Document Document Title
US08188834B2 Device for detecting the location of a compression point
The device has a first substrate on which an electrical resistive element is mounted, and a second substrate on which a contact electrode is mounted. The contact electrode is disposed opposite the resistive element at an electrically insulating distance. It can be brought into electrical contact with the resistive element by pressing the substrates together. The device is provided with electrical or electronic circuitry for detecting the location of the compression point. At least one of the substrates is equipped with a flat leaf spring of spring-grade sheet metal attached flush thereto, which leaf covers the compression zone of the substrates.
US08188832B2 Near zero TCR resistor configurations
A microchip resistor device is disclosed in which first and second resistive elements are formed on a substrate. The first resistive element has a first resistance value and a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) over a selected temperature range. The second resistive element has a second resistance value and a negative TCR over the selected temperature range. The first and second resistive elements do not overlap each other. The first and second resistive elements are operatively connected with one or more conductors to provide a current path between the two elements. The product of the first resistance value and the positive temperature coefficient of resistance is substantially equal in magnitude to the product of the second resistance value and the negative temperature coefficient of resistance.
US08188829B2 Coil substrate structure, substrate holding structure, and switching power supply
A coil substrate structure which enhances heat dissipation and fully secures a mounting area is provided. A coil substrate structure 100 comprises a first coil substrate 110 having a primary transformer coil part 41; a second coil substrate 120, disposed on the first coil substrate 110, having a secondary transformer coil part 42; and a transformer core 130 for magnetically connecting the transformer coil parts 41, 42 to each other. The coil substrates 110, 120 are disposed on each other while being shifted from each other such that the transformer coil parts 41, 42 overlap each other as seen in the substrate thickness direction. This can increase the heat dissipation area of the coil substrates 110, 120. The transformer coil parts 41, 42 have a width in a transmission direction A narrower than a width in a direction B intersecting the transmission direction A as seen in the substrate thickness direction. This can reduce the multilayer area of the coil substrates 110, 120 in the transmission direction A.
US08188825B2 Transformer structure
A transformer includes a base, a magnetic core assembly and at least one winding coil assembly. The base includes a first receptacle and at least one first receiving recess. The magnetic core assembly includes a first magnetic part, a second magnetic part and a third magnetic part. The base is arranged between the first magnetic part and the second magnetic part. The first magnetic part has a first post accommodated within the first receptacle. The at least one winding coil assembly is disposed on the base. The third magnetic part is optionally accommodated within the first receiving recess, so that an air gap between the third magnetic part and the first magnetic part/the second magnetic part is adjustable.
US08188816B1 Compact harmonic impedance tuner
Compact high reflection and harmonic frequency impedance tuners use the slide screw principle and new slabline structures, either with three slots arranged at 120° to each other or four slots arranged in a cross form 90° to each other. The tuners comprise up to three and up to four mobile carriages correspondingly, which slide horizontally across the length of the slabline(s), each carriage holding one or two stepper motors and one or two conductive RF probes, which can be inserted into the corresponding slots of the slabline(s) and create adjustable reflection factors through capacitive coupling with the center conductor of the slabline(s). The length of the tuners is considerably reduced, since the probes share the same sections of slabline. The tuners can be used for wideband, high reflection and multi-frequency (harmonic) tuning.
US08188815B2 Waterproof waveguide assembly having a core part with a seam formed by engaging parts and the core part enclosed by a separate external housing
A waterproof communication apparatus comprises a core part and a separate external housing. The core part is a combination having at least one seam, and is used to transmit electromagnetic waves. The separate external housing covers the core part to prevent environmental moisture from entering the inside of the communication apparatus through the seam. A pair of engaging parts having complementary shapes is equipped with the seam of the combination so as to further prevent the molten material of the separate external housing from entering the inside of the communication apparatus during the manufacturing process. In another embodiment, the core part and separate external housing are made of metals and are combined by a metallurgic method.
US08188808B2 Compact on-chip branchline coupler using slow wave transmission line
Branchline coupler structure using slow wave transmission line effect having both large inductance and large capacitance per unit length. The branchline coupler structure includes a plurality of quarter-wavelength transmission lines, at least one of which includes a high impedance arm and a low impedance arm. The high and low impedances are relative to each other. The high impedance arm includes a plurality of narrow cells and having an inductance of nL and a capacitance of C/n, and the low impedance arm includes a plurality of wide cells and having an inductance of L/n and capacitance of nC. The wide and narrow cells are relative to each other, and the wide and narrow cells are adjacent each other to form a signal layer having step discontinuous alternative widths.
US08188804B2 System and method of shaping a power spectrum in PWM amplifiers
In a particular embodiment, a circuit device is disclosed that includes a data generator adapted to output a random pulse sequence having a particular spectral shape. The circuit device further includes a pulse edge control circuit to selectively apply a carrier suppression operation to at least one pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal in response to the random pulse sequence to produce at least one modulated PWM output signal. The spectral energy associated with a PWM carrier of the modulated PWM output signal at a carrier frequency and associated harmonics is changed such that the modulated PWM output signal has a spectral shape defined by the particular spectral shape.
US08188796B2 Digital phase-locked loop clock system
A clock system includes a digital phase/frequency detector (DPFD), a buffer, a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) including a sigma-delta modulator (SDM), an adder, a first frequency divider. The DPFD may have a first input for a reference input clock, a second input for a feedback signal, the DPFD generating an output representing a difference between the reference input clock and the feedback signal. The buffer may be coupled to the DPFD for storing the difference signal over time. The SDM may have a control input coupled to the buffer. The adder may have inputs coupled to the SDM and a source of an integer control word. The first frequency divider may have an input for receiving an external clock signal and a control input coupled to the adder, the DCO generating an output clock signal having an average frequency representing a frequency of the external clock signal divided by (N+F/M).
US08188793B2 Systems and methods for saturation detection and corection in a power control loop
Systems and methods are described for detecting and correcting saturation in a power amplification circuit. An exemplary circuit comprises a power amplifier that provides an amplified output signal based upon an input signal and a gain control signal; a power detector that provides a detector signal indicative of the amplified signal magnitude; an error amplifier that generates the gain control signal based upon a setpoint signal and the detector signal; and a saturation detector that provides a saturation detection signal indicating whether gain control signal exceeds a reference signal. In another embodiment the circuit comprises an offset generator that provides a correction to the setpoint signal in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal exceeds the reference signal. In still another embodiment the circuit includes an offset cutoff circuit that freezes the correction to the setpoint signal in response to the correction exceeding a threshold.
US08188792B1 Techniques for current mirror circuits
A circuit includes a current mirror circuit and first and second transistors coupled as a differential pair. A first input voltage is provided to a control input of the first transistor. A second input voltage is provided to a control input of the second transistor. The current mirror circuit includes a third transistor, a fourth transistor coupled to the third transistor, and a fifth transistor coupled in series with the fourth transistor. The third transistor provides a current through the differential pair that is proportional to a current through the fourth transistor. A control input of the fourth transistor is coupled between the fifth transistor and a source of current.
US08188788B2 Systems and methods for a discrete resizing of power devices with concurrent power combining structure for radio frequency power amplifier
Systems and methods are provided for discrete resizing of power devices. The systems and methods can include a plurality of unit power amplifiers arranged in parallel, where each unit power amplifier includes at least one first input port, at least one first output port, and a plurality of sub-power-device cells configured in parallel between the at least one first input port and the at least one first output port; a switch controller, where the controller is operative to activate or deactivate at least one of the plurality of sub-power-device cells of a respective unit power amplifier; and an output matching network, where the matching network is configured to combine respective outputs from the respective plurality of unit power amplifiers to generate a system output, wherein during an operational state, all of the plurality of unit power amplifiers contribute outputs to the matching network to generate the system output.
US08188786B2 Modularized three-dimensional capacitor array
A modularized capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor modules. Each capacitor module includes a capacitor and a switching device that is configured to electrically disconnect the capacitor. The switching device includes a sensing unit configured to detect the level of leakage of the capacitor so that the switching device disconnects the capacitor electrically if the leakage current exceeds a predetermined level. Each capacitor module can include a single capacitor plate, two capacitor plates, or more than two capacitor plates. The leakage sensors and switching devices are employed to electrically disconnect any capacitor module of the capacitor array that becomes leaky, thereby protecting the capacitor array from excessive electrical leakage.
US08188785B2 Mixed-mode circuits and methods of producing a reference current and a reference voltage
In an embodiment, a circuit includes a first transistor having a first current electrode, a control electrode, and a second current electrode coupled to a power supply terminal. The circuit further includes a resistive element having a first terminal coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the power supply terminal. The circuit also includes a feedback circuit for providing a first current to the first control electrode of the first transistor and for preserving substantially the first current related to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor, through the resistive element. The feedback circuit includes an output terminal for providing an output signal in response to a voltage at the control electrode of the first transistor. In an embodiment, the first transistor is a floating-gate device with programmable threshold voltage.
US08188784B1 Power circuit
A system for providing a desired power to a load. The system includes: a current detection module configured to generate a current signal based on a current flowing through the load; a voltage detection module configured to generate a voltage signal based on a voltage across the load; a multiplier module configured to generate an output signal based on an analog multiplication of i) the current signal and ii) the voltage signal; a comparing module configured to perform a comparison of the output signal to a power reference signal, wherein the power reference signal is based on the desired power; and a voltage source configured to control the voltage across the load based on the comparison of the output signal to the power reference signal.
US08188783B1 Device and system for implementing optically sourced isolated switch elements
A power amplifier comprising a distributed signal pre-driver, an AM Modulation Driver and a Switch Power Supply driving optically-powered and optically-switched GaN-based switches which are stacked and operated in a complementary fashion and are amplitude modulated using optically-powered and optically-switched charge pumps to produce the modulated rail voltages which in turn produces the desired AM signal modulation controlled by a high-speed feedback. The optically-coupled, isolated switching elements, OCIS, provide inherent isolation between switching devices and between stacked, switching devices and ground thus enabling true switch behavior of each switching element which is independent of the other elements and independent of the voltage conditions on the switched terminals. In the preferred embodiment most of the devices are formed using Aluminum-Gallium-Nitride/Gallium-Nitride HEMTs on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit device.
US08188780B2 Pulsed static flip-flop
A pulsed static flip-flop comprises a first logic device which combines a logic signal with a pulsed signal and outputs a set signal, a second logic device which logically combines the logic signal with a complementary pulsed signal and outputs a reset signal; and a latch device comprising storage means which hold a logic hold level to be tapped off as a stored logic state of the logic signal. The logic hold level is adjustable to a first logic level by a first push-pull transistor controlled by the set signal and to a second logic level by a second push-pull transistor controlled by the reset signal.
US08188776B2 Phase-locked loop circuit
A phase-locked loop circuit includes a control loop including a frequency divider configured to frequency-divide an output clock and to control a frequency of the output clock according to a phase difference between a local clock and a phase-divided local clock; and a control unit configured to control a frequency dividing ratio of the frequency divider according to a phase difference between the output clock and an input clock that corresponds to data taken in based on the output clock.
US08188762B2 Controlling dynamic selection of on-die termination
A control component outputs to an integrated circuit device an indication to apply one of a plurality of controllable termination impedance configurations at a data input of the integrated circuit device. The indication causes the integrated circuit device to apply a first of the controllable termination impedance configurations at the data input during a first internal state of the integrated circuit device corresponding to the reception of write data on the data input, and causes the integrated circuit device to apply a second of the controllable termination impedance configurations at the data input during a second internal state of the integrated circuit device that follows the first internal state.
US08188760B2 Curve tracer signal conversion for integrated circuit testing
A curve tracer signal conversion device is provided. The signal conversion device has an input connected to the curve tracer base port to accept a repeating sequence of stepped base signals. The conversion device has a signal input connected to either the curve tracer collector or emitter port, typically the collector. The conversion device has a plurality of signal outputs, where each signal output is sequentially connected to the selected (i.e. collector) curve tracer port in response to a corresponding base step signal. The signals outputs may be provided to a test fixture, for testing a multi-pin integrated circuit (IC).
US08188759B2 Dry high potential tester and solar simulator tool
A method and apparatus for testing a photovoltaic substrate disposes the substrate on a support gantry with connection points such as vacuum cups. The gantry is actuated into a test position. A probe nest coupled to the gantry connects to a junction box on the substrate. A power supply applies voltage to the junction box, and an actuated frame contacts an edge region of the substrate to detect any breakthrough current. The actuated frame comprises a liner for maximizing contact with the edge of the substrate. The liner may be conductive, or may have a conductive surface. Current sensors coupled to the conductive liner of the frame detect any breakthrough current. A solar spectrum simulator provides solar spectrum radiation for testing the photovoltaic properties of the substrate.
US08188757B2 Method of controlling a shape memory alloy actuator utilizing resistance change
A method of controlling a shape memory alloy actuator utilizing the change in resistance exhibited by the actuator over an actuation cycle, or a derivative thereof, to identify at least one event, such as, for example, a peak, valley, change in slope without reaching a valley, or a jump in resistance within the signal plot that corresponds to the start of actuation, end of actuation, an overload case, and the introduction of a resistive element respectively, and generating a response based upon the event.
US08188750B2 Battery module voltage detector
A battery module voltage detector can reduce the difference in frequency response of an anti-aliasing filter for each battery module whose voltage is measured, and provide an accurate voltage measurement. The battery module voltage detector includes a plurality of switches connected to battery modules constituting a battery pack, resistors having an equal resistance value, and a filter composed of capacitors having equal capacitance and being disposed between the battery modules and the switches. The capacitors are divided into a first capacitor group and a second capacitor group which are symmetrical at the center of the battery pack. The first capacitor group is on the positive terminal side of the second battery. The second capacitor is on the negative terminal side of the battery pack. Capacitors may be connected between an output terminal of a (1+M/2)-th resistor and an N-th resistor, except a (1+m/2), the (1+M/2)-th resistor and the N-th resistor.
US08188748B2 Electromagnetic surveying
A method of determining the nature of subterranean strata. The transmitter antenna is towed by vessel at a distance h above the sea floor. The antenna omits a wave field whose strength is proportional to the current delivered to the antenna and this is monitored. The input voltage to the antenna is also measured and changes in antenna impedance are calculated. Changes in antenna impedance are used together with seismic information to determine the nature of the subsea strata.
US08188742B2 System and method for thermo-electric cooling of RF coils in an MR imaging system
A cooling system for reducing the thermal energy transfer from the heated spots of an RF coil assembly to a patient bore of an MRI system is disclosed. The MRI system includes a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, an RF shield formed about an RF space, and an RF coil assembly positioned within the RF space and about the patient bore. The cooling system is positioned within the RF space and includes a plurality of cooling modules configured to reduce an operating temperature of the MRI system. Each of the plurality of cooling modules further includes a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the RF coil and a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric cooler opposite from the RF coil. The thermoelectric cooler is configured to extract heat from the RF coil when a current is applied to the thermoelectric cooler.
US08188731B2 Control system including a control circuit and sensor, and method for operation of the control system
A controller includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes a forward path that includes an input and an output, a feedback path coupled to the output and to the input, and a sensor that is between the input and the output. The sensor generates a sensor signal based on an input signal applied to the input. The forward path generates an output signal based on the sensor signal. The output signal is sent along the feedback path to the input of the forward path. The controller also includes a detector that obtains an intermediate signal from the forward path between the input and the output. The detector generates a control signal using the intermediate signal. The forward path includes a control device that limits the output signal to a predetermined value. The detector controls the control device using the control signal.
US08188726B2 Method and arrangement to determine the cell capacitor voltage of a cell of a multi-cell power converter
An arrangement to determine a cell capacitor voltage value of a cell of a multi-cell power converter includes the cell and a control unit. The cell itself includes four power electronic valves interconnected as a full-bridge converter having a first and a second phase leg, where each phase leg includes a series-connection of two of the four power electronic valves and where the connection point between the two power electronic valves of each phase leg is externally connectable, a cell capacitor being connected in parallel to the first and the second phase legs, and four gate units, each being connected to a corresponding one of the power electronic valves as well as to the control unit.
US08188723B2 Switching converter and method to control a switching converter
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are a switching converter, an integrated circuit package, and method for controlling a switching converter. An embodiment of the invention is a switching converter comprising a first compensation network having a first node coupled to an error voltage and a second node coupled to electrical ground and a second compensation network having an input coupled to the error voltage. A frequency domain transfer function of the first compensation network comprises a first zero and a plurality of first poles, and a frequency domain transfer function of the second compensation network comprises a second zero and a second pole.
US08188721B2 Active pulse positioning modulator
An adaptive pulse positioning modulator including a sense circuit which provides a compensation signal indicative of output voltage error, a filter circuit having an input receiving the compensation signal and an output providing an adjust signal, a leading ramp circuit which provides a repetitive first leading edge ramp signal having a slope which is adjusted by the adjust signal, a comparator circuit which provides a first start trigger signal when the first leading edge ramp signal reaches the compensation signal and a first end trigger signal when a first trailing edge ramp signal reaches the compensation signal, a trailing ramp circuit which initiates ramping of the first trailing edge ramp signal when the first start trigger signal is provided, and a pulse control logic which asserts pulses on a PWM signal based on the trigger signals.
US08188719B2 Voltage regulator
Provided is a voltage regulator capable of stable operation under a light load so as to cover a wide range of load capacitances. The voltage regulator includes a circuit for charging a phase compensation capacitor for the voltage regulator, and a zero due to a resistor (104) and a capacitor (106) appears at low frequency.
US08188717B2 Active communications bus power harvester for differential signal communication system
A balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes in series, each node comprising a signal generator for applying signals to the data lines that produce a controllable differential voltage across the data lines; a rechargeable storage device for receiving electrical energy from the data lines to charge the storage device; at least one device coupled to the storage device for receiving electrical energy from the storage device; and a controllable converter coupling the data lines to the storage device for controlling the charging and discharging of the storage device with power captured from the data lines.
US08188715B2 Method for determining extent and type of capacity fade
A method of determining extent and type of capacity fade of an electrochemical cell in one embodiment includes identifying a first volume fraction of an active material in an electrode, identifying a first capacity of the first electrode at another time, identifying a second volume fraction of the first active material based upon the first capacity, identifying a first amount of the first active material lost from the first time to the second time based upon the first volume fraction and the second volume fraction, identifying a third volume fraction of an active material in another electrode, identifying a second capacity of the second electrode at a later time, identifying a fourth volume fraction of the second active material based upon the second capacity, and identifying a second amount of the second active material lost based upon the third volume fraction and the fourth volume fraction.
US08188712B2 Power supply controller and mechanical apparatus using the same
There is a need for improving switching regulator characteristics and providing a stable power supply controller. The power supply controller uses a battery and either or both functions of stepping up and stepping down a battery voltage. The power supply controller includes a means that prevents a ripple voltage from occurring by stopping the up conversion function for a switching operation in connection with a battery during a predetermined period without changing conditions for a conventional switching device or smoothing circuit and fast stabilizes a primary voltage using only the down conversion function.
US08188711B2 Charger for battery packs and combination of battery packs and a charger
A charger is adopted to charge a first-type battery pack and a second-type battery pack, each type of battery packs having an insertion portion whose shapes are different. The charger is provided with a housing having a battery pack socket for inserting the battery packs. The battery pack socket has a shape that allows the insertion portion of the first-type battery pack and the insertion portion of the second-type battery pack to be inserted thereto selectively in a prescribed attitude. A pair of output terminals that output charging power is disposed within the battery pack socket. The pair of output terminals is electrically connected to the first-type battery pack when the insertion portion of the first-type battery pack is inserted into the battery pack socket in the prescribed attitude. Likewise, the pair of output terminals is electrically connected to the second-type battery pack when the insertion portion of the second-type battery pack is inserted into the battery pack socket in the prescribed attitude.
US08188708B2 Battery charger with high frequency transformer
A battery-charging system includes a power supply having a high-frequency transformer and is configured to deliver a battery charging power to charge at least one battery. The high-frequency transformer has a bobbin including an elongated top and bottom surfaces and first and second substantially semi-circular end surfaces connecting the top surface with the bottom surface to form an elongated first coil winding surface having a central axis. A first coil is wound around the first coil winding surface, and a second coil is magnetically coupled to the first coil and wound thereto.
US08188704B2 Methods, systems and products for managing energy consumption
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing energy consumption. Electrical power from an auxiliary battery system is received. The electrical power is shared with peripheral devices. A characteristic of a vehicle battery is received from an interface to an on board diagnostic system. When the electrical power received from the auxiliary battery system is less than a threshold value, then the auxiliary battery system is charged from a connection to the vehicle battery. The charging of the auxiliary battery system is disabled when the characteristic of the vehicle battery is less than the minimum value.
US08188703B2 Energy harvesting system
An energy harvesting system includes: an energy harvesting unit for converting energy from a natural energy source into an electrical power signal; a power point tracking unit including a current tracing module capable of detecting a current of the electrical power signal, and a boundary control module; a microcontroller including a voltage detecting module capable of detecting a voltage of the electrical power signal, and a computing module for determining a maximum power point with reference to the voltage and the current of the electrical power signal, the boundary control module generating a switch control voltage signal with reference to the maximum power point; a storage unit capable of storing energy; and a pulse frequency modulation regulator for converting the electrical power signal into an intermediate signal with reference to the switch control voltage signal for subsequent storage of energy of the intermediate signal in the storage unit.
US08188699B2 Motor characteristics acquiring apparatus, control apparatus using the acquired motor characteristics, and power window control apparatus
The rotation period of a motor is subdivided by edge interval times and a rate of change between a currently calculated edge interval time and an edge interval time calculated one rotation of the motor previously is calculated at the detection of each edge. Then the rotation period of the motor is calculated by multiplying a set reference period by the calculated rate of change.
US08188698B2 Integrated fan drive system for air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE)
An integrated fan drive system for air-cooled heat exchangers. The integrated fan drive system has a high-torque, low speed permanent magnet motor having a rotatable shaft, a fan that is directly connected to the rotatable shaft, and a variable frequency drive device in electrical signal communication with the permanent magnet motor to control the rotational speed of the permanent magnet motor. The high-torque, permanent magnet motor comprises no more than two bearings in operative association with the shaft. The variable frequency drive device has a variable frequency controller that has an input for receiving AC power and an output for providing electrical signals that control the operational speed of high-torque, permanent magnet motor. The variable frequency drive device also includes a user interface in electronic data signal communication with the variable frequency controller to allow a user to input motor speed control data. Other embodiments of the invention are described herein.
US08188695B2 Motor control device and drive device for hybrid vehicle
A hybrid drive device includes a first motor; an operative mechanism that drivingly connects the first motor to an engine of a vehicle; a second motor that is drivingly connected to a drive wheel; an engine rotation speed sensor that detects a rotation speed of the engine; a magnetic pole position sensor that detects a magnetic pole position of the second motor; a current sensor that detects a current flowing to the first motor; a sensorless motor control device that estimates a magnetic pole position of the first motor based on the current detected by the current sensor, and drivingly controls the first motor; and a second motor control device that drivingly controls the second motor based on the magnetic pole position detected by the magnetic pole position sensor.
US08188694B2 Parallel power inverter motor drive system
Multiple inverter motor drives are interconnected in parallel to provide a common output to a motor. Common control circuitry is coupled to all parallel drives via optical cables and provides signals to power layer circuitry of each inverter for generation, at the power layer, of timing for gate drive signals for the respective inverter power electronic switches. The resulting timing exhibits a high degree of synchronicity such that very little imbalance occurs in the outputs of the paralleled drives, resulting in very low circulating currents.
US08188689B2 Induction activated cover assembly
An induction activated cover assembly includes a main body, a cover, a covering plate and two pivots. The main body has an opening vertically penetrating the main body. A lateral connecting groove is formed on a top surface of the main body. Two through holes are formed on two ends of the connecting groove respectively. The cover is pivotably disposed on the main body. A lateral connecting body is formed on a rear end of the cover, and the connecting body has a connecting body opening facing downward. Two pivot bores are formed on two ends of the connecting body. The covering plate encloses the connecting body opening. A receiving room is defined between the connecting body and the covering plate for the pivots to be received therein. Each pivot inserts through one of the pivot bores and its corresponding through hole to pivot the cover on the main body.
US08188686B1 System and method for processing and forwarding transmitted information
A system involves a plurality of RF-enabled occupancy detectors. Each occupancy detector communicates with and controls an associated plurality of RF-enabled fluorescent lamp starter units. A network master has an RF transceiver used to communicate with the occupancy detectors using a first protocol, thereby retrieving status information from the starter units. The network master also has a second RF transceiver for communicating directly with a cellular telephone using a second protocol. A user can use the cellular telephone to control and interact with the lighting system through the network master, and/or to retrieve status information from the network master. The network master automatically generates and sends email alerts to the user by sending the alerts to an email server. The email server forwards the emails to the cellular telephone via a cellular telephone network. Alerts may, for example, indicate a low battery voltage condition or that a lamp needs replacement.
US08188684B2 Portable device, recording medium storing light emission control program and light emission control method thereof
A portable device includes a light emission unit to emit light on a case, a clocking unit to clock time, an information acquisition unit to acquire information indicating a position and/or a state necessary for illuminating the light emission unit, and a control unit to determine whether to illuminate the light emission unit by using timekeeping information acquired from the clocking unit and the information indicating a position and a state acquired from the information acquisition unit, and to control the light emission unit under either a light emission state or an extinction state from a result of the determination.
US08188683B2 Poly-chromatic light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system
The invention discloses a novel control system for a Poly-Chromatic light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system, and applies feed forward and feedback control techniques to regulate the color and luminous outputs. Also, the control system is proposed for achieving luminous and color consistency for Poly-Chromatic LED lighting.
US08188681B2 Electronic circuit for operating a plurality of gas discharge lamps across a common voltage source
The proposed circuit makes it possible to operate a plurality of gas discharge lamps, particularly cold cathode tubes, across a common voltage source. The circuit reduces the resistance tolerance of the lamp characteristic curves through controlled debalancing of the lamp currents with the aid of debalancing modules. Through the active reduction in the resistance tolerance, the requirements placed on the electric strength of the balancing transistors as well as energy losses of the balancing circuit are reduced.
US08188680B2 Illuminating device
To a constant-current power supply whose output current can be variably set, light emitting modules can be connected in parallel. A control unit recognizes connection information outputted from an information output unit provided in each of the light emitting modules and varies the output current of the constant-current power supply. Drive can be controlled in response to a state of the connected light emitting modules such as the connecting number of light emitting modules.
US08188673B2 Organic light emitting diode arrangement
Organic light emitting diode arrangement Organic light emitting diode arrangements (1) are, to protect them against an effect of a switch-on, provided with circuits (31-36) for, during a first time interval that follows a switch-on, limiting a current through the organic light emitting diode arrangement (1) more and for, during a second time interval that follows the first time interval, limiting the current less. The circuit (31-36) may be passive such as a negative temperature coefficient resistor (31) or a series inductor (32) possibly with a freewheel diode (40) or may be active such as a switchable resistor (33) that is not bridged during the first time interval and that is bridged during the second time interval or a switchable resistor that is bridged in response to a detection of a value of the current exceeding a threshold value or such as a part of a converter (63) that is controlled in response to a detection of a value of the current.
US08188667B2 Lighting device and lighting system for a vehicle
A lighting device and a lighting system for a vehicle are provided. The lighting device includes a signal detecting portion which receives a light control direction signal; a control portion which controls a light source according to the light control direction signal; and a lighting state signal generating portion which outputs a lighting state signal based on the light control direction signal received by the signal detecting portion. The lighting system includes the lighting device and a light source.
US08188665B2 Light emitting diode with energy recovery system
The invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) which is electrically connected to an anode and a source. According to the invention one of the anode and the source is thermally coupled to a first heat conductor, the heat conductor being thermally coupled to a first Peltier element to convert thermal energy transmitted from and generated in the light emitting crystal when the light emitting crystal is provided with electrical energy into electrical energy.
US08188663B2 High intensity discharge lamp
A high intensity discharge lamp comprising a discharge vessel having a wall enclosing a discharge space, an ionizable material contained in said space, and at least two electrodes each having an embedded portion and an electrode shaft extending from the wall of the discharge vessel and ending with a tip of the electrode, the electrodes being arranged in said space for establishment of an electric arc between said tips. Each of the electrode shafts of the electrodes comprises a thickened portion arranged between the embedded portion and the tip of the electrode, a first shaft section extending between the embedded portion and the thickened portion, the first shaft section having a first length and a first shaft diameter, and a second shaft section extending between the thickened portion and the tip of the electrode, the second shaft section having a second length and a second shaft diameter. The thickened portion has a greater overall diameter than any of the first and second shaft diameters thereby having a higher specific surface than the specific surface of the first shaft section and the specific surface of the second shaft section, respectively, and being arranged to limit the temperature of the electrode shaft at the inner wall by heat dissipation. The thickened portion has a minimum distance from the inner wall of at least 50% of the first shaft diameter, the length of the second shaft section is at least 100% of the second shaft diameter, and the first length is at most equal to the second length.
US08188653B2 Electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device that drives each of plural pixels individually arranged in two dimensions so as to display information, is provided with a group of pixels displaying the information within an effective display region among the plural pixels arranged in two dimensions. A group of plural pseudo-pixels that do not contribute to the display of the information are located adjacent to a group of pixels within the effective display region. A bank layer separates a pixel in the group of the plural pseudo-pixels from a pixel in the group of pixels in the effective display region, and shields light leaked from a space between pixels located adjacently each other within the effective display region.
US08188651B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus
Provided is an organic light emitting apparatus that prevents voltage drop due to thin electrode and improves shock resistance. The organic light emitting apparatus includes a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, an organic light emitting layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the organic light emitting layer, and a conductive component disposed on the second electrode. The conductive component includes carbon nano-tubes.
US08188647B2 Current-driven light-emitting display apparatus and method of producing the same
An electroluminescent device including a substrate, a transistor disposed above the substrate, the transistor including a gate electrode, a silicon film opposing the gate electrode, and a gate insulating film between the gate electrode and the silicon film. The electroluminescent device including a first interlayer insulation film covering the transistor, a second interlayer insulation film disposed above the first interlayer insulation film, and a pixel electrode disposed above the second interlayer insulation film and electrically connected to the transistor. The electroluminescent device including an organic EL layer disposed between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode, and a capacitor including a first electrode formed by the same material as the silicon film and a second electrode formed by the same material as the gate electrode.
US08188646B2 Fluorescent lamp and base with press-fit hole
At the end of life of a fluorescent lamp having a base to which a pin is press-fitted, it is an object to prevent the pin from dropping or slanting, etc. A fluorescent lamp includes a base having a base body and a pin press-fitted to a hole formed on the base body. A pin retaining force (a pin torque of the base) Fe after use by which the base body retains the pin is at least 0.08 Nm after the fluorescent lamp is burned for a rated life, and a rate Fe/Fi of an initial pin retaining force Fi by which the base body retains the pin before use of the fluorescent lamp and the pin retaining force Fe after use is at least 0.66.
US08188644B2 Nanostructured composite electrode
A nanostructured composite electrode is provided that includes a pair of conductive metal foils and a multiplicity of ordered nanostructures formed on each conductive metal foil. The ordered nanostructures include functionalized carbon multi-walled nanotubes electrophoretically deposited onto the metal foils. The ordered nanostructures also include synthesized nanoparticles electrophoretically deposited onto each of the carbon multi-walled nanotubes and the metal foils in proportion to the concentration of the carbon multi-walled nanotubes while in a stable colloidal suspension with the synthesized nanoparticles during electrophoretic deposition.
US08188643B2 Display apparatus
In a display apparatus according to the present invention, a pixel is driven by using a thin film transistor (10) including an organic material in at least an active layer. The thin film transistor unit (10) and a display element unit (20) are laminated on a substrate (11) in this order, and a pixel electrode (15) formed on a substrate (10) side of the display element unit (20) also functions as a drain electrode of the thin film transistor (10). Therefore, when an organic material is used for a transistor for driving a display apparatus, there is provided a display apparatus that can provide effective protection without increasing the number of constituent members.
US08188641B2 Spark plug
A center electrode includes a tapered electrode base member mount and a noble metal tip joined to the electrode base member mount via a fused portion in which the component of the noble metal tip and the component of the electrode base member mount are fused. In this state, the cross section area S1 at a tip side boundary between the fused portion and the noble metal tip and the cross section area S2 at a base member side boundary between the fused portion and the electrode base member mount satisfy the relational expression of S1
US08188633B2 Integrated composite electromechanical machines
Embodiments of the present invention include a composite electromechanical machine which can operate as a motor or a generator (including dynamo or alternator). In an aspect, the present composite electromechanical machine comprises at least double-sided magnetic planes (e.g., rotor or stator) disposed on both sides of a central frames. Other embodiments can also be included.
US08188625B2 Oil cooling system for motor
An oil cooling system for a motor includes a rotor, a stator core annularly positioned around the rotor, a plurality of coils annularly arranged and each wound around the stator core, and a plurality of oil discharging holes annularly arranged in a circumferential direction of the stator core, the oil discharging holes through which oil is discharged with pressure in an axial direction of the stator core to cool the coils.
US08188623B2 Linear vibration motor
Disclosed herein is a linear vibration motor. The motor includes a casing surrounding the top and widthwise side of the motor, and a bracket surrounding the bottom and lengthwise side of the motor. A plate is provided on an inner surface of a side of the bracket and integrally has a cylindrical part to accommodate a coil. A mass body is provided in a central portion of the bracket and vibrates horizontally, a yoke is provided on a side surface of the mass body, and a magnet is mounted to a central portion of the yoke to be inserted into an internal space of the coil. A spring couples the plate with the yoke, thus transmitting vibratory force to the motor. An extension part extends from an end of the spring, and a bearing is provided on an end of the extension part, thus minimizing friction with the casing.
US08188619B2 Non resonant inductive power transmission system and method
Non-resonant inductive power transmission wherein the driving voltage across a primary inductor oscillates at a frequency significantly different from the resonant frequency of the inductive coupling system. Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for: power regulation using frequency control, fault detection using voltage peak detectors and inductive communication channels.
US08188614B2 Converting wind energy to electrical energy
A system for providing electrical energy to heating and cooling units associated with a building. Conduits are positioned within the building, such that the end portions are open to exterior wall surfaces of the building. Wind deflector mechanisms positioned at the end portions of the conduits direct wind from the exterior wall surfaces into the conduits, impacting venturi elements and wind collector devices positioned within the conduits. The venturi elements are pivotally mounted within the conduits to accelerate the wind towards the wind collectors regardless of in which direction the wind flows, rotating the wind collectors operatively associated with a wind turbine device. The wind turbine device converts mechanical energy to electrical energy which is provided to heating and cooling units.
US08188613B2 Integrated turbine generator/motor and method
An integrated turbine generator/motor (10) which consists of a housing (20) having a cylindrical body (22) and an eyebolt retaining plate (24) attached to the top surface of the cylindrical body (22). A ring gear (26) is rotatably disposed adjacent to the eyebolt retaining plate (24) and a plurality of turbine blades (28) are joined to turbine blade brackets (30) that are attached onto a peripheral edge of the ring gear (26). A plurality of pinion gears (32) rotatably interface with the ring gear (26) and a plurality of planetary gears (50) are connected beneath and are rotated by the pinion gears (32). When the generator/motor (10) functions as a generator (58) it includes a driven shaft (60) with a sun gear (62) attached, with the generator disposed within the housing. The sun gear (62) is rotated by the planetary gears (50) which create electrical energy from the generator by rotation of the ring gear (62). When the generator/motor is used as a motor electrical energy is supplied to the motor which can power a watercraft (94) or a motor vehicle (92).
US08188609B2 Miniature hydro-power generation system power management
A miniature hydro-power generation system includes a hydro-power generator, a processor and an energy storage device. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The processor is configured to monitor a level of the electric power generated by the hydro-power generator and a level of charge stored in the energy storage device. The processor is further configured to selectively charge and discharge the energy storage device based on the level of charge of the energy storage device, and the level of electric power generated by the hydro-power generator. The electric power generated by the hydro-power generator is selectively used to charge the energy storage device, and the energy storage device is selectively discharged to supply a load.
US08188602B2 Semiconductor device having multilevel copper wiring layers and its manufacture method
To provide a semiconductor device having copper wiring layers and organic insulating resin layers with less separation and its manufacture method.A semiconductor device has: a semiconductor substrate formed with a number of semiconductor elements; a first interlayer insulating film formed above the semiconductor substrate and having a first wiring recess; a first copper wiring embedded in the first wiring recess; a second interlayer insulating film having a second wiring recess, the second interlayer insulating film including a copper diffusion preventing layer formed on the first copper wiring and the first interlayer insulating film, an oxide film formed on the copper diffusion preventing layer, and an organic insulating resin layer formed on the oxide film; and a second copper wiring embedded in the second wiring recess.
US08188593B2 Silicon substrate having through vias and package having the same
The present invention relates to a silicon substrate having through vias and a package having the same. The silicon substrate includes a substrate body, a plurality of through vias and at least one heat dissipating area. The substrate body has a surface, and the material of the substrate body is silicon. The through vias penetrate the substrate body, and each of the through vias has a conductive material therein. The heat dissipating area is disposed on the surface of the substrate body and covers at least two through vias. The heat dissipating area is made of metal, and the through vias inside the heat dissipating area have same electrical potential. Thus, the heat in the through vias is transmitted to the heat dissipating area, and since the area of the heat dissipating area is large, the silicon substrate has good heat dissipation efficiency.
US08188591B2 Integrated structures of high performance active devices and passive devices
Integrated structures having high performance CMOS active devices mounted on passive devices are provided. The structure includes an integrated passive device chip having a plurality of through wafer vias, mounted to a ground plane. The structure further includes at least one CMOS device mounted on the integrated passive device chip using flip chip technology and being grounded to the ground plane through the through wafer vias of the integrated passive device chip.
US08188588B2 Manufacturing method of substrate for a semiconductor package, manufacturing method of semiconductor package, substrate for a semiconductor package and semiconductor package
A manufacturing method of a substrate for a semiconductor package includes a resist layer forming step to form a resist layer on a surface of a conductive substrate; an exposure step to expose the resist layer using a glass mask with a mask pattern including a transmission area, a light shielding area, and an intermediate transmission area, wherein transmittance of the intermediate transmission area is lower than that of the transmission area and is higher than that of the light shielding area; a development step to form a resist pattern including a hollow with a side shape including a slope part decreasing in hollow circumference as the hollow circumference approaches the substrate; and a plating step to plate on an exposed area to form a metal layer with a side shape including a slope part decreasing in circumference as the circumference approaches the substrate.
US08188586B2 Mountable integrated circuit package system with mounting interconnects
A mountable integrated circuit package system includes: mounting a first integrated circuit device over a carrier; mounting a substrate over the first integrated circuit device, the substrate having a mounting interconnect; connecting a first electrical interconnect between the carrier and the substrate; and forming a package encapsulation covering the carrier, the first integrated circuit device, the first electrical interconnect, and the substrate with the mounting interconnect partially exposed from and surrounded by the package encapsulation within a cavity of the package encapsulation.
US08188582B2 Lead frame, semiconductor device using the lead frame, and methods of manufacturing the same
Provided are a lead frame, semiconductor device, and methods of manufacturing the same. The lead frame may include a die pad having at least three pair of sides parallel with each other, and a plurality of inner leads spaced apart from a circumference of the die pad, arranged in a radial shape with respect to a center of the die pad, and having the ends form inner lead connection surfaces parallel with at least one pair of sides of the die pad. In addition, there may be provided a semiconductor device having the lead frame. Accordingly, a semiconductor chip may be positioned on a die pad. The plurality of inner leads may be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip through wires. The semiconductor device may further include a molding resin for surrounding top and bottom surfaces of the lead frame and filling in an interior thereof.
US08188573B2 Nitride semiconductor structure
A nitride semiconductor substrate and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The nitride semiconductor substrate includes an epitaxy substrate, a nitride pillar layer, a nitride semiconductor layer, and a mask layer. The nitride pillar layer includes a plurality of first patterned arranged pillars and a plurality of second patterned arranged pillars. The nitride pillar layer is formed on the epitaxy substrate. A width of a cross-section of each of the second patterned arranged pillars is smaller than a width of a cross-section of each of the first patterned arranged pillars, and a distance among each of the second patterned arranged pillars is longer than a distance among each of the first patterned arranged pillars. Surfaces of the epitaxy substrate, the first patterned arranged pillars, and the second patterned arranged pillars are covered by the mask layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the nitride pillar layer.
US08188572B2 Integrated semiconductor device
In one embodiment, a plurality of ESD devices are used to form an integrated semiconductor filter circuit. Additional diodes are formed in parallel with the ESD structures in order to increase the input capacitance.
US08188564B2 Semiconductor device having a planarizing film formed in a region of a step portion
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thin film device unit including a TFT, and a peripheral device unit provided around the thin film device unit and including a semiconductor element, includes a first step of preparing a substrate, a second step of bonding the peripheral device unit directly to the substrate, and a third step of forming the thin film device unit on the substrate to which the peripheral device unit is bonded.
US08188557B2 Single die MEMS acoustic transducer and manufacturing method
The invention relates to an acoustic micro-electrical-mechanical-system (MEMS) transducer formed on a single die based on a semiconductor material and having front and back surface parts opposed to each other. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such an acoustic MEMS transducer. The acoustic MEMS transducer comprises a cavity formed in the die to thereby provide a back volume with an upper portion facing an opening of the cavity and a lower portion facing a bottom of the cavity. A back plate and a diaphragm are arranged substantially parallel with an air gap there between and extending at least partly across the opening of the cavity, with the back plate and diaphragm being integrally formed with the front surface part of the die. The bottom of the cavity is bounded by the die. The diaphragm may be arranged above the back plate and at least partly extending across the back plate. It is preferred that the backside openings are formed in the die with the openings extending from the back surface part of the die to the cavity bottom. Part of or all of the backside openings may be acoustically sealed by a sealing material.
US08188552B2 Transistor structure
A dynamic random access memory structure is disclosed, in which, the active area is a donut-type pillar at which a novel vertical transistor is disposed and has a gate filled in the central cavity of the pillar and upper and lower sources/drains located in the upper and the lower portions of the pillar respectively. A buried bit line is formed in the substrate beneath the transistor. A word line is horizontally disposed above the gate. A capacitor is disposed above the word line as well as the gate and electrically connected to the upper source/drain through a node contact. The node contact has a reverse-trench shape with the top surface electrically connected to the capacitor and with the bottom of the sidewalls electrically connected to the upper source/drain. The word line passes through the space confined by the reverse-trench shape.
US08188549B2 Semiconductor memory device having layout area reduced
A metal supplying an N well voltage is provided in a first metal interconnection layer. The metal is electrically coupled to an active layer provided in an N well region by shared contacts so that the N well voltage is supplied to the N well region. A metal supplying a P well voltage is provided in a third metal interconnection layer. The metal supplying the N well voltage is formed using a metal in the first metal interconnection layer and thus does not require a piling region to the underlayer, and only a piling region to the underlayer of the metal for the P well voltage needs to be secured. Therefore, the length in the Y direction of a power feed cell can be reduced thereby reducing the layout area of the power feed cell.
US08188548B2 Device and method for reducing a voltage dependent capacitive coupling
A device comprises a first means for separating a conductive layer from a semiconductor substrate and a second means for reducing a voltage dependent capacitive coupling between the conductive layer and the semiconductor substrate.
US08188547B2 Semiconductor device with complementary transistors that include hafnium-containing gate insulators and metal gate electrodes
A first adjusting metal, capable of varying the threshold voltage of a first-conductivity-type transistor of a complementary transistor, is added to the first-conductivity-type transistor and a second-conductivity-type transistor at the same time, and a diffusion suppressive element, capable of suppressing diffusion of the first adjusting metal, is added from above a metal gate electrode of the second-conductivity-type transistor.
US08188537B2 Semiconductor device and production method therefor
It is intended to provide a semiconductor device including a MOS transistor, comprising: a semiconductor pillar; one of a drain region and a source region formed in contact with a lower part of the semiconductor pillar; a first gate formed around a sidewall of the semiconductor pillar through a first dielectric film therebetween; and an epitaxial semiconductor layer formed on a top surface of the semiconductor pillar, wherein the other of the source region and the drain region is formed so as to be at least partially in the epitaxial semiconductor layer, and wherein: the other of the source region and the drain region has a top surface having an area greater than that of the top surface of the semiconductor pillar.
US08188535B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to suppress reading error even in the case where writing and erasing are repeatedly performed. Further, another object is to reduce writing voltage and erasing voltage while increase in the area of a memory transistor is suppressed. A floating gate and a control gate are provided with an insulating film interposed therebetween over a first semiconductor layer for writing operation and erasing operation and a second semiconductor layer for reading operation which are provided over a substrate; injection and release of electrons to and from the floating gate are performed using the first semiconductor layer; and reading is performed using the second semiconductor layer.
US08188534B2 Semiconductor memory device
The present invention aims at providing a semiconductor memory device that can be manufactured by a MOS process and can realize a stable operation. A storage transistor has impurity diffusion regions, a channel formation region, a charge accumulation node, a gate oxide film, and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is connected to a gate line and the impurity diffusion region is connected to a source line. The storage transistor creates a state where holes are accumulated in the charge accumulation node and a state where the holes are not accumulated in the charge accumulation node to thereby store data “1” and data “0”, respectively. An access transistor has impurity diffusion regions, a channel formation region, a gate oxide film, and a gate electrode. The impurity diffusion region is connected to a bit line.
US08188532B2 Semiconductor device having a gate contact structure capable of reducing interfacial resistance
A semiconductor device has a gate contact structure, including a semiconductor substrate, a polycrystalline silicon layer used as a gate electrode of a transistor, a middle conductive layer, a top metal layer having an opening exposing the polycrystalline silicon layer, and a contact plug directly contacting the polycrystalline silicon layer through the opening.
US08188531B2 Dual gate of semiconductor device capable of forming a layer doped in high concentration over a recessed portion of substrate for forming dual gate with recess channel structure and method for manufacturing the same
A dual gate of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate divided into a cell region with a recessed gate forming area and a peripheral region with PMOS and NMOS forming areas; first and second conductive type SiGe layers, the first conductive type SiGe layer being formed over the cell region and the PMOS forming area of the peripheral region, and the second conductive type SiGe layer being formed over the NMOS forming area of the peripheral region; first and second conductive type polysilicon layers, the first conductive type polysilicon layer being formed over the first conductive type SiGe layer and the second conductive type polysilicon layer being formed over the second conductive type SiGe layer; and a metallic layer and a hard mask layer stacked over the first and second conductive type polysilicon layers.
US08188525B2 Image sensor
An image sensor includes a substrate, transparent layers covering the substrate and delimiting an exposition surface exposed to light, separate photosensitive areas at the substrate level and, for each photosensitive area, a first optical means capable of deviating towards the photosensitive area light reaching a central region of a portion of the exposition surface. The sensor further includes, for each photosensitive area, a second optical means, separate from the first optical means, capable of deviating towards the photosensitive area light reaching a peripheral region of the portion of the exposition surface surrounding the central region.
US08188523B2 Insulated gate field effect transistor and method of manufacturing same, and image pickup device and method of manufacturing same
An insulated gate field effect transistor, a solid-state image pickup device using the same, and manufacturing methods thereof that suppress occurrence of a shutter step and suppress occurrence of punch-through and injection. An insulated gate field effect transistor having a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating film interposed between the semiconductor substrate and the gate electrode, and having a source region and a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode, the insulated gate field effect transistor including: a first diffusion layer of a P type formed in the semiconductor substrate at a position deeper than the source region and the drain region; and a second diffusion layer of the P type having a higher concentration than the first diffusion layer and formed in the semiconductor substrate at a position deeper than the first diffusion layer.
US08188522B2 Back-illuminated type solid-state imaging device
A back-illuminated type solid-state imaging device including (a) a semiconductor layer on a front surface side of a semiconductor substrate with an insulation film between them; (b) a photoelectric conversion element that constitutes a pixel in the semiconductor substrate; (c) at least part of transistors that constitute the pixel in the semiconductor film; and (d) a rear surface electrode to which a voltage is applied on the rear surface side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein, (1) a semiconductor layer of an opposite conduction type to a charge accumulation portion of the photoelectric conversion element is formed in the semiconductor substrate under the insulation film, and (2) the same voltage as the voltage applied to the rear surface electrode is applied to the semiconductor layer.
US08188520B2 Field effect transistor and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a field effect transistor includes: forming an insulating film provided on a semiconductor layer, the insulating film having an opening via which a surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed and including silicon oxide; forming a Schottky electrode on the insulating film and in the opening, the Schottky electrode having an overhang portion and having a first contact layer that is provided in a region contacting the insulating film and contains oxygen, and a second contact layer that is provided on the first contact layer and contains a smaller content of oxygen than that of the first contact layer; and removing the insulating film by a solution including hydrofluoric acid.
US08188518B2 Thin film transistor structure of pixel with drain extensions overlapping gate electrode and gate electrode extention
A thin film transistor structure of a pixel is provided. In the present invention, a first metal layer serves as a gate electrode, and the gate electrode includes an extending gate electrode portion. A second metal layer includes a drain electrode partially and respectively overlapping the gate electrode and the gate electrode portion with the amorphous silicon layer interposed therebetween so as to form a first parasitic capacitor and a second parasitic capacitor. The total capacitance of the first parasitic capacitor and the second parasitic capacitor is invariable to withstand deviation caused by vibration of the machine in the photolithographic process, so that undesired effects in the liquid crystal display panel such as mura and flicker can be reduced.
US08188515B2 Semiconductor device
An aspect of the present invention inheres in a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region, a source electrode and a drain electrode, which are provided on a main surface of the semiconductor region, a gate electrode exhibiting normally-off characteristics, the gate electrode being provided above the main surface of the semiconductor region while interposing a p-type material film therebetween, and being arranged between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a fourth electrode that is provided on the main surface of the semiconductor region, and is arranged between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US08188514B2 Transistor
An HEMT type transistor is disclosed that is a normally off type, and in which variations in the gate threshold voltage are small. A transistor is provided with a p-type region, a barrier region, an insulation film, a gate electrode. The channel region is connected to an upper surface of the p-type region. The channel region is n-type or i-type and provided with a first channel region and a second channel region. The barrier region is forming a hetero-junction with an upper surface of the first channel region. The insulation film is connected to an upper surface of the second channel region and an upper surface of the barrier region. The gate electrode faces the second channel region and the barrier region via the insulation film. The first channel region and the second channel region are arranged in series in a current pathway.
US08188513B2 Nanowire and larger GaN based HEMTS
Nanowire and larger, post-based HEMTs, arrays of such HEMTs, and methods for their manufacture are provided. In one embodiment, a HEMT can include a III-N based core-shell structure including a core member (e.g., GaN), a shell member (e.g., AlGaN) surrounding a length of the core member and a two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) at the interface therebetween. The core member including a nanowire and/or a post can be disposed over a doped buffer layer and a gate material can be disposed around a portion of the shell member. Exemplary methods for making the nanowire HEMTs and arrays of nanowire HEMTs can include epitaxially forming nanowire(s) and epitaxially forming a shell member from each formed nanowire. Exemplary methods for making the post HEMTs and arrays of post HEMTs can include etching a III-N layer to form III-N post(s) followed by formation of the shell member(s).
US08188512B2 Growth of germanium epitaxial thin film with negative photoconductance characteristics and photodiode using the same
A method of growing a germanium (Ge) epitaxial thin film having negative photoconductance characteristics and a photodiode using the same are provided. The method of growing the germanium (Ge) epitaxial thin film includes growing a germanium (Ge) thin film on a silicon substrate at a low temperature, raising the temperature to grow the germanium (Ge) thin film, and growing the germanium (Ge) thin film at a high temperature, wherein each stage of growth is performed using reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD). The three-stage growth method enables formation of a germanium (Ge) epitaxial thin film characterized by alleviated stress on a substrate, a lowered penetrating dislocation density, and reduced surface roughness.
US08188511B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing thereof
A semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device include a substrate and an n drift layer on the substrate with an insulator film placed between them. A trench is provided in a section between a p base region and an n buffer layer on the surface layer of the n drift layer. Moreover, the distance between the bottom of the trench and the insulator film on the substrate is 1 μm or more and 75% or less than the thickness of the n drift layer. This reduces the ON-state Voltage Drop and enhances the device breakdown voltage and the latch up current in a lateral IGBT or a lateral MOSFET.
US08188506B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device and corresponding method of manufacture, where the semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting structure, a second electrode layer, an insulating layer, and a protrusion. The light emitting structure comprises a second conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer, and a first conductive semiconductor layer under the active layer. The second electrode layer is formed on the light emitting structure. The insulating layer is formed along the circumference of the top surface of the light emitting structure. The protrusion protrudes from the undersurface of the insulating layer to the upper part of the first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08188504B2 Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same including a light-emitting device and a protection device electrically connected by a connecting line
Provided are a light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The light-emitting device includes a substrate, a light-emitting device, a protection device, and a connecting line. The light-emitting device is formed on one part of the substrate, and includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer. The protection device is formed on another part of the substrate, and includes a fourth semiconductor layer and a fifth semiconductor layer. The connecting line electrically connects the light-emitting device and the protection device.
US08188503B2 Cuttable illuminated panel
An illumination apparatus is provided having a panel including a plurality of circuit units on a dielectric surface. The circuit units include electrically conductive traces and at least one light emitting diode (LED). At least some of the circuit units have contacts for supplying power to the LED. The circuit units are preferably electrically interconnected so that power provided to one circuit unit also supplied power to at least a group of the circuit units. The apparatus with the circuit units may be cut or shaped to a predetermined or desired shape. Also provided are methods of manufacturing, assembling, and using the illumination apparatus.
US08188498B2 Light emitting device package
A light emitting device package is provided. The light emitting device package comprises a package body comprising a first cavity, and a second cavity connected to the first cavity; a first lead electrode, at least a portion of which is disposed within the second cavity; a second lead electrode, at least a portion of which is disposed within the first cavity; a light emitting device disposed within the second cavity; a first wire disposed within the second cavity, the first wire electrically connecting the light emitting device to the first lead electrode; and a second wire electrically connecting the light emitting device to the second lead electrode.
US08188496B2 Semiconductor light emitting device including substrate having protection layers and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a compound semiconductor light emitting device including: an Si—Al substrate; protection layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the Si—Al substrate; and a p-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type semiconductor layer which are sequentially stacked on the protection layer formed on the top surface of the Si—Al substrate, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US08188491B2 Light emitting device
Light-emitting elements have a problem that their light-extraction efficiency is low due to scattered light or reflected light inside the light-emitting elements. The light-extraction efficiency of the light-emitting elements needs to be enhanced by a new method. According to the present invention, a light-emitting element includes a first layer generating holes, a second layer including a light-emitting layer for each emission color and a third layer generating electrons between an anode and a cathode, and the thickness of the first layer is different depending on each layer including the light-emitting layer for each emission color. A layer in which an organic compound and a metal oxide are mixed is used as the first layer, and thus, the driving voltage is not increased even when the thickness is increased, which is preferable.
US08188490B2 Organic light emitting diode and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses an organic light emitting diode and a manufacturing method thereof. The OLED comprises a first electrode, a first hole-transporting layer disposed on the first electrode, a second hole-transporting layer disposed on the first hole-transporting layer, a first light-emitting layer disposed on the second hole-transporting layer, an electron-transporting layer disposed on the first light-emitting layer, an electron injection layer disposed on the electron-transporting layer and a second electrode disposed on the electron injection layer. The energy level of the first light-emitting layer in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is lower than that of the second hole-transporting layer, and the thickness of the first hole-transporting layer is larger than that of the second hole-transporting layer.
US08188489B2 Light emitting diode for AC operation
The present invention discloses a light emitting diode (LED) including a plurality of light emitting cells arranged on a substrate. The LED includes half-wave light emitting units each including at least one light emitting cell, each half-wave light emitting unit including first and second terminals respectively arranged at both ends thereof; and full-wave light emitting units each including at least one light emitting cell, each full-wave light emitting units including third and fourth terminals respectively formed at both ends thereof. The third terminal of each full-wave light emitting unit is electrically connected to the second terminals of two half-wave light emitting units, and the fourth terminal of each full-wave light emitting unit is electrically connected to the first terminals of other two half-wave light emitting units. Also, a first half-wave light emitting unit is connected in series between the third terminal of a first full-wave light emitting unit and the fourth terminal of a second full-wave light emitting units, and a second half-wave light emitting units is connected in series between the fourth terminal of the first full-wave light emitting unit and the third terminal of the second full-wave light emitting unit.
US08188488B2 Power surface mount light emitting die package
A light emitting die package is provided which includes a metal substrate having a first surface and a first conductive lead on the first surface. The first conductive lead is insulated from the substrate by an insulating film. The first conductive lead forms a mounting pad for mounting a light emitting device. The package includes a metal lead electrically connected to the first conductive lead and extending away from the first surface.
US08188486B2 Optical disk for lighting module
An optical disk for use in converting light emitted from a light-emitting diode chip to white light. The optical disk includes a tapered surface such that a center area of the disk has a width greater than a width of an outer area of the disk. The optical disk is formed of a silicone having at least one weight percent mix of phosphor. Various embodiments of this generally described optical disk are also presented.
US08188484B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer made of SiC; an impurity region formed by doping the semiconductor layer with an impurity; and a contact wire formed on the semiconductor layer in contact with the impurity region, while the contact wire has a polysilicon layer in the portion in contact with the impurity region, and has a metal layer on the polysilicon layer.
US08188483B2 Silicon carbide devices having smooth channels
Power devices are provided including a p-type conductivity well region and a buried p+ conductivity region in the p-type conductivity well region. An n+ conductivity region is provided on the buried p+ conductivity region. A channel region of the power device is provided adjacent the buried p+ conductivity region and n+ conductivity region, the channel region of the power device having a root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of less than about 1.0 Å.
US08188474B2 Flexible light-emitting device
It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 μm to 200 μm inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
US08188473B2 Organic light emitting display
A top emission organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFT) on the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes coupled to the plurality of TFTs, auxiliary electrodes having a mesh structure defining areas where the plurality of first electrodes are located, a pixel defining layer on a substantially entire area of the substrate and patterned to expose the first electrodes and the auxiliary electrodes, an organic light emission layer on the substantially entire area of the substrate including the exposed first electrodes and auxiliary electrodes, and second electrodes on the organic light emission layer. Steps are formed at lower parts of the auxiliary electrodes, and the second electrodes are coupled to the auxiliary electrodes through contact regions in which the auxiliary electrodes are exposed due to the steps.
US08188471B2 Field effect transistor
A field effect transistor is provided including a gate electrode (for example, 15), a source electrode (13), a drain electrode (14) and a channel layer (11) to control current flowing between the source electrode (13) and the drain electrode (14) by applying a voltage to the gate electrode (15). The channel layer (11) is constituted of an amorphous oxide containing In and Si and having a compositional ratio expressed by Si/(In+Si) of not less than 0.05 and not more than 0.40.
US08188469B2 Test device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device
A test device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first test region and a second test region defined thereon, wherein a layout of the first test region includes first active regions separated from each other by isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate, second active regions formed between the first active regions, first gate lines formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the first gate lines has a first end adjacent to one of the first active regions and a second end adjacent to an end of one of the second active regions, respectively, first shared contacts each formed over a respective one of the second ends of the first gate lines and an upper part of one of the first active regions, and first nodes formed on the first shared contacts to be electrically connected to the first shared contacts, respectively.
US08188461B2 Organic memory device
When an electrode is formed over an organic layer, a temperature is limited because the organic layer can be influenced depending on a temperature in forming the electrode. Therefore, there are problems that an expected electrode cannot be formed, and miniaturization of an element is inhibited. The present invention provides a structure of an organic memory element in which two electrodes are provided in the same layer as two terminals of the memory element, and a layer containing an organic compound is provided between the electrodes. By narrowing a distance between the two electrodes, writing can be performed at low voltage. In addition, a structure of the memory element is simplified, and the area of the memory element can be reduced.
US08188460B2 Bi-layer pseudo-spin field-effect transistor
A bi-layer pseudo-spin field-effect transistor (BiSFET) is disclosed. The BiSFET includes a first and second conduction layers separated by a tunnel dielectric. The BiSFET transistor also includes a first gate separated from the first conduction layer by an insulating dielectric layer, and a second gate separated from the second conduction layer by an insulating layer. These conduction layers may be composed of graphene. The voltages applied to the first and/or second gates can control the peak current and associated voltage value for current flow between top and bottom conduction channels, and interlayer current voltage characteristic exhibiting negative differential resistance. BiSFETs may be used to make a variety of logic gates. A clocked power supply scheme may be used to facilitate BiSFET-based logic.
US08188457B2 Light emitting device and layered light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a substrate, a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer formed in that order, and a reflective part formed above the substrate and separated from the active layer. At least a portion of the active layer constitutes a plurality of gain regions, which forms at least one gain region pair, a first gain region of which is provided in one direction and a second gain region is provided in another direction different from the one direction. At least a portion of an end surface of the first gain region and the second gain region overlap with each other. Light emitted from the end surface of the first gain region is reflected by the reflective part, and propagates in the same direction or in the focusing direction with light emitted from the end surface of the second gain region.
US08188452B2 Methods and apparel for attenuating electromagnetic fields emanating from a hunter
Attenuating, while hunting or observing wildlife, one's own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with non-conductive fabric. Or attenuating, while a hunter is hunting or an observer is observing wildlife, the electromagnetic field emanated by the hunter or observer, by (i) providing to the hunter or observer apparel that includes the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and (ii) instructing the hunter or observer to wear it while hunting or observing wildlife, respectively. The attenuation of the emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of detection by an animal. A wearable article of apparel comprises the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and can also comprise one or both of (i) a visual camouflage pattern on at least a portion of the its outer surface, or (ii) an odor absorber, suppressant, attenuator, or blocker.
US08188444B2 Analytic spectrometers with non-radioactive electron sources
In an analytical spectrometer in which accelerated electrons are used to ionize analytes, a non-radioactive electron source uses a gas discharge to generate the electrons. The gas discharge is located in a substantially hermetic source chamber and the free electrons in the plasma of the gas discharge are accelerated in an electric acceleration region towards a partition wall which separates the source chamber from a reaction chamber. The partition wall is permeable to the accelerated electrons but impermeable to gas in the source chamber so that the electrons penetrate the partition wall into the reaction chamber and generate primary ions that chemically ionize the analytes.
US08188440B2 Neutron dosimetry for radiotherapy
A system includes emission of a first treatment beam associated with a first energy toward a neutron dose detector, determination of a first number of soft errors experienced by a semiconductor-based device exposed to neutrons generated by the first treatment beam, determination of a first neutron dose based on the first treatment beam using the neutron dose detector, and association of the first energy of the first treatment beam with the first number of soft errors and the first neutron dose. Some aspects include emission of a second treatment beam associated with the first energy toward a target, determination of a second number of soft errors experienced by the semiconductor-based device exposed to neutrons generated by the second treatment beam, and determination of a second neutron dose at the target based on the association between the first energy, the first number of soft errors and the first neutron dose.
US08188437B2 Radiation detecting method utilizing energy information and positional information and equipment thereof
Upon detection of radiation by using a (three-dimensional) detector capable of distinguishing a detection position in a depth direction and energy, an energy window for distinguishing between a signal and noise is changed depending on the detection position in the depth direction, thus making it possible to obtain scattering components inside the detector. Alternatively, a weight is given to a detection event depending on the detection position in the depth direction and energy information to obtain scattering components inside the detector. Thereby, scattering components inside the detector can be obtained to increase the sensitivity of the detector. In this case, different detecting elements can be used depending on the detection position in the depth direction.
US08188434B2 Systems and methods for thermal spectral generation, projection and correlation
Systems and methods for generating, projecting or correlating thermal spectra use digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) to controllably modulate input radiation such as long wave infrared light. An optical system for creating an output spectrum based upon an input light suitably includes a grating configured receive the input light and to spread the input light by wavelength into an input spectrum. A digital micro-mirror device (DMD) is configured to receive the input spectrum and to controllably activate mirrors in the DMD corresponding to selected wavelengths of the input light. Portions of the input light having selected wavelengths can be extracted from remaining portions of the input light for the output spectrum. By selecting and activating only certain mirrors on the DMD, particular wavelengths of light in infrared or other spectra can be optically switched for any number of subsequent applications, including spectral projection, simulation of solar or other spectra, detection of chemical substances, or the like.
US08188429B2 Scanning electron microscope for determining quality of a semiconductor pattern
Disclosed herein is a scanning electron microscope capable of determining quality of a semiconductor pattern, deformation of contact-holes, and inclination of the sidewall of the contact-holes, respectively. To that end, the scanning electron microscope includes image pickup means for picking up images of a circuit pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer on a preset condition, calculation means for comparing each of the images picked up by the image pickup means with a prestored reference image to thereby calculate a feature of the images picked up, and a computer for executing evaluation on quality of the circuit pattern on the basis of the feature calculated by the calculation means, and calculation of the feature is executed independently with reference to a secondary electron image, and each of back-scattering electron images.
US08188428B2 Scanning electron microscope
A technique executes autofocus adjustment stably even when a plurality of patterns or foreign matter capable of being imaged only by a specific detector are included independently. Such an image as a concavo-convex image having a weak contrast can be picked up. The technique can automatically focus such an image even when it is difficult to find a focus position in the image. A scanning electron microscope includes a plurality of detectors for detecting secondary signals from a specimen when irradiated with an electron beam, and a calculation unit for combining the signals obtained from the detectors. At least two of the detectors are provided to be symmetric with respect to the electron beam. The focus of the electron beam is adjusted based on the signals of the detectors or on a signal corresponding to a combination of the signals.
US08188427B2 Scanning electron microscope alignment method and scanning electron microscope
A method and apparatus for alignment and astigmatism correction for a scanning electron microscope can prevent an alignment or correction error attributable to the conditions of a particular specimen. First, a difference is determined between optimal values acquired from an automatic axis alignment result on a standard sample, and those obtained from each of a plurality automatic axis alignment results on a observation target sample. An optimal value is then adjusted using the standard sample, by use of the difference thus obtained. Correspondingly, an optimal stigmator value (astigmatism correction signal) is acquired by using the standard sample, and storing the optimal stigmator value as a default value. The optimal stigmator value and the default value depending on the height of an observation target sample pattern are added, and an astigmatism correction is performed on the basis of the resultant stigmator value.
US08188425B2 Ion optics systems
In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs such that a trajectory of an ion exiting the ion optics system can be provided that intersects a surface substantially parallel to an image focal surface of the ion optics system at a position that is substantially independent of the kinetic energy the ion had on entering the ion optics system. In various embodiments, provided are ion optics systems comprising an even number of ion mirrors arranged in pairs where the first member and second member of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of a first plane such that the first member of the pair has a position that is substantially mirror-symmetric about the first plane relative to the position of the second member of the pair.
US08188424B2 Preparative ion mobility spectrometry
In an ion mobility spectrometer, ions are generated, mobility-separated and deposited on a receiver, preferably at spatially separated positions by soft landing or crash landing techniques. The ion mobility spectrometer can be a stand-alone instrument or part of a hybrid analysis instrument. To analyze the deposited ions, the receiver is removed from the vacuum system of the ion mobility spectrometer and introduced into an analytical instrument. Various physical, chemical, and biological analysis techniques and instrumentation can be used, such as mass spectrometry or surface analytical techniques, by selecting a special receiver suitable for the desired analytical technique.
US08188419B2 Eccentric field imaging lens with titlted and decentered surfaces
An optical navigation device determines relative movement between the optical navigation device and a navigation surface. The optical navigation device includes a light source, an image sensor, and an eccentric field imaging lens. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The image sensor generates a navigation image of light scattered off of the navigation surface. The eccentric field imaging lens is disposed between the navigation surface and the image sensor. The eccentric field imaging lens includes multiple lens surfaces which are tilted at different oblique angles relative to the navigation surface to direct the light scattered off of the navigation surface toward the image sensor.
US08188410B2 Portable party table
A portable party table [1000] for holding hot and cold foods is described. It employs at least two sections [1100, 1500] held together with a hinge [1600] for holding foods. The party table [1000] has folding legs [1111, 1511] and leg supports [1113, 1513] to support the legs. Each section [1100, 1500] has a tapered base [1101, 1501] with a drain hole [1107, 1507] and a drain plug [1109, 1509]. As ice melts it is directed toward the drain holes [1107, 1507]. Electric receptacle [1525] provide electricity for a heating plate. Alternatively, the hinge [1600] is a type which provides spacing between the sections [1100, 1500] to thermally insulate the hot from the cold section. The hinge [1600] may be allowed to slide to provide an insulation gap [1607], or eliminate the gap [1607].
US08188403B2 Nozzle for a laser machining device
A laser machining nozzle having at least one supply chamber for the laser beam and for a processing gas has a cavity arranged in the region of the orifice of the gas supply chamber, which cavity is open in the direction towards the workpiece to be machined, this opening having a wedge-shaped edge.
US08188402B2 Laser treatment apparatus, laser treatment method, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
The invention relates to a laser treatment apparatus including a laser oscillator, an interlock provided in the laser oscillator, a movable table which moves with a certain movement period, a timer, an interlock provided in the timer, a sensor which can detect movement of the movable table, and a computer, in which the timer starts measuring time when the sensor senses passage of the movable table, and when the movable table does not pass the sensor even after the movement period, conduction between contacts of the interlock provided in the timer is blocked to operate the interlock in the laser oscillator, thereby stopping laser output. The invention also relates to a laser treatment method using the laser treatment apparatus.
US08188401B2 Wire electric discharge machining apparatus
A wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes guide rollers and a single electrode wire that is wrapped around each of the guide rollers to form cut wire portions that are spaced from one another between pairs of the guide rollers. A processing power supply feeds electric power to the individual cut wire portions through a power feed element. A high frequency insulator includes wound coils of the electrode wire that are located between adjacent cut wire portions, and cores which close respective magnetic circuits of the individual coils. The magnetic circuits are magnetically insulated from one another. The power feed element is arranged between the individual cut wire portions and the individual coils, and the individual cut wire portions are insulated from one another at high frequencies by the individual coils. Voltages are impressed on the individual cut wire portions independently, so discharges can be generated simultaneously, in parallel.
US08188396B2 SCADA ready field test switch
A monitored SCADA Ready Field Test (FT) Switch is disclosed. The monitored switch relates to the incorporation of a monitoring switch for each switch unit in a FT switch to monitor the position of the corresponding switch unit and the FT switch, generally.
US08188394B2 Universal termination system for power tools
A universal termination system is provided for power tools. The universal termination system includes criteria for each of the main switch platforms that define the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations. That is, the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations in each main switch platform are standardized and the power tools that use that type main switch platform use the main switch platform having the standardized terminations. That is, power tools that use push button switches use the push button switch with the standardized terminations, power tools that use overhang switches use the overhang switch with the standardized terminations, and power tools that use in-line VSR switches use the in-line VSR switch with the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, a right-angle pin terminal is received in one or more sets of the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, the switch body has features that cooperate with the right-angle pin terminals to reduce the risk of shorting adjacent terminals. In an aspect of the invention, a switch has standardized connections on a bottom of a switch body that mate with terminals of a plug-in control module. In an aspect of the invention, a switch for a hand-held power tool has cord set terminations that are screw-tab terminals.
US08188393B2 Universal termination system for power tools
A universal termination system is provided for power tools. The universal termination system includes criteria for each of the main switch platforms that define the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations. That is, the number, type, location and orientation of the terminations in each main switch platform are standardized and the power tools that use that type main switch platform use the main switch platform having the standardized terminations. That is, power tools that use push button switches use the push button switch with the standardized terminations, power tools that use overhang switches use the overhang switch with the standardized terminations, and power tools that use in-line VSR switches use the in-line VSR switch with the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, a right-angle pin terminal is received in one or more sets of the standardized terminations. In an aspect of the invention, the switch body has features that cooperate with the right-angle pin terminals to reduce the risk of shorting adjacent terminals. In an aspect of the invention, a switch has standardized connections on a bottom of a switch body that mate with terminals of a plug-in control module. In an aspect of the invention, a switch for a hand-held power tool has cord set terminations that are screw-tab terminals.
US08188390B1 Electromechanical toy with momentary actuator dual purpose cam mechanism preserving battery life
A low cost cam mechanism facilitating an automatic shut off mechanism preserving battery life in a toy. A rotatable cam including a recess captures an internal actuator and completely shuts down a motor at a defined cam rotation to preserve the battery life in the toy. A resetting biasing lever coupled, to a manually operable actuator advances the cam and is then moved from engagement so as to completely shut down the motor at the defined cam rotation even if the manually operable actuator continues to be depressed. Further Thusly the internal actuator 18 facilitates limited activations of the motor for automatically shutting off a rotating cam mechanism to prevent repetitive continued operation. Further the internal actuator may provide powering up the motor and rotating the cam for “try me” operation for limited demonstrative operations of the toy while packaged or configured in a point of sale environment.
US08188389B2 Slide switch
A slide switch including: an operating member which moves circular arcuately in a predetermined movement stroke relative to a main surface of a printed wiring board for outputting a plurality of electrical signals and selects between the electric signals; a converting mechanism for converting a circular arcuate movement of the operating member into a rectilinear movement relative to the main surface of the printed wiring board; and a moving member rectilinearly moved relative to the main surface of the printed wiring board by the converting mechanism and determining, in cooperation with the printed wiring board, an electrified state corresponding to an electric signal selected by the operating member.
US08188386B2 Rotary push-button capacitance switch knob
An operating device for an electrical appliance has a control panel and an operating element for rotary actuation arranged thereon and a controller, wherein said operating element is mounted in a receptacle arranged behind said control panel and comprises on a front a touch-sensitive switch with a sensor element being connected electrically conductively to said controller. Said operating device comprises a retraction device for retracting said operating element into its recessed position in said receptacle by pressing. Said retraction device is configured in such a way that said knob can only be retracted into its recessed position in a single retraction rotational position, said touch-sensitive switch being deactivated by said controller in said retraction rotational position.
US08188381B2 Mid-board module retention and EMI cage
A module retention and electromagnetic interference (EMI) cage has a substantially flat, rectangular metal frame with retaining clip portions and EMI-shielding contact fingers. The frame has surface-mount legs to facilitate surface mounting the cage to the circuit board. An array connector is mounted on the circuit board within a central region of the cage. An electronic module can be inserted or plugged into the cage in conjunction with connecting the module to the array connector. As the module is inserted into the cage, the module resiliently deflects the EMI-shielding contact fingers. At approximately the same time as the connector of the electronic module mates with the array connector, the retaining clip portion mates with a portion of the housing to retain the module in this position.
US08188376B2 Insulation substrate, power module substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and power module using the same
A process for providing a power module substrate. A brazing sheet is temporarily fixed on a surface of a ceramic substrate by surface tension of a volatile organic medium, and a conductive pattern member punched from a base material is temporarily fixed on a surface of the brazing sheet by surface tension. These are heated so as to volatilize the volatile organic medium, and a pressure is applied to the conductive pattern member in its thickness direction. The brazing sheet is then melted to join the conductive pattern member with the surface of the ceramics substrate.
US08188374B2 Circuit obfuscation
An obfuscated radio frequency circuit may include a metallization layer, and a dielectric layer under the metallization layer. The dielectric layer may be made up of a plurality of dielectric substrates having differing dielectric constants to obfuscate functions of the circuit.
US08188373B2 Insulating layer for rigid printed circuit boards
One or more embodiments contained herein disclose rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs) and methods for manufacturing the same comprising strain resistant layers configured to, among others, minimize defects from occurring in cap layers of the PCBs.
US08188369B2 Flexible flat cable assembly with improved grounding structure
A cable connector assembly includes a housing, a flexible substrate, at least one matching stratum attached on the flexible substrate for regulating the impedance of flexible substrate and a shell. The housing includes a receiving space. The flexible substrate is received in the receiving space of the housing and includes a plurality of golden fingers exposed out the housing. The shell covers the flexible substrate without the golden fingers, the matching stratum and the housing and includes a connecting element electrically connected to the matching stratum.
US08188365B2 Electrode paste for solar cell, solar cell using the paste, and fabrication method of the solar cell
An electrode paste for a solar cell, a solar cell electrode using the paste, a solar cell having such an electrode, and a fabrication method of the solar cell are described. The paste for a solar cell electrode comprises a first component that includes silver (Ag) or a metal alloy containing the silver (Ag); a second component that includes zinc (Zn), and at least one selected from a group consisting of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), bismuth (Bi), phosphorous (P), boron (B), barium (Ba), and palladium (Pd); a leaded or lead-free glass frit; and a resin binder that is dispersed in an organic medium.
US08188353B2 Guitar sound hole guard and methodology of application
A guitar sound hole guard comprising of a body of a suitable durable material to resist pick impacts and having a lip and at least one flange; the lip further having two side edges; each flange connects to a respective side edge to be oriented perpendicular to the lip and descending away from the lip, an open channel being formed by the lip and flange; an attachment means to hold the guard in place upon a soundboard of a guitar, wherein the body receives within its open channel at least a portion of a lower sound hole edge of the sound board allowing the lip to rest upon and conform concentrically to at least the portion of the lower sound hole edge.
US08188352B2 Sliding mechanism for chorded zither
An improved chorded zither is disclosed herein which may be characterized in that it comprises a novel adjustably positionable chord bar assembly (which assembly enables the playing of every key in the normal chromatic scale of 12 keys). In a preferred embodiment, the inventive chord bar assembly comprises a slidable chord bar rack operably connected to a plurality of chord bars, with the chord bar rack being interposed between the top surface of a body and a plurality of strings (associated with a stringed musical instrument). The plurality of chord bars is positioned above chord bar rack and perpendicular relative to the plurality of tensioned strings. The chord bar assembly is configured to be adjustably positionable between at least a set up key position, a sharpened key position, and a flatted key position.
US08188348B1 Maize variety inbred PH12RJ
A novel maize variety designated PH12RJ and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12RJ with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12RJ through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12RJ or a locus conversion of PH12RJ with another maize variety.
US08188346B2 Cotton variety ST 4498B2RF
The cotton variety ST 4498B2RF is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety ST 4498B2RF with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of ST 4498B2RF and to plants of ST 4498B2RF reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from ST 4498B2RF.
US08188339B2 Sugar and lipid metabolism regulators in plants IV
Isolated nucleic acids and proteins associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, and Physcomitrella patens are provided. The nucleic acids and proteins are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches, or seed storage proteins.
US08188338B2 Delta-8 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-8 desaturases in plants.
US08188336B2 Rice and products thereof having starch with an increased proportion of amylose
Rice having reduced levels of starch branching enzymes produce grain having a high relative amylose content in the endosperm. The rice grain of this invention can be of a non-shrunken phenotype despite a lesion in the amylopectin synthesis pathway and may be transgenic or nontransgenic.
US08188335B2 Δ9-elongase for production of polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched oils
The present disclosure relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding a delta 9-elongase, delta 9-elongases encoded by the isolated polynucleotides, expression vectors comprising the isolated polynucleotides, host cells comprising the expression vectors, and methods for producing delta 9-elongase and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
US08188334B2 Injecting drosophila embryos
The present invention provides systems that allow reliable multiplexed transformation of Drosophila embryos. The present invention provides methods and reagents that allow preparation of injection-quality nucleic acid samples and that allow simultaneous preparation of multiple such samples. The present invention provides systems for simultaneous processing of multiple injected embryos. The present invention provides methods for transformation of Drosophila embryos involving use of virginator strains that can be used to increase the efficiency of setting up the crosses needed to produce the eggs for the injections and for the crosses needed to screen for transformants.
US08188333B2 Plastic sheet looking like cloth and surface material of absorbing goods utilizing the sheet, and manufacturing method thereof
A plastic sheet having cloth-like appearance and thermoplasticity and provided with melt patterns in the sheet face, the melt patterns formed in a predetermined arrangement under an elongating condition of the plastic sheet so as to form convex-concave wrinkles in regions between neighboring melt patterns in the plastic sheet under an un-elongating condition.
US08188332B2 Disposable cover for use in an incubator for premature infants
The invention refers to a disposable cover for use in an incubator for premature infants comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer and a preferably moisture-impervious back sheet, wherein the total weight of the cover before use is communicated to the caregiver by indication on said cover, a label accompanying said cover or on the package for said cover. The cover may further be provided with a wetness indicator.
US08188330B2 Dressing and an epidermal positioning mechanism and method for using same
A dressing mechanism comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section and the third section each may each include one side having an adhesive layer. An overlaying, non-adhesive barrier layer may be located between a portion of the adhesive layer and a first or third section. At least one of the first or third sections may further include a plurality of hook or loop members which are arranged to be fastened to corresponding hook or loop members of a hook and loop fastener.
US08188325B2 Systems and methods for recycling plastic
Systems and methods for recycling waste plastic can convert the waste plastic into a form of purified crude oil that includes one or more organic molecular species and that is free, or substantially free, of impurities such as acids and metals. In some systems and methods, the plastic is heated under vacuum conditions to effect depolymerization of the plastic, which yields a vapor, and the vapor is then directly contacted with a pH adjusted solution in a vapor treatment system. In some systems and methods, a continuous batch process is employed.
US08188322B2 Methanol production process
A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor to produce a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; subjecting the synthesis gas to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream; separating the tail gas stream into at least two streams comprising a purge stream and a recycle stream, the recycle stream comprising a substantial portion of the tail gas stream; and, recycling the recycle stream to the partial oxidation reactor.
US08188321B2 Process for producing hydrogenolysis products of polyhydric alcohols
The present invention relates to a process for producing hydrogenolysis products of polyhydric alcohols with a good selectivity and a high yield, as well as hydrogenolysis catalysts used in the production process. The present invention provides (1) a process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol which includes the step of reacting the polyhydric alcohol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing a copper component, wherein the catalyst is a catalyst (A) containing the copper component, an iron component and an aluminum component, or a catalyst (B) containing the copper component and a silicon component; and (2) a hydrogenolysis catalyst for polyhydric alcohols which includes a copper component, an iron component and an aluminum component, and (3) a hydrogenolysis catalyst for polyhydric alcohols which includes a copper component and a silicon component.
US08188319B2 Process for preparing 2,2-difluoroethylamine
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2,2-difluoroethylamine proceeding from 2,2-difluoro-1-haloethane using ammonia in a solvent which has a maximum water content of 15% by volume and in the presence of a catalyst which accelerates the reaction with ammonia.
US08188318B2 Method of manufacturing ethyleneamines
The present invention provides methods of manufacturing ethyleneamines that makes use of an ethyleneamine-generating process that is coupled to a transamination process. The combination of an ethyleneamine-generating process with a transamination process improves the mix flexibility that can be obtained from the single process allowing the production of ethyleneamine compositions having an improved and more desirable product mix.
US08188317B2 Integrated process for the preparation of polybenzimidazole precursors
An integrated process is provided for preparing complexes of 2,3,5,6-tetraminotoluene with an aromatic diacid starting with nitration of 2,6-dihalotoluene. The process design eliminates costly intermediate drying and recrystallization steps. Handling of solid materials with possible skin sensitizing properties and toxicity is avoided, thereby eliminating human and environmental exposure.
US08188315B2 Organic light emitting device and flat panel display device comprising the same
Provided are an organic light emitting device including: a substrate; a first electrode; a second electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and including an emission layer, wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a reflective electrode and the other is a semitransparent or transparent electrode, and wherein the organic layer includes a layer having at least one of the compounds having at least one carbazole group, and a flat panel display device including the organic light emitting device. The organic light emitting device has low driving voltage, excellent current density, high brightness, excellent color purity, high efficiency, and long lifetime.
US08188310B2 Process for the long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of an organic starting compound
A process for the long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of an organic starting compound, in which the reaction gas input mixture is partially oxidized over a fixed catalyst bed which is accommodated in two successive temperature zones A, B whose temperature is changed with increasing operating time such that the initially lower temperature increases and the difference between the two temperatures decreases.
US08188307B2 Method for producing an optically active tetrahydroquinoline
Disclosed is an industrially advantageous production method of optically active β-amino acid of formula (5a), which includes subjecting an enaminoester of formula (4a) to an asymmetric hydrogenation: wherein * shows an asymmetric carbon atom.
US08188306B2 Heat shock protein 90 inhibitors
Novel compounds useful for inhibiting the 90kDa heat shock proteins containing a quinone-like moiety and a di-hydroxy phenol like moiety, similar to geldanamycin and radicicol.
US08188301B2 Disubstituted phenylpyrrolidines as modulators of cortical catecholaminergic neurotransmission
The present invention relates to the use of compounds which increase extracellular levels of catecholamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, in cerebral cortical areas of the mammalian brain, and more specifically to the use of 3-disubstituted phenyl-1-pyrrolidinols for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.
US08188296B2 Gentisic acid for stabilising 123-I radiopharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to stabilized 123I-labelled radiopharmaceutical compositions having a stabilizer which comprises gentisic acid or a salt thereof with a biocompatible cation. Methods of preparation of the stabilized radioiodine compositions as well as the use of gentisic acid to stabilize 123I-labelled radiopharmaceutical at a specified radioactive concentration range are also described.
US08188294B2 Process for preparing biphenyl imidazole compounds
The invention provides processes for preparing intermediates useful for preparing compounds of the formula: or a salt thereof, where R1-3 are as defined in the specification.
US08188293B2 Elastic materials
The present invention relates to materials exhibiting the property of rubbery elasticity, consisting of molecules with a mass of between 9 and 9000 g/mol, all or some of the molecules having at least three groups (also referred to as “associative groups”) capable of associating via non-covalent interactions.Although consisting of small non-polymerized molecules that are not chemically crosslinked, this material exhibits properties of rubbery elasticity. According to an embodiment of the invention, this material exhibits rubbery elasticity at ambient temperature. Above a certain temperature, the material flows like a simple liquid. The material is thermoreversible, i.e. after cooling, the material again exhibits the property of rubbery elasticity. This material is self-repairing and potentially recyclable, which is never the case with a chemically crosslinked elastomer.According to an embodiment of the invention, the molecules constituting the material of the invention bear associative groups of formula (1) below: in which A denotes oxygen, sulphur or NH; the carbon atoms of formula (1) can be substituted. Preferably, A denotes oxygen. Advantageously, the material comprises (i) molecules having at least 3 associative groups, and (ii) molecules having a single associative group. Advantageously, the molecules are obtained from fatty acid derivatives.
US08188285B2 Purification process of Montelukast and its amine salts
It comprises a process for the purification of Montelukast, or its salts or its solvates, including any stereoisomer or mixture thereof, which comprises converting Montelukast acid or a solvate thereof, including any stereoisomer or mixtures thereof, into an amine salt selected from the group consisting of tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, L-(+)-treo-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, and L-(+)-α-phenylglycinol salt, in the presence of an appropriate solvent. It also comprises novel salts of Montelukast, in particular, tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, L-(+)-treo-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, and L-(+)-α-phenylglycinol salts.
US08188282B2 Regioselective palladium catalyzed synthesis of benzimidazoles and azabenzimidazoles
The present invention relates to a process for the regioselective synthesis of compounds of the formula I, wherein R0; R1; R2; R3; R4; R5; A1; A2; A3; A4, Q and J have the meanings indicated in the claims. The present invention provides a direct palladium catalyzed, regioselective process to a wide variety of unsymmetrical, multifunctional N-substituted benzimidazoles or azabenzimidazoles of formula I starting from 2-halo-nitroarenes and N-substituted amides useful for the production of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents, liquid crystals, polymers, herbicides, fungicidals, nematicidals, parasiticides, insecticides, acaricides and arthropodicides.
US08188281B2 Azaindoles useful as inhibitors of JAK and other protein kinases
The present invention relates to inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US08188280B2 3-substituted sulfonyl piperidine derivative
[Problem] There is provided a compound useful as a preventive or remedy for cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, metabolic disease, reproductive disease, and digestive disease.[Means for Resolution] A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the following Formula (I) wherein Z represents wherein n1, n2, and n3 are 0, 1, or 2, respectively; R1 represents C1-6 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, or the like; R2 represents aryl or heteroaryl; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like; and M1, M2, M3, and M4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like, or M1, together with M2, M3, or M4, forms —CH2— or the like.
US08188277B2 Aromatic compounds for suppressing the generation of collagen
The present invention provides a novel compound, which has an excellent effect of suppressing the generation of collagen and less side effects, with being excellent in terms of safety. The compound of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (1): [wherein X1 represents a nitrogen atom or a group —CH═; R1 represents a group —Z—R6, wherein Z represents a group —CO—, a group —CH(OH)—, or the like, and R6 represents a 5- to 15-membered monocyclic, dicyclic, or tricyclic, saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic group having 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, or sulfur atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkylene group; Y represents a group —O—, a group —CO—, a group —CH(OH)—, a lower alkylene group, or the like; and A represents a group or the like, wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkoxy group, or the like, p represents 1 or 2, and R4 represents an imidazolyl lower alkyl group or the like.
US08188276B2 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds and their uses
The present invention provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds that inhibit the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades that lead to the release of chemical mediators, intermediates and methods of synthesizing the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by, caused by or associated with the release of chemical mediators via degranulation and other processes effected by activation of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades.
US08188275B2 Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors
Compounds, pharmaceuticals, kits and methods are provided for use with DPP-IV and other S9 proteases that comprise a compound comprising: wherein M is N or CR4; Q1 and Q2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO, SO2, and C═NR9; and each L, X, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US08188274B2 Process for preparing aminocrotonylamino-substituted quinazoline derivatives
The invention relates to an improved process for preparing aminocrotonylamino-substituted quinazoline derivatives of general formula (I) wherein the groups Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd have the meanings given in the claims, as well as sulphonyl derivatives of formula and the use thereof as synthesis components for preparing quinazolines of formula (I). The quinazoline derivatives of formula (I) are inhibitors of signal transduction mediated by tyrosinekinases and by the Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor (EGF-R) and are therefore particularly suitable for the treatment of tumoral diseases.
US08188273B2 Insecticidal (1,3,5)-triazinyl phenyl hydrazones
(1,3,5)-Triazinyl phenyl hydrazones are effective at controlling insects.
US08188272B2 Fused heterocyclic compounds useful as kinase modulators
Compounds having the formula (I), and enantiomers, and diastereomers, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, thereof, [PLEASE INSERT CHEMICAL STRUCTURE HERE] (I) are useful as kinase modulators, including Btk modulation, wherein R1, R2, R4, Q, Y, A and D are as defined herein.
US08188271B2 Polycyclic carbamoylpyridone derivative having HIV integrase inhibitory activity
Is to provide a novel compound having an anti-viral activity, particularly a HIV integrase inhibitory activity, and a pharmaceutical composition, particularly an anti-HIV agent. (wherein R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; X is lower alkylene etc.; R2 is optionally substituted aryl; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted lower alkyl etc.; R4 is hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aryl lower alkyl, optionally substituted heterocyclic group, optionally substituted heterocyclic lower alkyl etc.; A broken line indicates the presence or absence of a bond; B1 and B2 are such that any one of them is CR20R21, and the other is NR22 and, in this case, there is no broken line. When B2 is NR22, R4 and R22 may be connected together to form an optionally substituted heterocycle;When B2 is CHR21, R4 and R21 may be connected together to form an optionally substituted heterocycle.Alternatively, B1 and B2 are independently C, CR23 or N and, in this case, B1 and B2 may be taken together to form a heterocycle.R20, R21, R22 and R23 are independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl lower alkyl etc.)
US08188268B2 Porous crystalline saccharide, its preparation and uses
An object of the present invention is to provide a crystalline saccharide having novel physical properties, a preparation and uses thereof. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a porous crystalline saccharide having a number of pores, a process for producing the same, comprising the step of keeping hydrous crystalline saccharide at an ambient temperature or higher in an organic solvent for the dehydration, and the use thereof.
US08188266B2 Cellulose- or lignocellulose-containing composite materials based on a silane-based composite as a binder
The present invention relates to a composite material based on (a) a cellulose- or lignocellulose-containing material and (b) a composite as a binder, the composite resulting from the reaction of at least the components (i) a glycidyloxypropylalkoxysilane, (ii) an aqueous silica sol having a solids content of >20% by weight, (iii) an organic acid as a hydrolysis catalyst and (iv) n-propyl zirconate, butyl titanate or titanium acetylacetonate as a crosslinking agent. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of said composite materials and the use of a composite (b) as a binder for the production of wood-based materials.
US08188263B2 Modified siRNA molecules and uses thereof
The present invention provides chemically modified siRNA molecules and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence target gene expression. Advantageously, the modified siRNA of the present invention is less immunostimulatory than its corresponding unmodified siRNA sequence and retains RNAi activity against the target sequence. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising a modified siRNA, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. The present invention further provides methods of silencing gene expression by administering a modified siRNA to a mammalian subject. Methods for identifying and/or modifying an siRNA having immunostimulatory properties are also provided.
US08188259B2 Oligonucleotide-containing pharmacological compositions and their use
The present invention relates to methods and compositions containing oligonucleotides suitable for administration to humans and other mammals.
US08188258B2 Oligonucleotides for amplifying Chlamydophila pneumoniae nucleic acid
Oligonucleotides for use in determining the presence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in a test sample. The oligonucleotides are incorporated into detection probes, capture probes, and amplification oligonucleotides, and can be used in various combinations thereof.
US08188255B2 Human microRNAs associated with cancer
The invention provides new sequences for human microRNAs associated with cancer which may be used as molecular markers for cancer diagnostics or as therapeutic targets or agents.
US08188252B2 Rad51 derived cancer cell specific promoters for targeted anti-cancer therapy
Provided are compositions and methods for inhibiting growth of cancer cells. The method of the invention relates to delivering to cells an effective amount of a composition that contains a polynucleotide having a Rad51 promoter or a polynucleotide having at least 95% similarity to a Rad51 promoter. The Rad51 promoter is operably linked to a coding region for a cytotoxic agent. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrating effectiveness of the polynucleotides of the invention are presented.
US08188248B2 Nucleic acids encoding interleukin-12P40 variants with improved stability
Modified interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 polypeptides are disclosed. The modified polypeptides have alterations in the IL-12p40 subunit to eliminate the protease site between positions Lys260 and Arg261. The modified IL-12p40 polypeptides according to the invention have improved stability compared to wild-type mature human IL-12p40 polypeptides.
US08188243B2 Methods and compositions for the detection of biological molecules using a two particle complex
The invention provides methods of detecting analytes of interest in a sample using electrogenerated chemiluminescence. The invention also provides compositions comprising at least one solid support that entraps or contains an electrogenerated chemiluminescent moiety.
US08188237B2 Binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion proteins
The invention relates to novel binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion proteins that feature a binding domain for a cognate structure such as an antigen, a counterreceptor or the like, a hinge region polypeptide having either zero or one cysteine residue, and immunoglobulin CH2 and CH3 domains, and that are capable of ADCC and/or CDC while occurring predominantly as monomeric polypeptides. The fusion proteins can be recombinantly produced at high expression levels. Also provided are related compositions and methods, including immunotherapeutic applications.
US08188236B2 Eta-1 gene and methods for use
The present application relates to osteopontin (Eta-1) polypeptides, nucleic acids that encode Eta-1, antibodies that specifically bind to Eta-1, and methods for enhancing an immune response in an animal.
US08188230B2 Method for recombinant microorganism expression and isolation of collagen-like polypeptides
A composition comprising a purified collagen-like polypeptide suitable as a peptizer, said polypeptide comprising [Gly-X-Y]n repeats, wherein Gly stands for glycine, X and Y represent any amino acid and n is an integer and selected such that the length of the [Gly-X-Y]n repeat is at least 2.5 kDa and wherein the amino acid sequence of said [Gly-X-Y]n repeats comprises more than 4 different amino acids and wherein said purified polypeptide is free of helix structure.
US08188229B2 High density fibrous polymers suitable for implant
This invention includes malleable, biodegradable, fibrous compositions for application to a tissue site in order to promote or facilitate new tissue growth. One aspect of this invention is a fibrous component that provides unique mechanical and physical properties. The invention may be created by providing a vessel containing a slurry, said slurry comprising a plurality of natural or synthetic polymer fibers and at least one suspension fluid, wherein the polymer fibers are substantially evenly dispersed and randomly oriented throughout the volume of the suspension fluid; applying a force, e.g., centrifugal, to said vessel containing said slurry, whereupon said force serves to cause said polymer fibers to migrate through the suspension fluid and amass at a furthest extent of the vessel, forming a polymer material, with said polymer material comprising polymer fibers of sufficient length and sufficiently viscous, interlaced, or interlocked to retard dissociation of said polymer fibers.
US08188228B2 Nucleic acid and corresponding protein entitled 193P1E1B useful in treatment and detection of cancer
A novel gene 0193P1E1B (also designated 193P1E1B) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 193P1E1B exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 193P1E1B provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 193P1E1B gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 193P1E1B can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08188224B2 Variant forms of urate oxidase and use thereof
Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.
US08188223B2 Serum albumin binding proteins
The present invention relates to amino acid sequences that are capable of binding to serum albumin, which sequences do not significantly reduce or inhibit the binding of serum albumin to FcRn or significantly reduce the half-life of serum albumin. It further relates to proteins and polypeptides comprising or essentially consisting of such amino acid sequences; to nucleic acids that encode such amino acid sequences, proteins or polypeptides; to compositions, and in particular pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such amino acid sequences, proteins and polypeptides; and to uses of such amino acid sequences, proteins and polypeptides.
US08188222B2 High molecular weight derivative of nucleic acid antimetabolite
[Problems] A derivative of a nucleic acid antimetabolite is demanded which can show a higher therapeutic effect at a lower dose.[Means for Solving Problems] Disclosed is a high molecular weight derivative a nucleic acid antimetabolite, which is characterized by comprising a high molecular weight compound comprising a polyethylene glycol moiety and a polymer moiety having a carboxyl group in a side chain and a nucleoside derivative which can act as a nucleic acid antimetabolite, wherein the nucleoside derivative is bound to the carboxyl group in the side chain of the high molecular weight compound via a highly hydrophobic linker.
US08188221B2 Peptide homing to brain tumors
The present invention relates to a peptide, which specifically homes to the intracranial, early stage astrocytoma model that grows as islets and harbors co-opted tumor vessels in the brain. The peptide finds its use in targeted delivery of therapeutic substances to invasive brain cancer or metastatic brain lesions as such and in combination with conventional therapies, such as surgery and radiation, and anti-angiogenic therapies, and as a tool in diagnosis of, e.g., invasive brain cancer or metastatic brain lesions.
US08188218B2 Bi-functional peptides for multiple sclerosis treatment and diagnosis
Novel bifunctional peptides useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of EAE or MS. The peptides have a first peptide portion derived from an epitope of myelin proteolipid protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, or oligodendrocyte-specific peptide and a second peptide portion derived from CD11a (LFA-1 alpha subunit), CD18 (LFA-1 beta subunit), CD154 (CD40L), Fas-Ligand, or CTLA4. The carboxy and/or amino termini of the bifunctional peptides may be modified.
US08188211B2 Oxymethylene polymers, process for the preparation thereof and use thereof
Oxymethylene polymers having a bimodal distribution or having a distribution of higher modality and having a targeted content of a low molecular weight fraction of from 1 to 5 percent by mass are described. Moldings of these polymers are distinguished by high low-temperature notched impact strength associated with a high modulus of elasticity.
US08188207B2 Process for producing high strength polyethylene film
Process for producing high strength polyethylene films or tapes comprising the steps of: providing a quantity of disentangled polyethylene, applying a pressure of at least 20 bar to the quantity of disentangled polyethylene and a temperature between the α-relaxation temperature and the melting temperature of the disentangled polyethylene Tm PE resulting in a block of disentangled polyethylene, skiving a film or tape off the block of disentangled polyethylene and, drawing said film or tape in a single or multi stage drawing step at a total draw ratio of at least 1:20.
US08188205B2 Hydrotalcite catalyzed polymerization of trimethylene carbonate
The present invention relates to the use of hydrotalcites as catalysts for the polymerization of unsubstituted or substituted trimethylene carbonate.
US08188199B1 Method of promoting olefin polymerization
The method of promoting olefin polymerization uses a nanoparticle filler to increase the activity of a metallocene catalyst for in situ polymerization of polyolefins. The filler may be nanoparticles of manganese, or nanoparticles of manganese-doped titanium dioxide. The method includes the steps of (a) mixing a metallocene catalyst, e.g., zirconocene dichloride, with nanoparticles of the filler in an organic solvent, e.g., toluene, in a reactor to form a reaction mixture; (b) immersing the reactor in a temperature bath for a period of time sufficient to bring the mixture to an optimal polymerization reaction temperature; (c) adding monomer to the mixture in the reactor; (d) adding methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a co-catalyst to the reaction mixture to initiate polymerization; and (e) quenching the polymerization, e.g., by adding methanol containing 5% hydrochloric acid by volume to the reactor.
US08188192B2 Soft elastomeric films
Elastomeric films which are both soft and thermally, UV and oxidatively stable are provided. The films are composed of coupled, selectively hydrogenated block copolymers having a relatively high molecular weight and high vinyl content. In addition to the block copolymer other components may be present in formulated films such as other block copolymers, hydrocarbon resins, polyolefins, metallocene polyolefins, homopolystyrene or mineral oils. The softness of the films is determined by the stress at 100% tensile elongation where the films with suitable softness have a 100% stress of about 100 psi or less. While soft, the films also are strong with tensile strengths of 1000 psi or more and suitable hysteresis properties. The elastomeric films are useful as integral components of personal hygiene articles such as gloves, diapers, incontinence products, disposable swimwear and disposable undergarments.
US08188188B2 Process for producing thermoplastic resin composition
A thermoplastic resin composition production method wherein melt-kneading is performed in a stretched flow when producing a thermoplastic resin composition as specified in the paragraph (I) or (II) below: (I) a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a Thermoplastic resin (A) and a Resin (B) with a reactive functional group; (II) a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a Thermoplastic resin (A), a Thermoplastic resin (C) that is different from the Thermoplastic resin (A), and a Compound (D) with a reactive functional group.
US08188183B2 Low VOC coatings and paints
Coating compositions are provided which may be applied from aqueous systems and contain binders which are autoxidisable to produce rapid drying hard coatings, preferred binders are based on polymers derived from monomers obtained by the reaction of drying oil fatty acids and unsaturated monomers. The polymers contain microgels, have low Tg and contain residual unsaturation; preferred copolymers also contain amide groups. The drying of the coating compositions can be accelerated by the use of metal dryers and have been found to enable the use of particularly low levels of vanadium dryers.
US08188181B2 Photochromic compositions, resins and articles obtained therefrom
Compositions that include one or more compounds according to formula I: wherein Y is —S—, or —SO2—; R1 and R1′ are independently chosen from H, —CH3, or a combination thereof; R2 is H, —CH3, or,  and m and n are independently chosen from 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4; and one or more photochromic compounds.
US08188180B2 Binding agent
The present invention relates to binders, to processes for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof in formulations, surface coatings, inks and plastics.
US08188178B2 Cold shrinkable article including an epichlorohydrin composition
A composition includes an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition can include an epichlorohydrin composition, and the elastomeric composition can be substantially free of a fluoroelastomer composition. The composition can further include a filler material which includes a reinforcement-grade carbon black. The composition can further include a peroxide curative.
US08188174B2 Silated core polysulfides, their preparation and use in filled elastomer compositions
This invention relates to novel sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, and organic polymers containing carbon-carbon double bonds. These novel silanes can be carried on organic and inorganic fillers. The invention also relates to articles of manufacture, particularly tires, made from the elastomer compositions described herein.
US08188168B2 Tire rubber composition
An object thereof is to provide a tire rubber composition about which the ice braking-performance is largely improved while the tire-abrasion resistance is kept. In order to achieve the object, a tire rubber composition comprises a diene-based rubber component, and banana fiber in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the diene-based rubber component.
US08188165B2 Fire-retardant low-density epoxy composition
The present invention relates to a curable precursor of a fire-retardant, low-density and essentially halogen-free epoxy composition comprising (i) 10 to 70 weight percent of at least one organic epoxide compound with an epoxide functionality of at least one, (ii) 1 to 55 weight percent of at least one epoxide hardener, (iii) 5 to 50 weight percent of an essentially halogen-free fire-retardant system that includes a mixture of: (1) at least one compound selected from the group comprising alkaline earth metal hydroxides and aluminium group hydroxides, and (2) at least one phosphorous-containing material, (iv) 10 to 60 weight percent of a filler system capable of reducing the density of the precursor that includes a mixture of (1) at least one low-density inorganic filler having a density of between 0.1 to 0.5 g cm−3?, (2) at least one low-density organic filler having a density of between 0.01 to 0.30 g/cm−3? and being compressible.
US08188163B2 Process for producing water-absorbing resin
A water absorbent resin is dried in a continuous fluidized bed having a heat transfer tube and at least two drying rooms. Pulverization is performed between a first drying room at not less than 80° C. to not more than 200° C. and a second or subsequent room at not less than 100° C. to not more than 220° C. A method for producing a water absorbent resin includes: (1) polymerizing a monomer aqueous solution; (2) drying a hydrogel polymer of step (1); (3) performing particle size control of the dry polymer of the step (2); (5) surface crosslinking the water absorbent resin powder of step (3), and step (4) of performing a second heat drying on the water absorbent resin powder of step (3), preceding step (5). The water absorbent resin has a moisture content of 0 wt % to 3 wt % before the step (5).
US08188162B2 Process for preparing an encapsulated particulate solid
A process for preparing an encapsulated particulate solid using an epoxy functional cross-linking agent and a carboxylic acid functional dispersant characterized in that the crosslinking is performed in the presence of a borate compound. The resultant solids are useful in, for example, ink jet printing inks where high optical density prints may be obtained.
US08188157B2 UV curable coating compositions
UV curable coating compositions and methods for applying such compositions to surfaces to provide abrasion resistance and/or structural rigidity thereto. The UV curable compositions of the present invention include at least one curable (meth)acrylate, at least one photoinitiator which absorbs only in the UV range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and an inorganic filler, at least a portion of which having a particle size in the range of 1 to 1,000 nm. The compositions may further comprise a reactive diluent.
US08188154B2 Decomposition reaction apparatus, system for producing raw material for recycled resin composition, method for producing raw material for recycled resin composition, raw material for recycled resin composition, and formed article
A decomposition reaction apparatus for the decomposition treatment of a thermosetting resin, which comprises a reaction apparatus comprising an introduction section for introducing a resin composition containing the thermosetting resin and a solvent containing a monomer component of the thermosetting resin or a component similar to the monomer component, a decomposition reaction section for heating and pressuring the resin composition and the above solvent so as for the solvent to have a supercritical state or a subcritical state, to thereby prepare a treated and recovered product containing a recycled resin formed by the reduction of the molecular weight of the above thermosetting resin, and a discharge section for discharging the treated and recovered product. In the above reaction apparatus, the introduction of the resin composition and the solvent, the decomposition treatment of the thermosetting resin in the decomposition reaction section and the discharge of the treated and recovered product from the discharge section are all carried out continuously, and therefore, a raw material for a recycled resin composition using an industrial or general waste containing a thermosetting resin as the above resin composition can be produced continuously.
US08188153B2 Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using microchannel technology and novel catalyst and microchannel reactor
The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting a reactant composition comprising H2 and CO to a product comprising at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms, the process comprising: flowing the reactant composition through a microchannel reactor in contact with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to convert the reactant composition to the product, the microchannel reactor comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing the catalyst; transferring heat from the process microchannels to a heat exchanger; and removing the product from the microchannel reactor; the process producing at least about 0.5 gram of aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms per gram of catalyst per hour; the selectivity to methane in the product being less than about 25%. The disclosed invention also relates to a supported catalyst comprising Co, and a microchannel reactor comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent heat exchange zone.
US08188151B2 Methods for treating diabetes
The subject invention provides compositions and methods for treating diabetes in patients. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides compositions methods for treating diabetes and/or preventing or alleviating complications associated with diabetes. Specifically exemplified herein is the concurrent administration of a cysteamine compound with at least one additional therapeutic agent to prevent and/or treat diabetes as well as prevent and/or treat complications associated with diabetes. In a preferred embodiment, oral administration of cysteamine hydrochloride with Metformin to a patient diagnosed with diabetes can substantially regulate the patient's glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
US08188149B2 Use of R(+)-N-propargy1-1-aminoindan to treat or prevent hearing loss
The subject invention provides a method of treating or inhibiting hearing loss in a mammalian subject. The method includes administering to a mammalian subject an amount of R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof effective to treat or inhibit the hearing loss in the subject.
US08188143B2 Pharmaceutical composition useful as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising the naturally occurring compounds selected from (±) Marmesin, Columbianetin, Dihydroxanthyletin and substituted coumarin derivatives of 7-allyloxy coumarin, 7-benzyloxy coumarin, 7-methoxy coumarin, 7-acetyloxy coumarin, 4-methyl-7-hydroxy coumarin and 4-methyl-7-acetyloxy coumarin. The said compositions posses a high degree of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChE) property.
US08188140B2 Uses of ion channel modulating compounds
Methods, formulations, dosing regimes, and routes of administration for the treatment or prevention of arrhythmias, including the treatment or prevention of atrial fibrillation. In these methods, the disease or condition is treated or prevented by administering one or more ion channel modulating compounds to a subject, where the ion channel modulating compound or compounds produce specific plasma levels in the subject. The ion channel modulating compounds may be cycloalkylamine ether compounds, particularly cyclohexylamine ether compounds.
US08188139B2 Heterocyclic-substituted phenyl methanones
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, and are defined in the specification and to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.
US08188135B2 Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
Disclosed herein are cannabinoid receptor ligands of formula (I) wherein A1, A5, Rx, X4, and z are as defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also disclosed.
US08188132B2 Linked dibenzimidazole derivatives
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08188131B2 Compounds that enhance Atoh1 expression
This invention generally provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for their use, which include methods that result in increased expression in an Atoh1 gene (e.g., Hath1) in a biological cell. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of diseases and/or disorders that would benefit from increased Atoh1 expression, e.g., a hearing impairment or imbalance disorder associated with a loss of auditory hair cells, or a disorder associated with abnormal cellular proliferation.
US08188124B2 Talarazole metabolites
Novel metabolites of talarazole of formula (I) have been isolated and characterized, wherein R═H, OH, OSO3H or O-gly; R1, ═H, OH, OSO3H, O-gly or =0; and gly=a glucuronate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds are targeted for the treatment of various skin-, hair- and nail-associated disorders.
US08188123B2 (Pyrrolidin-2-yl)phenyl derivatives
The invention relates to (pyrrolidin-2-yl)phenyl derivatives having the general Formula I wherein R1 is (C1-4)alkyl, halo(C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkyloxy, or halo(C1-4)alkyloxy; R2 is H, (C1-4)alkyl, halo(C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkyloxy, halo(C1-4)alkyloxy or halogen; R3 is H, (C1-4)alkyl or halo(C1-4)alkyl; R4 is H, (C1-4)alkyl or halo(C1-4)alkyl; R5 is H, (C1-4)alkyl or halo-(C1-4)-alkyl; or R4 and R5, when bonded to the same carbon atom, can together with the carbon atom form a spiro(C3-6)cycloalkyl group, optionally substituted with halogen; R6 is H, (C1-4)alkyl, halo(C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkyloxy, halo(C1-4)alkyloxy or halogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, as well as to the use of these (pyrrolidin-2-yl)phenyl derivatives for the treatment of pain, such as neuropathic pain or inflammatory pain.
US08188118B2 Method for treating multiple myeloma using 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione in combination with antibodies
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US08188116B2 Agents for therapy efficacy monitoring and deep tissue imaging
Compounds and methods related to NIR molecular imaging, in-vitro and in-vivo functional imaging, therapy/efficacy monitoring, and cancer and metastatic activity imaging. Compounds and methods demonstrated pertain to the field of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor imaging, metabolic imaging, cellular respiration imaging, cellular proliferation imaging as targeted agents that incorporate signaling agents.
US08188115B2 5-HT7 receptor antagonists
The invention relates to compounds having pharmacological activity towards the 5-HT7 receptor, and more particularly to some tetrahydroisoquinoline substituted sulfonamide compounds, to processes of preparation of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and to their use for the treatment and or prophylaxis of a disease in which 5-HT is involved, such as CNS disorders.
US08188113B2 Dihydropyridopyrimidinyl, dihydronaphthyidinyl and related compounds useful as kinase inhibitors for the treatment of proliferative diseases
The present invention relates to novel dihydropyridopyrimidinyl, dihydronaphthyridinyl, and related compounds which are kinase inhibitors and modulator useful for the treatment of various diseases. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such compounds, kinase/compound adducts, methods of treating diseases, and methods of synthesis of the compounds. Preferably, the compounds are useful for the modulation of kinase activity of Raf kinases and disease polymorphs thereof. Compounds of the present invention find utility in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers including but not limited to malignant melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, papillary thyroid carcinoma, non small cell lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Compounds of the present invention also find utility in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and retinopathies including diabetic retinal neuropathy and macular degeneration.
US08188106B2 Ligand activators of the RAR receptors and pharmaceutical/cosmetic applications thereof
Novel ligand compounds having the structural formula (I): in which: Ar is a radical selected from among the radicals of formulae (a)-(c) below: are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suited for administration in human or veterinary medicine, or, alternatively into cosmetic compositions.
US08188105B2 Therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease comprising uracil derivative as active ingredient
A therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease contains, as an active ingredient, a uracil derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, represented by formula (1) where the R1 and R2 groups are defined in the specification.
US08188104B2 Anti-infective agents and uses thereof
This invention relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, inhibit HCV; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions.
US08188092B2 Substituted pyrazines as DGAT-1 inhibitors
DGAT-1 inhibitor compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and pro-drugs thereof are described, together with pharmaceutical compositions, processes for making them and their use in treating, for example, obesity wherein, for example, r is 0 or 1 and X1 is linear (1-3C)alkyl; q is 0 or 1 and X2 is fluoro, chloro or (1-3C)alkyl; Y1 is selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, (1-3C)alkyl and (1-2C)alkoxy; n is 0, 1 or 2 and Y2 is fluoro, chloro or (1-3C)alkyl; p is 0, 1 or 2 and Y3 is (1-3C)alkyl or forms a (3-5C)cycloalkyl ring; Z is carboxy or —CONHSO2Me or —CONRbRc wherein Rb and Rc are independently selected, for example, from hydrogen and (1-4C)alkyl or Rb and Rc are linked so as to form a morpholine ring or a (4-6C)heterocyclic ring and when Z is —CONRbRc the Rb and Rc groups may be optionally substituted by carboxy.
US08188087B2 Crystalline (3-cyano-1H-indol-7-yl)-[4-(4-fluorophenethyl) piperazin-1-yl]methanone phosphate
The present invention relates to novel crystalline forms of (3-cyano-1H-indol-7-yl)-[4-(4-fluorophenethyl)piperazin-1-yl]methanone phosphate and to pharmaceutical compositions containing said forms.
US08188085B2 Antifungal agents
Novel derivatives of enfumafungin are disclosed herein, along with their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs. Also disclosed are compositions comprising such compounds, methods of preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds as antifungal agents and/or inhibitors of (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase. The disclosed compounds, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs, as well as compositions comprising such compounds, salts, hydrates and prodrugs, are useful for treating and/or preventing fungal infections and associated diseases and conditions.
US08188084B2 Pyridinone and pyridazinone derivatives as inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or tautomers thereof which are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) and thus useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases, reperfusion injuries, ischaemic conditions, stroke, renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, vascular diseases other than cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases, retroviral infections, retinal damage, skin senescence and UV-induced skin damage, and as chemo- or radiosensitizers for cancer treatment.
US08188083B2 Triazolopyridazines
The present invention is directed to novel compounds of formula (I) wherein the variables are defined as herein. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as kinase inhibitors and as such would be useful in treating certain conditions and diseases, especially inflammatory conditions and diseases and proliferative disorders and conditions, for example, cancers.
US08188082B2 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,5-α]pyrazine derivatives
The invention relates to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives of formula (I), wherein X represents CH2 or O; R1 represents a phenyl group, which group is independently mono-, di-, or tri-substituted wherein the substituents are independently selected from the group consisting of (C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkoxy, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethoxy and trifluoromethyl; R2 represents (C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkoxy, (C2-4)alkenyl, halogen, cyano, hydroxymethyl, trifluoromethyl, C(O)NR5R6 or cyclopropyl; R3 represents (C1-4)alkyl, (C1-4)alkoxy-methyl or halogen; R4 represents (C1-4)alkyl; R5 represents hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; and R6 represents hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds; and to the use of such compounds as medicaments; especially as orexin receptor antagonists.
US08188078B2 6-aryl/heteroalkyloxy benzothiazole and benzimidazole derivatives, method for preparing same, application thereof as drugs, pharmaceutical compositions and novel use in particular as C-MET inhibitors
The disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein A, W, R, R5, and R6 are as defined in the disclosure, or a salt thereof, and to their use as drugs, in particular as c-Met inhibitors.
US08188076B2 Compositions, synthesis, and methods of utilizing arylpiperazine derivatives
The present invention provides arylpiperazine derivatives having Formula I which can be advantageously used for treating schizophrenia and related psychoses such as acute manic, bipolar disorder, autistic disorder and depression.
US08188068B2 Bridged polycyclic compound based compositions for coating oral surfaces in pets
A pharmaceutically active agent, a pharmaceutically active agent carrier and method of use thereof are described. In some embodiments, a system may include a composition. The composition may include one or more bridged polycyclic compounds. At least one of the bridged polycyclic compounds may include at least two cyclic groups, and at least two pharmaceutically active agents may be associated with the bridged polycyclic compound. In some embodiments, one or more bridged polycyclic compounds may be applied to an oral surface of an animal (e.g., canine, feline) such that an oral malady may be inhibited and/or ameliorated.
US08188067B2 Formulations of 6-mercaptopurine
The present invention provides improved formulations of 6-mercaptopurine that exhibit better bioavailability and faster dissolution than previous formulations.
US08188066B2 Medical uses of a selective estrogen receptor modulator in combination with sex steroid precursors
Novel methods for the medical treatment and/or inhibition of the development of osteoporosis, breast cancer, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia or atherosclerosis in susceptible warm-blooded animals including humans involving administration of selective estrogen receptor modulator particularly compounds having the general structure: and an amount of a sex steroid precursor selected from the group consisting of dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol and compounds converted in vivo to one of the foregoing precursor. Further administration of bisphosphonates in combination with selective estrogen receptor modulators and/or sex steroid precursor is disclosed for the medical treatment and/or inhibition of the development of osteoporosis. Pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of active ingredient(s) and kit(s) useful to the invention are also disclosed.
US08188060B2 Duplex oligonucleotides with enhanced functionality in gene regulation
Disclosed are methods of enhancing functionality of duplex oligonucleotides and compositions made by the methods. The duplex oligonucleotides include siRNAs, miRNA mimics, and piRNA mimics which contain modified nucleotides and mismatches between the two strands of the molecule at specific nucleotide positions.
US08188059B2 Compounds and methods for modulating expression of GCGR
The present disclosure describes short antisense compounds, including such compounds comprising chemically-modified high-affinity monomers 8-16 monomers in length. Certain such short antisense compound are useful for the reduction of target nucleic acids and/or proteins in cells, tissues, and animals with increased potency and improved therapeutic index. Thus, provided herein are short antisense compounds comprising high-affinity nucleotide modifications useful for reducing a target RNA in vivo. Such short antisense compounds are effective at lower doses than previously described antisense compounds, allowing for a reduction in toxicity and cost of treatment. In addition, the described short antisense compounds have greater potential for oral dosing.
US08188056B2 Reducing arthritis and lameness in subjects by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) supplementation
One aspect of the current invention is a method of preventing and/or treating arthritis and/or preventing or treating lameness in a subject. Additionally, subject quality of life and welfare, and body condition scores are improved by utilizing methodology that administers the nucleic acid expression construct encoding a GHRH or functional biological equivalent to a subject through a parenteral route of administration. Following a single dose of nucleic acid expression vector, subjects are healthier and effects are demonstrated long term without additional administration(s) of the expression construct.
US08188054B2 Non-peptide macrocyclic histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and methods of making and using thereof
Compounds of Formula I or II, and methods of making and using thereof, are described herein. M represents a macrolide subunit, n is a C1-6 group, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, D is an alkyl or aryl group, A is a linking group connected to D, B is an alkyl, alkylaryl or alkylheteroaryl spacer group, ZBG is a Zinc Binding Group, R1, R2 and R4 are independently are selected from hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, a C2-6 alkynyl group, a C1-6 alkanoate group, a C2-6 carbamate group, a C2-6 carbonate group, a C2-6 carbamate group, or a C2-6 thiocarbamate group, R3 is hydrogen or —OR5, R5 is selected from a group consisting of Hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl hgroup, a C2-6 alkenyl group, a C2-6 alkynyl group, C1-6 alkanoate group, C2-6 carbamate group, C2-6 carbonate group, C2-6 carbamate group, or C2-6 thiocarbamate group.
US08188049B2 Peptides having activities of epidermal growth factor and its uses
The present invention relates to peptides comprising the amino acid sequence represented by the following formula 1 and having the activities of epidermal growth factor and their uses: Cys-Met-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Linker-Arg-Gly-Asp (1) The EGF-mimicking peptides of the present invention possess identical functions or activities to natural-occurring human EGF and are able to promote the generation of autocrine EGF in cells. In addition the peptides of the present invention are much higher stability and skin penetration potency than natural-occurring EGF. Therefore, the composition containing the peptide exhibits excellent treatment and prevention efficacies on diseases or conditions demanding EGF activities, and can be advantageously applied to pharmaceutical compositions, quasi-drugs and cosmetics.
US08188048B2 Combination therapy
The present invention relates generally to methods for inducing, promoting or otherwise facilitating pain relief. More particularly, the present invention relates to a synergistic combination of a selective inhibitor of the neuronal norepinephrine transporter and an analgesic agent in the therapeutic management of vertebrate animals, including humans, for producing analgesia or for the prevention or alleviation of pain.
US08188047B2 Therapeutic and cosmetic compositions for treatment of skin
The present invention is directed to a skin cream containing L-glutathione and methyl sulfone in combination with perfluorodecalin and various vitamins such as Vitamin D and C. The cream can be used to treat cancerous and precancerous diseases found in or on the skin.
US08188044B2 Anti-tumor drug, medicament, composition, and use thereof
An active polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or fragments thereof having at least 21 contiguous amino acids, or peptides having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of the fragments, provided that the polypeptide is not SEQ ID NO: 2. A method for inhibiting cancer and/or tumor growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the active polypeptide.
US08188043B2 Nicotine in therapeutic angiogenesis and vasculogenesis
The present invention features methods for induction of angiogenesis by administration of nicotine or other nicotine receptor agonist. Induction of angiogenesis by the methods of the invention can be used in therapeutic angiogenesis in, for example, treatment of ischemic syndromes such as coronary or peripheral arterial disease.
US08188039B2 VEGF-D mutants and their use
The present invention is a VEGF-D protein, containing one or more amino acid mutations at the dimer interface, and their use in therapy, particularly in the promotion of angiogenesis.
US08188037B2 Microparticles comprising somatostatin analogues
Disclosed are microparticles comprising a somatostatin analogue embedded in a biocompatible pharmacologically acceptable polymer matrix for a long acting release and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such microparticles.
US08188035B2 Method for using nano carbon to refine collagen into nanoparticulate collagen
This invention relates to a method of using nano carbon to refine collagen into nanoparticulate collagen. As nano carbon particle are mixed into collagen, the pored structure of the nano carbon absorb and adhere to the collagen outer cell membrane and subsequently tears the collagen apart into nanoparticulates via ultrasound vibration, Thus it creates an advanced nanoparticulate collagen small enough to be practically and efficiently absorbed by the skin when applied directly.
US08188032B2 G-CSF transferrin fusion proteins
A polypeptide comprising a G-CSF domain operably linked to a Tf domain, wherein the ability of the polypeptide to be transported into a cell expressing a TfR gene or the ability of the polypeptide to be transported across a cell expressing a TfR gene via transcytosis is higher than that of the G-CSF domain alone.
US08188028B2 Surfactant composition with a reduction of surface tension, interfacial tension, and critical micelle concentration using a protein-based surfactant synergist
Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.
US08188027B2 Liquid fabric enhancer composition comprising a di-hydrocarbyl complex
A fabric enhancer composition comprising a di-hydrocarbyl complex formed from a mono-hydrocarbyl quaternary ammonium component comprising the structure: wherein R1 comprises a C6-C18 hydrocarbyl chain, wherein R2, R3 and R4 are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, C1-C4 hydroxy hydrocarbyl, —(CH2CH2O)xH where x has a value from about 1 to about 2, and mixtures thereof, L is a linking group selected from the group consisting of C(O)O—, —(CH2CH2O)n—, —C(O)—, [CH2CH(CH2)O] and n has value of 1 to 2 with z having a value of 0 or 1, and an anionic surfactant, wherein the fabric enhancer composition provides sufficient softness and anti-static benefits.
US08188021B2 Lubricating oil compositions
A lubricating oil composition formulated with a viscosity index (VI) improver composition including a combination of an ethylene α-olefin copolymer having no greater than 66 mass % of units derived from ethylene, and a linear diblock copolymer including at least one block derived primarily from a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer, and at least one block derived primarily from diene monomer.
US08188020B2 Lubricating oil composition containing an alkali metal detergent
The present invention provides overbased detergents as lubricating additives effective for the lubrication of mechanical components in land and marine engines, such as, for example, hydraulic systems, transmissions, two-stroke and four-stroke vehicular engines, and trunk piston and two-stroke crosshead marine engines.
US08188019B2 Biolubricant esters from the alcohols of unsaturated fatty acids
The present invention is generally directed to triester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such triester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor comprising mono-unsaturated fatty acids, wherein such mono-unsaturated fatty acids are reduced to mono-unsaturated fatty alcohols en route to the synthesis of triester species for use as/in the triester-based lubricant compositions. Subsequent steps in such synthesis may employ carboxylic acids and/or acyl halides/anhydrides derived from biomass and/or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
US08188016B2 Lubricant composition and bearing using same
A lubricant composition capable of preventing a rolling surface of a bearing from flaking owing to hydrogen embrittlement. The bearing is lubricated with the lubricant composition which is a lubricating oil or grease. The lubricant composition contains a molybdate and an organic acid salt. At least one molybdate is selected from sodium molybdate, potassium molybdate, and lithium molybdate. The organic acid salt is a sodium salt of an organic acid having one to 20 carbon atoms. The lubricant composition forms a film containing a molybdenum compound in addition to an iron oxide film on a worn surface of the bearing or on a fresh surface of an iron-based metal generated by wear. The bearing is used as a rolling bearing for use in electric parts and auxiliary machines of a vehicle. The bearing is also used as a bearing, for a motor, in which the lubricant composition is sealed.
US08188015B2 Methods and compositions for fracturing subterranean formations
Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) gelled aqueous fluids containing water, a VES, an internal breaker, a VES stabilizer, a fluid loss control agent and a viscosity enhancer are useful as treating fluids and particularly as fracturing fluids for subterranean formations. These VES-based fluids have faster and more complete clean-up than polymer-based fracturing fluids. The use of an internal breaker permits ready removal of the unique VES micelle based pseudo-filter cake with several advantages including reducing the typical VES loading and total fluid volume since more VES fluid stays within the fracture, generating a more optimum fracture geometry for enhanced reservoir productivity, and treating reservoirs with permeability above the present VES limit of approximately 400 md to at least 2000 md.
US08188014B2 In-situ solidification of invert emulsion fluids to form gas tight annular barrier
A method for sealing a subterranean zone is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a wellbore fluid, placing the wellbore fluid into at least a portion of an annular space between the sidewalls of a wellbore and the exterior of a casing string disposed in the wellbore, and allowing the wellbore fluid to solidify therein, wherein the wellbore fluid includes an oleaginous fluid as the continuous phase of the wellbore fluid, a non-oleaginous fluid as the discontinuous phase of the wellbore fluid, and about 5 to about 50 pounds per barrel of a thermally activated hydrocarbon gellant.
US08188013B2 Self-degrading fibers and associated methods of use and manufacture
This invention relates to the use of degradable fibers, and more particularly, to self-degrading fibers and their associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a self degrading fiber comprising: an outer shell, and a core liquid.
US08188012B2 Process of using hard brine at high alkalinity for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications
The present invention describes the use of EDTA and/or alkali treated hard brine at high pH for making ASP formulations for EOR applications.
US08188007B2 Herbicide composition for lawn
A herbicide composition for lawn characterized by containing iodosulfuron-methyl or its salt, and at least 1 kind of herbicidal compound selected from the group consisting of oxaziclomefone, fentrazamide, oxadiargyl, ethoxysulfuron, cafenstrole, indanofan, asulam, fenoxaprop, clethodim, ethofumesate, tribenuron-methyl, metsulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, bromoxynil, MCPA, 2,4-D, dicamba as effective components.
US08188006B2 Synergistic composition and method of use
The present invention relates to a method to increase the effectiveness of an imidazolinone herbicide to suppress weedy forms of rice growth used with imidazolinone tolerant rice strains. This method involves applying an imidazolinone herbicide to imidazolinone tolerant rice strains in a field and applying either a propanil based herbicide or a thiobencarb herbicide to this rice crop, wherein the herbicide includes a synergistically effective amount a herbicidally inactive ingredient. The propanil based herbicide synergistically affects the activity of an imidazolinone herbicide by increasing the effectiveness of an imidazolinone herbicide used with the rice to suppress weedy forms of rice growth, such as red rice.
US08188005B2 Liquid composition for promoting plant growth containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Disclosed herein is a liquid composition for promoting plant growth containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The liquid composition contains, as an active ingredient, an aqueous solution prepared by adjusting the pH of colloidal titanium dioxide, a plant growth promoting component, to 0.4-0.6, in order to prevent rapid precipitation of the colloidal titanium dioxide, and then diluting the colloidal titanium dioxide with water to a predetermined concentration. The colloidal titanium dioxide, an environmentally friendly substance harmless to plants and the human body, which is contained in the plant growth promoting composition, is prevented from rapidly precipitating when it is diluted for application to plants. The plant growth promoting composition is harmless to organisms, reduces environmental contamination caused by over-application of biochemical fertilizers and is inexpensive, leading to an increase in farmer's income.
US08188004B2 Organic herbicide
An organic herbicide is disclosed and comprises oxidized natural oils such as clove oil, and cinnamon oil. A natural surfactant is disclosed comprising 30-50% by weight casein, 50-70% by weight whole egg powder and 0-5% by weight Konjac glucomannan.
US08188003B2 Method of inducing virus tolerance of plants
A method of inducing virus tolerance of plants which comprises treating the plants, the soil or seeds with an effective amount of a compound of the formula I.
US08188001B2 Fungicidal mixtures
The invention relates to a fungicidal mixture comprising prothioconazole or a salt or adduct thereof with an inorganic acid an organic acid or a metal ion; and at least one further fungicidal compound, selected from the group consisting of thiram, fenoxanil, benthivalicarb, metalaxyl, fludioxonil and prochloraz, in a synergistically effective amount and to methods for controlling harmful fungi, comprising applying the fungicidal mixture.
US08188000B2 Heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet and method of producing the same
A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having a support and, on each of both sides of the support, at least one receptor layer containing at least one kind of latex polymer; a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet containing a support and, on each of both sides of the support, are formed at least one interlayer, at least one heat insulation layer containing at least one kind of hollow polymer, and at least one receptor layer in this order from the support; and a method of producing a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a support and, on each of both sides of the support, at least one receptor layer containing at least one kind of latex polymer, which method including forming the receptor layer by applying a receptor layer-coating liquid which has a solid content in the range of from 5% by mass to 50% by mass, per one coating operation.
US08187994B2 Methods and compositions for stabilizing catalytic processes
Methods and compositions for stabilizing the activity of catalytic compositions during catalytic processes, such as alkylation. A catalytic composition comprising a partially deactivated ionic liquid catalyst may be regenerated by reaction with a metal to form reactivated catalyst and an inorganic catalyst precursor; and the catalytic composition may be amended in-process by addition of an organic catalyst precursor for reaction with the inorganic catalyst precursor to form fresh ionic liquid catalyst. The organic catalyst precursor may be protected from water, e.g., during handling, by hydrophobic material(s).
US08187993B2 Methods and compositions for stabilizing catalytic processes
Methods and compositions for stabilizing the activity of catalytic compositions during catalytic processes, such as alkylation. A catalytic composition comprising a partially deactivated ionic liquid catalyst may be regenerated by reaction with a metal to form reactivated catalyst and an inorganic catalyst precursor; and the catalytic composition may be amended in-process by addition of an organic catalyst precursor for reaction with the inorganic catalyst precursor to form fresh ionic liquid catalyst. The organic catalyst precursor may be protected from water, e.g., during handling, by hydrophobic material(s).
US08187992B2 Catalyst and method for preparing aromatic carboxylic acids
The invention is directed to a catalytic principle based on zeolite crystallites attached to support or incorporated in a matrix and a catalytically active principle incorporated in the zeolite, the said crystallites having a diameter of between 20 and 300 nm and said catalytically active principle having a formula corresponding to: CoMn2(O)(R—COO)6 L1k1 L2k2 wherein: R is an optionally substituted C1-C4 alkyl; L1 is an optionally substituted nitrogen containing carboxylic acid or salts thereof; L2 is selected from the group consisting of H2O, an optionally substituted C1-C4 alkyl containing carboxylic acid, an optionally substituted C5-C6 cycloalkyl or heterocycle, an optionally substituted C5-C6 heteroaryl or aryl; and k1+k2=3; wherein the zeolite has an Si/Al atomic ratio of at least 8, as well as to a method for the oxidation of alkyl aromatics compounds employing the catalytic principle.
US08187989B2 Wear-resistant coating
A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first seal member having a first surface, a second seal member having a second surface, with the second surface configured to generally abut at least a part of the first surface. At least a portion of at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes a coating that includes about 30 to about 80 weight percent of a hard carbide material, and about 20 to about 70 weight percent of lubricating material incorporated with the hard carbide material. The coating defines overlapping lenticular particles.
US08187987B2 Durable glass housings/enclosures for electronic devices
The invention relates to glass articles suitable for use as electronic device housing/enclosure or protective cover which comprise a glass material. Particularly, a housing/enclosure/cover comprising an ion-exchanged glass exhibiting the following attributes (1) radio, and microwave frequency transparency, as defined by a loss tangent of less than 0.03 and at a frequency range of between 15 MHz to 3.0 GHz; (2) infrared transparency; (3) a fracture toughness of greater than 0.6 MPa·m1/2; (4) a 4-point bend strength of greater than 350 MPa; (5) a Vickers hardness of at least 450 kgf/mm2 and a Vickers median/radial crack initiation threshold of at least 5 kgf, (6) a Young's Modulus ranging between about 50 to 100 GPa; (7) a thermal conductivity of less than 2.0 W/m° C., and (9) and at least one of the following attributes: (i) a compressive surface layer having a depth of layer (DOL) greater and a compressive stress greater than 400 MPa, or, (ii) a central tension of more than 20 MPa.
US08187986B2 Optical glass
The invention provides a novel optical glass which has a refractive index (nd) of 1.78 to 2.2 and an Abbe value (νd) of 16 to less than 40 and is suitable for precision mold press molding by virtue of its having a low glass transition temperature, namely, an optical glass which contains by mole in terms of oxides 25 to 60% B2O3, 2 to 45% (in total) TiO2 and Nb2O5 and 1 to 25% WO3 and has a refractive index (nd) of 1.78 to 2.2 and an Abbe value (νd) of 16 to less than 40. Further, the glass contains 5 to 35% La2O3 and 1 to 40% ZnO and has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 700° C. or below. The optical glass is excellent in meltability, stability and devitrification resistance and has a high refractive index, high light-dispersive power and excellent precision press moldability.
US08187983B2 Methods for fabricating semiconductor components using thinning and back side laser processing
A method for fabricating semiconductor components includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a circuit side, a back side and integrated circuits and circuitry on the circuit side; thinning the substrate from the back side to a selected thickness; laser processing the back side of the thinned substrate to form at least one lasered feature on the back side; and dicing the substrate into a plurality of components having the lasered feature. The lasered feature can cover the entire back side or only selected areas of the back side, and can be configured to change electrical properties, mechanical properties or gettering properties of the substrate. A semiconductor component includes a thinned semiconductor substrate having a back side and a circuit side containing integrated circuits and associated circuitry. The semiconductor component also includes at least one lasered feature on the back side configured to provide selected electrical or physical characteristics for the substrate.
US08187973B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and the semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes: alternately supplying a silicon source and an oxidant to deposit a silicon oxide film on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the silicon source is supplied under a supply condition where an adsorption amount of molecules of the silicon source on the semiconductor substrate is increased without causing an adsorption saturation of the molecules of the silicon source on the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the oxidant is supplied under a supply condition where impurities remain in the molecules of the silicon source adsorbed on the semiconductor substrate.
US08187972B2 Through-substrate vias with polymer fill and method of fabricating same
An through-substrate via fabrication method requires forming a through-substrate via hole in a semiconductor substrate, depositing an electrically insulating, continuous and substantially conformal isolation material onto the substrate and interior walls of the via using ALD, depositing a conductive material into the via and over the isolation material using ALD such that it is electrically continuous across the length of the via hole, and depositing a polymer material over the conductive material such that any continuous top-to-bottom openings present in the via holes are filled by the polymer material. The basic fabrication method may be extended to provide vias with multiple conductive layers, such as coaxial and triaxial vias.
US08187971B2 Method to alter silicide properties using GCIB treatment
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region.
US08187970B2 Process for forming cobalt and cobalt silicide materials in tungsten contact applications
Methods for forming cobalt silicide materials are disclosed herein. In one example, a method for forming a cobalt silicide material includes exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing material to either a wet etch solution or a pre-clean plasma during a first step and then to a hydrogen plasma during a second step of a pre-clean process. The exemplary method further includes depositing a cobalt metal layer on the silicon-containing material by a CVD process, heating the substrate to form a first cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi at the interface of the cobalt metal layer and the silicon-containing material during a first annealing process, removing any unreacted cobalt metal from the first cobalt silicide layer during an etch process, and heating the substrate to form a second cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi2 during a second annealing process.
US08187966B2 Manufacturing method for semiconductor integrated circuit device
A Cu-CMP step applied to processes for 130 nm, 90 nm, and 65 nm technical nodes or the like mainly employs slurry to which an anticorrosive agent is added for preventing corrosion of Cu wiring. The inventors of the present application have studied and clearly found that in the Cu-CMP step using the slurry with the anticorrosive agent added thereto, the anticorrosive agent often forms complexes with Cu, which remain as foreign matter on a wafer in large quantity, leading to a reduction in yield, and in reliability of TDDB characteristics of the Cu wiring. In the invention of the present application, a post-CMP cleaning process involves applying wet cleaning to a wafer by supplying a cleaning solution, such as a chemical solution or pure water, to a device surface of the wafer substantially in a vertical direction with respect to the horizontal device surface, while rotating the wafer substantially about its center in the horizontal plane. The rotation speed of the wafer is set low such that the thickness of the cleaning solution over the entire device surface becomes substantially uniform.
US08187965B2 Wirebond pad for semiconductor chip or wafer
In the present invention, copper interconnection with metal caps is extended to the post-passivation interconnection process. Metal caps may be aluminum. A gold pad may be formed on the metal caps to allow wire bonding and testing applications. Various post-passivation passive components may be formed on the integrated circuit and connected via the metal caps.
US08187964B2 Integrated circuit device and method
An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor chip with a metallization layer on the chip. A gas-phase deposited insulation layer is disposed on the metallization layer.
US08187963B2 Method of forming back contact to a cadmium telluride solar cell
A method of forming an ohmic contact to a surface of a Cd and Te containing compound film as may be found, for example in a photovoltaic cell. The method comprises forming a Te-rich layer on the surface of the Cd and Te containing compound film; depositing an interface layer on the Te-rich layer; and laying down a contact layer on the interface layer. The interface layer is composed of a metallic form of Zn and Cu.
US08187961B2 Threshold adjustment for high-K gate dielectric CMOS
A CMOS structure is disclosed in which a first type FET has an extremely thin oxide liner. This thin liner is capable of preventing oxygen from reaching the high-k dielectric gate insulator of the first type FET. A second type FET device of the CMOS structure has a thicker oxide liner. As a result, an oxygen exposure is capable to shift the threshold voltage of the second type of FET, without affecting the threshold value of the first type FET. The disclosure also teaches methods for producing the CMOS structure in which differing type of FET devices have differing thickness liners, and the threshold values of the differing type of FET devices is set independently from one another.
US08187959B2 Semiconductor substrate with solid phase epitaxial regrowth with reduced junction leakage and method of producing same
Method of producing a semiconductor device, comprising: a) providing a semiconductor substrate, b) making a first amorphous layer in a top layer of the semiconductor substrate by a suitable implant, the first amorphous layer having a first depth, c) implanting a first dopant into the semiconductor substrate to provide the first amorphous layer with a first doping profile, d) applying a first solid phase epitaxial regrowth action to partially regrow the first amorphous layer and form a second amorphous layer having a second depth that is less than the first depth and activate the first dopant, e) implanting a second dopant into the semiconductor substrate to provide the second amorphous layer with a second doping profile with a higher doping concentration than the first doping profile, f) applying a second solid phase epitaxial regrowth action to regrow the second amorphous layer and activate the second dopant.
US08187958B2 Substrate processing method and method of manufacturing crystalline silicon carbide (SIC) substrate
The present invention provides a method of processing a substrate and a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate in which, when annealing processing is performed on a crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, the occurrence of surface roughness is suppressed. A substrate processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of performing plasma irradiation on a single crystal silicon carbide (SiC) substrate (1) and a step of performing high temperature heating processing on the single crystal silicon carbide (SiC) substrate (1) in which the plasma irradiation is performed.
US08187956B2 Method for manufacturing microcrystalline semiconductor film, thin film transistor having microcrystalline semiconductor film, and photoelectric conversion device having microcrystalline semiconductor film
A method for forming a microcrystalline semiconductor film over a base formed of a different material, which has high crystallinity in the entire film and at an interface with the base, is proposed. Further, a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor including a microcrystalline semiconductor film with high crystallinity is proposed. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device including a microcrystalline semiconductor film with high crystallinity is proposed. By forming crystal nuclei with high density and high crystallinity over a base film and then growing crystals in a semiconductor from the crystal nuclei, a microcrystalline semiconductor film which has high crystallinity at an interface with the base film, which has high crystallinity in crystal grains, and which has high adhesion between the adjacent crystal grains is formed.
US08187952B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a semiconductor substrate using a hard mask layer as a barrier to form a trench defining a plurality of active regions, forming a gap-fill layer to gap-fill a portion of the inside of the trench so that the hard mask layer becomes a protrusion, forming spacers covering both sides of the protrusion, removing one of the spacers using a doped etch barrier as an etch barrier, and etching the gap-fill layer using a remaining spacer as an etch barrier to form a side trench exposing one side of the active region.
US08187950B2 Method of eliminating micro-trenches during spacer etch
A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a substrate region. The method also includes forming a pad oxide layer overlying the substrate region. The method additionally includes forming a stop layer overlying the pad oxide layer. Furthermore, the method includes patterning the stop layer and the pad oxide layer to expose a portion of the substrate region. In addition, the method includes forming a trench within an exposed portion of the substrate region, the trench having sidewalls and a bottom and a height. Also, the method includes depositing alternating layers of oxide and silicon nitride to at least fill the trench, the oxide being deposited by an HDP-CVD process. The method additionally includes performing a planarization process to remove a portion of the silicon nitride and oxide layers. In addition, the method includes removing the pad oxide and stop layers.
US08187946B2 Manufacturing a phase change memory device having a ring heater
A ring shaped heater surrounds a chalcogenide region along the length of a cylindrical solid phase portion thereof defining a change phase memory element. The chalcogenide region is formed in a sub-lithographic pore, so that a relatively compact structure is achieved. Furthermore, the ring contact between the heater and the cylindrical solid phase portion results in a more gradual transition of resistance versus programming current, enabling multilevel memories to be formed.
US08187940B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including (a) etching a semiconductor substrate to form a first trench defining an active region; (b) forming a first spacer on sidewalls of the first trench; (c) etching a bottom of the first trench to form a second trench; (d) etching a sidewall of the second trench to form a third trench including an undercut space; (e) forming a device isolation structure that fills the first, second and third trenches; (f) etching the semiconductor substrate of a gate region to form a recess; and (g) forming a gate that fills the recess.
US08187939B2 Direct contact in trench with three-mask shield gate process
A semiconductor device and a method for making a semiconductor device are disclosed. A trench mask may be applied to a semiconductor substrate, which is etched to form trenches with three different widths. A first conductive material is formed at the bottom of the trenches. A second conductive material is formed over the first conductive material. An insulator layer separates the first and second conductive materials. A first insulator layer is deposited on top of the trenches. A body layer is formed in a top portion of the substrate. A source is formed in the body layer. A second insulator layer is applied on top of the trenches and the source. A contact mask is applied on top of the second insulator layer. Source and gate contacts are formed through the second insulator layer. Source and gate metal are formed on top of the second insulator layer.
US08187937B2 Semiconductor component and method for producing the same
A method for producing a semiconductor component has the following step: the front side (101) of the semiconductor body (100) is irradiated with high-energy particles using the terminal electrode (40) as a mask, in order to produce recombination centers (80A, 80B) in the semiconductor body (100) for the recombination of the first and second conduction type of charge carriers.
US08187936B2 Ultrahigh density vertical NAND memory device and method of making thereof
A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string. The method includes forming a stack of alternating layers of a first material and a second material over a substrate. The first material includes a conductive or semiconductor control gate material and the second material includes an insulating material. The method also includes etching the stack to form at least one opening in the stack, selectively etching the first material to form first recesses in the first material and forming a blocking dielectric in the first recesses. The method also includes forming a plurality of discrete charge storage segments separated from each other in the first recesses over the blocking dielectric, forming a tunnel dielectric over a side wall of the discrete charge storage segments exposed in the at least one opening and forming a semiconductor channel in the at least one opening.
US08187930B2 Structure and layout of a FET prime cell
Method of making a semiconductor device that includes forming a source and a drain in a substrate, forming a gate on the substrate between the source and drain, forming a substrate contact in electrical contact with the source, and forming an electrical contact to the source, drain and gate, and the substrate.
US08187929B2 Mask level reduction for MOSFET
A method of fabricating a thin film transistor for an active matrix display using reduced masking operations includes patterning a gate on a substrate. A gate dielectric is formed over the gate and a semiconducting metal oxide is deposited on the gate dielectric. A channel protection layer is patterned on the semiconducting metal oxide overlying the gate to define a channel area and to expose the remaining semiconducting metal oxide. A source/drain metal layer is deposited on the structure and etched through to the channel protection layer above the gate to separate the source/drain metal layer into source and drain terminals and the source/drain metal layer and the semiconducting metal oxide are etched through at the periphery to isolate the transistor. A nonconductive spacer is patterned on the transistor and portions of the surrounding source/drain metal layer.
US08187928B2 Methods of forming integrated circuits
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a gate structure over a substrate. A plasma doping (PLAD) process is performed to at least a portion of the substrate that is adjacent to the gate structure. The doped portion of the substrate is annealed in an ambient with an oxygen-containing chemical.
US08187927B2 Liquid crystal display and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating an LCD includes: providing a substrate with a thin film transistor (TFT) part defined thereon; forming a metallic film for a gate electrode on the substrate; etching the metallic film through a first printing process to form a gate electrode; sequentially forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a metallic film for source and drain electrodes on the substrate; selectively etching the metallic film for source and drain electrodes, the semiconductor layer and the gate insulating layer through a second printing process to form a gate insulating layer pattern, a preliminary active pattern and a metallic film pattern which are sequentially stacked such that the gate insulating layer pattern is over-etched from the side of the preliminary active pattern; forming an insulating layer on the substrate with the metallic film pattern; etching the insulating layer to expose the metallic film pattern; forming a transparent conductive film on the metallic film pattern and a remaining insulating film; and selectively etching the transparent conductive film, the metallic film pattern, the preliminary active pattern to form an active pattern, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode connected with the drain electrode.
US08187926B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
There is provided a method of removing trap levels and defects, which are caused by stress, from a single crystal silicon thin film formed by an SOI technique. First, a single crystal silicon film is formed by using a typical bonding SOI technique such as Smart-Cut or ELTRAN. Next, the single crystal silicon thin film is patterned to form an island-like silicon layer, and then, a thermal oxidation treatment is carried out in an oxidizing atmosphere containing a halogen element, so that an island-like silicon layer in which the trap levels and the defects are removed is obtained.
US08187923B2 Laser release process for very thin Si-carrier build
A laser release and glass chip removal process for a integrated circuit module avoiding carrier edge cracking is provided.
US08187921B2 Semiconductor package having ink-jet type dam and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package includes a substrate which includes a chip mounting unit disposed on a first surface thereof and a pad forming unit disposed on an outer region of the chip mounting unit. The semiconductor package further includes a plurality of pads disposed on the pad forming unit of the substrate, a semiconductor chip disposed on the chip mounting unit of the substrate, a dam disposed on the first surface of the substrate between the semiconductor chip and the pad forming unit, and wherein the dam separates at least a portion of the pads from the semiconductor chip. In addition, the semiconductor package further includes an underfill material disposed between an active surface of the semiconductor chip and the first surface of the substrate and wherein an upper surface of the dam is rounded due to surface tension.
US08187920B2 Integrated circuit micro-module
One aspect of the present invention relates to an integrated circuit package that includes multiple layers of a planarizing, photo-imageable epoxy that are formed over a substrate. In some designs, the substrate is a silicon wafer. An integrated circuit is embedded in the epoxy. An antenna, which is electrically coupled to the active face of the integrated circuit through an interconnect layer, is formed over one of the epoxy layers. In various embodiments, at least some of the epoxy layers are positioned between the substrate and the antenna such that there is a distance of at least approximately 100 microns between the substrate and the antenna.
US08187919B2 Oxide thin film transistor and method of fabricating the same
An oxide thin film transistor (TFT) and its fabrication method are disclosed. In a TFT of a bottom gate structure using amorphous zinc oxide (ZnO)-based semiconductor as an active layer, source and drain electrodes are formed, on which the active layer made of oxide semiconductor is formed to thus prevent degeneration of the oxide semiconductor in etching the source and drain electrodes. The oxide TFT includes: a gate electrode form on a substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; source and drain electrodes formed on the gate insulating layer and having a multi-layer structure of two or more layers; and an active layer formed on the source and drain electrodes and formed of amorphous zinc oxide-based semiconductor, wherein a metal layer such as indium-tin-oxide, molybdenum, and the like, having good ohmic-contact characteristics with titanium and a titanium alloy having good bonding force with oxygen or the oxide-based semiconductor is formed at an uppermost portion of the source and drain electrodes. In a method for fabricating an oxide TFT, a silicon nitride film is deposited with a sputter equipment without the necessity of H2 gas so as to be used as a protection layer of oxide semiconductor to thus prevent degradation of the characteristics of the oxide semiconductor.
US08187917B2 Method for manufacturing memory device
Objects are to solve inhibition of miniaturization of a memory element and complexity of a manufacturing process thereof, and to provide a nonvolatile memory device and a semiconductor device each having the memory device, in which data can be additionally written except at the time of manufacture and in which forgery or the like caused by rewriting of data can be prevented, and a memory device and a semiconductor device that are inexpensive and nonvolatile. The present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a plurality of memory elements, in each of which a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer disposed beside the first conductive layer, and a mixed film that are disposed over the same insulating film. The mixed film contains an inorganic compound, an organic compound, and a halogen atom and is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US08187912B2 Methods of forming an anisotropic conductive layer as a back contact in thin film photovoltaic devices
Thin film photovoltaic devices are generally provided. The device can include a transparent conductive oxide layer on a glass substrate, an n-type thin film layer on the transparent conductive layer, and a p-type thin film layer on the n-type layer. The n-type thin film layer and the p-type thin film layer form a p-n junction. An anisotropic conductive layer is applied on the p-type thin film layer, and includes a polymeric binder and a plurality of conductive particles. A metal contact layer can then be positioned on the anisotropic conductive layer.
US08187907B1 Solder structures for fabrication of inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells
A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a first substrate; depositing on the first substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell including a top subcell and a bottom subcell; forming a metal back contact over the bottom subcell; forming a group of discrete, spaced-apart first bonding elements over the surface of the back metal contact; attaching a surrogate substrate on top of the back metal contact using the bonding elements; and removing the first substrate to expose the surface of the top subcell.
US08187906B2 Method for fabricating composite substances for thin film electro-optical devices
A method is provided for producing an electro-optic device having at least one optically transparent conducting layer with low electrical resistance. The method includes providing a composite substrate that includes an optically transparent and electrically insulating base substrate and an electrically conducting grid disposed in grooves located in the base substrate. Also provided is an electro-optical module having at least one transparent conducting layer. The composite substrate is attached onto the electro-optic module such that electrical contact is established between the grid and the transparent conducting layer of the electro-optic module.
US08187904B2 Methods of forming thin layers of photovoltaic absorbers
A method and a system are provide for forming planar precursor structures which are subsequently converted into thin film solar cell absorber layers. A precursor structure is first formed on the front surface of the foil substrate and then planarized through application of force or pressure by a smooth surface to obtain a planar precursor structure. The precursor structure includes at least one of a Group IB material, Group IIIA material and Group VIA material. The planar precursor structures are reacted to form planar and compositionally uniform thin film absorber layers for solar cells.
US08187902B2 High performance sensors and methods for forming the same
A sensor includes a proof mass suspended by a suspension beam, the suspension beam having a thickness less than a thickness of the proof mass.
US08187899B2 LED package structure for increasing light-emitting efficiency and controlling light-projecting angle and method for manufacturing the same
An LED package structure for increasing light-emitting efficiency and controlling light-projecting angle includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit, a light-reflecting unit and a package unit. The substrate unit has a substrate body and a chip-placing area disposed on a top surface of the substrate body. The light-emitting unit has a plurality of LED chips electrically disposed on the chip-placing area. The light-reflecting unit has an annular reflecting resin body surroundingly formed on the top surface of the substrate body by coating. The annular reflecting resin body surrounds the LED chips that are disposed on the chip-placing area to form a resin position limiting space above the chip-placing area. The package unit has a translucent package resin body disposed on the top surface of the substrate body in order to cover the LED chips. The position of the translucent package resin body is limited in the resin position limiting space.
US08187898B2 Method for manufacturing liquid discharge head
A method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head provided with a substrate which has a layer made of silicon nitride and with a discharge port forming member which is disposed above the layer made of silicon nitride and has a discharge port for discharging liquid. The method includes providing a photosensitive layer that is to be the discharge port forming member above the layer made of silicon nitride, and forming the discharge port by exposing the photosensitive layer to i-line. The layer made of silicon nitride has a refractive index of 2.05 or more to light of a wavelength of 633 nm and irradiation with the i-line is performed in the exposure.
US08187897B2 Fabricating product chips and die with a feature pattern that contains information relating to the product chip
Product chips and die, methods for fabricating product chips, and methods for tracking the identity of die after singulation from a wafer. The product chips and die include a pattern of features formed in a metallization level of a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure. The features in the pattern contain information relating to the die, such as a unique identifier that includes a wafer identification for a wafer used to fabricate the die and a product chip location for the die on the wafer. The features may be imaged with the assistance of a beam of electromagnetic radiation that penetrates into a packaged die and is altered by the presence of the features in a way that promotes imaging.
US08187895B2 Small volume in vitro analyte sensor and methods of making
A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US08187893B2 Mass spectrometric based assay for presence of a protein without the use of a standard
The present teachings provide methods for the development of a mass spectrometric based assay for a protein in a sample using parent-daughter ion transition monitoring (PDITM). In various aspects, the present teachings provide methods for developing a mass spectrometric based assay for a protein in a sample without the use of a standard for the protein. In various embodiments, the sample comprises proteolytic fragments of a protein which is present in low abundance in the physiological fluid from which it is derived.
US08187892B2 Co-topo-polymeric compositions, devices and systems for controlling threshold and delay activation sensitivities
Co-topo-polymeric indicator compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. Indicator compositions of the invention include a polymer and undergo a color change, which may be reversible or irreversible, in response to an applied stimulus, e.g., temperature. Aspects of methods of producing the compositions include setting a fluid co-topo-polymeric precursor composition into a solid product and then subjecting the solid product (either immediately or after a delay period) to polymerizing conditions to produce the desired indicator composition. Also provided are indicator devices that include the indicator compositions of the invention. The compositions of the invention find use in a variety of different applications.
US08187886B2 Blood cell sorting methods and systems
The invention relates to methods of isolating white blood cells (WBCs) from a sample, e.g., whole blood, using magnetic particles that specifically bind to WBCs and a series of specific steps and conditions. The methods can include one or more of decreasing the viscosity of the sample prior to WBC isolation, agitating the sample at specified frequencies, and/or using a sample container arranged such that all of the sample is placed in close proximity (e.g., within 5, 2, 1, or 0.5 mm) to the source of the magnetic field. The new methods provide for isolation of WBC preparations with high yield, purity, and viability. The methods are designed for compatibility with automation protocols for rapid processing of multiple samples.
US08187885B2 Microbead kit and method for quantitative calibration and performance monitoring of a fluorescence instrument
Fluorescently labeled microsphere calibration and quality control particles for use in establishing standardized fluorescence detector setup, monitoring daily QC of flow cytometers and quantitative calibration of the fluorescence detectors in traceable units of measure (molecules equivalent soluble fluorescence; MESF).
US08187883B2 Method and system for delivering nucleic acid into a target cell
Controlled delivery of nucleic acid into target cells is achieved by immobilizing the nucleic acid and the cells to a substrate. Improved control over delivery is achieved by immobilizing the nucleic acid to the substrate via complementary DNA binding interactions with an oligonucleotide linker.
US08187881B2 Methods related to wound healing
The invention is directed to methods for the treatment of wounds. Such methods utilize novel compositions, including but not limited to amnion-derived multipotent cells (herein referred to as AMP cells), conditioned media derived therefrom (herein referred to as amnion-derived cellular cytokine suspension or ACCS), cell lysates derived therefrom, cell products derived therefrom, each alone or in combination.
US08187877B2 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line
The preparation and characterization of antibodies that bind to antigens on CLL or other cancer cells, especially to antigens upregulated in the cancer cells, and the identification and characterization of antigens present on or upregulated by cancer cells are useful in studying and treating cancer.
US08187876B2 Expansion of stem/progenitor cells by inhibition of enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the Sir2 family of enzymes
Provided are ex vivo and in vivo methods of expanding renewable stem cells using agents capable of down-regulating Sir2 protein activity and/or expression, expanded populations of renewable stem cells, and uses thereof.
US08187875B2 Dopaminergic neurons derived from corneal limbus, methods of isolation and uses thereof
The present disclosure describes the generation of neural cells and neurons from mammalian pluripotent embryonic-like stem cells (ELSCs) isolated from corneal limbal tissue, a non-embryonic tissue. Specifically, the present disclosure describes the generation of neuroprogenitor cells and differentiated dopaminergic neurons from ELSCs. The disclosed methods demonstrate the potential of ELSCs as a therapeutic tool, and may provide new therapeutic alternatives for various diseases, conditions, and injuries. Neuroprogenitor cells generated from ELSCs isolated from corneo-limbal tissue were transplanted into a rat model of Parkinson's disease, and were able to alleviate motor abnormalities in the rats for at least six months.
US08187874B2 Drug discovery method
The present invention relates to drug discovery methods, particularly antiviral drug discovery methods.
US08187872B2 Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with a sindbis virus envelope glycoprotein
Lentiviral vector particles comprising a Sindbis virus E2 glycoprotein variant and a lentiviral vector genome comprising a sequence of interest are provided. A lentiviral vector particle comprising: (a) an envelope comprising a Sindbis virus E2 glycoprotein variant; and (b) a lentiviral vector genome comprising a sequence of interest; wherein the E2 glycoprotein variant facilitates infection of dendritic cells by the lentiviral vector particle, and wherein the E2 glycoprotein variant has reduced binding to heparan sulfate compared to a reference sequence (HR strain).
US08187864B2 Exchangeable sheets pre-loaded with reagent depots for digital microfluidics
The present invention provides an exchangeable, reagent pre-loaded sheets which can be temporarily applied to an electrode array on a digital microfluidic device (DMF). The substrate facilitates virtually un-limited re-use of the DMF devices avoiding cross-contamination on the electrode array itself, as well as enabling rapid exchange of pre-loaded reagents while bridging the world-to-chip interface of DMF devices. The present invention allows for the transformation of DMF into a versatile platform for lab-on-a-chip applications.
US08187855B2 Large-scale production of soluble hyaluronidase
Provided are methods for preparing large-scale preparations of soluble hyaluronidases. The methods employ cells that contain a plurality of active copies of nucleic acid encoding the soluble hyaluronidase and a plurality of feedings and temperature changes, whereby the encoded soluble hyaluronidase is secreted into the cell culture medium.
US08187854B2 Lipase variants
The invention provides variant lipases, preferably, variants with reduced tendency to odor generation obtained by introducing mutations in one or more regions identified in a parent lipase.
US08187850B2 Method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the enterobacteriaceae family with attenuated expression of the ybiV gene
The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of the ybiV gene.
US08187842B2 Altered glyoxylate shunt for improved production of aspartate-derived amino acids and chemicals
The invention provides microbial strains possessing improved properties for production of aspartate-derived amino acids and chemicals. Methods of making such strains are provided. These methods include altering expression of the aceBAK operon, the glcB gene, or both. Alteration of expression may be accomplished through increased transcription, relief from native transcriptional control, and/or other means. Replacement of native promoters for these genes is also contemplated; for instance, their native promoters may be replaced by the tac promoter (Ptac).
US08187840B2 Microorganism producing inosine and method of producing inosine using the same
The present invention relates to a microorganism producing inosine, which is one of purine nucleoside, an important material for 5′-inosinic acid synthesis, and method for producing inosine using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism of Corynebacterium genus producing inosine at high concentration by inactivating the gene encoding nucleoside hydrolase II and by enhancing the expression of the gene encoding 5′-nucleotidase, which still retains the characteristics of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes CJIP2401 (KCCM-10610).
US08187837B2 Optimized purification process of recombinant growth factor protein
A process for the production of a purified recombinant GDF-5 related protein in prokaryotes comprises the steps of bacterial cell disruption and inclusion body solubilization to obtain a solubilized monomer of a GDF-5 related protein, said process characterized by a) disruption of bacterial cells with a high pressure homogenizer at a disruption pressure between 800 and 900 bar; and/or b) treatment of the recovered inclusion bodies with a denaturing solubilization buffer comprising L-arginine.
US08187836B2 Mammalian expression vectors and uses thereof
The present invention features nucleic acids for recombinant protein expression in mammalian cell culture. The episomal vectors of the invention promote high protein production in mammalian cells expressing the SV40 T Ag or Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (e.g., COS7 or HEK293-6E cells). The methods and systems are useful, for example, in pharmaceutical drug development and cloning, especially for the production of antibodies.
US08187835B2 Method for producing protein
By culturing a methanol-assimilating bacterium which harbors a DNA construct which contains a promoter sequence that functions in the methanol-assimilating bacterium and a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide containing a signal sequence and an objective protein which is functionally connected to the promoter sequence, in a liquid medium containing methanol as a major carbon source, the bacterium is allowed to secrete the objective protein, and the secreted objective protein is recovered.
US08187834B2 Non-cytotoxic protein conjugates
The present invention is directed to non-cytotoxic protein conjugates for inhibition or reduction of exocytic fusion in a nociceptive sensory afferent cell. The protein conjugates comprise: (i) a Targeting Moiety (TM), wherein the TM is an agonist of a receptor present on a nociceptive sensory afferent cell, and wherein the receptor undergoes endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; (ii) a non-cytotoxic protease or a fragment thereof, wherein the protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; and (iii) a Translocation Domain, wherein the Translocation Domain translocates the protease or protease fragment from within the endosome, across the endosomal membrane, and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the protein conjugates, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described.
US08187833B2 Chimeric PCSK9 proteins, cells comprising same, and assays using same
A chimera protein comprising in the following order: a signal peptide, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 preproprotein (PCSK9) sequence consisting of amino acid residues at positions 35 to 696 of SEQ ID NO: 38, a transmembrane domain and a cytosolic domain, wherein said cytosolic (CT) domain comprises a sequence able to recycle the protein from the cellular membrane to endosomes.
US08187831B2 Determination of ions using ion-sensitive enzymes
The invention relates generally to the field of sodium and lithium ion detection. In particular, the invention provides chimeric proteins, nucleic acids encoding chimeric proteins, methods and kits for assaying for sodium ions and for lithium ions in a sample, using inter alia, a 3′(2′),5′-bisphosphate nucleotidase.
US08187823B2 Modulation of neuroglia-derived BDNF in the treatment and prevention of pain
Methods and products for the attenuation or treatment of pain and the reduction of nociception are described. The methods and products are based on the modulation of neuroglia-derived BDNF expression or activity. Also described herein are commercial packages and uses based on such modulation. Related methods for identifying or characterizing compounds for the treatment of pain and the reduction of nociception are also described.
US08187820B2 Detection method using nanoaggregate-embedded beads and system thereof
The invention discloses a detection method using nanoaggregate-embedded beads and system thereof, which are characterized in that the nanoaggregate of Raman dye and metal nanoparticles is coated by an inorganic oxide to form a nanoaggregate-embedded bead, and which is then conjugated with a probe molecule to form a sensor bead. The Raman spectra of the product formed by binding of the sensor bead and an analyte in a sample is detected for determining whether the analyte exists in the sample. In embodiment, the pH of the solution of metal nanoparticles is controlled to keep at 10, and the concentration of the Raman dye is controlled to keep between 1×10−6 M and 2×10−6 M for reducing the size of the nanoaggregate.
US08187818B2 Use of sPLA2 activity for the diagnosis of a cardiovascular event
A method for determining an increased risk of mortality or of a cardiac and/or vascular event in a patient, includes:—determining the sPLA2 activity of the patient as a first risk marker—determining at least the value of a second risk marker chosen among CRP level, IgM IC of apo B 100 level or IgM MDA-LDL level—determining the ratio (odds ratio) between the value of the sPLA2 activity and the value of the second risk marker and comparing it to a predetermined odds ratio, the odds ratio compared to the predetermined odds ratio being indicative of an increased risk of mortality or of a cardiac and/or vascular event. A new micro method adaptation for automated fluorimetric measurement of serum secretory phospholipase A2 is also disclosed.
US08187814B2 Methods for concurrent identification and quantification of an unknown bioagent
The present invention provides methods for the quantification of an unknown bioagent in a sample by amplification of nucleic acid of the bioagent, and concurrent amplification of a known quantity of a calibration polynucleotide from which are obtained a bioagent identifying amplicon and a calibration amplicon. Upon molecular mass analysis, mass and abundance data are obtained. The identity of the bioagent is then determined from the molecular mass of the bioagent identifying amplicon and the quantity of the identified bioagent in the sample is determined from the abundance data of the bioagent identifying amplicon and the abundance data of the calibration amplicon.
US08187813B2 Methods and apparatuses for convective polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.
US08187809B2 Method for judging lymph node metastasis of stomach cancer and kit used therefor
The present invention provides a novel marker capable of accurately diagnosing the lymph node metastasis of stomach cancer. An mRNA, or a fragment thereof, coding for at least one protein selected from TFF1, AGR2, PRSS8, MUC1, MUC4 and MUC17 can be useful as a lymph node metastasis marker.
US08187807B2 Methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative bleeding, renal dysfunction or stroke
The present invention relates, in general, to perioperative bleeding and, in particular, to methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative bleeding.The present invention relates, in general, to perioperative renal dysfunction and, in particular, to methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative renal dysfunction.The present invention relates, in general, to perioperative stroke and, in particular, to methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative stroke.
US08187801B2 Methods and kits to detect and monitor ovarian cancer and preeclampsia
The present invention provides methods and kits related to a prognostic, and, in certain embodiments, diagnostic indicator for ovarian cancer which comprises measuring the level of MUC16 bound to immune cells. The level of MUC16 bound to immune cells can by itself be an indicator of disease regression or recurrence, or this indicator can be used in conjunction with assays for serum CA125 and other diagnostic markers. The invention further provides methods and kits related to the detection of ovarian cancer by measuring levels of Siglec-9 expression on immune cells. As well, related methodologies are provided for the detection of preeclampsia in pregnant human subjects.
US08187800B2 Methods for selecting active agents for cancer treatment
The present invention provides methods for individualizing chemotherapy, and particularly methods for individualizing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The present invention provides methods for predicting a cancer patient's response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including assessing the probability of a positive response upon treatment with candidate agents prior to surgery. In various aspects, the invention involves culturing a monolayer of malignant cells from an explant of a patient's biopsy specimen, such as a transcutaneous biopsy-sized specimen, and testing the malignant cells for resistance or sensitivity to one or a plurality of candidate agents for neoadjuvant therapy. In other aspects, the invention provides methods for accurately scoring and interpreting such assays, and discloses in vitro chemoresponse results that are predictive of a patient's pathological complete response (pCR) upon receiving the corresponding treatment regimen.
US08187796B2 Method of manufacturing optical waveguide device
An optical waveguide device is provided which is capable of reducing light propagation losses in the cores of an optical waveguide when the optical waveguide is formed on a surface of a substrate, regardless of the type of substrate. A photosensitive resin layer (4A) for over cladding layer formation is made of a photosensitive resin composition of a non-solvent type, and is heated prior to the exposure thereof to light. This causes interface portions between the cores (3) and the photosensitive resin layer (4A) to be formed into mixed layers (5). This reduces light propagation losses.
US08187790B2 Polymer for resist and resist composition manufactured using the same
Disclosed are a polymer for a chemically amplified resist represented as and a resist composition using the same. In the above Chemical formula 1, X represents vinyl ether derivatives or olefin derivatives, at least one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 is an alkyl group with 1 to 30 carbon atoms containing at least one functional group of a hydrogen atom, an ether group, an ester group, a carbonyl group, an acetal group, an epoxy group, a nitryl group (—CN), and an aldehyde group, l, m, n, o and p respectively represent repeating units, l represents a real number of 0.05 to 0.5, m and n respectively represent real numbers of 0.1 to 0.7, o and p respectively represent real numbers of 0 to 0.7, and a sum of l, m, n, o and p is 1.
US08187787B2 Fluorine-containing compound, fluorine-containing polymer, negative-type resist composition, and patterning process using same
Disclosed is a fluorine-containing unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein R1 represents a polymerizable double-bond containing group, R3 represents a fluorine atom or fluorine-containing alkyl group, and W represents a bivalent linking group. This compound can provide a fluorine-containing polymer compound that has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000-1,000,000 and contains a repeating unit represented by formula (2), wherein R3 and W are defined as above, each of R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom or monovalent organic group, at least two of R4, R5 and R6 may be combined to form a ring. This polymer compound can provide a chemically amplified resist composition that is transparent to KrF or ArF excimer laser light and has a high resolution and is capable of forming a pattern having a rectangular section with no swelling.
US08187784B2 Toner composition and method for manufacturing the toner composition
A toner composition including toner particles, wherein the toner particles are prepared by a method in which toner constituents including at least a binder resin and a colorant are kneaded upon application of heat to prepare a toner constituent mixture; the toner constituent mixture is dissolved or swelled in an organic solvent capable of dissolving or swelling at least the binder resin to prepare an oil phase liquid; the oil phase liquid is emulsified in an aqueous liquid to prepare an emulsion; the emulsion is coagulated; and then the coagulated emulsion is dried to prepare the toner particles.
US08187779B2 Toner for electrostatic image development
A toner for electrostatic image development containing a resin binder and a charge control agent, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester A obtained by polycondensing a carboxylic acid component containing isophthalic acid and/or an ester thereof, and an alcohol component, and wherein the charge control agent contains an azo-iron complex represented by the formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R4, which may be identical or different, is a linear or branched alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; each of R2, R3, R5, and R6, which may be identical or different, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a nitro group, or a carboxyl group; and A+ is a cation. The toner for electrostatic image development is suitably used in developing latent images formed in, for example, electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US08187775B2 High resolution photomask
A film photomask comprises a polymer substrate such as a photosensitive polymer than can be darkened. The photomask substrate is sensitive to light within a first wavelength range and is initially transparent to light within a second wavelength range that is utilized for product exposure operations to pattern a product using photomask. During a mask exposure operation, select regions of the photomask are exposed to light within the first wavelength range to selectively photodarken regions of the photomask substrate according to a desired pattern. The photodarkened regions are darkened sufficient to block light within the second wavelength range used for patterning a product through the photomask. Thus, no chemical processing is required to create a mask pattern. Moreover, the pattern is defined within/through the polymer material. The photomask may further comprise a filter that is applied to at least one side thereof for blocking light within the first wavelength range.
US08187773B2 Method for generating mask pattern data and method for manufacturing mask
A method for generating data on mask pattern used to form a device pattern formed on a reflective exposure mask, wherein data on the mask pattern is generated based on a position correction amount table used to correct an amount of transfer position error occurring depending on at least one of pattern size and pattern pitch of the mask pattern when the mask pattern is transferred onto an exposure target member.
US08187770B2 High performance, crosslinked polymeric material for holographic data storage
An optical recording material and methods of making such material is provided. The material comprises of a dewar benzene monomer, with at least two cross-linkable groups, a sensitizer, a cross-linker, and an initiator. The material does not require a binder or a co-sensitizer. The material can be fabricated by an exceedingly easy technique that offers high photosensitivity, high diffraction efficiency, millimeter thickness, and high dynamic range.
US08187765B2 Membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
A membrane electrode assembly according to the invention includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an electrode joined to each of two sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is such that some or all of the protons included in the entire solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a band region, or a non-power generating region are ion exchanged with one or more cations selected from among complex cations, class four alkylammonium cations, and high valence cations. In addition or alternatively, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane includes an organo-metalloxane polymer obtained by impregnating the entire solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the non-power generating region, or the band region with an organo-metalloxane monomer that includes an ammonium cation or a class four ammonium cation at its terminus and then hydrolyzing and polycondensing the organo-metalloxane monomer.
US08187760B2 Fuel cell system for repressing reservoir water backflow
A fuel-cell system is advantageous for repressing water from flowing backward from a reservoir to a condenser, flowing backward which results from the inside of the condenser being turned into negative pressure. The fuel-cell system has a fuel cell for generating electric power by reactant gas, a condenser for generating condensed water by condensing water content included in the reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell or in off gas of the reactant gas, and a reservoir for reserving the condensed water collected at the condenser. A drain valve is disposed between the condenser and the reservoir. The drain valve is switchable between a closed state in which communication between the condenser and the reservoir is shut off and an opened state in which the condenser is communicated with the reservoir to discharge the water in the condenser to the reservoir. A controller carries out inner-pressure increment and drain controls for opening the drain valve after increasing inner pressure in the condenser.
US08187758B2 Fuel cell apparatus with a split pump
A fluid pump and connector assembly is particularly suited for use in connecting a fuel cartridge to a fuel cell system. The assembly has a first sub-assembly comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flexible diaphragm in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, and a first connector. The assembly also has a second sub-assembly comprising a second connector adapted to connect to the first connector, an actuator and a reciprocating member coupled to the actuator and contacting the diaphragm when the first and second sub-assemblies are connected, wherein a reciprocating motion of the actuator and member causes the diaphragm to reciprocate and pump fluid from the inlet to the outlet without exposing the fluid to the second sub-assembly.
US08187757B2 Fuel cell system including a gas-liquid separator and a circulation device
A compact fuel cell system capable of preventing water from remaining in a pipe is provided. The fuel cell system 1 includes a fuel cell 2, a fuel gas flow control device 3 for controlling the amount of fuel gas flowing from a fuel gas supply system, a gas-liquid separator 4 for separating water contained in an anode off gas discharged from the fuel cell 2, and a circulation device 5 which mixes an anode off gas discharged from the gas-liquid separator 4 and a fuel gas newly supplied by a fuel gas supply system, and supplies the mixed gas to the fuel cell 2. The gas-liquid separator 4 and the circulation device 5 are attached to an end plate 6 of the fuel cell 2 and the circulation device 5 is positioned higher than the gas-liquid separator 3.
US08187755B2 Electrode for electrochemical element, its manufacturing method, and electrochemical element using the same
Having a current collector having a concave portion and a convex portion at least on one side, and a columnar body formed on the convex portion of the current collector, the columnar body contains an active material for inserting and extracting lithium ions bonding at least with oxygen, and the oxygen content ratio of the active material of the columnar body becomes smaller as going away from the interface of the current collector.
US08187748B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a positive electrode having a positive electrode material mixture containing a composite lithium oxide; a negative electrode; a polyolefin separator; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a heat-resistant insulating layer interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode material mixture has an estimated heat generation rate at 200° C. of not greater than 50 W/kg. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound together with the separator and the heat-resistant insulating layer interposed therebetween.
US08187745B2 Cathode for fuel cell
A cathode for a fuel cell is provided, which includes an electrode catalyst layer. This electrode catalyst layer is constituted by a carried catalyst including a conductive carrier and catalytic fine particles carried on the conductive carrier, by a proton-conductive inorganic oxide containing an oxide carrier and oxide particles carried on a surface of the oxide carrier, and by a proton-conductive organic polymer binder. The carried catalyst is incorporated therein at a weight of WC. Silicon oxide is carried on the surface of the proton-conductive inorganic oxide at a weight ratio of 0.1-0.5 times as much as the weight of the proton-conductive inorganic oxide. The proton-conductive inorganic oxide is incorporated at a weight of WSA+SiO2. The weight ratio (WSA+SiO2/WC) is confined to 0.01-0.25. The proton-conductive organic polymer binder is incorporated at a weight of WP, the weigh ratio (WP/WSA+SiO2) is confined to 0.5-43.
US08187742B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery that can stably fix an electrode assembly. The rechargeable battery is constructed with an electrode assembly that includes a cathode, an anode, and a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and has a bottom boss formed at the bottom part, a cap assembly coupled with the case to close and seal the case and being electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a current collecting plate disposed between the electrode assembly and the case and having an opening hole into which the bottom boss is inserted.
US08187741B2 Alkaline battery
The present invention provides an alkaline battery which has high reliability and high cost performance and does not cause an internal short circuit resulting from gel leakage even when the filling densities of the positive and negative electrodes are reduced. In the alkaline battery, a positive electrode 2 contains manganese dioxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode 3 is a gel negative electrode containing zinc as a negative electrode active material, a filling density of manganese dioxide in the positive electrode 2 is in a range of 2.31 to 2.45 g/cm3, a filling density of zinc in the negative electrode 3 is in a range of 1.49 to 1.65 g/cm3, and a ratio (h1/h2) between a height of the positive electrode 2 (h1) and a height of the negative electrode 3 (h2) is in a range of 0.96 to 1.06.
US08187739B2 Power storage apparatus and cooling system
To provide a power storage apparatus which can achieve improved heat radiation of a power storage unit, a power storage apparatus has a power storage unit including an electrode element placed with an electrolyte layer, and a case housing the power storage unit and a cooling fluid which is used for cooling the power storage unit and is in contact with at least the electrode element.
US08187738B2 Spirally-rolled electrodes with separator and the batteries therewith
Spirally-rolled electrodes for batteries wherein the electrodes having a concentric circle shape or an elliptic shape with positive electrode and negative electrode wound spirally via a separator therebetween has the characteristics as below: (1) the positive electrode and/or negative electrode consist of the combinations of several electrode plates; (2) each of the combinations in the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode so includes that the total amount of the active material or pseudo-active material which are the main materials for the electrode is substantially constant and; (3) each electrode plate in the electrode including plural electrodes is wound in series with an interval therebetween.
US08187737B2 Galvanic electrochemical cells utilizing taylor vortex flows
Electrochemical cells (100, 500, 600) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, such as batteries (102), flow cells (502) and fuel cells (602) with a cylindrical rotating ion-permeable filter (120, 414, 520, 620) that generates Taylor Vortex Flows (144, 146, 404, 544, 546, 664, 666) and Circular Couette Flows (148, 150, 568, 570, 668, 670) in thixotropic catholytes and anolytes between a cylindrical current collector (106, 506, 606, 108, 508, 608) and the filter (120, 414, 520, 620) are disclosed.
US08187735B2 Multifunctional mixed metal olivines for lithium ion batteries
Electroactive compositions are disclosed for use in lithium ion battery electrodes. The compositions, such as multifunctional mixed metal olivines, provide an electrochemical cell having a plurality of open circuit voltages at different states of charge. The compositions afford improved state-of-charge monitoring, overcharge protection and/or overdischarge protection for lithium ion batteries.
US08187734B2 Proton-conducting polymer composition and method for preparation thereof, catalyst ink containing said proton-conducting polymer composition and fuel cell including said catalyst ink
A proton-conducting polymer composition which contains an aromatic hydrocarbon type of proton-conducting polymer in an amount of 1 to 30 mass %, wherein a component of said proton-conducting polymer having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 230,000 in terms of polyethylene glycol accounts for 10 mass % or more of the total amount of said proton-conducting polymer; a method for preparing the proton-conducting polymer composition, a catalyst ink comprising the proton-conducting polymer composition and a fuel cell including the catalyst ink. The above proton-conducting polymer composition can well exploit the performance capability of a catalyst of a fuel cell, especially when it is allowed to be present with the electrode of a fuel cell.
US08187731B2 Metal ferrite spinel energy storage devices and methods for making and using same
1-100 nm metal ferrite spinel coatings are provided on substrates, preferably by using an atomic layer deposition process. The coatings are able to store energy such as solar energy, and to release that stored energy, via a redox reaction. The coating is first thermally or chemically reduced. The reduced coating is then oxidized in a second step to release energy and/or hydrogen, carbon monoxide or other reduced species.
US08187717B1 High purity ceramic abradable coatings
The invention is directed to a material and method for obtaining a ceramic abradable system for high temperature applications. High purity partially stabilized zirconia and/or hafnia base material has higher sintering resistance compared to conventional 6-9 weight percent yttria stabilized zirconia systems. The benefits of these systems are higher service lifetime and low thermal conductivity to achieve high operating temperatures. System includes a superalloy substrate, oxidation resistant bond coat and a thick ceramic abradable top coat. Total coating thickness is about 0.5-5 mm. In some applications an intermediate layer of high purity partially stabilized zirconia or a partially stabilized YSZ/MCrAlY cermet is applied over the oxidation resistant bond coat. In other applications an abradable system is applied on top of a grid. Additional benefits should be reduced blade wear at high operating conditions.
US08187716B2 Aqueous adhesion promoter composition comprising an aminosilane and a mercaptosilane
Aqueous adhesion promoter compositions include at least one aminosilane and/or aminosiloxane and also at least one mercaptosilane. The adhesion promoter compositions are suitable more particularly as primers or adhesion-promoter undercoats for adhesives and sealants. They are especially suitable for the adhesive bonding of vehicle glazing. Exceptionally high adhesion has been found more particularly with glazing featuring applied silver prints.
US08187711B2 Polymeric intermediate transfer members
An intermediate transfer member that contains a polymer of a polyester, a polycarbonate and a polyalkylene glycol, such as a polyethylene glycol, and further including as an optional component a conductive material such as a metal oxide or carbon black.
US08187708B2 Microphasic micro-components and methods for controlling morphology via electrified jetting
The disclosure provides methods for preparation of multiphasic micro-components, such as core-shell or anisotropic (e.g., Janus) multiphasic particles with well-defined structures using electrohydrodynamic co-jetting of two polymer solutions containing polyelectrolytes. Suitable polyelectrolytes include polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(acrylamide acrylic acid (PAAm), and/or poly(acryl amide-co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-AA), sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), polyethylene imine (PEI), polypeptides, copolymers and combinations of these. Control of certain variables, such as relative conductivities of the two jetting solutions, controls the particle morphologies formed, leading to a predetermined phase orientation for the same polymer system. In certain aspects, after cross-linking, core-shell particles are stable in aqueous solutions and exhibit reproducible swelling behavior, while maintaining the original core-shell geometry. In addition, micro-components formed in accordance with the present teachings are pH-responsive based on external environmental pH. Thus, such micro-components are useful for a variety of different applications, including micro- and nano-active ingredient delivery systems.
US08187702B1 Decorative laminate and method of making
A decorative laminate is provided and includes a core with at least one epoxy resin impregnated fiberboard sheet. The decorative laminate also includes at least one decorative layer provided adjacent to the core. A method of forming a decorative laminate is also provided.
US08187701B2 Porous humidity-control tile and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a porous humidity-control tile including about 40% to about 95% by weight of diatomite, and one or more of ochre, red clay, kaolin, zeolite, illite, vermiculite, feldspar, pottery stone, and pyrophyllite. The porous humidity-control tile has about 10 vol % to 80 vol % of cellular spherical pores having a size corresponding to a size of hollow pore forming material that is removable by heat treatment. The porous humidity-control tile has a rate of moisture adsorption/desorption per unit weight in a range from about 20 g/kg to about 60 g/kg and a rate of moisture adsorption/adsorption per unit area in a range from about 150 g/m2 to about 450 g/m2. Therefore, the porous humidity-control tile can be light, and the amount of adsorption/desorption per unit weight of the porous humidity-control tile can be improved.
US08187695B2 Shaping sheet, resin decorative material and method of producing the same
The present invention provides a shaping sheet that includes a base material having at least an ink layer provided on the whole surface thereof and a surface shaping layer that is present on the ink layer, contacts the ink layer, and covers the whole surface of the ink layer, in which the surface shaping layer is a crosslinked and cured product of a curable resin composition and the surface shaping layer has a concavoconvex pattern on a surface thereof. There can be obtained: a shaping sheet that has a fine concavoconvex pattern, allows elaborated shaping with a high-grade feeling, and has excellent releasability; a shaping sheet having excellent design properties and releasability that can readily control a lustrous portion and a matted portion; and further a shaping sheet whose surface is free of contamination by impurities separated out of the base material even when it is repeatedly used.
US08187694B2 Composite plate member
A composite plate member having a high tensile strength is disclosed to include a metal plate member having opposing outer face and bonding face and binding units located on the bonding face, each binding unit having binding strips formed of a part of the bonding face and respectively obliquely extending from the bonding face at a predetermined angle, and a plastic plate member directly molded on the bonding face of the metal plate member by insert molding to have the binding strips be embedded in the plastic plate member.
US08187691B2 Honeycomb structure
A honeycomb structure includes at least one honeycomb unit. The at least one honeycomb unit has a longitudinal direction and includes zeolite and an inorganic binder. A content of the zeolite per apparent unit volume of the at least one honeycomb unit is about 230 g/L or greater. The at least one honeycomb includes plural cell walls extending from one end face to another end face along the longitudinal direction to define plural cell walls. A porosity of substantially all pores in the cell walls is about 40% or less. A porosity of pores having diameters in a range of about 0.005 μm through about 0.02 μm in the cell walls is about 5% or greater. A porosity of pores having diameters in a range of about 0.05 μm through about 0.2 μm in the cell walls is about 17.5% or greater.
US08187686B2 Elastic member for ink jet recording apparatus, ink jet recording apparatus including elastic member, elastic member for ink tank and ink tank including elastic member
An elastic member for an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a material containing 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer having a crystalline polyolefin block and an amorphous polyolefin block, 3 to 40 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin and 40 to 250 parts by weight of a softening agent.
US08187685B2 Window envelopes with scratch resistant window film patches
The invention includes a composition comprising from 40 to 98 weight percent of at least one GPPS, from 0 to 98 weight percent of at least one HIPS, from 0.5 to 10 weight percent at least one styrene block copolymer, from 0.5 to 10 weight percent of at least one polypropylene wherein the combination of GPPS, HIPS, polypropylene and styrene block copolymer make up at least about 90 percent of the composition as well as a film made of the composition, an envelope window patch comprising the film, an envelope comprising the window patch, and a process for making the film.
US08187683B2 Multilayered polyamide tube for food packaging
An object of the present invention is to provide a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging that is free from blocking in a Layer (C), and that has an excellent adherence to processed meat or like packaged food. The present invention provides a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging comprising a Layer (A), a Layer (B) and a Layer (C); the multilayered polyamide-based tube having a low-temperature shrinkage ratio of 2 to 10%, and exhibiting heat shrinkage properties and gas barrier properties; the Layer (A) containing a polyamide-based resin; the Layer (B) containing a polyolefin-based resin; and the Layer (C) that comes in contact with the packaged food, the Layer (C) being a Layer (C-1) that contains a polypropylene-based resin having a heat distortion temperature (ISO 75B-1 or ISO 75B-2) of not less than 60° C. and a Vicat softening point of not less than 120° C., and that has a surface wetting tension of not less than 35 mN/m; or the Layer (C) being a Layer (C-2) that contains a linear low-density polyethylene having a density of not less than 0.92 g/cm3 but less than 0.95 g/cm3, and that has a surface wetting tension of not less than 35 mN/m.
US08187682B2 Protective glass against ionizing radiation
An element, particularly a transparent element, including at least one glass element, configured as a protective glass against ionizing radiation and/or UV radiation, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the glass element is covered by a film that includes a substance that can be switched into at least two states.
US08187680B2 Anti-static adhesive composition, polarizing plate and surface protective film using the composition
Disclosed are an anti-static adhesive composition, and a polarizing plate and/or a surface protective film fabricated using the same. More particularly, an anti-static adhesive composition for imparting enhanced anti-static properties, including a metal salt represented by Formula 1 as an anti-static agent so as to sufficiently inhibit generation of static electricity while not deteriorating inherent physical properties of an adhesive such as adhesiveness, durability and reliability, etc., is provided. In addition, a polarizing plate and and/or a surface protective film fabricated using the foregoing anti-static adhesive composition are provided. M+[(FSO2)2N]−  (Formula 1) wherein M is an alkali metal.
US08187679B2 Radical-enhanced atomic layer deposition system and method
A radical-enhanced atomic layer deposition (REALD) system and method involves moving a substrate along a circulating or reciprocating transport path between zones that provide alternating exposure to a precursor gas and a gaseous radical species. The radical species may be generated in-situ within a reaction chamber by an excitation source such as plasma generator or ultraviolet radiation (UV), for example. The gaseous radical species is maintained in a radicals zone within the reaction chamber while a precursor gas is introduced into a precursor zone. The precursor zone is spaced apart from the radicals zone to define a radical deactivation zone therebetween. Purge gas flowing through the various zones may provide flow and pressure conditions that substantially prevent the precursor gas from flowing into the radicals zone. In some embodiments, the system includes a partition having one or more flow-restricting passageways though which the substrate is transported.
US08187671B2 Method of making heat treated coated article using diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating and protective film including removal of protective film via blasting
There is provided a method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and an overlying protective film thereon. In certain example embodiments, the protective film may be of or include both (a) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer, and (b) a release layer. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed via blasting it off using particles mainly of material softer than the DLC. In certain example embodiments, the blasting particles may be of or include sodium bicarbonate and/or may be directed at the protective film at a blasting pressure of from about 2.5 to 7.0 bar, more preferably from about 3 to 4.5 bar. In certain example embodiments, the blasting particles may be soluble in water and/or may have a blasting residue which is basic (pH>7), so as to result in a more environmentally friendly process.
US08187662B2 Method of controlling a drug release rate
A method of controlling the drug release rate of a drug coated endovascular stent by depositing a drug material layer on the stent and then modifying the drug material using gas cluster ion beam irradiation to create a carbon matrix with interstices containing the original drug. The rate at which the drug elutes through the interstices can be controlled by processing parameters. Multiple layers may be employed to create time varying release rates.
US08187658B2 Method of manufacturing analyte test strip for accepting diverse sample volumes
A method of manufacturing an analyte test strip includes positioning a patterned spacer layer between a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer such that the second insulating is disposed above the first insulating layer and a channel is defined between the first and second insulating layers. Moreover, the channel thus defined has a sample-receiving chamber therein, a first port, and a second port. The method also includes coupling a third insulating layer to the first insulating layer such that the third insulating layer is disposed at least partially below the first insulating layer. In the coupling step, the third insulating layer includes a platform portion that extends beyond the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer and the platform portion has an upper surface. In this manufacturing method, the first and second ports are in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber; the upper surface of the platform portion is configured to receive a first (relatively large) bodily fluid sample of at least 5 micro-liters and for filling the sample-receiving chamber with a portion of the first bodily fluid sample, and the second port is configured to receive a second (relatively small) bodily fluid sample of lesser volume than the first bodily fluid sample and for filling the sample-receiving chamber with a portion of the small bodily fluid sample.
US08187653B2 System and methods for transporting or storing oxidatively-degradable foodstuff
Disclosed are packaging systems and methods useful in extending the storage-life of foodstuff such as fresh fish. The packaging systems and methods can be used to transport or store the foodstuff for an extended period of time. The packaging systems preferably use a fuel cell to maintain a reduced oxygen level in the environment surrounding the foodstuff.
US08187651B2 Method and apparatus for continuous processing of whole muscle meat products
A continuous method and system for processing whole muscle meat employs a mixer housing having a pair of parallel rotating shafts located therein. The parallel rotating shafts have a plurality of mixing elements thereon, such as frustoconical elements, blocking elements, or ellipsoid elements. The mixer housing has an input end to receive the meat ingredients, such as meat pieces, salt solution, water, preservatives, and other additives such as spices. The mixer housing has an output, which is separated a distance from the input, such that the output discharges the whole muscle meat product. As the ingredients including the meat move from the input to the output along the shafts, the mixing elements work the meat with the other ingredients thereby increasing ingredient incorporation including diffusion of the salt solution into the whole muscle meat pieces.
US08187650B2 Egg tray and fixer and method of processing eggs using the same
The present invention relates to an egg tray that is used to sterilize an egg or to boil the egg soft or hard and in which an egg is washed, heated, sterilized, boiled soft or hard, dried, coated, inspected, cooled, and packed to increase the safety and the value of commodity of foods and to increase the productivity, a fixer for layering the egg trays to fix them, and a method for processing an egg by using the same. The egg trays of the present invention includes a plurality of convex parts that are disposed at a predetermined interval to be connected to each other, a plurality of bottom parts that are protruded in an opposite direction with respect to the convex parts, and a guide part that is protruded from the center part of the convex part, and in which a plurality of fluid discharging holes that are formed around the guide parts, inclined sides that form lateral parts of the convex parts are convex, a plurality of egg insertion holes are formed on the inclined sides by using the egg trays, and a plurality of fluid discharging holes may be further provided around the bottom part.
US08187644B2 SCF extract containing cardiac glycoside
A supercritical fluid (SCF) extract of a cardiac glycoside-containing plant mass is provided. The extract can be included in a pharmaceutical composition containing an extract-solubilizing amount of solubilizer. Oleandrin is included within the extract when a cardiac glycoside-containing plant, such as Nerium oleander, is extracted by SCF extraction. The extract can also contain one or more other SCF extractable pharmacologically active agents. The composition can be used to treat a wide range of disorders that are therapeutically responsive to a cardiac glycoside.
US08187642B1 Modified pectins, compositions and methods related thereto
The present invention provides compositions of modified pectin and methods for preparing and using them.
US08187630B2 Extended release oral dosage composition
A bilayer solid composition comprising (a) an immediate release first layer comprising an anti-allergic effective amount of desloratadine and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and (b) a sustained release second layer comprising an effective amount of a nasal decongestant, e.g. pseudoephedrine sulfate and a pharmaceutically acceptable sustained release agent wherein the composition contains less than about 2% of desloratadine decomposition products is disclosed. A solid composition comprising an anti-allergic effective amount of desloratadine and at least one, and preferably two pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidants is also disclosed.
US08187629B2 Non-lamellar compositions of DOPE and P80
The present invention relates to particulate compositions comprising at least 50% of dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) and 1 to 50% of Polysorbate 80 (P80). All parts are by weight relative to the sum of the weights of a+b and the compositions comprise non-lamellar particles or form non-lamellar particles when contacted with an aqueous fluid. The compositions have advantageous stability and low toxicity and the invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US08187627B2 Dressing delivery system for internal wounds
A dressing delivery system comprises an applicator for holding and positioning a wound dressing. The applicator comprises a sleeve having a distal spreading portion. The wound dressing is disposed on or adjacent the spreading portion. The applicator urges the dressing into contact with the wound. The sleeve is advanced to actuate the spreading portion, which increases the diameter of the applicator and preferably deploys the dressing.
US08187624B1 Compositions for taking dietary fibers
The invention relates to a composition for taking dietary fibers, which comprises 1 to 50% by weight, on the basis of the whole composition, of dietary fibers composed of water-soluble and hardly fermentable dietary fiber and water-soluble and fermentable dietary fiber, wherein the water-soluble and fermentable dietary fiber is contained in a proportion of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight per part by weight of the water-soluble and hardly fermentable dietary fiber. The composition remarkably ameliorates not only bowel movement frequency but also full consciousness, feeling of unsatisfied defecation, etc. and is hence useful as food for ameliorating bowel movement.
US08187618B2 Sustained release microbial insect control composition and means
Effective sustained release of microbial pesticides in aquatic environments can be achieved by the combination of buoyant particles with a particulate microbial active ingredient. The resulting materials in the form of a particulate have combined density of less than one. The materials are then dispersed into gypsum slurry that is poured into briquette molds, or made into granules or pellets of various sizes, to form a solid, sinking, pest control composition. Once applied in aquatic field sites, the surface of the matrix slowly dissolves, releasing many minute buoyant pesticide laden particles to the water surface over the life of the product. Once at the surface, the particulate microbial pesticide(s) release from the buoyant particles and are distributed throughout the water column to be ingested by susceptible immature filter feeding mosquitoes and pestiferous flies.
US08187612B2 Use of the neurotoxic component of a botulinum toxin for treating a spastic muscle
A method and composition for treating a patient suffering from a disease, disorder or condition and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
US08187609B2 Mycovirus, attenuated strain of phytopathogenic fungus, plant disease controlling agent, method of producing mycovirus, method of attenuating phytopathogenic fungus and method of controlling plant disease
The present invention provides a novel mycovirus that suppresses phytopathogenic fungi and a novel method for controlling plant diseases. A novel mycovirus that is present endogenously in a predetermined rice blast fungus, has four types of double-stranded RNAs of 2.8 to 3.6 kb, and suppresses a phytopathogenic fungus has been found. This virus suppresses phytopathogenic fungi such as rice blast fungus.
US08187604B2 Methods of treating with anti-factor D antibodies
The invention relates to humanized anti-human Factor D monoclonal antibodies, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, the cells and vectors that harbor these antibodies and their use in the preparation of compositions and medicaments for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with excessive or uncontrolled complement activation. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.
US08187601B2 Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) binding proteins
Monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) are disclosed. The antibodies can be used to treat cell proliferative diseases and disorders, including certain forms of cancer, associated with activation of FGFR3.
US08187600B2 Polypeptides capable of binding to CD64 comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes and their uses
The invention relates to the use of a polypeptide that comprises i) a first portion comprising the part of human Fc that binds to CD64, and ii) a second portion comprising one or more heterologous T cell epitopes for stimulating a cytotoxic T cell response. The polypeptide may be an antibody that may be used to stimulate a cytotoxic T cell response against pathogens and tumor cells in patients in need of such treatment.
US08187599B2 Compositions and methods for suppressing fibrocytes
The present invention relates to the ability of anti-FcγR antibodies to suppress fibrocytes. Methods and compositions for suppressing fibrocytes are provided. These methods are useful in a variety of applications including treatment and prevention of conditions resulting from fibrosis in the liver, kidney, lung, heart and pericardium, eye, skin, mouth, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, brain, breast, bone marrow, bone, genitourinary system, a tumor, or a wound.
US08187594B2 Transferrin receptor antibodies
The invention provides further characterization of the disease and cancer-associated antigen, transferrin receptor. The invention also provides a novel family of antibodies that bind to the transferrin receptor, methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases that express transferrin receptor.
US08187589B2 Stabilisation of aqueous mineral preparations by reuterin
The present invention relates to a process for stabilizing aqueous preparations of minerals by adding reuterin to the aqueous preparations, to the use of reuterin for the stabilization of such aqueous mineral preparations, and the aqueous mineral preparations containing reuterin.
US08187584B2 Human tumor necrosis factor-α mutants
The present invention has an object to provide a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein, particularly, a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein specific to TNF-R1 or TNF-R2; tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; or tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient, and the object is solved by providing a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein where one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 29th, 31st, 32nd, 145th, 146th and 147th, or the group consisting of 84th to 89th from the N-terminal of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is/are replaced with other amino acid residue(s); a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; and a tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient.
US08187578B2 Antiperspirant compositions and methods for making same
A consumer product comprising packaging including a product chamber and an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the product chamber; and an antiperspirant composition disposed within the product chamber, wherein the composition exhibits an average standard deviation of less than or equal to about 5 of penetration peak force measurements taken in accordance with a penetration test method as defined herein.
US08187577B2 Composition for bleaching human hair
A water-free composition for the bleaching and brightening of human hair and with a simultaneous conditioning effect comprises a) at least one compound with a bleaching or brightening effect, in particular a peroxide and/or an ammonium salt, and b) γ-oryzanol at a concentration of 0.001% to 5% by weight, calculated to the total composition.
US08187574B2 Intermittent injection aerosol product for skin
The present invention is directed to an intermittent aerosol dispensing device, for application of a product to skin of a human being, where the aerosol dispensing device includes an intermittent injection mechanism located downstream of an aerosol valve of an aerosol dispenser and responsive to a pushbutton of the aerosol dispensing device, and the aerosol dispensing device further includes a pressure chamber. A ratio of an injection time to a stop time is set, in said intermittent injection mechanism, to 0.1 to 5.0, so that when said aerosol valve is opened a cycle of injection and stop is performed 1 to 25 times per second in order to obtain a cooling and/or massage effect on the skin.
US08187567B2 Inorganic compounds
Disclosed is a niobium suboxide powder for the manufacture of capacitors with higher break down voltages, higher temperatures of operation and elongated lifetimes. The powder is doped with nitrogen which is at least partly present in the form homogeneously distributed, x-ray detectable Nb2N-crystal domains. The niobium suboxide powder contains niobium suboxide particles having a bulk nitrogen content of between 500 to 20,000 ppm.
US08187563B2 Method for producing Si bulk polycrystal ingot
A method is provided for producing a Si bulk polycrystal ingot with high quality and high homogeneity, which has no significant crystal defects and is free from diffused impurities with a high yield. An upper face of a Si melt is locally cooled by bringing coolant close to a surface of the Si melt from an upper part of a crucible in the crucible containing the Si melt or by inserting the coolant into the Si melt. A dendrite crystal is formed in the vicinity of the surface of the Si melt. Cooling is performed thereafter while maintaining a proper temperature distribution, and a Si bulk crystal is grown from an upper part toward a lower part using a lower face of the dendrite crystal as a fresh growth face.
US08187561B2 Processes and systems for recovering catalyst promoter from catalyst substrates
Processes and systems for recovering promoter-containing compounds, for example, perrhenates, from promoter-containing catalyst substrates, for example, substrates containing precious metals, such as silver, are disclosed. The processes include contacting the substrates with a first solution adapted to remove at least some of the catalyst promoter from the substrates, for example, an oxidizing agent, to produce a second solution containing catalyst promoter, passing the second solution through a porous medium adapted to capture at least some of the catalyst promoter, for example, a ion exchange resin; and passing a third solution, for example, a base solution, through the porous medium to remove at least some of the catalyst promoter from the porous medium and produce a fourth solution containing compounds having a catalyst promoter. Systems adapted to practice these processes are also disclosed.
US08187557B2 Reagent reservoir system for analytical instruments
The invention provides a reagent reservoir system and disposable reaction cassettes using the same. In one aspect, such system comprises a chamber in which dried reagent, particularly lyophilized reagent, is constrained to remain in a defined region of the chamber by a retaining member that obstructs passage of such reagents to other regions of the chamber where they may escape hydration or activation.
US08187556B2 Methods and kits for aseptic filing of products
This invention relates to new methods & kits that minimize the risks and challenges associated with sterilization of multi-component medical devices.
US08187554B2 Apparatus and methods for nanoparticle generation and process intensification of transport and reaction systems
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize microreactor technology to achieve desired mixing and interaction at a micro and/or molecular level between and among feed stream constituents. Feed streams are fed to an intensifier pump at individually controlled rates, e.g., based on operation of individually controlled feed pumps. The time during which first and second feed streams are combined/mixed prior to introduction to the microreactor is generally minimized, thereby avoiding potential reactions and other constituent interactions prior to micro- and/or nano-scale interactions within the microreactor. Various microreactor designs/geometries may be employed, e.g., “Z” type single or multi-slot geometries and “Y” type single or multi-slot geometries. Various applications benefit from the disclosure, including emulsion, crystallization, encapsulation and reaction processes.
US08187550B2 Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods
Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment include a reactor having a reaction zone, a reactant source coupled in fluid in communication with the reactant zone, and a solar concentrator having at least one concentrator surface positionable to direct solar energy to a focal area. The system can further include an actuator coupled to the solar concentrator to move the solar concentrator relative to the sun, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator. The controller can be programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to focus the solar energy on the reaction zone when the solar energy is above a threshold level, and direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to point to a location in the sky having relatively little radiant energy to cool an object positioned at the focal area when the solar energy is below the threshold level.
US08187548B2 Catalyst-supported particulate filter
A catalyst layer formed on the walls of exhaust gas channels in a particulate filter contains a catalyst material containing at least two kinds of primary particles selected from the group consisting of primary particles of activated alumina, primary particles of a ZrNd-based mixed oxide and primary particles of a CeZr-based mixed oxide. The catalyst material is formed so that primary particles of one of the ZrNd-based mixed oxide and the CeZr-based mixed oxide are dispersedly carried on the surface of each of secondary particles. Each secondary particle is formed by cohesion of at least one kind of primary particles selected from the group consisting of primary particles of activated alumina and primary particles of the other of the ZrNd-based mixed oxide and the CeZr-based mixed oxide.
US08187543B2 Electrochemical gas sensor with a hydrophilic membrane coating
An electrochemical gas sensor is provided comprising a gas-permeable and substantially ion- and liquid-impermeable membrane for separating an aqueous outer solution and an inner electrolyte solution comprising a gas-permeable film of a hydrophilic polymer consisting essentially of non-covalently cross-linked polymer chains, wherein the film is present directly at least on the side of the membrane facing the aqueous outer solution, which has a surface wettability for the aqueous outer solution that is higher than the surface wettability of the membrane for the aqueous outer solution.
US08187537B2 Diagnostic test unit with a container for test carriers
The invention concerns a diagnostic test unit for analysing a body fluid comprising a test carrier (test tape 10; test strips 12) provided with test fields (38) for applying the body fluid and a container (14) containing the test carrier, wherein an opening (18) of the container (14) is at least in some areas bordered by a seal (16). According to the invention it is proposed that the opening (18) is screened by a closing foil (22) from the surroundings of the container (14) and that the test tape (10) or a test strip (12) to be dispensed is passed through a passage gap (20) between the closing foil (22) and the seal (16).
US08187536B2 System and method for the unequivocal allocation of histological cassettes and specimen slides
A system (100) and a method for the unequivocal allocation of histological cassettes (30) and specimen slides (60) is described. The system encompasses a microtome (1) and at least one reading unit (80). The data (33) of the histological cassette (30) and the data (33) of the at least one specimen slide (60) are read by means of the reading unit (80). The reading unit (80) is provided with at least one indicating element (83) that outputs a signal in accordance with the degree of correspondence between the data (33) of the histological cassette (30) and the data (33) on the specimen slide (60).
US08187534B2 Porous barrier media comprising color change indicators
The present invention provides porous barrier compositions comprising color change indicators and methods of making and using the same.
US08187532B2 Ring-shaped disk for gas turbine
This ring-shaped disk for a gas turbine includes a ring-shaped disk material consisting of a Ni-based alloy, wherein the Ni-based alloy has a composition that includes, in terms of percent by mass, Ni: 50.00 to 55.00%, Cr: 17.0 to 21.0%, Nb: 4.75 to 5.60%, Mo: 2.8 to 3.3%, Ti: 0.65 to 1.15%, Al: 0.20 to 0.80%, and C: 0.01 to 0.08%, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and has a microstructure in which δ phase particles are distributed in a matrix thereof, and wherein, in the microstructure, flattened δ phase particles of which maximum length directions are oriented at angles within a range of 60 to 120° with respect to a radial direction of the ring-shaped disk material are present in an amount of 60% or more of a total amount of the δ phase particles distributed in the matrix.
US08187530B2 Steel for high-cleanliness spring with excellent fatigue characteristics and high-cleanliness spring
An object of this invention is to provide a steel for high-cleanliness spring which is useful for the production of a spring excellent in fatigue characteristics in high Si steels. The steel for high-cleanliness spring with excellent fatigue characteristics according to the invention contains: in terms of mass %, C: 1.2% or less (excluding 0%); Si: 1.8% to 4%; Mn: 0.1% to 2.0%; and total Al: 0.01% or less (excluding 0%), with the remainder being iron and inevitable impurities, in which the Si amount and a solute (SIMS) Ca amount in the steel satisfy a relationship of the following expression (1): Si×10−7≦solute (SIMS) Ca≦Si×5×10−7  (1) (in which each of the solute (SIMS) Ca and Si represents the amount thereof (mass %) in the steel).
US08187525B2 Method of firing green bodies into porous ceramic articles
A method of forming a porous ceramic article having a narrow pore distribution includes heating a green body containing ceramic forming raw materials in a firing environment that raising the temperature of the firing environment to a peak temperature, then reducing the temperature to a hold temperature in order to form porous ceramic.
US08187523B2 Method for manufacturing a cuff on plastic tube provided with an external sheath
Method for manufacturing a cuff on a plastic tube comprising an inner tube and an outer sheath covering said inner tube. The outer sheath comprises at least a portion to be molded for producing a cuff. The method comprises a covering step including an injection operation in which air is intermittently or continuously injected between the inner tube and sheath.
US08187521B2 Method and device for producing three-dimensional objects
A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material which is capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy beam is disclosed. The method comprises homogeneously pre-heating the powder material by scanning with the high-energy beam along predetermined paths over a pre-heating area so that consecutive paths are separated by a minimum security distance which is adapted to prevent undesirable summation effects in the pre-heating area, and then solidifying the powder material by fusing together the powder material. Apparatus for producing such three-dimensional objects is also disclosed.
US08187520B2 Nonwoven fabric for filters and method of producing the same
The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric for filters which is excellent in dust collection efficiency and exhibits low pressure drop and excellent mechanical characteristics and rigidity, and a method of producing the nonwoven fabric. A nonwoven fabric for filters of the present invention is a nonwoven fabric for filters which is a long fiber nonwoven fabric, consisting of thermoplastic continuous filaments and formed by partially thermocompression bonding the thermoplastic continuous filaments, wherein the nonwoven fabric has a QF value (Pa−1) of 0.02 to 0.08 and stiffness of 2 to 80 mN.
US08187519B2 Process for making a die by laser engraving and using the die for the production of a surface-structed coating
The invention relates to a process for the production of a die for the production of a surface-structured coating which can be bonded to a sheet-like substrate, in particular a leather or a textile material, and which is formed by application of a liquid plastic material to the surface of the die and subsequent solidification of the plastic material, the die having a surface structure corresponding to the surface structure of the coating, wherein the surface structure of the die is produced by laser engraving.
US08187515B2 Large area roll-to-roll imprint lithography
Droplets of polymerizable material may be patterned on a film sheet. The droplets of polymerizable material may be dispensed on the film sheet. A pre-determined force may be applied to an imprint lithography template such that localized trapping of the droplets of the polymerizable material on the film sheet is minimized and the droplets coalesce to form a continuous layer. The polymerizable material may be solidified to form a patterned layer having a residual layer and at least one feature.
US08187514B2 Biodegradable molded article
A bowl-shaped container (10a) which is as a biodegradable molded article adheres a coating film (12) mainly made of biodegradable plastic and having at least hydrophobicity to the surface of the main body (11a) of the container mainly made of starch. The main body (11a) is molded through steam expansion of a slurry or dough molding material containing high-amylose starch and water, or a slurry or dough molding material containing starch, polyvinyl alcohol and water. For these reasons, it is possible to accomplish sufficient strength and at least sufficient water resistance, to exert a very excellent biodegradability and further to provide a biodegradable molded article having excellent moisture absorption strength mainly made of starch even if the biodegradable molded article has a complicated shape.
US08187512B2 Method and device for granulating plastics and/or polymers
A method and apparatus for the pelletization of plastics and/or polymers, in which a melt coming from a melt generator is supplied via a diverter valve having different operating positions to a plurality of pelletizing heads through which the melt is pelletized. The plurality of pelletizing heads have different throughput capacities and are used sequentially for the start-up of the pelletizing process, with the melt first being supplied to a first pelletizing head having a smaller throughput capacity and then the melt volume flow being increased and the diverter valve being switched over such that the melt is diverted by the diverter valve to a second pelletizing head having a larger throughput capacity.
US08187511B2 Method for producing resin porous membrane with adhesive layer, resin porous membrane with adhesive layer, and filter member
The present invention provides a resin porous membrane with an adhesive layer that exhibits excellent bonding precision and can be bonded to an adherend while maintaining the gas permeability of the porous membrane even when the porous membrane is small, and a method for producing the resin porous membrane with the adhesive layer. The present invention also provides the filter member including the resin porous membrane with the adhesive layer.
US08187508B2 Base agent for electrical insulating oil
Disclosed is a base agent for electrical insulating oils, which mainly contains an esterified product of glycerin and a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 6-14, preferably 8-12 carbon atoms. This base agent for electrical insulating oils is excellent in electrical characteristics, oxidation stability, cooling characteristics, flame retardance and safety. In particular, this agent for electrical insulating oils can meet energy/environmental problems by using an edible oil and fat, which is obtained by using a fatty acid derived from a vegetable oil as a raw material, as the linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 6-14 carbon atoms.
US08187506B2 Barium titanate-based semiconductor ceramic composition and barium titanate-based semiconductor ceramic device
A barium titanate-based semiconductor ceramic composition which can be used for PTC thermistors for temperature sensors and which has characteristics, including a linear characteristic, advantageous for such PTC thermistors and a barium titanate-based semiconductor ceramic device. The barium titanate-based semiconductor ceramic composition is represented by the formula (Ba(1-v-w)MevSrw)TixO3+ySiO2, wherein Me is at least one of Er, Sm, Ce, and La, 0.001≦v≦0.005, 0.42≦w≦0.49, 0.99≦x≦1.03, and 0.002≦y≦0.030.
US08187505B2 Conductive compositions and processes for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices: flux materials
Described herein are a silicon semiconductor device and a conductive paste, including a flux material, for use in the front side of a solar cell device.
US08187504B2 Copper nanoparticle dispersion
Provided is a metal nanoparticle dispersion capable of suppressing spreadability at a room temperature and drying phenomenon at heating temperature. The metal nanoparticle dispersion includes metal particles; and an organic solvent having a viscosity of 10 mPa·s or more at a room temperature and a flash point of 100° C. or above.
US08187503B2 Low-emissive paint
The present invention concerns a low-emissive paint comprising metal particles, a binder and a solvent. The metal particles consist of a metal with lower electro-negativity than 1.9 but higher than 1.1 or a mixture of such metals, and the binder consists of polyaniline—PANI—or a polymer where a thiophene group is included in the chain.
US08187501B2 Planarizing agents and devices
Use of certain materials in hole injection layer and/or hole transport layer can improve operational lifetimes in organic devices. Polymers having fused aromatic side groups such as polyvinylnaphthol polymers can be used in conjunction with conjugated polymers. Inks can be formulated and cast as films in organic electronic devices including OLEDs, SMOLEDs, and PLEDs. One embodiment provides a composition comprising: at least one conjugated polymer, and at least one second polymer different from the conjugated polymer comprising at least one optionally substituted fused aromatic hydrocarbon side group. The substituent can be hydroxyl. Aqueous-based inks can be formulated.
US08187495B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device includes a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light; and at least one phosphor that is excited by the ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light to emit visible light. The at least one phosphor includes a first phosphor including a composition represented by the formula: M1O2.aM2O.bM3X2:M4, where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Ti, Zr, and Sn; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Zn; M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Zn; X is at least one halogen element; M4 is at least one element essentially including Eu2+ selected from the group consisting of rare-earth elements and Mn; a is in the range of 0.1≦a≦1.3; and b is in the range of 0.1≦b≦0.25.
US08187490B2 Heat dissipating material and semiconductor device using same
Disclosed is a heat dissipating material which is interposed between a heat-generating electronic component and a heat dissipating body. This heat dissipating material contains (A) 100 parts by weight of a silicone gel cured by an addition reaction having a penetration of not less than 100 (according to ASTM D 1403), and (B) 500-2000 parts by weight of a heat conductive filler. Also disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising a heat-generating electronic component and a heat dissipating body, wherein the heat dissipating material is interposed between the heat-generating electronic component and the heat dissipating body.
US08187488B2 Electret composite with deep trapping centers on the interphase boundary
An electret composite comprising a polymer matrix material that contains particles of a piezoelectric material with deep trapping centers on the interphase boundaries between the matrix and particles of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material may have a tetragonal or a rhombohedral structure, and the polymer matrix material may be selected from high-density polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and a copolymer of vinylidenechloride and tetrafluoroethylene. The composite has a potential difference>500V, lifespan>10 years, dielectric permeability≧20, specific electric resistance≧1014 Ohm·m; provision of deep trapping centers on the interphase boundaries with activation energy in the range of 1 to 1.25 eV, and stable electret charge.
US08187484B2 Down-stream plasma etching with deflectable radical stream
The invention relates to a process for etching a substrate (3) in an etching chamber (1) with a plasma ignited outside of the etching chamber (1). The process is characterized in that during the etching process at least temporarily at least one gas jet (10) is directed from the side to the radical stream (7) which is directed towards the substrate (3). Furthermore the invention relates to an etching chamber for etching of a substrate (3) with a substrate holder (2) and a plasma source (4) remote to the substrate holder (2), which is characterized in that between the substrate holder (2) and the plasma source (4) at least one nozzle (9) for lateral introduction of a gas jet (10) into the etching chamber (1) is provided. With this invention the distribution of the active species on the surface of a substrate can be easily influenced.
US08187482B2 Flat panel display and method of manufacturing the same
A flat panel display and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the manufacturing method includes: i) preparing a substrate, ii) forming a plurality of subpixels on the substrate and iii) forming a light resonating layer including two or more layers on the subpixels, wherein the light resonating layer varies in thickness depending on the subpixels. According to at least one embodiment, it is possible to improve the brightness and the external light coupling efficiency. Further, it is possible to easily manufacture the light resonating layer with the structure in which the low refractive layers alternate with the high refractive layers.
US08187480B2 Ultra thin alignment walls for di-block copolymer
Methods comprising providing a pre-patterned substrate having an array of thick walls, depositing a conforming layer on the pre-patterned substrate, etching the conforming layer from the top of the thick walls and the space between the walls, and etching the thick walls while leaving thin walls of conforming layer.
US08187478B2 Fabricating process of structure with embedded circuit
A fabricating process of a structure with an embedded circuit is described as follows. Firstly, a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface is provided. Afterward, a dielectric layer is formed on the upper surface of the substrate. Next, a plating-resistant layer is formed on the dielectric layer. Then, the plating-resistant layer and the dielectric layer are patterned for forming an recess pattern on the dielectric layer. Subsequently, a conductive base layer is formed in the recess pattern by using a chemical method, and the plating-resistant layer is exposed by the conductive base layer. After that, the plating-resistant layer is removed.
US08187476B2 Devices and methods for the purification, isolation, desalting or buffer/solvent exchange of substances
A spin column device, which contains a rigid porous filter that retains its shape during centrifugation, chromatography methods using the device to isolate a desired substance, e.g., a biological molecule, from other substances in a mixture, and kits containing the device with one or more reagents for use in the method.
US08187475B2 Method and apparatus for producing autologous thrombin
A device for isolating a component of a multi-component composition. The device includes a housing, a chamber, and a withdrawal port. The chamber is rotatably mounted within the housing. The chamber includes a chamber base and a sidewall. The side wall extends from the chamber base. At least a portion of the sidewall is defined by a filter that permits passage of a first component of the multi-component composition out of the chamber through the filter and to the housing base. The filter restricts passage of a second component of the multi-component composition through the filter. The withdrawal port extends from a position proximate to the housing base to an exterior of the device. The withdrawal port permits the withdrawal of the first component from the housing base to an exterior of the device.
US08187472B1 System to enhance and control the pressurization, operating pressures, and flushing of drip dispersal systems
A drip disposal system includes a fluid source including a pump for cyclically pumping fluid from the fluid source, a set of drip field lines connected to the fluid source for dispersing at least some fluid provided by the source across an area of ground, and a return line for returning fluid not dispersed by the set of drip field lines to the fluid source. A blow-out valve is connected to the return line for controlling fluid flow through the return line during each cycle, the blow-out valve opening when a pressure of the fluid flowing through the return line exceeds a selected minimum pressure and closing when the pressure of the fluid flowing through the return line goes below the selected minimum pressure.
US08187471B2 Pressure regulator and filter for irrigation systems
A method of operating an irrigation system includes providing a flow of irrigation water, forming a flow of filtered water by removing particulate matter from the flow of irrigation water by using a filter, and directing a first portion of the flow of filtered water to a control valve. The method also includes directing a second portion of the flow of filtered water to a pressure regulator, delivering a flow of water from the pressure regulator to one or more irrigation devices, and automatically cleaning the surface of a filter upon activation or deactivation of the irrigation system.
US08187470B2 Enhancing sedimentation performance of clarifiers/thickeners
Some mineral processing plants encounter difficulties in dewatering pulps using clarifier/thickener (C/T) equipment due to a layer of fine particles, air bubbles and chemicals formed at the top of the liquid in the thickener. Such layers are very stable and form a cap on the C/T. The dewatering performance of the C/T then deteriorates under these conditions, and a high percentage of solids is contained in the thickener overflow. A process for removing water from rock slurry containing a wide range of particle sizes in mineral processing operations has been developed. The process includes: (a) classifying the feed slurry into two size fractions, namely a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, (b) treating the fine fraction (and the coarse fraction if required) with a selected flocculant, and (3) thickening the flocculated slurry in sedimentation equipment to separate liquid from solids.
US08187468B2 Preparation and use of chiral zeolites for liquid chromatography
The present invention relates to the preparation of chiral zeolites and their use in liquid chromatography. The zeolite material may be used in the chromatographic separation of mixtures of components, such as the separation of enantiomers.
US08187465B2 Blood recuperation device and method
A blood filtering device for the recuperation of blood from wound drained blood, in particular for an autologous blood transfusion system, has a first filter arranged upstream of a second filter. The first filter is adapted for removing emboli and/or large particulate matter from the blood and for allowing red blood cells to pass. The second filter is adapted for retaining red blood cells. An exit port is arranged downstream of the first filter and upstream of the second filter. The device is characterised in that the second filter has a pore size of more than about 0.5 μm. A method of recuperating blood from wound drained blood is also disclosed.
US08187461B2 System and method for processing and reusing graywater including for use in a home and garden
A system and method for processing and reusing graywater. At least two vertical flow wetland units are provided, each of which comprises a container filled with at least one granular substrate and at least one species of a hygrophilous plant, and an outlet. At least one of the wetland units is set to an inactive state during a predetermined period of time such that influx of graywater to each of the inactive units is prevented, to regenerate each inactive wetland units. At least one of the wetland units is set to an active state to allow introduced graywater to be purified. Purified graywater is discharged from the outlet of each active unit to a sink. At least a portion of the purified graywater is recirculated to each active wetland units so that a portion of the purified graywater, when desired, is discharged to a domestic site for reuse.
US08187459B2 Visual bilgewater quality indicator
A visual bilgewater quality indicator for use in a bilgewater filtration system which includes a filtration stage for removing oily contaminants. The quality indicator utilizes one or more filtration status chambers which are provided with a fluorescent or phosphorescent dye or pigment treated filtration media. The status chamber has a transparent outer wall. Flow through the status chamber is from the outer lateral wall toward its central axis, whereby oily contaminants in the flow collect selectively at the outer portions of the filtration media which are highly visible to an observer. Oil droplets as small as one micron, are captured and immobilized by the primary filter and are instantly visible against the background of the exemplary dye. If two status chambers are used in series, due to the ability of the infused media to permanently capture oil without re-entrainment, the second chamber is always kept transparent until complete loading and supersaturating breakthrough at the primary chamber. Oily droplet visibility can be further enhanced with ultraviolet illumination.
US08187457B2 Test paper and porous membrane
A test paper includes a porous membrane capable of separating an object that should be filtered out of a sample by filtration, the porous membrane carrying a reagent capable of reacting with a specified component of the sample to result in coloring. The porous membrane includes a first layer having a surface on which the sample is supplied and a second layer having a surface at which sample percolation and measuring are effected, the first layer composed of large pore portions, the surface of the first layer consisting of a smooth surface having open pore portions, the second layer composed of minute pore portions the surface of the second layer consisting of a surface having open pore portions. The porous membrane has a thickness of 50 to 200 μm and a porosity of 60 to 95%.
US08187456B2 Hydrocracking of heavy feedstocks with improved hydrogen management
An improved process for hydrocracking heavy petroleum feedstocks wherein hydrogen-containing streams associated with a hydrocracker are subjected to rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption having a cycle time of less than 30 S.
US08187454B2 Degradation detector and detecting method
A degradation detector of an exhaust gas sensor is disclosed. The detector comprises a first heater resistance estimator (16) for estimating a resistance of a heater that heats the exhaust gas sensor, based on a device resistance of the exhaust gas sensor; a heater resistance calculator (17) for calculating a resistance of the heater, based on a heater current of the heater; and a degradation determiner (18) for determining whether the exhaust gas sensor is degraded, by comparing the estimated resistance of the heater and the calculated resistance of the heater.
US08187449B2 Cleaning method by electrolytic sulfuric acid and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
The cleaning method by electrolytic sulfuric acid and the manufacturing method of semiconductor device comprising: the process in which the first sulfuric acid solution is supplied from outside to the sulfuric acid electrolytic cell to form the first electrolytic sulfuric acid containing oxidizing agent in the sulfuric acid electrolytic cell; the process in which the second sulfuric acid solution, which is higher in concentration than said the first sulfuric acid solution previously supplied, is supplied from outside to said sulfuric acid electrolytic cell; said the second sulfuric acid solution and the first electrolytic sulfuric acid are mixed in said sulfuric acid electrolytic cell; and electrolysis is performed to form the cleaning solution comprising the second electrolytic sulfuric acid containing sulfuric acid and oxidation agent in said sulfuric acid electrolytic cell and the process in which cleaning treatment is performed for the cleaning object with said cleaning solution.
US08187448B2 Crystalline chromium alloy deposit
An electrodeposited crystalline functional chromium deposit which is nanogranular as deposited, and the deposit may be both TEM and XRD crystalline or may be TEM crystalline and XRD amorphous. In various embodiments, the deposit includes one or any combination of two or more of an alloy of chromium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur; a {111} preferred orientation; an average crystal grain cross-sectional area of less than about 500 nm2; and a lattice parameter of 2.8895+/−0.0025 A. A process and an electrodeposition bath for electrodepositing the nanogranular crystalline functional chromium deposit on a substrate, including providing the electrodeposition bath including trivalent chromium, a source of divalent sulfur, a carboxylic acid, a source of nitrogen and being substantially free of hexavalent chromium; immersing a substrate in the bath; and applying an electrical current to electrodeposit the deposit on the substrate.
US08187444B2 Fluid treatment device
A fluid treatment device is disclosed. The fluid treatment device includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode in direct contact with the fluid. The fluid treatment device may include a control device which adjusts a parameter of an alternating potential difference provided between the first electrode and the second electrode based on the indication of the conductivity between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08187443B2 Apparatus for separating cell using centrifugal force and dielectrophoresis
A cell separating apparatus that can easily separate target cells contained in a fluid is provided. Target cells and a fluid are injected through a storage hole, and ejected to the outside of a rotation disk under the influence of a centrifugal force of the rotation disk. An electric field is applied to the outside of the rotation disk, and the target cells are gathered at a different position from the fluid due to di-electrophoresis. In addition, pivot arms placed at an outer surface of the rotation disk are open, and the open pivot arms collect the target cells. The collected target cell flow in a different storage portion through a fluid flow path. As a result, the target cells can be easily separated.
US08187442B2 Microchip processing method and apparatus
The processing apparatus for microchips, each at least having a main flow path performing migration of a sample for analysis inside a sheet-like member, comprises a holding part holding microchips so that the multiple main flow paths are provided; a pretreatment part common to the multiple main flow paths for performing a pretreatment step prior to an analysis step in each of the multiple main flow paths; a processing part for performing analysis in each of the main flow paths independently of the others; and a control part controlling an operation in the pretreatment part so that when a pretreatment step for one main flow path ends, a pretreatment for a next main flow path starts and further controlling an operation in the processing part so that an analysis is subsequently performed for the main flow path where the pretreatment step has ended.
US08187439B2 Electrocoating process for mixed-metal automotive bodies-in-white
Mixed-metal automotive vehicle bodies-in-white comprising ferrous metal surfaces, zinc surfaces, aluminum alloy surfaces, and magnesium alloy surfaces are cleaned and immersed in an aqueous bath comprising an adhesion promoter and an aqueous electrocoat bath (the adhesion promoter may be in the electrocoat bath. The adhesion promoter, which may be a cerium salt, is selected to react with each metal in the body surfaces to form an oxide layer that provides corrosion resistance for the surface and adherence for the deposited polymeric paint coating. The body is cathodic in the electrocoat deposition.
US08187437B2 Electrochemical gas sensor
A mediator-based electrochemical gas sensor reacts selectively with hydrogen sulfide. The gas sensor has an electrolyte solution (9), which contains a mediator compound in the form of metallates of transition metals.
US08187433B2 Compound material analyte sensor
A sensing element adapted to, at least in part, be inserted into a mammalian body. The sensing element is made up of a core of a structurally robust metal and a plated portion made of an electrochemically active metal conjoined to at least a portion of the core. This sensing element may be used as part of a method for the continuous or intermittent monitoring of an analyte within a mammalian body. The method includes inserting at least a portion of the sensing element into the mammalian body and measuring any electric current produced by at least of portion of the sensor.
US08187430B2 Method of making a coated cemented carbide insert
Forming coated cemented carbide inserts, particularly useful in fine turning of super alloys. The inserts are characterized by a composition of a cemented carbide of WC, about 4.0 wt-% Co to about 7.0 wt-% Co, about 0.25 wt-% Cr to 0.50 wt-% Cr, and a coercivity (Hc) of about 28 kA/m to about 38 kA/m. The coating comprises a single (Ti1-xSix)N-layer, where x is between about 0.1 and about 0.25, with a crystal structure of NaCl type and a total thickness between about 0.5 μm and about 2.0 μm with a strong (200)-texture.
US08187428B2 Liquefying apparatus
A conversion-to-oil apparatus capable of efficiently treating plastic, includes a melting unit for heating and melting plastic fed thereto and a decomposing unit for further heating and vaporization-decomposing the molten plastic melted by the melting unit, wherein the decomposing unit is inclined upwardly, having a lead screw mounted therein, and is provided at its upper end portion with a catalyst cylinder extending upwardly and a residue takeout unit extending downwardly, and the decomposing unit has a prevention element for preventing molten plastic gas from flowing down to the residue takeout unit.
US08187427B2 Embossing roll assembly with mixed inclination embosses
An emboss pattern, tissue product and method of manufacturing tissue product having improved bulk and softness with minimal roll ridging. The pattern combines a plurality of aligned signature bosses with a grouping of signature bosses offset from the machine direction in a clockwise manner and another grouping of signature bosses being offset in a counter-clockwise manner.
US08187425B2 Apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp
Apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp including a pair of rotatable press rolls with a permeable outer surface in a casing including a vat in which the press rolls are installed is provided. A gap is provided between the vat and the press rolls as well as means for feeding the pulp into the gap between the rolls and the vat includes a first segment partially enclosing the first roll and a second segment partially enclosing the second roll, and casing members for each segment are pivotable about axes of rotation to open and close the casing, and the distance between the axes of rotation is less than the sum of the outer diameter of the two press rolls.
US08187424B2 Time domain spectroscopy (TDS)-based method and system for obtaining coincident sheet material parameters
An in-situ time domain spectroscopy (TDS)-based method (200) for non-contact characterization of properties of a sheet material while being produced by a manufacturing system (700). A time domain spectrometry system (100) and calibration data for the system is provided. The calibration data includes data for transmitted power through or reflected power from the sheet material as a function of a moisture content of the sheet material. At least one pulse of THz or near THz radiation from a transmitter (111) is directed at a location on a sheet material sample (130) while being processed by the manufacturing system (700). Transmitted or reflected radiation associated with at least one transmitted or reflected pulse from the sample location is synchronously detected by a detector (110) to obtain the sample data. The sample data, which is coincident data, is processed together with the calibration data (207, 208, 209) to determine at least one, and generally a plurality of properties of the sheet material sample (130) selected from caliper, basis weight and moisture content.
US08187412B2 Apparatus for providing device with gaps for capacitance reduction
A method for reducing capacitances between semiconductor devices is provided. A plurality of contact structures is formed in a dielectric layer. A mask is formed to cover the contact structures wherein the mask has mask features for exposing parts of the dielectric layer wherein the mask features have widths. The widths of the mask features are shrunk with a sidewall deposition. Gaps are etched into the dielectric layer through the sidewall deposition. The gaps are closed to form pockets in the gaps.
US08187411B2 Adherent composition and method of temporarily fixing member therewith
Provided are a temporal fixation method in processing of optical members and a resin composition suitable therefor. The present invention provides a composition which is characterized by comprising (A1): a (meth)acrylate with a molecular weight of at least 500 having at least one (meth)acryloyl group at a terminal or in a side chain of a molecule, (B1): a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (C1): a (meth)acrylate other than (A1) and (B1), and (D1): a photopolymerization initiator. The invention also provides a method for temporarily fixing a member, characterized by comprising bonding a member to temporarily fix it with use of the composition, processing the temporarily fixed member, and immersing the processed member in warm water of at most 90° C., thereby removing a cured resin of the composition.
US08187410B2 Hollow fiber membrane module and method for making thereof
The present invention purposes to provide a hollow fiber membrane module that minimizes the error rate in a manufacturing process thereof, disperses weight by separating an enlarged hollow fiber membrane module into a plurality of small modules, and provides a manufacturing method thereof. The present invention includes a central water tube having a plurality of inlets formed in the circumferential direction thereof, a central air tube provided in the central water tube, a plurality of housings longitudinally provided in the circumferential direction of the central water tube, a hollow fiber membrane provided in the respective housing and in which water is treated by difference of pressure, a fixing part fixing the lower part of the hollow fiber membrane to the housing, and a collector provided in the lower part of the housing, a plurality of small modules being provided in the housing.
US08187409B2 Window sash paint replacement tape application tool and method
A tape application tool (30) that can hold an adhesive-backed paint replacement tape in position relative to a window frame (34), as well as apply at least the sash section of the tape to the sash portion of the window frame, without having to use a separate location tool and without having to use a paint replacement tape that includes a removable location tab. The tool comprises at least one tape application roller (58), at least one or more guide rollers (66,68), a biasing mechanism, at least one first tape locating surface (54) and, optionally, a tool stop surface (44).
US08187407B2 Wrapping an object with a film using a tape for cutting the film
A vehicle is wrapped by a printed adhesive film where the film is also applied over doors and other areas intended not to be covered. The film is cut at the door edge and over the area by adhesively attaching a tape having a release coating on the front surface and carrying a filament along a center of the front side. The printed film is applied over the door, the area not to be covered and the tapes and is cut along the door edge and around the area by pulling the filament from the tape so that a strip of the film at the door edge and the film over the area can be removed. The film can be stretched and pulled away from the tape for reapplying for proper fit.
US08187405B2 Manufacture of sonar projectors
A method of manufacturing a sonar projector is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: bonding a flat piezo-ceramic plate to a flexible conducting sheet; dicing the plate to form an assembly comprising a matrix of piezo-ceramic pegs bonded to the flexible conducting sheet, the pegs being separated by kerfs; bending the assembly to a predetermined curvature, thereby expanding the kerfs; filling the expanded kerfs with a filler material; and applying conductive material to the exposed surfaces of the pegs, such that the conductive material and the flexible conducting sheet in combination form electrodes operable to apply a voltage to the piezo-ceramic pegs. Methods of manufacturing a curved piezo-ceramic structure are also disclosed.
US08187404B2 Method of making a plate-shaped peeling member
A method for manufacturing a plate-shaped peeling member having a thin metal plate and a resin sheet adhered thereto by wrapping the resin sheet around a leading edge of the thin metal plate. The plate-shaped peeling member peels paper from a roller or a belt of an electrophotographic apparatus, with a leading edge of the thin metal plate in contact with or being adjacent to the roller or the belt. The method includes the step of stacking an adhesive agent-applied resin sheet to one main surface of a thin metal plate without pulling both end portions of the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet in a longitudinal direction thereof, with an unstuck portion left on the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet in a widthwise direction thereof and with the adhesive agent-applied resin sheet being pressurized in a longitudinal direction thereof.
US08187403B2 Method of producing solid decorated graphic arts objects
Decorated three-dimensional articles (64, 78, 82, 86) may be produced having wall structure (66-72) with distortion-free images (40a, 40b) appearing through the inner and outer surfaces of the wall structure (66-72). Preferably, a sheet of paper stock (38) is imprinted on both faces with mirror images (40a, 40b), and the stock (38) is applied to a light-transmitting substrate (44) so that the image (40b) appears through the substrate (44), thereby yielding a blank (50). A plurality of lines of weakness (54) are formed in the blank (50) by laser ablation extending through the image (40a) and stock (38), but not through the image (40b), in order to define spaced apart bend areas (56). The substrate (44) is then heated along the bend areas (56), and the blank (50) is formed about a mandrel (62). If desired, the formed blank (50) may be completed by addition of a base (74). The invention can be used for the economical production of a virtually limitless number of three-dimensional articles, even with one-off unique articles or short runs of articles.
US08187398B2 Energetic composite and system with enhanced mechanical sensitivity to initiation of self-sustained reaction
An energetic composition and system using amassed energetic multilayer pieces which are formed from the division, such as for example by cutting, scoring, breaking, crushing, shearing, etc., of a mechanically activatable monolithic energetic multilayer(s) (e.g. macro-scale sheets of multilayer films), for enhancing the sensitivity of the energetic composite and system to mechanical initiation of self-sustained reaction. In particular, mechanical initiation of the energetic composition may be achieved with significantly lower mechanical energy inputs than that typically required for initiating the monolithic energetic multilayers from which it is derived.
US08187391B2 Pet waste away device
A pet waste disposal device having a motor driving a set of cutting blades inside of an open ended plenum. A water supply such as a garden hose provides water to a nozzle or jet inside of the plenum, the water washes away the waste as it is chopped by the blades. The motor may be electrical, gasoline driven, or water driven. The plenum may have a safety screen across the open end. In preferred embodiments, the device may be mounted on an elongated support with a hand grip at one end and the plenum and motor at the other end.
US08187388B2 Method for treating catalysts
A method for treating catalysts, in particular, for the cleaning and/or regeneration of a catalyst, whereby the catalyst comprises parallel channels. The catalyst is taken out of service for treatment and flushed with a cleaning and/or regeneration fluid in-situ in the assembled state. The cleaning and/or regeneration fluid is introduced under pressure to that end of a bundle of adjacent channels away from the pressurized end of the catalyst. The channels of the bundle are flushed against gravity and the cleaning and/or regeneration fluid escapes from the other end of the channels thereupon enters the free ends of other adjacent channels and flows through the same under the effect of gravity.
US08187386B2 Temporally variable deposition rate of CdTe in apparatus and process for continuous deposition
Apparatus is generally provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic module substrate. The apparatus includes a distribution plate disposed below the distribution manifold and at a defined distance above a horizontal conveyance plane of an upper surface of a substrate conveyed through the apparatus. The distribution plate defines a pattern of passages therethrough configured to provide greater resistance to the flow of sublimated source vapors at a first longitudinal end than a second longitudinal end. A process for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material to form thin film on a photovoltaic module substrate is also provided via distributing the sublimated source material onto an upper surface of the substrates through a distribution plate positioned between the upper surface of the substrate and the receptacle.
US08187385B2 Conveying unit and vacuum deposition device
The conveying unit conveys a long sheet-like subject in its longitudinal direction. The conveying unit includes a stepped roller which has large-diameter portions spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction of conveyance of the sheet-like subject and having a larger diameter than a remainder of the stepped roller being a small-diameter portion of the stepped roller, the large-diameter portions supporting and conveying the sheet-like subject, a closed space forming subunit between the small-diameter portion of the stepped roller and the sheet-like subject and a gas supply subunit for supplying a gas to the closed space. The vacuum deposition device forms a film on a surface of a long substrate by vacuum deposition. The vacuum deposition device includes a vacuum chamber, a conveying device which includes the conveying unit and a film forming unit.
US08187383B2 Semiconductor single crystal manufacturing device and manufacturing method
In order to provide a semiconductor single crystal manufacturing device and a manufacturing method using a CZ method wherein the resistivity and oxygen concentration of a silicon single crystal can be controlled and wherein a single crystal yield can be improved, in the present invention, there is provided a wall 10 which defines a chamber inner wall 1c of a chamber 1, a crucible 2 and a heater 3. The wall 10 is formed by three members, namely, a single crystal side flow-straightening member 11, a melt surface side flow-straightening member 12 and a heater side flow-straightening member 13, which are connected to form a purge gas directing path 100. When the semiconductor single crystal is pulled, a flow speed of a purge gas that passes through the vicinity of the surface of the melt in a quartz crucible 3 is controlled.
US08187382B2 Polycrystalline silicon manufacturing apparatus
A polycrystalline silicon manufacturing apparatus is provided which supplies raw gas to the inside of a reaction furnace and supplies a current from an electrode to a silicon seed rod in a state where the vertically extending silicon seed rod is uprightly stood on each of the plural electrodes disposed in a bottom plate portion of the reaction furnace so as to heat the silicon seed rod and thus to deposit polycrystalline silicon on a surface of the silicon seed rod by means of the reaction of the raw gas.
US08187381B2 Process gas delivery for semiconductor process chamber
Methods and apparatus for a gas delivery assembly are provided herein. In some embodiments, the gas delivery assembly includes a gas inlet funnel having a first volume and one or more gas conduits; each gas conduit having an inlet and an outlet for facilitating the flow of a gas therethrough and into the first volume, wherein each gas conduit has a second volume less than the first volume, and wherein each gas conduit has a cross-section that increases from a first cross-section proximate the inlet to a second cross-section proximate the outlet, wherein the second cross-section is non-circular. In some embodiments, each conduit has a longitudinal axis that intersects a central axis of the gas inlet funnel.
US08187379B2 Method of producing high quality relaxed silicon germanium layers
A method for minimizing particle generation during deposition of a graded Si1-xGex layer on a semiconductor material includes providing a substrate in an atmosphere including a Si precursor and a Ge precursor, wherein the Ge precursor has a decomposition temperature greater than germane, and depositing the graded Si1-xGex layer having a final Ge content of greater than about 0.15 and a particle density of less than about 0.3 particles/cm2 on the substrate.
US08187378B2 Silicon single crystal pulling method
An object of the present invention is to provide a silicon single crystal pulling method of accurately controlling the diameter of a silicon single crystal, thereby obtaining a high-quality silicon single crystal with little crystal defect.According to an aspect of the present invention, the pulling step includes: capturing an image of the silicon single crystal using an imaging device; measuring the brightness distribution of a fusing ring generated in the vicinity of a solid-liquid interface between the silicon melt and the silicon single crystal for each image scan line in the image captured by the imaging device; detecting the liquid level of the silicon melt and the position of the solid-liquid interface; and controlling the diameter of the silicon single crystal on the basis of a meniscus height, which is a difference between the liquid level and the position of the solid-liquid interface.
US08187377B2 Non-contact etch annealing of strained layers
The present invention provides for treating a surface of a semiconductor material. The method comprises exposing the surface of the semiconductor material to a halogen etchant in a hydrogen environment at an elevated temperature. The method controls the surface roughness of the semiconductor material. The method also has the unexpected benefit of reducing dislocations in the semiconductor material.
US08187376B2 Defoamers for hydratable cementitious compositions
The present invention discloses additive compositions, cementitious compositions, and methods for controlling air in cementitious compositions, wherein a polyalkoxylated polyalkylene polyamine defoamer is deployed in combination with one or more air-entraining agents, such as higher alkanolamines, water-reducing agents including oxyalkylene-containing superplasticizers, or other air entraining agents.
US08187371B2 Pigment based inks for high speed durable inkjet printing
An ink composition comprising (a) water, (b) pigment particles, (c) at least one humectant, (d) at least one polyurethane having an average molecular weight of at least about 10,000 and a sufficient number of acid groups to provide an acid number from 60 to about 130, and being present at a weight concentration of greater than 0.7%, and (e) at least one water soluble acrylic polymer comprising carboxylic acid groups, present at a weight concentration of greater than 0.6%, wherein the acid groups on the polyurethane and acrylic polymers are at least partially neutralized only with a monovalent inorganic base.
US08187370B2 Horizontal bulk oil separator
A high separation efficacy, compact, bulk oil separator oriented horizontally and used with a scroll-type oil-lubricated compressor unit adapted to compressing helium. The horizontal bulk oil separator contains an integral oil reservoir and removes more than 99.9% of the oil from the helium that exits. The bulk oil separator contains successive chambers where oil separates from the gas by impingement.
US08187367B2 Portable PSA oxygen generator
The present invention relates to a portable pressure swing adsorption (“PSA”) oxygen generator with at least one partition board disposed inside its housing; an oil-free compressor and a control valve assembly are disposed in one of the separated space isolated by at least one fixing board and the at least one partition board; wherein a fan is disposed inclined or vertically on the partition board outside of the isolated space so that air can be blown into the isolated space directly by an air outlet of the fan. The present invention is built in compact structure with small size and light weight to carry and move, and works safely with a choice of three different types of power supplies, which enable the oxygen generator of the present invention to be used more widely than conventional ones.
US08187363B2 PSA tail gas preheating
A process for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of a hydrogen generation system is provided. This includes producing a syngas stream in a reformer, wherein the reformer has a combustion zone. This also includes introducing a syngas stream into a pressure swing adsorption unit, thereby producing a product hydrogen stream and a tail gas stream. This also includes heating the tail gas stream by indirect heat exchange with a heat source, thereby producing a heated tail gas stream; and introducing the heated tail gas stream into the combustion zone.
US08187362B2 Apparatuses and methods for reducing pollutants in gas streams
Apparatuses and methods for reducing pollutants in a gas stream are disclosed. The gas stream is introduced into a condensation chamber to condense the gas stream. It then proceeds into a first reaction chamber adapted to electrochemically alter the gas stream. From there, the gas stream is directed into a reduction chamber adapted to reduce pollutants and a resonance chamber adapted to ionize the gas stream. The gas stream is then directed into a second reaction chamber adapted to further reduce pollutants in the stream. After treatment, the gas stream may be discharged into the atmosphere or recirculated through the apparatus to further reduce pollutants in the gas stream, the latter providing for a closed-looped system.
US08187359B2 Granulated metallic iron superior in rust resistance and method for producing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing granulated metallic iron superior in rust resistance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing such granulated metallic iron. In the method, the granulated metallic iron is produced by agglomerating a material mixture including an iron-oxide-containing material and a carbonaceous reducing agent; charging and heating the agglomerated material mixture in a moving hearth-type reducing furnace to reduce the iron oxide in the material mixture with the carbonaceous reducing agent to obtain hot granulated metallic iron; and cooling the hot granulated metallic iron, wherein the hot granulated metallic iron is cooled while its relative position is changed; and an oxide coating is formed on the surface of the hot granulated metallic iron by bringing moisture into contact with almost the entire surface of the hot granulated metallic iron.
US08187357B2 Melting metallurgical process for producing metal melts and transition metal-containing additive for use in this method
The invention relates to a process for producing a metal melt containing at least one base metal and at least one further alloy constituent, wherein the production takes place in a melting vessel with slag covering the melt. In accordance with the invention, for increasing the content of the alloy constituent of the melt, an additive is fed to the melt which contains said alloy constituent at a content of ≧5-10 percent by weight of the alloy constituent, ≧5-10 percent by weight of melting metallurgically harmless volatile matter, ≦5 percent by weight of sulfur and possibly fractions of further alloy constituents and/or slag formers. The additive is obtainable by ore leaching and by precipitation in the form of hydroxides and/or carbonates. The invention also relates to such an additive.