is introduced together with a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof. The charge controlling agent is characterized by including at least one compound represented by the chemical formula (2) in which an amide group is introduced together with at least one of a sulfonic group, a sulfonic acid ester, a sulfonic acid salt, and a sulfonic acid halide.
US08110321B2	Method of manufacture of damascene reticle A method for manufacturing an optical projection reticle employs a damascene process. First feature recesses are etched into a projection reticle mask plate which is transmissive or transparent. Then feature recesses are tilled with a radiation transmissivity modifying material comprising a partially transmissive material and/or a radiation absorber for absorbing actinic radiation. Sacrificial materials may be added to the recess temporarily prior to filling the recess to provide gaps juxtaposed with the material filling the recess. Thereafter, the sacrificial materials are removed. Then the projection mask is planarized leaving feature recesses filled with transmissivity modifying material, and any gaps desired. The projection mask is planarized while retained in a fixture holding it in place during polishing with a polishing tool and a slurry.
US08110318B2	Solid oxide fuel cell with reforming chamber integrated within separator plates A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. The separator includes first to third plates. A fuel gas channel is formed between the first and third plates. The fuel gas channel forms a fuel gas pressure chamber over an electrode surface of an anode. The fuel gas pressure chamber is divided into an inner pressure chamber and an outer pressure chamber an arc-shaped wall. Reforming catalyst is provided in the outer pressure chamber.
US08110317B2	Polyelectrolyte, membrane electrode assembly, fuel cell, and method for producing polyelectrolyte The present invention readily provides an electrolyte which is capable of suppressing elution of a radical-quenching material from the electrolyte and has high proton conductivity and excellent durability.The polyelectrolyte is obtainable by chemically bonding a proton-conducting polymer having protonic acid groups to a radical-quenching material having a radical-scavenging capability via moieties other than the protonic acid groups by heating at a temperature of 60° C. or more and 250° C. or less. The proton-conducting polymer is an aromatic polymer, polyether ketone or a polyether ether ketone, or phenol resin, has a sulfonic acid group, and has a hydrogen ion exchange capacity of 0.5 meq/g or more and 10 meq/g or less. The radical-quenching material has at least one methylol group in the molecule.
US08110315B2	Monopolar membrane-electrode assembly A monopolar membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane with a plurality of cell regions, an anode supporting body and a cathode supporting body on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, respectively having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cell regions, a plurality of anode and cathode current collectors, each including a current collecting portion to correspond to each aperture of the respective anode or cathode supporting body to collect current, a conducting portion connected to a side of the current collecting portion, and a connecting line that connects the conducting portion to an outside terminal, a plurality of anode and cathode electrodes respectively formed on the and the cathode current collecting portions, and a circuit unit connected to the connecting lines of the anode current collectors and the cathode current collectors, wherein the cells are connected in series or parallel, or electrically separated through the circuit unit.
US08110309B2	Secondary battery The invention provides a secondary battery having positive electrode plates 14 and negative electrode plates, with insulating tapes 22A, 22B affixed to the cut end portions 14d, including an active material layer 14b portion thereof, of either the positive electrode plates 14 or the negative electrode plates, or both. These electrode plates are stacked or rolled alternately, with separators 23 interposed, into an electrode group that is sealed, together with electrolyte, inside a battery case. The insulating tapes 22A, 22B have an adhesive application area L2 and a nonadhesive application area L1, and are affixed in such a manner that the nonadhesive application area L1 is positioned centrally on the active material layer 14b of the electrode plate 14, and moreover so that part of the adhesive application area L2 is positioned on the active material layer 14b at the cut end portion 14d.
US08110308B2	Lithium secondary battery of improved low-temperature power property Provided is a lithium secondary battery which has excellent low-temperature power output characteristics by the inclusion of a given amount of a lithium metal oxide and/or a lithium metal sulfide in an anode mix for a lithium secondary battery containing a carbon-based anode active material and is thereby capable of being used as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that must provide high-power output at low temperatures as well as at room temperature.
US08110303B2	Non-aqueous secondary battery and its control method The invention provides a non-aqueous secondary battery having positive and negative electrodes and non-aqueous electrolyte containing lithium salt which has an energy capacity of 30 Wh or more, a volume energy density of 180 Wh/l or higher, which battery has a flat shape and is superior in heat radiation characteristic, used safely and particularly preferably used for a energy storage system. The invention also provides a control method of the secondary battery.
US08110301B2	Energy storage device and cell configuration therefor An article is provided. The article may include an electrochemical cell. The cell may include a molten electrolyte, and at least one molten electrode. The cell may include a structure for separating an anode from a cathode, while enabling ionic communication between the anode and cathode. An energy storage device comprising the article is also provided. Methods related to the article and the energy storage device may be provided.
US08110300B2	Battery mounting system A mounting system for a plurality of battery modules needed to form a battery pack includes a battery tray with a combination of fixed and detachable retainers that enable insertion/removal of individual battery modules from the battery pack, both during assembly of the battery pack and later in conjunction with service during its operation. The battery tray may be disposed on a base plate for added support, as well as integration of more than one battery tray and associated modules into a battery pack. A cover may be added to for additional support and protection of the battery modules. Where multiple battery trays are integrated on a base plate, the battery trays may be oriented on the base plate in different directions. The battery mounting system may be used in a motor vehicle or other applications that use a battery pack.
US08110297B2	Coated article supporting photocatalytic layer and UV-reflecting underlayer, and/or method of making the same Certain example embodiments relate to articles supporting photocatalytic layers that also include UV-reflecting underlayers, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the inclusion of a UV-reflecting underlayer surprisingly and unexpectedly results in the reduction of dosing time to enable quick activation of the photocatalytic coating. For example, dosing time may be reduced from a few hours to a few minutes or even seconds in certain example embodiments. The UV-reflecting underlayer may be a single-layer coating or a multi-layer stack.
US08110296B2	Multifunctional hard material coating In a multi-functional hard material coating of a substrate wherein the hard material coating comprises a single phase crystalline structure including metastable mixed crystals of at least two hard material components which are not soluble in each other and comprise at least one metallic hard material and an ionic hard material whereby the advantages of metallic and ionic hard material components are combined.
US08110295B2	Fluorine extraction process for fluoro-refractory coatings and articles manufactured according to said process A process for extracting fluorine from a fluoro-refractory coating includes the steps of providing an article having a fluoro-refractory coating; treating hydrothermally the fluoro-refractory coating at a temperature and for a period time sufficient to liberate a quantity of fluoride from the fluoro-refractory coating; and drying a hydrothermally treated article.
US08110292B2	High strength steel plate, steel pipe with excellent low temperature toughness, and method of production of same The present invention provides high strength steel plate with excellent low temperature toughness, high strength steel pipe using this as a base metal, and methods of production of the same. The steel plate of the present invention contains Mo: 0.05 to 1.00% and B: 0.0003 to 0.0100%, has a Ceq of 0.30 to 0.53, has a Pcm of 0.10 to 0.20, and has a metal structure which has an area percentage of polygonal ferrite of 20 to 90% and has a balance of a hard phase comprised of one or both of bainite and martensite. To obtain this steel plate, strain-introducing rolling is performed with a start temperature of not more than Ar3+60° C., an end temperature of Ar3 or more, and a reduction ratio of 1.5 or more, then the plate is air-cooled and then acceleratedly cooled from Ar3−100° C. to Ar3−10° C. in temperature by 10° C./s or more.
US08110289B2	Sintered body, resin particles and method for producing the same An adsorptive body is provided which is high in water permeation and gas permeation and can adsorb, concentrate, separate and remove components present in extremely small amounts in a liquid or gas without causing the dissolution of impurities. The present invention relates to a sintered body comprising a mixture of: thermoplastic resin particles having no functional groups with adsorbability; and resin particles having functional groups with adsorbability bonded through graft polymer chains at the surface.
US08110287B2	Irrigation, erosion control, root growth control, and clean-up techniques The invention provides processes for coating the surface of substrates such as a sheet, film, foam, fiber, etc., with a curable liquid resin or solution of curable resin, then in one embodiment, stably attaching a superabsorbent polymeric powder to such resin, and then curing the resin to form a coated superabsorbent product. Such substrates may include polymeric materials. Other process embodiments utilizing curable and thermoplastic resinous powders may be used instead of curable liquid resins and resulting products are included in the invention. The coated product may be utilized for water and nutrient retention in combination with irrigation, erosion control, to direct plant root growth, and to clean up standing water and petroleum spills.
US08110280B2	Adhesive composition having non-tacky microspheres and sheets made therefrom An adhesive blend includes a pressure sensitive adhesive and non-tacky microspheres that function as a detackifier. The non-tacky microspheres are solid, elastomeric, non-crushable, and solvent insoluble. The non-tacky microspheres are a reaction product of at alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, multifunctional (meth)acrylate and or multifunctional vinyl crosslinker, initiator, and polymeric stabilizer. The blend can be coated onto a sheet to form a pad, such as an easel pad.
US08110276B2	Light diffusion sheet and backlight unit using the same An object of the present invention is to provide a light diffusion sheet having a favorable cost reduction capability due to excellent scratching preventive property of the front face, and having in addition thereto, a favorable directional light diffusion function, transmittivity of rays of light, and a thin film character; and a backlight unit capable of promoting performances such as luminance as well as price reduction, and thin and light modeling capability. The light diffusion sheet of the present invention has a light diffusion sheet including a transparent substrate layer, and a light diffusion layer overlaid on the front face side of the substrate layer, wherein the light diffusion layer has resin beads and a resin binder, characterized in that the light diffusion layer has protruding parts having a shape of a partial spherical body on the front face in a scattering manner. It is preferred that mean height of the protruding parts be 1 μm or greater and 10 μm or less, mean diameter of the protruding parts be 4 μm or greater and 18 μm or less, mean occupancy rate of the protruding parts be 2% or greater and 20% or less, and surface roughness (Ra) of the light diffusion layer be 1.5 μm or greater and 10 μm or less. As the beads, small monodisperse beads as a principal component, and large beads as a sub component may be included.
US08110274B2	Honeycomb structure, honeycomb structure aggregate, and honeycomb structure catalyst A honeycomb structure is disclosed that includes plural through-holes separated by plural partition walls and provided in parallel along a longitudinal direction, wherein the thickness of each of the partition walls is less than or equal to about 0.25 mm, the length of each of the through-holes is equal to or greater than about 50-fold of a hydraulic diameter of each of the through-holes and less than or equal to about 350-fold of the hydraulic diameter of each of the through-holes, and an open area ratio (X) % of a cross section of the honeycomb structure perpendicular to the through-holes and a surface area per unit volume (Y (m2/L)) satisfy Y≧250×X+22500 (about 50≦X≦about 85).
US08110271B2	Adhesive sheet and release sheet There is provided an adhesive sheet comprising an adhesive base sheet, an adhesive layer, and a release sheet laminated in sequence from the adhesive base sheet. The release sheet comprises a release agent layer and a release base material laminated in sequence from the adhesive layer. A release force between the release sheet and the adhesive layer is decreased by an external stimulus.
US08110267B2	Blood-flow tubing An artificial or modified natural blood flow tubing has a helical-flow inducer to induce helical flow in such a fashion as to eliminate or reduce turbulence. One inducer is a tubular stent of expansible mesh having a helical vane.
US08110265B2	Pet container and compositions having enhanced mechanical properties and gas barrier properties A container comprising a polyester composition with enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polyester composition comprises a polyester and a creep control agent. In particular embodiments, the polyester composition comprises a polyester, a creep control agent, and a gas barrier additive. In particular embodiments, the creep control agents are molecules or polymers comprising dianhydrides, bis-lactams, bis-oxazoles, and epoxides.
US08110262B2	Polymer compositions containing a polymer processing aid and a hindered amine light stabilizer The present invention provides polyolefin compositions containing a polyolefin resin, a hindered amine light stabilizer, and a polymer processing aid. Methods for preparing the polymer compositions, methods for using the compositions to produce articles of manufacture, and the articles produced from these polyolefin compositions are also provided.
US08110261B2	Oxygen absorbing plastic structure Multilayer oxygen absorbing structure comprising at least two reactive oxygen scavenging layers arranged in sequence: a rapidly absorbing highly reactive oxygen-scavenging system, comprising an oxygen permeable matrix polymer and an oxygen scavenger, and a long life layer comprising high passive oxygen barrier matrix polymer, and an oxygen scavenger.
US08110260B2	Containers intended for moisture-sensitive products A container for a moisture-sensitive product. The container has an openable container body defining an interior volume for holding the product. More specifically, a rigid container defining an interior volume for holding a moisture-sensitive product, and comprising at least an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner and outer layers being coextruded layers, the inner layer comprising a polymeric material and a desiccant material, the outer layer comprising a moisture-barrier material.
US08110258B2	Glazing unit with transparent filler A glazing unit has a at least one self-supporting insert of light-transmissive insulation material in the form of honeycomb arrangement of cells sandwiched in a gap between a pair of glass lites. A granular, light-transmissive, thermally insulating filler, such as silica aerogel, substantially fills the cells.
US08110257B2	Ink-jet recording method, ink-jet recording apparatus and recorded matter An ink-jet recording method including recording onto a recording medium a black image of composite black using a black ink and color inks, wherein the black ink includes water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant, and a carbon black whose volume average particle diameter is 40 nm to 100 nm, and the color inks include a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink, wherein the mass ratio (A/B) of a solid content A to a water-soluble organic solvent content B in the black ink is in the range of 1/8 to 1/15, and wherein the recording medium includes a support with a coating layer, and the amounts of purified water transferred to the recording medium at contact periods of 100 ms and 400 ms at a temperature of 23 C and a relative humidity of 50% are 2 ml/m2 to 35 ml/m2 and 3 ml/m2 to 40 ml/m2 respectively.
US08110251B2	Method for polymerizing a monomer solution within a cavity to generate a smooth polymer surface In preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to methods for polymerizing a monomer solution within a cavity covered by a porous membrane to generate a smooth polymer surface. More specifically, the method can be used to provide a medical device or sensor with a smooth polymer surface.
US08110248B2	Fuel cell structure and method of manufacturing same A fuel cell structure comprises a diffusion layer and/or a catalyst layer which are made of a carbonaceous porous material having a nano-size structure, such as carbon nanowall (CNW). A method of manufacturing the structure is also disclosed. The structure and method simplify the process of manufacturing a fuel cell electrode comprised of an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The electrical conductivity of the catalyst layer is increased and the diffusion efficiency of the diffusion layer is improved, whereby the electricity generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.
US08110247B2	Laser processing for heat-sensitive mesoscale deposition of oxygen-sensitive materials A method of depositing various materials onto heat-sensitive targets, particularly oxygen-sensitive materials. Heat-sensitive targets are generally defined as targets that have thermal damage thresholds that are lower than the temperature required to process a deposited material. The invention uses precursor solutions and/or particle or colloidal suspensions, along with optional pre-deposition treatment and/or post-deposition treatment to lower the laser power required to drive the deposit to its final state. The present invention uses Maskless Mesoscale Material Deposition (M3D™) to perform direct deposition of material onto the target in a precise, highly localized fashion. Features with linewidths as small as 4 microns may be deposited, with little or no material waste. A laser is preferably used to heat the material to process it to obtain the desired state, for example by chemical decomposition, sintering, polymerization, and the like. This laser processing may be performed in an ambient environment with laser powers of less than 100 milliwatts. Cover gases and/or forming gases may be used during thermal processing to change the material properties, for example by preventing oxidation.
US08110244B2	Manufacturing method and apparatus of organic resin coated metal sheet A manufacturing method and apparatus of an organic resin coated metal sheet is provided. Temperatures of edge portions of the metal sheet and a temperature of an approximately central portion of the metal sheet are respectively measured using a metal-sheet temperature measuring device arranged directly upstream of lamination rolls. Respectively measured temperature values are inputted to a heating temperature controller, and output values calculated by the heating temperature controllers are inputted to a metal sheet center portion heater and the metal sheet center portion heater, respectively, to control the heating of a widthwise approximately center portion and edge portion, respectively, to a first and second temperature, respectively, the second temperature being higher than the first. A resin film is extruded to pre-rolls and is sandwiched and pressure-bonding to the metal sheet between a pair of lamination rolls. Resin portions projecting from both edge portions are then removed.
US08110242B2	Methods of preparing hydrogel coatings The present invention provides hydrogel coated, implantable medical devices and methods of coating hydrogels onto implantable medical devices. In one embodiment, a hydrogel coated medical device is formed by physically treating a surface of the medical device, chemically treating the surface, applying a hydrogel precursor and then crosslinking the hydrogel precursor to form a hydrogel coating on the surface of the medical device. The present invention may be particularly applicable for coating articulating surfaces on implantable medical devices such as artificial joints.
US08110240B2	Method for reducing acrylamide formation in thermally processed foods A method for reducing the amount of acrylamide in thermally processed foods. This invention permits the production of foods having significantly reduced levels of acrylamide. The method relies on the manipulation of various unit operations used in the production of food products, particularly the peeling, cooking, and rejecting unit operations. For example, the peeling unit operation can be modified to provide a more fully peeled potato slice. The cooking unit operation can be modified by cooking to higher moisture and/or at lower hot oil temperatures to minimize the high-temperature/low-moisture conditions most favorable for acrylamide formation. The rejection unit operation can be modified to reject defects that result in high levels of acrylamide.
US08110239B2	Quick corn nixtamalization process A process for the production of fresh masa, nixtamalized flour and derived products. The invention is a new process for production of corn masa (dough) to be used in the production of tortillas, fried or baked tortilla chips, tostadas, or corn chips. The new process produces masa directly from raw materials without the traditional cooking and steeping steps. It utilizes a series of processing steps including dry blending, hydrating, and working dough in an extruder having a unique screw configuration. The new process uses very little water and emits no waste water.
US08110235B2	Methods for reducing cholesterol in a milk product Systems and methods according to the present invention yield milk products having reduced cholesterol. A method according to the present invention includes the steps of adding an edible oil to skim that was separated from whole milk; standardizing the particle size of the skim-and-oil mixture; combining the skim-and-oil mixture with homogenized cream that was separated from whole milk; and separating the oil from the reduced cholesterol cream and skim. A method according to the present invention may further include the steps of separating the reduced cholesterol cream and skim and then recombining them to form a reduced cholesterol milk product having desired properties.
US08110234B2	Mechanical deboning of poultry An apparatus and a process for extracting poultry meat from crushed and dismembered poultry pieces is provided. The extracting method is based on mechanical separation utilizing heated water spray within a rotating drum assembly for removal and separation of meat from bone and collagen. The water is collected, pumped into a holding tank, and is flavored with natural poultry extract and antifoam agent for recycle within the process. The apparatus includes a hopper, an inclined rotating drum assembly having perforated walls and an internally located nozzle dispensing a water spray for separating meat from bones, a tank having at least one water jet for separating meat from bone fragments, a vibrating dewatering apparatus for separating meat from the water, and a re-circulation system for collection, reheating, and re-using the solution of water and poultry extract. The apparatus and process provides bone free poultry meat that retains the natural poultry flavor and has a low bacterial count because the process is performed in 170° F. water solution.
US08110232B2	Packaging of bananas Packaging of bananas in containers having designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of bananas under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, bananas can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time.
US08110228B2	Composition for treatment of menopause A method of using an herbal extract of the a mixture of: Herba Scutellaria barbata, Radix Sophora subprostratae, Radix Anemarrhena, Semen Glycine sojae, Radix Glycyrrhiza, Rhizoma Rhei, Fructus Tritici levis, Radix Astragali, Radix Rehmania, Fructus Ligustri lucidi, Semen Zyziphi spinosa, Plumula Nelumbinis, Poria cocas, Rhizoma Alismatis, Cortex Moutan radicis, Fructus Corni, Radix Achyranthis, Concha Ostrea, Radix Aspargi, Radix Pueraria, Radix Atractylodis macrocephala and Herba Epimedium, for the treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause is disclosed herein.
US08110218B2	Compositions and methods for less immunogenic protein-lipid complexes The present invention provides compositions and methods for reducing the immunogenicity and increasing the circulating half-life of therapeutic proteins such as Factor VIII. The compositions comprise lipidic structures such as liposomes, micelles and cochleates comprising a negatively charged lipid and polyethylene glycol derivatized phosphatidyl ethanolamine.
US08110214B2	Method and composition for enhancing milk production and milk component concentrations A method of feeding a ruminant that entails providing a feed that comprises sugar alcohol and at least one additional feed component, where the feed is free of rumen-protected fatty acid or comprises less than 10 weight percent rumen-protected fatty acid, based on the total weight of the feed and further entails orally supplying the feed to the ruminant during a pre-partum period when the ruminant is pregnant, where the ruminant ingests the feed and sugar alcohol during the pre-partum period.
US08110212B2	Bioactive thermogelling polymer systems and methods of their use Hydrogels comprising poly(N-alkylacrylamide), poly(alkyleneglyco)di-acrylate or methacrylate, cross-linking agent, a source of calcium ions, and water are described, as well as methods of their preparation and use.
US08110209B2	Intracutaneous injection The delivery of biopharmaceutical and other therapeutic agents parenterally to an animal via a minimally invasive, low pain administration is provided. The agents are delivered to the patient via, e.g., the epidermal, dermal, or subcutaneous layer of the skin in a concentrated form of injectable paste of slurry.
US08110208B1	Hemostatic compositions for arresting blood flow from an open wound or surgical site A hemostatic composition for stopping or decreasing blood flow from an open wound or medical or surgical procedure. Compositions of the invention comprise a mixture of a cationic polymer and a cation exchange material. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a mixture: (1) a high molecular weight copolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC) and acrylamide [DADMAC copolymer], and (2) the hydrogen form of a crosslinked, sulfonated polystyrene (hydrogen resin). In an exemplified embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises the mixture of DADMAC copolymer and hydrogen resin provided in a dry powdered form. The compositions of the invention may be applied directly to a wound or treatment site, or they may be incorporated into a wound dressing, such as a bandage. The seal formed at a wound or treatment site treated with the present invention is adhesive and exhibits considerable toughness.
US08110207B2	Pigmentation-regulating compounds The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I): wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O or S and R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group with from 2 to 23 carbon atoms (C2 to C23), or a cyclic group, and which can contain substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, alkylsulfonyl or halogen atoms, a method of obtaining them, cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions containing them and the use thereof for treating, caring for and/or cleaning skin, hair and/or nails, preferably those conditions, disorders or pathologies of the skin, hair and/or nails which require regulating melanogenesis.
US08110202B2	Synthetic vaccine for tick control This invention is related to the field of immunology of protein biotechnology and particularly to the construction of synthetic immunogens which result, where inoculated, in the production by cattle of an immune response capable of lesion to the ticks feeding on the inoculated bovines, reducing their number, their weight and their reproductive capacity to such an extent that the constructed immunogen can be used as an effective vaccine for tick control on bovines. The technical object of the invention consists of the design and construction of two synthetic immunogens constituted of a continuous and defined sequence with forty-three (43) amino acids, found in different positions in the sequence of protein Bm86, their polymerization with cysteine in the N-terminal and in the C-terminal, the medicamentous composition based on said peptide(s) and the synthetic vaccine obtained thereby.
US08110201B2	Fusion proteins of mycobacterium tuberculosis The present invention relates to compositions and fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium sp. antigens, and nucleic acids encoding such compositions and fusion proteins. The compositions of the invention increase serological sensitivity of sera from individuals infected with tuberculosis, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis infection.
US08110198B2	Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences relating to Staphylococcus epidermidis for diagnostics and therapeutics The invention provides isolated polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences derived from Staphylococcus epidermidis that are useful in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions; antibodies against the polypeptides; and methods for the production of the polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for the detection, prevention and treatment of pathological conditions resulting from bacterial infection.
US08110195B2	Antibody composition exhibiting cellular cytotoxicity due to glycosylation and containing ganglioside GM2 binding antibody The present invention relates to a cell for the production of an antibody molecule such as an antibody binding to ganglioside GM2, a fragment of the antibody and a fusion protein having the Fc region of the antibody or the like, a method for producing an antibody composition using the cell, the antibody composition and use thereof.
US08110191B2	Anti-IL-17 antibodies Anti-IL-17 antibodies are identified that are characterized as having a high affinity and slow off rate for human IL-17. The antibodies of the invention may be chimeric, humanized or fully human antibodies, immunoconjugates of the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. The antibodies of the invention are useful in particular for treating autoimmune, inflammatory, cell proliferative and developmental disorders.
US08110190B2	Anti-idiotypic antibodies neutralizing the inhibitory activity of an inhibitory antibody directed against the C1 domain of Factor VIII The present invention is related to a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody directed against a Factor VIII inhibitor antibody binding to the C1 domain of Factor VIII, as well as to a cell line producing this monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody, to the use of this monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody as medicament, and more particularly to the use thereof for manufacturing a medicament intended for the treatment of haemophilia A.
US08110178B2	Dental-plaque detection system and dental-plaque detection method A dental-plaque detection system and dental-plaque detection method which are excellent in the detection accuracy of dental plaques and also capable of improving the situation to stain sites other than dental plaques (such as interdental parts and gums) are provided. The dental-plaque detection system includes a dental-plaque staining agent, which contains at least one selected from yellow pigment of beni-koji, turmeric extracts, and curcumin; and a light-emitting apparatus, which outputs light having a wavelength within a range of 250 to 500 nm to an object in the oral cavity where the dental-plaque staining agent is attached. The dental-plaque detection method includes attaching a dental-plaque staining agent, which contains at least one selected from yellow pigment of beni-koji, turmeric extracts, and curcumin onto an object in the oral cavity; and thereafter irradiating light having a wavelength within a range of 250 to 500 nm onto the object.
US08110170B2	Conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite and manufacturing method thereof Provided are a conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite including a carbon nanotube and a conductive polymer filled therein, and a method of manufacturing the same. The conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite where a conductive polymer is filled in a carbon nanotube is manufactured by introducing a monomer of the conductive polymer into the carbon nanotube using a supercritical fluid technique and polymerizing the monomer. The conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite is a novel nano-structure material which can overcome limitations that conventional materials may have, and thus can be applied to various applications such as sensors, electrode materials, nanoelectronic materials, etc.
US08110168B2	Negative active material for lithium secondary battery and negative electrode and lithium secondary battery comprising same A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a negative active material including a plate-shaped carbon powder particle agglomerated in a primary structure in which the plate-shaped particle is oriented in a plane direction and laminated. Fine carbon powder particles are then agglomerated to form a secondary structure on the surface of the primary structure such that the resulting particles include fine pores formed on the surface.
US08110167B2	Nanowire synthesis from vapor and solid sources Methods of the present invention can be used to synthesize nanowires with controllable compositions and/or with multiple elements. The methods can include coating solid powder granules, which comprise a first element, with a catalyst. The catalyst and the first element should form when heated a liquid, mixed phase having a eutectic or peritectic point. The granules, which have been coated with the catalyst, can then be heated to a temperature greater than or equal to the eutectic or peritectic point. During heating, a vapor source comprising the second element is introduced. The vapor source chemically interacts with the liquid, mixed phase to consume the first element and to induce condensation of a product that comprises the first and second elements in the form of a nanowire.
US08110161B2	Alkylation process for increased conversion and reduced catalyst use The invention relates to a process for the production of alkylated aromatic compounds comprising introducing olefin and aromatic compounds into at least first and second vertically spaced catalytic reaction zones in an alkylation unit under alkylation reaction conditions to provide an alkylated product, wherein the second catalytic reaction zone is positioned above the first catalytic reaction zone; wherein aromatic compound from each of the at least first and second catalytic reaction zones are contacted with a cooling means for re-condensing at least a portion of the aromatic compounds vaporized from the exothermic heat of reaction of the alkylation process; and wherein the olefin is introduced into the at least first and second catalytic reaction zones via respective first and second olefin feed streams at respective olefin feed rates such as to maintain olefin partial pressures at inlets to at least first and second catalytic reaction zones which vary by less than about ten percent. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus for practicing the alkylation process of the invention.
US08110157B2	Heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and method for controlling said reaction chamber The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.
US08110155B2	Vortex reactor and method of using it A vortex reactor is provided. The vortex reactor includes a reaction chamber formed by a frustum-shaped portion, the narrower part of which is downwardly oriented. Proximate to the narrower part of the frustum-shaped portion, the vortex reactor includes apparatus for creating an axial gas flow and apparatus for creating a circumferential gas flow. The vortex reactor also includes a particulate solid inlet for feeding particulate solids to the reaction chamber. The vortex reactor may optionally include apparatus for generating plasma in the reaction chamber by providing a gliding arc electrical discharge in the reaction chamber. Also provided is a method of processing particulate solids using the vortex reactor of the invention. A reverse vortex plasma reactor (TSAPG) is also provided.
US08110150B2	Bulk polymerization reactors for producing drag reducer A polymerization reactor for creating drag-reducing polymer having a reservoir and at least one heat exchanger plate in fluid communication with a coolant source, wherein each heat exchanger plate may be disposed on a lid. The heat exchanger plates are treated and/or covered to provide that the exchanger plates can be readily disengaged from the drag-reducing polymer. The polymerization reactors of the present invention permit large amounts of polymer to be formed in each reactor batch. Preferably, polymers are formed in the polymerization reactor by bulk polymerization. Methods for forming drag-reducing polymers are also disclosed.
US08110144B2	Process for sterilization of and cyanoacrylate adhesives compositions and devices Disclosed are processes for sterilization of cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions, the compositions, comprising 2-cyanoacrylate ester monomers, so produced and a method for assaying the effectiveness of the sterilization process. The process comprises heating the adhesive composition to from about 70° C. to about 140° C. for an effective amount of time. The effectiveness of the process can be assayed by disposing bacterial spores in the cyanoacrylate monomer, exposing the composition to a dry heat sterilization process, transferring the cyanoacrylate composition to a sterile aldose solution, transferring and exposing the sample to a nutrient medium which supports germination and growth of viable spores, incubating the samples, and determining the presence or absence of growth.
US08110132B2	Process and machine for manufacturing lap siding and the product made thereby A process for manufacturing an elongated panel formed of synthetic materials including a polymer resin matrix, a filler and a fiber reinforcement. The process includes depositing the curable composition on a conveyor belt, distributing and leveling the curable composition prior to feeding the composition into a compression apparatus in which the curable composition is partially cured as it is compressed to form the panel. The machine for manufacturing the composite panel includes a mixer for the polymer system, filler and fiber reinforcement, a distribution apparatus that distributes the curable composition prior to feeding the composition into a compacting apparatus. The process and machine may be used to form a composite siding board that includes a grain pattern on at least one side.
US08110131B1	Carpet reclamation system A method an apparatus for reclaiming face fibers and polypropylene and/or polyvinyl chloride backing material from rolls and pieces of post-consumer carpet. The system includes a separator for separating the face fibers from the backing and for separating latex and carbon calcium powder from polypropylene backing. An extruder is provided for extruding the face fibers separated from the backing into extrusions, and a pelletizer pelletizes the extrusions. A roller opener opens the polypropylene backing into fibrous portions and also cleans such fibrous portions. Alternately, a granulator can be provided that chops and grinds the polypropylene or PVC backing into fragments after the separation of the face fibers from the backing. A heat source heats the PVC fragments, and also the polypropylene fragments (thereby separating the latex therefrom), and ultimately melts such fragments. Reclaimed fibers can be pelletized, made into extrusions, used in non-woven products and in other manners.
US08110130B2	Use of a rheological additive in the manufacture by vibrocompaction of a water and hydraulic binder based formulation, formulation obtained The present invention consists in the use, in a process of manufacture of a composition with a water and hydraulic binder base, of a rheological additive characterised in that it is an emulsion of at least one non-cross-linked copolymer, consisting of: a) (meth)acrylic acid, b) alkyl(meth)acrylate having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, c) a monomer of formula R1—(R2O)m—R3, in which: R1 designates a radical containing a polymerisable unsaturated group, R2O designates an alkylene oxide group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, m is an integer between 20 and 30, preferentially between 23 and 27, and is very preferentially equal to 25, R3 designates a linear or branched alkyl chain having 28 to 33 carbon atoms, preferentially 30 to 33 carbon atoms, and very preferentially having 32 carbon atoms. The invention also concerns the formulations thus obtained.
US08110129B2	Method for obtaining para-type wholly aromatic polyamide particles The invention pertains to a method for obtaining para-type wholly aromatic polyamide particles, comprising the steps: a) introducing an aramid polymer solution into a water-based coagulating liquid to obtain a hydrous shaped product; and b) subjecting the never-dried or partly-dried shaped product having a water content of 10 to 99% by weight to freeze-grinding. These aramid polymer particles can be used as a filler material.
US08110128B2	Method of manufacturing an anti-glare anti-reflection film Disclosed is an anti-glare anti-reflection film having a low haze and reduced in unevenness and dazzle. The film contains a thermoplastic resin film and at least a hard coat layer and an anti-reflection layer provided on a first surface of the thermoplastic resin film. In the film, a first convexoconcave structure that can give an anti-glare property is provided on the first surface of the thermoplastic resin film or the surface of a layer provided on the first surface of the thermoplastic resin film, and a second convexoconcave structure that can give an anti-glare property is provided on a second surface which is the other surface of the thermoplastic resin film or the surface of a layer provided on the second surface of the thermoplastic resin film. The anti-glare anti-reflection film has an average film thickness of 20 to 70 μm.
US08110126B2	Electrically conductive fiber and brush There is provided a conductive fiber containing a conductive substance, and having stable conductive performance with a small variation in its conductive performance. A conductive fiber contains carbon black as a main conductive component in a fiber-forming polymer, wherein the carbon black is composed of a mixture of at least two kinds of the following carbon blacks (A) and (B), which is obtained by mixing them at an A/B ratio (by weight) of 90/10 to 10/90: (A) a conductive carbon black having an average particle size of 20 to 70 nm and an oil absorption defined in JIS K 5101 of 100 to 600 ml/100g; and (B) a conductive carbon black in which the average article size ratio thereof to said conductive carbon black (A) is from 1.1 to 3, and the oil absorption ratio thereof to said conductive carbon black (A) is from 0.9 to 0.2.
US08110123B2	High-brightness yellow-orange yellow phosphor for warm white LED A high-brightness yellow-orange yellow phosphor for use in warm white LED (light emitting diode), the high-brightness yellow-orange yellow phosphor comprises a substrate based on a rare-earth garnet and cerium for activating said substrate. The high-brightness yellow-orange yellow phosphor has the substances of Li+1, Mg+2 and N−3 contained therein so that the overall stoichiometric equation of the substrate is: Σ(Ln)3Al5−xLi(x+y)Mg(x+y)O12−3yN3y and, the high-brightness yellow-orange yellow phosphor radiates in a visible orange yellow band at λ=538˜569 nm when activated by a shortwave light from an InGaN semiconductor heterostructure.
US08110118B2	Method of manufacturing circuit board An adhesive layer, an insulating layer and a copper foil are laminated together on both surfaces of a metallic base material by way of for example thermal press molding. In this case, openings (window holes) are formed in opposed positions on a portion of the adhesive layer. A circuit pattern is formed by etching on the copper foil in this state, followed by an external shape machining step of executing separation treatment reaching the metallic base material in predetermined positions including the openings. After that, a part of the insulating layer is cut off along the edge of the opening to obtain a circuit board with the end of the metallic base material exposed.
US08110101B2	Method and apparatus for imaging target components in a biological sample using permanent magnets A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. A small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled sample. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The cells are illuminated and the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells are captured by a CCD camera. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample.
US08110097B2	Circulating water washing system toilet A system in which human waste in toilet water is decomposed and the treated water is circulated as wash water includes a toilet bowl body portion, a soil water storage tank configured to store the soil water discharged from a toilet bowl temporarily, a pump configured to pump up and deliver the soil water in the soil water storage tank, a reaction treatment tower containing filter elements as a microorganism carrier and performing a biological treatment by dispersing the soil water fed from the pump from an upper portion of the tower to bring the same into contact with the filter element, a water storage tank under the reaction treatment tower and configured to receive and store water passed through the reaction treatment tower, and a pump configured to pump up the water in the water storage tank and deliver the same as the wash water.
US08110096B1	Septic system A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste and an injector section that injects oxygen into the compressed liquid waste. The system further includes a driver subsystem for driving the compressor section and a control subsystem for activating and deactivating the driver subsystem.
US08110095B2	Oil sand processing apparatus control system and method A control system for an oil sand processing apparatus and a method for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum, an oil sand feed mechanism, a drive mechanism for rotating the drum, a first drum support and a second drum support. The control system includes a first drum load sensor associated with the first drum support for sensing a first drum load, a second drum load sensor associated with the second drum support for sensing a second drum load and an oil sand feedrate sensor associated with the oil sand feed mechanism for sensing a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism. A controller is provided for controlling a rotation speed of the drum and a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism in response to input data from the first drum load sensor, the second drum load sensor and the oil sand feedrate sensor.
US08110094B2	Regenerable and non-regenerable sorbents for acid gas removal A dewatered ethanol residue regenerable and non-regenerable sorbent for the removal of acid gas from hydrocarbon production gas streams and the process for the removal of acid gas from hydrocarbon gas. The process includes the steps of obtaining residue from the distillation of ethanol; de-watering the residue; mixing the de-watered residue with an amine; and, contacting the hydrocarbon gas with the dewatered residue/amine mixture.
US08110089B2	Apparatus and method for preparing multiple pH water streams The invention provides an improved method for creating at least two flows of water from a reactor, derived from substantially pH7 water, for various applications and having widely divergent pH readings between 2 and 14 without need for chemicals. In addition, the reactor generates said divergent flows without need of an RF or A/C generator.
US08110083B1	Arbitrary and simultaneous control of multiple objects in micro-fluidic systems In a microfluidic device, respective motion of a plurality of objects along corresponding trajectories is achieved by determining a force field, such as an underlying fluid flow which, when applied to the plurality of object, moves each object along its corresponding trajectory. The force field is a linear superposition of a subset of all force fields supported by the physical characteristics of the microfluidic device. Once the fields have been ascertained, a plurality of actuation signals corresponding to the fields is applied to actuators installed on the microfluidic device to cause the force on each object. By implementing a feedback structure, corrections for positional errors may be made by computing a corrective force for each object and adjusting the actuation signals appropriately thereto.
US08110081B2	Oxygen sensor improvement method A method for improving the performance of a galvanic fuel cell type oxygen sensor comprises providing a pressure equalization port leading to the interior of an inner core housing that contains the membrane, the electrolyte and the anode and cathode electrodes and hermetically sealing the sensor housing except for its sample inlet port and its sample outlet port. By connecting the same vacuum source to both the pressure equalization port and the sample outlet port, the device's membrane is less subject to movement or rupture as gas samples are drawn in via the sample inlet port. A technique for ensuring a hermetic seal is also described.
US08110077B2	Sealing jig and plating treatment apparatus A sealing jig comes into contact with a cylinder inner peripheral surface as a surface to be processed of a cylinder block and seals the cylinder inner peripheral surface in introducing treatment liquid to the cylinder inner peripheral surface. The sealing jig includes: a sealing member made of an expandable material and having a ring-buoy shape; a lower plate for supporting a lower side of the sealing member; and a seal base disposed so as to face the lower plate and to support an upper side of the sealing member. The sealing member is regulated by the lower plate and the seal base and expanded only in a radial direction to come into contact with the cylinder inner peripheral surface when air is introduced inward.
US08110075B2	Coated cutting tool for general turning in heat resistant super alloys (HRSA) Coated cemented carbide inserts are particularly useful in general turning of superalloys. The inserts are formed from a cemented carbide of WC about 5.0-7.0 wt-% Co, and about 0.22-0.43 wt-% Cr, where the substrate has a coercivity (Hc) of about 19-28 kA/m. The coating contains a single layer of (TixAl1-x)N-layer, where x is 0.25-0.50, with a crystal structure of NaCl type, a total thickness of about 3.0-5.0 μm, (200)-texture, and a compressive residual strain of about 2.5×10−3-5.0×10−3, optionally containing an outermost TiN-layer.
US08110074B1	Photochemical method for producing hydrocarbons The present invention relates to a method of using radiation and (in one embodiment) solar energy and UV radiation to convert natural products, for example derivatives of vegetable oils, to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons. The invention further relates to a process whereby these hydrocarbons can be converted to vinyl monomers and used in the formation of plastics, solvents, fuels and the like.
US08110068B2	Gas flow distribution receptacles, plasma generator systems, and methods for performing plasma stripping processes Systems, system components, and methods for plasma stripping are provided. In an embodiment, a gas flow distribution receptacle may have a rounded section that includes an inner surface defining a reception cavity, an outer surface forming an enclosed end, and a centerpoint on the outer surface having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and through the reception cavity. First and second rings of openings provide flow communication with the plasma chamber. The second ring of openings are disposed between the first ring and the centerpoint, and each opening of the second ring of openings extends between the inner and outer surfaces at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis that is less than the first angle and has a diameter that is substantially identical to a diameter of an adjacent opening and smaller than the diameters of an opening of the first ring of openings.
US08110066B2	Adhesive composition suitable to be applied by screen printing An adhesive composition comprising (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) a curing promoter, (D) an inorganic filler, (E) particles of a thermoplastic resin which is solid at 25° C., and (F) silicone powder having a particle size at cumulative 50% (d50), measured by a laser light diffraction method, of from 1 to 50 μm. The composition is particularly suitable to be applied by screen printing on a substrate or a silicon wafer.
US08110063B2	Mask, method of manufacturing mask, device for manufacturing mask, method of manufacturing layer of luminescent material, electro-optical device, and electronic device This mask includes: a substrate in which an aperture is formed; a mask member which, along with being formed with a plurality of through holes, is joined to the substrate in correspondence to the aperture; and spacers which hold the substrate and the mask member with a predetermined gap between them.
US08110059B2	Three-dimensional decoration piece made of synthetic resin and method of manufacturing the same There are provided (1) a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional decoration piece having a flat rear surface, (2) a method of manufacturing the decoration piece by easily cutting the same by means of a fusion cutter, (3) a method of manufacturing the decoration piece having a bonding or sticking feature on the rear surface and (4) a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional decoration piece without limiting the characteristics of the base member thereof.The three-dimensional decoration piece is manufactured by using an indented mold and high frequency dielectric heating. An indented mold having a second fusion cutter and arranged along an outer periphery of the fusion cutter is used. Firstly, a three-dimensional molded body of upper and intermediate layers having a recessed section on a lower surface thereof is molded by means of an indented mold and a protruding mold, and subsequently a lower layer material is molten by high frequency dielectric heating and made to flow into the recessed section. Firstly, a three-dimensional molded body of upper and intermediate layers is molded, and subsequently the three-dimensional molded body is welded to a base member by means of high frequency dielectric heating.
US08110056B2	Process for preparing studless tire with tread having zinc oxide whiskers, glass fibers and porous natural glass A rubber composition used for a tire, in which friction on ice is improved, which includes 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a filler having at least two protuberances and a non-metal fiber based on 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber.
US08110053B2	Method and device for cutting a laminate and laminate product A method for cutting along a cutting line of a laminate, including a first and a second textile layer surrounding an intermediate layer of a porous elastic material. The laminate is pressed together in a local nip between an ultrasound emitting element and a counteracting element, and the laminate is moved in the cutting line through and past the nip during ultrasound cutting of the laminate simultaneous with ultrasound welding of the first and the second surface layers to each other in order to form a smooth, rounded, continuous edge joint between the surface layers at a free edge of the laminate.
US08110052B2	Systems and methods for sorting in a package delivery system The present invention provides novel systems and methods for processing packages through a delivery network using a hub assist label. Generally described, the hub assist label includes indicia of a sequence of sorting locations that designates the flow of a package through a delivery network.
US08110050B2	Actively damped tension member A system and method for actively damping tension members modulates the natural frequency of shape memory alloys incorporated into tension members, such as suspension ropes or cables. The frequency of the tension member can be modulated by heating the shape memory alloy, such modulation preventing potentially destructive resonance with natural exciting forces.
US08110049B2	Alloy containing rare earth element, production method thereof, magnetostrictive device, and magnetic refrigerant material An RE-containing alloy, which is represented by a compositional formula of RrTtAa (wherein R represents at least one rare earth element selected from among La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Gd, and Lu; T collectively represents transition metal elements containing at least Fe atoms, a portion of the Fe atoms being optionally substituted by at least one species selected from among Co, Ni, Mn, Pt, and Pd; A represents at least one element selected from among Al, As, Si, Ga, Ge, Mn, Sn, and Sb; and r, t, and a have the following relationships: 5.0 at. %≦r≦6.8 at. %, 73.8 at. %≦t≦88.7 at. %, and 4.6 at. %≦a≦19.4 at. %) and having an alloy microstructure containing an NaZn13-type crystal structure in an amount of at least 85 mass % and α-Fe in an amount of 5-15 mass % inclusive.
US08110044B2	Substrate processing apparatus and temperature control device A first flow passage (16), which cools a temperature controlled object by a circulating first cooling water (15), and a second flow passage (19) separate from the first flow passage are provided so as to exchange heat between a second cooling water (18) flowing through the second flow passage (19) and the first cooling water (15). There is no need to store the first cooling water (15) in a tank of a constant capacity, and the first cooling water (15) flowing through the first flow passage (16) of a chiller corresponding part is absorbed substantially in its entirety by the second cooling water (18). A response becomes quick with respect to a load fluctuation of the temperature controlled object, and waste of energy can be reduced while improving accuracy of temperature control.
US08110043B2	Apparatus and method for applying coatings onto the interior surfaces of components and related structures produced therefrom A methodology and system for applying coatings onto the interior surfaces of components, includes a vapor creation device, a vacuum chamber having a moderate gas pressure and an inert gas jet having controlled velocity and flow fields. The gas jet is created by a rarefied, inert gas supersonic expansion through a nozzle. By controlling the carrier gas flow into a region upstream of the nozzle an upstream pressure is achieved. The carrier gas flow and chamber pumping rate control the downstream pressure. The ratio of the upstream to downstream pressure along with the size and shape of the nozzle opening controls the speed of the gas entering the chamber. Vapor created from a source is transported into the interior regions of a component using binary collisions between the vapor and gas jet atoms. These collisions enable the vapor atoms to scatter onto the interior surfaces of the component and deposit.
US08110032B2	Solvent-based ink composition for thermal inkjets comprising acetate solvent A solvent-based ink composition for a thermal inkjet printhead. The ink composition comprises: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (C); wherein: R7 is a C2-12 alkyl group interrupted with 0, 1, 2 or 3 oxygen atoms; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.
US08110031B2	Ethanol-based ink composition An ink jet ink composition includes ethanol, a binder, a conductive agent, and a colorant. The ethanol is present in an amount at least 70% by weight of the ink composition. The binder is not a polyamide resin, a hydroxyaromatic resin, or a phenolic resin. The binder is present in an amount between 2% and 15% by weight of the ink composition. Water, if present, is in an amount less than 5% by weight of the ink composition.
US08110030B2	Method of formulating ink having minimal visible coloration A method of formulating an aqueous ink having minimal visible coloration. The method includes the steps of: providing an aqueous ink formulation containing a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety; and adjusting a pH of the formulation to a pH value in the range of 4 to 6.5 so as to minimize visible coloration of the formulation.
US08110026B2	Functional graphene-polymer nanocomposites for gas barrier applications A gas diffusion barrier contains a polymer matrix and a functional graphene which displays no signature of graphite and/or graphite oxide, as determined by X-ray diffraction.
US08110024B2	Separator tank for separation of fluid comprising water, oil and gas,use of such a tank, and method for separating a fluid including water, oil, and gas A separator tank (1) comprising an essentially cylindrical vertical tank, a tangentially arranged inlet (3) in an upper part (9) of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) for oil and gas in the upper part of the tank, and at least one second outlet (5) for water in a lower part of the tank. A vortex zone (7) comprises a downward protruding conical frusta shaped wall (8) with an opening (11) at the lower end to allow communication between the upper and lower part of the tank. A helical spiralling vane is disposed on the upward directed part of said conical frusta shaped wall.
US08110019B2	Modified induction furnace and process for removing zinc-containing metallurgical waste, with recovery of the metals therefrom The present invention is based on a novel electric induction furnace design that enables the removal of zinc-containing filter dust (FD) originating from the production of steel (alloy or non-alloy) and the production of cast iron with galvanized steel scrap, using a novel process based on the carbothermal reduction of the metal oxides present in the FD, performed at the temperature at which the materials are melted inside the electric induction furnace. The electric induction furnace of the invention incorporates an electric arc or plasma beam generator to melt all the inorganic non-metallic material. The incorporation of this generator also enables the use of large volumes of molten slag.
US08110012B2	System for hot solids combustion and gasification In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66. The chemical looping system is in fluid communication with at least a portion of an existing power generation system.
US08110004B2	Expandable interbody fusion cage with rotational insert An expandable intervertebral fusion cage that includes an inferior baseplate and a superior baseplate, an insert rotatably received between the inferior and superior baseplates, and a guide pin coupled to the inferior and superior baseplates for facilitating the rotation of the insert. The insert includes a pair of protuberances, each of which are releasably engageable with a corresponding lock groove formed within the inferior and superior baseplates. When said insert is rotated relative to the guide pin, the protuberances engage the lock grooves, and the inferior and superior baseplates expand from a collapsed position, in which said inferior and superior baseplates are juxtaposed with one another, and an expanded position, in which said inferior and superior baseplates are diverged away from one another. Tabs formed on the superior baseplate continuously engage slots formed within the inferior baseplate when the baseplates expand from their collapsed position to their expanded position.
US08110002B2	Amputation bone cap A muscle fastening cap includes a head having one or more groups of openings along a direction of its axial length. The cap also may include a stem adapted for insertion into a muscle-supporting structure such as an intramedullary canal or a prosthesis device.
US08110001B2	Materials and methods for improved bone tendon bone transplantation Disclosed herein is an improved Bone Tendon Bone graft for use in orthopedic surgical procedures. Specifically exemplified herein is a Bone Tendon Bone graft comprising one or more bone blocks having a groove cut into the surface thereof, wherein said groove is sufficient to accommodate a fixation screw. Also disclosed is a porcine bone tendon bone graft for use in orthopedic procedures. Also disclosed are multiple embodiments of assembled bone tendon bone blocks for use in orthopedic surgeries. Additionally, a method of harvesting grafts that has improved efficiency, increases the quantity of extracted tissue and minimizes time required by surgeon for implantation is disclosed.
US08109991B2	Endoprosthesis having foot extensions Endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes at least one annular element defined by a first set of strut members interconnected to define apices proximate opposite sides of the annular element. The annular element further includes a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. The foot extension has first and second foot portions extending circumferentially from corresponding ends of the circumferentially-adjacent strut members, and are contoured to provide at least two areas of flexure. The first and second foot portions are joined at a toe portion of the foot extension, and define a circumferentially-directed apex between the pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. Preferably, at least one or more additional annular elements, each defined by interconnected strut members, are provided. The annular elements are generally expandable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration. The annular elements are longitudinally aligned and connected at connection locations with connectors, wherein at least one of the connectors is constructed of a bio-absorbable material.
US08109983B2	Medical device delivery systems Medical device delivery systems, as well as related methods and components, are disclosed.
US08109982B2	Non-invasive modulation of the autonomic nervous system The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for modulation of the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance by application of heat, carotid and/or ocular message to reduce sympathetic tone or increase parasympathetic tone in a target muscle system to relieve a symptom of urinary hesitancy, shy bladder syndrome, DESD, urinary retention, or laryngeal spasm, as well as to monitor the efficacy of treatments for bladder conditions and to assist in the passage of medical devices through bodily sphincters as well as to treat congestive heart failure.
US08109981B2	Optical therapies and devices An optical therapy device for providing therapeutic light to a person's nasal cavity includes a body and at least one UV light source in or on the body. A distal end of the body is configured to be inserted into the person's nasal cavity. The body can be configured to be hand-held. The optical therapy device is configured such that the UV light source emits a dose of UV light toward tissue in the patient's nasal cavity.
US08109977B2	Method and apparatus for spinal fixation Disclosed is a fixation device for spinal fixation. The fixation device includes an elongated body comprising a bone anchor at a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the device is inserted through a first vertebra and the bone anchor is rotated into positioned within a second vertebra. The proximal anchor is distally advanced with respect to the bone anchor to provide compression across the first and second vertebra. In other embodiments, the device is used to secure stabilization devices across two or more vertebra.
US08109972B2	Interspinous process implant having deployable wings and method of implantation An embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention can include an implant having a spacer with a thickness and a wing, wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness and wherein the wing is adapted to be selectably arranged in a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height. A periphery of the implant has a shape generally conformal with a shape of an inner surface of a cannula and a cross-sectional diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cannula. The cannula is inserted such that a proximal end of the cannula is arranged between the adjacent spinous processes. The implant is then urged into position between the adjacent spinous processes by way of the cannula, and subsequently arranged in a second configuration to fix the implant in position.
US08109967B2	High strength suture with absorbable core and suture anchor combination A novel high tensile strength semi-absorbable composite suture with minimized non-absorbable mass. The suture has a core made from a bioabsorbable polymer. The core is covered by a braided sheath. The braided sheath is made from an absorbable yarn and a bioabsorbable yarn. The bioabsorbable yarn is made from a least one filament of a bioabsorbable polymer. The nonabsorbable yarn is made from at least one filament of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
US08109966B2	Methods for attaching connective tissues to bone using a multi-component anchor An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing connective tissue, such as tendons, to bone are disclosed which permit a suture attachment which lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface, and wherein the suturing material between the connective tissue and the bone anchor is oriented in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor, so that axial pull-out forces exerted on the bone anchor are minimized. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a substantial length of suturing material around a shaft of the anchor, thereby avoiding an eyelet connection which requires a knot and which concentrates stress on a very small portion of the suturing material. Thus, failure rates are greatly decreased over conventional techniques, and the inventive procedures are significantly easier to perform than conventional techniques.
US08109965B2	Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation A positioning member may be released to move an anchor member to a holding position. The positioning member being operable to be held in a selected orientation until the anchor member is in a selected position.
US08109963B1	Method and apparatus for relieving menstrual discomfort An pressure applicating band kit for treatment of menstrual cramps includes a flexible strap with a buckle and a free end. A stylus is attached to the buckle for applying pressure to a menstrual discomfort controlling pressure point on the patient's body when the strap is fastened. Cooperating fasteners are on the free end of the strap and the strap for securing the strap and maintaining pressure on the controlling pressure point. Software is also in the kit, which directs the operation of the treatment. The menstrual discomfort controlling pressure point is identified by applying light pressure to a menstrual discomfort controlling pressure region. The points that are most tender are considered the menstrual discomfort controlling pressure points. The pressure applicating band can comprise one or more stylus for applying pressure to one or more points to optimize the relief process.
US08109959B2	Blood sampling needle A blood sampling needle has a shell, a trigger seat, a needle stand, an elastic resetter and a safety switching member. The shell is provided with inner wall, retaining space, needle outlet and insertion end. A through-flange is formed into the shell. The through-flange and inner wall form a release groove with a tapered end-face. The trigger seat is mounted into the retaining space in a moveable state. The trigger seat has a control end and a rod. An axial chamber is opened on the rod so that two elastic release blades are formed on the rod, and also accommodated correspondingly into the release groove. An abutting bevel edge is formed at the bottom of the elastic release blade, and mated with the tapered end-face of the release groove in an oblique surface. The present invention saves structural members, reduces fabrication cost with better safety and applicability.
US08109958B1	Method and apparatus for spinal osteoligamentous resection A device for osteoligamentous resection comprising a resector having a shaft with a resecting tip at its distal end, and a retractor at least partially surrounding the resector, and at least part of the retractor being moveable relative to the resector.
US08109952B2	Device and method for treating varicose veins A surgical instrument for treatment of superficial varicose veins in a body is provided. The surgical instrument includes at least one vein-engaging element disposed within or on a housing being adapted for insertion into a tissue. The at least one vein-engaging element is operable to a vein-engaging state whereby it protrudes from the housing at a length thereof.
US08109951B2	Device for implementing a cutting balloon intervention with IVUS monitoring Device for implementing a cutting balloon intervention by means of a “cutting balloon” catheter, at the distal end of which is disposed an inflatable balloon with axially running blades mounted thereon, and which has IVUS monitoring, whereby the cutting balloon catheter is combined with an IVUS catheter to form an integrated module.
US08109941B2	Distal release retrieval assembly and related methods of use A device and related method of use is provided for the capture and removal of various unwanted objects present within the body's anatomical lumens. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the device includes an external elongate member; an internal elongate member disposed within the external elongate member; and a retrieval assembly connected to the internal elongate member and retractable within and extendable from a lumen of the external elongate member. The retrieval assembly includes an end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed.
US08109938B2	Ophthalmic implant injector and folding cartridge A cartridge for folding an ophthalmic implant including pliers having two articulated arms which are provided with substantially coaxial channels and each of which is boarded by two longitudinal edges. The channels are open in front of each other and define a partially folded conduit containing the implant when the two arms are brought to each other. When the two arms are brought to each other, at least two edges positioned in front of the channels are driven apart transversally with respect to a conduit on a plane. The two arms are jointed in such a way that the arm delimits the supporting shoulder of the implant being projected in front of the channel embodied in the other arm.
US08109936B2	Cap device for use in the fixation of bone structures The invention facilitates the fixation of bone fractures. In particular, the invention relates to a cap that has an inside surface comprising an interface component that is operable to engage a flexible wire. The flexible wire is connected to a head component that engages a first bone fragment. The outside surface of the cap may include cutting threads to facilitate attachment to a second bone fragment. A tensioner may be used to exert tension on the wire, the cap and the head component, thereby drawing the first bone fragment to the second bone fragment. In various embodiments, the cap is a planar disk that has a central hole that restricts backward translation and expands when the cap is translating down a wire.
US08109932B2	Bone regeneration device for bones, and method of use A method of stimulating bone regeneration in a discontinuous section of a long bone in a subject requiring same, comprising the step of applying to said discontinuous section of the bone an effective vacuum for an effective length of time. A device for carrying out the method consisting of a sealable tubular-shaped sleeve or cuff that fits snugly and sealably around the bone section to be treated and that can be evacuated via a port that is integral to the sleeve or port.
US08109931B2	Implant site preparation method and relative piezoelectric surgical device A surgical device for preparation of an implant site is disclosed. The device comprises a body capable of being held by a user and an insert that is capable of being coupled to an end of the body. An ultrasound transducer is disposed within the body and provides an ultrasound frequency vibration to the insert in response to an electrical signal. The insert includes a tip having a plurality of cutting elements disposed in a substantially circular configuration. The insert also includes a channel having an opening at the tip for the passage of fluid.
US08109930B2	Surgical nail An intramedullary nail comprising a central axis and a transverse borehole, provided with an insert which can be introduced into the transverse borehole, said insert also containing a longitudinal slit.
US08109929B2	Medical instrument for coagulation of tissue A medical instrument for coagulation of tissue has an electrode carrier and, at a distal end of the electrode carrier, an electrode that can be supplied with high-frequency current. The medical instrument also has a stripper arranged directly adjacent to the electrode. The stripper and the electrode can be moved relative to each other in order to remove contaminants from the electrode.
US08109927B2	Surface electrode multiple mode operation A surface electrode for ablating tissue is provided. The surface electrode comprises a base, a plurality of tissue penetrating needle electrodes extending from the surface of the base an adjustable distance, and an electrical interface coupled to the plurality of needle electrodes. The adjustability of the needle electrodes allows the depth that the needle electrodes penetrate through tissue to be adjusted.
US08109925B2	Treatment of breast disease with vibrating device An elongate probe, with a suction channel extending longitudinally along the probe, is inserted into a patient so that a distal tip of the probe is in contact with a fibroid mass inside the patient. Thereafter the probe is ultrasonically vibrated so that the distal tip has an excursion amplitude or distance greater than 275 microns. During probe vibration, suction is applied to the channel at a vacuum level greater than 24″ Hg to thereby maintain the target tissue mass in engagement with the distal tip during the vibrating of the probe and enable ablation of at least a selectable portion of the target tissue mass.
US08109924B2	Heads for dermatology treatment Methods and apparatus for dermatology treatment are provided which involve the use of continuous wave (CW) radiation, preheating of the treatment volume, precooling, cooling during treatment and post-treatment cooling of the epidermis above the treatment volume, various beam focusing techniques to reduce scattering and/or other techniques for reducing the cost and/or increasing the efficacy of optical radiation for use in hair removal and other dermatological treatments. A number of embodiments are included for achieving the various objectives indicated above.
US08109920B2	Medical or veterinary digestive tract utilization systems and methods Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules comprising a first module operable in a digestive or respiratory tract to engage a second module, optionally by a magnetic field. Alternatively or additionally, systems may be operable to remain in situ and also operable to permit a therapeutic material dispensation. In some contexts, for example, systems or methods may dispense a therapeutic material via a subject's throat or elsewhere in the digestive or respiratory tract.
US08109909B2	Medical instrument An indwelling needle assembly has a hollow outer needle fixed to an outer needle hub, an inner needle in the outer needle and fixed to an inner needle hub, and a protector. A step section of the outer needle hub serves as a speed reducer that reduces the speed, in the direction of the flow path axis of a main pipe, of a liquid portion flowing in the flow path, the portion flowing along that portion of the inner surface of the main pipe located on that side of the main pipe on which a branch flow path is located. The step section has an opening in the inner surface of the main pipe located at a position corresponding to a front end opening of the branch flow path. The step section forms a space between the opening and the front end opening of the branch flow path.
US08109906B2	Control of a pump device A pump system simply and selectably controls the temperature, flow rate, flow volume, and flow pressure of a fluid being infused into a patient's body. The pump system a includes a central controller and user inputs that allow for simple selection and efficient operation of the pump system, which includes manually or automatically priming the pump system to remove air, selectably controlling and rapidly adjusting the flow rate over a wide range, selectably and safely controlling the pump system temperature controls, and selectably controlling the flow pressure during delivery. The pump system includes a pump housing with a central controller and a cartridge with infusion tubing removably coupled to the pump housing.
US08109901B2	Breast pump A breast pump has at least one collection assembly for engaging at least a portion of a breast surrounding a nipple and a vacuum pump for applying a vacuum to the collection assembly and thereby to at least the nipple of the breast. A controller is operable to cyclically operate the vacuum pump between a maximum vacuum pressure in the range of about 70 mm Hg to about 150 mm Hg and a latching pressure of about 30 mm Hg.
US08109900B2	Coextensive tubing system for phacoemulsification handpieces An irrigation and aspiration tubing system for use with surgical handpieces and irrigation fluid supplies has a flexible tube with first and second lumens formed integrally along its length, with a first lumen used for transporting irrigation fluid to the handpiece and a second lumen used for aspiration of fluid and emulsified particles from a surgical site. The cross-sectional area of the first lumen is selected to provide a cross-sectional area available for fluid flow in excess of the cross-sectional area of a standard surgical irrigation tubes. The system also includes at least one adaptor to allow the tubing to be attached to known surgical handpieces. Preferably, a second adaptor is also provided allowing attachment to sources of irrigating fluid and aspiration vacuum. One said lumen is formed integral with either the interior or exterior surface of the flexible tube.
US08109899B2	Fully automated method of measuring and regulating cerebrospinal fluid parameters using disposable tube-set A method and device for measuring and regulating pressure and flow in the spinal canal, in order to characterize individual patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. A unique disposable tube-set plate, with computer regulated automated solenoids is used to control flow pressure and the location of a small pressure sensor allows for fully automatic control of the analysis process.
US08109896B2	Devices and methods for opening fluid passageways Devices and procedures for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an implant sized to fit within the Schlemm's Canal is provided. The implant has a plurality of penetrating members having an unextended position in which the penetrating members lie generally close to the longitudinal axis of the implant and an extended position in which the penetrating members are extended outward. In use, the implant is advanced around at least a substantial portion of the Schlemm's Canal with the penetrating members in the first unextended position. After the implant is positioned within the Schlemm's Canal, the penetrating members are caused to move from the first unextended position to the second extended position, wherein the penetrating members penetrate the wall of the Schlemm's Canal. This creates fluid passageways in the wall of the Schlemm's Canal. The implant can also serve to keep the Schlemm's Canal open. A delivery device is also provided for implanting an implant into the Schlemm's Canal.
US08109894B2	Indwelling heat exchange catheter and method of using same A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
US08109889B2	Bending resistant male connector for a guide wire During use there is a risk that a male connector for a guide wire is bent. With the present male connector (1) more material with high modulus of elasticity can be provided inside the male connector (1), which makes the male connector (1) more bending resistant. The male connector (1) comprises a core wire (3), a plurality of conductive members (4) spaced apart longitudinally along said core wire (3), a plurality of conductors (5) disposed along the core wire (3), each of the conductors (5) being connected to a respective conductive member (4). The connector (1) has such a configuration that the conductors (5) are protected from damage at the location where the conductors (5) connect to the conductive members (4).
US08109887B2	Guide wire A method of making a guide wire involves butting a connection end face at a proximal end of a first wire against a connection end face at a distal end of a second wire while applying voltage and a pressing force to weld together the first and second wires at a welded portion. The welded portion forms a projection that projects outwardly in an outer peripheral direction relative to portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection. The outer dimension of the projection at the welded portion is adjusted so that upon completing adjusting the outer dimension of the projection the projection still projects outwardly in the outer peripheral direction relative to the portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection.
US08109883B2	Cable monitoring apparatus A cable monitoring apparatus includes a housing having an input interface adapted to electrically connect to one end of a medical cable and an output interface adapted to electrically connect to a medical monitoring apparatus. Signal processing circuitry is incorporated within the housing for receiving a medical signal from the medical cable via the input interface and for selectively passing the medical signal to the medical monitoring apparatus via the output interface when in a first mode of operation, and has application software for selectively testing functionality of the medical cable when in a second mode of operation.
US08109881B2	Sphygmomanometer A sphygmomanometer includes a base block and a cuff block having a cuff for restricting flow of blood, the cuff block being connected to the base block in such a manner that an angle of the cuff block with respect to a horizontal plane is variable within an angular range. The sphygmomanometer further includes a spring biasing unit for returning the cuff block to a position at a predetermined angle within the variable angular range of the cuff block when the cuff block is not used.
US08109880B1	Noninvasive method to measure intracranial and effective cerebral outflow pressure A method to measure effective cerebral outflow pressure or intracranial pressure is disclosed. The craniospinal venous system has multiple anastomoses between the jugular veins and vertebral venous plexus. Jugular veins collapse with cervical compression or head elevation, when extrinsic pressure exceeds venous pressure. The vertebral venous plexus is exposed to intracranial pressure and collapses when intracranial pressure exceeds venous pressure. Vertebral venous plexus is not compressed with head elevation or cervical compression, because enclosure in the spinal canal protects veins from the direct effects of atmospheric pressure and cervical compression. Using cervical compression and/or head elevation blood outflow is redistributed between jugular veins and vertebral venous plexus, while the degree of cervical compression or head elevation indicates effective cerebral outflow pressure or ICP.
US08109879B2	Assessing autonomic activity using baroreflex analysis A method involves implantably detecting changes in posture of a patient's body. Baroreflex responses to the posture changes are determined. An autonomic tone of the patient is determined based on the baroreflex responses. Based on the autonomic tone, various patient susceptibilities to disease may be determined, including susceptibilities to heart disease, arrhythmia, and/or sudden cardiac death.
US08109878B1	Use of coded excitation schemes in the detection and location of a target in a human body such as breast calcifications A method for detecting a target or targets in a medium. The method incorporates generating beams of ultrasonic wave energy each having a modulation envelope and causing each beam of wave energy to impact a target region having a multiplicity of targets and demodulating each signal generated by vibration of each target caused by the interaction of a respective ultrasound wave energy beam having a modulation envelope with each of the targets and receiving each demodulated signal from each target by a multiplicity of sensors. Thereafter, each time-of-flight of each demodulated signal from each of the targets to each of the multiplicity of sensors is computed to determine the location of a respective target.
US08109877B2	Method for determining a position of an object utilizing and ultrasonic imaging device A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and an ultrasonic imaging device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user.
US08109876B1	Noninvasive technique for identification of structural integrity of Bjork Shiley convexo-concave mechanical heart valves The present invention is a non-invasive method and apparatus to determine the structural integrity of an implanted BSCC by insonifying the implanted heart valve with a megahertz frequency to cause the structural components of the heart valve to vibrate at a kilohertz frequency range to cause the individual structural components of the heart valve being investigated to vibrate at their resonant frequency. From experimental testing, the Applicants have established resonant frequency ranges of certain structural components of the BSCC which indicate that at certain resonant frequency ranges the heart valve components are intact. At other resonant frequency ranges, certain components are in danger of breaking. At other frequency ranges, the components of the heart valve are fractured. Through the present invention, the condition of the BSCC can be determined in order to provide a clinical determination as to whether or not the implanted BSCC needs to be replaced.
US08109875B2	Derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system Disclosed is a derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system configured to acquire an array of data pertaining to a subject and their skin disorders. This data is subjected to a comprehensive analysis that culminates in diagnoses, treatments, monitoring activity and health strategy implementation. The derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system comprises a user interface and display unit, capable of acquiring a range of subject data, and communicatively coupled to a remotely located data analysis and reporting unit. The data analysis and reporting unit is capable of receiving and assessing the acquired data, using multiple analytical processes that culminate in a highly probable diagnosis and an effective treatment that is documented in a report and submitted to the subject. The diagnoses, treatments and supporting data are then permanently archived and made available for retrieval.
US08109873B2	Surgical retractor with gel pad A surgical access device has a surgical retractor having a noncompliant outer ring with an annular axis, an inner ring, and a sleeve coupling the outer ring to the inner ring. The noncompliant outer ring is adapted to roll over itself around the annular axis to roll the sleeve around the outer ring to retract and seal an opening in a biological body wall. The access device may include a lid adapted for being coupled to the noncompliant outer ring of the surgical retractor. The outer ring of the surgical retractor has a cross-sectional shape that prohibits the lid from being partially or incorrectly coupled to the outer ring of the surgical retractor.
US08109870B2	Inflatable penile prosthesis bypass valve noise reduction An inflatable penile prosthesis includes an implantable pump having a bypass valve. The bypass valve includes a cavity having a valve seat at a port, a poppet and a spring. The poppet includes a valve member and a stem extending from the valve member. In operation, the poppet includes a sealing position, where the valve member seals the port through contact with the valve seat, and a deflating position, where the valve member is displaced from the valve seat. The spring is configured to bias the valve member toward the valve seat, wherein the spring engages a portion of the stem while the poppet is in the deflating position.
US08109869B2	Vibrator Disclosed is an apparatus to be worn by a user for providing sexual stimulus to a partner of the user. The apparatus comprises a harness to be worn by the user and a vibrating body supported by the harness. The vibrating body has at least one protrusion extending therefrom. The apparatus further comprises a pad securable to the vibrating body. The pad has at least one void corresponding to the at least one protrusion. The at least one void surrounds the at least one protrusion when the pad is secured to the vibrating body. The pad also has a bearing surface for transmitting vibrations from the vibrating body and the at least one protrusion to a surface of the user's partner's body.
US08109867B2	Tubular mesh for sacrocolpopexy and related procedures A sacrocolpopexy mesh that includes lateral support to improve vaginal contact during colpopexy and to prevent slipping.
US08109865B2	Antiproton production and delivery for imaging and termination of undesirable cells Systems and methods for using antiprotons for terminating unwanted or undesirable cells which can be used in the treatment of conditions caused by the existence and/or proliferation of such undesirable cells. Such conditions include cardiovascular ailments, Parkinson's disease, wet macular degeneration, endocrine disorders, dermatological ailments, and cancer. Because of the unique nature of antiprotons and their annihilation characteristics, the preferred antiproton delivery device (1010, 1015, 1030) embodiments further incorporate detector arrays (1050a), capable of detecting characteristic emissions in the course of treatment.
US08109858B2	Device and method for exercise prescription, detection of successful performance, and provision of reward therefore An exercise computer monitors the exercises of a user, especially a child, and provides rewards for exercises done well and regularly, thereby motivating the user. Rewards take the form of video games, cartoons, music, and merchant coupons. The exercise computer also provides encouragement and advice as the user progresses in skill level. Exercises may be prescribed. A record of exercise performance can be produced, to track the user's progress over time. The system and method can readily utilize the current install base of handheld computers and video games pre-existing in the marketplace.
US08109856B2	Method for operating a drive train of a vehicle during trailing throttle operation A method for operating a vehicle drive train during a coasting operation. The drive train has an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, a transmission, and a shift element, with a variable transmission capacity, located between the electric machine and a drive wheels. The electric machine is located in the flow of power between the combustion engine and the transmission. The output torque to be delivered to the wheel is a function of the delivery capacity of the shift element which is adjusted in a controlled manner. During the process of shutting down the combustion engine, the speed of the electric machine is adjusted while maintaining at least a partial engagement of the shift element and the speed of the combustion engine is reduced to zero with the electric machine.
US08109855B2	Method for controlling the coupling and the decoupling of the first motor and second motor of a parallel hybrid motive power group The invention relates to a method for controlling the coupling and the decoupling of the first motor and of the second motor of a parallel hybrid motive power group comprising a first motor (11) driving an input shaft (4) at the entrance of a gear box (15), a second motor (12) and a coupling/decoupling means (13) of the second motor and of the first motor, maneuverable between an open position and a closed position, for enabling a change with regard to the gearbox when the motor group operates in hybrid mode, according to which the motive power group is controlled for decoupling the second motor and the first motor then changing the ratio of the gear box, and recoupling the second motor and the first motor. The laws of control of the motor group are used in such a manner that during the coupling and the decoupling, the torque set value for the input shaft comprises a discontinuity selected for compensating for the difference between the inertia produced by the input shaft when the second motor is coupled to the first motor and the inertia driven by the first input shaft when the second motor is decoupled from the first motor in order to avoid any sudden variation in acceleration of the input shaft driven by the motor group at the moment of decoupling or coupling.
US08109854B2	Superfinishing large planetary gear systems Disclosed herein is a new improved large planetary gear system used on the input stage of wind turbine power generators. This improved planetary gear system reduces or eliminates lubricant debris traditionally generated from the gear teeth, thereby eliminating an initiating source for bearing failure. To achieve these results, some and preferably all of the gear teeth within the planetary gear system are superfinished using chemically accelerated vibratory finishing to a surface roughness of approximately 0.25 micron or less. Several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a gearbox with reduced metal debris, improved bearing life, reduced wear, reduced vibro-frictional noise, improved contact fatigue, improved fretting resistance, improved lubrication, to simplify the run-in process, and to enhance the durability and efficiency of the gearbox.
US08109852B2	Variable speed transmission with rotating and orbiting drive gears The present invention relates to transmission systems and changing gear ratios within power transmission systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a positive displacement variable speed transmission. The transmission includes one or more drive gears which orbit, rotate, and which translate radially to change the size of the orbital path. The change in the orbital path increases or decreases the linear velocity of the drive gears which engage one or more driven gears and transfer the changed linear velocity in the form of a gear ratio change. The driven gears are also radially movable and movement of the driven gears is synchronized with the radial movement of the drive gears to maintain substantially constant engagement between gear ratios change. Thus, as the drive and driven gears can slide or step radially to any location within a range of positions, gear ratio changes can be made in very small increments.
US08109850B2	Drive pulley for elevators and method of manufacture thereof A drive pulley for elevators, with at least two sectors, wherein at least one sector is hardened and at least one sector is not hardened.
US08109847B2	Belt-driven conical-pulley transmission, method for controlling and operating it, and vehicle having such a transmission An automatic transmission in the form of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission having conical disk sets on the power input and power output sides, and an endless torque-transmitting member interconnecting the input side and the output side disk sets for transmitting torque therebetween. At least one stop at at least one of the end positions of at least one axially displaceable disk is provided with a cushioned retarding component for minimizing disk impact loads.
US08109845B2	Sports target device and method An interactive sports target device is designed specifically to be suspended on the inside of a net attached to a goal. The target device emits an audible signal when impacted by a projectile such as a ball, puck or the like. The target device is light in weight to avoid deforming the net and can be easily attached or detached to the net in less than 30 seconds. The target device is reversible and can include both a front and rear with contrasting colors or designs. Both mechanical and electronic target devices are shown which provide a loud audible sound when struck by a projectile. Advanced electronic versions contain a programmable processor.
US08109844B1	Ball tee for batting practice A ball tee for batting practice has a flexible base. A receiver is attached to the base and may rotate forward relative to the front of the base. A substantially rigid first tube is attached to or inserted into the receiver. A substantially rigid second tube is similarly attached to the first tube. The combined length of the first and second tubes may be adjustable. A flexible ball holder is attached to an upper end of the second tube. A cup may be provide at the top end of the ball holder. The receiver may be positioned closer to the back end of the base than to front end of the base. The base may have a flex section of reduced thickness which allows the receiver to rotate forward when the tee is struck by a bat. The ball tee tends to automatically return to an upright position after being hit by a bat.
US08109842B2	Hollow golf club head This invention provides an improved hollow golf club head having a sole portion and a crown portion, wherein the golf club head is configured so as to increase the launch angle of a ball so that the traveling distance of a golf shot can be increased. In particular, the sole portion and the crown portion of the hollow golf club head are configured such that the ratio of a rigidity of the sole portion to a rigidity of the crown portion is 1:0.1 to 0.8 and, as a result of such a configuration, the launch angle of a hit ball is increased.
US08109841B2	Putter face and golf putter having the same A putter face includes microscopic protrusions which have stiffness higher than that of a golf ball and which are smaller than intervals between dimples of the golf ball, each of the microscopic protrusions having an end having a protrusion front edge surface formed in a planar shape, a periphery of the protrusion front edge surface including linear portions facing each other and curve portions facing each other, the linear portions extending in a horizontal direction of a face plane of the putter face or striking the golf ball, the periphery of the protrusion front edge surface forming a racetrack shape (i) which is defined by a pair of the linear portions facing each other and a pair of the curve portions facing each other and (ii) which has a shorter diameter of not less than 0.1 mm but not more than 0.2 mm.
US08109840B2	Golf club head with varying face grooves The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
US08109831B2	Game apparatus, server apparatus, program, and recording medium An object of the present invention is to provide a game server that can simulate the sensation of competing in a game against an actually existing specific person. The game server of the present invention offers a plurality of options for the actions that gamer A can select in game scenes that change along with the progress of a soccer game. The options include dribble (long), dribble (short), pass in front of the player, pass to the foot of the player, wait, and shoot. The action patterns of gamer A are stored for each game scene by counting the number of times each option is selected. The game server refers to the stored action patterns when playing against another gamer B. This configuration makes it possible for the gamer B to have a virtual experience as if he were competing with the gamer A.
US08109830B2	Driving simulation device for executing a simulating game A driving simulation device for executing a simulating game includes a mounting frame and a seat body. The seat body has a coupling portion and a seating portion located above the coupling portion. The seat body further includes first and second connecting rods having at least two fixing parts journaled to the mounting frame, two swinging parts journaled to the coupling portion of the seat body and two coupling parts interconnecting the fixing parts and the swinging parts and transversely crossing each other. Once a rider is seated on the seating portion and swings the seat body so as to simulate a driving action, the seating portion and the coupling portion swing respectively in two directions opposite to each other, and thereby a swinging center of the seat body can fall between the coupling portion and the seating portion.
US08109828B2	System and method for playing a game having online and offline elements A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type or casino-based game. A partial result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in an offline portion of the game. The remaining portion of the result is revealed to the player in an online portion of the game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a slot machine game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a bingo game. In yet another example, the online/offline game includes a game of roulette. In one example, particular game features are associated with either the online or offline portions of the game. In this way, players are motivated to participate in both portions of the game, enhancing and prolonging the game experience.
US08109823B2	Gaming machine with wild symbol feature A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises one or more wild features having a wild symbol that matches or substitutes for other symbols used in the wagering game. The game may be a slot game utilizing a plurality of rotatable reels for displaying the symbols. The game includes a pay table defining standard awards for various winning combinations of the symbols. The game may duplicate a wild symbol included in a first combination of symbols into a corresponding position of a second combination of symbols to increase a probability that the second combination of symbols is a winning combination. If the wild symbol is used to complete one of the winning combinations on the pay table, the game may randomly select a modifier to enhance the standard award for that combination. Other wild features are also disclosed.
US08109822B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine includes plural stations and a processor. Each station can determine a game result and execute a game independently. The processor accepts each station's entry to an event game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. There is collected an entry fee from a station whose entry to the event game has been accepted. Then, there is executed the event game in common at each station whose entry to the event game has been accepted.
US08109819B2	Internet contest In general, the invention relates to providing infrastructure, process controls, and software to design, advertise, and implement an on-line contest in which participants in the contest search the Internet for a target in order to earn a reward. Hints and/or hidden objects may provide clues as to where to look for the reward, how to claim the reward, and what the reward is. The reward is funded by participating web site owners who reserve, in some embodiments via an auction, the opportunity to “host” the target during a contest or a portion of a contest, and as a result, drive traffic to their respective web sites.
US08109818B2	Home city for a real-time strategy video game A strategy video game may include a persistent home city that gains experience as the player plays in more game sessions. The experience gained may lead to the unlocking of additional game features and options for use in future games. Players may assemble, prior to a game session, a subset of effects that may be used in future games, where the subset may be limited in number. Available effects may be limited by the experience level of the player's home city, and by the player's prior decisions as to which effects to purchase and/or obtain. Effects may be requested in-game, and may be delivered and/or carried out in response to the player achieving certain in-game requirements, such as the gaining of a number of in-game experience points, the passage of a predetermined amount of time, etc.
US08109817B2	Game system, game system control method and information storage medium To provide a game system that enables a degree of difficulty of an occurrence of a predetermined game event to be changed depending on a degree of proficiency of a player in a game in which the predetermined event is made to occur when a controller is operated according to specific procedures. The present invention relates to a game system including one or more controllers. In the game system, a determining unit (52) determines whether or not a criterion operation data string has been inputted from the controller, a game event generation unit (58) generates a predetermined game event according to a result of the determination made by the determining unit (52), and the determining unit (52) changes the criterion operation data string based on a result of a past determination on at least one of the one or more controllers.
US08109815B2	Combine having a cutting mechanism and a feed mechanism A combine has a cutting mechanism (12) for cutting a crop and a feed mechanism (13) for feeding the cut crop towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine, the cut crop moving between the rotor and the housing from an inlet end of the housing towards an outlet end of the housing across a grating (22) through which separated grain leaves the housing. The harvested crop is fed by a final feed section (18) of the feed mechanism into the inlet end (20a) of the housing across a transition edge (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the housing which is split into a number of sections. The overall direction of extension of each section (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the transition edge is inclined at substantially the same angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor so that the crop entering the inlet end of the housing across the transition edge does so generally perpendicular to the transition edge, the transition edge being inclined generally helically relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
US08109809B2	Eccentric transmission with an imbalance An eccentric transmission having an imbalance compensation element (10a-10e) and having an eccentric element (12a-12e) for converting a revolving rotary motion of an armature shaft (14a-14e) into an oscillating rotary motion of a drive shaft (16a-16e) in order to drive an insert tool (40a-40e) of a hand-held power tool (18a-18e) to oscillate.The imbalance compensation element (10a-10e) is integral to another functional unit (12a-12d, 14e).
US08109807B2	Method and apparatus for cleaning a jet engine An apparatus for cleaning a jet engine includes a supply device configured to make cleaning medium available, a nozzle device configured to introduce the cleaning medium into the jet engine, and a line connection between the supply device and the nozzle device. The cleaning medium can be solid carbon dioxide. A system including a jet engine and the apparatus. A method for cleaning a jet engine using solid carbon dioxide.
US08109805B2	Toy vehicle, and wheel device and carriage frame for the toy vehicle A wheel device for a toy vehicle, in which one of a pair of wheels rolling on a pair of metal rails attracts with a magnet to reduce resistance caused by magnetic force and suppress load on a motor. The wheel device 1 includes a first axle 2, and a first wheel 10 and a second wheel 20 provided on opposite sides of the first axle 2. The first wheel 10 includes a first wheel main body 11 rolling on one of the rails 261 and a first flange 12 guided by the one rail. The second wheel 20 includes a second wheel main body 21 rolling on the other of the rails 261 and a second flange 22 guided by the other rail. The second wheel main body 21 is formed of a magnet.
US08109803B2	Assembling block An assembling block includes block plates having square and equilateral triangular plan shapes, respectively, and a joint for connecting the block plates together. Each of the block plates includes seat portions provided along the respective sides of the block plate, and retaining pieces extending from the center of the block plate to the outer edge thereof and spaced from the seat portions in the thickness direction. The joint comprises a plate member made of a flexible and bendable material, whereby when the joint is inserted between two of the seat portions and one of the retaining pieces of each block plate, the joint engages the seat portions with engaging protrusions formed on the seat portions fitted in engaging holes formed in the joint, thereby coupling the block plates together.
US08109802B2	Toy helicopter having a stabilizing bumper A toy helicopter has a fuselage having a front end a rear end and two lateral sides. A main motor is supported from the fuselage. A main rotor is operably connected to the motor and has at least one rotor blade that rotates about a center axis generally laterally centered with respect to the fuselage. The at least one rotor blade is configured and positioned to provide lift and has a rotational path having a maximum radius. A bumper is fixedly connected to the fuselage, is spaced entirely axially downwardly from the at least one rotor blade and extends radially outwardly from and at least partially around the fuselage. At least a portion of the bumper has a maximum radial dimension from the center axis at least as great as the maximum radius of the rotational path of the at least one rotor blade.
US08109801B2	Boat propulsion system and control unit A boat propulsion system that easily and finely adjusts the rotational speed of a propeller includes an outboard motor including a power source, a propeller, a control lever to which an accelerator opening is input, an accelerator opening detection section arranged to output an operating amount of the control lever, a sensitivity switching section, and a control device. A degree of the accelerator opening relative to the operating amount of the control lever is switched by the sensitivity switching section operated by a boat operator. The sensitivity switching section outputs the degree of the accelerator opening relative to the input operating amount of the control lever as a sensitivity switching signal. The control device controls output of the power source based on the operating amount of the control lever and the sensitivity switching signal.
US08109797B2	Cable connector assembly and method of manufacturing the same A cable connector assembly, for mating with a complementary connector, includes a cable having a number of wires; and a connector comprising a contact module connected with the wires, a mounting ring attached to the cable, and a shielding shell attached to the mounting ring. The shielding shell and the mounting ring both have a number of screw threads to match with each other. An associated method of manufacturing the cable connector assembly comprises screwing the shielding shell onto the mounting ring.
US08109792B2	System with cable mode converter A compound video cable has a drive interface, a receive interface with a differential-to-single ended converter, and a differential mode data wired transmission medium connected to the drive interface and the receive interface. The differential-to-single ended converter is configured to convert differential mode signals into single ended signals.
US08109790B2	Electrical connector with improved mounting portion An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a base (11) and a tongue plate (12) extending beyond the base; a set of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing; and a metal shell (3) covering the insulative housing. The metal shell includes a pair of first walls (31), a pair of second walls (32) including a front wall and a back wall, and a receiving space (33) surrounded by the first walls and the second walls. The first walls have a pair of first mounting portion (315) for being mounted onto first holes of the PCB. The front wall has a pair of jointing walls (326) extending toward each other from the respective front sides of the first walls and combining with each other at a joint. The front wall has a pair of mounting legs (325) extending from the jointing walls at the joint and forming as a second mounting portion (35) for being mounted onto a second hole of the PCB.
US08109789B2	Connector assembly with strain relief A connector assembly includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a collet, and a retainer. The outer housing longitudinally extends between a front end and a rear end. The rear end has an opening for receiving a cable. The inner housing is located within the outer housing and includes a shield that is electrically coupled with the cable to restrict emission of electromagnetic interference. The collet is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the outer housing. The collet includes longitudinally extending fingers that are configured to engage the cable. The retainer is secured to the rear end of the outer housing and secures the collet between the outer housing and the retainer. The retainer and the collet redirect strain imparted on the cable away from an interface between the shield and the cable.
US08109787B1	Swivel connector A swivel connector for coupling a cable to a terminal is disclosed. There is a socket contact plug in electrical communication with the terminal, and a fixed joint bushing attachable to the terminal with the socket contact plug extending therethrough. A joint housing is rotatably engaged to the fixed joint bushing. There is a primary terminal axially mounted to and electrically isolated from the joint housing, and includes an inner sleeve contact that is frictionally engaged to the socket contact plug. An outer sleeve contact is fixed to the joint bushing, and is also in electrical communication with the joint housing and with the terminal. The joint housing is rotatably engaged to the outer sleeve contact.
US08109786B2	Connector for coaxial cable A connector for a coaxial cable physically and electrically connects a coaxial cable with various kinds of electric members. The coaxial cable includes a hollow inner conductor and a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor. A carrier terminal inserted into the inner conductor of the coaxial cable has a diameter elastically adjusted to an inner diameter of the inner conductor.
US08109785B2	Connection box assembly method A device is configured to be secured to a connection box. The device includes a fixture and a face plate. The fixture includes a main body and at least one flange extending from the main body. The at least one flange defines a fixture securement aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the fixture to the connection box. It also defines at least one face plate engagement aperture configured to receive a prong extending from the face plate in a manner that secures the face plate to the fixture. The face plate is configured to at least partially cover the fixture. The face plate includes a body having a front face and an opposite rear face. The at least one prong extends outwardly from the rear face of the body. The at least one prong is configured to be inserted into the aperture in the flange of the fixture to secure the face plate to the fixture.
US08109783B2	Insulation displacement connector (IDC) An electrical insulation displacement connector includes a bare single-wire contact element having a first end defined by opposed blades that define a receipt aperture for an insulated wire, and a second end configured for direct electrical contact at a contact position on a printed circuit board. Retaining structure is defined on the blades. A cap is configured for fitting over the exposed bare blades. The cap includes side walls and end walls with a slot defined in each of the end walls that align with the blade aperture. The side walls are engaged by the retaining structure upon pressing the cap onto the blades. The slots in the end walls of the cap have a width and height such that upon fully pressing the cap onto the blades, the slots engage and longitudinally align the insulated wire into the blade aperture so that the blades pierce and make electrical contact with a core in the insulated wire.
US08109779B2	Cable assembly with latching member An cable assembly includes an insulative housing having a main portion and a mounting arm extending rearwardly from the main portion, the mounting arm; a plurality of terminals; a cable having a plurality of wires connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively; a latching member including a connecting arm, a latching arm and a retention arm, the retention arm inserted into a positioning hole in the mounting arm, the connecting arm deflected outwardly; and an external cover enclosing the insulative housing and the latching member, the external cover having a deformable button for actuating the latching arm.
US08109773B1	Multi-function card connector A card connector (100) includes an insulative housing defining a card receiving space; a plurality of contacts (2) supported by the insulative housing and accommodated in the card receiving space, said the plurality of contacts divided into two sets and arranged along a longitudinal direction, said contacts adapted for mating with a first type card and a second type card, respectively; and an ejecting mechanism (3) mounted to the insulative housing, the ejecting mechanism (3) including a first slider (31), a second slider (31′), a follower (32) and a spring (33), the first slider mounted to the second slider and capable of moving on the second slider to carry one of the two cards, and the first slider and the second slider together to carry the other of the two card.
US08109771B2	Electrical connector with improved contacts An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a receiving room having a bottom wall and a mating portion extending upward from an inner face of the bottom wall of the receiving room and a plurality of contacts received in the housing. The mating portion has a plurality of receiving passageways communicating with the receiving room and a plurality of nose portions are above the receiving passageways. Each contact defines an elastic portion, a soldering portion, and a fixing portion between the elastic portion and a soldering portion. The elastic portion includes a first contacting portion protruding from the nose portion in the receiving room, a second contacting portion extending from the fixing portion, and a connecting portion between two contacting portions and defining an arc portion extending in an upward-to-downward direction and under the nose portion. The arc portion defines a node extending far from the nose portion.
US08109770B2	High speed, high density interconnection device An intercoupling component for receiving an array of contacts within a digital or analog transmission system having an electrical ground circuit and chassis ground circuit, the intercoupling component may include a segment formed of electrically insulative material and having an upper and lower surface, the segment including a plurality of holes disposed on its upper surface and arranged in a predetermined footprint, one or more a shield members formed of electrically conductive material disposed within the segment and configured to connect to the chassis ground circuit of the system and a frame formed of electrically conductive material and configured to connect with the chassis ground circuit of the system. The intercoupling component may include an array of electrically conductive contacts grouped to multi-contact groupings configured to transmit single-ended or differential signals. The intercoupling component may include a cavity located between signal contacts to adjust the differential impedance between signal contacts.
US08109766B2	Method for predicted reactor simulation In the method for reactor simulation, a user modifies one or more design inputs used in creating a response surface. The response surface defines relationships between the design inputs and operational outputs of at least one or more aspects of a core design. A reactor simulation is then generated based on the response surface for the core design and the modified design input.
US08109760B2	Ignitor safety interlock and torch A torch, and ignitor or gas valve interlock located on the same part which the operator moves to activate the torch, which is overcome by the operator by providing a tangential rolling force to the interlock as the finger is seated on a downwardly actuated ignitor. The torch ignitor and gas valve interlock according to the present invention requires a skilled, compound motion easily provided by an adult and unlikely to be imposed by accidental gross motions, without diminishing or interfering with the operator's ability to easily operate the ignitor.
US08109757B1	Method and system for molding elastomeric figures A system for molding elastomeric figures includes a dispenser having first and second reservoirs containing co-reactive fluids. A mold is affixed to the dispenser and has a cavity in fluid communication with the reservoirs. A mixer is disposed between the reservoirs and cavity. A plunger forces the fluids from the reservoirs and through the mixer, where the fluids are homogeneously combined, and into the cavity. The combined fluids congeal within the cavity to form an elastomeric figure.
US08109754B2	Method and system for double-sided patterning of substrates A system of patterning first and second opposed sides of a substrate is described. The system may employ a mold assembly and obtaining a desired spatial relationship between the first and second opposed sides of the substrate and the mold assembly. In a further embodiment, the method and system may employ a first and a second mold assembly.
US08109749B2	Demountable rigid core for the manufacture of tires comprising radiused lips A core (N) defining at least partially a manufacturing form whose receiving surface (S), which is of essentially toroidal appearance, is designed to receive directly, by winding, profiles (B) in the form of contiguous bands forming the inside surface of a tire, comprising a plurality of segments (10, 10d, 10i), each having transverse faces (110d, 111d, 110i, 111i), said segments being circumferentially adjacent and located side by side, bearing against each other via their transverse faces, in which core the connecting radius (r) between the transverse face and the receiving surface (S) of a segment (10d, 10i) is between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm, along all or part of the length of the edge formed by the intersection of these two surfaces.
US08109740B2	Mounting structure of linear compressor The present invention discloses a mounting structure of a linear compressor, comprising: a shell which is a hermetic space, a connection terminal for supplying power being fixed to one side of the shell; a main body frame installed in the shell, one end of a cylinder forming a compression space for compressing a refrigerant with a piston being fixed to the main body frame; and a motor cover, a linear motor comprised of an inner stator, an outer stator and a mover, for reciprocating the piston by a mutual electromagnetic force being fixed to the outer circumference of the cylinder, the outer stator being bolt-fastened between the main body frame and the motor cover. Here, the main body frame is left-right symmetric.
US08109734B2	Article formed from a composite material An article such as a fan blade of a turbofan engine comprises a core made up of components at least some of which comprise packs of rods embedded in a resin matrix material. The rods extend in the span-wise direction of the blade to resist centrifugal forces imposed on the blade during operation. The core is encased in a skin formed from preforms which may comprise fabric reinforcements.
US08109731B2	Radial fan impeller A radial fan impeller has the following features: a plurality of blades distributed around the periphery; viewed in the radial direction, the blades extend from an inner inlet region to an outer discharge region; the blades extend axially, viewed in the direction of a rotation axis, between an inlet side and an axially opposite hub side; on the inlet side, the blades are connected by means of their radial extension as far as the discharge region to a covering disc which has a central inflow opening, opening out into the inlet region; on the hub side the blades are only connected with their radial inner end regions to a central hub; the blades and the covering disc define an outer fan impeller diameter which is at least ten times an axially measured flow discharge width of the blades provided in the discharge region.
US08109727B2	Wind turbine A wind turbine (20) includes a turbine wheel (22). Radially extending sailwing assemblies (30) are supported between the axle structure (28) and the perimeter rail (26) of the turbine wheel. The sailwing assemblies include sail end supports (52, 53), sail support cables (54, 55) extending between the sail end supports, and sailwings (58) that are supported by the sail support cables and extend between the axle structure (28) and the perimeter rail (26) of the turbine wheel. The sail end supports (52, 53) may be pivoted to form a pitch in the sailwings (58) and pivoted with respect to each other to form a twist in the sailwings, and sail spreader bars (70) may be mounted in the sailwings and connected to the sail support cables (54, 55) to adjust the effective width and loft of the sailwings.
US08109725B2	Airfoil with wrapped leading edge cooling passage A turbine engine airfoil includes an airfoil structure having an exterior surface providing a leading edge. A radially extending first cooling passage is arranged near the leading edge and includes first and second portions. The first portion extends to the exterior surface and forms a radially extending trench in the leading edge. The second portion is in fluid communication with a second cooling passage. In one example, the second cooling passage extends radially, and the first cooling passage wraps around a portion of the second cooling passage from a pressure side to a suction side between the second cooling passage and the exterior surface. In the example, the first portion is arranged between the pressure and suction sides. In one example, the first cooling passage is formed by arranging a core in an airfoil mold. The trench is formed by the core in one example.
US08109715B2	Variable nozzle turbocharger There is provided a turbocharger with a variable nozzle assembly having a plurality of cambered vanes positioned annularly around a turbine wheel, each vane (20) being pivotable around a pivot point (Pp) and being configured to have a leading edge (Ple) and a trailing edge (Pte) connected by an outer airfoil surface (2) and an inner airfoil surface (4), said outer airfoil surface (2) being substantially convex and said inner airfoil surface (4) having a convex section at the leading edge (Ple) which has a local extreme (Pex) of curvature and transitions into a concave section towards the trailing edge (Pte). The positions of the pivot point (Pp) and the local extreme (Pex) are set such that, even when the vanes are placed in a closed position, the exhaust gas stream exercises a positive torque on the vanes which tends to open the nozzle.
US08109713B2	Heat-dissipating fan A heat-dissipating fan includes a housing, a stator, a rotor and at least one retaining member. The stator and rotor are received inside the housing. The rotor includes an impeller having a plurality of blades. The at least one retaining member is removably mounted to the housing and includes a retaining plate. In an axial direction of the rotor, the retaining plate extends to be above and within a rotational area of the blades to retain the rotor to avoid departure of the rotor from the housing, even if the heat-dissipating fan is hit hard while it is packed, moved, transported or operating. Besides, the arrangement of the retaining member won't result in reduction of air input. Consequently, the retaining member can be quickly mounted to the housing at a predetermined position to enhance convenience of assembly.
US08109711B2	Tethered autonomous air vehicle with wind turbines A wind turbine energy conversion device that can take advantage of the higher speed and more persistent winds at higher altitudes is hereinafter disclosed. The wind turbine energy conversion device includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected to one end of a tether (which may include multiple shorter tethers), the other end being connected to a terrestrial anchorage point. The UAV flies at altitudes where wind speeds can reach 40 mph or higher. The UAV comprises a flying wing with one or more trailing wind power turbines and flies airborne maneuvers designed to increase relative wind speed up to about four times the true wind speed.
US08109710B2	Method and a device for separating of magnetic and non-magnetic blanks placed in a stack The invention relates to a method and a device to separate blanks form each other in a stack by that at least one separating unit is brought into contact with one or more of the edges of the blank stack. The separating unit comprises a separating arm having a narrow teeth provided blade, which moves first horizontally until a tooth grasps the uppermost blank, whereupon the arm having the narrow teeth provided blade controllably moves upwards and lifts one blank edge. An air knife, which acts towards the side of the blank stack in a direct connection to the point of application of the teeth provided blade, can give one or several air thrusts when the blade is starting its controlled movement upwards and is urging like an wedge in under a slit under the uppermost blank of the blank stack, an eventual existing vacuum between the blanks being disappeared at the same time as the uppermost blank of the blank stack receives a lifting force by the air cushion, created.
US08109709B1	Removable grapple apparatus for a loader bucket A removable grapple apparatus for a loader bucket is disclosed, and comprises a grapple assembly comprising at least one grapple arm having an inboard end and an outboard end, and a grapple fork mounted on the grapple arm toward the outboard end thereof. The apparatus includes a mounting assembly configured to removably mount the grapple assembly to the bucket when the mounting assembly is mounted on the bucket. The grapple assembly is pivotally mounted on the mounting assembly to permit pivot movement of the grapple assembly with respect to the mounting assembly. The apparatus includes a grapple movement assembly configured to pivotally move the grapple assembly with respect to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly comprises at least one mount structure including an arm mount mounted on the grapple arm and a base mount configured for mounting on the bucket, and the arm mount and the base mount are releasably coupleable together.
US08109708B2	Trolley for carrying loaded rack The trolley includes a member which supports the shoe of a loaded rack. The member has a horizontal limb which extends beneath the shoe and first and second housings each having vertically adjustable casters. One of the housings is connected to the member while the other has a clamp for attaching the housing to the horizontal limb of the member. As the casters descend, the shoe rises with resulting raising of the foot from the floor on which the rack rests.
US08109702B2	Attenuated cargo caster A caster for use in aircraft along a cargo deck comprises a housing having at least one wall, a pivot assembly, a brake assembly and at least one spring. A pivot assembly can have at least one wall, first and second ends, and a base between the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the pivot assembly can be elevated above the second end of the pivot assembly. The wall of the pivot assembly can be rotatably linked to the wall of the housing. An optional brake assembly can be on the first end of the pivot assembly. At least one spring can be on the second end of the pivot assembly. A cover on or above the at least one spring can be secured to the wall of the housing.
US08109685B1	Liquid dispenser with interchangeable head and remote operating mechanism A liquid dispenser with an interchangeable head and remote operating mechanism includes: a) an elongated handle member having a proximal end for a user to hold and an opposing distal end, the distal end including a storage compartment; b) a liquid reservoir contained within the storage compartment; c) said liquid reservoir connected to a universal head connector; d) the universal head connector having external exposure at distal end for connection to at least one interchangeable head; e) a pump located in the storage compartment connected to said liquid reservoir; f) remote control means located near the proximal end of the handle member for turning the pump on and off and for operating the pump in a first direction to pump liquid into the liquid supply container and in a second direction for subsequently pumping out of the liquid supply container; and, g) at least one interchangeable head connectable to the universal head connector, selected from the group consisting of a liquid dispensing brush, a liquid dispensing squeegee, a liquid dispensing mop, a paint dispensing head, and combinations thereof.
US08109683B2	Method and device for printing on the surface of a strip-type medium A method and device for improving the handling, in a label printer, of labels without a carrier strip operates by reversing the direction of transport of the label medium for a short distance before transporting the medium in the printing direction, allowing the label strip to reliably detach from a transport roller (10) that is used to guide the label strip through the printer.
US08109682B2	Printer for a plurality of layered sheets A printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a printer which transports a recording medium, provided with a plurality of laminated sheets, along a predetermined transport path including a curved portion. The printer is provided with a dot head for printing the recording medium, a platen roller which faces the dot head with the recording medium therebetween, and a feed guide which is located on the downstream side of the dot head and the platen roller with respect to the direction of transport and guides the recording medium in a manner such that the recording medium is bent in a direction opposite to that in which the curved portion is bent.
US08109680B2	Mounting device, system and method The present application is directed to a device for securing an object to a mountable surface. The device is configured to face the object secured thereto in any direction up to 360 degrees about the mountable surface. The device comprises a mating surface securable to the mountable surface via a tamper proof locking means and a support attached to the mating surface that is operationally configured to secure the object thereto.
US08109677B2	Fiber optic cable connector Fiber optic cable jacks and plugs are provided. In one aspect, a cable is made from at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The first plug is shaped to engage a first jack housing. A second plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The second plug is shaped to engage a second jack housing. The mechanical bodies have inner walls that form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface.
US08109674B2	Bearing assembly having a dual stage seal A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.
US08109673B2	Slide guide apparatus of press machine A slide guide apparatus of a press machine, which guides reciprocating motion of a slide of the press machine by a sliding surface provided between a guide member and the slide, wherein a slide member that is rotatable about a predetermined rotation center axis and a slide member holder that rotatably holds the slide member and is rotatable about a rotation center axis transverse to the predetermined rotation center axis are provided between the guide member and the slide, and a flat portion of the slide member is adapted to function as the sliding surface.
US08109669B2	Temperature uniformity measurement during thermal processing Methods and systems for determining a radial differential metrology profile of a substrate heated in a process chamber is provided. Methods and systems for determining an angular or azimuthal differential metrology profile of a rotating substrate in a processing chamber are also provided. The radial and azimuthal differential metrology profiles are applied to adjust a reference metrology profile to provide a Virtual metrology of the process chamber. The virtual metrology is applied to control the performance of the process chamber.
US08109666B2	Light guiding member and linear light source apparatus using same A light guide member of the present invention is made of a light transmitting material. The light guide includes a light emitting surface 13, which extends in direction x and includes a lens surface 31 for converging light in direction y. The light guide also includes a light incident surface 11 provided at one of the ends spaced from each other in the direction x. The light emitting surface 13 includes a transitional region 13a adjacent to the light incident surface 11, where the transitional region includes the lens surface 31 and a round pillar surface 32. In the transitional region 13a, the lens surface 31 becomes less dominant in area as proceeding in the direction x toward the light incident surface 11.
US08109664B2	Vehicle lighting equipment A vehicle lighting equipment is provided with: a light source in which a light emitting diode is employed; and a transparent lens on which a light emitted from the light source is incident and from which the incident light is emergent. The transparent lens includes: a center portion positioned to oppose the light source; and a light guiding portion positioned on an outer peripheral side of the center portion to guide the incident light to an inward area.
US08109659B2	Lighting fixture for an architectural surface structure Lighting fixtures (20) for attachment to architectural surface structures are adapted to hold light sources (100). The lighting fixtures (20) may include a base plate (32) and mounting brackets (34A, 34B). Clamps (80) are provided that may bias the light source (100) in either the forward or rearward direction. The clamps (80) may include spring arms (92) that center the light source (100) within the fixture (20) in addition to retaining the light source (100) in place. The fixtures (20) may further accommodate overlying structures, such as lenses (350). The lighting fixtures facilitate use with a variety of different architectural structures and formation in various shapes.
US08109656B1	Bulb for light-emitting diode with modified inner cavity A bulb adapted to fit over and around a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern defines an inner cavity for housing the light-emitting diode with a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and a light color-converting material, with the light color-converting material converting the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then viewed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.
US08109654B2	LED lamp An LED lamp includes a heat sink including a supporting plate, a light-reflecting member mounted on a bottom face of the supporting plate, and a plurality of LEDs disposed on the bottom face of the supporting plate. The light-reflecting member defines a plurality of concave portions recessed inwardly from an outer face thereof. The LEDs include a plurality of first LEDs arranged within the light-reflecting member and a plurality of second LEDs arranged outside the light-reflecting member. The second LEDs are located corresponding to the concave portions, respectively, whereby light generated by the second LEDs can be reflected by the light-reflecting member to illuminate a large area.
US08109649B2	Conversion type light emitting device A conversion type light emitting device includes at least one LED element having a predetermined light emitting range and a fluorescent element performing wavelength conversion of light emitted from the LED element when disposed at a first location in the predetermined light emitting range. The fluorescent element is movable from a first location to a second location outside the predetermined light emitting range.
US08109646B2	Self-centering pull-out light tube assembly A pull-out light tube assembly is mounted in an equipment component such as a component that is mounted in an equipment rack. The light tube assembly includes a light tube received within a bushing. The light tube can be pulled out from the bushing and retracted into the bushing. The assembly includes a mechanism for self-centering the light tube within the bushing when the light tube is retracted into the bushing. A guide channel formed in the bushing receives and guides a guide pin formed in the light tube to a centered position. The guide channel may be a V-shaped groove with a receptacle and detent formed at an end thereof to secure the guide pin in a centered position. The mechanism for self-centering maintains a logo formed at a front end of the light tube in a properly oriented position when the light tube is retracted within the bushing.
US08109643B2	Perfume-dispensing, auto light-regulating and music-playing lamp system A perfume-dispensing, auto light-regulating and music-playing lamp system includes a body unit having a lamp mounted in a housing thereof, an aroma dispenser mounted in the body unit, a control panel mounted outside the body unit and having a function selector, a memory setting button and multiple display devices, and a speaker mounted in the body unit for sound/music output. By means of operating the function selector, a user can set on/off time of the lamp to simulate the lighting effect from dim to bright light of sun raise, to set alarm clock, to set on/off time of pre-recorded sound/music, and to set the aroma dispensing time of the aroma dispenser.
US08109634B2	Snapshot spectral imaging of the eye Obtaining spectral images of an eye includes taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array and optically fitting a multi-spectral filter array and the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed between the digital sensor array and an optics portion of the optical system. The resulting system facilitates acquisition of a snap-shot image of the eye tissue with the digital sensor array. The snap shot images support estimation of blood oxygen saturation in a retinal tissue. The resulting system can be based on a non-mydriatic fundus camera designed to obtain the retinal images without administration of pupil dilation drops.
US08109632B2	Vision modification with reflected image Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
US08109630B2	Illuminated low-vision spectacles Lighted reading glasses for individuals with low vision. In one embodiment, the reading glasses include a frame for supporting lenses having an oculus dexter side and an oculus sinister side, at least one oculus dexter lens supported by the frame on the oculus dexter side, and at least one oculus sinister lens supported by the frame on the oculus sinister side, each of the at least one oculus dexter lens and the at least one sinister lens having an induced prism in a range between about 4 PD and about 22 PD and a lens power that is greater than about +4.00 diopters and less than about +20.00 diopters such that each of said lenses focuses at a distance that is greater than about 5 cm and less than about 25 cm, and at least one light source having a predetermined light strength oriented to project light to provide a predetermined lighted area in a predetermined field.
US08109627B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided. A transport mechanism is that transports a sheet in a first direction. A liquid ejecting head is configured to eject liquid onto the sheet. The transport mechanism includes: a plurality of transport belts that transports the sheet and arranged in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, each of the transport belts extending in the first direction and having a transport surface with which the transported sheet is brought into contact; a concave portion disposed between the transport belts adjacent to each other in the second direction; and a plurality of suction ports that sucks the sheet and disposed on both sides of the concave portion in the second direction. A distance between the liquid ejecting head and a suction surface of each of the suction ports is longer than a distance between the liquid ejecting head and the transport surface. A distance between the liquid ejecting head and a bottom of the concave portion is longer than the distance between the liquid ejecting head and the suction surface.
US08109625B2	Application apparatus and inkjet recording apparatus An application apparatus has: a supply device which supplies a liquid in which a treatment agent having a prescribed function is dissolved; an application device which applies the liquid supplied from the supply device, onto a medium; and a condensing device which condenses the liquid supplied to the application device from the supply device during a period until the liquid is applied to the medium.
US08109620B2	Liquid storage container and liquid ejection recording apparatus having the container mounted thereon A reliable ink cartridge that reduce printing nonconformity even during high speed inkjet-recording with multiple nozzles by alleviating rapid external impact applied from the outside of the ink cartridge. Within a casing of an ink cartridge, a flexible bag forming an ink reservoir is accommodated. Between the surface of the flexible bag where a sheet member is bonded and a wall surface of the casing, a stress damping chamber is provided. The stress damping chamber communicates with the atmosphere outside the ink cartridge via an orifice formed on a wall surface of the casing.
US08109615B2	Ink cartridges An ink cartridge includes a frame, a first wall comprising a film connected to the frame, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The frame, the first wall, and the second wall define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member positioned within the ink chamber, and a shaft extending between the first wall and the second wall. The movable member is configured to pivot about the shaft. Moreover, the frame includes a first material, and the shaft includes a second material which is different than the first material. A rigidity of the second material is greater than a rigidity for the first material.
US08109613B2	Ink supplying method An ink supplying mechanism includes a circulating system that connects an ink jet head having a nozzle, a pressure chamber opposed to the nozzle, and an upstream port and a downstream port that communicate with the pressure chamber, an upstream side tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the upstream port and is capable of storing an ink, a downstream side tank that communicates with the ink jet head via the downstream port and is capable of storing the ink, and a circulating pump that feeds the ink from the downstream side tank back to the upstream side tank. The ink supplying mechanism has a relief valve that is capable of opening and closing at least a liquid surface of the downstream side tank with respect to the atmospheric pressure, closes the relief valve to drive the circulating pump, sets the liquid surface of the downstream side tank to a negative pressure, and feeds the ink from the downstream side tank back to the upstream side tank via a feedback channel to circulate the ink.
US08109608B2	Micro-fluid ejection head and stress relieved orifice plate therefor A micro-fluid ejection head and methods for improving the fabrication and operation of the micro-fluid ejection head. The ejection head includes a photoimaged thick film layer attached to a substrate containing fluid ejection actuators. An orifice plate is laminated to the thick film layer. The orifice plate has a plurality of concentric orifices therein and is derived from a first photoresist material that is heated to a temperature sufficient to relieve film stresses in the photoresist material prior to exposing and developing the orifices in the orifice plate.
US08109606B2	Printing images and flavors on substrates In general, a fluid delivery system includes a plurality of fluid delivery printheads, a first reservoir for holding an ink, the first reservoir coupled to a first one of the plurality of fluid delivery printheads, and a second reservoir for holding a flavored liquid, the second reservoir coupled to a second one of the plurality of fluid delivery printheads.
US08109603B2	Recording apparatus Durability of a recording apparatus is enhanced. The recording apparatus includes: a carriage that carries a recording head which discharges a liquid onto a recording medium; and a guide unit that supports the carriage so as to be freely movable. The carriage has a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface. The first sliding surface is slidable on the guide unit, and the second sliding surface is displaceable with respect to the carriage and slidable on the guide unit. The recording apparatus is switchable between a first condition in which the guide unit and the first sliding surface are in contact with each other, and a second condition in which the guide unit and the second sliding surface are in contact with each other.
US08109596B2	Printhead maintenance assembly comprising pair of transfer rollers A printhead maintenance assembly for removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead. The assembly comprises: pressure means for flooding the face and thereby dispersing the particulates into flooded ink; a first transfer roller having a transfer surface for receiving the flooded ink; a transfer mechanism for rotating the first transfer roller; and an ink removal system for removing ink from the transfer surface. The ink removal system comprises a second transfer roller engaged with the first transfer roller.
US08109588B2	Liquid ejecting method, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus Provided is a liquid ejecting method, including: ejecting a liquid from a liquid ejecting head, wherein the viscosity of the liquid is in a range from 6 mPa·s to 20 mPa·s, wherein the liquid ejecting head includes: nozzles which eject the liquid; a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles; and a supply unit which communicates with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, and wherein the opening area of the nozzles on the side in which the liquid is ejected is 1/10 or less of the opening area of the opening of the supply unit on the pressure chamber side.
US08109581B1	Method and apparatus for transparent shelves and drawers for kitchen cabinets A transparent rollout pantry organizing system for kitchen cabinets has at least two rollout shelf units that are constructed of planar clear sheet material that is cut and fused together to form a rigid structural shape with shelves having heavy duty drawer guides fastened to the rollout unit which can be extended out of the pantry cabinet so that items can be easily accessed, and having at least one pair of side by side drawers above the rollout units also made of clear material used for the rollout units. By using clear material, items on upper shelves can be seen through the drawer bottoms, and by using the drawers in pairs, items on upper drawers at the rear of the drawer can be easily accessed by extending one drawer at a time and reaching over the sides.
US08109578B2	Hub wheel, hub unit, and method of working hub wheel Bolt holes 23 are provided for press fitting and securing bolts 5 for mounting a brake rotor 4 to a flange 22 of a hub wheel. Each bolt hole 23 includes widening portions 28a, 28b, which are tapered to widen from the center portion of the bolt hole 23 toward a brake rotor mounting surface 25 of the flange 22. The widening portions 28a, 28b are formed by two tapered surfaces having different taper angles with respect to the axis of the bolt hole 23 from an opening rim of the bolt hole toward the inside. The taper angle of an outer tapered surface connected to the opening rim is greater than the taper angle of an inner tapered surface connected to the outer tapered surface. In machining the hub wheel 2 configured as described above, the brake rotor mounting surface 25 is finished after machining the bolt holes 23.
US08109572B2	Device for adjusting the seat back angle in a wheelchair and a wheelchair comprising such a device The wheelchair comprises a seat back a module (2) movably coupled to a seat module (5). Two lateral plates (10, 10′) are secured to the seat back module (2) and pivotally mounted on the seat module (5). Each of said plate is provided with a recess (18, 18′) adapted to lodge an excenter member (19) comprising two parallel side faces (26, 27) and being perforated by three holes (21, 22 and 23), adapted to receive a spring release locking pins for locking the angle position of said seat back module. Due to the positioning of said three holes and the possibility of lodging the excenter member with either one of its two side faces (26 or 27) inside the recess (18), five different locking angle positions of the seat back module are possible.
US08109565B2	Automotive seat reconfigurable to work desk An automotive seat has a seat back and a seat bottom that are movable between a seating configuration and a work desk configuration. When moving from the seating configuration to the work desk configuration, the seat bottom pivots forwardly into a generally vertical orientation and the seat back pivots downwardly into a generally horizontal orientation. The seat bottom supports an end of the seat back when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. The back surface of the seat back faces upwardly to provide a work surface when the seat bottom and the seat back are in the work desk configuration. Sufficient space is provided beneath the seat back when in the work desk configuration to accommodate a person's legs underneath the seat back.
US08109563B2	Safety seat having a vertically acting, impact-dampening suspension A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, including a sitting portion secured to two vertical support straps attached to a vehicle and disposed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the sitting portion. Each support strap is a strap sling stretched between vertically spaced-apart anchors on the vehicle and includes a front strap facing the seating portion and a rear strap spaced therefrom. A transverse rod near the rear sitting portion edge reaches into the intermediate space between front and rear straps and is secured in closed fixed loops situated on the rear straps. The sitting portion is braced against the strap slings via supports pivotably connected to side rods of the sitting portion and extending at an angle below the sitting portion to the straps slings. The supports, via a transverse bracing disposed at their lower ends, reach into the intermediate space between front and rear straps. This transverse bracing is supported in loose loops on the rear straps that permit vertical movement of the transverse bracing.
US08109559B2	Door structure of vehicle A door structure of a vehicle, having an effective space within a vehicle compartment increased, is provided. The door structure has a carrier plate (4) fixed to an inner panel (3) for closing an opening portion (3a) formed in the inner panel (3); and a plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) for covering an inside of the carrier plate (4) within a vehicle compartment, the plurality of trim members (7, 8, 9) including a belt line trim (7) disposed along a belt line in an upper end portion of the inner panel (3), a pocket trim (8) disposed in the vicinity of a lower portion of the inner panel (3), and an arm rest trim (9) disposed between the belt line trim (7) and the pocket trim (8).
US08109549B2	Endeffectors for handling semiconductor wafers Various endeffector designs are disclosed for handling semiconductor wafers. For instance, an endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively low temperature is disclosed along with an endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively high temperature. Both endeffectors include uniquely designed support members that are configured to only contact a wafer at the wafer's edge. The endeffectors may also include a wafer detection system. The endeffector for handling wafers at relatively low temperatures may also include a pushing device that is used not only to position a wafer but to hold a wafer on the endeffector during acceleration or deceleration of the endeffector caused by a robot arm attached to the endeffector. As designed, the endeffectors may have a very slim profile making the endeffectors easily maneuverable.
US08109545B2	Lock out mechanism for vehicle door outside handles A handle assembly selectively allows the door latch of a door of a motor vehicle to be released. The handle assembly includes a base fixedly secured to the door. The handle assembly also includes a handle portion and a lock trigger. The handle portion is operatively connected to a door latch mechanism effectuating the opening of the door. The lock trigger is movably engaged with the handle portion to allow or disallow the movement of the handle assembly and hence the opening of the door.
US08109543B2	Blocking device for the door of an electric household appliance A door blocking device including a retaining member movable, along a given path, between a work position and a rest position, in which it respectively cooperates with and does not cooperate with a coupling member of the door when the door is in a closed position; and controlled-actuation means for controlled actuation of the retaining member, and which include elastic means for pushing the retaining member into the rest position; means for moving the retaining member into the work position in opposition to the elastic means; a rotary member having at least one radially projecting peripheral lobe; and an electrically controlled actuator for moving the rotary member selectively between a first angular position, in which the at least one lobe does not interfere with the given path (T), thus allowing the retaining member to move between the work position and the rest position, and a second angular position, in which the lobe interferes with the given path to lock the retaining member in the work position in opposition to the elastic means.
US08109540B2	Pipe joint and related method A pipe joint for plastic pipe includes a bell member and a spigot member. The bell member includes a tubular plastic body wall having a radially outer side including a pair of spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs and a metal reinforcement ring located between the ribs. The tubular plastic body wall includes a circumferential plastic ring portion extending between the ribs and radially exterior of the metal reinforcement ring to encase the metal reinforcement ring within the tubular plastic body wall. A radial gap may be provided between the plastic ring portion and the metal reinforcement ring to accommodate differing thermal shrinkage rates as between the two different materials. The spigot member, which is insertable into the bell member, includes a tubular plastic body wall having an internal surface and an external surface and a longitudinal axis and metal reinforcement encased within the tubular plastic body wall. A plurality of plastic ribs extend from the external surface of the tubular plastic body wall and forming a gasket channel.
US08109539B2	Variable joining device and method for its use An adjustable or variable joining device (such as a fitting or connector) used to connect a duct (such as pipe or tubing) having a range of shapes, sizes and thread styles to an object (such as equipment, a container, or another length of pipe or tubing). In various embodiments, the device may generally comprise a sealing member, a support assembly, and a support plate. The sealing member is adapted to seal the duct to the device by elastically expanding to fit around the exterior surface of the duct. The support plate, which is placed adjacent to the interior surface of the sealing member, protects the sealing member and prevents it from collapsing under thrust loads. The support assembly is positioned on the outside of the sealing member and assists in operatively holding the sealing member in place. The device may also comprise a casing member, which encloses the above members.
US08109535B2	Sport utility vehicle (SUV) frame architecture for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility According to one embodiment, the invention provides for a light truck including a frame with opposing longitudinal frame rails running along each side of the vehicle. The frame rails include at least a leading portion with vertical placement lowered and selected to substantially align with a passenger car energy management structure. In this embodiment, the vertical placement of the leading portion of the light truck frame rails is selected to direct impact energy to a passenger car longitudinal energy management structure, improving vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility in the event of a front longitudinal impact with a passenger car. The present invention also provides embodiments which increase the impact energy absorption capacity of a light truck by providing geometric softening of the frame rails and material softening of the frame rails.
US08109533B2	Airbag module for a motor vehicle The invention relates to an airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising a gas sack package comprising a gas sack, an additional moveable element configured and provided to influence a state variable of the airbag, and a gas-tight protective covering that defines an inner space of the gas sack package, wherein the gas sack and the moveable element are arranged in said inner space, and a separate movement generating device configured and provided to move the moveable element. According to the invention, the movement generating device is arranged outside the inner space of the airbag package.
US08109532B2	Motor vehicle with A-pillar and airbag mounted therein A motor vehicle is provided with a passenger cell having an A-pillar, which is arranged laterally of a windshield of the vehicle, and includes, but is not limited to bracing connected with the A-pillar, and the A-pillar and the bracing are connected and spaced from each other with a sidewall part of the passenger cell, and on a side facing the passenger interior a covering part is arranged which is connected with the A-pillar. An airbag is provided within the A-pillar and mounted between the A-pillar and the covering part and extends forward to beyond the contact region of the bracing on the A-pillar. The covering part covers the airbag, and with the bracing a further covering part is connected and the two covering parts are detachably connected with each other.
US08109529B2	Ergonomic wheelchair propulsion system The present application pertains to a wheelchair having a frame; a seat attached to the frame and supporting a user; two lateral drive wheels mounted on essentially horizontal axes; and a propulsion system including a handle, an operating lever supporting said handle and having a friction element mounted onto the operating lever. The operating lever is movable axially with respect to one axis between a first and second position and radially. The friction element is arranged and constructed to frictionally engage said drive wheel in the first position and radial movement of the propulsion system propels the chair in a predetermined direction.
US08109527B2	Medical cart and keyboard tray A medical cart comprising a base is supported on wheels. A first arm is supported on a track for linear movement in a first direction that supports a first platform. The arm also supports a second platform that is mounted for linear movement in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first platform is mounted on a tilt assembly such that the angle of the first platform relative to the second platform can be adjusted.
US08109521B2	Metal laminate cylinder head gasket A metal laminate cylinder head gasket is formed by a plurality of metal plates laminated together, and a misalignment preventing portion for preventing misalignment of the laminated metal plates, formed in the metal plates. The misalignment preventing portion includes a pair of notches facing each other and penetrating each of the metal plates, and a bridging portion provided between the notches in each of the metal plates and bulging in one direction to project from a surface of each of the metal plates. The metal plates are laminated together such that the notches and the bridging portions overlap and closely contact to engage together to thereby prevent displacement of the metal plates.
US08109518B2	Game apparatus and method of using the same The present disclosure is directed to a game in which players launch, shoot, or propel objects at a target, and more specifically, to a game in which players launch, shoot, or propel objects in an attempt to attach the objects to a target that may be in motion, or to dislodge objects that are hanging from the target.
US08109517B2	Hand held product for playing a game A hand-held product for playing a game is disclosed. The hand-held game includes a basketball goal assembly and a ring coupled to the basketball goal assembly that can be attached to the finger, wrist, arm, or other body parts or limbs of a user. The basketball goal assembly includes a backboard and a rim. The rim can be foldable. In one embodiment, the ring is adjustable to fit different sized fingers, wrists, arms, or other body parts. The adjustable ring can be an adjustable band with adjusters at ends of the band. The ring is coupled to the basketball goal assembly using at least one of an adhesive, tape, a snap-on clip, a press fit mechanism, a mounting bracket, welding and molding. The hand-held game can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.
US08109513B2	Lottery game played on a geometric figure using indicia with variable point values A system, method and lottery ticket that implement a lottery game that uses a geometric figure having a plurality of selection spaces from which a player selects at least one selection space. The selection spaces are then populated with one or more game indicia, with each game indicia having a point value, and prizes are awarded based upon the total number of points associated with the game indicia populated into the player-selected selection spaces. Other lottery games can also be played simultaneously therewith on the same ticket or round of play.
US08109510B2	Sheet inverting and conveying mechanism and sheet inverting and conveying apparatus There is provided a sheet inverting and conveying mechanism for conveying a sheet in a first direction, inverting obverse and reverse sides of the sheet, and then conveying the inverted sheet in a second direction. The mechanism includes: a first conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the first direction; a sheet inverting section for receiving, at its bent inner peripheral face, one side of the sheet, and for inverting the sheet while bending the sheet along the bent inner peripheral face; and a second conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the inverted sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the second direction, wherein the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section are formed so that the sheet is conveyed while being attracted to the conveyance faces.
US08109508B2	Method and system for determining improved correction profiles for sheet registration A method and system improves sheet registration in a document processing device. A technique is implemented that produces accurate results with merely a small tail wag. To do so, the technique ultimately establishes or determines a variety of parameters (e.g. lateral position of a sheet, skew, registration time, nominal sheet velocity, and correction velocity). These parameters are then used to calculate a lateral velocity profile. In this regard, the calculated velocity profiles are applied to the wheels or nips, in the paper path. Thus, the wheels can be controlled and will allow for improved sheet registration in the document processing device.
US08109507B2	Recording apparatus A movable component which can be moved between a protruding position in which the movable component protrudes from the outer chute into a curved path toward an inner chute so as to be able to contact the recording medium and a retracted position in which the degree of protrusion of the movable component from the outer chute into the curved path is smaller than the degree of protrusion in the protruding position, and the movable component is moved from the protruding position to the retracted position at a timing on or after a first timing and before a second timing.
US08109500B2	Medium supply unit and image forming apparatus having the same A medium supply unit of an image forming apparatus, the medium supply unit may include: a main body housing; a tray connected to the main body housing and loading a printing-target medium therein; an activating shaft connected to the main body housing and being rotated in a predetermined direction by an activating force of an activating source; an intermediate member supported by one end of the activating shaft to deliver a rotating force of the activating shaft; a first elastic member having one end connected to the intermediate member and the other end supported by the activating shaft; and elastically biasing the intermediate member in a direction facing the printing-target medium according to a rotation of the activating shaft; and a roller unit having a roller unit housing that is attachable to the intermediate member and at least one roller that is supported by the roller unit housing and picks up and supplies printing-target media loaded in the tray; and configured to deliver to the roller(s) an elastic force of the first elastic member and a rotating force of the activating shaft when the activating shaft is rotated.
US08109498B2	Sheet feeding device A sheet feeding device, having a sheet feeding mechanism and an image processor is provided. The sheet feeding mechanism includes a base structure, a first roller, and a second roller. The first roller includes a first shaft and a first roller body fixed to the first shaft. The second roller includes a second shaft and a second roller body fixed to the second shaft. The first roller feeds a sheet into a sheet feeding path, and the second roller conveys the sheet in the sheet feeding path. The first roller and the second roller are connected with each other by a connector member, which rotatably supports the first shaft and the second shaft and maintains positional relation of the first shaft and the second shaft with respect to each other.
US08109492B2	Lightweight, polymeric automotive strut suspension upper mounting A strut top mount utilizing a mount dome including lightweight polymeric material for the primary structural member as a replacement for the steel material that is traditionally used. The utilization of the polymeric material is possible because the factors associated with strut top mount stresses are successfully managed by a strategic geometric arrangement of the components thereof and the body structure to which it interfaces, as for example by the mount dome being configured to seat in abutting relation to a support shell of the strut tower, wherein the polymeric material is placed under compression. A load bypass is provided in the event of a maximum jounce event.
US08109487B2	Linear solenoid device and electromagnetic valve A linear solenoid device comprising an energizable coil; a movable core; a first fixed core as a magnetic member having a recess capable of accommodating one end of the movable core; a second fixed core as a magnetic member having an inner peripheral surface slidably supporting the movable core; and an annular non-magnetic member coaxially connecting the first fixed core and the second fixed core to each other, wherein the linear solenoid device is capable of being driven by an attraction force applied to the movable core towards the first fixed core upon energization of the coil, and the non-magnetic member is formed so that an inner peripheral surface of the non-magnetic member functions together with the inner peripheral surface of the second fixed core as a sliding surface along which the movable core is slidable.
US08109486B2	Chassis with rubber pads A chassis includes a base body and a rubber pad. The base body includes a bottom plate and a side plate perpendicular to the bottom plate. A mounting portion is defined in a junction portion of the bottom plate and the side plate. The rubber pad includes a resisting portion and a clamping portion perpendicularly extending from the resisting portion. The rubber pad is detachably received in the mounting portion, with the resisting portion locking with the side plate and the clamping portion engaging with the bottom plate.
US08109478B2	Method and apparatus for stabilizing a standing infant An apparatus for stabilizing, with respect to a grounded surface, an infant standing on a horizontal surface, the apparatus comprising: a grounded support structure configured for transmitting a ground force from the grounded surface; an outer support structure, operably coupled to the grounded support structure, configured for receiving the ground force and transmitting an outer support force; a connecting structure, disposed inside and operably coupled to the outer support structure, configured for receiving the outer support force and transmitting a connecting force; and an inner support structure, disposed inside and operably coupled to the connecting structure, configured for being disposed around the torso of the infant and for receiving the connecting force and transmitting a stabilizing force to the infant, there being no obstruction between the inner support structure and the horizontal surface.
US08109472B1	Collapsible structures with adjustable forms Structures and methods are disclosed regarding deployable structures with expandable longerons adjustably coupled with supporting structures such that an angle between the supporting structures can be adjusted. Such structures can include and/or be used for solar arrays, bridges, support structures, and more. These structures can be easily transported to a new location and deployed from the stowed configuration into a larger functional structure. In some embodiments these structures can use one or more longerons that can have two resting states: deployed and rolled.
US08109471B2	Tubular shaped interstellar space craft The invention relates to a plasma based aircraft possessing a magnetic field, and a plasma vortex. The craft is tubular in shape. The craft has a vast array of capacitors. The craft also has a proton accelerator, plasma guns, and diversion devices. The craft will approach the speed of light, over time. The craft obtains fuel direct from an atmosphere or a radiation induced atmosphere in space, at no cost, similar to our Moon's radiation induced atmosphere of the noble gases. The craft can travel to a gk star, for only the cost of construction of craft.The craft has three on-board escape, exploratory craft. The craft produces plasma vortices within an electromagnetic field. The field is an inhomogeneous, diamagnetic, orbiting plasma field, with a magnetohydrodynamic electrically conducting plasma current.The craft possesses approximately seven uninsulated, tungsten bands, encircling craft.
US08109468B2	Nacelle for aircraft comprising means of reversing thrust and aircraft comprising at least one such nacelle Aircraft nacelle including a cowling and an engine, the cowling including a fixed portion and a mobile portion able to slide in order to define a radial opening with the mobile portion, a thrust reverser system including a plurality of flaps intended to be deployed in order to seal at least partially an annular channel surrounding the engine, the mobile portion of the cowling including an annular housing extending longitudinally in order to receive the flaps in rest position. Each flap is linked to the fixed portion by a pivot joint and is linked to the mobile portion by a sliding-pivot joint, in such a way that a sliding of the mobile portion in separating from the fixed portion provokes a rotation of each flap around the axis of rotation of the joint with the fixed portion.
US08109467B2	Thrust reverser assembly with shaped drag links A thrust reverser blocker door assembly for use in turbofan engines includes an engine nacelle with an aft translating cowl that is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position. An engine case is disposed within the engine nacelle forming an airflow duct therebetween. A gap is uncovered when the translating cowl is moved into the deployed position, and a cascade vane set is positioned in the gap. A blocker door covers the cascade vane set while in the stowed position and blocks a portion of the airflow duct while in the deployed position. A geometrically shaped drag link is pivotally connected to the engine case at a first end and connected to the blocker door at a second end. While in the deployed position, the shape of the drag link provides clearance from the engine case.
US08109465B1	Electro-magnetic up-lock for retractable landing gear An electro-magnetic landing gear up-lock includes at least one electro-magnet mounted to the aircraft structure positioned adjacent the landing gear trunion. When the at least one electro-magnet is energized, magnetically responsive material in the landing gear positioned adjacent to the electro-magnet is attracted to the electro-magnet with sufficient force to hold the landing gear in a retracted. De-energizing the electro-magnet causes the electro-magnet to release the landing gear to allow the landing gear to extend.
US08109464B2	Aircraft taxiing and secondary propulsion system An on board secondary propulsion system for an aircraft provides the capability of taxiing the aircraft on the ground without using the main aircraft engine(s). The power system includes a small taxi engine mounted on or in the aircraft at a location suitable to provide a thrust sufficient only to taxi the aircraft. Such a suitable system may be provided as original equipment to an aircraft or retrofitted to existing aircraft. The on board secondary propulsion system, in addition to the taxiing function, can provide electrical power, an environmental control unit, power for the aircraft hydraulic system and an emergency power unit as desired. The system can also be used to supplement the main aircraft engines as necessary during takeoff and climb to further reduce fuel consumption, noise, engine emissions, maintenance costs and extend the life of the main aircraft engines, reduce the required takeoff distance of an aircraft when used in conjunction with the main engines and provide emergency glide support.
US08109459B2	Roller mill A roller mill for grinding particulate material, such as cement raw materials, cement clinker and similar materials has a rotatable grinding table with a substantially vertical centerline and a number of rollers being configured for interactive operation with the grinding table and turning about separate roller shafts which are fixed to a rotatable center shaft with a substantially vertical centerline. The center shaft and the grinding table are fixed one to the rotor and the other to the stator of the same motor, which may have the capability of rotating both the grinding table and the center shaft.
US08109458B2	Rolling bearing Described is a rolling bearing (1) for a rocker arm, said rolling bearing comprising an at least partly circular outer part (2), an at least partly circular inner part (3) and a number of rolling elements (5) which are fitted between the outer part (2) and the inner part (3). The rolling bearing is peculiar in that at least one of the rolling elements (5) comprises two opposite, curved side faces (6, 7), which viewed in at least one cross-sectional constitutes arc lengths of the same imaginary circle (10), and which constitutes contact faces for the outer and the inner circular part (2, 3) respectively, and at least one side surface (8, 9), which lies within the mentioned imaginary circle (10).It is hereby obtained that the number of rolling elements in the bearing can be increased, thereby reducing the load on each single rolling element subject to the same total load rate, thereby increasing the total load bearing capacity of the bearing. This is due to the fact that at least a part of the roller face of the traditional circular rollers which do not get into contact with the outer or inner part of the bearing through small reciprocating angular rotations is omitted thereby significantly reducing the space taken up by each of the rolling elements in the circumferential direction of the bearing.
US08109456B2	System to accelerate stabilization of drill cuttings An integrated unit (1) for the treatment of drill cuttings, comprising one or more drill cutting inlets (2), one or more water inlets (4), one or more binder inlets (3) and one or more additive inlets (6). One or more measuring devices are arranged for measuring the composition of the drill cuttings furnished to the unit. One or more dosage units are arranged for furnishing the required amount of binder or additive respectively. The device further comprises a mixing (7) unit arranged for mixing the compounds and a first granulation unit (8) for milling, granulating, setting and hardening the mixture. The invention further describes a method for the treatment of drill cuttings and the use of an integrated unit on an off-shore drilling unit.
US08109454B2	Crusher, method for crushing material and method for controlling a crusher A crusher comprising at least a first crushing blade and a second crushing blade which are arranged to be rotary, one of the crushing blades being also arranged to move back and forth along a substantially harmonic linear path, and the rotating axes of the first crushing blade and the second crushing blade being parallel with the linear direction of movement of the second crushing blade. The second crushing blade is adjusted to move substantially harmonically back and forth along a linear path.
US08109450B2	Connection structure for handheld showerhead A handheld showerhead has a showerhead portion and a handle portion. The showerhead portion may include at least two fluid channels. The handle portion may be operatively associated with the shower portion. The handle portion may include at least one fluid inlet or fluid passage. A rigid internal shaft is used to reinforce the connection between a fluid conveyance structure in the showerhead portion, the handle portion, or both, and a water supply connector at least partially in the handle portion The handle portion may further include a movable mode selector. Movement of the mode selector may selectively place the fluid inlet or fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the two fluid channels in the showerhead portion.
US08109448B2	System and method for at-nozzle injection of agrochemicals A system and method for combining an additive with a carrier fluid in a spray nozzle. The carrier fluid is fed to one or more nozzles that include an embedded Venturi. The Venturi includes an induction port connected to an additive supply. As the carrier fluid flows through the nozzle, the flow creates a vacuum or suction force that draws in the additive. Of particular advantage, the concentration of the additive combined with the carrier fluid can be maintained constant even if the flow rate of the carrier fluid varies. The system and process are particularly well suited for spraying fields, such as crop fields or orchards, with an agrochemical.
US08109447B2	Intrinsically safe valve for a combustion spray gun and a method of operation A valve for a combustion spray gun. An apparatus includes a torsion element rotatable relative to a housing of the combustion spray gun to a charged position. The apparatus also includes a biasing element applying a force to the torsion element, which force urges the torsion element to move a valve core to an off position. The apparatus further includes an engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage and hold the torsion element in the charged position.
US08109444B2	Selectively switching antennas of transaction cards The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for selectively switching antennas of transaction cards. In some implementations, a method includes physically interfacing a card with a mobile host device including a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The card executes wireless financial transactions independent of the mobile host device. User credentials used to execute financial transactions with retail terminals are stored. Information is presented through the GUI of the mobile host device. An antenna of the card is selectively switched between an activate state and an inactive state in response to at least an event.
US08109441B2	System and method for encoding and decoding data and references to data in machine-readable graphical codes A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.
US08109440B2	System and method for calibrating an optical reader system A method and system for calibrating optical reader systems employs a target with areas comprising linear gray scale levels. The gray scale levels include the darkest and the lightest scenes. The gray scale levels are illuminated by an array of LEDs and the light reflected from target impacts photo-transistors. The photo-transistors are biased in their linear ranges and the target is scanned while the LED drive current is changed. The photo-transistor responses to the different gray scale levels at the different LED drive currents are analyzed, and the LED rive current that produces a linear output from the photo-transistors over the gray scale dynamic range is selected. Several video channels may be used and their offsets and gains are normalized. Black offsets and black to white gain correction functions are generated for balancing or correcting each pixel. The correction functions may be applied by a processor for later raw image data of scenes scanned by the optical reader.
US08109432B2	Method for attachment of solder powder to electronic circuit board and solder-attached electronic circuit board A method for the attachment of solder powder includes the steps of treating an exposed metallic surface of an electronic circuit board with a tackifier compound, thereby imparting tackiness thereto to form a tackified part, attaching solder powder by a dry or wet process to the tackified part, and then removing excessively adhering solder powder in a liquid that is water, deoxidized water or deoxidized water added with an antirust.
US08109429B2	Welding station framing apparatus with breakaway provision A motor vehicle car body framing apparatus for use at a welding station, the apparatus including a gate having a frame structure and a plurality of tooling members carried by the frame structure for use in positioning components of the vehicle body at the welding station for welding. The tooling members are mounted on the frame structure by a plurality of mounting brackets. Each mounting bracket includes a base member mounted on the frame structure and a riser mounted on the base and mounting a respective tooling member. The riser is fixedly mounted on the base by a single central fastener bolt which may include a reduced diameter portion sized to break away in response to predetermined impact against the riser. Each mounting bracket further includes means defining a triangulated mounting interface between the base and the riser arranged in concentric relation to the fastener bolt. The triangulated mounting interface may comprise a raised ring surface on one of the base and the riser centered on the axis of the fastener bolt and positioned at the mounting interface of the base and the riser. Each mounting bracket further includes two dowels received in aligned apertures in the base and in the riser at locations flanking the axis of the fastener bolt.
US08109428B2	Method of and apparatus for splicing metal strips A method of splicing a trailing end of a downstream metal strip to the leading end of an upstream metal strip. The method has the steps of overlapping the leading end of the upstream strip with the trailing end of the downstream strip, and thereafter friction welding the overlapping ends together at a plurality of spots at which respective spot welds are thereby formed.
US08109425B2	Shooting mode switch control mechanism for nail gun A shooting mode switch control mechanism used in a nail gun is disclosed to include a trigger, a lever function stop member pivotally mounted in the trigger, a spring member stopped against the stop member and a switch pivotally mounted in the trigger. The spring member and the switch are arranged at two sides relative to the pivoted area of the stop member so that when the switch is in the single-shooting position and the trigger is released, the second end portion of the stop member is forced by the spring member into the moving path of the safety bar and pushable by the safety bar for enabling the stop member to activate the air-valve switch once each time the trigger is pressed. When the switch is in the continuous-shooting position, the first end portion of the stop member is stopped against the switch for enabling the second end portion of the stop member to be continuously pushed by the safety bar to activate the air-valve switch continuously. By using the stop member to match with the left-sided switch and the right-sided spring member for controlling the biasing angle of the stop member, one single spring member can provide the necessary power for returning the stop member and the trigger, and therefore the invention has a compact structure characteristic.
US08109424B2	Tray apparatus A tray apparatus may include a housing, a tray slidably accommodated in the housing to be opened or closed, a rotary lock pivotally coupled to the housing at a hinge portion of the rotary lock and locking the tray to the housing when external shock is applied to the tray beyond a predetermined value, wherein a center of gravity of the rotary lock is positioned above the hinge portion, and a holding unit for holding the rotary lock in a normal state so that the rotary lock maintains an original position thereof.
US08109423B2	Quick-connect structure for bicycle saddle The invention is directed to a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle, particularly for removably mounting an accessory, such as a tool kit or the like, to the saddle. The saddle has at least one load-bearing body to be attached to a bicycle frame. The quick-connect structure comprises at least one male member that may be snap-fitted in a corresponding female member. The male member and the female member are associated either to the saddle or to the accessory. Preferably, one of the male member and the female member is integrally and monolithically formed in the body of the saddle.
US08109417B2	Garment washing device with removable form A bra-washing device includes a shell and a divider removably insertable into the shell. The divider keeps one cup of the bra in one location of the shell and the other cup of the bra in another location of the shell. A system for washing garments includes a shell and two or more inserts each interchangeably coupleable to the shell. Each insert includes a three-dimensional form that is different from the three-dimensional form(s) of the other inserts. The openings in the shell may be sized to inhibit a bra strap from extending through the shell through the openings. A device may have buoyancy such that substantially all of the garment is maintained below the surface of water in a washing machine when the device and the garment are placed in the washing machine.
US08109413B2	Supply line connector for a bar gun assembly A bar gun assembly for receiving a multiplicity of fluid carrying tubes carrying a multiplicity of fluids, for example, flavored syrup and soda water, therein. The bar gun assembly has a handle having a handle body. The handle body is a multiplicity of ports and fluid channels therein. A supply line connector assembly engages the supply lines and the handle body. A backing plate assembly engages openings in the fluid chambers of the handle body to seal fluid therein. A nozzle assembly engages at least some of the fluid channels in the handle.
US08109412B2	Dispensing nozzle for a dispenser of fluid product A dispenser head (1) for associating with a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, so as to form a fluid dispenser, the head including a connection sleeve (11) for connecting to an outlet (31) of the dispenser member, the sleeve (11) being connected to a fluid dispenser orifice (13, 13′) via an internal channel (12), the head being characterized in that it further includes a fluid collection dish (14) for collecting the fluid at the outlet from the dispenser orifice, the dish defining a bottom (141) that is situated below the dispenser orifice under normal conditions of use of the head, such that the fluid drops by gravity into the dish.
US08109411B2	Electric soap dispenser An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enhancing the performance thereof. For example, the dispenser can include an additional button for manual operation of the pump. Additionally, the dispenser can detect the voltage of a power supply and compensate for a drop in voltage of the power supply so as to produce more uniform dispensations of the liquid product. Additionally, the dispenser can include a valve at its discharge end to prevent drips.
US08109409B1	Garbage can deodorizer The present application is directed to a deodorizer that comprises a package comprised of a porous compostable material and a crushable compostable material within the package that releases a deodorant when crushed. The application further describes a deodorizer assembly comprising an attachment assembly for removably attaching a deodorizer to the interior of a garbage container. The application also discloses a deodorizer assembly comprising a garbage can liner and a crushable compostable material that releases a deodorant when crushed.
US08109407B2	Apparatus for storing substrates An apparatus includes an enclosure and a door configured to seal the enclosure. The door includes a plate. A rotational apparatus is disposed over the plate. At least one first member with a first arm extends from a first rib of the first member. At least one second member with a second arm extends from a second rib of the second member. The first and second arms are connected to the rotational apparatus. At least one corner member has a first edge. The first edge has a shape corresponding to a shape of a corner of the frame. The corner member is connected to a first end of the third arm. A second end of the third arm is connected to the rotational apparatus. A sealing material is disposed along a first longitudinal side of the first rib and a second longitudinal side of the second rib.
US08109394B1	Construction template A construction template mounted on a mobile platform. The template is useful in the assembly of racks made for storing barrels, typically barrels of distilled spirits in a warehouse. Beams that will be joined to form a rack are placed alongside upright positioning elements of the construction template. Beams are placed horizontally held by tabs on the construction template. Then the upright and horizontal beams are joined to form a rack assembly that is lifted and moved off the platform.
US08109393B2	Holder and modular stacking system for safely storing and/or transporting frameless PV modules or other flat, cuboidal bodies The invention relates to a holder for safely storing and/or transporting frameless PV modules or other flat, cuboidal bodies, the size of which is defined by three sides and the thickness of which is defined by the shortest one of the three sides, wherein the holder comprises a base body made from a first material, which base body has a first and second side wall, at least one first and second support element and at least one first and second securing element, and further comprises a buffer structure made from a second material which is softer with respect to the first material and has an adhering effect.
US08109390B2	Wafer container with overlapping wall structure Improvements in a semiconductor wafer container including improvements in side protection to the wafers, improved cover design to minimize rotation, a simplified top cover orientation mechanism and an improved bottom holding mechanism for automation. The side protection to the wafers is with multiple staggered inner and outer walls. The improved cover design improves alignment of the top and bottom housings and minimizes rotation of the housings in transit or motion. The housings have a recessed tab ramp feature with bi-directional locking that also increases the rigidity of the containment device when the two housings are assembled. The improved bottom holding mechanism for automation is an integrated feature that is molded into the bottom housing and not assembled in a secondary operation. The molded integration reduces tolerance errors that are present in assembling multiple pieces and joining multiple pieces.
US08109389B1	Shipping container assembly for electrical storage cells A shipping container for electrical storage cells includes a box and a plurality of tray elements adapted to be received in the box. The box defines an interior space having an inner periphery and a height. Each tray element has an outer periphery that substantially conforms to the inner periphery of the interior space of the box, and each tray element has at least one upwardly facing recess that substantially conforms to the shape an individual electrical storage cell.
US08109388B2	Security packaging A security packaging provides multi-layer laminate structure for providing evidence of package tampering. The packaging may include a first panel having an opening therein in planar contact with an insert member and a film layer. The film layer may include a pattern layer that may be adhered to the film layer via an adhesion layer. A second adhesion layer may be placed onto the pattern layer to adhere the pattern layer to the insert member.
US08109387B2	Device for applying flowable substances A device for applying a liquid, pasty or other flowable substance includes a pack with a receiving section comprising a wet portion for receiving the substance and a closure section defining a dry portion. The closure section is separated from the receiving section by a tear line. The wet portion is separated from the dry portion by means of a separation element comprising an orifice closed off by a closure element which is releasable from the separation element after tearing open the pack along the tear line.
US08109385B2	Nutritive substance delivery container The present invention is directed to a container for delivering a nutritive substance. In an embodiment, the present invention comprises a container that protects a nutritive substance from contact with the contents of the container and from contact with the atmosphere until the consumer is ready to use or consume the product. When desired, a seal on the container is altered such that the nutritive substance can come into contact with the container contents, delivering the nutritive substance thereto.
US08109384B2	Conveyor and method for spacing packages A spacing conveyor having article-accelerating rollers and selectively retractable stops to control the gaps between consecutive conveyed packages. A sensor measures the length of a package being fed onto the spacing conveyor. A controller selectively actuates one or more actuators positioned along the length of the conveyor to move selected stops advancing with the conveyor from a retracted position to a blocking position to receive packages a variety of sizes and to control the gaps between consecutive packages.
US08109383B1	Magnetic assembly for loading and conveying ferrous metal articles An assembly for loading and conveying ferrous metal articles including a magnet having north and south poles, an axis between the north and south poles, the poles forming an annular belt support; a powered conveyor belt extending over the belt support for rotating the magnet, the magnet being segmented along the polar axis, a first polar axis segment being a magnet mounting plate, a plurality of second polar axis segments being sub-magnets, each such sub-magnet overlying or underlying the magnet mounting plate having north and south poles, and having a polar axis, and a third polar axis segment being a sheath extending annularly about the magnet's first and second polar axis segments, the sheath having a radially outer surface forming the magnet's annular belt support.
US08109379B2	Coin deposit and dispensing apparatus A coin dispensing apparatus has a cabinet housing the apparatus. The apparatus has a controller and at least one dispenser for dispensing coins. The apparatus is for dispensing a specific composition of coins, under control by the controller, from the at least one dispenser to a portable coin receptacle. A closeable dispense space is arranged within the cabinet. The closeable dispense space has an open state which permits reception of the portable coin receptacle to be filled, and a closed state which permits dispensing of the specific composition of coins from the at least one dispenser into the portable coin receptacle while shielding the closeable dispense space from user access during the dispensing.
US08109377B2	Clutch device In a clutch device wherein a plurality of clutch plates are relatively non-rotatably engaged with a clutch outer, a plurality of clutch disks disposed alternately with the clutch plates are relatively non-rotatably engaged with a clutch inner, and an end plate disposed so that the clutch plates and the clutch disks are disposed between itself and a piston slidably fitted in the clutch outer is relatively non-rotatably and axially movably supported on the clutch outer in the manner of being restricted in movement toward one end side in the axial direction, to prevent the clutch inner from coming out of position at the time of assembling the clutch device into position, thereby to enhance workability in the assembling operation, and to prevent the clutch inner from generating a collision sound by colliding against other member than the component members of the clutch device when the clutch is disengaged.
US08109375B2	Clutch systems and methods Some embodiments of a clutch system may an output member and an input member can be biased to engage one another along opposing clutch surfaces. When input member drives rotation of the output member and a fan blade device secured thereto, the resulting fan thrust provides supplemental engagement to the opposing clutch surfaces.
US08109374B2	Production method for coned disk spring and clutch unit A production method for coned disk springs includes: preparing a plate member; punching plural annular blanks from the plate member by pressing; and forming the blanks into coned disk springs. In the pressing, plural slits are formed at one of a peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion of at least one of the blanks, and a smaller outer diameter blank among the blanks is punched from an inner region of a larger outer diameter blank among the blanks.
US08109369B2	Method of optimizing the weight of a counterweight of an elevator system and elevator system with a counterweight of that kind An elevator system includes a car with an empty weight MK, which car can move a rated load MLmax, a counterweight, which is coupled with the car by a support device so that it rises when the car lowers and lowers when the car rises, as well as a drive device which can apply a maximum traction force MFmax to the support means. According to the present invention the drive device is selected in such a manner that the maximum traction force MFmax is at least greater than half the rated load MLmax (MFmax>0.5×MLmax) and the weight MG of the counterweight is optimized in such a manner that it is substantially equal to the empty weight MK and the difference between the rated load MLmax of the car and the maximum traction force MFmax of the selected drive device (MG≈MK+(MLmax−MFmax)).
US08109368B2	Elevator disaster rescue operation system According to one embodiment, there is provided an elevator rescue operation system to be used in a building in which a plurality of elevators are installed in parallel. The system includes a disaster detection unit configured to detect, when a disaster has occurred in the building, an occurrence site of the disaster, a zone setting unit configured to set a plurality of zones to which all the elevators are caused to respond on the basis of the disaster occurrence site detected by the disaster detection unit, and a rescue operation unit configured to individually cause an elevator to respond to floors in each zone set by the zone setting unit, the elevator being corresponding to the zone, thereby carrying out a through-car operation up to a refuge floor.
US08109365B2	Engine supercharger lubricating apparatus An engine supercharger lubricating apparatus is provided with an oil passage, a pump and an air introducing passage. The oil passage is configured and arranged to supply a lubricating oil to a supercharger of an engine and to return the lubricating oil from the supercharger to an oil pan. The pump is arranged in the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger for pumping the lubricating oil from the supercharger to the oil pan. The air introducing passage is arranged to introduce air into the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger and upstream of the pump.
US08109361B2	Solid-borne sound reducing structure It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-borne sound reducing structure which is able to reduce solid-borne sound with a simple configuration, highly durable, and being less degraded.There is provided a solid-borne sound reducing structure (100) in which a surface plate part (1) including a gas ventilating part (1a) which allows gas to pass through along a thickness direction is disposed by means of an outer peripheral wall part (2) on a structure (200) that radiates noise while vibrating, so as to at least partially cover a surface (200a) of the structure (200). The surface plate part (1) is supported by the outer peripheral wall part (2) so as to be integrally vibrated with the surface (200a) of the structure (200). In addition, the outer peripheral wall part (2) supports the surface plate part (1) in such a manner that an internal gas chamber is formed between the surface (200a) of the structure (200) and the surface plate part (1).
US08109360B2	Method and apparatus for a loudspeaker assembly A method and apparatus for providing a loudspeaker assembly is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method is provided for mounting a loudspeaker driver in a loudspeaker driver aperture defined in a ground plane and installing a grille in relation to the ground plane such that a distance between the grille and the ground plane decreases as the distance from the loudspeaker driver increases. In accordance with at least one embodiment, apparatus is provided comprising a ground plane, a loudspeaker driver mounted in a loudspeaker driver aperture of the ground plane, and a grille positioned relative to the ground plane such that a distance between the grille and the ground plane decreases with increasing distance from the loudspeaker driver. The loudspeaker assembly can be used to replace ceiling tiles having any size or configuration, and can also me mounted in other surfaces, such as ceiling walls, floors, table tops, etc. made of drywall, hard decking, wood, stone, cement, glass, or any other material or type of construction, or configured in a stand-alone loudspeaker frame or cabinet. The loudspeaker assembly of the present invention can be mounted in any orientation.
US08109354B2	Oxyhydrogen vehicle An oxyhydrogen vehicle includes an oxyhydrogen generating unit for electrolytically converting an electrolyte into oxyhydrogen gas, a combustible fuel supply unit for storing combustible fuel, an engine unit coupled to the oxyhydrogen generating unit and the combustible fuel supply unit, and an electric power supply system electrically connected to the oxyhydrogen generating unit for providing electric power thereto. The electric power supply system includes: a storage battery; an alternator driven by the engine unit to generate an electrical output, and electrically connected to the storage battery; a current controller electrically connecting the storage battery and the alternator to the oxyhydrogen generating unit for controlling electric current flow to the oxyhydrogen generating unit; and an auxiliary electricity generating unit electrically connected to the storage battery, and driven by renewable energy resources so as to generate an electrical output for charging the storage battery.
US08109353B2	Transport system incorporating linear motor charged electric vehicle A system and method are provided for moving a vehicle along a roadway. The system includes at least one power segment that incorporates a multiple-phase winding. Structurally, the winding is embedded into the roadway for interaction with a magnet system mounted on the vehicle. With this interaction, a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) is established between the roadway and the vehicle to drive movement of the vehicle along the roadway. Also, the vehicle includes a mechanism for initially synchronizing a waveform speed of the multiple-phase winding with the speed of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle is able to selectively establish the LSM for use when desired.
US08109351B2	Multi-link bridge in undercarriage system The present invention employs a multi-link to an excavator for the first, and restricts a relative movement of the center frame (10) and the roller frame (20) using a multi-link bridge (30) in relation to an undercarriage system of vehicle body structures of the excavator. According to the present invention, in an undercarriage system in which the center frame 10 and the roller frame 20 are independently from each other, a plurality of links is added to rotate up and down by a predetermined angle in a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction of the roller frame (20) and thus the overturning can be prevented and also operator's feeling of riding can be enhanced by preventing an inclination of the center frame (10) due to condition of an uneven road surface, and a service life of the track can be increased as the partial wear is prevented.
US08109349B2	Thick pointed superhard material In one aspect of the invention, a high impact resistant tool includes a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The superhard material has a substantially pointed geometry with a sharp apex having a radius of curvature of 0.050 to 0.125 inches. The superhard material also has a thickness of 0.100 to 0.500 inches thickness from the apex to a central region of the cemented metal carbide substrate.
US08109340B2	High-pressure/high temperature packer seal A packer device includes an elastomeric packer element which is seated upon an inner sleeve that surrounds a central inner mandrel. The inner sleeve and the inner mandrel are oriented at an angle of departure with respect to the central axis of the tool, thereby providing a ramp assembly which helps to set the packer device. An anchor ring and a retaining ring are located on opposite axial sides of the packer element and contact the surrounding tubular member.
US08109337B2	Alignment of BOP stack to facilitate use of a rotating control device An alignment system can include at least one alignment device positioned between two flanges, the alignment device having a greater thickness on one side of the alignment device than on an opposite side of the alignment device. A method of producing a relative angular offset between a first flange and a second flange can include positioning at least one alignment device between the first and second flanges, and securing the alignment device between the first and second flanges, thereby producing the angular offset. A method of aligning an axis of a blowout preventer stack with a rig floor can include positioning at least one alignment device between a first flange, and a second flange of the blowout preventer stack; and securing the alignment device between the first and second flanges, thereby producing an angular offset of the second flange relative to the first flange.
US08109336B2	Method of fracturing using ultra lightweight proppant suspensions and gaseous streams In a method of hydraulically fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation, a proppant stage is introduced into the fracture which contains a gaseous fluid and an ultra lightweight proppant suspended in a viscosified aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the proppant stage contains at least about 90 volume percent of the combination of gaseous fluid and aqueous fluid. A pad fluid may first be introduced into the formation, the pad fluid containing a gaseous fluid and, optionally, an aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the pad fluid mixture typically contains at least 70 volume percent of the mixture.
US08109335B2	Degradable diverting agents and associated methods Methods and compositions that include a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising at least a plurality of degradable diverting agents that comprise at least one degradable material selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol, a fatty acid salt, a fatty ester, a proteinous material, and a combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation during a subterranean operation via a well bore.
US08109333B2	Indicator and method An indicator comprising a band having a first radial dimension; one or more protectors having a greater radial dimension and disposed sufficiently proximate the band to substantially avoid wear of the band during running of the indicator and method.
US08109332B2	Method of optimizing production of a well A sensor used to determine the height of one or more fluids in a fluid column and to determine a location of an interface or boundary between a plurality of fluids in a fluid column is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements comprising a capacitor and other components, such as resistors and inductors. The sensor also includes an oscillator that alters a frequency of an electrical current applied to the sensor, from which the dielectric constant of the fluid in which each sensing element is disposed can be determined. Methods of using such a sensor to determine the relative heights of various fluids in a fluid column are disclosed. In particular, methods of using embodiments of the invention in a well, such as water and petroleum wells, are described.
US08109330B1	Inline choke and angled choke for use with oil field equipment An angled or inline choke for flowing drilling fluid to a choke and kill manifold, wherein the choke has a body with a bore, a connection can be sealed to the body and can have a connection bore in communication with the bore. A locking plate can index the connection to the body. The choke can have a cavity with a piston. A port can be in communication with the cavity to provide a hydraulic fluid to the piston. A choke bean in the bore can flow drilling fluid to the choke and kill manifold. A tip can connect to the choke bean with a rod. When the hydraulic fluid passes into the port, the piston can move within the bore and compress a choke element around the tip to cause restriction of the drilling fluid, enabling for control of a pressure of the drilling fluid.
US08109328B2	Fluid temperature control device A fluid temperature control device, which is particularly suitably applied to the temperature control of a processing liquid in a semiconductor device manufacturing process, capable of performing quickly and precisely the temperature control of a temperature-controlled fluid, and the device can also be made as small as possible. This fluid temperature control device includes a body block having flow passage grooves formed therein; heat transfer plates which are disposed on surfaces of the body block to form flow passages where a temperature-controlled fluid flows; heaters which heat the temperature-controlled fluid flowing through the flow passages via at least one of the heat transfer plates; and thermoelectric modules which heat and cool the temperature-controlled fluid flowing through the flow passages via at least one of the heat transfer plates.
US08109319B2	Molding process and the resulting mold A molding process which comprises mixing together a particulate aggregate, plural kinds of water-soluble binders, a crosslinking agent causing crosslinking reaction with the binders, a phenol resin, and water, agitating the obtained mixture to prepare a bubbled fluid aggregate mixture, filling the aggregate mixture into a molding cavity, and solidifying the aggregate mixture through the evaporation of water from the mixture to give a mold made from the mixture.
US08109313B2	Corner bead roller tool A wallboard finishing roller having an elongated bracket with two ends is provided. Two roller assemblies are attached to the bracket such that the first roller assembly includes a center axis that is perpendicular to a center axis of the second roller assembly. Each roller assembly includes a wheel, a bushing and a shaft such that the wheel is rotatable around the axis of the shaft. The roller assembly is affixed to the bracket by a bracket nut, which is held in place by a bumper.
US08109312B2	Tire patch applicator Methods and apparatus for applying a patch to an interior surface of a tire, the apparatus comprising a patch holder having the top surface shaped to a contour of the interior surface of the tire, the patch holder comprising a patch receptacle and a plurality of orifices extending there through in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and, an adhesive barrier surrounding the patch receptacle. The steps of a method include placing a patch into a patch receptacle in a tire patch holder, the patch holder having the top surface shaped to a contour of the interior tire surface, directing the patch holder to obliquely contact the interior surface of the tire, and, pressing the patch into substantial adhesive contact with the interior tire surface.
US08109309B2	Tire with seats of unequal diameters and reverse axial offset in an inflated state A tire is provided that includes a crown with a mid-plane S, two sidewalls, a first bead, of diameter Φ1, intended to be positioned on the outboard side of a vehicle, and a second bead, of diameter Φ2, intended to be positioned on the inboard side of a vehicle, such that Φ1>Φ2. When the tire is mounted on its working rim and inflated to its nominal pressure, the mid-plane S of the crown is axially offset towards the first bead relative to a mid-plane B of the beads by a positive or zero distance D.
US08109307B2	Pneumatic tire with tread having protrusions on bottom of grooves A pneumatic tire includes a plurality of protrusions on a bottom of each of the grooves. The height of the protrusion is variable in a profile of the protrusion in a circumference direction of the pneumatic. The protrusion has at least one peak portion that protrudes away from a center of the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire further includes a connection member between the protrusion and an adjacent one of the lands, the connection member having a first end toward the land and a second end toward the peak portion, a height of the first end from the bottom of the groove being larger than that of the second end.
US08109303B1	Stump grinder having an automatic depth control system An automatic depth controlled cutting assembly for a stump grinder includes a cutting assembly operatively attached to a stump grinder for engaging and grinding a stump, an actuating assembly to actuate movement of the cutting assembly relative to the stump, and an automatic depth control system cooperating with the actuating assembly to automatically control a depth of the cutting assembly relative to the stump.
US08109302B2	System and method for trimming wood blocks There is disclosed a system, apparatus and method for preparing wood blocks. The embodiments disclosed may comprise paddle designs, trimming unit designs and methods, scanner unit designs and methods, for use in the trimming of wood blocks. The blocks may be used for finger jointing.
US08109299B2	Filling valve having a liquid chamber, a gas chamber and a medium chamber, and filling machine comprising the same A filling valve (12) including: a hollow housing (21); a moving valve assembly (24) slidingly mounted in the housing (21), the moving valve assembly (24) and the hollow housing (21) together defining a liquid chamber (30) and a gas chamber (32); a liquid inlet (46) for putting the liquid chamber (30) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (14); a gas inlet (47) for putting the gas chamber (32) into communication with a gas supply pipe (17); wherein the hollow housing (21) and the moving valve assembly (24) together define a medium chamber the (33) located between the liquid chamber (30) and the gas chamber (32), and wherein the filling valve (12) further comprises: a first diaphragm (35) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the liquid chamber (30) and the medium chamber (33), and a second diaphragm (36) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the gas chamber (32) and the medium chamber (33).
US08109297B2	Valve arrangement for use with a water meter Valve arrangements for use with a water meter include a first valve comprising a first valve housing, a first inlet, and a first outlet, the first inlet and the first outlet of the first valve being oriented substantially perpendicular to one another, a second valve comprising a second valve housing, a second inlet, and a second outlet, the second inlet and the second outlet of the second valve being oriented substantially perpendicular to one another; the first inlet of the first valve and the second outlet of the second valve being substantially coaxial with one another, and the first outlet of the first valve and the second inlet of the second valve being oriented substantially 180° apart from one another, with the first valve housing and the second valve housing being joined together by a connection member. The valve arrangement may also be provided as a kit of parts with a set of pipeline attachment members.
US08109294B2	Valve cartridge with integral stop A one-handle valve cartridge has a housing that functions as a stop for an actuating mechanism of the valve cartridge to define a range of flow rates and/or temperatures for which the water flowing through the valve cartridge is delivered.
US08109291B2	Arrangement for conveying concrete with a height-adjustable concrete distributing mast The invention relates to an arrangement for conveying concrete for the construction of multi-storey concrete buildings. The arrangement comprises a concrete-distributing mast which is height-adjustable on completed parts of the building, for example on storey floors (48′, 48″, 48′″), the mast comprising a supporting column (10), a rotary unit (12) and an arm assembly (14) preferably designed as an articulated boom, and the mast being equipped with a conveying line (16) which is guided over the height of the supporting column (10) to the arm assembly (14) and which is supplied with liquid concrete. To facilitate the handling of the concrete-distributing mast during transportation and during the climbing operation, the invention proposes that the supporting column (10) has at least one channel-shaped surface depression (36, 38) extending in the longitudinal direction of the column, in which depression can be sunk that part of the conveying line (16) which extends over the supporting column (10), and/or an elongate part of the climbing apparatus (52).
US08109289B2	System and method for decentralized balancing of hydronic networks A method includes associating a plurality of valve balancing units with a plurality of valves in a hydronic network. The method also includes adjusting a setting of at least one of the valves using at least one of the valve balancing units to balance the hydronic network. Adjusting the setting could include identifying a differential pressure across a valve and a flow rate of material through that valve. Adjusting the setting could also include comparing the identified differential pressure to a target differential pressure and/or the identified flow rate to a target flow rate. Adjusting the setting could further include instructing an actuator to adjust the setting until the identified differential pressure is within a first threshold of the target differential pressure and/or the identified flow rate is within a second threshold of the target flow rate.
US08109286B2	Fuel tank including movable or deformable fuel chamber and waste chamber In a fuel tank for containing a hydrogen storing material and a product generated by dehydrogenation reaction of the hydrogen storing material, comprising, a fuel chamber for containing the hydrogen storing material, a waste chamber for containing the product, and a tank envelope for containing the fuel chamber and the waste chamber, the fuel tank further comprises a partition wall fluidly separating the fuel chamber and the waste chamber from each other and being movable to change a ratio in volume between the fuel chamber and the waste chamber, and each of the fuel chamber and the waste chamber has a valve to be hermetically closed.
US08109280B2	Cosmetic product compact having pivoting sections A device such as a compact or product container includes a plurality of stacked sections or housings, which are pivotable with respect to each other. The sections are substantially aligned with each other when the device is in a closed position, and when pivoted with respect to each other, the device is opened to allow access to compartments or reservoirs of the different sections. According to an example, a lower housing or section can include a projection which is received in a groove formed in the adjacent section and a depth of the groove can change from a first end of the groove to a second end of the groove to thereby change and vary the resistance felt by the user.
US08109276B2	Device, assembly and method for filtering tobacco smoke from a cigarette The invention relates to a device for filtering tobacco smoke from a cigarette, in particular a filter cigarette, the device comprising a portable housing provided with a combustion space in which the cigarette can burn, a filter unit for filtering the tobacco smoke of a burning cigarette, at least one discharge opening for discharging filtered tobacco smoke and one or more tobacco smoke displacing units for displacing the tobacco smoke via the filter unit to the discharge opening, wherein a mouthpiece is formed on the housing, the mouthpiece comprising a holding unit for holding the cigarette, wherein the holding unit comprises an opening along which the cigarette can be pushed partially into the housing from outside the housing, and the opening is formed to hold the cigarette clampingly in the partially inserted situation.
US08109267B2	Simple inhaler A dry powder inhaler for pulmonary or nasal use, comprising at least an inhaler body and a cartridge with one or more compartments each containing one dose of a drug. The compartment has holes to admit air and holes to deliver powder, which, in use, communicate with an inhalation channel in the inhaler body. To prevent the powder from leaking through the compartment holes before use, the air admission holes are of reduced dimension, thereby blocking or hindering powder exit under the force of gravity. When the cartridge is inserted inside the inhaler body, all its holes can be blocked. By sliding the cartridge in relation to the body until the inhalation position is reached, the holes come into in fluid communication with one another and with the inhalation channel, thereby allowing a flow of air to disperse and entrain the dose through the mouthpiece. Five embodiments are disclosed.
US08109265B1	Suction-recirculation device for stabilizing particle flows within a solar powered solid particle receiver A suction-recirculation device for stabilizing the flow of a curtain of blackened heat absorption particles falling inside of a solar receiver with an open aperture. The curtain of particles absorbs the concentrated heat from a solar mirror array reflected up to the receiver on a solar power tower. External winds entering the receiver at an oblique angle can destabilize the particle curtain and eject particles. A fan and ductwork is located behind the back wall of the receiver and sucks air out through an array of small holes in the back wall. Any entrained particles are separated out by a conventional cyclone device. Then, the air is recirculated back to the top of the receiver by injecting the recycled air through an array of small holes in the receiver's ceiling and upper aperture front wall. Since internal air is recirculated, heat losses are minimized and high receiver efficiency is maintained. Suction-recirculation velocities in the range of 1-5 m/s are sufficient to stabilize the particle curtain against external wind speeds in excess of 10 m/s.
US08109262B2	Aging apparatus for aging an artificial stone The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for aging a stone, preferably an artificial stone. The aging device comprises a rotary support operatively connected to a rotary shaft, at least one abrasive tool mounted to the rotary support for roughing and/or polishing a surface of the artificial stone when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with said surface, and biasing means that biasingly connect the abrasive tool to the rotary support. The biasing means urge the abrasive tool away from the rotary support while allowing the same to move toward the rotary support when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with the surface of the artificial stone, thereby allowing the abrasive tool to follow a surface profile of the artificial stone while roughing and/or polishing its surface.
US08109261B2	Archery string nock A speed nock for use with an archery bow includes a first enlarged portion and a second enlarged portion connected via a central portion. The central portion has a maximum dimension smaller than maximum dimensions of the first and second enlarged portions. The central portion is positioned between strands of a bowstring of the bow so that the strands pinch the central portion, at least assisting in holding the speed nock in place along the bowstring. The speed nock can be moved along the bowstring to a selected location that maximizes energy imparted to an arrow shot from the archery bow, and thus the speed of the arrow. A related method of using the speed nock above is also provided.
US08109260B2	Toy gun A bolt has a cylindrical fit receiving portion. When the bolt slides forward, the rear part of a valve body enters the fit receiving portion. At a closed end opposed to its opening behind the fit receiving portion, a cylindrical body is provided. The cylindrical body lets the interior of the bolt and the exterior of the bolt communicate with each other. The shank of an opening/closing body is slidably placed in the cylindrical body. This opening/closing body has an lid portion at the end of the shank on the fit receiving portion side and a coming-off preventing portion at the outside end of the shank. An opening/closing body spring is placed between the closed end of the bolt and the lid portion and pushes the lid portion toward the fit receiving portion.
US08109259B2	Positive-pressure crankcase ventilation A method for combusting a vapor of a fuel accumulated in a crankcase of an engine, the engine disposed in a vehicle having a fuel tank and an adsorbent canister coupled to the fuel tank. The method comprises flowing compressed air from a first air source through the crankcase to yield a crankcase effluent enriched in gasses leaked from the combustion chamber, which include the fuel vapor. The method further comprises combining the crankcase effluent with an effluent from the adsorbent canister, also enriched in the vapor, and, flowing the combined crankcase and adsorbent-canister effluent to an intake of the engine via a conduit.
US08109258B2	Method of diagnosing a slow EGR system in an internal combustion engine There is disclosed a method for diagnosing slow EGR response in an internal combustion engine equipped with an electronic controller with memory. In one embodiment, the method includes passing an EGR setpoint value and an actual EGR value through first order filters to eliminate high frequency noise; determining an actual EGR gradient as a function of any difference between the EGR set point and the actual EGR value while simultaneously determining an actual EGR gradient; and logging a fault in the electronic controller if the expected EGR gradient is greater than the actual EGR gradient by a predetermined amount.
US08109257B2	Fluid selection valve unit, exhaust gas control valve having the same, and waste gate valve having the same A fluid selection valve unit comprising a valve seat having a side surface having a predetermined depth and a bottom surface continuous to the side surface and a valve member supported with a rotary shaft at one end. The valve member includes a bottom portion and a side end surface formed above the bottom portion, and is configured so that a passage area of a gap formed between the side end surface of the valve member and the side surface of the valve seat is smaller than a contact passage area formed between the bottom portion of the valve member and the bottom surface of the valve seat during a time when the bottom portion of the valve member comes into contact with the bottom surface of the valve seat by the rotation of the rotary shaft, and the rotary angle increases up to a predetermined value of the rotary angle.
US08109256B2	Solenoid current control with direct forward prediction and iterative backward state estimation An engine control system comprises a current control module and a solenoid actuator module. The current control module determines a duty cycle based on a desired current through a solenoid of an engine system and a resistance of the solenoid and corrects the resistance based on an actual current through the solenoid. The solenoid actuator module actuates the solenoid based on the duty cycle.
US08109255B2	Engine controller A system for controlling fuel to an engine to minimize emissions in an exhaust of the engine. There may be a controller connected to an actuator, for example a fuel control actuator, of the engine and to emissions sensors, such as an NOx and/or PM sensor, proximate to an exhaust output of the engine. The controller, for example a speed controller, may have an input connected to an output of a pedal or desired speed setting mechanism. A speed sensor at a power output of the engine may be connected to an input of the controller.
US08109251B2	LPG fueled internal combustion engine powered devices A gas phase of LPG such as propane is used to power a small internal combustion engine driving or powering a preselected device such as a powered lawnmower, weed whacker, string trimmer, leaf blower or the like and the fuel system is provided with heating arrangements that insure the gas phase of the LPG is discharged from the LPG tank for all operating conditions of the device.
US08109248B2	Valve lifter and surface treatment method thereof The present invention provides a valve lifter, including a buffer layer, a Me diamond-like carbon layer having a thickness of 0.3˜0.6 μm, and a diamond-like carbon layer having a thickness of 1˜1.5 μm and a SP3 bonding fraction of 60˜70%, which are sequentially formed on a base body which is subjected to carbonitriding treatment. The valve lifter can exhibit superior low-friction characteristics and wear resistance.
US08109246B2	Camshaft damping mechanism and method of assembly A camshaft damping mechanism may include first and second housing members and a biasing member. The first housing member may be engaged with a camshaft. The second housing member may be slidably coupled to the first housing member and may abut an engine structure. The biasing member may be retained axially between the first and second housing members and may force the first housing member in an outward axial direction from the second housing member.
US08109243B2	Spark ignition type internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to individually control the opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve. At the time of engine low load operation, the maximum expansion ratio is obtained by making the mechanical compression ratio maximum and, while the mechanical compression ratio is made maximum, the opening timing of the intake valve is maintained at a target opening timing of substantially intake top dead center in the noninterference region where no interference between the valve and the piston occurs.
US08109239B1	Interactive pet toy having extendable and retractable flexible target A toy is provided that simulates a mouse tail moving randomly in and out and back and forth about the access orifice, thereby catching the pet's attention and stimulating the animal's instinctive curiosity.
US08109237B1	Device for actuating automated litterbox An improved automated litter box comprises a motorized comb or rake drive mechanism for removing clumps, a means for cycling the drive mechanism, and a cat proximity sensor for sensing the relative position of a cat about or within said litter chamber. The cat proximity sensor is capable of identifying the location of a cat outside the litter box or litter box or litter chamber. The cat proximity sensor comprises a passive or inductive transmitter for identification for modulating and demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal; and an antenna for receiving and transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal.
US08109233B2	Method for collecting milk in a milk tank, milking system and computer program products The invention relates to a method for collecting milk in a milk tank. The method comprises the steps of: milking a milking animal of a herd of milking animals by means of a milking station; establishing a quality parameter for the milk obtained from the milking animal during the milking; estimating a quality level of the total amount of milk in a milk tank connected to the milking station, wherein the estimation is based at least on the quality parameter; and collecting, in the milk tank, the milk obtained from the step of milking if the result from the estimation indicates that the quality of the total amount of milk in the milk tank would then result in a desired quality level. The invention also relates to computer program products and a milking system.
US08109226B2	Adding an additive to a meat product Method of treating a large number of meat products, in particular slaughtered poultry or parts thereof, in which an additive is added to the meat products. The additives products are supplied to meat products using a conveyor which is designed to feed the meat products sequentially in groups or separately. Each meat product or each group of meat products are subjected to an additive-adding treatment which is adapted to the corresponding product or to the corresponding group of meant products.
US08109223B2	Apparatus and method for operating autonomous underwater vehicles A method and apparatus of operating an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) may include receiving an AUV in a receptacle of a submersible station. The AUV and the submersible station may be launched to an underwater location. The AUV may engage with the submersible station before, after or during a mission, and may return to the same or a different submersible station after part, or all, of the mission has been completed.
US08109222B2	Apparatus for fixing floating bodies An apparatus is described for fixing floating bodies (1), in particular boats, to a landing body (2) with at least two holding booms (5) which are fixed to respective moorrings (4) by fittings (3) functioning as coupling elements, in each case at one end on the floating body (1) and at the other end on the landing body (2). In order to create advantageous conditions, it is proposed that at least one of the holding booms (5) be fixed, at least at one end, to the respective moorrings by the fitting (3) functioning as a coupling element so as to be rotationally fixed or rotationally resilient about an at least approximately vertical axis (7) with an adjustable and fixable angular offset (α).
US08109220B2	Device and method to align the edge surrounding an end of a tubular knitted article The device comprises a tubular member (377) on which a tubular knitted article (M) is disposed and an operating head (1432) positioned in front of an end of the tubular member, comprising a plurality of contact members (1467; 1447, 1453). The contact members comprise a pair of wheels (1447; 1453) and a plurality of pads 1467).
US08109219B2	Adjustable threading utensil and structure utilizing shape memory actuation A selectively and reversibly adjustable utensil, aperture forming structure, and stirrup, and methods of geometrically modifying an eye defined by the utensil, the aperture defined by the structure, and the stirrup, utilizing active material actuation, so as to facilitate entraining a filament within the eye or aperture, and securing the filament once entrained.
US08109216B2	Liquid storage and dispensing device and method thereof An apparatus for storing fluid containing bags comprising a shelf having a bag-supporting surface, and a pair of laterally extending projections. The device includes a pair of opposed sidewalls each comprising an inner surface, and a longitudinal groove for receiving one of said projections. The groove is disposed in the inner surface. A first support for supporting one of the projections in a first shelf position is disposed within the groove, and a second support for supporting one of the projections in a second shelf position is disposed within the groove. The shelf is disposed between the sidewalls such that each of the projections is disposed within a corresponding groove. The shelf is movable from the first shelf position wherein each of the projections is supported by a corresponding first support and the second shelf position wherein each of the projections is supported by a corresponding second support.
US08109212B2	Sleeved projectiles A projectile (10) is for use with barrel assemblies of the type having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel having a bore and a muzzle and which projectiles are associated with discrete propellant charges for propelling said projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel. Projectile (10) comprises expandable sleeve (11) encircling at least part of core (12). Sleeve (11) and core (12) have wedging surfaces (14) operable to deform trailing part (21) of sleeve (11) into sealing engagement with the bore in response to pressure exerted on the projectile (10). When projectiles (10) are axially disposed in the bore, rear face (24) of the leading projectile cooperates with leading face (20) of the trailing projectile to define a discrete space about spine (23) for receipt of the propellant charge. Sleeve (11) is retained about the core (12) during travel to the target.
US08109207B2	Gripping member for a magnetised lid A gripper for a removable lid of a kitchen utensil is provided, which can be fixed to a top of a lid through the action of a magnet on a magnetic component. The gripper comprises a base plate and an operating member that can move relative to the base plate between a magnetizing position in which the force exerted by the magnet on the magnetic component allows the gripper to be secured to the top, and an isolating position in which this force is not strong enough to secure the gripper to the top.
US08109206B2	Limited overflow waffle iron The inventive waffle iron has two baking sub-assemblies pivotable with respect to each other from an open position and a closed proximate position in which they define a baking chamber. At any position of the baking sub-assemblies between the closed proximate position and the closed offset position thereof, wherein they are offset from each other by a product expansion, a peripheral element of a baking sub-assembly slides along a corresponding peripheral element of the other baking sub-assembly in such a way that the variable volume baking chamber is formed.
US08109205B1	Vertical grilling apparatus A vertical grilling apparatus employs food cartridges on rails to slideably insert the food cartridge into the housing of the grilling apparatus between two thermal elements for cooking the food items. The rails correspond to a vertical slot, or opening, in the housing for engaging the food cartridge. The food cartridge is sized to correspond to a top and bottom rail and to the vertical slot. The food cartridges have hinged sides which close or clamp to an opposed position for engaging and securing the food items in a food specific insert on the hinged sides sized to accommodate the food item. The horizontally disposed food cartridge is rotated to a vertical orientation after closing and securing the food items for insertion into the vertical slot. The insertion disposes the food cartridge equidistant between the opposed thermal elements for thermal communication with the thermal elements for cooking the food.
US08109200B2	Cartridge, a machine, a system and a method for the preparation of beverages The invention provides a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head for receiving beverage cartridges of various heights and means for passing an aqueous medium through said beverage cartridges to form a beverage from one or more beverage ingredients contained in said cartridges. The brew head comprises a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being movable relative to one another from an open position in which said beverage cartridges can be received in the brew head and a closed position in which said beverage cartridge can be fixedly retained in a brew head space defined between the first and second parts. The first part of the brew head comprises a clamping member which extends within the brew head space part-way towards the second part such that a distal end of the clamping member and the second part are a fixed distance from one another when the first and second parts are in the closed position. While in use, beverage cartridges of various heights may be clamped in the brew head space between the distal end of the clamping member and the second part. A beverage cartridge, a beverage preparation system and a method of preparing a single serving of a filtered beverage are also claimed.
US08109196B1	Cleanout port for gas-operated firearms An improved gas tube system for a firearm having a gas tube with a distal end that is selectively openable to permit access to the distal end of the gas tube for cleaning thereof.
US08109189B2	Effort-saving hand operated punching device A hole punching device includes two first punching members and a second punching member intermediate the two first punching members. First, second and third lever arms are adapted to render one of the two first punching members, another of the two first punching members and the second punching member to press holes in sheets respectively. The first lever arm has a longitudinal length longer than those of the second and third lever arms, with the second lever arm being longer than that of the third lever arm. Further, the first lever arm actuates the second and third lever arms upon depression of the hole punching device.
US08109182B2	Ratchet tool The present invention provides a ratchet tool, wherein a circular tooth row is arranged into the round groove of the main body's actuating end. A tool driving seat is assembled rotatably onto the round groove of the main body. A first braking slot, a second braking slot and an arched control slot are triangularly configured onto the internal surface of the tool driving seat. The first and second braking slots are separately fitted with the first and second braking swing blocks. A moveable control gear is placed into the control slot and can shift to the through-hole at both ends of the control slot such that it is mated simultaneously with inner tip edges of the first and second braking swing blocks. An elastic resetter is additionally provided to make the first and second braking swing blocks with inner tip edge swing inwards in a normal state.
US08109180B2	Dustproof ring for ratchet wrench A ratchet wrench includes a head rotatably receiving a drive member. The head includes an end wall having a hole. One of an inner face of the end wall and an end face of the drive member defines a first abutment face. The other of the inner face and the end face includes an annular groove having a bottom wall defining a second abutment face. A dustproof ring is mounted and compressed in the annular groove. The dustproof ring in an uncompressed state has a natural maximum height along a rotating axis of the drive member larger then a spacing between the first and second abutment faces. The dustproof ring includes three sealing units along a radial direction perpendicular to the rotating axis. Each sealing unit has a thickness along the rotating axis smaller than the spacing.
US08109177B2	Bit body formed of multiple matrix materials and method for making the same Drill bit bodies are provided having one portion formed of one composition and a further portion formed of a different composition. The different compositions provide different functional properties to respective portions of the drill bit body. Methods for forming such drill bit bodies are also provided.
US08109164B2	Linear actuator A linear actuator includes a housing formed of a first half shell and a second half shell and defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening in front of the accommodation chamber and a receiving chamber at the bottom side of the accommodation chamber, a driving mechanism having a push rod movably mounted in the accommodation chamber and extending out of the front opening, a motor mounted outside the accommodation chamber and a spindle coupled to and rotatable by the motor for causing the transmission shaft to reciprocate, and limit switches detachably mounted in the receiving chamber for stopping the motor upon movement of the transmission shaft to a front or rear limit position.
US08109156B2	Torque sensor The present invention relates to a torque sensor comprising a torsion spring having first and second sides which are rotated with respect to one another by a torque applied to the torque sensor, wherein a mechanical coupling apparatus is provided between the first and second sides of the torsion spring and includes a movement element which is moved in the axial direction by a rotation of the first side with respect to the second side. In addition, a measuring apparatus is provided for the measurement of the axial movement of the movement element.
US08109151B2	Flow sensing systems and methods A flow sensing system is provided. The system can include a first graphitic member and a first measurement device communicatively coupled to the first graphitic member. The first measurement device is adapted to measure a voltage along each of a plurality of orthogonal axes defined by the first graphitic member. The system can further include a display communicatively coupled to the first measurement device, the display adapted to convert the measured voltages into a signal proportionate to the fluid flow past the first graphitic member.
US08109146B2	Measurement of bowed string dynamics There are disclosed systems and methods for measuring the bowing parameters and the bowed string dynamics of a player playing a bowed string instrument. A system for measuring the bowing parameters and the bowed string dynamics may comprise a computer, a bow system and a base component. The bow system may comprise a force sensing mechanism and a bow board. The bow board may comprise an acceleration and angular velocity sensing mechanism, a position and speed sensing mechanism, a data communication module, and a power module. The base component may comprise an acceleration and angular velocity sensing mechanism, a position and speed sensing mechanism, a data communication module, and a power module.
US08109143B2	Packaging for downhole pressure transducers Methods and related systems are described for a sealed housing for downhole transducers. The housing system includes a housing body and a transducer positioned within the housing body, and one or more flexible members sealably mounted on the housing body. The flexible members each have one or more undulations which facilitate movement of the flexible member in directions primarily perpendicular to the surface of the flexible member. The dimensions of the one or more undulations are designed so as to optimize the ability of the movements of the member thereby accommodating volume changes in the sealed housing. A substantial amount of compensating material can also be positioned within the housing body. The compensating material has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially less than that of the housing material.
US08109138B2	Method and system for estimating engine oil life based on viscosity A method and control module for indicating engine oil life includes a viscosity determination module determining a viscosity of the engine oil based on an engine oil pressure and engine oil temperature. The control system further includes a comparison module comparing the viscosity of the engine oil to a threshold and generating a warning signal in response to comparing the viscosity.

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