最新美国发明专利第2012-02-28期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08124600B2	5-HT3 receptor modulators, methods of making, and use thereof Novel 5-HT3 receptor modulators are disclosed. These compounds are used in the treatment of various disorders, including chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, post-operative nausea and vomiting, and irritable bowel syndrome. Methods of making these compounds are also described in the present invention.
US08124597B2	Method of treating gaucher disease Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08124591B2	DNA vaccine comprising IL-6-encoding DNA construct and applications thereof The present invention provides a DNA vaccine, which comprises a DNA construct comprising an expression vector which is expressible in a eukaryotic cell, and a nucleotide fragment which comprises an IL-6-encoding sequence and an HPV E7-encoding sequence. In addition, the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition and a method of generating said DNA vaccine.
US08124590B2	Biodegradable immunomodulatory formulations and methods for use thereof The invention provides new compositions and methods for immunomodulation of individuals. Immunomodulation is accomplished by administration of immunomodulatory polynucleotide/microcarrier (IMP/MC) complexes. The IMP/MC complexes may be covalently or non-covalently bound, and feature a polynucleotide comprising at least one immunostimulatory sequence bound to a biodegradable microcarrier or nanocarrier.
US08124587B2	2-(aminomethyl)-5-chlorobenzylamide derivatives and their use as inhibitors of the clotting factor Xa 2-(Aminomethyl)-5-chlorobenzylamide derivatives and their use as inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa are provided. The compounds are suitable for the treatment and prophylaxis of cardiovascular and thrombotic events.
US08124586B2	Prevention and reduction of blood loss Methods are described for preventing or reducing ischemia and/or systemic inflammatory response in a patient such as perioperative blood loss and/or systemic inflammatory response in a patient subjected to cardiothoracic surgery, e.g. coronary artery bypass grafting and other surgical procedures, especially when such procedures involve extra-corporeal circulation, such as cardiopulmonary bypass.
US08124580B2	Apolipoprotein A1 mimetics and uses thereof The present invention provides peptidomimetics derived from Apolipoprotein A-I, which is useful for beneficially influencing lipid parameters and/or plasma cholesterol levels. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment for elevated levels of plasma cholesterol.
US08124578B2	Use of dynamic mixtures for a controlled release of fragrances The present invention relates to a delivery system in the form of a dynamic mixture obtained by reacting together, in the presence of water, at least one hydrazine derivative with at least one perfuming, flavoring, insect repellent or attractant, bactericide or fungicide aldehyde or ketone. The inventive mixture is capable of releasing in a controlled and prolonged manner the aldehyde or ketone in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the present invention concerns also the use of these dynamic mixtures as perfuming ingredients as well as the perfuming compositions or perfumed articles that include such mixtures.
US08124575B1	Polymeric surfactants based upon alkyl polyglycosides and sugars The present invention relates to a series of polyglycoside derivatives that are (a) polymeric (that is cross linked with hydroxypropyl linkages) and (b) contain additional functional groups including alkoxy, sulfate, sulfonate, quaternary and phosphate groups, and (c) sugars to increase water solubility and provide outstanding foaming agents and detergents that are naturally derived and readily biodegradable.
US08124573B2	Striped liquid personal cleansing compositions containing a cleansing phase and a separate benefit phase with improved stability Personal cleansing compositions comprise a cleansing phase comprising a surfactant and water; and a separate, substantially anhydrous benefit phase comprising a hydrophobic skin benefit agent. The cleansing phase and the benefit phase have substantially the same density; wherein the personal cleansing composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquid, semi-liquid, cream, lotion, gel, and mixtures thereof. The two phases are packaged in physical contact. These compositions and corresponding methods provide improved cosmetics, skin feel, and/or skin benefit efficacy.
US08124572B2	Production of biofuels and biolubricants from a common feedstock The present invention is directed to methods and systems for processing triglyceride-containing, biologically-derived oils, wherein such processing comprises conversion of triglycerides to free fatty acids and the separation of these fatty acids by saturation type. Such separation by type enables the efficient preparation of both lubricants and transportation fuels from a common source using a single integrated method and/or system.
US08124571B2	Process for treating an underground formation An underground formation is consolidated by (a) incorporating into a treatment fluid (i) at least one chemical substance which is capable of undergoing a chemical change that alters the physico-chemical environment of the treatment fluid and which is a bicarbonate or a compound that generates a phosphate, phosphoric acid, sulphate, sulphuric acid, hydrogen sulphide, S2−, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, base or acid; and, optionally, (ii) at least one additional chemical substance selected from salts and complexes of metals having a valency of 2 or higher; introducing the treatment fluid into the formation; and allowing the chemical substance (i), alone or in combination with the optional chemical substance (ii), to undergo a chemical change that alters the physico-chemical environment of the treatment fluid such that a consolidating mineral is deposited in the underground formation.
US08124570B2	Multicomponent viscoelastic surfactant fluid and method of using as a fracturing fluid There is a viscoelastic fluid. The fluid has one or more cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of certain quaternary salts, certain amines, and combinations thereof; one or more anionic polymers/anionic surfactants; one or more of certain zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants; and water. There is also a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. The viscoelastic fluid is pumped through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation. There is also a method for gravel packing a subterranean formation.
US08124566B2	Synergistic fungicidal compositions A method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on useful plants or on propagation material thereof, which comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of components A) and B) in a synergistically effective amount, wherein component A) is a compound of formula (I), wherein R1 is difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; Y is —CHR2— or formula (DD) and R2 is hydrogen or C1-C6alkyl; or a tautomer of such a compound; and component B) is a compound selected from compounds known for their fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity, is particularly effective in controlling or preventing fungal diseases of useful plants.
US08124563B2	Heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having at least one heat insulation layer and at least one receptor layer on a support, the heat insulation layer containing at least one hollow polymer, and the receptor layer containing at least one latex polymer having the glass transition temperature (Tg) of 20° C. to 60° C. and at least one polymer compound having an aliphatic group substituted with a fluorine atom at its side chain.
US08124562B2	Thermal transfer ink sheet, ink cartridge, coating composition for dye layer of thermal transfer ink sheet, and thermal transfer recording method A thermal transfer ink sheet having a dye layer containing a polyvinyl acetal modified with a compound of the formula [1] and a polyvinyl acetal modified with a compound of the formula [2]: wherein R1 represents a substituted alkyl group, etc; R2 represents H, etc; wherein R3 represents a linear hydrocarbon group, etc; R4 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.
US08124556B2	Electrochemically active composition, methods of making, and uses thereof Accordingly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides methods for making electrochemically active materials. Methods include making an electrochemically active material by reacting a platinum group metal salt in a organic solvent to yield a mixture, then heating the mixture to create a metal-organic solvent complex and an acid, followed by removing at least a portion of the acid, and yielding an electrochemically active material comprising the metal-organic solvent complex. In an exemplary embodiment, the resulting electrochemically active material may be used for coating an electrode.
US08124555B2	Process for making titanium-MWW zeolite Titanium-MWW zeolite is prepared by heating a gel formed from a titanium compound, a silicon source, a boron source, an MWW-templating agent, and water at a temperature in the range of 35° C. to 75° C. for a period of 8 to 30 hours to form a pre-crystallized gel, and heating the pre-crystallized gel to a temperature in the range of 160° C. to 190° C. for a period of 5 or more days to form the titanium-MWW zeolite. The zeolite, after it is contacted with an acid, is useful in olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide.
US08124553B2	Composite sintered body The composite sintered body of the invention is a composite sintered body, containing 20 volume % or more and 80 volume % or less of cubic boron nitride particles, and a binder; wherein the binder contains at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, borides, and oxides of elements in the group 4a, elements in the group 5a, and elements in the group 6a in the periodic table, and solid solutions thereof, at least one selected from the group consisting of simple substances of Zr, Si, Hf, Ge, W and Co, compounds thereof, and solid solutions thereof, and a compound of Al; and when the composite sintered body contains therein W and/or Co, the total weight of the W and/or Co is less than 2.0 weight % and further the composite sintered body contains therein one or more of the Zr, Si, Hf and Ge (hereinafter referred to as “X”), and when the composite sintered body contains the X, the amount of each of the X is 0.005 weight % or more and less than 2.0 weight %, X/(X+W+Co) is 0.01 or more and 1.0 or less and further the weight of Al is 2.0 weight % or more and 20.0 weight % or less.
US08124546B2	Non-woven fabric that acts as an indicator A non-woven fabric to be used in a disposable absorbent article is disclosed, to which a formula is added during its manufacturing process, either to change its affinity to water and/or to provide same with any desired characteristic, said formula containing an indicator means such that the formula can be detected along the entire length and width of the fabric during the manufacturing process thereof, without the need of carrying out laboratory tests. The indicator means can be an optical indicator, a thermal indicator or a coloring agent.
US08124542B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device The present invention includes the steps of: forming an device isolation region in a substrate to divide the device isolation region into a first and a second diffusion regions; forming a target film to be processed on the substrate; forming a hard mask layer and a first resist layer on the film to be processed; forming a first pattern on the first resist layer; etching the hard mask layer by using the first pattern as a mask; forming a second resist layer on the hard mask layer; forming a second pattern including a first space on the second resist layer for isolating the first pattern; forming a third pattern including a second space shrunk from the first space on the hard mask layer by carrying out size conversion etching by using the second pattern formed on the second resist layer as a mask; and etching the film to be processed by using the third pattern formed on the hard mask layer.
US08124540B2	Hardmask trim method A method for forming features in a polysilicon layer is provided. A hardmask layer is formed over the polysilicon layer. A photoresist mask is formed over the hardmask layer. The hardmask layer is etched through the photoresist mask to form a patterned hardmask. The patterned hardmask is trimmed by providing a non-carbon containing trim gas comprising oxygen and a fluorine containing compound, forming a plasma from the trim gas, and trimming the hardmask. Features are etched into the polysilicon layer through the hardmask.
US08124538B2	Selective etch of high-k dielectric material A method for selectively etching a high-k dielectric layer with respect to a polysilicon material is provided. The high-k dielectric layer is partially removed by Ar sputtering, and then the high-k dielectric layer is etched using an etching gas comprising BCl3. The high-k dielectric layer and the polysilicon material may be formed on a substrate. In order to partially remove the high-k dielectric layer, a sputtering gas containing Ar is provided into an etch chamber in which the substrate is placed, a plasma is generated from the sputtering gas, and then the sputtering gas is stopped. In order to etch the high-k dielectric layer, the etching gas is provided into the etch chamber, a plasma is generated from the etching gas, and then the etching gas is stopped.
US08124534B2	Multiple exposure and single etch integration method A process including forming a silicon layer over a semiconductor wafer having features thereon and then selectively ion implanting in the silicon layer to form ion implanted regions. The step of selectively ion implanting is repeated as many times as necessary to obtain a predetermined number and density of features. Thereafter, the silicon layer is etched to form openings in the silicon layer that were formerly occupied by the ion implanted regions. The opened areas in the silicon layer form a mask for further processing of the semiconductor wafer.
US08124531B2	Depositing tungsten into high aspect ratio features Methods and apparatuses for filling high aspect ratio features with tungsten-containing materials in a substantially void-free manner are provided. In certain embodiments, the method involves depositing an initial layer of a tungsten-containing material followed by selectively removing a portion of the initial layer to form a remaining layer, which is differentially passivated along the depth of the high-aspect ration feature. In certain embodiments, the remaining layer is more passivated near the feature opening than inside the feature. The method may proceed with depositing an additional layer of the same or other material over the remaining layer. The deposition rate during this later deposition operation is slower near the feature opening than inside the features due to the differential passivation of the remaining layer. This deposition variation, in turn, may aid in preventing premature closing of the feature and facilitate filling of the feature in a substantially void free manner.
US08124529B2	Semiconductor device fabricated using a metal microstructure control process The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a metallic gate layer over a gate dielectric layer where the metallic gate layer has a crystallographic orientation, and re-orienting the crystallographic orientation of the metallic gate layer by subjecting the metallic gate layer to a hydrogen anneal.
US08124524B2	Methods of forming metal interconnection structures Methods of forming a metal interconnection structure are provided. The methods include forming an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate including a first metal interconnection. The insulating layer is patterned to form an opening that exposes the first metal interconnection. A first diffusion barrier layer is formed on the exposed first metal interconnection. After forming the first diffusion barrier layer, a second diffusion barrier layer is formed on the first diffusion barrier layer in the opening, the second diffusion barrier layer contacting a sidewall of the opening. A second metal interconnection is formed on the second diffusion barrier layer.
US08124522B1	Reducing UV and dielectric diffusion barrier interaction through the modulation of optical properties Provided are methods of stabilizing an underlying dielectric diffusion barrier during deposition and ultraviolet (UV) processing of an overlying dielectric layer. Methods include modulating the optical properties reduces the effects of UV radiation on the dielectric diffusion barrier layer. The dielectric diffusion barrier can be made to absorb less UV radiation. A dielectric layer with UV absorbing properties may also be added on top of the diffusion barrier layer so less UV is transmitted. Both methods result in reduced interaction between UV radiation and the dielectric diffusion barrier.
US08124521B2	Electrical through contact A method of fabricating an electrical contact through a through hole in a substrate, wherein the through hole is at least in part filled with a liquid conductive material and the solidified liquid conductive material provides an electrical contact through the through hole.
US08124519B2	Apparatus and method for bonding silicon wafer to conductive substrate A system and method is disclosed for bonding a substrate to a semiconductor die that is prone to curling when subjected to an elevated temperature in a solder reflow oven, for example, thereby improving the electrical and mechanical bonding for large dies, wafers, chips, and photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the substrate is adapted to curl to the same degree as the die to form a uniform gap between the substrate and die across the boundary there between. In another embodiment, solder used to bond the die and substrate is applied such that the volume deposited varies based on the expected gap between the die and substrate when heated to the melting temperature of the solder.
US08124518B2	Semiconductor heterostructure nanowire devices Nanowire devices comprising core-shell or segmented nanowires are provided. In these nanowire devices, strain can be used as a tool to form metallic portions in nanowires made from compound semiconductor materials, and/or to create nanowires in which embedded quantum dots experience negative hydrostatic pressure or high positive hydrostatic pressure, whereby a phase transitions may occur, and/or to create exciton crystals.
US08124516B2	Trilayer resist organic layer etch A method of forming dual damascene features in a porous low-k dielectric layer is provided. Vias are formed in the porous low-k dielectric layer. An organic planarization layer is formed over the porous low-k dielectric layer, wherein the organic layer fills the vias. A photoresist mask is formed over the organic planarization layer. Features are etched into the organic planarization layer comprising providing a CO2 containing etch gas and forming a plasma from the CO2 containing etch gas, which etches the organic planarization layer. Trenches are etched into the porous low-k dielectric layer using the organic planarization layer as a mask. The organic planarization layer is stripped.
US08124515B2	Gate etch optimization through silicon dopant profile change Improved semiconductor devices comprising metal gate electrodes are formed with reduced performance variability by reducing the initial high dopant concentration at the top portion of the silicon layer overlying the metal layer. Embodiments include reducing the dopant concentration in the upper portion of the silicon layer, by implanting a counter-dopant into the upper portion of the silicon layer, removing the high dopant concentration portion and replacing it with undoped or lightly doped silicon, and applying a gettering agent to the upper surface of the silicon layer to form a thin layer with the gettered dopant, which layer can be removed or retained.
US08124513B2	Germanium field effect transistors and fabrication thereof Germanium field effect transistors and methods of fabricating them are described. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a germanium oxide layer over a substrate and forming a metal oxide layer over the germanium oxide layer. The germanium oxide layer and the metal oxide layer are converted into a first dielectric layer. A first electrode layer is deposited over the first dielectric layer.
US08124511B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having reduced N/P or P/N junction crystal disorder One aspect provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having reduced N/P or P/N junction crystal disorder. In one aspect, this improvement is achieved by forming gate electrodes over a semiconductor substrate, amorphizing the semiconductor substrate that creates amorphous regions adjacent the gate electrodes to a depth in the semiconductor substrate. Source/drains are formed adjacent the gate electrodes by placing conductive dopants in the semiconductor substrate, wherein displaced substrate atoms and the conductive dopants are contained within the depth of the amorphous regions. The semiconductor substrate is annealed to re-crystallize the amorphous regions subsequent to forming the source/drains.
US08124509B2	Method of forming porous diamond films for semiconductor applications The porosity of a diamond film may be increased and its dielectric constant lowered by exposing a film containing sp3 hybridization to ion implantation. The implantation produces a greater concentration of sp2 hybridizations. The sp2 hybridizations may then be selectively etched, for example, using atomic hydrogen plasma to increase the porosity of the film. A series of layers may be deposited and successively treated in the same fashion to build up a composite, porous diamond film.
US08124506B2	USJ techniques with helium-treated substrates A method of using helium to create ultra shallow junctions is disclosed. A pre-implantation amorphization using helium has significant advantages. For example, it has been shown that dopants will penetrate the substrate only to the amorphous-crystalline interface, and no further. Therefore, by properly determining the implant energy of helium, it is possible to exactly determine the junction depth. Increased doses of dopant simply reduce the substrate resistance with no effect on junction depth. Furthermore, the lateral straggle of helium is related to the implant energy and the dose rate of the helium PAI, therefore lateral diffusion can also be determined based on the implant energy and dose rate of the helium PAI. Thus, dopant may be precisely implanted beneath a sidewall spacer, or other obstruction.
US08124505B1	Two stage plasma etching method for enhancement mode GaN HFET A two stage plasma etching technique is described that allows the fabrication of an enhancement mode GaN HFET/HEMT. A gate recess area is formed in the Aluminum Gallium Nitride barrier layer of an GaN HFET/HEMT. The gate recess is formed by a two stage etching process. The first stage of the technique uses oxygen to oxidize the surface of the Aluminum Gallium Nitride barrier layer below the gate. Then the second stage uses Boron tricloride to remove the oxidized layer. The result is a self limiting etch process that uniformly thins the Aluminum Gallium Nitride layer below the HFET's gate region such that the two dimensional electron gas is not formed below the gate, thus creating an enhancement mode HFET.
US08124504B2	Method for growth of GaN single crystal, method for preparation of GaN substrate, process for producing GaN-based element, and GaN-based element A GaN-based thin film (thick film) is grown using a metal buffer layer grown on a substrate. (a) A metal buffer layer (210) made of, for example, Cr or Cu is vapor-deposited on a sapphire substrate (120). (b) A substrate obtained by vapor-depositing the metal buffer layer (210) on the sapphire substrate (120) is nitrided in an ammonia gas ambient, thereby forming a metal nitride layer (212). (c) A GaN buffer layer (222) is grown on the nitrided metal buffer layers (210, 212). (d) Finally, a GaN single-crystal layer (220) is grown. This GaN single-crystal layer (220) can be grown to have various thicknesses depending on the objects. A freestanding substrate can be fabricated by selective chemical etching of the substrate fabricated by the above steps. It is also possible to use the substrate fabricated by the above steps as a GaN template substrate for fabricating a GaN-based light emitting diode or laser diode.
US08124499B2	Method and structure for thick layer transfer using a linear accelerator Free standing thickness of materials are fabricated using one or more semiconductor substrates, e.g., single crystal silicon, polysilicon, silicon germanium, germanium, group III/IV materials, and others. A semiconductor substrate is provided having a surface region and a thickness. The surface region of the semiconductor substrate is subjected to a first plurality of high energy particles generated using a linear accelerator to form a region of a plurality of gettering sites within a cleave region, the cleave region being provided beneath the surface region to defined a thickness of material to be detached, the semiconductor substrate being maintained at a first temperature. The surface region of the semiconductor substrate is subjected to a second plurality of high energy particles generated using the linear accelerator, the second plurality of high energy particles being provided to increase a stress level of the cleave region from a first stress level to a second stress level.
US08124498B2	Method of manufacturing group III nitride semiconductor layer bonded substrate The present method of manufacturing a group III nitride semiconductor layer bonded substrate includes the steps of: implanting ions I of at least any of hydrogen and helium in a region having a prescribed depth D from one main surface of a group III nitride semiconductor substrate; bonding a different-composition substrate with the main surface of the group III nitride semiconductor substrate; obtaining a group III nitride semiconductor layer bonded substrate by separating the group III nitride semiconductor substrate at a region implanted with the ions I; and annealing the group III nitride semiconductor layer bonded substrate at a temperature not lower than 700° C. in an atmosphere of a nitrogen-containing gas N. Thus, a group III nitride semiconductor layer bonded substrate high in crystallinity of a group III nitride semiconductor layer is provided.
US08124497B2	Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxial layer on a first support substrate, forming a second support substrate on the GaN epitaxial layer, forming a passivation layer on a surface of the other region except for the first support substrate, etching the first support substrate by using the passivation layer as a mask, and removing the passivation layer and thereby exposing the second support substrate and the GaN epitaxial layer.
US08124496B2	Cable connector assembly with improved printed circuit board A cable connector assembly (100) comprises a mating member (3) assembled with a plurality of contacts (33, 34), a printed circuit board (2), a cable (7) having a plurality of wires (71) and a strain relief portion (72), and a light pipe located (4) between the printed circuit board and the strain relief portion. The printed circuit board is attached with a LED (24), and the LED is electrically connected with the contacts. The printed circuit board defines a front surface, a rear surface and a cutout (23) extending through the front surface and the rear surface along a mating direction, and the LED is disposed behind the rear surface of the printed circuit board, the wires are extending through the cutout of the printed circuit board and soldered to the contacts in front of the printed circuit board.
US08124494B2	Method for reshaping silicon surfaces with shallow trench isolation A method for making a semiconductor device by reshaping a silicon surface with a sacrificial layer is presented. In the present invention the steps of forming a sacrificial dielectric layer and removing the sacrificial dielectric layer are repeated multiple times in order to remove sharp edges from the silicon surface near the field oxides. Another aspect of the present invention includes making a MOSFET transistor that incorporates the forming and removing of multiple sacrificial layers into the process.
US08124493B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an electrode exposed through a hole A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to the following processes. A first insulating film is formed over a substrate. A second insulating film is formed on the first insulating film. An electrode penetrating the first and the second insulating films is formed. A part of the second insulating film and a part of the electrode are removed so that a first hole is formed in the second insulating film. A first portion of the electrode is exposed through the first hole. A part of the first portion of the electrode is removed by an isotropic etching.
US08124487B2	Method for enhancing tensile stress and source/drain activation using Si:C A method is disclosed for enhancing tensile stress in the channel region of a semiconductor structure. The method includes performing a series of ion implantation steps at predetermined implant energies to implant carbon ions deep within the semiconductor structure to create a strain layer. The strain layer is annealed using a millisecond anneal process. Subsequent ion implantation steps are used to dope the source/drain region, and the source/drain extension with phosphorus ions, so that the doped regions remain above the strain layer. A second millisecond anneal step activates the source/drain region and the source/drain extension. The strain layer enhances carrier mobility within a channel region of the semiconductor structure, while also preventing diffusion of P within the structure.
US08124484B2	Forming a MOS memory device having a dielectric film laminate as a charge accumulation region To manufacture a MOS memory device having a dielectric film laminate in which adjacent dielectric films have band-gaps of different magnitudes, a plasma processing device which transmits microwaves to a chamber by means of a planar antenna having a plurality of holes is used to perform plasma CVD under pressure conditions that differ from at least pressure conditions used when forming the adjacent dielectric films, and the dielectric films are sequentially formed by altering the band-gaps of the adjacent dielectric films that constitute the dielectric film laminate.
US08124483B2	Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor, the transistor including a fin having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The transistor includes a first gate electrode disposed on the first side of the fin and a second gate electrode disposed on the second side of the fin. The method includes forming a silicide or germanide of a metal on the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode of the transistor. The amount of the metal of the silicide or germanide is substantially homogeneous over the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode proximate the fin.
US08124482B2	MOS transistor with gate trench adjacent to drain extension field insulation An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region. The body well and source diffused region overlap the bottom surface of the gate trench. An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a first trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region, and a second trenched gate located over a heavily doped buried layer. The buried layer is the same conductivity type as the drift region. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor, which includes an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region of a drain of the transistor, and a gate formed in a gate trench which abuts the isolation dielectric layer. The gate trench is formed by removing substrate material adjacent to the isolation dielectric layer.
US08124481B2	Semiconductor device for reducing interference between adjoining gates and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region having a plurality of recessed channel areas extending across the active region and a plurality of junction areas also extending across the active region. Gates are formed in and over the recessed channel areas of the active region. A device isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor substrate to delimit the active region, and the device isolation structure has recessed portions, each of which is formed near a junction area of the active region. Landing plugs are formed over each junction area in the active region and extend to fill the recessed portion of the device isolation structure outside the active region. The semiconductor device suppresses interference caused by an adjoining gate leading to a decrease in leakage current from a cell transistor.
US08124480B2	Methods of fabricating silicon carbide devices incorporating multiple floating guard ring edge terminations Edge termination for silicon carbide devices has a plurality of concentric floating guard rings in a silicon carbide layer that are adjacent and spaced apart from a silicon carbide-based semiconductor junction. An insulating layer, such as an oxide, is provided on the floating guard rings and a silicon carbide surface charge compensation region is provided between the floating guard rings and is adjacent the insulating layer. Methods of fabricating such edge termination are also provided.
US08124478B2	Method for fabricating flash memory device having vertical floating gate A method for fabricating a flash memory device includes forming a control gate having a hollow donut shape over an insulation layer formed over a substrate. The method also includes forming an inter-poly dielectric of a spacer shape on an inner wall of the control gate, filling a conductive layer for a floating gate between the spacer shaped inter-poly dielectrics, and forming an interlayer insulation layer over a resulting product formed with the conductive layer for a floating gate. The method further includes removing a center portion of the conductive layer for a floating gate to form an opening, forming a tunnel insulation layer on an inner face of the opening, and filling with a semiconductor layer the opening formed with the tunnel insulation layer to form an active region.
US08124476B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same Provided is a semiconductor device, including a silicon substrate, a first insulating film formed on the silicon substrate, a first conductive plug formed in an inside of a first contact hole of the first insulating film, an underlying conductive film having a flat surface formed on the first conductive plug and in the circumference thereof, a crystalline conductive film formed on the underlying conductive film, and a capacitor in which a lower electrode, a dielectric film made of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode are laminated in this order on the crystalline conductive film.
US08124473B2	Strain enhanced semiconductor devices and methods for their fabrication A strain enhanced semiconductor device and methods for its fabrication are provided. One method comprises embedding a strain inducing semiconductor material in the source and drain regions of the device to induce a strain in the device channel. Thin metal silicide contacts are formed to the source and drain regions so as not to relieve the induced strain. A layer of conductive material is selectively deposited in contact with the thin metal silicide contacts, and metallized contacts are formed to the conductive material.
US08124467B2	Reducing silicide resistance in silicon/germanium-containing drain/source regions of transistors In sophisticated P-channel transistors, a high germanium concentration may be used in a silicon/germanium alloy, wherein an additional semiconductor cap layer may provide enhanced process conditions during the formation of a metal silicide. For example, a silicon layer may be formed on the silicon/germanium alloy, possibly including a further strain-inducing atomic species other than germanium, in order to provide a high strain component while also providing superior conditions during the silicidation process.
US08124464B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same This disclosure concerns a semiconductor device comprising a convex-shaped semiconductor layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; an insulation film formed on the semiconductor substrate, the insulation film having a film thickness to the extent that a lower part of the semiconductor layer is buried; a gate electrode formed on a set of both opposed side faces via a gate insulation film; and a source region and a drain region formed on a side face side on which the gate electrode is not formed in the semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layer is formed so as to dispose surfaces of a peripheral part excepting a central part on an outer side than surfaces of the central part covered by at least the gate electrode.
US08124462B2	Enhanced integrated circuit package A semiconductor including a selectively plated lead frame is disclosed. The lead frame contains a die pad and a plurality of lead fingers, where each lead finger is formed with a bonding pad on the center portion of the lead finger by selective plating. The surface area of the lead finger material is increased so the adhesion to molding material is improved. The edges of the lead finger tips are half etched to further increase the surface area of lead finger material. A method of manufacturing the lead frame is also provided.
US08124459B2	Bump chip carrier semiconductor package system A bump chip carrier semiconductor package system is provided including providing a lead frame, forming circuit sockets in the lead frame, mounting a semiconductor die on the lead frame, wherein the semiconductor die have electrical interconnects that connects to the circuit sockets, and encapsulating a molding compound to cover the semiconductor die and the electrical interconnects.
US08124458B2	Method for packaging semiconductor dies having through-silicon vias An integrated circuit structure is provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a die and an anisotropic conducing film (ACF) adjoining the back surface of the die. The die includes a front surface; a back surface on an opposite side of the die than the front surface; and a through-silicon via (TSV) exposed through the back surface of the die.
US08124457B2	Manufacturing method of transferring a wiring circuit layer on a metal support substrate to a semiconductor element A wiring circuit layer 2 having a connecting conductor part 21 that can be connected to an electrode 31 of a semiconductor element 3 is formed on a metal support substrate 1 in a way such that the wiring circuit layer can be separated from the substrate 1, and that the connecting conductor part 21 is exposed on the upper face of the wiring circuit layer. The wiring circuit layer 2 is laminated on the element 3 while in a wafer state, and the connecting conductor part 21 and the electrode 31 are connected. Subsequently, the support substrate 1 is peeled from the wiring circuit layer 2, and the wafer is diced, whereby individual semiconductor devices are obtained.
US08124454B1	Die separation Techniques for fabricating metal devices, such as vertical light-emitting diode (VLED) devices, power devices, laser diodes, and vertical cavity surface emitting laser devices, are provided. Devices produced accordingly may benefit from greater yields and enhanced performance over conventional metal devices, such as higher brightness of the light-emitting diode and increased thermal conductivity. Moreover, the invention discloses techniques in the fabrication arts that are applicable to GaN-based electronic devices in cases where there is a high heat dissipation rate of the metal devices that have an original non- (or low) thermally conductive and/or non- (or low) electrically conductive carrier substrate that has been removed.
US08124452B2	Processes and structures for IC fabrication The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for the separations of IC fabrication and assembling of separated IC components to form complete IC structures. In an embodiment, the present fabrication separation of an IC structure into multiple discrete components can take advantages of dedicated IC fabrication facilities and achieve more cost effective products. The process can separate the integrated circuits into an analog portion and a digital portion with the analog portion comprising passive components utilizing dielectric materials different than silicon dioxide and active components utilizing channel materials different than substrate single crystal silicon.
US08124451B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with interposer An integrated circuit packaging system comprising: fabricating an interposer array having an access opening; fabricating a base package substrate sheet; attaching a first integrated circuit die over the base package substrate sheet; mounting the interposer array over the first integrated circuit die; and singulating a base package from the base package substrate sheet and the interposer array by cutting the access opening generally through the center.
US08124450B2	Stacking multiple devices using single-piece interconnecting element An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to stack multiple devices using an interconnecting element. A board has a periphery and top and bottom surfaces. The top surface has top contact pads to attach to a first device. The bottom surface is milled down to form a cavity confined by vertical walls around the periphery. The cavity fits a second device. Bottom contact pads are formed on bottom side of the vertical walls. The bottom contact pads are raised with respect to the bottom side of the vertical walls. Traces internal to the board connect the bottom contact pads to the top contact pads.
US08124447B2	Manufacturing method of advanced quad flat non-leaded package The manufacturing method of advanced quad flat non-leaded packages includes performing a pre-cutting process prior to the backside etching process for defining the contact terminals. The pre-cutting process ensures the isolation of individual contact terminals and improves the package reliability.
US08124446B2	Structure of high performance combo chip and processing method A method for fabricating a chip package is achieved. A seed layer is formed over a silicon wafer. A photoresist layer is formed on the seed layer, an opening in the photoresist layer exposing the seed layer. A first solder bump is formed on the seed layer exposed by the opening. The photoresist layer is removed. The seed layer not under the first solder bump is removed. A second solder bump on a chip is joined to the first solder bump.
US08124442B2	Manufacturing method of light-emitting device An object is to provide a manufacturing method of a light-emitting device including an organic compound layer, in which a desired organic compound layer is easily formed using a plurality of evaporation materials. A first organic compound layer containing a plurality of evaporation materials is formed over a first substrate. The first organic compound layer is formed using a mixture formed by mixture of the plurality of evaporation materials in advance. A second substrate is placed at a position facing the first substrate so as to face the first organic compound layer provided for the first substrate. The first organic compound layer as an evaporation source is heated to be vaporized and a desired second organic compound layer is formed over the second substrate placed so as to face the first substrate. Accordingly, a light-emitting device is manufactured.
US08124438B2	Method of fabricating CMOS image sensor A CMOS image sensor and a method of fabricating the same. The CMOS image sensor may minimize disappearance of electrons generated by light without transmission of electrons to a transfer gate. A method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor may include forming a trench over an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate to define an active region including a photodiode region and a transistor region. The method may include forming first conductivity-type ion implanted regions over a trench side wall of a photodiode region and over a region adjacent to the transistor region. The method may include forming second conductivity-type ion implanted regions between a first conductivity-type ion implanted region and a trench, and between a lower part of a transistor region and a first conductivity-type ion implanted region. The method may include forming an isolation layer, forming a gate electrode and a spacer, and/or forming a photodiode.
US08124437B2	Forming protrusions in solar cells Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a solar cell. The method includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. An article having a plurality of protrusions touches the surface of the substrate and thereby forming a plurality of indentations thereon. Subsequently, a transparent conductive layer is formed on the indented surface of the substrate, a photovoltaic layer is formed on the transparent conductive layer, and then a back electrode is form above the photovoltaic layer.
US08124432B2	Nitride semiconductor optical element and manufacturing method thereof In an InGaN-based nitride semiconductor optical device having a long wavelength (440 nm or more) equal to or more than that of blue, the increase of a wavelength is realized while suppressing In (Indium) segregation and deterioration of crystallinity. In the manufacture of an InGaN-based nitride semiconductor optical device having an InGaN-based quantum well active layer including an InGaN well layer and an InGaN barrier layer, a step of growing the InGaN barrier layer includes: a first step of adding hydrogen at 1% or more to a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia and growing a GaN layer in the gas atmosphere; and a second step of growing the InGaN barrier layer in a gas atmosphere composed of nitrogen and ammonia.
US08124428B2	Structure and method for testing MEMS devices A method for determining the presence of a sacrificial layer under a structure. The method includes providing at least one structure arranged above a substrate having a major surface lying in a plane, the at least one structure being clamped at at least one side. The method further includes exerting a force, such as a mechanical force, on the at least one structure. The force may have a predetermined amplitude and a component perpendicular to the substrate. Still further, the method includes determining the deflection of the at least one structure perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, and correlating the deflection of the at least one structure to the presence of a sacrificial layer between the substrate and the structure.
US08124421B2	Flow control technique for assay devices A method for controlling fluid flow in an assay device that employs a membrane is provided. Specifically, one or more recessed regions are formed in the membrane by applying a solvent treatment thereto. The solvent treatment is selected based on its particular dissolving capacity for the material used to form the membrane. For example, an alcohol-based solvent, such as methanol, may be used as a solvent for nitrocellulose membranes. Upon contact with the solvent treatment, a recessed region is formed that may serve a variety of different functions relating to flow control. In one particular embodiment, the recessed region may function as a metering channel that is capable of delivering a controlled volume of the test sample to a detection zone upon initiation of the assay.
US08124420B2	Reagent, a kit, and a method for detecting and identifying a wide range of illicit drugs A reagent for detecting and identifying a chemical substance. The reagent is an emulsion including a cobalt salt dissolved in water which also includes at least one organic solvent that is at least partly water-miscible and also including an organic compound which serves as an ion pair color changing indicator or a pH sensitive color changing indicator, the organic compound dissolved in an organic solvent only partly miscible with water. A two product kit for detecting and identifying a chemical substance is also taught. The kit includes the aforementioned reagent and a diazonium salt, typically a diazonium salt having electron withdrawing groups on its phenyl rings. A method for detecting and identifying a chemical substance using the two product kit is also discussed. The reagent, testing kit and method may be used for detecting and identifying controlled substances.
US08124418B2	Method for electrochemically measuring phosphoric acid and/or phosphate Disclosed is a method for measuring a phosphoric acid and/or a phosphate in a sample simply and rapidly with high sensitivity. Specifically disclosed is a method for electrochemically measuring a phosphoric acid and/or a phosphate ester, which is characterized by measuring PO43− produced through a chemical reaction of a phosphate, more specifically by measuring the redox response current between PO43− and HPO42−.
US08124417B2	Method for analyzing nucleobases on a single molecular basis A method is herein presented for analyzing nucleobases on a single molecular basis (a single molecule detection), which comprises scanning a molecular tip chemically modified with the complementary nucleobase on the nucleobases, and measuring the tunneling currents between the scanned nucleobases and the molecular tips with scanning tunneling microscopy.
US08124415B2	Method and test for blood serum component analysis The discovery that apolipoprotein B exhibits spectral features in the mid IR spectrum that make it identifiable within blood serum leads to the invented use of a statistical correlation between a concentration of apolipoprotein-B (apoB) in a sample of blood serum and infrared spectral features of the blood serum sample to produce a test for apoB. A method for providing such a test, and tests produced by the method are taught.
US08124412B2	Method of culturing conifer somatic embryos using S(+)-abscisic acid A method for promoting maturation and development of vigorous conifer (gymnosperm) somatic embryos comprising the use of S(+)-ABA as the substantive form of ABA.
US08124411B2	Methods for producing transgenic plants A method of producing a stably transformed corn plant in a single container is demonstrated. This method allows for the automation of the transformation process and reduces labor, material, and ergonomic costs associated with traditional plant tissue culture systems.
US08124407B2	Circular nucleic acid vectors, and methods for making and using the same Circular nucleic acid vectors that provide for persistently high levels of protein expression are provided. The circular vectors of the subject invention are characterized by being devoid of expression-silencing bacterial sequences, where in many embodiments the subject vectors include a unidirectional site-specific recombination product hybrid sequence in addition to an expression cassette. Also provided are methods of using the subject vectors for introduction of a nucleic acid, e.g., an expression cassette, into a target cell, as well as preparations for use in practicing such methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications. Also provided is a highly efficient and readily scalable method for producing the vectors employed in the subject methods, as well as reagents and kits/systems for practicing the same.
US08124404B2	Stable integrands There is provided a transposable element comprising at least four inverted repeats, at least two of which are each inverted in relation to another, the element comprising DNA for insertion into a host genome, the DNA being located between two pairs of opposing repeats excisable by a transposase in situ to leave said DNA without flanking transposon-derived repeats in the host genome. Also provided is a transposable element comprising at least three inverted repeats, at least one of which is inverted in relation to the others, wherein at least one non-terminal repeat is a minimal repeat. Both these elements allow for greater efficiency of insertion of nucleotide sequences into the genome.
US08124399B2	Enhanced protein expression in Bacillus The present invention provides cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an altered capacity to produce expressed proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to Gram-positive microorganisms, such as Bacillus species having enhanced expression of a protein of interest, wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been inactivated, and preferably wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been deleted from the Bacillus chromosome. In some further embodiments, one or more indigenous chromosomal regions have been deleted from a corresponding wild-type Bacillus host chromosome.
US08124393B2	Compositions and methods for inducing or inhibiting activities of selected human cells Polynucleotides encoding a mutant human carboxylesterase enzyme and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides which are capable of metabolizing a prodrug and inactive metabolites thereof to active drug are provided. Compositions and methods for sensitizing cells to a prodrug agent, inhibiting cell growth, treating drug addiction, and facilitating the metabolism of an organophosphate with this enzyme are also provided. In addition, a screening assay for identification of drugs activated by this enzyme is described.
US08124385B2	Enhanced production of lipids containing polyenoic fatty acid by very high density cultures of eukaryotic microbes in fermentors The present invention provides a process for growing eukaryotic microorganisms which are capable of producing lipids, in particular lipids containing polyenoic fatty acids. The present invention also provides a process for producing eukaryotic microbial lipids.
US08124383B2	Methods and kits for diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of epstein-barr virus (EBV)—associated cancer Disclosed is a non-invasive method for diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer by detecting and/or quantifying EBV associated nucleic acid fragments in a urine sample from an individual. Kits for diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of cancer are also disclosed.
US08124381B2	Process and materials for production of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine A biosynthetic method for producing glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine is disclosed. Such a method includes the fermentation of a genetically modified microorganism to produce glucosamine and/or N-acetylglucosamine. Also disclosed are genetically modified microorganisms that are useful for producing glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine. In addition, methods of recovering N-acetylglucosamine that has been produced by a fermentation process, including methods that result in N-acetylglucosamine of high purity, are described. Also disclosed is a method to produce glucosamine from N-acetylglucosamine.
US08124380B2	Glycoconjugates and their use as potential vaccines against infection by Shigella flexneri A conjugate molecule comprising an oligo- or polysaccharide covalently bound to a carrier and its use as potential vaccine against infection by S. Flexneri.
US08124376B2	Methods for producing biological substances in pigment-deficient mutants of bacillus cells The present invention relates to methods of producing a heterologous biological substance, comprising: (a) cultivating a mutant of a parent Bacillus cell under conditions conducive for the production of the heterologous biological substance, wherein (i) the mutant cell comprises a first nucleic acid sequence directing synthesis of the heterologous biological substance and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a modification of at least one of the genes cypX and yvmC, which are involved in the production of a red pigment, and (ii) the mutant cell is deficient in the production of the red pigment compared to the parent Bacillus cell when cultivated under the same conditions; and (b) recovering the heterologous biological substance from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to mutants of Bacillus cells and methods for producing the mutants.
US08124365B2	Identification of genotype-selective anti-tumor agents The present invention relate to methods of identifying a genotype-selective agent. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to agents that are selectively toxic to engineered human tumorigenic cells.
US08124362B2	Nonseparation assay methods Assay methods are disclosed involving specific binding reactions which are simplified compared to known methods. A compound capable of producing chemiluminescence is immobilized on a solid support as is a member of a specific binding pair for capturing an analyte from a sample. An activator compound that activates the chemiluminescent compound and is conjugated to a specific binding pair member is added in excess along with the sample to the solid support. Addition of a trigger solution causes a chemiluminescent reaction at the sites where the activator conjugate has been specifically bound. The assay methods are termed non-separation assays because they do not require removal or separation of excess detection label (activator conjugate) prior to the detection step. The methods are applicable to various types of assays including immunoassays, receptor-ligand assays and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
US08124360B2	Use of a T1R2 nucleic acid sequence to identify tastants Provided are functional methods using the T1R2 monomer of the T1R2/T1R3 sweet receptor to identify agonists and modulators of the sweet taste response.
US08124351B2	Quantification of fusion proteins and their activity from chromosomal translocation The present invention concerns the detection of gene products resulting from chromosomal translocations, including fusion proteins comprising a first and second region. In particular, the fusion proteins are identified following subjecting a sample comprising the proteins to a bead comprising an antibody to a first region, followed by subjecting the bead-antibody-fusion complex to a second antibody directed against the second region, thereby detecting the fusion protein. In particular aspects, the invention is employed to provide prognosis for an individual with cancer, to identify suitability for a particular cancer therapy, and/or to monitor response of a patient to a therapy, for example.
US08124350B2	Methods and products for evaluating an immune response to a therapeutic protein The invention relates to methods and products for the identification of a clinically significant immune response in subjects treated with a therapeutic protein. A first aspect of the invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying a clinically significant immune response in patients treated with therapeutic amounts of a VLA4 binding antibody (e.g., natalizumab). A second aspect of the invention concerns the chronological details of sample collection for determining the titre of antibodies against the therapeutic protein, e.g. the collection of at least two samples at two different time points. A third aspect of the invention relates to the selection of the critical threshold level, which corresponds to the antibody titre of untreated patients increased by the double of the standard deviation of this control antibody titre.
US08124348B2	Oral fluid rapid assay for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies using non-antibody labeling of IgA molecules recognizing HCV peptide epitopes A method and device to detect Hepatitis C (HCV) antibodies in oral fluid is provided. This method introduces a non-antibody detection molecule that labels all classes of patient antibodies in oral fluid, followed by the specific concentration of labeled anti-HCV antibodies by selective capture in a trapping zone consisting of peptide antigens derived from the HCV genome. Signal generated by the labeled antibodies present in the trapping zone is proportional to the number of anti-HCV antibodies bound to the antigens present in the trapping zone. Presence of signal derived from the capture of antibody/detection molecule complexes in the trapping zone is indicative of past exposure to HCV.
US08124345B2	Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations The present invention provides novel mutations of the CFTR gene related to cystic fibrosis or to conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. Also provided are probes for detecting the mutant sequences. Methods of identifying if an individual has a genotype containing one or more mutations in the CFTR gene are further provided.
US08124340B2	Methods for enrichment of selected RNA molecules Improved methods of studying RNA molecules are provided. In particular, methods of treating mixtures of RNA molecules so as to enrich the mixture for a desired type of RNA molecule are provided. For example, the methods permit depletion of mRNA from complex mixtures to facilitate study of microRNAs in the mixture.
US08124335B2	Compositions and assays to detect influenza virus A and B nucleic acids Methods for detecting influenza virus A and influenza virus B nucleic acids in biological samples by using in vitro amplification and detection are disclosed. Compositions that are target-specific nucleic acid sequences and kits comprising target-specific nucleic acid oligomers for amplifying in vitro influenza virus A or influenza virus B nucleic acid and detecting amplified nucleic acid sequences are disclosed.
US08124333B2	Methods for covalent linking of optical reporters A method to link a light emitting reporter to biomolecules with nucleotide oligomers is described. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particle generated by the methods of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.
US08124327B2	Method for using compositions containing fluorocarbinols in lithographic processes The present invention involves a method for generating a photoresist image on a substrate. The method comprises coating a substrate with a film comprising a polymer comprising fluorocarbinol monomers; imagewise exposing the film to radiation; heating the film to a temperature of, at, or below about 90° C. and developing the image. The present invention also relates to a method for generating a photoresist image on a substrate where a polymer comprising fluorocarbinol monomers is used as a protective top coat.
US08124326B2	Methods of patterning positive photoresist A method of patterning positive photoresist includes providing positive photoresist over a substrate. An area of the positive photoresist is exposed to a pattern of activating radiation at a dose which is below the Dose To CD of the pattern with the positive photoresist. The area of the positive photoresist is flood exposed to activating radiation at a dose from 1% to 75% of E0. A sum of the flood dose and the pattern dose is less than the Dose To CD yet effective to resolve the pattern in the positive photoresist upon develop. After exposing the area to the flood dose and the pattern dose, the area of the positive photoresist is developed to resolve the pattern in the positive photoresist. Other embodiments are contemplated.
US08124325B2	Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of microstructures A method of manufacturing microstructures is disclosed, the method comprising a applying a mask to substrate; forming a pattern in the mask; processing the substrate according to the pattern; and mechanically removing the mask from the substrate. A polymer mask is disclosed for manufacturing micro scale structure, the polymer mask comprising a thin, preferably ultra thin flexible film. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit is disclosed, the method comprising forming a plurality of isolated semiconductor devices on a common substrate; and connecting some of the devices. Apparatus for manufacturing microstructures is disclosed comprising: a mechanism for coating a mass substrate to create a structure; a mechanism for removing a mask from the substrate; and processing apparatus. A thin film transistor is disclosed comprising drain source and gate electrodes, the drain and source electrode being separated by a semiconductor, and the gate electrode being separated from the semiconductor by an insulator, comprising a bandgap alignment layer disposed between a semiconductor and the insulator.
US08124323B2	Method for patterning a photosensitive layer The method of patterning a photosensitive layer includes providing a substrate including a first layer formed thereon, treating the substrate including the first layer with cations, forming a first photosensitive layer over the first layer, patterning the first photosensitive layer to form a first pattern, treating the first pattern with cations, forming a second photosensitive layer over the treated first pattern, patterning the second photosensitive layer to form a second pattern, and processing the first layer using the first and second patterns as a mask.
US08124316B2	Photosensitive sheets and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same Photosensitive film can be protected in stacking photosensitive sheets and a sheet can be separated one at a time in a state where photosensitive sheets are stacked, ensuring its taking out. An apparatus for manufacturing PS plates, which is adapted to provide photosensitive film on one side of both surfaces of the web, is provided with a coating device for applying coating liquid to form resin film on the other side of the web, a drying device for drying and solidifying the coating liquid applied, and a concave and convex portions forming device for forming concave and convex portions on the surface of the resin film.
US08124314B2	Radiation-sensitive composition A radiation-sensitive composition includes (A) a first polymer which becomes alkali-soluble by the action of an acid and does not contain a fluorine atom, (B) a second polymer having a repeating unit (b1) shown by the following formula (1) and a fluorine-containing repeating unit (b2), and (C) a radiation-sensitive acid generator, the content of the second polymer (B) in the composition being 0.1 to 20 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the first polymer (A). wherein R1 represents a monovalent organic group, and R8 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. The composition can form a resist film capable of suppressing defects inherent to liquid immersion lithography such as watermark defects and bubble defects.
US08124313B2	Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, novel compound, and acid generator A compound represented by general formula (I); and a compound represented by general formula (b1-1). wherein Q1 represents a divalent linkage group or a single bond; Y1 represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent or a fluorinated alkylene group which may have a substituent; X represents a cyclic group of 3 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and has an —SO2— bond in the structure thereof; M+ represents an alkali metal ion; and A+ represents an organic cation.
US08124306B2	Magnetic toner The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic toner enabling an image with high image density and excellent image reproducibility to be obtained, which is excellent in fluidity, charging stability, and charging uniformity, even for long-term use, and also enabling an image whose fogging, ghost, and scattering are suppressed to be obtained. The magnetic toner has at least a binder resin and a magnetic material, where, the magnetic material is an magnetic iron oxide whose dielectric breakdown voltage of the magnetic material is 160 to 1600 V/cm, and the dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of the magnetic toner at 100 kHz and 40° C. is 2.0×10−3 to 1.0×10−2.
US08124304B2	Dye-containing curable composition, color filter and method for producing the same The invention provides a dye-containing curable composition that has the property of high sensitivity, and that even when formed into a thin film at high dye concentration, excels in patternability, and is free from dye elution and ensures high productivity; and a color filter making use of the dye-containing curable composition and a method for producing the same.The dye-containing curable composition contains an organic-solvent-soluble dye (A) and a curing agent (C), wherein a content of the organic-solvent-soluble dye (A) is 45% by mass or more based on a total solid content and a content of the curing agent (C) is 20% by mass to 55% by mass based on the total solid content.
US08124300B1	Method of lithographic mask correction using localized transmission adjustment A method of correcting a lithographic mask is disclosed. The method can include detecting a location of the mask that corresponds to a wafer location having a structure that is printed with a larger than desired dimension and reducing a thickness of at least a portion of a mask feature corresponding to the wafer structure to locally increase transmissivity of the mask feature.
US08124297B2	Solid polymer fuel cell and method for producing MEA used for solid polymer fuel cell This invention intends to improve the catalyst efficiency by sufficiently providing a triple phase boundary where reaction gas, catalysts, and electrolytes meet in carbon nanohorns. With the utilization of the resulting MEA, the electrode reactions are allowed to effectively proceed, and the power generation efficiency of a fuel cell is improved to result in a solid polymer fuel cell with excellent properties. Such solid polymer fuel cell comprises electrodes having a catalyst layer comprising: a carrier comprising a carbon nanohorn aggregate; catalytic metals supported on the carrier comprising a carbon nanohorn aggregate; and polymer electrolytes coating the carrier comprising a carbon nanohorn aggregate, wherein the proportion of the polymer electrolyte to the carbon nanohorn aggregate is 0.32:1 to 0.70:1 by weight.
US08124295B2	Polymer, polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and membrane/electrode assembly A polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer has a low electrical resistance, high heat resistance and is strong against repeats of swelling and shrinkage. Thus, a membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells having high power generation performance and excellent in durability can be provided.For a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 or for a catalyst layer 11 constituting electrodes 13 and 14, a polymer comprising units (U1) and units (U2) is used: Q1, Q2: a perfluoroalkylene group which may have —O— or the like; Rf1, Rf2: a perfluoroalkyl group which may have —O—; X: an oxygen atom or the like; a: 0 or the like; Y, Z: a fluorine atom, or a monovalent perfluoroorganic group such as —CF3; S: 0 to 1; and t: 0 to 3.
US08124293B2	Asymmetric dovetail interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell An interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a conductive structure having first portions defining a first contact zone, second portions defining a second contact zone which is spaced from the first contact zone, and intermediate portions extending between the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the first portions through first corners, and wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the second portions through second corners, and wherein the first corners have a smaller radius than the second corners.
US08124292B2	Fuel cell stacks and methods The invention provides a fuel cell stack including a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the separator plate, MEA, and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded at least in part by the encapsulating material. The fuel cell stack also includes a first opening through the plate body to the first face from the second face, and an open channel in the second face extending from the opening toward a periphery of the plate. The invention also provides a fuel cell stack having a first face including an opening for passage of a reactant therethrough, a first reactant flow field defined thereon, and a first raised surface formed thereon substantially surrounding the opening. The first raised surface is configured and adapted to mate with a second surface on a face of an adjacent plate to create a flow obstruction for encapsulating material.
US08124290B2	Operating fuel cell during down time on cryogenic hydrogen boil-off A fuel cell power plant (9) includes a stack (10) of fuel cells, each including anodes (11), cathodes (12), coolant channels (13) and either (a) a coolant accumulator (60) and a pump (61) or (b) a condenser and cooler fan. During shutdown, electricity generated in the fuel cell in response to boil-off hydrogen gas (18) powers a controller (20), an air pump (52), which may increase air utilization to prevent cell voltages over 0.85 during shutdown, and either (a) the coolant pump or (b) the cooler fan. Operation of the fuel cell keeps it warm; circulating the warm coolant prevents freezing of the coolant and plumbing. The effluent of the cathodes and/or anodes is provided to a catalytic burner (48) to consume all hydrogen before exhaust to ambient. An HVAC in a compartment of a vehicle may operate using electricity from the fuel cell during boil-off.
US08124288B2	Portable fuel cell power source Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable fuel cell power source including an expandable enclosure, a first reactant contained within the enclosure, one or more fuel cells and a fluid port positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells. The enclosure may also include an opening to insert a second reactant. When the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant a fuel is generated for use with one or more of the fuel cells. The volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state may be smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction.
US08124287B2	Controlling an amount of liquid within a fuel cell A method of controlling an amount of liquid in a fuel cell includes increasing the oxygen utilization within the fuel cell to increase heat. The heat reduces the amount of liquid in the fuel cell. A disclosed example method includes decreasing a supply of air to the fuel cell to lower a fuel cell voltage by increasing the oxygen utilization. The example method includes maintaining an essentially electrical current density while decreasing the supply of air.
US08124283B2	Cyclic siloxane-based compounds and solid polymer electrolyte composition containing the same as a crosslinking agent The present invention relates to a cyclic siloxane-based compound and a solid polymer electrolyte composition containing the same as a crosslinking agent. The cyclic siloxane-based compound having a novel structure in which polyalkylene oxide acrylate groups are introduced into a cyclic siloxane compound and a solid polymer electrolyte composition containing the cyclic siloxane-based compound as a crosslinking agent along with other electrolyte components such as a plasticizer, lithium salt and a curing initiator. Since the solid polymer electrolyte composition of the present invention improves ion conductivity and electrochemical stability at room temperature, it can be useful as polymer electrolyte for electrolyte films, small-sized to high-capacity lithium-polymer secondary batteries, etc. Also, physical properties of the polymer electrolyte can be controlled easily by controlling the length of the polyalkylene oxide group in the cyclic siloxane-based crosslinking agent.
US08124282B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte having maleimide additives and secondary cells employing the same A nonaqueous electrolyte having maleimide additives and rechargeable cells employing the same are provided. The nonaqueous electrolyte having maleimide additives comprises an alkali metal electrolyte, a nonaqueous solvent, and maleimide additives. Specifically, the maleimide additives comprise maleimide monomer, bismaleimide monomer, bismaleimide oligomer, or mixtures thereof. The maleimide additives comprise functional groups, such as a maleimide double bond, phenyl group carboxyl, or imide, enhancing the charge-discharge efficiency, safety, thermal stability, chemical stability, flame-resistance, and lifespan of the secondary cells of the invention.
US08124279B2	Nanoscalar silicon particles in negative electrode materials for use in lithium-ion batteries The invention relates to an electrode material for a lithium ion battery which is distinguished by the fact that the electrode material comprises 5-85% by weight of nanoscale silicon particles which have a BET surface area of from 5 to 700 m2/g and a mean primary particle diameter of from 5 to 200 nm, 0-10% by weight of conductive carbon black, 5-80% by weight of graphite having a mean particle diameter of from 1 μm to 100 μm and 5-25% by weight of a binder, the proportions of the components summing to not more than 100% by weight, and to the use of the electrode material according to the invention for the production of lithium ion batteries, and to a lithium ion battery having a negative electrode which comprises the electrode material according to the invention.
US08124278B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and method for manufacturing electrode of nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode 5, a negative electrode 6, a separator 7 and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein a material mixture layer containing an active material and a binder is formed on a surface of a current collector 51 of at least one of the positive electrode 5 and the negative electrode 6. The material mixture layer includes a first layer 52 and a second layer 53 which are different in volume ratio of the binder to the active material. The volume ratio (A) of the binder in the first layer 52 in contact with the surface of the current collector 51 is lower than the volume ratio (B) of the binder in the second layer 53.
US08124275B2	Method of manufacturing catalyst carrier, catalyst carrier, and electrode of fuel cell battery To smoothly deliver a thermal energy required in an active site of a catalyst carried on a carrier. A method of manufacturing a catalyst carrier of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a mixed thin film in which at least metal and ceramics are mixed on a metal base, by spraying aerosol, with metal powders and ceramic powders mixed therein, on the metal base; and making the mixed thin film porous, by dissolving the metal of the mixed thin film into acid or alkaline solution to remove this metal.
US08124272B2	Polyvinyl acetal resin varnish gelling agent, nonaqueous electrolyte solution, and electrochemical device A polyvinyl acetal resin varnish which is so low in stimulus property, toxicity, environment-polluting property, offensive odor, and inflammability that no problem is caused in practical use, and which is high in safety, low in viscosity, and thus favorable in workability, and an application of the polyvinyl acetal resin varnish are provided. As an organic solvent for dissolving the polyvinyl acetal resin, there is used a nonaqueous solvent, preferably carbonate ester, and more preferably a mixed solvent composed of cyclic carbonate ester and chain carbonate ester, into which the polyvinyl acetal resin is evenly dissolved regardless of its type, resulting in varnish which is high in safety and low in viscosity. Since the varnish has an action of gelling the organic solvent, the varnish can be used as a gelling agent in various applications.
US08124271B2	Secondary battery The present invention relates to a secondary battery including an insulating case interposed between the cap assembly and the electrode assembly. The insulating case is made of a sealing material with low thermal deformation, excellent flame-retardation, and excellent electric insulation so as to be able to enhance the reliability of the secondary battery. The secondary battery of the present invention includes a can having an open top, an electrode assembly disposed inside the can and generating electricity, a cap assembly sealing the open top of the can, and an insulating case interposed between the cap assembly and the electrode assembly. The insulating case includes a base having an upper surface and a side surface, and a protrusion formed on the side surface. The upper surface has a deformation hole. The deformation hole and the protrusion are arranged in a manner that a line connecting the center of the deformation hole to the protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the side surface.
US08124269B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery for electronic appliance to be accommodated in an electronic appliance, thereby feeding an electric power to the electronic appliance, is disclosed, which includes a battery cell in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte are accommodated in a pack, and a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal from the positive electrode and the negative electrode, respectively are lead out from the same side face of the pack; a metallic battery can in which one opening from which the battery cell is inserted is formed and which accommodates the battery cell therein such that one side face from which the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are lead out is faced towards the opening side; and a lid made of a synthetic resin in which a positive electrode terminal part and a negative electrode terminal part to be connected to the electrodes of the electronic appliance upon being connected to the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal and being faced outwardly are provided and which plugs the opening of the battery can, the battery cell being accommodated in the battery can while the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal being curved between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal and the lid.
US08124263B2	Corrosion resistant cell mounting well A battery mounting structure, preferably for use within a battery pack housing, is provided that prevents condensation-induced corrosion from occurring between the terminals of a battery.
US08124261B2	Process for recycling components of a PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assembly The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a PEM fuel cell can be recycled by contacting the MEA with a lower alkyl alcohol solvent which separates the membrane from the anode and cathode layers of the assembly. The resulting solution containing both the polymer membrane and supported noble metal catalysts can be heated under mild conditions to disperse the polymer membrane as particles and the supported noble metal catalysts and polymer membrane particles separated by known filtration means.
US08124256B2	Magnetic recording medium A magnetic recording medium with excellent high density recording performances and good durability comprising a non-magnetic substrate, a non-magnetic layer containing a non-magnetic powder and a binder formed on the non-magnetic substrate, and a magnetic layer having a thickness of less than 100 nm and containing a substantially particulate non-magnetic powder, a substantially particulate magnetic powder having an average particle size of less than 25 nm, and a binder, wherein an average particle size R of the non-magnetic powder contained in the magnetic layer and a thickness D of the magnetic powder satisfy the following relationship: 0.88≦R/D≦2.5.
US08124255B2	Magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus A highly reliable magnetic recording medium is provided which has a recording layer formed in a concavo-convex pattern and wherein the recording layer is unlikely to cause a change in magnetic properties. The magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over the substrate, convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern serving as recording elements; and a filler portion filling a concave portion between the recording elements. The filler portion comprises a metal-based main filler material and oxygen. Oxygen is unevenly distributed in the filler portion so that the ratio of the number of oxygen atoms to the total of the number of atoms of the main filler material and the number of oxygen atoms is greater in an upper surface portion of the filler portion than in a lower portion of the filler portion.
US08124253B2	Tunneling magnetic sensing element including MGO film as insulating barrier layer A tunneling magnetic sensing element includes a laminate in which an underlayer, a seed layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer are laminated in order from below. The insulating barrier layer is made of Mg—O. The underlayer is made of Ti, and the seed layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Ni—Fe—Cr and Ru.
US08124245B2	Blaze cladding for direct metal laser sintered materials A direct metal laser sintered material including a substrate formed from a laser sintering process, the substrate having at least one surface, and a cladding material brazed onto at least a portion of the surface.
US08124242B2	Durable polyester coating The present invention provides a coating composition, and coated substrates and articles. The coating composition includes a binder containing a polyester resin that is formed using at least one aromatic, dicarboxylic acid and at least one asymmetric diol. The present invention also provides coating compositions that may be used on articles where excellent outdoor durability is desired. A method of coating and fabricating a substrate is also included.
US08124241B2	Process for producing multilayer polymide film It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a multilayer polyimide film, uniform in film thickness and rate of dimensional change in the width direction of the film, which has a thermoplastic polyimide layer or the like serving as an adhesive layer. The object is attained by a method for manufacturing a multilayer polyimide film by width-spreading and flow-casting at least two types of polyimide resin solutions or polyimide precursor resin solutions fed into a multilayer coextrusion die including a plurality of flow channels, the method being characterized in that the thickness of each layer of the multilayer film is controlled by adding a solvent to the resin solutions to be fed into at least one of the flow channels and by adjusting, independently of the amounts of the resin solutions to be fed, the amount of the solvent to be added.
US08124239B2	Silica film forming material, silica film and method of manufacturing the same, multilayer wiring structure and method of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same The silica film forming material of the present invention comprises a silicone polymer which comprises, as part of its structure, CHx, an Si—O—Si bond, an Si—CH3 bond and an Si—CHx- bond, where x represents an integer of 0 to 2.
US08124236B2	Gas-barrier laminate for hydrothermal treatment The present invention relates to a gas-barrier laminate for hydrothermal treatment which comprises a base plastic film, a coating layer formed on at least one surface of the base plastic film, an inorganic thin film formed on a surface of the coating layer which is made of a metal compound, and a heat-sealable plastic film laminated on the inorganic thin film or the base plastic film, wherein the inorganic thin film before laminating the heat-sealable plastic film thereon has a rubbing strength of not less than 20 times as measured under a load of 70 g, and the coating layer has a hardness of 0.15 to 0.40 GPa. The laminate of the present invention is excellent in interlaminar bonding property, hardly undergoes breakage of the inorganic thin film owing to the hydrothermal treatment, and can maintain an excellent gas-barrier property even after subjected to the hydrothermal treatment.
US08124235B2	Method of making matte airfoil coatings A method of forming a matte topcoat for rotor blades, propellers and other articles used to protect a leading edge substrate against high speed liquid or solid particle erosion including premixing a concentrate of flatting agent dispersed in a solvent, reducing the moisture content using molecular sieves, blending the concentrate of flatting agent into a polyurethane or polyurea composition and forming a protective coating comprising a matte layer on the leading edge substrate.
US08124232B2	Coated conductive powder and conductive adhesive using the same It is an object of the present invention to provide a coated conductive powder particularly useful as the conductive filler of an anisotropic conductive adhesive used for electrically interconnecting circuit boards, circuit parts, and the like, and a conductive adhesive that can provide connection with high electrical reliability even for the connection of the electrodes of miniaturized electronic parts, such as IC chips, and circuit boards. The coated conductive powder of the present invention is a coated conductive powder obtained by coating the surfaces of conductive particles with an insulating substance, wherein the insulating substance is a powdery, thermally latent curing agent. Also, in the present invention, the particle surfaces of the coated conductive powder are further coated with insulating inorganic fine particles.
US08124230B2	Non-aggregating nanoparticles and the use thereof The present invention relates generally to non-aggregating nanoparticles, including ligand capped metal oxide nanoparticles. Methods for their synthesis and methods for their use, for example, for improved immersion lithography processes, are also disclosed.
US08124225B2	Aqueous floor polishing composition An aqueous floor care composition comprising water, polymer particles wherein the polymer particles include units derived from a conjugated diene monomer, units derived from an acidic monomer, and units derived from a hard, non-acidic monomer, an external crosslinking agent, and optionally one or more of a leveling agent, surfactant, polyurethane, alkali-soluble resin, coalescing agent, plasticizer, and wax.
US08124223B2	Aramid filled polyimides having advantageous thermal expansion properties, and methods relating thereto The invention is directed to polyimide based adhesives having a coefficient of thermal expansion (“CTE”) equal to or below 50 ppm/° C. The adhesives of the present invention contain a polyimide base polymer present in the overall adhesive in an amount from 25 to 95 weight percent. The polyimide base polymer has a glass transition temperature (“Tg”) in a range of from about 150 to about 300° C. and typically has a coefficient of thermal expansion above 50 ppm/° C. The polyimide based adhesives of the invention also contain an aramid micro fiber filler in an amount from 5 to 75 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the polyimide based adhesive. The fiber filler can be used to lower CTE of the overall adhesive to match (or nearly match) the CTE of other materials like metal, silicon wafers, other polymers (including polyimide) and the like.
US08124222B2	Coated cutting tool and method of making a coated cutting tool The invention relates to a coated cutting tool comprising a substrate provided with a coating comprising a metallic interlayer placed in-between at least two non-metallic, functional layers or layer systems where the metallic interlayer comprises at least 60 at % metal elements chosen from one or more of Ti, Mo, Al, Cr, V, Y, Nb, W, Ta and Zr, or mixtures thereof, and wherein the at least two non-metallic, functional layers or layer systems is one or more of nitrides, oxides, borides, carbides, or combinations thereof, and wherein the thickness of the at least two non-metallic functional layer or layer systems is from about 3 to about 200 times the thickness of the metallic interlayer. The number of non-metallic, functional layers or layer systems alternated with metallic interlayers is at least 3.The invention also relates to a method of making a cutting tool according to the invention.Cutting tools according to the invention have an increased tool life.
US08124221B2	Crosslinkable vinyl fluoride copolymer coated film and process for making same The invention provides a fluoropolymer coated film comprising: a polymeric substrate film; and a fluoropolymer coating on the polymeric substrate film, the fluoropolymer coating comprising a vinyl fluoride copolymer comprised of about 40 to about 90 mole % of repeat units derived from vinyl fluoride and about 10 to about 60 mole % of repeat units derived from monomer selected from the group consisting of (a) and (b) below and mixtures thereof, with the proviso that about 0.1 mole % to 50 mole % of repeat units in the copolymer are derived from monomer selected from (b): (a) monomer selected from the group consisting of, tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene and mixtures thereof; and (b) vinyl monomer containing at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyls, thiols, carbonyls, carboxylic acids, carboxylic esters, acid anhydrides, sulfonyls, sulfonic acids, sulfonic esters, phosphoric acids, phosphoric esters, boric acids, boric esters, epoxies, isocyanates, thiocyanates, amines, amides, nitriles and halogen selected from bromide and iodide, wherein the polymeric substrate film comprises functional groups that interact with the functional groups of the vinyl fluoride copolymer to promote bonding of the fluoropolymer coating to the polymeric substrate film.
US08124217B2	Structured surfaces that exhibit color by rotation An optically variable device is disclosed having a substrate with an array of pyramidal structures formed upon it or within it. The structures are coated with an optically variable color-shifting coating. Each of the structures form a pyramidal-like having at least three slanted faces and wherein one or more colors seen when viewing the pyramids vary as substrate is rotated at least 30 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the substrate. In order to see a color shift the device is rotated around the surface normal of the substrate, while keeping the angle of incidence to the light source the same, and keeping the viewing angle the same. Various forms of pyramids may be used, however pyramids with planar faces are most suitable.
US08124207B2	Article with lubricated surface and method Articles having reduced sliding frictional force comprising a lubricant applied to one or more surfaces of the article, and the lubricant-coated surface treated by exposing the surface to an energy source, wherein the energy source is an ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure. The ionizing gas plasma may be a flame plasma. One or more of the surfaces may be exposed to the ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure prior to application of the lubricant.
US08124203B2	Container having a foamed wall A multi-layer preform having at least one foamed layer suitable for forming a multi-layer blow molded container having at least one foamed layer container is disclosed, the multi-layer container formed by a process comprising the steps of injection molding a polymer melt having a non-reactive gas entrained therein, causing entrained gas cells in the polymer melt to open to form a polymer preform having an open cell foam layer, cooling the preform to a temperature below the polymer softening temperature, reheating the preform to a temperature greater than the polymer softening temperature, and blow molding the preform in a second mold, to prepare the container. At least one layer of the container may be blended with an oxygen and/or carbon dioxide barrier material.
US08124199B2	Discotic liquid crystal compound, liquid crystal composition comprising the same and optical film using the same liquid crystal composition Disclosed is a discotic liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same, and an optical film using the same liquid crystal composition. More particularly, there is provided a liquid crystal material of a viewing angle compensation film with high quality characteristics, which can improve a contrast ratio and minimize variations in color with viewing angles in a black state, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same liquid crystal material, and a compensation film obtained from the same liquid crystal composition.
US08124198B2	Retardation film and method for producing the same, optical functional film, polarizing film, and display device The main object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable biaxial retardation film without the problems of peeling off of the retardation layer from the base material or the like generated in the case of forming the retardation layer, capable of enlarging the range of the thickness direction and in-plane direction retardation values to be obtained, easily obtaining optional thickness direction and in-plane direction retardation values even for a small amount, a method for producing the same, an optical functional film using the retardation layer, a polarizing film and a display device.In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an optically biaxial retardation film, comprising a polymer film containing a material having refractive index anisotropy, wherein the material having refractive index anisotropy has a concentration gradient in a thickness direction of the polymer film, is provided.
US08124195B2	Pattern forming method and droplet discharge device A pattern formation method includes discharging a functional liquid substance having a functional material to an object, and irradiating the functional liquid substance with light emitted from a light source thereby to form a pattern of a functional film on the object. In this method, when the thickness of the functional liquid substance on an optical axis of the light is L and the absorption coefficient of the functional liquid substance for the light is α, the thickness and the absorption coefficient are set so as to satisfy an equation (1): 0.1≦α·L≦0.7 (1).
US08124191B2	Method and apparatus for single side bilayer formation An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system wherein an electrical current through each PLB is separately recorded.
US08124189B2	Hydrophobic coating systems, suspensions for forming hydrophobic coatings, and methods for fabricating hydrophobic coatings Hydrophobic coating systems, suspensions for forming hydrophobic coatings, and methods for fabricating hydrophobic coatings are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydrophobic coating system comprises a substrate and a hydrophobic coating disposed on the substrate. The hydrophobic coating comprises agglomerates formed of a fluorinated polymer and a plurality of chemically inert particles having an average size of no greater than about 0.1 μm. The hydrophobic coating exhibits contact angles greater than about 90 degrees.
US08124187B2	Methods of forming porous coatings on substrates Methods of forming porous coatings on substrates. Methods of forming porous coatings include preparing a binder, applying the binder to a substrate to form a binder layer, applying a coating material to the binder layer to form a coating material layer, and sintering the coated substrate. In some examples, preparing a binder includes mixing together metal particles including titanium hydride or cobalt disilicide, a polymer including polybutene or poly-isobutylene, a brazing agent, and methyl cellulose. In some examples, the coating material includes titanium or cobalt. Applying the binder may include spray coating the binder onto the substrate.
US08124184B2	Aluminum phosphate compounds, compositions, materials and related metal coatings Aluminophosphate compounds, compositions and/or materials as can be used for substrate coatings.
US08124182B2	Application of insulating coating Systems and methods for discontinuously applying an insulating primer to a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) component are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for mitigating electrical surface discharges from a CFRP component includes first applying an insulating primer to a metallic component. Next, an insulating primer is applied discontinuously to the CFRP component adjacent the metallic component. The discontinuous application of the insulating primer forms a primed portions and unprimed portions. The unprimed portions are configured to enable electrostatic dissipation.
US08124180B2	Thin layer substrate coating and method of forming same Embodiments of the present invention relate to coating deposition and coatings for dental and orthopedic devices that provide prevention or reduction of ion leakage and, in some situations, improved aesthetic appearances.
US08124173B2	Process for packaging electronic devices A process for packaging an electronic device employs an insulating protective resin layer produced from one or more of the resin compositions: (1) 100 parts of an organic solvent-soluble resin having a polysiloxane skeleton and a polar group, 0.5 to 30 parts of an epoxy compound having an epoxy equivalent of more than 800, and an organic solvent, (2) 100 parts of an organic solvent-soluble resin having a polysiloxane skeleton and a polar group, 0.1 to 10 parts of an epoxy compound having an epoxy equivalent of 100 to 800, 2 to 30 weight parts of a polyvalent isocyanate compound, and an organic solvent; and (3) 100 parts of an organic solvent-soluble resin having a polysiloxane skeleton and a polar group, 0.1 to 20 parts of an epoxy compound having an epoxy equivalent of more than 800, 2 to 30 parts of a polyvalent isocyanate compound, and an organic solvent.
US08124171B2	Method of and apparatus for manufacturing tape-formed oxide superconductor A method of manufacturing a tape-formed oxide superconductor, in which a tape-formed wire material (6 in FIG. 1) is extended between a pair of reels (5a and 5b). Besides, a reactive gas is supplied form the gas supply ports of a reactive gas supply pipe (3a) vertically to the upper side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, a gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4a and 4b) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Likewise, the reactive gas is supplied vertically to the lower side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, the gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4c and 4d) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Even when the tape-formed wire material (6) is large in area, the tape-formed oxide superconductor has superconducting characteristics being uniform in it widthwise direction, and it can be manufactured at high speed.
US08124169B2	Antimicrobial coating system An antimicrobial coating system, a film-forming composition, and an antimicrobial film. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial coating system can include a film-forming composition comprising a polymer having an effective molecular weight, and an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent dispersed within the polymer. The film-forming composition can form a water-insoluble, biocidal antimicrobial film when applied to a surface.
US08124168B2	Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus Disclosed is a substrate processing method wherein the infrared absorptance or infrared transmittance of a substrate to be processed is measured in advance, and the substrate is processed according to the measured value while independently controlling temperatures at least in a first region located in the central part of the substrate and in a second region around the first region using temperature control means which are respectively provided for the first region and the second region and can be controlled independently from each other.
US08124166B2	Method for loading nanoporous layers with therapeutic agent The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents. The invention also includes methods, devices, and specifications for loading of drugs and other therapeutic agents into nanoporous coatings.
US08124164B2	Frozen aerated products A frozen aerated product having an overrun of between about 10% and about 250% and a pH, when melted, in the range about 3.5 to about 5.2, comprises water, 0 to about 20 w/w % fat, about 0.25 to about 20 w/w % milk solids not fat, about 0.05 to about 1.5 w/w % soluble dietary fibre and about 0.1 to about 5 w/w % of insoluble dietary fibre, about 0.1 to about 35 w/w % sweetener but no additional stabilisers or emulsifiers as herein defined. The soluble and insoluble dietary fibre may be derived from fruits or vegetables for example from one or more fruit purees, one or more vegetable purees or mixtures thereof.
US08124163B2	Ready-to-eat fudge dessert The present invention provides a water containing, heat processable firm RTE fudge dessert. The RTE fudge dessert of this invention is prepared from an emulsified blend of water, fat, milk, lecithin, and a water binder. Sweeteners and/or flavorings may be added to provide the desired level of sweetness or desired flavor profile. A smooth firm fudge candy textured dessert comprising about 20 to about 60 percent water, about 15 to about 45 percent fat, about 1 to about 15 percent non-fat dry milk (or equivalent milk protein), about 0.1 to about 3 percent lecithin, and about 0.1 to about 20 percent water binder is provided.
US08124161B2	Method for finish-frying food product particles The invention provides food product particles obtainable with a method for finish-frying food product particles in superheated steam having a flow rate in the range of from 1 to 20 m/s, at a temperature in the range of from 150-250° C. and for a period of time in the range of from 1 to 5 minutes, wherein more than 75% of the surface of the food product particles is contacted with the superheated steam.
US08124155B2	Complete fractionation with reverse osmosis in food processing A method for producing fruit or vegetable paste, fruit or vegetable juice concentrate, and similar food products by using Complete Fractionation with Reverse Osmosis.
US08124153B2	Method for forming film and a film formed by using said method A method for forming a film on a surface of a base so that the film can impart good peeling property between the base and an object to be treated when the object contacts the base. A film formed by the method is also provided. Cooking oil 2 applied to a surface of a plate 1a is brought into contact with a flame, so that a film 7 imparting a peeling property relative to the plate 1a is formed. As the film 7 displays an excellent peeling property when a foodstuff 8 contacts the plate 1a with the film 7 formed therebetween, a good releasing property between the plate 1a and the foodstuff 8 can be obtained. As the film 7 is capable of being regenerated easily, it is possible to prevent easily and semi permanently the foodstuff 8 from firmly sticking to the plate 1a even though the foodstuff repeatedly contacts and releases from the plate 1a.
US08124152B2	Fat granules Granule comprising lipid powder particles having a microporous structure.
US08124151B2	Method and device for the production of edibles comprising an outer shell A method for producing edibles comprising an outer shell from a mass which is fed into a mold. A tempered male die is dipped into the mold, a process during which an excess amount of the mass overflows an edge of the mold. The excess mass is separated form the shell at the edge of the mold by the male die.
US08124149B2	Microwavable food products The packaging system includes a first food product sealed within an inner wrapper, a second food product positioned within a tray and spacing the first food product from the tray, and an outer wrapper sealing the first food product, sealed within the inner wrapper, the second food product and the tray therein. A shield is disposed on the tray and is in contact with more than one surface of the second food product. Prior to microwave heating, the inner and outer wrapper are removed.
US08124147B2	Oral pouch products with immobilized flavorant particles An oral pouch product includes an immobilized flavorant comprising one or more flavorants and an immobilizing matrix disposed around the flavorants and containing slightly water soluble β-cyclodextrin, gum Arabic, and/or a starch. In addition, a method for preparing the oral pouch product is described, which includes (a) preparing an immobilized flavorant by mixing a flavorant and one or more matrix-forming materials comprising slightly water soluble β-cyclodextrin, gum Arabic, and/or a starch in a solvent to form a mixture; optionally heating the mixture; and drying the mixture to form a dried immobilized flavorant; and (b) incorporating the dried immobilized flavorant into an oral pouch product.
US08124146B2	Fermented food product The present invention relates to a fermented food product, which comprises defatted flax-seed as main raw material. Suspension of defatted crushed flaxseed or crushed and milled flaxseed, optionally supplemented with other cereals or plant seeds or flaxseed fractions, is fermented by a starter culture which comprises probiotic bacteria, and seasoned and stabilized, whereby a spoonable or thinkable fermented snack product is obtained.
US08124142B2	Cranberry seed oil, cranberry seed flour and a method for making The present invention includes a cranberry seed oil, a cranberry flour and a method for making cranberry seed oil and flour. The cranberry seed oil comprises beta sitosterol and phosphatidylcholine.
US08124138B2	Composition for prevention and/or treatment of pruritus containing acacia bark derivative It is intended to provide a composition which is useful in preventing and/or treating pruritus. The composition is a composition for the prevention and/or treatment of pruritus, containing an acacia bark derivative.
US08124134B2	Isolation of a dual COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor from Acacia The present invention provides a novel method for simultaneously inhibiting the cyclooxygenase COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes. The method for the simultaneous dual inhibition of COX-2 and 5-LO is comprised of administering a composition containing an individual and/or a mixture of multiple flavans isolated from a single plant or multiple plants in the Acacia genus of plants to a host in need thereof. The present also includes novel methods for the prevention and treatment of COX-2 and 5-LO mediated diseases and conditions. The method for preventing and treating COX-2 and 5-LO mediated diseases and conditions is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising an individual and/or a mixture of multiple flavans isolated from a single plant or multiple plants in the Acacia genus of plants and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention includes a method for isolating and purifying a composition of flavans having dual specificity for COX-2 and 5-LO from the Acacia genus of plants.
US08124131B2	Food intake regulator A safe and widely-applicable food intake regulator can be provided by using at least one of a fish brain and parts thereof, which have the activity to regulate suppress food intake.
US08124113B2	Hydrophilic coating An antimicrobial coating slurry includes about 15.5 wt % of a wetting agent, about 6.0 wt % of an insolubilizer, about 1.1 wt % of a biocide agent, and about 7.8 wt % of an inorganic material that includes lithium oxide and the balance water. The slurry is applied to a heat exchanger surface, cured, and washed to form a hydrophilic coating that includes lithium silicate. The hydrophilic coating provides improved moisture wicking and a reduced dissolution rate of biocide, which is held within a lithium silicate matrix.
US08124112B2	Cosmetic composition comprising at least one polymer particle dispersed in at least one liquid fatty phase and at least one ester of at least one acid and at least one polyol ester The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to a cosmetic composition for caring for or making up the skin and/or epidermal derivatives and/or lips, which comprises a physiologically acceptable medium comprising a) at least one liquid fatty phase, b) a dispersion of at least one polymer particle dispersed in the at least one liquid fatty phase, and c) at least one ester of at least one carboxylic acid comprising 1 to 7 carbons and at least one polyol comprising at least 4 hydroxyl groups, the at least one ester having a molecular mass of less than 5,000 g/mol. This composition allows a film to be obtained on the skin, epidermal derivatives or lips which does not undergo transfer, has good staying power and goes on easily.
US08124111B2	Immunomodulation by altering sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase (SPL) activity Compositions and methods for modulating immune function are provided based on the unexpected discovery that inhibition of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL) activity confers useful immunosuppressive effects, for example to modulate immune function in treatment or prevention of inflammation, transplant graft rejection, autoimmune disease, allergy, or other conditions, including therapeutic alteration of immune system cell survival and/or proliferation. Altering SPL activity by direct or indirect pharmacological intervention, or alternatively by molecular genetic methods to alter SPL expression levels, are also contemplated.
US08124101B2	Genetically engineered swine influenza virus and uses thereof The present invention relates, in general, to attenuated swine influenza viruses having an impaired ability to antagonize the cellular interferon (IFN) response, and the use of such attenuated viruses in vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations. In particular, the invention relates to attenuated swine influenza viruses having modifications to a swine NS1 gene that diminish or eliminate the ability of the NS1 gene product to antagonize the cellular IFN response. These viruses replicate in vivo, but demonstrate decreased replication, virulence and increased attenuation, and therefore are well suited for use in live virus vaccines, and pharmaceutical formulations.
US08124098B2	Polypeptides from non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae Polypeptides comprising non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) amino acid sequences. Over 2500 specific NTHi proteins are disclosed. The invention also provides related polypeptides, nucleic acids, antibodies and methods. These can all be used in medicine for treating or preventing disease and/or infection caused by H. influenzae, such as otitis media.
US08124096B2	Immune response modifier compositions and methods A pharmaceutical composition comprising 1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine that is stable to sterilization and suitable for topical application directly to tissue sites where the dermis has been breached, and has been sterilized, packaged compositions that have been sterilized, and methods of sterilizing these compositions are disclosed.
US08124089B2	Anti-human IL-21 monoclonal antibodies Human anti-human IL-21 monoclonal antibodies and the hybridomas that produce them are presented. Certain of these antibodies have the ability to bind native human IL-21, a mutant recombinat IL-21 protein and/or peptide regions of human IL-21. These human anti-IL-21 antibodies are useful in therapeutic treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, particularly diseases mediated by T follicular helper cells, B cells TH cells or TH17 cells.
US08124088B2	Methods of treatment using anti-IL-22RA antibodies The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-22, IL-20, or both IL-20 and IL-22 polypeptide molecules. IL-20 and IL-22 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-22RA (zcytor11) is a common receptor for IL-20 and IL-22. The present invention includes anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-22 or both IL-20 and IL-22 using such antibodies and binding partners.
US08124085B2	Bispecific binding agents for modulating biological activity Methods for improving the biological and pharmaceutical properties of bispecific binding agents are described herein where the bispecific binding agent are able to target cells by a high affinity binding domain to a first cell surface marker that does not induce a significant biological effect and a low affinity binding domain that binds specifically to a second cell surface marker, causing a significant and desired biological effect. Compositions of such bispecific binding agents, uses for them, and kits containing them are also provided.
US08124083B2	Antibodies with immune effector activity and that internalize in folate receptor alpha-positive cells This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and have the ability in the alternative to become internalized by cells expressing folate receptor alpha (FRA) and to induce an immune effector activity such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to FRA-expressing cells as well as in eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to nucleotides encoding the antibodies of the invention, cells expressing the antibodies; methods of detecting cancer cells; and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies.
US08124077B2	Anti-IL-TIF antibodies and methods of making The present invention relates to ZCYTO18 polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules. The ZCYTO18 is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US08124074B2	Fusion proteins The invention provides a single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a target cell; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the target cell, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endocome within the target cell; a protease cleaving site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by the protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and the translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the target cell.
US08124073B2	Targeting of glycoprotein therapeutics Methods of making ligand-decorated polymer conjugates of therapeutic glycoproteins are described. Improved targeting of glycoproteins to specific tissues is achieved by masking the natural carbohydrate and other surface determinants with high molecular weight polymers, such as, e.g., PEG, polysialic acid, etc., which in turn are decorated with target-specific ligands. In some embodiments, acid-labile linkages in such conjugates or rapidly degradable masking groups allow for the intracellular release of the polymer from the glycoprotein, for example, under conditions found in lysosomes.
US08124064B2	In-vitro deposition evaluation method for identifying personal care compositions which provide improved deposition of benefit agents The present invention relates to an in-vitro deposition evaluation method and an system for evaluating deposition of personal care compositions. The method comprises the steps of providing a microplate and at least one body that is capable of movement within the plurality of wells of the microplate. The method comprises the steps of providing a sample that comprises a personal care composition and depositing sufficient volume of sample to submerge a body within the wells of the microplate. The method comprises the steps of providing a skin mimic and contacting the skin mimic and the microplate such that the skin mimic is exposed to the sample and the body. The method comprises the steps of causing at least one body to move wherein a portion of the sample is transferred to the skin mimic and quantifying the amount of the sample that is transferred to the skin mimic.
US08124062B2	Dimer alkyl silicone polymers in personal care applications This invention relates to a novel class of Dimer Alkyl Silicone Polymers (DASP) and their use to provide conditioning to skin and hair. By conditioning is meant a elegant smooth skin feel, eliminating dryness and raspiness. It is thought the mechanism of action is related to the fact that the DASP compounds reduce surface tension of personal care products, providing outstanding conditioning and skin feel. The improved conditioning composition based upon a very specific class of dimer alkyl silicone polymers (DASP) that despite their solubility in oil, lower surface tension and improve conditioning of personal care products.
US08124058B2	Artificial nail compositions and related methods The invention comprises a polymerizable monomer composition for application to the nail surface and polymerization thereon to yield an artificial nail structure, comprising at least one multicarbonyl-vinyl containing monomer; a polymerized artificial nail structure having a thickness of about 10-60 mils, and a modulus of elasticity of about 550-800 N/m2, comprising a copolymer of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a multicarbonyl vinyl-containing monomer; a method for reducing, ameliorating, or eliminating delamination of an artificial nail structure from the natural nail surface; a method for improving adhesion of an artificial nail structure to the nail surface; and a method for reducing premature gelation of a liquid monomer composition.
US08124057B2	Propellant-based nanoparticulate dry powder aerosols and method of making There invention discloses aqueous dispersions of nanoparticulate aerosol formulations, dry powder nanoparticulate aerosol formulation, propellant-based aerosol formulations, methods of using the formulations in aerosol delivery devices, and methods of making such formulations. The nanoparticles of the aqueous dispersions or dry powder formulations comprise insoluble drug particles having a surface modifier on the surface thereof.
US08124056B2	High throughput genetic screening of lipid and cholesterol processing using fluorescent compounds The present invention utilizes fluorescent lipids, particularly quenched phospholipid or cholesterol analogues, to facilitate screening for phenotypes representing perturbations of lipid and/or cholesterol processing in a vertebrate; screening for genetic mutations that lead to disorders of phospholipid and/or cholesterol metabolism; and screening of compounds designed to treat disorders of phospholipid and/or cholesterol metabolism in the vertebrate.
US08124055B2	Compositions and methods to control angiogenesis with cupredoxins The present invention relates to compositions comprising cupredoxins, and their use to inhibit angiogenesis in mammalian cells, tissues, and animals, and particularly the angiogenesis that accompanies tumor development and particularly in humans. Specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the cupredoxin(s), and or peptides that are variants, derivatives or structural equivalents of cupredoxins, which retain the ability to inhibit angiogenesis in mammalian cells, tissues or animals. These compositions may be peptides or pharmaceutical compositions, among others. The compositions of the invention may be used to treat any pathological condition that has as a symptom or cause, inappropriate angiogenesis, and particularly inappropriate angiogenesis related to tumor development.
US08124051B2	Complex drug delivery composition and method for treating cancer The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing a complex drug delivery system which specifically targets cancer cells, has an increase in cellular uptake, is cytotoxic, and suppresses antiapoptotic cellular defenses.
US08124049B2	Zero steam export with CO2 recovery in a high thermal efficiency hydrogen plant A high thermal efficiency process for hydrogen recovery is provided. The present invention includes combusting a first fuel stream to a reforming furnace, producing reforming heat and a hot exhaust stream. Then exchanging heat indirectly between the hot exhaust stream and a first feed water stream, producing a first steam stream. Then providing a hydrocarbon containing stream and a feed steam stream to the reforming furnace, utilizing the reforming heat and producing a hot raw syngas stream. Then exchanging heat indirectly between the hot raw syngas stream and second feedwater stream, producing a second steam stream and a cooled, raw syngas stream. Then introducing the cooled, raw syngas stream to a CO shift converter, producing a shifted syngas stream. Then introducing the shifted syngas stream into a pressure swing adsorption unit, producing a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas stream. Then introducing the tail gas stream to a CO2 removal unit, producing a CO2 stream and a recycle stream; compressing the recycle stream, producing a compressed recycle stream. Then combining the compressed recycle stream with at least one stream selected from the group consisting of the hydrocarbon containing stream, the cooled raw syngas stream, the shifted syngas stream, and the tail gas stream. Then combining the first steam stream and the second steam stream, producing the feed steam stream.
US08124047B2	Method for manufacturing (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material A method for manufacturing (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material having an improved relative dielectric constant and an electric-field-induced strain is provided. The method is a process in which a formed body of powder particles constituted of a composition of (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 is fired to produce the (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material, and a constant temperature is kept in a range of 850 to 1000° C. for a constant time before heating to a firing temperature.
US08124046B2	Alkali metal iodide salt solution and method for producing the same A method for producing an alkali metal iodide salt solution including combusting a liquid for combustion so as to combust a combustible component of the liquid for combustion; and subsequently cooling a resultant gas containing a decomposition product. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a liquid containing (i) an alkali metal iodide salt, (ii) an inorganic-salt-forming substance capable of forming, at combustion, an inorganic salt containing an alkali metal and (iii) an organic compound; (b) adding to the liquid a precipitation solvent capable of depositing the inorganic-salt-forming substance; (c) removing from the liquid the inorganic-salt-forming substance precipitated in the step (b) so as to obtain the liquid for combustion; and (d) combusting the liquid for combustion and subsequently cooling the resultant gas containing a decomposition product. Accordingly, there can be achieved a method for producing a highly pure alkali metal iodide salt solution from a liquid containing an iodine compound.
US08124038B2	IM-16 crystallised solid and process for the preparation thereof The invention relates to a crystallized solid, denoted by the name IM-16, which has an X-ray diffraction pattern as provided hereinafter. Said solid has a chemical composition expressed in accordance with the empirical formula mXO2:nGeO2:pZ2O3:qR:sF:wH2O, where R represents one or more organic species, X represents one or more tetravalent elements different from germanium, Z represents at least one trivalent element and F is fluorine.
US08124037B2	Perovskite materials for solid oxide fuel cell cathodes An improved LSCF 6428 perovskite material of the type La12zSrx+zCo0.2+aFe0.8+bO3−δ wherein x=0.4, z=(0-0.1), a=(0.01-0.04), and b=(0.05-0.15) for use as an SOFC cathode having increased electronic and ionic conductivity. The general formula is similar to the prior art formulae (La0.6Sr0.4)1−zCo0.2Fe0.8O3−δ and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ but applies the z term to La and Sr independently as well as reducing the overall content of La. Further, by adding a small amount (a) of extra Co ions, catalytic activity, conductivity, and sinterability are further enhanced. Adding small amounts (b) of Fe and/or Fe and Co moderates the thermal expansion coefficient with no adverse effect on crystal structure or fuel cell performance. Improved sinterability, microstructure, and reduced film cracking result in high power density of fuel cells. An inherently low-cost solid state reaction method is described.
US08124036B1	Additives for mercury oxidation in coal-fired power plants The present invention is directed to an additive, primarily for combustion of low sulfur and high alkali coals, that includes a transition metal to impact positively bottom ash slag and optionally a halogen to effect mercury oxidation and collection in the flue gas.
US08124031B2	Discharge volume control method, discharge pressure control method, and microbody forming method A second valve is opened to combine an injection-pressure generating pressure with a maintaining pressure into an injection pressure. After the injection pressure is applied to a capillary to cause discharge of an object therefrom, an output pressure of a regulator is set to the injection pressure. Then, a first valve is opened to reapply the injection pressure to the capillary. The second valve is opened to combine a maintaining-pressure generating pressure with the injection pressure into the maintaining pressure. After the maintaining pressure is applied to the capillary to terminate the discharge of the object, the output pressure of the regulator is set to the maintaining pressure. Then, the first valve is opened to reapply the maintaining pressure to the capillary.
US08124027B2	Volumetric pipet The invention relates to a kind of volumetric pipet. It includes an outer casing. At the lower part of the outer casing, there is a fetching mouth which is detachably mounted to a liquid container. At the top of the outer casing, there is a detachably sealed top cover. Inside the outer casing, there is a hollow core with a top opening. There is an inlet mouth on the side wall of the core that corresponds to the fetching mouth. The internal wall of the outer casing can slide against the external wall of the core. The core's rotating or sliding along its longitudinal orientation makes the fetching mouth and the inlet mouth correspond or stagger. This invention provides an easy-to-operate, precise rationing, quick and sanitary volumetric pipet.
US08124022B2	Mounting mats and pollution control devices using same Mounting materials for pollution control devices comprising biosoluble fibers, heat treated silica fibers having a silica content of greater than about 67 percent by weight (pbw) based on a total weight of the fibers, and intumescent material, with an optional binder component, are disclosed. Methods for making and using the materials are also disclosed.
US08124021B2	Exhaust gas treatment system It is intended to provide an exhaust gas treatment system, which allows for VOC removal at lower temperatures and thereby improves the durability of catalysts and suppresses carbon monoxide generation at the final outlet of the system. The present invention provides a treatment system of an exhaust gas containing a nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and a volatile organic compound comprising: an exhaust gas treatment means for removing the nitrogen oxide by reduction with ammonia and partially oxidizing the VOC to CO; and a CO/VOC removal means for oxidizing the CO and partially unreacted VOC, in this order from the upstream flow of the exhaust gas.
US08124018B2	Modular device for the continuous degassing and production of polymer precondensate with high reaction product surface to volume ratio with gentle treatment of the reaction product mass A modular device for the continuous degas sing of reaction products, such as of a carboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid with a multi-functional alcohol suitable for application in the production of precondensates (or also prepolymers), has a heated enclosure in which a plurality of modules are stacked one above the other, each said module having a base. There is a vapor inlet to the uppermost module and a discharge port at the lower most module with at least one module intermediate the uppermost and lowest modules to provide space for expansion of the vapor. The base of each module preferably is concave and there are conduits that provide flow communication between the modules.
US08124014B2	Auto-calibration circuit or label and method of forming the same An auto-calibration circuit or label is adapted to be used with an instrument. The instrument is adapted to determine information related to an analyte of a fluid sample. The auto-calibration circuit or label comprises a plurality of electrical connections, first and second common connections, and first and second auxiliary common connections. The electrical connections convey auto-calibration information corresponding to a test sensor. The auto-calibration information is adapted to be utilized by the instrument to auto-calibrate for the test sensor. The electrical connections include first contact areas. The second common connection is separate and distinct from the first common connection. The first auxiliary common connection is separate and distinct from the first and second common connections. The second auxiliary common connection is separate and distinct from the first and second common connections. The first and second auxiliary common connections are located on opposing sides of the contact areas. The electrical connections are adapted to be routed directly from each of the plurality of first contact areas to a respective first or a second common connection.
US08124011B2	Method for sterilizing a plastic bottle A method for sterilizing a plastic bottle in an aseptic filling system according to which at least an inner surface or an outer surface of a bottle is sterilized by injecting a heated sterilizing fluid at 65° C.-90° C. while maintaining internal pressure of the bottle at 1 kPa-20 kPa.
US08124006B2	Ladle for molten metal delivery The molten metal-transferring ladle including a ladle body having a storage space for melted metal, and an opening on the top; a large lid having an inlet in the middle, and covering an upper opening of the ladle body; an openable small lid covering the inlet; a tapping portion communicating the interior with the exterior of the storage space; and a pressurizing gas supplying means supplying a pressurizing gas to the storage space; the large lid having a supplying means installing hole communicating the interior with the exterior of the storage space; and the pressurizing gas supplying means being detachably mounted to the supplying means installing hole.
US08124004B2	Slag door assembly for an electric arc furnance A sealing apparatus for a slag door of a metallurgical furnace, having a mounting assembly for mounting the apparatus to the furnace, and at least one closure element, moveable from an open position that is exterior of the slag door opening, to a closed position that effectively seals against the slag door and extends into the slag door opening with the rear panel of the closure element(s) being proximally aligned with the interior wall of the furnace. The apparatus may also have at least one wiping component moveable so as to sweep across the lower surface of the slag door to remove obstructions.
US08123999B2	Smoothing method for layered deposition modeling Disclosed is a method for smoothing the surface of an object built from a polymeric or wax material using a layered manufacturing rapid prototyping technique. After the object is built it is exposed to a vaporized solvent such as in a vaporizer for an exposure time sufficient to reflow the object surface. A solvent is chosen based on its ability to transiently soften the material which forms the object, and thereafter evaporate off the object. The object is removed from the solvent and allowed to dry, producing a smooth finished part.
US08123997B2	Low temperature melt-processing of organic-inorganic hybrid The present invention provides a process for preparing a melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material including the steps of maintaining a solid organic-inorganic hybrid material at a temperature above the melting point but below the decomposition temperature of the organic-inorganic hybrid material for a period of time sufficient to form a uniform melt and thereafter, cooling the uniform melt to an ambient temperature under conditions sufficient to produce the melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material.
US08123995B2	Method of manufacturing product having injection molded portion A molded product includes an already-formed member and an injection molded portion. The already-formed member, which has a joining surface, is placed in an injection molding mold, and the joining surface and the injection molding mold define a molding cavity. The injection molding mold further defines a spill cavity that is in communication with the molding cavity. Liquid molding material is injected into the molding cavity. At least some of initial molding material which has initially reached the joining surface flows into the spill cavity due to injection pressure of subsequent molding material injected after injection of the initial molding material, and is replaced with the subsequent molding material, which has a temperature higher than that of the initial molding material and a viscosity lower than that of the initial molding material. When the liquid molding material hardens to form an injection molded portion joined to the joining surface of the first already-formed member, the first already-formed member and the injection molded portion are a joined molded product.
US08123993B2	Method for creating a mold for a knee brace and a knee brace Disclosed is a method for producing a three-dimensional composite structure and a method for producing the mold for the three-dimensional composite structure. The mold is formed of at least one rigid die member and a second thermoplastic die member. The second thermoplastic die member is formed by coupling a rubber flexible pattern to a surface of the first die member. Vacuum or pressure is applied to a heated thermoplastic sheet to cause the heated thermoplastic sheet to deform about the flexible pattern, thereby forming the second die. Strips of reinforced polymer thermoset pre-preg material are then positioned within the cavities formed by the flexible pattern and are allowed to cure. Optionally, heat, pressure, and vacuum may be applied to the mold construction to facilitate the curing of the thermoset materials.
US08123991B2	System and method for making wallboard A process and apparatus for forming wallboard panels having recessed edges along all four edges which process involves passing an unfinished length of wall board through a lateral recess forming apparatus.
US08123987B2	Chromene compounds Disclosed is a chromene compound represented by the following formula (1), wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are, respectively, hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, aryl groups, or the like groups under a condition that at least two of R1 to R4 are not hydrogen atoms, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are, respectively, alkyl groups, aryl groups or the like groups, m and n are, respectively, integers of 0 to 4, and x and y are, respectively, integers of 0 to 5.
US08123986B2	Paste, method of manufacturing plasma display panel using the paste and plasma display apparatus A plasma display device and a method of manufacturing a plasma display panel (PDP) are provided. The method includes applying onto a substrate a black matrix paste for forming a black matrix and an electrode paste for forming an electrode; laminating a dielectric material on the substrate; and firing the black matrix paste, the electrode paste, and the dielectric material at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the manufacture of a PDP by firing electrodes, black matrices, and a dielectric material at the same time. In addition, it is possible to reduce the probability of the generation of air bubbles by appropriately reducing the amount of glass frit in a paste. Moreover, it is possible to enhance the efficiency of driving a PDP and the reliability of a plasma display device.
US08123985B2	Electroconductive thick film composition(s), electrode(s), and semiconductor device(s) formed therefrom The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film composition comprising: (a) electroconductive metal particles selected from (1) Al, Cu, Au, Ag, Pd and Pt; (2) alloy of Al, Cu, Au, Ag, Pd and Pt; and (3) mixtures thereof; (3) glass frit wherein said glass frit is Pb-free; dispersed in (d) an organic medium, and wherein the average diameter of said electroconductive metal particles is in the range of 0.5-10.0 μm. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition as detailed above and a semiconductor device(s) (for example, a solar cell) comprising said electrode.
US08123984B2	Positive temperature coefficient polymer composition and material made therefrom A positive temperature coefficient polymer composition includes a polymer system and a conductive particulate filler. The polymer system includes a non-ionic copolymer of a substituted or non-substituted olefin monomer and an anhydride monomer. The olefin monomer and the anhydride monomer form a linear polymer chain.
US08123983B2	Actuator element An ion-conducting layer for an actuator element including (I) a fluorine-containing polymer having a functional group and (II) an ionic liquid. The functional group is selected from —OH, —COOH, —COOR, —CN, iodine atom, epoxy group and (meth)acryloyl group, and is contained in a side chain and/or at an end of a trunk chain of the fluorine-containing polymer. Also disclosed is an electrode layer including (I) the fluorine-containing polymer having a functional group, (II) an ionic liquid and (III) an electroconductive nano-filler. Also disclosed is an actuator element including the ion-conducting layer and at least two electrode layers formed on the surfaces of the ion-conducting layer and insulated from one another, in which flection or deformation can be caused by applying an electric potential between the electrode layers.
US08123982B2	Sulfur based corrosion inhibitors Alternative inhibitors that offer an improvement over tolyltriazole in inhibiting yellow metal corrosion. The dithiocarbamate compounds and their salts were compared to that of tolyltriazole under identical conditions. These comparative tests were conducted in common corrosion testing systems, using both electrochemical corrosion cells and pilot cooling rigs, using various water conditions. The test methods included electrochemical studies such as linear polarization resistance, open circuit potential versus time, Tafel and cyclic polarization.
US08123979B2	Group 13 nitride phosphor and method of preparing the same Provided are a group 13 nitride phosphor having high luminous intensity and excellent reliability obtained by preparing group 13 nitride crystallites homogeneously dispersible in a solid matrix by capping surface defects and homogeneously dispersing the group 13 nitride crystallites in the solid matrix and an efficient method of preparing the same. The present invention relates to a group 13 nitride phosphor consisting of group 13 nitride crystallites having a group 13 element dispersed in a matrix of a silica gel solid layer, with a diamine compound bonded to the surfaces of the group 13 nitride crystallites and the silica gel solid layer, and a method of preparing the same.
US08123978B2	Liquid crystalline polyester resin composition The present invention provides a liquid crystalline polyester resin composition which imparts a good mold-releasability during molding and further is improved in heat resistance. Specifically, with 100 parts by weight of a liquid crystalline polyester resin is added 0.001 to 1 part by weight of a fatty acid ester which is a tetraester of pentaerythritol and a C10 to C32 higher fatty acid and has an acid value ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 and a hydroxyl value ranging from 0.01 to 5.
US08123977B2	Copolymer for liquid crystal alignment, liquid crystal aligning layer including copolymer for liquid crystal alignment, and liquid crystal display including liquid crystal aligning layer Disclosed is a copolymer for liquid crystal alignment having a photoreactive group, a mesogen group, a thermosetting group, and a crosslinking group, a liquid crystal aligning layer including the copolymer for liquid crystal alignment, and a liquid crystal display including the liquid crystal aligning layer. Since the liquid crystal aligning layer has excellent thermal stability and no residual image, the liquid crystal aligning layer is usefully applied to the liquid crystal display.
US08123967B2	Method of producing an article having patterned decorative coating A method for producing an article having a decorative coating includes depositing at least a first coating layer onto at least a portion of a substrate using a physical or chemical vapor deposition method in a vacuum chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure, the first coating layer comprising a first material having a first color. The method also includes patterning the first coating layer using a non-uniform patterning process to form a patterned coating layer having penetrations through which a portion of an underlying surface is visible, the underlying surface comprising a second material and having a second color that is visually contrasting to the first color. The patterned first coating layer comprises a decorative pattern comprising features distinguishable by an unaided human eye.
US08123962B2	Alternating self-assembling morphologies of diblock copolymers controlled by variations in surfaces Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures arrays including openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. In some embodiments, the films can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
US08123958B2	Method for treating ship ballast water A method for treating ship ballast water in which aquatic organisms in the ship ballast water are exterminated by adding hydrogen peroxide or a compound producing hydrogen peroxide in an amount such that a hydrogen peroxide concentration comes to be 10 to 500 mg/L to the ship ballast water, and then providing physical means for causing shear strength and/or cavitation to the ship ballast water.
US08123956B2	Control system An interactive sanitizer controller/display pad and method for controlling and selecting a dispensing rate in a sanitizer dispensing system based on the time the system is in a periodic dispensing mode and for indicating when a sanitizing dispenser needs replacement.
US08123952B2	Process and device for simulated moving bed separation with a modulated by-pass fluid flow A process for separating a feed F by simulated moving bed adsorption in a SMB device comprises at least one zone 1 for desorption of the compounds produced in the extract, a zone 2 for desorption of the compounds produced in the raffinate, a zone 3 for adsorption of the compounds produced in the extract, a zone 4 located between the raffinate withdrawal and the desorbant supply, the device comprising external by-pass lines Li/i+1 directly connecting two successive plates Pi and Pi+1;in which the degree of opening of means for restricting the flushing flow rate of the by-pass lines Li/i+1 are sequentially modified such that: 1) in an operational zone where there is at least one closed by-pass line, a super-synchronicity of the flushing flow rate is established in all of the by-pass lines which are not closed belonging to the zone under consideration, said super-synchronicity being defined by the following formula: S=a+b(nf/nt) in which the constant a is a constant in the range −5 to 5 and b is a constant in the range 40 to 100; 2) if there is no closed by-pass line in the zone under consideration (in other words if all of the by-pass lines of the zone are open), then a flow is established in all of the flushing lines of said zone which corresponds to the synchronicity plus or minus 8%.
US08123949B2	Methods for separating compounds Methods and systems for analyzing samples using multi-dimensional chromatography are disclosed.
US08123946B2	Method and apparatus for removing metal sulphide particles from a liquid stream The invention provides a method for removal of metal sulphide particles from a liquid stream comprising a solvent and metal sulphide particles, using a filter system comprising at least one membrane, the method comprising contacting the liquid stream with the membrane, thereby transferring metal sulphide particles from the liquid stream onto the membrane surface to obtain a liquid stream depleted of metal sulphide particles and a filter system comprising a membrane enriched in metal sulphide particles. The invention further provides an apparatus for removal of metal sulphide particles from a liquid stream comprising a solvent and metal sulphide particles, wherein the apparatus comprises a solvent regenerator column (1) comprising at least one inlet and two outlets, which solvent regenerator column is connected to filter system (2) comprising at least one membrane and comprising at least one inlet and one outlet, which the filter system is connected to a separation column (3) comprising at least one inlet and two outlets.
US08123940B2	Filtration unit for the selective elimination of a target substance A filtration unit for the selective elimination of a target substance from a biological fluid comprising an external envelope, wherein the envelope encloses a filtering medium comprising: an upstream structure for eliminating at least the target substance comprising a stack of layers that are arranged to allow the flow of fluid through the layers in one direction comprising a non-woven material, and particles interposed between at least some of the layers, wherein the particles have an affinity for the target substance; and a downstream structure for retaining the particles comprising at least one layer of porous material.
US08123939B2	Collection can for precipitated powder substance and the use thereof A collection process for precipitated powder substance is mainly for storing toxic or highly radioactive powder or dust in air and involves collection operation in water or other liquid to collect powder insoluble to the liquid and heavier than the liquid. To be suitable for underwater operation, a powder precipitation bag is provided with an innovative powder collection can at its bottom. New powder collection can has a mesh filter in its bottom and two-stage structure. After completion of powder collection, the collection can is pulled up from the water and dried to reduce powder volume and form powder lumps. Then, the top half is removed, so the collection can is fully filled with powder lumps. The newly designed powder can increases storage efficiency and reduces waste of space by accommodating more powder lumps than traditional powder can. With the same total amount of powder, the new powder can enables fewer number of storage cans. The cover for the new can improves safety for further transportation and storage.
US08123938B2	Filter device for filtering a liquid and filter element for such a filter device The invention relates to a filter device for filtering a liquid, in particular, a hydraulic oil, comprising a filter housing having a least one inlet for liquid to be filtered and at least one outlet for filtered liquid, a filter element positioned in the flow path of the liquid between the inlet and the outlet, and a sealing device having a sealing element and a first sealing surface, the sealing element in a sealing position being positioned in a sealing manner on the first sealing surface. In order to further develop the filter device in such a way that the sealing element also lies reliably on the first sealing surface under alternating pressure loads, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the filter device comprise a locking device, and the sealing element be adapted to be locked in its sealing position at least in the axial direction relative to the first sealing surface by means of the locking device. A filter element for the filter device is also proposed.
US08123936B1	Wastewater treatment system with ultraviolet unit A wastewater treatment system for processing borne wastewater. The treatment system having a tank with an inlet and an outlet and an access assembly residing at the top of the treatment tank. The treatment tank having an aeration chamber where oxygen is added to the wastewater to encourage bacterial breakdown of the solid waste. The treatment tank also having a clarifying chamber separated by a frusto-conical wall. The treatment tank also containing an ultraviolet disinfection system which exposes the wastewater to ultraviolet light prior to the wastewater exiting the treatment tank such that bacteria in the wastewater is neutralized prior to discharge.
US08123935B2	Filter for removing sediment from water A system for removing sediment from water is disclosed. The exemplary embodiments described herein disclose a system comprising a filter chamber, having a deck positioned inside to divide it into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The deck may have a plurality of holes to hold filtration elements and also may have a ridge or a skirt or both. An inlet line may be tangentially connected to the filter chamber and introduce influent liquid into the filter chamber below the deck and outside of the skirt.
US08123931B2	Catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking, method of preparing the same and method of preparing olefin by using the same The present invention relates to a catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking for the production of light olefin, a preparation method of the catalyst and a preparation method of olefin by using the same. More precisely, the present invention relates to a composite catalyst prepared by mixing the oxide catalyst powder represented by CrZrjAkOx (0.5≦j≦120, 0≦k≦50, A is a transition metal, x is the number satisfying the condition according to valences of Cr, Zr and A, and values of j and k) and carrier powder and sintering thereof, a composite catalyst wherein the oxide catalyst is impregnated on a carrier, and a method of preparing light olefin such as ethylene and propylene by hydrocarbon steam cracking in the presence of the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst of the present invention has excellent thermal/mechanical stability in the cracking process, and has less inactivation rate by coke and significantly increases light olefin yield.
US08123926B2	Electrolytic copper process using anion permeable barrier Processes and systems for electrolytically processing a microfeature workpiece with a first processing fluid and an anode are described. Microfeature workpieces are electrolytically processed using a first processing fluid, an anode, a second processing fluid, and an anion permeable barrier layer. The anion permeable barrier layer separates the first processing fluid from the second processing fluid while allowing certain anionic species to transfer between the two fluids. The described processes produce deposits over repeated plating cycles that exhibit resistivity values within desired ranges.
US08123923B2	Film-type solid polymer ionomer sensor and sensor cell A miniaturized gas sensor including film type electrodes, and a solid ionomer electrolyte, for the detection of toxic gases, i.e., carbon monoxide, and other oxidizable or reducible gases and vapors is described. The all-solid planar sensor cell has two or more film type electrodes arranged on a non-conductive planar surface of a supportive material. The electrodes are discrete and in intimate contact with the same solid polymer ionomer membrane. The sensor cell contains no liquid electrolyte and is operated in a potentiostatic or potentiodynamic mode. The unique feature of the sensor cell is that high sensitivity to a select gas or vapor is achieved by a novel three-phase contact area design for a sensing electrode which is easily accessible to the gas sample via small diffusion openings or holes that penetrate through the solid polymer ionomer membrane layer above the sensing electrode. A significant signal to background noise enhancement is achieved for these film type sensor cells by processes that increase the three-phase contact area.
US08123922B2	Nanopore based ion-selective electrodes Nanopore based ion-selective electrodes and methods of their manufacture as well as methods for their use are disclosed and described. The nanopore based ion-selective electrode can include a pore being present in a solid material and having a nanosize opening in the solid material, a metal conductor disposed inside the pore opposite the opening in the solid material, a reference electrode material contacting said metal conductor and disposed inside the pore, a conductive composition in contact with the reference electrode and disposed in the pore, and an ion-selective membrane. The ion-selective membrane can be configured to isolate the metal conductor, reference electrode material, and conductive composition together within the pore.
US08123921B2	Method and device for the preparation of liquid samples in NMR spectroscopy using a combined titration and pH electrode A method and device have an electrode rod (1; 21) for a pH meter. The electrode rod (1; 21) has a measuring end (2; 22) for immersion into a liquid test sample (31), wherein the measuring end (2; 22) has a pH measuring element, and wherein electrical feed lines (5) in the electrode rod (1; 21) extend towards the pH measuring element. A plurality of capillaries (8, 9, 10; 23) for feeding liquids and gas into the test sample (31) extend in the electrode rod (1; 21) and have outlet openings (11, 12, 13; 24) in the area of the measuring end (2; 22). The method and device facilitate and accelerate preparation of liquid test samples and adjustment of a pH value for small amounts of test samples or narrow sample containers in NMR spectroscopy applications.
US08123919B2	Sputtering target with bonding layer of varying thickness under target material Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a rotatable magnetron sputtering target(s) for use in sputtering material(s) onto a substrate. In certain example embodiments, the target includes a cathode tube with a target material applied thereto via plasma spraying or the like. A bonding layer is provided on the tube, between the cathode tube and the target material. The bonding layer is thicker proximate at least one end portion of the target than at a central portion of the target in order to reduce the likelihood of burn-through to or of the cathode tube during sputtering.
US08123917B2	Contact bar for capping board Disclosed is a contact bar for use on a capping board of a given length in order to electrically connect a plurality of anodes and cathodes extending in spaced apart, alternate positions in adjacent electrolytic cells all along the capping board. The contact bar extends over the length of the capping board and is of a given average cross-section. This contact bar comprises a central core that is made of an insulating material and extends all over its length. This contact bar also comprises a plurality of contact pieces that are made of an electrically conductive material and are positioned in spaced apart positions all along the core, each of the pieces defining a segment on which only a short number of the anodes and cathodes are connected. Due to such a division of the contact bar into segments formed by the contact pieces that are no more an electrical contact with each other thanks to the core made of insulating material, any short circuit that occurs by accident is no more “transferred” to all the electrodes of the cells. It is actually transmitted only to the few electrodes in contact with the segment(s) to which is connected the electrode that may cause the trouble.
US08123914B2	Electrode plate transportation apparatus An electrode plate transportation apparatus moves up and down electrode plates moved to a position above an electrolytic bath, and places and draw the electrode plates in and from the electrolytic bath. The apparatus includes a stationary frame that is suspended from an upper position in a vertical direction, a rotary unit that is composed of hold members for holding the electrode plates in a suspended state and is held so as to rotate in a rotational direction about the vertical direction by the stationary frame, and a drive mechanism that is provided between the stationary frame and the rotary unit and applies drive force along an one-axis direction in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction to the rotary unit to thus drive the rotary unit in the rotational direction.
US08123901B2	Etching apparatus The wafer processing apparatus 100 included in an etching apparatus selectively etches the peripheral portion of a wafer 200. The wafer processing apparatus 100 includes a lower electrode 112 as a stage on which the wafer 200 is placed, a process gas introducing duct 120 supplying therethgouh a process gas etching the peripheral portion, an etching-interfering gas introducing duct 118 supplying therethrough an etching-interfering gas interfering supply of the process gas to the center portion of the wafer, and a movable alignment mechanism 102 aligning the wafer on the lower electrode 112. The etching-interfering gas introducing duct 118 and the process gas introducing duct 120 can be provided in an upper electrode 106.
US08123900B2	Substrate supporting unit and apparatus for treating substrate using the substrate supporting unit Provided are a substrate supporting unit and a substrate treating apparatus using the substrate supporting unit. The substrate supporting unit comprises a base plate and a supporting portion formed on the base plate. The supporting portion comprises two supporting rods and a plurality of supporting members. The two supporting rods extend in a predetermined direction to be separated from each other. The plurality of supporting members is disposed to be separated from each other in the predetermined direction. Each of the supporting members connects the supporting rods.
US08123899B2	Polyurethane adhesive with a silane compound as an additive Aqueous adhesive comprising a polyurethane and a silane of the formula where R1 to R4 each independently are an organic radical, with the proviso that at least two of the groups R1 to R4 are a hydroxyl or alkoxy group.
US08123896B2	Laminating system It is an object of the invention to improve the production efficiency in sealing a thin film integrated circuit and to prevent the damage and break. Further, it is another object of the invention to prevent a thin film integrated circuit from being damaged in shipment and to make it easier to handle the thin film integrated circuit. The invention provides a laminating system in which rollers are used for supplying a substrate for sealing, receiving IC chips, separating, and sealing. The separation, sealing, and reception of a plurality of thin film integrated circuits can be carried out continuously by rotating the rollers; thus, the production efficiency can be extremely improved. Further, the thin film integrated circuits can be easily sealed since a pair of rollers opposite to each other is used.
US08123895B2	Automated door assembly system and method The present invention is directed to a method of making a door having first and second door facings and an internal doorframe. An interior side of a first facing is coated with quick acting adhesive. A frame is placed on the coated interior side about the periphery of the first facing. The frame is then coated with quick acting adhesive. An interior side of a second facing is placed on the coated frame. The facings and frame assembly are then compressed to form a door. The present invention also provides for an automated system of making the door.
US08123889B2	Adhesion method and adhesion apparatus of separators, and separator adhesion body A second separator (2) that becomes an opposite electrode to a first separator (1) is stacked on a surface of the first separator (1), on which an adhesive (3) is coated, and a separator unit (4) as a set is formed. Then, at least two or more of the separator units (4) are stacked on one another, and the adhesive (3) is cured.
US08123887B2	Continuously formed fiber reinforced composite strength member A continuous method for making a thermoset resin matrix, which is reinforced with predominantly continuous fibers, and the product made from that method. The product can be produced at a thickness below about 0.060″, or even below a thickness of about 0.035″, and incorporated as a material to combine with or attach to other products for providing an increased strength to those other products, such as wood support beams (gluelam), wood laminates, truck floors and trusses. The product can also be used to strengthen composite thermoplastic lumber, other thermoplastic extrusions and moldings, and aluminum extruded products, as well as for being added to pultruded or molded thermoset plastic products to allow for specific areas of increased strength while maintaining a low reinforcement level in other areas and for providing a resin rich surface.
US08123885B2	Method of manufacturing flexible covers A flexible, elastically gathered cover for food containers or the like, and a method of making such covers, uses a forming machine with a lower section having: a) a square shaped forming mandrel having a top, four substantially vertical sides, and a heating element extending longitudinally along each side, b) four elongated sealing bars having a tops with a guide and a front with an elongated strip of rubber attached, and c) a cover ejector with upwardly extending ejector pins. Each sealing bar is positioned opposite a respective side of the forming mandrel separated to create a forming groove around the mandrel. An upper section having a forming head assembly comprises: a) a forming die with sides that define a cavity sized to telescope over the forming mandrel, and b) a band ejector plate with plural downwardly extending ejector pins located along the perimeter. The forming die hangs below the band ejector plate. The mechanism is able to produce, in an automated sequence, flexible covers having a gathering elastic periphery that are suitable for covering open-topped containers.
US08123879B1	Energetic composition of adjacent layers of an explosive and a combustible fuel and making of same The invention generally relates to an energetic composition including adjacent layers of an explosive and a combustible fuel, and making of the energetic composition. Specifically, making the energetic composition includes vapor deposition of an explosive layer on a combustible fuel surface; alternatively, a combustible fuel layer may be chemically or physically deposited on an explosive surface to make the energetic composition.
US08123878B1	Gas generating system A gas generating system includes a gas generant material for generating gases upon combustion thereof, and an amount of liquid coolant for cooling the generated gases.
US08123877B2	Heat-resistant magnesium alloy for casting heat-resistant magnesium alloy cast product, and process for producing heat-resistant magnesium alloy cast product A heat-resistant magnesium alloy is for casting, and includes Ca in an amount of from 1 to 15% by mass, Al in a summed amount of from 4 to 25% by mass with the amount of Ca, and the balance being Mg and inevitable impurities when the entirety is taken as 100% by mass. The heat-resistant magnesium alloy is not only inexpensive, but also effects an advantage that cracks are inhibited from occurring when being cast. For example, a process for producing heat-resistant magnesium alloy cast product includes the step of pressure pouring an alloy molten metal, which has a target composition around Mg—3% Ca—3% Al—from 0.2 to 0.3% Mn, into a cavity of metallic die, which is preheated to a die temperature of from 130 to 140° C. in advance. The process makes it possible to produce die-cast products, which are free from cast cracks.
US08123875B2	AG base sputtering target and process for producing the same An Ag sputtering target 6 has three-dimensional fluctuation of grain sizes of not more than 18%. The fluctuation is determined by exposing plural sputtering surfaces by slicing the sputtering target 6 in planes to initial sputtering surface, selecting plural locations on each of the exposed sputtering surfaces, calculating values A1 and B1 using the formula below, and selecting larger one of the values A1 and B1 as the three-dimensional fluctuation of the grain sizes. A1=(Dmax−Dave)/Dave×100(%) B1=(Dave
US08123872B2	Carburization process for stabilizing nickel-based superalloys A process by which a nickel-based superalloy substrate prone to deleterious reactions with an aluminum-rich coating can be stabilized by carburization. The process generally entails processing the surface of the substrate to be substantially free of oxides, heating the substrate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburization temperature, and then contacting the surface of the substrate with a carburization gas mixture comprising a diluted low activity hydrocarbon gas while maintaining the substrate at the carburization temperature. While at the carburization temperature and contacted by the carburization gas, carbon atoms in the carburization gas dissociate therefrom, transfer onto the surface of the substrate, diffuse into the substrate, and react with refractory metals within the substrate to form refractory metal carbides within a carburized region beneath the surface of the substrate. The substrate is then cooled in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to terminate carbide formation.
US08123870B2	Handheld sterilization device Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld cleaning device that sanitizes an item to be cleaned by, in a single action, dispensing ozone and ultrasonic wave cavitations in an aqueous medium that contains the object to be cleaned. The handheld device comprises a dipping end, which further comprises an ozone generator, dispensing ozone from the dipping end, and an ultrasonic wave generator generating ultrasonic cavitation in an aqueous medium. The device is configured to be held on a holding end, with a side opposite the holding end configured for dipping into an aqueous medium (e.g., water, cleaning fluid, liquids, etc.) which is contained in a vessel. The vessel is a concave structure capable of holding such aqueous medium, such as a sink, a bowl, a basin, and the like.
US08123867B2	Phosphate-free dishwasher detergent with excellent rinsing power The present invention relates to a phosphate-free machine dishwasher detergent comprising 0.01-20% by weight of at least one alcohol alkoxylate, 0.01-10% by weight of at least one alcohol ethoxylate, 0-15% by weight of at least one sulfonate-containing polymer, 0-15% by weight of at least one hydrophilically modified polycarboxylate, 0-8% by weight of at least one polycarboxylate, 1-50% by weight of at least one complexing agent and 0.1-60% by weight of at least one further additive, where the sum of components (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) and (G) is 100% by weight, to a process for rinsing surfaces of articles by treating these surfaces with the composition, and to the use of the composition for increasing the rinsing performance in the machine washing of articles.
US08123866B2	Wafer manufacturing method and device The invention relates to a device for manufacturing semiconductor material wafers with a sawing device for the sawing of slices attached to a saw holder, a pre-cleaning device arranged in the process direction downstream of the sawing device for pre-cleaning the surfaces of the slices hanging on the saw holder, and a degluing device arranged downstream in the process direction for detaching the slices from the saw holder.
US08123859B2	Method and apparatus for producing large, single-crystals of aluminum nitride A method and apparatus for producing bulk single crystals of AlN having low dislocation densities of about 10,000 cm−2 or less includes a crystal growth enclosure with Al and N2 source material therein, capable of forming bulk crystals. The apparatus maintains the N2 partial pressure at greater than stoichiometric pressure relative to the Al within the crystal growth enclosure, while maintaining the total vapor pressure in the crystal growth enclosure at super-atmospheric pressure. At least one nucleation site is provided in the crystal growth enclosure, and provision is made for cooling the nucleation site relative to other locations in the crystal growth enclosure. The Al and N2 vapor is then deposited to grow single crystalline low dislocation density AlN at the nucleation site. High efficiency ultraviolet light emitting diodes and ultraviolet laser diodes are fabricated on low defect density AlN substrates, which are cut from the low dislocation density AlN crystals. Bulk crystals of ZnO may also be produced using the method.
US08123855B2	Device and process for growing Ga-doped single silicon crystals suitable for making solar cells A device and method for producing Ga doped silicone single crystal with a diameter between 150 and 165 mm and a narrow resistivity distribution range (from 3 Ω·cm to 0.5 Ω·cm). The device is characterized by the use of a shorter heater and a funnel shaped gas flow guide capable of blowing an inert gas such as Ar straight to the crystallization frontier at the interface between outer surface of the nascent single crystal ingot and the surface of the melt of polycrystalline silicone raw materials in a quartz crucible.
US08123850B2	Environmentally-friendly near infrared reflecting hybrid pigments A hybrid pigment composition is provided including a pigment or a dye and a fibrous clay. The pigment composition has higher reflectance in a near infrared region than a visible light region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The fibrous clay can be selected from palygorskite, sepiolite, and mixtures thereof. The hybrid pigment composition is tunable to provide high reflectance at a desired wavelength in the near infrared region.
US08123849B2	Aqueous film coating composition containing sodium alginate and preparation thereof A coating composition comprising sodium alginate and plasticizer, optionally detackifying agents, opacifers and colorants. The coating composition of the present invention may be applied to a pharmaceutical and veterinary tablet, caplets, pellets, granules, neutraceuticals, food, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers and pesticide tablets and provides an elegant, glossy, prompt release coating which does not retard the release of active ingredients from the coated substrate.
US08123842B2	Direct contact cooling in an acid gas removal process Systems and processes disclosed herein relate to the utilization of direct contact condensing to provide heat to a solvent regeneration loop in an acid gas removal process. A first direct contact condenser can be included in the upper section of a concentrator that removes acid gas from a rich solvent stream. A first slip stream can be heated in the first direct contact condenser and can be combined with the rich solvent stream in the lower section of the stripper. A second direct contact condenser can be included in the lower section of an absorber that removes acid gas from a feed gas. A second slip stream can be heated in the second direct contact condenser, and can be combined with the rich solvent stream before the rich solvent stream is provided to the concentrator.
US08123841B2	Column design for micro gas chromatograph Improved micro-columns and methods for producing micro-columns particularly suitable for use in gas chromatographs are disclosed. In particular, following deposition of the stationary phase coating, the micro-columns are subjected to a postcoating treatment with a molecule that binds to the active sites in the stationary phase micro-column thereby eliminating or reducing loss of gas chromatograph performance associated with those active sites. The postcoating treatment molecule binds to the same active sites as the analytes of interest.
US08123840B2	Electrostatic particle filter The invention relates to an electrostatic particle filter for removing particles from air. The electrostatic particle filter includes a filter medium (3) with first and second opposite sides, a first electrode (1) and a second electrode (2), the first electrode (1) and second electrode (2) being conformally provided on the first and second sides of the filter medium (3), respectively. The first electrode (1), the second electrode (2), and the filter medium (3) are arranged to allow an electrical conduction current through the filter medium (3). The first electrode (1) is a moderately-conductive electrode having a sheet resistance in a range with a lower boundary value of about 106 Ohm per square and an upper boundary value of about 1012 Ohm per square, at a relative humidity of 30%. The invention also relates to an electrostatic filtration system including the electrostatic particle filter, and a particle charging section (6).
US08123837B2	Siloxane resistant ultra violet photocatalysts Deactivation resistant photocatalysts can be formulated by coating one or more photocatalyst crystals onto a suitable substrate. The photocatalyst crystals are doped with a dopant M. The dopant can be used to repel the silicon-based compound or be used to attract the silicon-based compound. The dopant can uniformly be distributed in the photocatalyst crystals. The dopant can be introduced only to photocatalyst crystals between about 0.1 to about 2 nanometers below the surface of the structure. The doped photocatalyst crystals can be interdispersed with non-doped photocatalyst crystals.
US08123835B2	High rate and high crush-strength adsorbents High rate and high crush-strength adsorbent particles and collections of such particles, and particularly LiLSX particles, are provided. A binder is employed in the form of a colloidal solution during the method of manufacture. Suitable binders include various silica binders. The particles are made using the steps of mixing, agglomeration, calcination and in the case of certain adsorbents such as LiX and LiLSX, ion exchange and activation. When the adsorption rate is expressed in the form SCRR/εp (mmol mm2/g s), desirable collections of adsorbent particles can have values of at least 4.0 for the highly-exchanged Li (at least 90% Li exchanged) form of the collection of particles and can further be characterized by particles having average crush strengths of at least 0.9 lbf for particles having an average diameter of at least about 1.0 mm.
US08123831B2	Liquid separator, particularly oil separator for compressed air systems The invention relates to a liquid separator, particularly an oil separator for compressed air systems. The liquid separator comprises a housing (15), which can be detachably connected by means of a bayonet-type connector (11) to a counterpart (12). The housing (15) is locked onto the counterpart (12) by axial tensioning forces (F) operable to lock the bayonet connector (11).
US08123829B2	Gas-liquid separation device of engine A bearing holder (66) having a bearing (67) rotatably supporting a crankshaft (14) is fixed so as to face an opening (11k) of the engine case (11). A gas-liquid separation chamber (83) is formed between a cover member (68) covering the opening (11k) and the bearing holder (66). Therefore, by utilizing the bearing holder (66) as a part of the wall surface of the gas-liquid separation chamber (83), the gas-liquid separation chamber (83) can be partitioned without increasing the number of components and without forming a special wall surface in the engine case (11). Thus, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the engine case (11), and reduce the cost by simplifying the shape thereof and reducing the number of components. Also, a labyrinth 82 is formed by ribs (66d, 66e, 68a, 68d) projecting from the bearing holder (66) and the cover member (68), and therefore gas-liquid separation can be effectively performed by the labyrinth (82). Thus, it is possible to provide a small light gas-liquid separation device with a small number of components.
US08123827B2	Processes for making syngas-derived products The present invention provides processes for making syngas-derived products. For example, one aspect of the present invention provides a process for making a syngas-derived product, the process comprising (a) providing a carbonaceous feedstock; (b) converting the carbonaceous feedstock in a syngas formation zone at least in part to a synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (c) conveying the synthesis gas stream to a syngas reaction zone; (d) reacting the synthesis gas stream in the syngas reaction zone to form the syngas-derived product and heat energy, a combustible tail gas mixture, or both; (e) recovering the syngas-derived product; and (f) recovering the heat energy formed from the reaction of the synthesis gas stream, burning the combustible tail gas mixture to form heat energy, or both.
US08123826B2	Process for the conversion of oil-based liquid fuels to a fuel mixture suitable for use in solid oxide fuel cell applications Processes for generating electricity using a solid oxide fuel cell are disclosed. The processes are controlled by adjusting the hourly spaced velocity of the hydrocarbon feed through the solid oxide fuel cell. Hydrocarbon fuel is transported at an hourly spaced velocity through a pre-reformer having a catalyst. The hydrocarbon fuel is contacted with the catalyst for a residence time and at a temperature such that a catalyzed hydrocarbon fuel is formed. The hourly spaced velocity determines the residence time of the hydrocarbon fuel in the pre-reformer. The resultant catalyzed hydrocarbon fuel contains at least one gas including one or more of hydrogen gas, methane gas, carbon monoxide gas, or combinations thereof The catalyzed hydrocarbon fuel is then contacted with an anode of a solid oxide fuel cell for a residence time to produce electricity.
US08123821B2	Regulating vanadium inhibitor in a gas turbine A method and system are disclosed that enable an automatic regulation of a vanadium inhibitor in a fuel of a gas turbine. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining an indication as to whether an additional inhibitor is required in the fuel of the gas turbine based on an amount of vanadium and an inhibitor in the fuel of the gas turbine, in response to the indication that the additional inhibitor is required, having an inhibitor control system automatically instructing an injector to inject the additional inhibitor into the fuel of the gas turbine to inhibit the vanadium.
US08123820B2	Method of preparing positive active material for a lithium secondary battery A process of manufacturing a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery includes adding a metal source to a doping element-containing coating liquid to surface-treat the metal source, wherein the metal source is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, nickel, and combination thereof; drying the surface-treated metal source material to prepare a positive active material precursor; mixing the positive active material precursor with a lithium source; and subjecting the mixture to heat-treatment. Alternatively, the above drying step during preparation of the positive active material precursor is substituted by preheat-treatment or drying followed by preheat-treatment.
US08123818B2	Prosthetic liner with continuous distal end area A tubular liner has an open proximal end and a closed-end distal area, and a fabric layer continuously defining an exterior surface of the liner without interruption. A polymeric layer having first and second surfaces is bonded to an interior surface of the fabric layer. A seam is formed by opposed sides of the fabric layer joined together and forming an excess portion directed toward the cavity of the liner. The excess portion is embedded in the polymeric layer.
US08123817B2	Meshes of variable construction According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on.
US08123815B2	Multiple bearing acetabular prosthesis A prosthesis to replace a portion of the anatomy, such as the acetabulum, can include a first portion. A second prosthesis portion can be positioned relative to the shell to provide the bearing surface to articulate with a femoral head prosthesis or femoral head. The second prosthesis portion can include a connection portion to engage a connection portion in the shell.
US08123814B2	Method and appartus for acetabular reconstruction A trial system for a prosthesis is described. The prosthesis can include an acetabular prosthesis generally for implantation in an acetabulum and the surrounding pelvis. The acetabular prosthesis includes an acetabular cup having a substantially concave inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface. One trial shell or a collection of trial shells are provided to trial a range of motion of the hip joint before implanting a shell prosthesis into the acetabular prosthesis.
US08123813B2	Pyrocarbon orthopedic implant An orthopedic prosthetic device having at least one pyrocarbon insert is provided. The prosthetic device can include a prosthetic component having an articulating surface and a bone engagement surface. The articulating surface can be formed of a material that is distinct from pyrocarbon and is arranged to receive the at least one pyrocarbon insert so as to position a pyrocarbon articulating surface of the at least one pyrocarbon insert relative to the prosthetic component articulating surface.
US08123808B2	Vertebral endplate connection implant and method Embodiments of the invention include implants and methods for connecting devices to bones, such as one or more endplates of vertebrae. Devices may include mechanisms for connecting to one or more vertebrae by extending portions of the devices through an aperture in a vertebral implant and expanding the implant within the one or more vertebrae. A fill material may be used to drive the expansion in some embodiments.
US08123800B2	Three-dimensional annuloplasty ring and template An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The ring is more flexible in bending about radially extending axes than about the central axis. The ring may have an inner structural support covered by a pliable sleeve and/or a fabric tube. The structural support may have a varying cross-section, such as a C-shaped cross-section in a mid-section between two free ends and a rectangular cross-section at the free ends. A deliver template having a mounting ring with about the same shape as the ring facilitates implant, and may be releasably attached to a delivery handle. The deliver template may include a plurality of cutting guides for releasably attaching the annuloplasty ring thereto while presenting maximum outer surface area of the ring. The template may have an outwardly-facing groove to receive and retain the ring.
US08123788B2	Plating system having retaining member that permits movement of at least one bone fastener The present invention is directed to (1) a plating system having multiple and single locking mechanisms for general skeletal use other than in the anterior cervical spine; (2) an orthopedic plating system that permits a pair of bone screws to be inserted into a bone in a crossed over orientation and locked to the plate; (3) a segmentable plating system which can be made to a selected length by the surgeon; and (4) a combination screw-lock-plating system for allowing and/or causing intersegmental compression of bone portions.
US08123779B2	Embolic protection device An embolic protection filter. In some embodiments, the device includes an elongate shaft, a filter coupled to the shaft, and a proximal stop coupled to the shaft.
US08123778B2	Embolic protection system An embolic protection system comprises an embolic protection filter 1 having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The filter 1 is housed in the collapsed configuration in a reception space of a delivery catheter 20. The delivery catheter 20 containing the filter 1 is housed in a sealed sterile pouch 35. The filter 1 may be coated with a non-thrombogenic coating and an adhesion preventer 9 such as a silicon gel is used to substantially prevent adhesion of adjacent folds of the filter 1 when the filter is in the collapsed configuration in the delivery catheter 20.
US08123775B2	Embolism protection devices Embolism protection devices can be formed with a biocompatible expandable polymer that can expand upon release within a patient's vessel. Upon release, the structure can be configured to filter flow through the vessel. The material of the embolism protection devices can release one or more biologically active agents, such as a thrombolitic agent, including, for example, tPA. Alternatively or additionally, the embolism protection device can be connected to a tether that elutes one or more biologically active agents.
US08123767B2	Circular stapler buttress A buttress for use with circular surgical staplers that does not require adhesive to securely fasten the buttress to the stapler. Following cutting and stapling by the circular stapler, the buttress has an adaptive opening through its central region with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stapler anvil. Because of relief features built into the buttress, the stapler anvil may be pulled through the buttress material without causing permanent alteration to the buttress. These relief features may be provided regardless of whether the buttress is made of inelastic or elastic materials. The buttress is generally circular in shape with an outer diameter sized to coincide with the outer diameter of the stapler body staple compression surface and the outer diameter of the anvil compression surface of a circular stapler with which it is used. Prior to surgical use, the buttress is attached to the stapler with disruptable portions extending from outer perimetal areas of the buttress.
US08123766B2	Circular stapler buttress A buttress for use with circular surgical staplers that does not require adhesive to securely fasten the buttress to the stapler. Following cutting and stapling by the circular stapler, the buttress has an adaptive opening through its central region with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stapler anvil. Because of relief features built into the buttress, the stapler anvil may be pulled through the buttress material without causing permanent alteration to the buttress. These relief features may be provided regardless of whether the buttress is made of inelastic or elastic materials. The buttress is generally circular in shape with an outer diameter sized to coincide with the outer diameter of the stapler body staple compression surface and the outer diameter of the anvil compression surface of a circular stapler with which it is used. Prior to surgical use, the buttress is attached to the stapler with disruptable portions extending from outer perimetal areas of the buttress.
US08123765B2	Obesity treatment tools and methods Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods.
US08123764B2	Apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.
US08123763B2	Suture securement apparatus A suture securement apparatus for selectively securing one or more ends of a suture while allowing adjustments in the tension or a full release of the sutures intermittently after a prolonged period of time. The suture securement apparatus can be particularly adapted for use with a purse-string suture to close a percutaneous catheter puncture site without causing puckering or distortion of the skin at the purse string suture site. The suture securement apparatus permits a practitioner to subsequently modify the amount of tensioning or full release of the sutures at the catheter insertion site. A threading assembly for use with the suture securement apparatus and being adapted to facilitate threading of sutures along the length of the suture securement apparatus.
US08123759B2	Introducer sheath stabilizer A device for introducing an embolic coil into a catheter comprises an elongated body defining a longitudinal passage extending therethrough from a first opening at a proximal end thereof to a second opening at a distal end thereof, the elongated body being including a mating portion for conforming to a size and shape of an opening in a hub of a catheter to mate therewith and an embolic coil introducer sheath including a coil receiving lumen extending therethrough, a distal tip of the introducer sheath being dimensioned to be received within a proximal end of the longitudinal passage. Similarly, a method of implanting an embolic coil, comprises inserting a stabilizer into a catheter hub so that a flexible mating portion substantially conforms to a shape of an inner surface of the hub wherein the stabilizer includes a passage extending therethrough from a proximal opening to a distal opening thereof. An introducer sheath including an embolic coil received in a lumen thereof is inserted into the proximal opening of the passage and through the passage to exit the distal opening thereof so that a distal opening of the lumen is positioned substantially adjacent to a proximal opening of a catheter and an embolic coil is advanced out of the distal opening of the lumen into the catheter and deployed in the body through the catheter.
US08123754B2	Surgical jig A surgical jig and method of use in image guided and non-guided surgery are described. The jig is for use in determining an axis of a body part. The jig includes a handle at a proximal end and a mouth at a distal end. The mouth is engagable about the body part and defines a substantially flat plane. A guide has a channel with an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane and a support attaches the guide to the jig. The guide can be translatable relative to the mouth while maintaining the axis substantially perpendicular to the plane. The method determines an axis relative to a body part using the jig. The method comprises engaging the mouth about the body part and translating the guide relative to the mouth so as to align the axis of the channel with the axis of the body part.
US08123753B2	Cutting guide assembly A cutting guide assembly is provided for resecting a head of a bone. The cutting guide assembly includes an elongate support rod and at least one cutting plate couplable to the support rod, the at least one cutting surface defining a cutting surface arranged such that when coupled to the support rod, the bone can be cut to form a resection surface by aligning a cutting tool with the cutting surface. The support rod is configured to be partially disposed in and rotatable within a cavity extending into the head of the bone, defines a longitudinal axis and including a reference formation.
US08123747B2	Apparatus for external fixation of a fractured distal radius with angularly adjustable pin clamping means An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. A first embodiment includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A second embodiment includes one or two internal mounting surfaces, each of which holds a row of pin holders that is clamped in place by a single clamping member. Other embodiments include such pin holders arranged with elements including an array of pin holding positions for fixing fragments at a fractured end of a bone, such as a fractured distal radius.
US08123746B2	High-frequency current treatment tool A high-frequency current treatment tool of the present invention includes a pair of clamp pieces which clamps an object, and an electrode which is provided on one of the clamp pieces. Each of the clamp pieces has a clamp face which faces with each other. A first clamp face being one of the clamp faces has a chevron shape protruding toward a second clamp face being another of the clamp faces, and having a ridge portion formed along a longitudinal direction of the first clamp face. The electrode is arranged along the ridge portion.
US08123740B2	Robotic apparatus A robotic apparatus has eight actuators (M0-M7) and a linkage (LINK 0-LINK 5) that actuates an end effector. Three serial macro freedoms have large ranges of motion and inertias. Four serial micro freedoms have small ranges of motion and inertias. Translation of the end effector in any direction is actuated by at least one micro joint and at least one macro joint. The apparatus can be part of a master and slave combination, providing force feedback without any explicit force sensors. The slave is controlled with an Inverse Jacobian controller, and the mater with a Jacobian Transpose controller. A slave having more degrees of freedom (DOFs) than the master can be controlled. A removable effector unit actuates its DOFs with cables. Beating heart surgery can be accomplished by commanding the slave to move with a beating heart and cancelling out any such motion in the motions perceived by the master.
US08123736B2	Cap adapters for medicament vial and associated methods Cap adapters for a medicament vial configured to facilitate the transfer of liquid medicament from the vial and into a syringe. In one embodiment the cap adapter comprises a wall portion with a first lumen passing through it. A vial-engaging portion secures the cap adapter to the vial. A spike extends from the wall portion and defines a second lumen passing through the wall portion. A cone-shaped shield extends from the first lumen. The shield is configured to guide a hypodermic needle toward the first lumen to thereby reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial. In certain embodiments, a light source cooperates with the cap adapter to illuminate at least a portion of the cap adapter to reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial in a darkened environment. In certain embodiments, a secondary sealing member abuts a first face of the wall portion and seals an end of the first lumen. In certain embodiments, a locking sleeve resists or prevents removal of the cap adapter from the medicament vial.
US08123735B2	Absorbent garment A washable, reusable garment for retention of body fluids when worn on a person's lower body part. The garment has a crotch portion and a body portion. The crotch portion has an absorbent composite, and a pocket adapted for receiving a removable absorbent pad. The body portion has a waist opening and is seamless except where attached to the crotch portion. The body portion and the crotch portion together form first and second leg openings.
US08123734B2	Absorbent article An absorbent article such as a diaper and an incontinence guard provided with a pair of belt members (10a, 10b) attached to the rear portion (6), alternatively to the front portion, of the article and which are intended to be fastened together around the waist of the wearer by fastening means (11,12) and where the front portion (5), alternatively the rear portion, is provided with fasteners (8,9) intended to be fastened to the belt members (10a, 10b), in such a way that the article will assume a pantlike shape, where the belt members (10a, 10b) form a part of the waist portions of the pant. The belt members (10a, 10b) include a flexible laminate of at least two layers of fibrous material bonded together in a bonding pattern (13) provided by ultrasonic, laser and/or heat, the bonding pattern having a bonding area of no more than 10%, and the laminate having a tear strength of at least 22 N.
US08123727B2	Flush entrance hemostasis valve with unobstructed passageway A method of placing a catheter into a patient while preventing disadvantageous escape of fluid from the patient comprises providing a catheter secured to a valve housing. The catheter has a proximal end, a distal end and an interior lumen. The valve housing has a first port, a second port, and a fluid path running between the first and second ports. The catheter and the valve housing have a hollow needle extending therethrough.
US08123723B2	Fluid delivery device with variable force spring A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments such as antibiotics, blood clotting agents, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from collapsible containers at a uniform rate. The dispenser includes a novel stored energy source that is provided in the form of a compressible-expandable member that functions to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the apparatus reservoir. The apparatus further includes a novel fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solutions from the apparatus reservoir to the patient.
US08123720B2	Intelligent medical device system dynamics for biological network regulation The intelligent medical device (iMD) system coordinates the dynamics of hardware and software components in a self-organizing autonomous system. The iMD system uses advanced modeling and metaheuristics to solve complex optimization problems involving the customization of medical therapies. The system uses evolvable hardware and reprogrammable features to coordinate the diagnostic and therapeutic functions of the iMDs.
US08123719B2	Devices, systems and methods for medicament delivery An apparatus includes a housing, a medicament container disposed within the housing, a first energy storage member and second energy storage member. The medicament container includes a first plunger disposed within a proximal end portion of the medicament container and a second plunger disposed within the medicament container spaced apart from the first plunger. The first energy storage member is configured to produce a force when actuated to move at least the second plunger within the medicament container. The second energy storage member is configured to produce a force when actuated to move the first plunger and the second plunger within the medicament container. The second energy storage member is different than the first energy storage member.
US08123718B2	Charging mechanism for a needle free injector The present invention provides a needle-free injector for delivering a medicament under pressure into an animal or human, the injector having a charging mechanism comprising a threaded shaft/nut member combination. The injection device is of the type that includes an actuating device comprising: a gas tight chamber; a piston and rod assembly slidably received in the chamber and movable between a forward position and a rearward position; a gas charge in the chamber for urging the piston and rod assembly to the forward position; a mechanism for moving said piston and rod assembly against said gas charge into the rearward position; and a trigger for releasably retaining the piston and rod assembly in the rearward position. Also provided is a method and kit for using the device including the charging mechanism to administer a liquid through the skin of an animal or human.
US08123716B1	Pericardial delivery of treatment An implantable cardiac therapeutic device having at least one implantable sensor arranged to sense at least one physiologic characteristic of a patient, an implantable therapeutic agent delivery assembly wherein the delivery assembly and a therapeutic agent to be delivered are configured for placement in a patient's pericardial space, and a controller in communication with the at least one implantable sensor and with the therapeutic agent delivery assembly wherein the controller evaluates the at least one physiologic characteristic for indications of a condition indicating administration of the therapeutic agent and wherein, upon detection of such indications, induces the therapeutic agent delivery assembly to deliver the agent. Also an implantable patient lead adapted for connection to a separable implantable therapy device, the lead including an implantable therapeutic agent delivery assembly wherein the delivery assembly and a therapeutic agent to be delivered are configured for placement in a patient's pericardial space.
US08123714B2	Programmable shunt with electromechanical valve actuator Devices and methods for regulating and directing bodily fluids from one region of a patient to another region are disclosed. In general, an apparatus is provided that can include an implantable shunt system and a system controller. The implantable shunt system can have an adjustable valve for regulating the flow of fluid, a sensor element for measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient, and an electromechanical valve actuator that can be adapted to adjust a resistance of the valve. The implantable shunt system can be in electrical communication with the system controller. The system controller can generally be adapted to receive a physiological characteristic of the patient and operate the electromechanical valve actuator to adjust a resistance of the valve. The apparatus can also include an external programming device that is in communication with the system controller.
US08123712B2	Controllable swab device An improved swab device includes a handle member having a swab portion and a hinge. The hinge divides the handle member into a handle portion and a controllable portion. The device further includes a first stop member and a second stop member. The controllable portion may articulate from a rest position in a first direction until it is retained in a first retained position. The first stop member is configured to prohibit the swab portion from articulating any further in a first direction and also may be configured to maintain the swab portion in the first retained position. The swab portion may then be released from the first retained position and articulate in an opposite second direction until it is retained in a second position. The second stop member is configured to prohibit the swab from articulating any further in a second direction and also may be configured to maintain the swab portion in the second retained position.
US08123711B2	Snap lock assisted mechanical joint A compact close contour mechanical joint that uses a snap ring, a transfer gear partially press-fit into a brake wheel, a distal bar having integral gear teeth that engage the exposed portion of the transfer gear, a second bar with a T-shaped proximal end, a handle disengaging an unlocking pin to separates gear teeth that allows incremental distal bar movement, and a two-axis arrangement for distal bar rotation. Instead of using a spring biasing member, the mechanical joint uses a gear ratio reduction that provides a smaller stop increment, less travel, enhanced joint strength, less stress on gear teeth, and less force required to unlock it than prior close contour joints. Although it is contemplated for use of the mechanical joint to be primarily in orthotic, any application for which the mechanical joint's compact configuration would provide some assistance or technical advantage is considered to be within its scope.
US08123704B2	Calibration and measurement system The present invention is a calibration and measurement system designed primarily for use in the rapid evaluation and characterization of open or visible wounds in patients. The invention in a preferred embodiment comprises a set of colored concentric rings, constructed of paper or synthetic material. The practitioner removes only as many rings, from the center outward, until the entire wound is visible within the open aperture at the center of the remaining rings. The area dimensions of the wound are then read out from the size of the inner remaining ring. Photography optionally records the wound appearance and size. A related system is developed for linear dimensioning of wounds. This invention is also designed to standardize the color scheme for accurate photography wound description. This color scheme is also applicable to a linear device to accurately describe wound size. The invention is also useful in forensic and accident investigations.
US08123699B2	Method and apparatus for aspiration An aspiration apparatus 10 is described that includes a guide 12 and a set of needles 14. Guide 12 preferably has an approximately conical shape with a decreasing diameter in the distal direction. A plurality of lumens 32 extend between a distal end portion 18 and a proximal end portion 20 of guide 12. Lumens 32 have distal openings 34 in distal end portion 18 and proximal openings in proximal end portion 20. Lumens 32 are acute and oblique to the longitudinal axis and diverge from each other and the central longitudinal axis as they extend distally from distal openings 34. Needles 14 have a tubular wall 60 and are slidingly positionable in lumens 32. Needles 14 include a longitudinal section 80 of tubular wall 60 that has a plurality of apertures 72 that decrease in size in the proximal direction. Apertures 72 define an approximately conically shaped area of harvest. Aspiration apparatus 10 can connect to an external source of reduced pressure through guide 12 or directly to each needle 14. Guide 12 can selectively include a fixed guide needle 24 that extends approximately along the longitudinal axis from distal end portion 18.
US08123698B2	System and method for minimally invasive disease therapy A system for treating a lesion site of a patient is disclosed. The system includes a cannula having a lumen, a conduit in communication with said lumen, an introducer stylet removably disposed within said cannula, a resecting device selectively insertable within said cannula, and an adjuvant treatment device selectively insertable within said cannula.
US08123697B2	Method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy An MR-guided biopsy, for example, prostate biopsy, is performed by a mechanical tool for stabilizing the patient in prone position and for guiding the biopsy needle into defined targeted lesions in the prostate gland. The patient can lay prone in the MRI. The apparatus can guide an MR-visible, sterile needle sleeve, which can have a hollow tube filled with contrast media, through the anus onto the inner wall of the colon. Due to the visibility of the contrast media in the sleeve, the apparatus can be guided to the exact position. The sleeve can incorporate a tube within the contrast media filled sleeve to insert the biopsy needle and to push this needle forward into the prostate. The apparatus can utilize various mechanical mechanisms to stereotactically move the needle or needle sleeve in various directions.
US08123696B2	Physiological coherence in animals A coherence value or category for an animal subject is calculated, and a corresponding coherence indication is provided to a human subject. In one embodiment, the beat-to-beat changes in the animal subject's heart rate is monitored, and used to calculate a coherence value, which may be representative of a coherence category. The coherence value may be determined by the power distribution of the heart rate variability data for the animal subject. In another embodiment, the degree of synchronization between an animal subject's coherence and an associated human subject's coherence may be determined and provided as feedback.
US08123692B2	Apparatus, system, and method for adaptively controlling a frame interval between ultrasound scanning frames for an ultrasound elasticity imaging scan An apparatus, system and method for adaptively controlling a frame interval between ultrasound scanning frames of an ultrasound elasticity imaging scan. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound beams to a subject during an ultrasound elasticity imaging scan, and a receiver for receiving ultrasound beam echoes from the subject responsive to transmitted ultrasound beams. The system also includes a processor for processing a plurality of the ultrasound beam echoes to determine a strain variation of the tissue undergoing strain, calculating a value for an ultrasound scanning frame interval adapted for imaging the tissue undergoing the determined strain variation, and setting the value of the ultrasound scanning frame interval for acquiring ultrasound elasticity images of the tissue undergoing the determined strain variation.
US08123691B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for fixedly displaying a puncture probe during 2D imaging Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is equipped with an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasound to/from an examined body, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe, an image generator that generates image data based upon the output of the ultrasonic probe, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of a puncture probe inserted into the examined body, a display image generator that generates the data of a display image in which the end position of the puncture probe is fixed to a specific position in an image display area according to the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe and the position and the direction of the puncture probe based upon the image data and a display for displaying the display image in the image display area.
US08123685B2	System for monitoring a number of different parameters of a patient in a bed In order to provide a simple and reliable monitoring technique for a number of different parameters of a patient in a bed (2), a system (1) is provided, said system (1) comprising: at least one first sensor device (25) adapted to measure a first force component acting in a first direction (12), said first force component corresponding to a first parameter of the patient, at least one second sensor device (36) adapted to measure a second force component acting in a second direction (13, 14), said second force component corresponding to a second parameter of the patient, and a data device (16) adapted to acquire the measured data from the at least one first sensor device (25) and the at least one second sensor device (36) and to process those data in order to provide information about the number of parameters of the patient.
US08123684B2	Methods for configuring implantable satellite effectors Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
US08123683B2	Apparatus for aggregating individuals based on association variables An apparatus for aggregating individuals based on variables associated with a type of headache is described. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one program module. The program module may be stored in the memory and may be configured or configurable to be executed by the processor. The program module may include instructions for receiving a list of variables, where the variables in the list of variables may be triggers that at least in part induce a headache associated with the type of headache in at least one individual if at least the one individual is exposed to one or more of the variables. The program module may include instructions for selecting a first forum from multiple forums. Note that the selection is based on at least a subset of the variables in the list of variables, the first forum is associated with the type of headache and at least the subset of the variables, and the first forum facilitates exchange of first information associated with the type of headache. Furthermore, the program module may include instructions for providing second information associated with the first forum to at least the one individual.
US08123681B2	Medical appliance stabilization device and method for using same Systems and methods for achieving stabilization of medical devices, both invasive and non-invasive, are provided for human and veterinary subjects. The stabilization device comprises a platform for being positioned on a body part, a hooking apparatus positioned within an inner surface of the platform, and at least one securing strap attached to the platform. The durable stabilization device can be rapidly deployed under sterile and field emergency conditions to provide a high level of stability to medical appliances, and is easily removable from a body part of a subject without causing discomfort or damage to the integument or other tissues.
US08123679B2	Endoscope apparatus The invention includes an insertion portion, one end of which is inserted inside a lumen of a subject; an image-acquisition unit for acquiring an image of an interior wall in the lumen as a substantially circular or substantially ring-shaped interior wall image; a transformation processing unit for transforming, in the interior wall image, at least substantially ring-shaped images concerning the interior wall, whose distance from the one end is uniform, to substantially straight-line-shaped or substantially band-shaped images; a distance-measuring unit for measuring a distance moved by the insertion portion relative to the subject; and an image synthesizing unit for joining the transformed images on the basis of the distance moved measured by the distance-measuring unit.
US08123677B2	Body-insertable apparatus A body-insertable apparatus including a capsule-like casing, an illuminating unit, an imaging unit, and an antenna is provided. The capsule-like casing is formed in a capsule-like shape and includes a transparent imaging dome. The illuminating unit is arranged in the capsule-like casing and illuminates an examined site of a subject through the imaging dome. The imaging unit is arranged in the capsule-like casing and takes an image of the examined site illuminated by the illuminating unit. The antenna is arranged in the imaging dome at a position outside an imaging field of view of the imaging dome to transmit image information obtained through imaging by the imaging unit to an outside of the subject.
US08123676B2	Anti-extravasation sheath An anti-extravasation sheath includes a tube sized and dimensioned to permit fluid flow between the inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of an arthroscopic instrument when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube. A plurality of ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and running longitudinally along the tube form a seal between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument, thus defining outer lumens between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube. At least one drainage lumen extending longitudinally along the tube and disposed within the ribs is in fluid communication with at least one drainage aperture disposed on the central portion of the tube. The sheath further includes at least one inflow/outflow hole disposed on the distal portion of the tube in fluid communication with at least one outer lumen defined between the outer surface of the arthroscopic instrument and the inner surface of the tube when the arthroscopic instrument is disposed within the tube.
US08123674B2	Corrugated expansion-constraining sleeve for an inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder An inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder of the present invention includes an inflatable chamber and a constraining sleeve of fabric. The inflatable chamber is configured to expand in response to an increase in pressure within the chamber. The sleeve of fabric constrains the expansion of the chamber, however, the sleeve of fabric includes a corrugation that facilitates some expansion of the sleeve.
US08123673B2	Adjustable surgical implant for treating urinary incontinence A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence. The implant comprises an elongate polymer material suburethral support having a length and a width, first and second elongate and porous polymer material suspending members having a length and a width extending from opposite ends of the suburethral support, and first and second polymer tissue anchors having conical tips and wings on the first and second suspending members. The width of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support. The length of the second suspending member between the suburethral support and the second anchor is adjustable.
US08123672B2	Blood vessel preparation and preservation kit A vessel preparation and preservation kit supports a blood vessel during processing for use in bypass graft surgery. The device comprises a clamshell base having first and second trays latchable in a closed condition and pivotable to an open condition. The first tray has a series of open slots on an interior surface, wherein each slot extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the clamshell base. A first fixture has a first plate positionable in any selected one of the slots, a first fitting for holding a first end of the blood vessel, and a fluid supply needle for inserting into the first end of the blood vessel. A second fixture has a second plate positionable in any selected one of the slots a predetermined distance from the first fixture and having a second fitting for holding a second end of the blood vessel. A liquid-retaining foam is mounted in the second tray to immerse the prepared blood vessel in liquid to preserve it by putting the trays in the closed condition.
US08123671B2	Pelvic implant systems and methods Systems and methods for implanting pelvic implants (10) In one embodiment, an anterior implant (10) has multiple arms (14, 16, 18, 20) that extend outwardly from a body portion (12) of the implant (10) in opposite directions In one embodiment, a posterior implant (10) has multiple arms (14, 16, 18, 20) that generally extend in the same direction In one embodiment, an anterior introducer (170) includes a needle (178) having a curved section (182) that is sized and configured for implanting an anterior prolapse implant (78) In one embodiment, a posterior introducer (170) includes a needle (178) having a curved section (182) that has a first curved portion (184 and a second curved portion, (186) the two curved portions having radii of curvature that are different from each other.
US08123669B2	Method for controlling a blood pump A blood pump is temporarily operated at a low rotational speed lying below a design rotational speed. This involves a risk of thrombogenesis since flow detachments may occur at blades of an impeller of the rotary blood pump. For eliminating deposits at said impeller, the rotational speed of said pump is temporarily increased to the design rotational speed. Alternatively, said pump alternately operates at said design rotational speed and a low rotational speed, and this pulsed operation is synchronized with the heart rate.
US08123668B2	Signal transmitting and lesion excluding heart implants for pacing defibrillating and/or sensing of heart beat Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying a tensile member to bring a wall of the heart toward (optionally into contact with) a septum of the heart. The implant may include an electrode or other structure for applying pacing signals to one or both ventricles of the heart, for defibrillating the heart, for sensing beating of the heart or the like. A wireless telemetry and control system may allowing the implant to treat congestive heart failure, monitor the results of the treatment, and apply appropriate electrical stimulation.
US08123666B2	Packing structure A packing structure, which consists of pliant border having a length, and strips of pliant material attached to the border along the length thereof. The border is attached to itself at a plurality of spaced-apart points forming a lattice, which constitutes a supporting base for the strips of pliant material.
US08123660B2	Method and apparatus for providing communications with haptic cues A method and apparatus of generating haptic cues for pacing and monitoring are disclosed. After sensing an event via a component, a process for generating haptic cues generates an input in response to the event. The component, in one example, may be a sensor or a combination of a sensor and a haptic actuator. Upon receipt of the input, the process retrieves a haptic signal from a tactile library in response to the input. A haptic feedback in response to the haptic signal is subsequently generated.
US08123659B2	Method for preventing uncontrolled rollback A method and a motor vehicle applying that method for preventing an uncontrolled rollback of a motor vehicle is suggested, said method comprising means for influencing the torque transmission by a drive train. In case a rollback action is detected, namely a movement in opposite direction as the predetermined direction of movement, the transmission of torque is influenced such that a torque is transmitted via the drive train acting against the rollback direction and the torque does not exceed a defined maximum value. The control allows a controlled rollback by making the intervention by the system to be perceived little disturbing, but at the same time in particular in case of strong incline of the road does not render the driver non-informed about the actual incline.
US08123657B2	Method for the operation of a drive train A method of operating a drive train comprising a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric motor; a transmission positioned between the hybrid drive and the output; and a clutch positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor. When the electric motor exclusively drives the vehicle, the combustion engine can be started by engaging the clutch. At the time when the electric motor permanently or without traction force interruption is coupled to the output, and the rotational speed of the electric motor is greater than the starting rotational speed of the combustion engine, and a clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor, is engagedly and disengagedly controlled so that the clutch is brought into slippage, via partial engagement, to start the combustion engine, and thereafter the clutch is completely disengaged before reaching a synchronous rotational speed between the combustion engine and the electric motor.
US08123656B2	Hybrid transmission with disconnect clutch and method of starting an engine using same A hybrid transmission is provided with a motor and a torque-transfer device is operable to transfer torque from the motor to a transmission input member upstream in power flow from the transmission gearing arrangement. The torque transfer device may be a fluid coupling, such as a torque converter, including a torque converter lock-up clutch. In other embodiments, the torque transfer device is a launch clutch that may be either a wet clutch engagable via pressurized transmission fluid, or a dry clutch, such as used in a manual transmission. A disconnect clutch is selectively engagable to operatively connect an engine connection member with the motor to permit the motor to start the engine, such as after a stop. Many embodiments of the transmission include a one-way clutch arranged in parallel with the disconnect clutch. A method of starting the engine using such a transmission is also provided.
US08123654B2	Hybrid driving apparatus, vehicle with the same and control method of the same For raising an MG2 rotational speed MRN2 to a target rotational speed (low-gear rotational speed NLG), an output torque of an MG2 starts to increase at a time t4. During an inertia phase (period α), the output torque of the MG2 is limited not to exceed a first limit value TLIM1 determined according to a shift progress degree PRG and a second limit value TLIM2 determined according to a rotational speed margin NEmgn. Since the output torque of the MG2 is sufficiently small in a final stage of the inertia phase (period α), output variations occurring at a time t6 when torque down is performed on the MG2 can be small. The torque down of the MG1 and MG2 does not raise engine rotational speed NE.
US08123652B2	Multi-speed transaxle for a front wheel drive vehicle A front wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US08123651B2	Multi-speed transaxle for a front wheel drive vehicle A front wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US08123649B2	7-speed transmissions The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, and three fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08123648B2	Eight speed automatic transmission An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US08123645B2	Vehicle transmission A transmission includes a bevel gear configured to provide power to a shaft of a vehicle and that is rotatably engaged with a collar assembly. The transmission also includes a planetary gear set selectively engageable with the collar assembly. The collar assembly includes a first collar and a second collar. The first collar and the second collar are axially coupled together and independently rotatable relative to one another. The collar assembly is slidable between a first position to engage the planetary gear set and rotate the shaft at a first speed, and a second position to disengage the planetary gear set and rotate the shaft at a second speed. Both the first collar and the second collar disengage the planetary gear set in the second position.
US08123642B2	Hydraulic control device for automatic transmission A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission, including: a hydraulic pressure source; a plurality of friction engagement elements; a line pressure regulating valve that regulates hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure source to a predetermined line pressure; a plurality of operation pressure regulating valves that regulate the line pressure as operation pressure for a hydraulic servo operating a friction engagement element; a maximum pressure conducting circuit that feeds a maximum pressure, among the operation pressures, to the line pressure regulating valve, wherein the friction engagement elements are engaged and released to achieve a plurality of forward speeds and a reverse speed, and the line pressure regulating valve regulates the line pressure during forward travel based on the maximum operation pressure, and regulates the line pressure during reverse travel based on the operation pressure input from a specific operation pressure regulating valve.
US08123641B2	Continuous variable transmission belt A continuous variable transmission belt, comprising an annular continuous band comprising a body reinforced by a longitudinal armature and a plurality of friction plugs connected by coupling of shape with at least one of either an outer spine of the continuous band or an inner surface opposite to the outer spine with respect to the armature, the friction plugs comprising respectively a friction member adapted to cooperate with a pulley of the transmission and a connection member cooperating with the friction member to rigidly connect the friction plug to the continuous band. Each of the connecting members is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the friction members and presents an abutting surface against either of the outer spine or the inner surface.
US08123639B2	Carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene latex seamless bladder and a process for manufacturing thereof A soft seamless acrylonitrile bladder having excellent air permeability combined with good bounce characteristics for inflatable balls obtained by latex dipping process. The said process involves dipping hot molds in a coagulant bath of calcium nitrate and water and later dipping the dried, coagulant coated formers in a compounded latex bath of carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene latex, the dip being single or multiple depending upon the desired wall thickness. The said latex dipping process allows low manufacturing cost, high productivity and low rejection rate bladders having uniform weight varying from 500 mg/inch2 to 1.5 g/inch2, modulus varying from 17 to 20 Kg/Cm2, tensile strength of 150-180 Kg/Cm2 and elongation at break 650-750%.
US08123637B1	Stun projectile for a blow gun A stun dart having a solid impact head with a conical shaped tail portion interconnected by a solid cylindrical elongated body. The impact head has a contoured front surface with intersecting grooves and a tapered trailing body surface to impart flight stability and maximum travel distance and impact delivery to the target.
US08123631B2	Multi-layer core golf ball Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a large center and a thin outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard, thin intermediate core layer.
US08123629B2	Multi-layer golf ball Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The Shore C hardness of the outer core layer's outer surface is greater than that of the inner cover layer's outer surface, and the Shore C hardness of the outer core layer's outer surface is at least 20 Shore C units greater than that of the center.
US08123626B2	Wood-type golf club head with adjustable sole contour A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.
US08123622B1	Lens accessory for video game sensor device A lens accessory for a video game sensor device and a method of adjusting a sensing distance of a video game sensor device. A lens accessory for a video game sensor device includes a first lens configured to cover an infrared light emitter of the video game sensor device, a second lens configured to cover an infrared light receiver of the video game sensor device, and a body portion coupling the first lens and the second lens together, the body portion being removably attachable to the video game sensor device, and the first lens and the second lens having a magnification for adjusting a sensing distance of the video game sensor device.
US08123618B2	Systems for distributing entertaining episodes and crediting payouts to authorized remote-player's wagers A system for distributing entertaining multimedia episodes and crediting payouts to authorized remote-player's wagers, off-site or on-site regulated premises, comprising a system for randomly selecting episodes, with randomly generated episodes outcomes appended thereto. The selected episodes could be from a database or from ongoing live games. The database could be pre-processed audio-video, from authorized content producers depicting a hired cast of entertainers, playing a selected variety of games of chance and skill. The system includes authorized server based episode and outcome distribution to secure remote-player stations, including an intra-episode biometric (e.g., face) authentication system, and an accounting systems, for rewarding authorized remote-players with products, services, cash and playing credit payouts.
US08123617B2	Game system and controlling method thereof A game system of the present invention has a plurality of gaming machines capable of communicating with each other via a communication line. The plurality of gaming machines each have an input device operable to input an insurance BET. The plurality of gaming machines carry out the following processing. The plurality of gaming machines store a first predetermined value in a memory and count the insurance BET input from the input device in an accumulative manner. Then, the plural types of symbols displayed on the display are automatically re-arranged. As result of repeating a game, if it is judged that the insurance BET number accumulatively counted at least two or more gaming machines from the plurality of gaming machines has reached the first predetermined value, the accumulated insurance BET numbers are summed up. The plurality of gaming machines execute a common game, and then, award a prize including a total insurance BET number to a specified gaming machine based on an outcome of the common game thus executed.
US08123616B2	Methods and apparatus for limiting access to games using biometric data In a method of facilitating the playing of a game via a gaming apparatus, a wager may be received via a value input device. Biometric data associated with a game play selection of a game may be received, and whether to permit the game play selection may be determined based on the received biometric data. A video image relating to the game may be displayed on a display unit, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.
US08123611B2	Gaming machine determining payout symbol in second game The present invention provides a gaming machine which: displays a moving symbol on a main display in a case where a plurality of specific symbols are displayed; displays a plurality of score symbols associated with scores on a second display from one side edge to another side edge of the second display; displays the moving symbol in a direction that intersects with a moving direction of the score symbols displayed on the second display in response to an input from an input device; and, in a case where the moving symbol is determined to overlap any one of the plurality of score symbols, provides an award corresponding to a score of the score symbol being overlapped.
US08123609B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine and associated methodology are provided, including a slot machine having a variable display device providing a plurality of variable displays, and a liquid crystal display device having transmission areas for a surface reflection light reflected at a surface of the variable display device. The variable display device includes a rotary body that is subjected to surface treatment available to suppress a luster and described with a plurality of symbols.
US08123606B2	Stud bingo The present invention provides methods and devices for providing wagering games having aspects of card games, such as poker games. Some implementations of the present invention involve methods and devices for providing such wagering games on a network of gaming machines. In some implementations, players can view a first M playing cards from each of N hands of playing cards, then must select one (or more) of the hands. Thereafter, a playing card hand (e.g., a poker hand) is made up for the selected hand from the N cards and from additional cards that are revealed after the hand is selected. Some implementations provide a bingo game in which areas of each bingo card correspond with playing cards, wherein players may establish interim wins that correspond to poker hands. Some such implementations include displaying N bingo cards, each of which corresponds to one of the N hands of playing cards.
US08123599B2	Game builder for mobile device-based games A rules-based physical-virtual world game builder architecture. Mobile device games can be constructed via a website from customizable atomic rule-based units, and also supports the reuse and remixing of game components by the game creator, members of an online community, or by any other user. Once composed, the game can be played via player mobile devices, which send content to a server or peer device that hosts the game rule statements, and can trigger distribution of new content, rules, or other information. The architecture can comprise an interface component for providing access, a build component for constructing a rule/rule unit for execution during game play, and an execution component for executing the rule/rule units based on data received during game play. Game creation and play can occur via any number of different client types, on any number of clients, and can be via client/server and/or peer-to-peer architectures.
US08123595B2	Dressing apparatus for flex-arm mounted grinding wheel An apparatus for dressing a grinding wheel mounted on a flex-arm, the apparatus including a base, a post, a dresser and a guide, wherein when the flex-arm is in an unengaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is capable of movement along at least two directional axes, and wherein when the flex-arm is in an engaged position with the apparatus, the flex-arm is restricted to movement along one directional axis.
US08123593B2	Configuring of lapping and polishing machines A lapping or polishing machine includes a material having a first finishing surface to process a surface of a work item, a measuring tool to measure a contour of the first finishing surface, and a conditioning tool having a second finishing surface to process the first finishing surface to reduce a difference between the measured contour and a desired contour of the first finishing surface.
US08123592B2	Heatless slurry system A heatless slurry system for use with a glass removal apparatus for restoring a glass surface. The system comprises a slurry container and a pump mounted externally relative to the container to prevent heating of the slurry as the system is operated. Vacuum pressure is created by activation of the pump to promote circulation of the slurry within the tool, thereby allowing the latter to be worked against the surface.
US08123584B2	Bubble generating assembly A bubble generating assembly has a housing shaped as an animal and defining a mouth, with a stationary member secured to a permanent location extending across a portion of the mouth. The assembly includes a reservoir provided inside the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a plurality of bubble generating rings positioned adjacent the mouth, a tubing that couples the interior of the reservoir with the ring, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the rings in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the rings to be moved from a first position to a second position across the stationary member.
US08123583B2	Production method for discharge lamps The present invention relates to a method for producing a discharge lamp using a two-stage filling process.
US08123581B2	Avalanche rescue device An avalanche rescue device includes as functional parts at least one inflatable buoyant body attachable close to the body of the user, a filling unit for the buoyant body, and a compressed gas unit having a compressed gas tank and a release unit. The device is provided with a carrier system for the user to carry the functional parts on his or her back. The carrier system includes at least one flexible fabric element and is provided with a first connecting mechanism which interacts with a second connecting mechanism of a separate container such that the carrier system can be detachably connected to the container to form a jointly-manipulable backpack and which is thereby sandwiched between the user's back and the container in the conjoined state. This avalanche rescue device is universally applicable compared to the previously-known avalanche rescue devices.
US08123579B2	Protection of apparatus for capturing wave energy For protecting surface floating wave energy converters (WEC's) against surface turbulence, the WEC's are removed from the water surface. For reducing the force required, the WEC's include a hollow member having an apertured outer wall. In the case where the WEC is to be lifted out of the water, the hollow member is normally submerged and full of water, and, during its lifting, water drains through the wall apertures thereby reducing the weight of the member and reducing the force required to lift it. In the case where the WEC is to be submerged, the hollow member is normally empty of water but fills with water through the wall apertures as the member is pulled beneath the surface. The weight of the water reduces the force required to submerge the member.
US08123577B2	Autonomous vehicle with fuel cell and autonomous flushing system An autonomous aquatic vehicle with one or more fuel cells, a controller, a plurality of sensors, a battery, and at least one electric motor and propeller. The one or more fuel cells provide power to the battery, and the battery provides power for the vehicle. Seawater is provided to anodes of the fuel cell and air or oxygen is provided to the cathode to produce power for supply to the battery. The seawater-anode reaction creates waste or byproduct that tends to decrease output of the fuel cell. The waste or byproduct is automatically flushed from the fuel cell using seawater.
US08123570B2	Displayport structure An improved DisplayPort structure includes a base, a circuit board, a chassis and a casing. The base has a containing space, a retaining wall formed at a front end of the containing space, an opening formed on the retaining wall. The circuit board is installed in the containing space, and an end of the circuit board is passed through the opening and out of the retaining wall, and at least one surface of the circuit board has a plurality of conductive pins, and a transmission line segment is extended from an end of each conductive pin and electrically coupled to a conductive terminal. The casing is mounted onto the exterior of the base and the casing includes a hollow main body, and a port is formed at a front end of the main body and provided for exposing the circuit board.
US08123569B2	Waterproof audio jack connector An audio jack connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) and a cover (3). the insulative housing has a bottom surface (12), a cavity (14) having a front end exposed to exterior for insertion of an electrical plug, and a plurality of receiving slots (15) recessed upwardly from the bottom surface and communicating with the cavity. The contacts are inserted into the receiving slots from the bottom surface of the insulative housing. the contacts have contacting portions (28, 29) protruding into the cavity for contacting with the electrical plug and soldering tail portions (27) extending outwardly beyond the bottom surface. The cover (3) envelopes the contacts into the receiving slots (15) with the tail portions (27) extending outwardly therefrom to make the audio jack connector communicate with the exterior via only the front end of the cavity.
US08123566B2	Electronic device, adapter and receptacle An electronic device, an adapter and a receptacle are provided. The electronic device includes a card body, a plurality of first and second terminals, and at least one stub. The card body has a front edge, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first terminals are between the first terminals and the front edge. The stub is disposed on the second surface and near the front edge. The adapter includes a body and a plurality of elastic terminals. The body has an accommodating portion for accommodating an electronic device. One ends of the elastic terminals are fixed to the body. When the electronic device is accommodated at the accommodating portion, a plurality of flat terminals of the electronic device are outside of the accommodating portion, and another ends of the elastic terminals are against the flat terminals correspondingly.
US08123565B2	External electrical connectors for solar modules Provided are low profile, water-resistant and touch safe electrical connectors for solar modules. According to various embodiments, the electrical connectors include a low-profile conductive stud, a low-profile sheath that surrounds the stud, and a socket to mate with the stud. According to various embodiments, the sheath and socket mate via keyed inter-engageable features. Also according to certain embodiments, the socket is fastened to the stud and/or sheath via snap fastening.
US08123563B2	Electrical connector incorporating passive circuit elements An electrical connector that electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board is disclosed, where the electrical connector in the preferred embodiment includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor.
US08123560B2	Modular connector system A connector system includes a first connector comprising a housing holding a plurality of contacts, a second connector comprising a housing holding a plurality of contacts, and a metal shield having walls defining a shielded chamber. The first and second connectors are configured to be mounted to a circuit board in a stacked arrangement next to one another. The first and second connectors are configured to be arranged in a shielded configuration in which the first and second connectors are positioned within the shielded chamber and mounted to the circuit board with the metal shield. The first and second connectors are also configured to be arranged in an unshielded configuration in which the first and second connectors are mounted to the circuit board without the metal shield.
US08123558B2	Miniaturized electrical connector having high signal transmission rate An electrical connector includes a first insulating body having a base board and a first tongue board extending rearward from a bottom of the base board, first terminals each having a first contact portion disposed on the base board, a second insulating body having a base portion and a second tongue board extending forward from a bottom of the base portion, and second terminals each having a second contact portion stretching out of a front of the base portion and disposed above the second tongue board. Two opposite sides of the first tongue board protrude upward to form two clipping walls defining a receiving space therebetween. The second insulating body is received in the receiving space of the first insulating body with the base portion being clipped between the clipping walls and a front end of the second tongue board abutting against a rear end of the base board.
US08123557B2	Compression connector for coaxial cable with staggered seizure of outer and center conductor A compression connector for a coaxial cable includes a connector body having opposing first and second ends and a center passageway defined therethrough, an insulator disposed within said center passageway adjacent said first end of said connector, and a compression sleeve movably connected to the second end of said connector body. The outer conductor of a prepared coaxial cable end and the center conductor are each seized in sequence based on axial movement of the compression sleeve upon insertion of a prepared cable end. The compression sleeve is axially movable from the second end to the first end to sequentially enable clamps to engage and seize each of the outer and center conductors.
US08123556B2	Low profile compact RF coaxial to planar transmission line interface A compact, low profile coaxial to printed wiring board interface includes an interface block and an adapter. The interface block has a stepped opening for receiving the adapter and a coaxial cable. The adapter includes an outer profile with a series of steps that align and mate with the stepped opening of the interface block. An inner insulator of the coaxial cable is positioned entirely within the interface block and lies substantially flush with a first outside surface of the interface block, an outer conductor of the coaxial cable is positioned at an approximate midpoint interface of the adapter, an outer insulator of the coaxial cable lies flush with an external surface of the adapter, and a portion of the adapter positioned outside the interface block comprises a low profile such that the coaxial cable can be positioned away from a perpendicular to the interface block.
US08123553B2	Conductor base and finger module of air circuit breaker A conductor base coupled to a finger module of an air circuit breaker. Since the connector of the conductor base has the curved surface formed on a side of an end portion thereof and tooth-coupled with the contactor of the finger module, the contactor of the finger module has another curved surface corresponding to the curved surface of the connector and the contactor is elastically supported in a vertical direction by the plate spring to allow both end portions of the contactor to perform a vertical elastic movement relative to a longitudinal center of the contactor. The present invention can prevent damages due to a mechanical impact between the connector of the conductor base and the contactor of the finger module, which may occur while the breaker terminal is inserted into the finger module, to thereby extend the lifespan of the conductor base and the finger module.
US08123552B2	Portable storage device box A portable storage device box includes a cover, a hard disk in the cover, a transfer module and a control circuit in the cover. The cover comprises an upper cover, a base portion and a cutout. The transfer module comprises a spool, a telescopic plug, a control button and a clockwork device towed by the cable. The control circuit connects the hard disk to the transfer module. The plug comprises an electric connector and a cable connecting the electric connector and winded on the spool. When the electric connector is drawn out the clockwork device would be towed by the cable and be fixed by pressing the control button once, and if the control button is pressed once again, the clockwork device would be released to restore with drawing the plug back.
US08123549B2	Multiple layer conductor pin for electrical connector and method of manufacture A multiple layer conductor pin for a harsh environment connector or penetrator has a conductive shaft, an outer layer of non-conductive, insulating material extending along at least part of the length of the shaft, and an intermediate layer of conductive or semi-conductive material sandwiched between the outer layer and conductive shaft and bonded substantially void-free to the outer insulating layer.
US08123543B1	Electrical connector with improved loading mechanism An electrical connector includes a socket with a number of electrical contacts and a loading mechanism surrounding the socket. The loading mechanism includes a stiffener, a load plate, and a latch mounted to opposite ends of the stiffener, respectively. The load plate has a plate portion and a tongue extending downwardly from the plate portion at said opposite end. The load plate and the latch rotate on opposite ends of the stiffener from an open position to a closed position. The latch defines a pair of looped sections snapping a pair of protrusions on the tongue as to lock the load plate on the stiffener at the closed position.
US08123541B2	Electrical connector with expanded cover An electrical connector for electrically connecting a module to a printed circuit board, comprises an insulative housing receiving the module, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing and a cover pivotally assembled to the insulative housing. The cover presses upon the module and extends beyond a rear end of the insulative housing to further limit or press a part of the module exposed outside the insulative housing. The electrical connector can reliably retain the module.
US08123539B2	Connector A female connector for supplying received power has a recess, terminals including power terminals for supplying the power, a locking mechanism to lock a male connector that is inserted into the recess in a mated state in response to insertion of the male connector into the recess, and a switching mechanism to supply the received power to the power terminals in an ON state and to insulate the power terminals from the received power in an OFF state. The switching mechanism is permitted to make a transition to the ON state only when the locking mechanism is locking the male connector in the mated state.
US08123537B2	Device for preventing unauthorized connection to outlet An unauthorized connection prevention device use with an outlet, which is electrically connectable to a connection plug arranged on a basal end of a charging cable that supplies commercial power to a power receiving connector. The unauthorized connection prevention device includes a verification circuit that performs verification to determine whether an authorized operator is electrically connecting the connection plug to the outlet. A lock mechanism switches, in accordance with a result of the verification performed by the verification circuit, between an unlocked state, which permits connection of the connection plug to an outlet port of the outlet, and a locked state, which prohibits connection of the connection plug to the outlet port.
US08123532B2	Carrier system for an electrical connector assembly An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector module including pins configured to be terminated to a circuit board and a second connector module including pins configured to be terminated to the circuit board. The electrical connector assembly also includes a carrier system including an organizer having openings therethrough in a predetermined pattern. The organizer is coupled to the first and second connector modules such that at least some of the pins of the first connector module extend through the openings of the organizer and such that at least some of the pins of the second connector module extend through the openings of the organizer. The first connector module, the second connector module and the organizer are configured to be mounted to the circuit board as a bundled unit.
US08123531B2	Card holder and broadcast receiving apparatus having card holder According to one embodiment, a card holder includes a first printed wiring board, a second printed wiring board disposed to face the first printed wiring board, a third printed wiring board disposed to face second printed wiring board, a first stacking connector disposed between the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board to electrically connect and to physically fix the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board, and a second stacking connector disposed between the second printed wiring board and the third printed wiring board to electrically connect and to physically fix the second printed wiring board and the third printed wiring board. The first stacking connector and the second stacking connector the first stacking connector and the second stacking connector are structurally incompatible with each other.
US08123529B2	Apparatus for connecting two area array devices using a printed circuit board with holes with conductors electrically connected to each other An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing electrical connections for an area array device. Each of a plurality of holes in a circuit board has a conductor within it and has an opening on a side of the circuit board. Electrically conductive contact posts extend from the openings of the holes. The contact posts are in a pattern corresponding to contact pads on an area array device. A compliant portion of each contact post is inserted within a hole. The conductor compresses the compliant portion to removably secure the contact post within the hole. The conductors form an electrical connection with the contact post. A spring portion of each contact post extends away from the circuit board. The spring portion is compressible toward the circuit board, and provides an electrical connection between a contact post and a contact pad in response to contact with the contact pad.
US08123528B2	Electrical plug adapter having a receptacle rotatable around a cap with projecting conductive members A rotating plug adapter includes a housing including a top and bottom coupled to freely rotate about a rotary cap disposed between the housing top and bottom. Right and left electrical spades and an optional grounding post extend from the rotary cap, A receptacle, integral to the periphery of the housing, which accepts an electrical plug may be selectively oriented at a wall receptacle by rotating the adapter housing and receptacle to a desired orientation about an axis perpendicular to the wall. Internal flanges define grooves in which rotary electrical contacts are maintained through rotation of the housing and integral receptacle.
US08123526B2	Simulator with fore and AFT video displays A simulated real-time environment employs a plurality of computer controlled video projectors and screens at least fore and aft of a participant-trainee to present life-size displays mutually coordinated to represent views of a same environment from a participant's perspective, each screen representing the participant's view looking in a different direction. In response to a participant's actions, the computer seamlessly changes a projected video to match the participant' actions and maintain a scenario consistent between the two screens. The participant uses a light-emitting simulated firearm or his own firearm loaded with a light-emitting cartridge and/or other equipment with which he is familiar, such as a modified or simulated flashlight, taser, chemical spray container or the like, tethered or untethered by a communication wire, to respond to a simulated situation, which response detected and interpreted by the computer to direct a branch in the projected videos and even shoot back a simulated bullet. He may also use verbal commands.
US08123524B2	Dental implant, pieces to be connected to a dental implant, and the internal connection between the dental implant and each piece Dental implant and piece to be connected to a dental implant are provided. Both the implant and the piece are capable of being connected to each other by an internal connection to the dental implant. The internal connection principally comprises an anti-rotational part and a cylindrical part, with the anti-rotational part being formed by the repetition of a series of anti-rotational components, each of them formed by a series of arcs tangent to each other. This design of the anti-rotational part enables better performance to be obtained than with known anti-rotational designs.
US08123520B2	Orthodontic appliance with vibration generation The present invention aims to provide an orthodontic appliance capable of efficiently applying vibration to teeth to be aligned and enabling a treatment to be easily and safely continued even at home. This appliance is provided with a load applying mechanism and a vibration generating actuator. The load applying mechanism is mounted on teeth to apply a load for the malocclusion correction to a specified tooth in the teeth. The vibration generating actuator includes a contact portion that is inserted into a buccal cavity containing the teeth and can come into contact with a part of the load applying mechanism corresponding to the specified tooth or the specified tooth, and applies a vibration force from the contact portion to the specified tooth or the part of the load applying mechanism.
US08123516B1	Injection molding machine with melt distributing platen An injection molding machine is provided that allows the use of two conventional molds. The injection molding machine utilizes an injection material distributing platen having a first mold mounting surface and a second opposing mold mounting surface. A conventional mold may be mounted to each mold mounting surface. To provide injection material to the molds, an injection unit may provide injection material to an internal passageway within the distributing platen between the first and second mold mounting surfaces. The injection material may be selectively distributed to molds attached in the first and second mold mounting surfaces. To reduce the overall size of the machine, the injection unit may be a vertical injection unit that is disposed above the distributing platen.
US08123512B2	Concrete block mold with moveable liner A mold assembly for molding concrete blocks including at least one mold cavity including a plurality of liner plates forming sides walls of the mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to an interior of the mold cavity. The mold assembly further includes a linear actuator having an actuator axis, a first drive linkage coupled to the linear actuator, and a second drive linkage coupled to the first drive linkage and positioned off-axis of the actuator axis and in mechanical communication with the at least one moveable liner plate, wherein the linear actuator provides forces in opposite directions along the actuator axis to the first drive linkage to drive the second drive linkage toward and away from the interior of the mold cavity to direct movement of the at least one moveable liner plate between the extended and retracted positions.
US08123510B1	Thermoplastic pultrusion die system and method A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.
US08123508B2	Venting valve to be used in venting bores of vulcanization molds Vent valve for venting bores of vulcanization moulds, especially for the tread profile area, consisting of a valve sleeve, in which a valve insert and a wound spring are movably located, wherein the valve insert consists of a valve shank, which is at one end equipped with a disk and at the other end with a conical surface changing into backwards oriented conical end, and the movement of the valve insert is controlled by a delimiter of opening the valve. Inner surface of the valve sleeve is in its part located further away from disk provided with conical surface, oriented away from the disk, and the delimiter of opening the valve is formed by two mutually cooperating conical surfaces or parts of conical surfaces, wherein the conical surface formed at the end of the valve shank of the valve insert is oriented against the conical surface or part of conical surface of the valve sleeve.
US08123507B2	Cotton candy machine A cotton candy machine includes a housing and a stick grabbing device mounted in the housing. A stick rotating device is mounted in the housing and aside corresponds to the stick grabbing device. A feeding device is mounted in the housing and a sugar floss maker is horizontally mounted in the housing under the stick rotating device. The stick grabbing device provides stick one by one and conveys the stick to the stick rotating device. The stick rotating temporarily holds the stick, rotates the stick and makes the stick longitudinally insert into the sugar floss maker for coiling the sugar floss from the sugar floss maker after the feeding device providing sugar material into the sugar floss maker.
US08123502B2	Acoustic pump utilizing radial pressure oscillations A fluid pump comprising one or more actuators, two end walls, a side wall; a cavity which, in use, contains fluid, the cavity having a substantially cylindrical shape bounded by the end walls and the side walls, at least two apertures through the cavity walls, at least one of which is a valved aperture, wherein the cavity radius, a, and height, h, satisfy the following inequalities: a/h is greater than 1.2; and h2/a is greater than 4×10−10 m; and wherein, in use, the actuator causes oscillatory motion of one or both end walls in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the end walls; whereby, in use, the axial oscillations of the end walls drive radial oscillations of fluid pressure in the cavity.
US08123501B2	Turbocharger housing, turbocharger and a multi-turbocharger boosting system A turbocharger housing includes a main body for bearing a shaft for carrying a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel, and a seal portion to seal a clearance between the shaft and the turbocharger housing, where the seal portion is formed by an insert being fitted to the main body, where the insert includes a passage for supplying a fluid to the seal portion.
US08123499B2	Compressor assembly A compressor assembly includes a support plate and a plurality of components mounted on the support plate via mechanical connections. The plurality of components includes at least a drive and a compressor for compressing air, the compressor being driven by the drive. The assembly also includes at least one line integrated into the support plate and selected ones of the mechanical connections. The line provides at least one of a fluidic connection and an electrical connection between at least two of the plurality of components.
US08123495B2	Reciprocating positive-displacement compressors A positive-displacement reciprocating compressor comprising a “non-conventional” crank mechanism which eliminates the amount of frictional force between the wall of the piston and the wall of the cylinder, whose characteristic feature is to have a planet (20) made of sintered material, with self-lubrication properties, allowing to eliminate bushings or similar additional elements. An economical and structurally simple lubrication system, which preferably comprises a classical link rod/crank mechanism, utilizes the mechanical energy provided by the drive shaft of the compressor and sends the lubricant (oil) in a precise manner to the surfaces that need to be lubricated. This oil is easily retained by the very small grains of the sintered material. Moreover, a valve system based on a single plate simplifies the structure of the cylinder unit (30).
US08123493B2	Screw compressor A screw compressor is disclosed wherein a pair of rotor shafts are disposed horizontally and an oil sump is formed at the bottom of a bearing casing which accommodates bearings for supporting the rotor shafts, a bearing lower portion being soaked into oil present in the oil sump for lubrication. The screw compressor comprises a chamber provided separately from the bearing casing, an oil line for communication between the oil sump in the bearing casing and the chamber and oil level detecting means disposed in the chamber. According to this structure, the oil level in the bearing casing can be checked accurately and there is no fear of oil shortage in the bearings.
US08123492B2	Speed-related control mechanism for a pump and control method A pump system includes a fixed or variable capacity pump and a speed-related control mechanism to alter the capacity of a variable capacity pump or to alter the relief pressure of a fixed capacity pump in response to changes in the operating speed of the pump. A pressure generator comprising a volume of working fluid is rotated at a speed related to the operating speed of the pump and creates a forced vortex in the working fluid. The pressure induced in the working fluid of the forced vortex is used as a speed related control to alter the discharge pressure of the pump as desired.
US08123485B2	Rotor hub of a wind energy plant A rotor hub (10) of a wind power plant for a rotor, in particular with at least one rotor blade is provided, wherein a hub core body (12) and at least one hub outer body (16) are connected together by means of a flange connection (18). The rotor hub (10) is further characterized in that the flange connection (18) is constructed with a predetermined tilt angle (α) towards the rotational axis (24) of the rotor, wherein the tilt angle (α) of the flange connection (18) is constructed larger than the tilt angle (α) of the rotor blade connection surface of the hub outer body (16). Furthermore, a wind power plant may be provided with the rotor hub (10).
US08123483B2	To rotorcraft rotors fitted with inter-blade dampers The present invention relates to an improvement to rotorcraft rotors (1) fitted with inter-blade drag dampers (15) such that for each blade (4), the two joints (16) connecting said blade (4) to two inter-blade drag dampers (15) are disposed on either side of the pitch variation axis (101) of said blade, at least one of the two joints (16) being offset to above the plane P containing the pitch variation axis (101) and the vertical flapping axis (102).
US08123479B2	Method to minimize oscillation in ceiling fans A fan system includes a fan and a fan rotation speed control. The speed control is operable to command the fan to rotate at a speed selected from a certain range of rotation speeds. A fan oscillation detector may be coupled with the fan to detect oscillation of the fan as the speed control is operated to rotate the fan at various speeds among the range of fan rotation speeds. The fan oscillation detector may comprise an accelerometer or other device. Oscillation amounts detected by the oscillation detector are compared against each other or against an oscillation threshold value. A programmer device identifies fan rotation speeds at which the oscillation amount exceeds the threshold or is otherwise unacceptable, and programs the fan rotation speed control to prevent an operator from being able to select those speeds at which the oscillation amount exceeds the threshold or is otherwise unacceptable.
US08123478B2	Systems and methods for monitoring a condition of a rotor blade for a wind turbine A method for monitoring a condition of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The method includes transmitting, from a sensor to a controller, at least one monitoring signal indicative of a vibration of the rotor blade. The condition of the rotor blade is calculated by the controller based on the monitoring signal.
US08123477B2	Control of rotor during a stop process of a wind turbine A method for controlling a wind turbine rotor during a stop process by pitching the rotor blades fast, e.g. with an angular rate of 10-15°/s to a no-thrust position, after which the rotor blades are pitched to maintain the no-thrust or a thrust against the direction of the pendulum movement of the tower for a while to prevent the aerodynamic thrust from aggravating the pendulum movement of the tower. With this control strategy, the bending moments of the tower root are minimized, leading to avoidance of wind turbine tower failure, to prolongation of the life time for a wind turbine tower and the possibility of erecting wind turbine towers of less reinforcement at the tower root.
US08123472B2	Unison ring assembly for an axial compressor casing A unison ring assembly for an axial compressor casing is provided. The unison ring assembly includes a unison ring and at least three unison ring supports being radial inwardly and equally spaced arranged along a circumference of the unison ring, wherein each unison ring support has a unison ring bracket attached to the unison ring. Further, the unison ring assembly includes a slide bearing to be sliding along a slide face of an outer surface of the compressor casing and a resilient member being arranged between and coupled to the slide bearing and the unison ring bracket such that the unison ring is rotatable around the compressor casing by sliding the slide bearing along the slide face and to be centered free of clearance about the compressor casing. The resilient member is adapted to accommodate radial displacement of the compressor casing.
US08123463B2	Method and system for manufacturing a blade A method of manufacturing a blade is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of first plies, each of the first plies sized to extend substantially the length of a span of the blade and providing a plurality of second plies, each of the second plies sized to extend only partially the length of the span of the blade. The method also includes layering the plurality of first plies and the plurality of second plies in a mold such that the plurality of second plies is interspersed throughout the plurality of first plies to spread apart the plurality of first plies to facilitate increasing a cross-sectional area of the blade and bonding the plurality of first plies to the plurality of second plies to facilitate forming a structural core of the blade.
US08123462B2	Pressurized sealed chamber between multiple pressurized casings of machine and related method A standard for supporting a bearing for a rotating shaft of a machine including a plurality of casings having different gas pressures greater than atmospheric pressure includes a sealed chamber for fluidly coupling to an end packing of a first casing and a second casing of the machine, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the sealed chamber reduces the leakage from the casing making more pressurized gas available for producing work in the machine.
US08123457B2	System and apparatus for improved turbine pressure and pressure drop control using turbine head potential A system for improved power generation through movement of water having a turbine positioned in a moving body of water to receive kinetic energy, a blocking fitting, attachment or wall on the upper surface of the turbine to creates head potential in a moving body of water; an energy producing cell that is driven by said head potential. The energy producing cells are positioned to receive potential energy in addition to the kinetic energy from the head effect converting said energy combination or contribution by the movement of water through the cell. The system turbine may be fitted with a member positioned circumferentially about the housing for inducing a pressure drop across the turbine. The member may be a rotating blade, cantilevered duct, circumferential flange, radial eductor, and air tube for injection of ambient air into said water source.
US08123453B2	Charging device for a shaft furnace A charging device for a shaft furnace, which includes at least one charging hopper having a discharge orifice arranged in a position off-centre with respect to the central axis of the shaft furnace, and a material distribution device arranged below this hopper. The material distribution device includes a feed channel coaxial with the central axis of the furnace and a rotatable, pivotable chute, which is arranged below the feed channel for distributing a charge in the shaft furnace. The charging device also includes a connecting box in the shape of a funnel, arranged between the material distribution device and the charging hopper. The connecting box possesses a lower central outlet communicating with the charging hopper and at least one upper inlet which is arranged off-centre with respect to the central axis of the furnace and communicates with the discharge orifice of the hopper. According to the invention, the charging device includes at least one spreader situated upstream of the distribution device, on the trajectory of the material discharged from the discharge orifice. The spreader enables a flow of material to be dispersed to both sides of the feed channel.
US08123450B2	Apparatus for pressing a book casing against the adhesive-coated outside surfaces of a book block to be encased in a casing-in machine A saddle plate is disposed on a circulating conveyor which moves the saddle plate vertically upward. The saddle plate is arranged to receive a book block in a straddle like fashion with first and second adhesive-coated outside surfaces of book block being exposed. A pressing-on device operates synchronously with the circulating conveyor and includes two pressing-on rollers. Each roller presses a respective first or second book cover of a book casing against a respective first or second adhesive-coated outside surface. First and second drive motors are operatively coupled, respectively, with the pressing-on device and circulating conveyor. A drive control unit, operatively coupled to the first and second drives, controls the first and second drives and controllably links one to another. At least the first drive includes a controllable drive element.
US08123446B2	Method for producing hollow body elements, hollow body element, component, follow-on composite tool for producing hollow body elements The invention relates to a method for producing hollow body elements (200), for example, nut elements which are applied to components which are normally made of steel (280), in particular, for producing hollow body elements having an essentially quadratic or rectangular external profile (202). Said method consists of cutting individual elements of a profile in the form of a profile rod (1) or a winding after holes (204) have previously been stamped in the profile, a threaded cylinder (206) is subsequently, optionally, formed using a follow-on composite tool (10) which consists of several working stations. The invention is characterized in that a penetrating process and a punching process are carried out in the working station. The invention also relates to hollow body elements (200), components, follow-on composite tools (10) and rolling mills (600, 602).
US08123443B2	Cutting tool A cutting tool includes a tool body having a first end engageable with a workpiece and a second end engageable with a spindle of a power tool. A blade extends outwardly from the first end of the tool body and including a cutting edge, the cutting edge being engageable with a workpiece to cut the workpiece. A bit, including a drive shaft and a cutting end extends along an axis of the tool body. The drive shaft extends axially outwardly beyond the first end of the tool body and terminates at the cutting end. The cutting end has a maximum cross-sectional width greater than a maximum cross-sectional width of the drive shaft, and an axial distance from the first end of the tool body to the cutting end is greater than a maximum cutting depth of the cutting tool.
US08123441B2	Method and apparatus for carrying out deep holes and/or bottle-boring A method for carrying out deep holes and/or bottle-boring, in particular borings, with a high ratio between final linear depth and hole diameter, higher than 14:1, comprises the steps of: carrying out a reference hole, having axis and diameter linked to the deep hole to be carried out by a predetermined spatial relationship; making a deep hole of a diameter smaller than the hole to be carried out, so that said reference hole and said first deep hole be in spatial communication; and prearranging a guiding and supporting element internal to said reference hole and connecting thereto a tool shaft and a related tool to obtain a contour internal to the deep hole and/or a deep hole of diameter and axis according to said predetermined spatial relationship.
US08123438B2	Ram style tensioner A riser tensioner configured to apply a tension to a riser. The riser tensioner includes a frame configured to be fixedly attached to the riser; plural cylinder assemblies spaced around the riser, each cylinder assembly having a cylinder and a piston configured to slidably move inside the cylinder, the piston being configured to connect to the frame; a guide roller support stationarily mounted to and extending from the frame; at least one bearing fixedly attached to the guide roller support; and a guide member configured to be in rolling engagement with the at least one bearing as the cylinder moves relative to the frame.
US08123437B2	Pipeline assembly comprising an anchoring device The invention relates to a pipeline assembly and a method of installing a pipeline assembly, wherein the pipeline extends at least in part on a seabed and curves upwardly from the seabed along a curved section thereof, the pipeline extending toward a delivery end provided at the water surface, wherein a connecting device connects the pipeline at a coupling point to an anchoring device at the seabed for preventing the coupling point from moving upward.The invention further relates to a pipeline device comprising at least two pipeline assemblies which are interconnected at a substantial distance from the seabed.
US08123434B1	Interlocking revetment block with reinforced sockets A concrete interlocking revetment block having a pair of arms and a pair of sockets. The arms have enlarged ends and the sockets have enlarged cavities to interlock similar blocks together and prevent lateral separation. The arms extend outwardly from respective side edges of the block, with radial axes orthogonal to each other so as to be adjacent to each other. The sockets are formed into respective side edges of the block, with radial axes orthogonal to each other so as to also be adjacent to each other. The depth of at least one socket is less than the thickness of the block. A portion of the socket is thus covered with concrete to thereby provide reinforcement between adjacent sockets of the block, and reduce incidences of breakage. At least one arm is also formed with a thickness less than the thickness of the block.
US08123431B2	Road-based electricity generator Generating electricity from wheeled vehicles passing along a road, by positioning a hinged protruding flap to generate linear motion of an attached rack upon depression of the flap by a passing vehicle, converting the linear motion of the rack to a rotational motion of an axis by enabling rotation of the axis in one direction only, and regulating accumulated rotational motion to a specified range of rotation speeds. A flywheel is used to accumulate the rotations and enable a relatively stable electricity generation.
US08123429B2	Reinforcing bar A reinforcing bar comprises a shaft extending along a portion of the length of the bar and a termination extending along an end portion of the bar. The termination incorporating an engagement face incorporating locking formations thereon arranged to interfit with a complementary shaped termination to form an interlock operative to accommodate axial loading.
US08123421B2	Medium feeding device with roller cleaning member under sheet tray According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a medium feeding device capable of feeding a recording medium placed on a first tray. The medium conveying device includes: a frame having a first surface and allowing the first tray to be movable along the first surface, the first tray being attached to the medium feeding device at a first position of the first surface; a feeding member configured to feed the recording medium to a first conveying path when the first tray with the recording medium thereon is positioned at the first position, a cleaning member disposed at the first surface of the frame and configured to clean the feeding member when the cleaning member is uncovered by the first tray.
US08123420B2	Lens stack, mounted in a gas-tight manner, for a camera housing A method for producing an objective lens mount for an objective lens of a camera suitable for use in motor vehicles includes the following method steps: The objective lens mount and a front housing half-shell of the camera are produced as one component in a single working process. The objective lens mount and the front housing shell are made of metal materials or plastic material having glass fiber components. The objective lens mount built in one piece with the front housing shell is adapted to the length of the objective lens by chip-forming machining.
US08123419B2	Privacy ensuring covert camera A device for monitoring a privacy sensitive area, includes an image receiving device, such as a camera, disposed inside a housing chassis. The image receiving device includes a camera lens. Additionally, a movable obstruction member configured to selectively obstruct a camera lens is disposed on the device and is configured to change a position to selectively obstruct or expose the camera lens. The position of the movable obstruction member is dependent upon a threat level received by the device.
US08123415B2	Device for an optical-fiber connection Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing (10) and a single-piece sleeve mount (20), the sleeve mount (20) being designed with at least one latching nose (21) and the coupling housing (10) being designed with at least one latching mount which complements the at least one latching nose (21), wherein the latching mount is designed with at least one latching hook (14) and at least one stop (15).
US08123414B2	Tapered roller bearing A tapered roller bearing 1 comprises an inner ring 2, an outer ring 3, a plurality of tapered rollers 4 rollably disposed between the inner and outer rings 2 and 3, and a cage 5 for holding the tapered rollers 4 in predetermined circumferentially spaced relation, wherein the roller coefficient exceeds 0.94, and with the cage 4 positioned at the axial center, there is a clearance between the cage and the raceway surface of the outer ring, and the roller abutting width of the pocket pole surface is secured across 10% or more of the pocket length axially from the central position of the pocket.
US08123412B2	Vacuum pump with a bearing cage having a threaded groove A vacuum pump includes a high-speed rotor, and an anti-friction bearing for rotatably supporting the rotor and including an inner ring, an outer ring, a rolling body, and a cage for the rolling body both the rolling body and the cage being located in an intermediate space defined by the outer and inner rings, with the cage having a threaded groove in a section of its surface adjacent to the inner ring for insuring a continuous feeding of a lubricant to the bearing.
US08123411B2	Sensor-equipped bearing for wheel To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be installed compactly in an automotive vehicle, maintaining a high sensitivity while damage and/or malfunction caused by the external environments and/or the electromagnetic noises are avoided, with low manufacturing cost. This bearing assembly includes outer and inner members having respective rolling surfaces and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those rolling surfaces. A strain sensor unit including a sensor element is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which is a stationary member, for example, the outer member. A sensor mounting surface of the strain sensor unit fitted with the sensor element has a covering member made of a resin, which is over-molded, or an elastomer bonded by vulcanization, so as to cover the sensor element sealingly.
US08123405B2	Programmable circuit for drift compensation Systems and methods relating to programmable circuits are described. Several embodiments relate to systems and methods for controlling the long-term stability and accuracy of circuits that produce waveforms varying in frequency and amplitude. Such embodiments may include a circuit comprising a common vacuum environment that houses a pair of heater-thermocouples. The circuit may compare signals outputted by each heater-thermocouple and then may produce a resultant value based on the comparison. The resultant value may be used by the circuit to control the long-term stability and accuracy of the circuit. Such control of the long-term stability and accuracy of the circuit may include drift compensation associated with certain components of the circuit.
US08123402B2	Ear thermometer cradle and assembly thereof The present invention is an ear thermometer cradle and an ear thermometer assembly. The ear thermometer cradle comprises a hollow housing, a swivel arm, a probe cover container seat, a first elastic member disposed between the swivel arm and the hollow house. The ear thermometer cradle comprises a second elastic member between the container seat and the hollow housing. The hollow housing has an opening and a first blocking portion. The swivel arm includes a first pivot on one end thereof for pivotally connected with the hollow housing, a bearing portion on the other end thereof, and a second blocking portion between the first pivot and the bearing portion. The container seat includes a connective device, a second pivot on two lateral sides thereof for pivotally connected with the hollow housing, a third blocking portion and a forth blocking portion engaging with the first and the second blocking portion respectively.
US08123397B2	Disposable container having sensor mounts sealed to the container and sensors in the sensor mounts for measuring at least one parameter of media in the container A disposable container is provided for mixing media. The container has at least one closable opening for introducing and/or removing media and has sensor mounts at spaced apart locations on the wall of the container. Each sensor mount has a front surface facing into the container and a rear surface sealed against the wall of the container. Sensors are embedded in the respective sensor mounts at positions adjacent the front surfaces. The sensors measure at least one specified parameter of the media at spaced apart locations in the container. The seals between the rear surfaces of the sensor mounts and the wall of the container ensure sterility for the media in the container.
US08123396B1	Method and means for precision mixing An extremely dilute mixture of a liquid in a flowing fluid stream is prepared by forming tiny droplets of the liquid and injecting the droplets individually into the flowing stream. The rate at which liquid is added to the flowing stream is determined by the number of droplet forming units that are provided and upon the frequency with which the units are activated, allowing a precise digital control of the concentration of the liquid in the flowing fluid stream.
US08123393B2	Light emitting panel assemblies Light emitting assembly comprises a light transition member and a light source mounted or positioned within the light transition member. A transparent light emitting panel member conducts light received from the light source. On or in one or more surfaces of the panel member is a pattern of light extracting deformities. A cavity or recess in the panel member is shaped to receive the light transition member to facilitate placement of the light source in a modular manner.
US08123390B2	Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps, a receiving container, a diffuser plate and a plurality of holding members. The lamps generate a light. The receiving container receives the lamps. The receiving container includes a bottom portion and a side portion protruded from a side of the bottom portion. The diffuser plate is over the lamps to diffuse the light generated from the lamps. The holding members are engaged with the bottom portion. Each of the holding members has a lamp holding portion that holds one of the lamps. 10 The lamp holding portion has an opening for receiving the lamp. The opening is inclined by a first angle with respect to a normal line of the bottom portion. Therefore, the lamps are securely combined with the lamp holding portion, and the lamps are easily assembled to protect the lamps from an externally provided impact.
US08123385B2	Planar light source device and display device A planar light source device of the present invention includes a light guide plate and a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The light guide plate includes a plurality of plate-form light guide members whose side surfaces are formed in a serrated shape. The serrated-shaped side surfaces of adjacent light guide members are connected in a planar direction so as to be engaged with each other. The plurality of light-emitting diodes emit light toward each of the light guide members. With this configuration, it is possible to securely prevent irregularity of brightness, when changing the luminance in the display screen in unit of blocks.
US08123383B2	Modified reflector surface to redirect off-field side light onto field An apparatus and method for high intensity lighting includes, in one aspect, a reflector frame having a main portion generally following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a converging beam and a second portion following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a different shape beam. Placement of the second portion in the reflector frame allows shifting of parts of the light beam in desired directions.
US08123381B1	LED lighting systems and methods useable for replacement of underwater niche lights and other applications Light emitting diode lighting systems and methods useable to replace incandescent bulbs or other types of LED light sources in enclosed environments, such as in underwater lighting niches used in swimming pool, spa, fountain and other underwater lighting applications.
US08123378B1	Heatsink for cooling at least one LED A heatsink for cooling at least one LED may have a longitudinally extending channel flanked on each side by a longitudinally extending column of heat fins.
US08123369B2	Shaft structure of retractable outer mirror In a shaft structure of a retractable outer mirror, a shaft includes: a first member; and a second member. The first member includes: a base section having an attachment boss; a shaft section vertically arranged on the base section; and a catch part by which a catch member is caught. The second member includes: clutch parts that performs an engagement or a release of the engagement in response to rotation of a frame; and an insert portion inserted into a shaft section. The second member is fitted in with the shaft section from above a top end side of the shaft section.
US08123360B2	Multi-projector composite image display system A display device includes: a transmission/reception section that transmits and receives information to/from any other display device connected thereto; a setting input section that enables setting of relative position information about a relative position between the display device and the other display device; and a control device that generates partial image information from original image information, and makes a display section to display thereon a partial image. The control device includes: a related information transmission control section that transmits position-sequence-related information related to the relative position information; a configuration position recognition section that recognizes an absolute position of the partial image in the original image that is supposed to be displayed by the display device; and a partial image information generation section that generates the partial image information by cutting out at least a part of image information from the original image information.
US08123357B2	Wavefront propagation from one plane to another The present invention provides methods, systems and software for scaling optical aberration measurements of optical systems. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reconstructing optical tissues of an eye. The method comprises transmitting an image through the optical tissues of the eye. Aberration data from the transmitted image is measured across the optical tissues of the eye at a first plane. A conversion algorithm is applied to the data, converting it to corrective optical power data that can be used as a basis for constructing a treatment for the eye at a second plane.
US08123354B2	Compact adaptive optic-optical coherence tomography system Badal Optometer and rotating cylinders are inserted in the AO-OCT to correct large spectacle aberrations such as myopia, hyperopic and astigmatism for ease of clinical use and reduction. Spherical mirrors in the sets of the telescope are rotated orthogonally to reduce aberrations and beam displacement caused by the scanners. This produces greatly reduced AO registration errors and improved AO performance to enable high order aberration correction in a patient eyes.
US08123350B2	Computerized apparatus and method for applying graphics to surfaces A system and method for applying an image to a substrate surface are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a set of color matrix maps representing color pixel overlays forming the image, effecting a positioning of a print head array relative to the substrate surface, the print head array comprising at least one print head having a plurality of nozzles, receiving real-time geometry data representing the print head array position and orientation in space, determining, in response to the real-time geometry data, the print head array position and orientation relative to the substrate surface, determining, in response to the print head array position and orientation relative to the substrate surface and the set of color matrix maps, a set of pixels to be applied by the print head array to the substrate surface, and generating instructions to the print head array, in response to the set of pixels to be applied, to actuate particular nozzles in the print head array to apply the set of pixels to the substrate surface.
US08123348B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a recording medium conveying unit, which confronts the recording unit, and which includes a recording medium supporting surface including a hole, a suction unit that draws air through the hole to draw the recording medium in order to stick the recording medium to the recording medium supporting surface, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the recording medium to an upstream of the recording medium conveying unit in a conveying direction, wherein the suction unit discharges air toward the recording medium that is being conveyed by the re-conveying unit.
US08123346B2	Ultraviolet curing inkjet printer, printing method used in ultraviolet curing inkjet printer, and head An ultraviolet curing inkjet printer includes a first ejecting device, a first ultraviolet light irradiation device, and a second ultraviolet light irradiation device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a first light quantity for temporarily curing the ultraviolet curable inks ejected from the first ejecting device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed posterior to the first ejecting device in a first direction as a scanning direction. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a second light quantity for finally curing the ultraviolet curable inks temporarily cured by the first ultraviolet light irradiation device. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed anterior to the first ejecting device in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and is a moving direction of a recording medium relative to the first ejecting device.
US08123345B2	System and method for leveling applied ink in a printer A system enables ink on an image receiving member to be re-distributed to reduce banding effects in the image. The system includes an ink applicator for applying ink to form an ink image on an image receiving member as it passes by the ink applicator; a plenum chamber for receiving a flow of pressurized fluid from a fluid source, and at least one opening in the plenum chamber to direct the flow of pressurized fluid from the plenum towards the ink image on the image receiving member to re-distribute the ink on the image receiving member.
US08123343B2	Printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor To enable a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of a printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of the cartridge, a cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near a first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member on a second sidewall of the ink cartridge body coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
US08123342B2	Liquid container Multiple grooves are formed along an inclination face of a prism-like part. A pitch of the grooves is smaller than the wavelength of light, specifically infrared light, used as a light source for detecting an ink amount. When sufficient amount of contained ink is consumed to expose the prism-like part, ink on the inclination face is held in the grooves due to their capillary force. At this time, if an amount of the ink exceeds the capacities of the grooves, no capillary force acts on the excessive ink. Accordingly, the excessive ink becomes an ink pool and slides down to an ink surface. Since the face provided with the grooves at the pitch smaller than the wavelength of the detection light source serves as a plane face optically, detection with high reliability is made possible.
US08123341B2	Liquid container A liquid container attachable to a liquid consuming apparatus includes a supplying portion, a containing portion and a first rigid member. The supplying portion has a supplying opening and supplies a liquid to the liquid consuming apparatus in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus. The containing portion is connected to the supplying portion, the containing portion containing the liquid, the containing portion being made of a flexible sheet material. The containing portion has a first side portion, a bottom portion positioned at a bottom of the containing portion in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus and a first bottom-side sealed portion formed by joining edge portions of the first side portion and the bottom portion. The first rigid member is arranged along the first side portion and over an upper end of the first bottom-side sealed portion. The first rigid member is made of a material of higher rigidity than the flexible sheet material, whereby the first rigid member restricts displacement of the first bottom-side sealed portion in a lateral direction.
US08123339B2	Liquid ejection head and image forming apparatus using the same A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of orifices, a plurality of chambers in communication with the orifices, a plurality of fluid resistance portions in communication with the chambers, a plurality of liquid passages each including at least one of the chambers and at least one of the fluid resistance portions, a plurality of passage groups each including adjacent ones of the liquid passages, and a plurality of first partitions and a plurality of second partitions. The orifices eject droplets of liquid. The fluid resistance portions each are narrower than the chambers. Each of the first partitions, provided with a void, separates adjacent ones of the liquid passages. Each of the second partitions, which is not provided with the void, separates adjacent ones of the passage groups. The liquid ejection head is capable of recording a high-quality image with an increased density of liquid passages and nozzle orifices.
US08123332B2	Printhead assembly with a printhead maintenance station Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. Also included is a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a printhead maintenance station configured to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element.
US08123331B2	Image forming apparatus and information recording medium An ink-jet printer performs formation of an image by jetting an ink from nozzles of an ink-jet head. When a power supply is switched ON after a time measuring section is not capable of measuring time due to the power supply has been switched OFF, then the ink-jet printer outputs to a display section a signal which causes a display control section, provided on a controller, to display a message asking a user whether or not a cleaning operation by a recovery operation control section is to be performed. Accordingly, any unnecessary operation for recovering the jetting function is reduced, solving problems such as waiting time required for performing the operation for recovering the jetting function and that the ink is consumed unnecessarily.
US08123318B2	Printhead having controlled nozzle firing grouping A printhead is provided having a plurality of rows of nozzles, with the nozzles in each row being grouped into fire groups, and a controller configured to fire the nozzles of each fire group by outputting firing pulses to the nozzles. The controller sets the number of fire groups in each row based on the width of the firing pulses and a predetermined length of time for firing all of the nozzles of that row.
US08123317B2	Ink tank and printing apparatus To implement an ink tank and a printing apparatus that can detect a residual quantity of ink in an ink containing part optically with high accuracy by solving a problem of false detection of an ink residual quantity caused by irregular reflection light and scattered light generated by light from a light emitting part. For that purpose, the light source for emitting light of a first wavelength and the light receiving part for receiving light of a second wavelength are provided. Then the light of the first wavelength from the light source is configured to be irradiated on a luminescent material that is provided in the ink tank and emits the light of the second wavelength using an optical prism only when the ink does not exist in the ink tank.
US08123315B2	Domestic appliance comprising a support system A cupboard-type domestic appliance is provided having an interior in which a height-adjustable support system is mounted. The support system includes a vertical rail provided with a plurality of snap-in recesses and a supporting arm that has a plurality of projections each of which engages with one of the snap-in recesses. The rail includes a profiled element that is immobilized on a wall via an at least one fastener and a strip is provided that can be vertically displaced in the profiled element between a position in which the at least one fastener is accessible through an opening on one side of the profiled element that faces away from the wall and another position in which the at least one fastener is concealed behind the strip.
US08123313B2	Door motion dampening system A system for dampening an opening motion of a door includes a frame, an access door and at least one dampening member. The access door is rotatably secured to the frame. The access door is configured to be moved with respect to the frame between closed and completely open positions. The at least one dampening member is secured to the access door or the frame. The dampening member(s) dampens movement of the access door toward the completely open position over a range of motion.
US08123307B2	Brake boost control apparatus A brake boost control apparatus has a brake operation member, a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic pump, a master cylinder pressure detection section detecting a pressure of the brake fluid, a brake stroke amount detection section detecting a stroke amount of the brake operation member, a hydraulic pressure control section that controls a pressure of the wheel cylinder, a boost section which boosts the pressure of the brake fluid and increases the wheel cylinder pressure, and a control unit. The control unit controls at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic pressure control section so that the stroke amount detected by the brake stroke amount detection section under a boost operation by the boost section and the pressure detected by the master cylinder pressure detection section are maintained at a predetermined relationship.
US08123299B2	Armrest and methods for manufacturing same A method for manufacturing an armrest includes making a plurality of core sections. Each core section is formed by bonding a plurality of waste pieces of high-quality wood together. Each of two adjacent ends respectively of two adjacent core sections is machined to provide a serrated coupling face having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of protrusions. The core sections are bonded together to form a core having a desired length by applying adhesive to the serrated coupling faces. A plurality of upper boards made of the same material as the core is bonded to a top side of the core. A plurality of lateral boards made of the same material as the core is bonded to each of two lateral sides of the core.
US08123298B2	Hinge assembly for boat seat An embodiment of a hinge assembly includes a seat back support, a seat bottom support, a hinge pivot, and a stop pin. The seat back support has a seat back mounting portion and a seat back hinge portion. The seat back hinge portion includes a stop notch formed at an end of the seat back hinge portion. The seat bottom support has a seat bottom mounting portion and a seat bottom hinge portion. The hinge pivot passes through the seat back hinge portion and the seat bottom hinge portion to hingedly couple the seat back hinge portion to the seat bottom portion. The stop pin has a stop pin shaft and a stop pin head positioned at a first end of the stop pin shaft. A second end of the stop pin shaft is affixed to the seat bottom hinge portion of the seat bottom support proximate to the seat back hinge portion of the seat back support.
US08123292B2	Vehicle seat A headrest moving mechanism includes linking members that links a support portion and a headrest base portion to each other; and elongated holes formed in the headrest base portion. The elongated holes slidably receive a connection shaft provided to the support portion, thereby determining a postural position of the support portion. The elongated holes are shaped so as to move the support portion forwardly and upwardly with respect to the headrest base portion from an initial position in a time before the vehicle back-side collision happens to a collision preparatory position as the linking members are rotated.
US08123291B1	Chair with misting apparatus A chair with misting apparatus including a liquid dispenser assembly which provides a plurality of 360-degree adjustable nozzles disposed within the seat and backrest portions of the chair, each nozzle having a flow control switch connected to a tank mounted underneath the chair, the tank supplying liquid to the nozzles via conduit disposed within a channel in both the seat and backrest portions of the chair. Alternative embodiments of the apparatus include either an electric pump or a manual pump, and a non-foldable or foldable chair.
US08123286B2	Vehicle side section structure A vehicle side section structure that is capable of a required stiffness and enables a reduction in weight of a roof side section is provided. A roof side rail that structures a vehicle side section structure is provided with: a roof outer panel that has length in a vehicle front-rear direction and is opened inward of the vehicle, and has a pair of upper and lower flanges; and a roof side frame member that is joined to the pair of upper and lower flanges of the roof outer panel at a pair of upper and lower flanges. The roof side frame member has, between the upper and lower flanges, an outward protruding portion that is protruded in a vehicle outward direction and an inward protruding portion 46 that is protruded in a vehicle inward direction, and in a sectional view cut orthogonally to the length direction, a length of a top wall of the outward protruding portion is longer than a length of a top wall of the inward protruding portion.
US08123283B2	Bed corrugation for vehicle load-carrying bed A cargo protecting system for a vehicle having a load-carrying bed comprises a support structure and a bed floor fixedly supported by the support structure. The support structure forms at least a portion of a frame of a vehicle. The bed floor includes a support surface having a plurality of longitudinal extending, spaced apart raised ridges for directly supporting cargo. Each ridge has elevated and angled parts and an upper part. The upper part of each ridge has an increased thickness compared to the other parts and a raised section for increased strength and rigidity of the ridge. Each ridge includes a wear resistant surface having a first texture disposed substantially over the entire ridge and a second texture disposed over the upper part of the ridge. The second texture is disposed at least partially over the first texture.
US08123281B2	Proactive aerodynamic truck trailer shroud A power or motive source for an extensible fairing for an articulated motor vehicle is based on a fluid power system. The fluid power system is disposed on the vehicle to be exposed to airflow around the vehicle resulting from forward movement of the vehicle. A coupling mechanism responsive to exposure of the fluid power system to airflow for extending and retracting the extensible fairing responsive to changes in vehicle speed.
US08123280B2	Armrest for vehicle An armrest for a vehicle is provided that does not increase the number of parts and the assembly process, absorbs the shock of lateral collision of the vehicle by deformation of an armrest core member, and has the armrest core member that is not easily deformed during normal use. The armrest for the vehicle includes an armrest core member and a cushion member attached on an upper surface of the armrest core member. A boss is provided to extend from the armrest core member, and the armrest core member is attached to a door trim of the vehicle by the boss. A rib is provided on a circumferential surface of the boss, and has an extending portion extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The extending portion is integrally formed with the upper surface or a lower surface of the armrest core member.
US08123279B2	Net structures, vehicles including net structures, and methods A vehicle includes a roll cage and a net structure. The roll cage at least partially defines a protected area and additionally at least partially defines an access opening configured to facilitate passage of an operator through the access opening and into the protected area. A net structure is attached to the roll cage and is configured to selectively block at least a portion of the access opening. Net structures and methods are also provided.
US08123274B1	Protective cover for trailerable items A protective cover for trailerable items includes a support frame having a plurality of ribs having opposed first and second leg members and a lateral batten member spanning the first and second leg members and defining an open area thereunder, and a flexible cover supported on the support frame, wherein each of the first leg members are rotatable about a first axis and each of the second leg members are rotatable about a second axis. The plurality of ribs are selectively movable between a first position in which they are spaced apart and the flexible cover encompasses an entirety of a trailerable item, and a second position in which the plurality of ribs are adjacent one another and extend substantially vertically to allow for loading and unloading of the trailerable item from a trailer while the protective cover is attached to the trailer.
US08123270B2	Motor vehicle roof A motor vehicle roof is provided that included, but is not limited to a base roof and a roof segment essentially vertically adjustable relative to the base roof. The roof segment is designed, essentially, to fit closely with the base roof in a closed state and to provide a space in relation to base roof in an open state. The roof segment can include, but is not limited to at least one upper, relatively adjustable, roof element connected with the roof segment, and/or the base roof can include, but is not limited to at least one lower, relatively adjustable roof element connected with the base roof. Through the adjustable roof element the storage space can be open and closed. As a result, the transportation of objects is improved without significantly compromising safety.
US08123265B2	Bumper beam A bumper beam has a hat shaped profile and is turned with the crown (12-14) towards the vehicle and has a lid (17) that gives the bumper beam a closed profile. The bumper beam has two mountings (20, 21) that usually are adapted to be fitted to the side rails of the vehicle. The mountings (20, 21; 40) consist of a plate formed from one piece that has two standing sides (23, 24; 43, 44) and from these out-turned flanges (25, 26) with holes (28) for mounting to the vehicle, where the standing sides have cut-outs (27) adapted for the bottom and sides of the bumper beam and are welded to these.
US08123264B2	Crash box device A crash box device and an impact absorption system with a crash box device are provided for motor vehicles. The device includes, but is not limited to: a deformable element for absorbing a collision force impacting in the main direction through a corresponding re-shaping and/or damping movement, an impact limitation device fastened on one final range of the deformable element, a support element connected with the other final range of the deformable element, preferably the final range which is opposite the other final range for the reception of the deformable element and for attaching further building components and fasteners to attach the deformable element with the impact limitation device and/or the support element. The fasteners comprise at least one holding area for holding the deformable element and the at least one guiding area branching off of this, which, in case of a collision, makes possible the movement of the deformable element from the holding area along the guiding area in a additional direction which deviates from the main direction.
US08123262B2	Damping assembly for reducing vibrations in a latch for a vehicle door A damping assembly is disposed within a housing of a latch assembly to slow rotation of a forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between an over-travel position and a latched position within the housing. The damping assembly includes a first passage and a second passage that are each configured to allow a fluid to flow therein. A restriction passage fluidly connects the first passage and the second passage and increases the pressure of the fluid within the passages. A check valve is configured to allow unidirectional flow of the fluid through the passages. An engagement mechanism is operatively connected to the passages and is configured to engage the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position. The fluid within the passages reacts against the engagement mechanism to slow rotation of the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position.
US08123260B2	Latching device for a grain bin door A latch apparatus for releasably securing a cover member over an access opening in a bulk storage structure. The latch apparatus is pivotally mounted to a cover member and includes a pair of latch members and a latch bar connected to and extending between the latch members. The latch members have a receptacle that receives a catch member and an extension that extends away from the latch member opposite the receptacle. The extension engages the cover member when the latch member is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position to prevent injury to a user.
US08123257B1	Crimp sleeve for flexible tubing A crimp sleeve includes a cylindrical side wall having a plurality of slots cut therein to form a plurality of fingers. Each finger includes a shank and an inwardly extending tab. The shanks of the fingers are formed at an inward angle relative to the sleeve wall. The tips of the tabs define a tip diameter which forms an interference fit with the nipple on which the sleeve is to be installed. The interference fit between the tabs and the nipple allows the sleeve to be pre-loaded on the nipple. When the end of a length of tubing is inserted in the sleeve, the tubing will contact the shanks of the fingers and urge the fingers outwardly, increasing the tip diameter.
US08123256B1	Safety lock for cam lock fitting Method and apparatus for a safety lock for a cam lock fitting contained in a housing mounted onto the outside of the cam lock fitting so that the housing is in close proximity to the cam lever so that when the cam lock fitting is pressurized and the lever is in a down position a pin can extend from the housing so as to secure the lever in a downward position and therefore prevent operation or release of the male and the female portions of the fitting. The housing has a piston therein which moves along a bore so that the piston can be moved by the pressure of fluid contained inside the cam lock fitting so that in a low pressure condition the pin is retracted so that the cam lever can then be raised. The pin is connected to the piston with an L-shaped arm which has a pivot point so that when the piston is in the down position the pin is in a retracted position. When the coupling is pressurized the piston moves upwardly along the bore so that the pin is extended over the arm in order to prevent the arm from being moved to the open position and thereby allowing the male end to be removed from the female end of the cam lock fitting.
US08123253B2	Relay box protective structure A relay box protective structure, which protects a relay box from a tread surface stripped off when a tire 2 bursts, and includes a fender 3, a relay box 6, a relay box cover 7, and a movement restricting component 10, is provided. The fender 3 is fixed to a frame 1 of a vehicle body. The relay box 6 is arranged higher than and behind a lower end 3a of the fender 3, and fixed to the vehicle body. The relay box cover 7 is arranged higher than and behind the lower end 3a of the fender 3, includes a bottom 8 covering a lower surface of the relay box 6, and is fixed to the vehicle body. The movement restricting component 10 is fixed to the frame 1 behind a back end 7a of the relay box cover 7, restricting movement of the relay box cover 7 towards the vehicle front.
US08123252B2	Pole grip which can be adapted to different hand sizes A stick handle is described, in particular for a ski stick, cross-country skiing stick, hiking stick or Nordic walking stick, with a handle body (10, 11), the head region (3) of which has, on the side (4) directed forwards in the direction of movement and/or on the side (5) directed rearwards in the direction of movement, an upper terminating projection (8, 12) which, when the stick is grasped, is arranged above the sliding hand and adjacent thereto, and which has, at least on the side (5) directed rearwards, a lower terminating projection (13) which, when the stick is grasped, is arranged below the grasping hand and adjacent thereto. With a handle of this type, adaptation to different hand sizes is made possible by the handle body being constructed from at least two individual stick handle elements (10, 11), wherein a first stick handle element (11) is connected in a form-fitting and/or frictional manner to the stick tube (1), and a second stick handle element (10) is arranged on the first stick handle element (11) in a manner such that it can be fixed in a displaceable and/or exchangeable manner.
US08123251B2	Collapsible steering column assembly An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle preferably has a bracket for rigid attachment to the vehicle with a first slot defining a longitudinal adjustment path of the assembly. A steering shaft is journaled to a jacket of the assembly for rotation about an axis. A shuttle attaches rigidly to the jacket and adjustably to the bracket for telescoping and tilt adjustment of the assembly. The shuttle has a second slot that defines a collapse path with said second slot preferably having a first portion restraining said steering shaft in a normal state and a second portion that allows said steering shaft to move through said collapse path when in a collapsed state. A pin extends through said first and second slots for coupling said shuttle to said bracket.
US08123245B2	Stabilized mobile unit or wheelchair A mobile vehicle or wheelchair has the ability to provide stabilized transport to at least one individual on a variety of surfaces, slopes and/or terrains. The mobile unit or wheelchair may travel across smooth and very rough surfaces, slopes of varying or different angles and various outdoor terrains (including grassy, rocky, sandy, muddy and/or hilly terrains). In one aspect, the height of any part of the unit or the overall height of the device may be adjusted preferably to raise or lower the center of gravity. For example, the height of the device may be lowered to provide more stable transportation. In another aspect, the device may be adjusted to increase or decrease the size of the footprint (or any part of the footprint) of the device. For example, the footprint of the device may be enlarged to provide more stable transportation. Preferably, both the height of the device (or any part of the device) and the size of the footprint (or any part of the footprint) may be adjusted preferably to provide more stability.
US08123243B2	Foldable bicycle A foldable land vehicle employs two pivots: a first to rotate the rear-wheel assembly and shorten the distance between the chain-ring axle and the rear-wheel axle; and a second to rotate the chain-ring assembly and the rear-wheel assembly to align them with the main beam. The rear-wheel assembly detaches from the frame to enable rotation about the rear-wheel pivot. The rear-wheel pivot connects the chain-ring assembly to the rear-wheel assembly. The chain-ring pivot is preferably located on the main beam. Each pivot may be tilted from perpendicular to the approximate central vertical plane of the foldable land vehicle in order place the rear wheel and chain ring in a more compact state adjacent to the main beam.
US08123242B2	Folding steering column for elliptical bike and method of use A foldable steering column of vehicle including a steering member with a steering fork. The foldable steering column includes a base coupleable to the steering fork; a steering tube pivotally coupled to the base between at least a first position aligned with the base and second position not aligned with the base; and a sleeve operably associated with the base and the steering tube for positioning between a first position where the steering tube is secured to and aligned with the base and a second position where the steering tube is free to pivot relative to the base.
US08123240B2	Control system for leaning vehicle A leaning vehicle has a frame that pivots relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis. A torque exerted on a steering assembly in a first direction causes the frame to pivot relative to the pivotable frame member in a second, opposite direction at least when the speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold speed, to steer the vehicle in the second direction. An actuator urges the frame toward an upright position when the frame is in a leaning position and a speed of the vehicle is below a second threshold speed. A method is also described, in which a torque is exerted on the frame in the direction opposite the steering torque when the speed above the first threshold speed. The torque exerted by the actuator is opposite the leaning angle when the speed of travel is below the second threshold speed.
US08123237B2	Mobile power generator apparatus Mobile power generator apparatus includes: left and right wheels attached to a frame having a power generator mounted therein; three guide rollers provided for each of the wheels for rotatably supporting the rim of the wheel at three positions of the rim; and mounting sections for respectively mounting the three guide rollers on a side wall of the frame, so that each of the wheels is rotatably supported by the three guide rollers on one of the side walls of the frame.
US08123235B2	Hydraulic system for a vehicle suspension A vehicle hydraulic suspension system has front left (15), front right (16), rear left (18) and rear right (17) wheel ram. There is a mode decoupling device (100) with first (129), second (130), third (132) and fourth (131) balance chambers formed by a cylinder/piston rod assembly (124,125,126). The compression chamber (45) of the front left wheel ram (15) is in fluid communication with the first balance chamber (129), the compression chamber (46) of the front right wheel ram (16) is in fluid communication with the second balance chamber (130), the compression chamber (48) of the rear left wheel ram (18) is in fluid communication with the third balance chamber (132), and the compression chamber (47) of the rear right wheel ram (17) is in fluid communication with the fourth balance chamber (131). There are also front and rear resilient vehicle support means between vehicle body and the wheel assemblies.
US08123233B2	Clamping device The invention relates to a clamping device, especially for releasably clamping a machine tool having a fixing element extending therefrom. The clamping device includes a deforming clamping element which acts on a clamping part with a clamping force in order to secure the fixing element to the clamping device. The deforming clamping element may also be controlled to act on the clamping part with a releasing force in order to release the fixing element from the clamping device. Both the clamping force and the releasing force result from the deformation of the deforming clamping element.
US08123224B2	Electronic lighted die with gimbal mount A device comprised of: a shell forming a chamber within the shell; an inner housing allowed to freely rotate within the chamber of the shell and a display unit with multiple light sources within the inner housing. The display unit is weighted such that light sources always face upward when the device comes to rest. When dropped, the display unit randomly illuminates at least one of the light sources to indicate a number, simulating the roll of a die.
US08123221B2	Apparatus and method for drawing in flat material pieces and in-register transportation of the flat material pieces A device for pulling in flat-stock pieces and precisely-aligned transporting of the flat-stock pieces at a work station of a machine for processing the flat-stock pieces has a gripper apparatus that grabs a forward edge of a piece of flat stock and accelerates the flat-stock piece, and a sheet pick-up roller that picks up the accelerated piece of flat stock from the gripper apparatus, whereby the sheet pick-up roller has a roller gripper effective at a circumference thereof for grabbing the accelerated piece of flat stock. The roller gripper can move between a closed position in which the piece of flat stock is held fast and an open position in which the piece of flat stock is released. Suction holes operable to be charged with intake air are disposed in a part of a circumference of the sheet pick-up roller following in a direction of rotation behind the roller gripper.
US08123219B2	Medium feeding device and guide member A medium feeding device includes a rib disposed on a feeding path along which the medium is fed. In a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the medium is fed along the feeding path, an end side of the rib includes an end portion that guides the medium, and an inclined portion inclined from the end portion.
US08123217B2	Sheet-conveying apparatus and image-reading apparatus Provided is a sheet-conveying apparatus including: a skew-feeding correction member having an abutting portion which is brought into contact with a conveyed sheet; and a positioning portion positioning the skew-feeding correction member and having a biasing member for biasing the skew-feeding correction member to a direction opposite to a direction to which the skew-feeding correction member rotates by the sheet. The sheet-conveying apparatus is set so that a formula M+MS
US08123215B2	Sheet aligning apparatus and image forming system In a sheet aligning apparatus, a sheet is conveyed from a conveying-in path into a sheet storing section through an open end portion and the leading end of the sheet comes in with a stop member. Thereafter, when a shifting section shifts the stop member from an initial position to a first position, the sheet is shifted inversely together with the stop member and the back end of the sheet proceeds as the inversed leading end from the open end portion to a conveying-out path so that a succeeding sheet is allowed to be conveyed from the conveying-in path into the open end portion. When the sheet is shifted inversely, a shift regulating section regulates the shift of the sheet in such a way that the back end of the sheet is prevented from proceeding more than a predetermined distance due to the inertia of the shift.
US08123212B1	Method and apparatus for adjusting media positioning and indexing using an encoder in an image forming device A method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height.
US08123210B1	Paper feeding assembly for printers A paper feeding apparatus for a printer includes a motor; a first roller assembly includes a first roller having a first end, a second end and an axis; a first gear disposed at the first end of the first roller, wherein the first gear is configured to be driven by the motor; and a second gear disposed at the second end of the first roller, wherein the second gear having a first bevel gear; a drive shaft including a first end, a second end and an axis, wherein the first end of the drive shaft having a second bevel gear that is configured to engage with the first bevel gear of the second gear of the first roller assembly, and wherein the second end of the drive shaft having a third bevel gear; and a second roller assembly having a second roller and a fourth bevel gear that is configured to engage with the third bevel gear at the second end of the drive shaft.
US08123204B2	Machining center with a rotatable and pivotable workpiece table having a clamping device for the rotation axis A machining center that includes a swivel bridge supported by a bearing wall and pivotable about a horizontal axis, at least one drive sprocket attached to a disc-type connector of the swivel bridge, and at least one drive system attached adjacent the bearing wall and operatively connected to the drive sprocket of the swivel bridge. The machining center is characterized by clamping of the swivel bridge being performed by a friction-locked clamping system which is arranged rotationally fixed about a bearing pin of the swivel bridge in a circular ring shape and which is operatively connected to the disc-type connector. A clamping force of the friction-locked clamping system is generated by an energy storage.
US08123201B2	Flexible aeration panel and methods of use A flexible aeration panel is described, which does not include a rigid support plate. The flexible aeration panel can include a first perforated, flexible sheet sealed to a second non-perforated flexible sheet at their peripheral edges, thereby defining one or more cavities that are in fluid communication with at least one gas inlet. The flexible aeration panel can be configured to produce preferably evenly spaced bubbles of gas when positioned in a liquid body. Applications include, but are not limited to, aeration of wastewater, lakes, streams, water basins and the like.
US08123198B2	Ignition system for a pulse fog generator The present invention provides an ignition system for a pulse fog generator having a carburetor, a pump for pumping air into the carburetor, and a priming pump for directing a quantity of fuel into the carburetor. The ignition system includes an igniter operable on low voltage, a switch for activating and deactivating the igniter, and a grounding connection for grounding the igniter to the carburetor. The grounding connection includes structure for grounding the igniter including an igniter bracket and a ground wire assembly which couples to the igniter and to a location substantially near a sparkplug of the pulse fog generator.
US08123197B2	Ethylene production isolation valve systems The present invention provides more efficient, cost effective ethylene productions isolation valve devices and system as well as more efficient, cost effective methods for isolating the flow of matter from one location to another in an ethylene productions operation where the valve comprises a first seat; a second seat aligned with said first seat; a blind; a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with an orifice in said line; wherein said main body is coupled to said line; an upper and lower bonnet coupled to said main body, wherein said bonnets may be removed in order to replace valve parts without separating the main body from the line; and a plate located inside a bonnet, wherein the plate comprises a planar surface that contacts a surface of the blind.
US08123194B2	On-off valve and process apparatus employing the on-off valve A disclosed on-off valve includes a valve body having two openings that may place a process chamber and an evacuation apparatus in pressure communication with each other; a closure element located inside the valve body and adapted to close one of the two openings; a seal member provided in the closure element and adapted to seal the one of the two openings when the closure element closes the one of the two openings; a linear motion driver that linearly moves the closure element; a retreat portion located away from the two openings; and a pivotal motion driver adapted to pivot the closure element between a first position corresponding to the one of the two openings and a second position corresponding to the retreat portion; wherein the closure element is moved to the retreat portion by the linear motion driver and the pivotal motion driver in order to stay at the retreat portion when the closure element is away from the one of the two openings.
US08123193B2	Magnetic valve The invention relates to a magnetic valve having a magnetic assembly and a capsule. An armature is disposed in the capsule and a valve insert is inserted in the capsule. A tappet is guided in a displaceable manner within the inner bore of the valve insert and sealingly immerges in a sealing seat. The valve insert is arranged at a distance from the armature via an adjustable air gap. According to the invention, the sealing seat is arranged in a sleeve which itself is disposed inside the capsule. The sleeve has at least one opening through which adjusting elements act upon the valve seat in order to regulate the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic assembly. The air gap between the valve insert and the armature is variable, whereby the adjusting elements either move the valve insert in axial direction towards the armature in order to increase the magnetic flux or move the valve insert away from the armature in order to reduce the magnetic flux.
US08123191B2	Mechanical override A valve system comprising a closure member that is linearly translatable within a valve body. A fail safe assembly is connected to the valve body and a first rod member that is connected to the closure member. A linear actuator is movably connected to the fail safe assembly and is operable to move the first rod member. A mechanical override system is connected to the linear actuator and is operable to move the linear actuator relative to the valve body.
US08123188B2	Apparatus for concealing multimedia devices An apparatus for concealing a multimedia device. The apparatus may include a horizontal base with two vertical members, each vertical member being affixed to the horizontal base, with each vertical member having a metal plate affixed to the inner side of each vertical member. The apparatus may also include a pair of angular brackets, each bracket being rotationally coupled with each metal plate, a horizontal cross-piece, with each end of said cross-piece affixed to each angular bracket, a backing panel coupled with a picture frame and an art panel the backing panel being affixed to the horizontal cross-piece and a horizontal brace which is designed and adapted to support the weight of the picture frame, backing panel and the art panel.
US08123186B2	Ruggedized mounting assembly and method for stabilizing one or more computer racks A ruggedized mounting assembly or bracket and incorporated method and is provided to enhance structural rigidity of a computer environment and provide stability to it during sudden shifts and vibrations. The assembly comprises two intersecting planes. One plane will be disposed on the computer rack at an upper surface while the other plane is to be secured to a surrounding surface such as a ceiling.
US08123184B2	Device-mounting stand A device-mounted stand includes a support leg for supporting a device placed and fixed on a base, a cover disposed on the support leg in a vertically slidable manner for covering a front face of the support leg, and an elastic device applying an upward force to the cover. The elastic device makes a lower end of the device placed on the support leg and an upper end of the cover contact without any gap. This achieves the integration of the stand and the device placed on it.
US08123183B2	Fixing device for a plastic mounting or housing that can be fixed in a rectangular opening in a thin wall A fastening device for a fitting or housing of plastic such as a swivel lever control, socket wrench control, or sash closure which can be fixed in at least one preferably rectangular opening in a thin wall such as a sheet metal cabinet door and with tongues which project from the fitting or housing so as to be integral therewith, the free ends of the tongues being supported on the rear rim area or the edge of the opening. A supporting spring which is made of spring metal and which is bent to form a profile that is U-shaped in cross section encloses the free end of the tongue.
US08123176B2	Velocity feedback control system for a rotor of a toy helicopter There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a toy helicopter in flight. The toy helicopter is powered by a first rotor and a second rotor. A target speed ratio is determined for the speed of the first rotor and the speed of the second rotor. The speed of the rotors is adjusted incrementally until the target ratio is achieved
US08123175B2	Velocity feedback control system for a rotor of a toy helicopter There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a toy helicopter in flight. The toy helicopter is powered by a first rotor and a second rotor. A target speed ratio is determined for the speed of the first rotor and the speed of the second rotor. The speed of the rotors is adjusted incrementally until the target ratio is achieved.
US08123170B2	Recovery and rescue system for aircraft The recovery and rescue system includes a sail (5) with rigging (10) fitted around a spreader conduit (4), with an intake and outlet nozzle, wherein a starting system (6) is provided, including mechanical (12-13) and electromechanical (17-18) opening mechanisms, in the first case operated by a manual lever (16) and in the second case operated by a button (19). Air driven through the intake of the spreading conduit (4) activates the starting system (6) in order to spread the sail (5) and by parachute means retain or brake the aircraft wherein the said system assembly is fitted. Said system can be housed inside the aircraft in a container provided for the purpose.
US08123169B2	Vertical non-bladdered fuel tank for a ducted fan vehicle A vertical non-bladdered fuel tank for a ducted fan vehicle comprising: a pod that releasably connects to a core vehicle of a ducted fan vehicle, a vertical fuel tank contained by the pod, wherein the vertical fuel tank is centered between the fore and aft sides of the pod, an outlet in a floor of the vertical fuel tank located adjacent to a sidewall on the fore side of the vertical fuel tank, wherein the outlet is coupled to a draw tube contained by the core vehicle, and a pressure release vent located at the highlight of the pod's duct.
US08123166B2	Primary structure for aircraft of composite material with improved crash resistance and associated energy-absorbing structural element The disclosed embodiments relate essentially to a primary structure of an aircraft fuselage that has at least a first strut linked at one end to a crossbeam and at the other end to a reinforcing frame. A second strut has one end fastened to the structure below the end of the first strut, and another end linked to the first strut through an intermediate sliding linkage. A deformable member is linked to the struts so that in case of a crash, the compressive forces press against the second strut, so that the end of the second strut slides along the first strut so as to stretch the deformable member longitudinally to absorb the shock.
US08123161B1	Aircraft landing gear unlock actuator This disclosure relates to a landing gear system that includes a landing gear strut rotatable between stowed and deployed positions. A lock-stay is connected to the landing gear strut and is movable between locked and unlocked conditions. An unlock actuator is connected to the lock-stay and includes first and second members movable relative to one another. The first member is movable between first and second positions that correspond to the locked and unlocked conditions. A controller is in communication with the unlock actuator and is configured to command the unlock actuator between the first and second positions in response to an input. The second member is permitted to free-drive relative to the first member between the stowed and deployed positions with the lock-stay in the unlocked condition.
US08123160B2	Aircraft configuration for micro and mini UAV An aircraft arrangement for Mini or Micro UAV comprising a fore wing (14) and an aft wing (12) in tandem closed-coupled arrangement. The aft wing (12) has side panels (18) and control surfaces (19), and tapered planform with positive sweep, while the fore wing (14) has non-positive trailing edge sweep. The fore wing (14) and the aft wing (12) are disposed at different height, and the aircraft arrangement has no other wings or tail arrangements.
US08123158B2	Reel and recording tape cartridge A reel includes a hub formed in a cylindrical-tube-shape with a base portion, on an outer peripheral surface of which a recording tape is wound; a base side flange portion that projects-out to a radial direction outer side of a base portion side of the hub; a flange member configured in a disc-shape or an annular-plate-shape of a material with an elastic modulus at least equal to a material that constitutes the hub, the flange member being coaxially joined to an opening end portion of the hub; a metal plate formed in a circular-plate-shape or an annular-plate-shape, which is fixed coaxially to the base portion of the hub; and a groove wall that is formed integrally with the base portion of the hub and forms a groove portion which is continuous around the entire periphery between the groove wall and an outer peripheral surface of the metal plate.

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