最新美国发明专利第2013-01-15期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08354859B2	System for testing power supply performance A system for testing a DC power supply performance includes a test apparatus for testing the DC power supply, and a control circuit electrically coupled to the DC power supply and test apparatus. The control circuit includes a microcontroller, a switch control circuit, and a switch circuit controlled by the switch control circuit. The microcontroller is configured for outputting control signals. The switch control circuit is configured for receiving the control signals, and is powered on according to the corresponding control signals. The switch circuit is capable of turning on when the switch control circuit is powered on. The DC power supply output terminals are coupled electrically to the test apparatus via the switch circuit. The test apparatus is configured for reading voltage values at the DC power supply corresponding output terminals, and outputting a feedback signal to the microcontroller when the testing is complete.
US08354858B2	Apparatus and method for hardening latches in SOI CMOS devices A method of determining one or more transistors within a particular circuit to be respectively replaced with a hardened transistor includes: identifying, as not requiring hardening, one or more transistors; identifying, as candidates for hardening, each transistor in the circuit not previously identified as not requiring hardening; and employing the hardened transistor in place of a transistor identified as a candidate for hardening. The circuit is a latch and the transistor is an SOI CMOS FET. The transistor is also an SOI transistor. The series transistor includes first and second series-connected transistors having a shared source/drain region whereby a drain of the first series-connected transistor is merged with a source of the second series-connected transistor.
US08354853B2	Test electronics to device under test interfaces, and methods and apparatus using same In one embodiment, a test system has a set of test electronics for testing a device under test (DUT). The test system also has at least one test electronics to DUT interface having a zero insertion force (ZIF) connector. Each ZIF connector has a ZIF connector to DUT clamping mechanism configured to i) apply a first orthogonal force to a probe card that interfaces with a DUT, by pressing the ZIF connector against the probe card, and simultaneously ii) exert at least one second orthogonal force on the probe card, the at least one second orthogonal force being opposite in direction to the first orthogonal force.
US08354847B2	Electrometer with in-measurement range adjustment and methods thereof for measuring electrostatic charge An electrometer is disclosed. The electrometer has a high gain differential amplifier having a first input, a second input, and an output. The electrometer also has feedback switching circuitry. The electrometer further has a plurality of feedback elements configured to be selectively and cumulatively added in any parallel combination between the output and the first input of the high gain differential amplifier via the feedback switching circuitry. A method of adjusting a measurement range of an electrometer while the electrometer is being used to measure an electrostatic charge is also disclosed. One or more additional feedback elements are selectively added in parallel with one or more existing feedback elements which are coupled between an output and an input of a high gain differential amplifier of the electrometer.
US08354843B2	Magnetic resonance pre-determined data acquisition and image reconstruction with location-coding of magnetic resonance data exclusively via phase coding only In a method and system to generate magnetic resonance (MR) images by MR data are acquired by a pure phase-coded imaging in k-space having a predetermined set of possible measurement points, with the MR data being acquired only for a predetermined subset of the measurement points of this set. An image is reconstructed from the acquired measurement points of the subset such that information about un-acquired measurement points of the set is also obtained.
US08354840B2	Magnetic detection device A magnetic detection device includes a signal processing circuit that detects a moving position and a moving direction of a magnetic mobile object using an output of a comparing circuit configured to output a signal by comparing an output signal of a magneto-electric transducer element with a threshold. A duration during which an output of the signal processing circuit is in a high level or in a low level is fixed to a period t1 or a period t2 depending on the moving direction of the magnetic mobile object. When switching of the moving direction of the magnetic mobile object takes place within the period t1 or the period t2, the signal processing circuit outputs a position signal same as a position signal indicating a position immediately before the switching of the moving direction of the magnetic mobile object due to hysteresis of the threshold of the comparing circuit.
US08354838B2	Arrangement for contactlessly measuring a position using a magnetoresistive sensor, and method for operating the arrangement The disclosure relates to an arrangement for contactlessly measuring a position using a magnetoresistive sensor, the displacement-proportional transfer characteristic of which has a plurality of ranges which are suitable for a position measurement and associated characteristic curve sections of which have both positive and negative gradients. The arrangement can be included in a position regulator which has control electronics which, with the aid of a microcontroller, receive one or more input signals and output actuating signals for controlling the actuating drive. A method is also disclosed for operating the arrangement. For example, to uniquely associate the direction of movement of the displacement pick-off shaft with the effective direction of the drive, at least one range sensor for detecting the characteristic curve range of the magnetoresistive measuring system, which is in the form of a magnetoresistor potentiometer, in which the position is measured, is proposed. The range sensor can be connected to the control electronics. The activity of each range sensor can be assigned a sign for the gradient of the characteristic curve section of the measuring system in which the position is measured, which sign can be used to infer the effective direction of the actuating drive.
US08354834B2	Methods and apparatus for acquiring measurements and performing an auto-zero process using a multi-range measurement apparatus In one embodiment, a measurement apparatus has an input stage, an output stage and a multiplexer. The input stage has a signal input, a plurality of measurement range outputs, and a plurality of selectable gain stages, with each of the selectable gain stages being coupled between the signal input and a respective one of the measurement range outputs. The output stage has a measurement acquisition path between an analog measurement input and a digital measurement output. The measurement acquisition path includes an analog-to-digital converter. The multiplexer has i) a plurality of data inputs, at least two of which are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of measurement range outputs, and at least one of which is a reference input configured to receive a signal to which signals appearing at the measurement range outputs are commonly referenced, ii) a data output coupled to the analog measurement input of the output stage, and iii) a control input.
US08354827B2	Controller for a buck-boost circuit A control circuit includes a controller that provides a master PWM signal indicative of a difference between a predetermined setpoint and a process signal. The control circuit also includes a PWM splitter circuit that receives the master PWM signal and provides a first PWM signal for a first switch and a second PWM signal for a second switch. The first PWM signal corresponds to a first portion of the master PWM signal and the second PWM signal corresponds to a second portion of the master PWM signal.
US08354826B2	Integrated device with AC to DC conversion function and integrated circuit using same The present invention discloses an integrated device with AC to DC conversion function, and an integrated circuit using the device. The integrated circuit comprises: a circuit operating under low DC voltage; and an integrated device with AC to DC conversion function, the device including first, second, third and fourth diodes, wherein the first diode has a cathode coupled to an anode of the second diode at a first node which receives an input of an AC voltage; the third diode has a cathode coupled to an anode of the fourth diode at a second node which receives another input of the AC voltage; the first diode has an anode coupled to an anode of the third diode at a third node which provides a low level of a DC voltage; and the second diode has a cathode coupled to a cathode of the fourth diode at a fourth node which provides a high level of the DC voltage.
US08354824B2	System and method for charging and discharging a Li-ion battery pack An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a plurality of first electrochemical cells, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to (i) evaluate each of the plurality of first electrochemical cells, and (ii) selectively connect a first of the plurality of first electrochemical cells to a power provider based upon the evaluation while selectively isolating a second of the plurality of first electrochemical cells from the power provider based upon the evaluation.
US08354820B2	Analog photovoltaic power circuit The present invention discloses an analog photovoltaic power circuit, comprising: a photovoltaic device group for receiving photo energy to generate an input voltage; a power stage circuit for converting the input voltage to an output voltage; an optimum voltage estimation circuit for receiving a predetermined voltage and estimating an optimum voltage according to a direction of variation of the input voltage and a direction of variation of the power generated by the photovoltaic device group; and an analog comparison and control circuit for comparing the optimum voltage with the input voltage, to thereby control the operation of the power stage circuit.
US08354819B2	Apparatus and method for charging battery using a thin film printed solar cell A charging apparatus and method for charging a battery of a mobile terminal using a thin film printed solar cell. The apparatus has an outer case including electrochromic elements and a thin film printed solar cell. A control unit controls charging of the battery so that a color of the electrochromic elements is changed into a transparent color and sunlight is transmitted to the thin film printed solar cell disposed under the electrochromic elements. Also, the control unit controls charging of the battery such that a color of the outer case is automatically changed into a transparent color so that sunlight is transmitted to the thin film printed solar cell. Also, the color of the electrochromic elements can be changed according to the user's request so that the color of the outer case is changed into a desired color.
US08354817B2	Methods and systems for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor Systems and methods are provided for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor operating under control of a current-regulating control loop. The current-regulating control loop is configured to provide a command voltage to the electric motor. The command voltage comprises a current-regulated voltage based on a difference between a commanded current and a measured current through the stator windings. The method comprises determining a negative sequence component of the command voltage, and identifying a fault condition when a characteristic of the negative sequence component is greater than a threshold value.
US08354814B2	Fan system circuit module A fan system circuit module including a stable voltage input terminal for receiving a stable voltage, an operation unit electrically connected to the stable voltage input terminal and a drive chip. The operation unit includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a first capacitor and a third resistor. After powered on at the stable voltage, the operation unit generates an operation signal for the drive chip to decrease drive current value of the fan. In case that a lock of the fan takes place, the drive chip can effectively decrease the block current. The circuit module has soft-start function and provides block current protection effect so as to avoid malfunctioning of the fan system due to too great start current of the fan and avoid burnout of the fan due to high rise of temperature.
US08354804B2	Power supply device and lighting equipment In a power supply device according to one embodiment, a reference signal (Vref1), which changes from a value corresponding to a maximum current in a full lighting state to that corresponding to a minimum current in case of a deepest dimming depth, and a reference signal (Vref2), which changes from a value corresponding to a load voltage at the time of a maximum current in a full lighting state to that corresponding to a minimum current in case of the deepest dimming depth, are prepared in accordance with dimming depths of a dimming signal. In a shallow dimming depth region close to a full lighting state, the reference signal (Vref1) is selected to apply constant-current control to light-emitting diodes in a current control mode. In a deep dimming depth region, the reference signal (Vref2) is selected to apply constant-voltage control to the diodes in a voltage control mode.
US08354803B2	Hybrid light source A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer.
US08354799B2	Bypass circuitry for serially coupled light emitting diodes and associated methods of operation The present technology is generally related to LED bypass circuits and associated methods of operation. In one embodiment, an LED bypass circuit includes a monitoring circuit and a bypass switch. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the LED to monitor the differential voltage across the LED. The bypass switch is coupled to the LED in parallel. When an open status is detected by the monitoring circuit, the bypass switch is turned on to bypass the LED.
US08354798B2	Compensation circuit for current peaking reduction in notification appliances A system and apparatus to reduce current peaking in notification appliances are described. The apparatus may include a current peaking compensation circuit comprising two or more transistors and one or more capacitors configured to reduce a start-up frequency of a pulse-width modulated signal during a first time period and to add a time constant decaying voltage across a resistor divider network to increase a reference voltage during the first time period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08354790B2	Light source unit which shines visible excitation light onto phosphors on a rotatable base material, and projector including the light source A projector comprises a light source unit 63, a display device, a cooling fan, a light source side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit 63 to the display device, a projection side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device on to a screen, and a projector control unit for controlling the light source unit 63 and the display device. In addition, this light source unit 63 has a plurality of fan-shaped segment areas on a circular transparent base material 130 which can be controlled to rotate, layers 131 of different phosphors which emit light of predetermined wavelength bands by receiving excitation light being disposed on at least two of the segment areas on the transparent base material 130, and comprises an excitation light source 72 which shines excitation light within a visible light wavelength band on to the phosphors.
US08354789B2	Pixel arrangement of an organic light emitting display device A pixel arrangement of an organic light emitting display device includes first sub-pixels and second sub-pixels alternately arranged in a first direction to define a plurality of first columns along the first direction, and third sub-pixels arranged along the first direction to define a plurality of second columns along the first direction among the first columns, two second columns of the third sub-pixels being arranged among three first columns of the alternating first and second sub-pixels.
US08354788B2	Organic light emitting device An organic light emitting device having long continuous driving lifetime is provided. The organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and an emission layer formed of an organic compound arranged between the anode and the cathode, in which the emission layer includes a light emitting material and a material having a smallest ionization potential, and an absorption spectrum in a radical cation state of the material having the smallest ionization potential in the emission layer does not have its absorption peak in an emission wavelength region of the light emitting material.
US08354786B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device includes a transistor over a substrate and an insulating film over the transistor. The light-emitting device further includes a wiring over the insulating film and a light-emitting element. The insulating film includes a first opening and a second opening, and the wiring is electrically connected to the transistor through the first opening. The light-emitting element is provided in the second opening, and includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic compound layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08354780B2	Lamp device capable of heat dissipation A lamp device includes: a housing formed with heat-dissipating holes; a conductive connecting head mounted on a first side of the housing; a heat-conducting member mounted on a second side of the housing opposite to the first side, and having opposite first and second side surfaces; a lighting unit thermally contacting and mounted on the first side surface of the heat-conducting member, and covered by a transparent body; and a heat-dissipating layer made of an infrared radiating material. The heat-dissipating layer is disposed on and is in thermal contact with the second side surface of the heat-conducting member. Heat generated by the lighting unit is transmitted by the first heat-conducting member to the heat-dissipating layer, and is dissipated by the heat-dissipating layer through the heat-dissipating holes in the housing.
US08354766B2	Permanent magnet motor and washing machine provided therewith A permanent magnet motor includes a rotor and a stator, a plurality of permanent magnets forming a plurality of magnetic poles in a core of the rotor and magnetic pole teeth located so as to correspond to phase windings of the stator. The permanent magnets include a plurality of types of permanent magnets having different coercive forces and arranged substantially into an annular shape so that one type of the permanent magnet constitutes each magnetic pole. The permanent magnets each having a relatively smaller coercive force are arranged at a first interval in the rotor, and the magnetic pole teeth corresponding to the same phase windings are arranged at a second interval differing from the first interval in the stator.
US08354765B2	Electric motor A motor provided with a secondary driving system including: a casing; a dented wheel permanently rotating during the normal operation of the motor together with the rotor inside the casing; an endless screw that can be brought into a clutch engagement position in which the screw meshes with the dented wheel and in which the rotation of the screw drives the dented wheel in a non-reversible manner and that can be removed from said position in order to allow the normal operation of the motor; a driving member for manually rotating the endless screw, the driving member rotating about the same rotation axis as the endless screw and rotating the latter by direct engagement.
US08354762B2	Spring plate and voice coil motor using the same A spring plate includes an engaging portion, a connecting portion, a first elastic portion, a second elastic portion, a first fixing portion, and a second fixing portion. The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are connected to the engaging portion and the connecting portion, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are formed on opposite ends of the connecting portion. The engaging portion defines a recess. The present disclosure further provides a voice coil motor using the spring plate.
US08354761B2	Transforming device, electronic apparatus, and power supply system including the same When an electronic apparatus comes to a state of being capable of receiving electric power, an output voltage of an AC adaptor changes from a second voltage Vb to a first voltage Va and the change in voltage can be detected by an electronic apparatus. Due to this configuration, a structure that can detect the type of AC adaptor can be provided without adding any new contacts to a DC input terminal and to a DC output terminal.
US08354752B2	Semiconductor devices A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming line patterns on a substrate, the line patterns defining narrow and wide gap regions, forming spacer patterns in the narrow and wide gap regions on sidewalls of the line patterns, spacer patterns in the wide gap regions exposing an upper surface of the substrate, and spacer patterns in the narrow gap regions contacting each other to fill the narrow gap regions, forming an insulating interlayer to cover the spacer patterns and the line patterns, forming at least one opening through the insulating interlayer, the opening including at least one contact hole selectively exposing the upper surface of the substrate in the wide gap region, the contact hole being formed by using the spacer patterns in the narrow gap region as an etching mask, and forming a conductive pattern to fill the opening.
US08354751B2	Interconnect structure for electromigration enhancement An interconnect structure having enhanced electromigration resistance is provided in which a lower portion of a via opening includes a multi-layered liner. The multi-layered liner includes, from a patterned surface of a dielectric material outwards, a diffusion barrier, a multi-material layer and a metal-containing hard mask. The multi-material layer includes a first material layer comprised of residue from an underlying dielectric capping layer, and a second material layer comprised of residue from an underlying metallic capping layer. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such an interconnect structure which includes the multi-layered liner within a lower portion of a via opening formed within a dielectric material.
US08354750B2	Stress buffer structures in a mounting structure of a semiconductor device A mounting structure for a semiconductor device includes a stepwise stress buffer layer under a likewise stepwise UBM structure.
US08354747B1	Conductive polymer lid for a sensor package and method therefor A semiconductor device has a base substrate having a plurality of metal traces. A conductive polymer cover is provided having an opening. The conductive polymer cover forms a cavity when attached to the base substrate. At least one die is attached to an interior surface of the conductive polymer cover and positioned over the opening. The conductive polymer cover and the at least one die are electrically coupled to metal traces on the first surface of the base substrate.
US08354745B2	Electronic assembly An electronic assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate, a hole through the first substrate, the second substrate having a trace with an indentation, an electronic device mounted over the indentation in the trace, and the first substrate is attached to the second substrate such that the electronic device is positioned within the hole through the first substrate.
US08354737B2	Small area, robust silicon via structure and process A semiconductor structure includes: at least one silicon surface wherein the surface can be a substrate, wafer or other device. The structure further includes at least one electronic circuit formed on each side of the at least one surface; and at least one conductive high aspect ratio through silicon via running through the at least one surface. Each through silicon via is fabricated from at least one etch step and includes: at least one thermal oxide dielectric for coating at least some of a sidewall of the through silicon via for a later etch stop in fabrication of the through silicon via.
US08354733B2	IGBT power semiconductor package having a conductive clip According to one disclosed embodiment, a power semiconductor package includes an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) residing on a package substrate, where the IGBT includes a plurality of solderable front metal (SFM) coated emitter segments situated atop the IGBT and connected to an emitter of the IGBT. The power semiconductor package also includes a conductive clip coupling the plurality of SFM coated emitter segments to an emitter pad on the package substrate. Additionally, the power semiconductor package includes a gate pad on the package substrate coupled to a gate of the IGBT, a collector pad on the package substrate situated under the IGBT and coupled to a collector of the IGBT, and an emitter terminal, a collector terminal and a gate terminal of the package substrate that are routed to the emitter pad, collector pad, and gate pad, respectively.
US08354731B2	Semiconductor device The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; an electric fuse that includes a lower-layer wiring formed on the substrate, a first via provided on the lower-layer wiring and connected to the lower-layer wiring, and an upper-layer wiring provided on the first via and connected to the first via, a flowing-out portion of a conductive material constituting the electric fuse being formed in a cut-off state of the electric fuse; and a heat diffusion portion that includes a heat diffusion wiring that is formed in the same layer as one of the upper-layer wiring and the lower-layer wiring and is placed on a side of the one of the upper-layer wiring and the lower-layer wiring, the heat diffusion portion being electrically connected to the one of the upper-layer wiring and the lower-layer wiring.
US08354729B2	Gas sensor and manufacturing method thereof A gas sensor manufacturing method including the following steps: providing a SOI substrate, including an oxide layer, a device layer, and a carrier, wherein the oxide layer is disposed between the device layer and the carrier; etching the device layer to form an integrated circuit region, an outer region, a trench and a conducting line, the conducting line including a connecting arm connecting to the integrated circuit region, the trench is formed around the conducting line and excavated to the oxide layer for reducing power consumption of the heater circuit, the connecting arm reaches over a gap between the integrated circuit region and the outer region and electrically connects to the integrated circuit region; coating or imprinting a sensing material on the circuit region; and etching the carrier and the oxide layer to form a cavity to form a film structure suspended in the cavity by the cantilevered connecting arm.
US08354728B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device including: a semiconductor layer; a gate insulating layer; a gate electrode; a channel region; a source region and a drain region; a guard ring region; an offset insulating layer; a first interlayer dielectric; a first shield layer formed above the first interlayer dielectric and the guard ring region and electrically connected to the guard ring region; a second interlayer dielectric; and a second shield layer formed above the second interlayer dielectric, wherein the first shield layer is provided outside of both ends of the gate electrode in a channel width direction when viewed from the top side; and wherein the second shield layer is provided in at least part of a first region and/or at least part of a second region, the first region being a region between one edge of the gate electrode and an edge of the first shield layer opposite to the edge of the gate electrode in the channel width direction when viewed from the top side, and the second region being a region between the other edge of the gate electrode and an edge of the first shield layer opposite to the other edge of the gate electrode in the channel width direction when viewed from the top side.
US08354726B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes: a first active region surrounded with an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode formed over the first active region and having a protrusion protruding on the isolation region; a first side-wall insulating film; an auxiliary pattern formed to be spaced apart in the gate width direction from the protrusion of the first gate electrode; a second side-wall insulating film; and a stress-containing insulating film containing internal stress and formed to cover the first gate electrode, the first side-wall insulating film, the auxiliary pattern, and the second side-wall insulating film. In this device, the distance between the first gate electrode and the auxiliary pattern is smaller than the sum total of: the sum of the thicknesses of the first and second side-wall insulating films; and the double of the thickness of the stress-containing insulating film.
US08354722B2	SCR/MOS clamp for ESD protection of integrated circuits An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, methods of fabricating an ESD protection circuit, methods of providing ESD protection, and design structures for an ESD protection circuit. An NFET may be formed in a p-well and a PFET may be formed in an n-well. A butted p-n junction formed between the p-well and n-well results in an NPNP structure that forms an SCR integrated with the NFET and PFET. The NFET, PFET and SCR are configured to collectively protect a pad, such as a power pad, from ESD events. During normal operation, the NFET, PFET, and SCR are biased by an RC-trigger circuit so that the ESD protection circuit is in a high impedance state. During an ESD event while the chip is unpowered, the RC-trigger circuit outputs trigger signals that cause the SCR, NFET, and PFET to enter into conductive states and cooperatively to shunt ESD currents away from the protected pad.
US08354721B2	Gate-all-around CMOSFET devices A GAA (Gate-All-Around) CMOSFET device includes a semiconductor substrate, a PMOS region having a first channel, an NMOS region having a second channel and a gate region. The surfaces of the first channel and the second channel are substantially surrounded by the gate region. A buried insulation layer is disposed between the PMOS region and the NMOS region and between the PMOS or NMOS region and the semiconductor substrate to isolate them from one another. The structure is simple, compact and highly integrated, has high carrier mobility, and avoids polysilicon gate depletion and short channel effect.
US08354719B2	Finned semiconductor device with oxygen diffusion barrier regions, and related fabrication methods A semiconductor device and related fabrication methods are provided. One exemplary fabrication method forms a fin arrangement overlying an oxide layer, where the fin arrangement includes one or more semiconductor fin structures. The method continues by nitriding exposed portions of the oxide layer without nitriding the one or more semiconductor fin structures, resulting in nitrided portions of the oxide layer. Thereafter, a gate structure is formed transversely overlying the fin arrangement, and overlying the exposed portions of the oxide layer. The nitrided portions of the oxide layer substantially inhibit diffusion of oxygen from the oxide layer into the gate structure.
US08354718B2	Semiconductor device including an arrangement for suppressing short channel effects An apparatus comprising a substrate of first dopant type and first dopant concentration; pocket regions in the substrate and having the first dopant type and a second dopant concentration greater than the first dopant concentration; a gate stack over the substrate and laterally between the pocket regions; first and second source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate stack and vertically between the gate stack and the pocket regions, the first and second source/drain regions having a second dopant type opposite the first dopant type and a third dopant concentration; and third and fourth source/drain regions having the second dopant type and a fourth dopant concentration that is greater than the third dopant concentration, wherein the pocket regions are between the third and fourth source/drain regions, and the third and fourth source/drain regions are vertically between the first and second source/drain regions and a bulk portion of the substrate.
US08354717B2	Lateral double-diffused MOSFET A LDMOS transistor is implemented in a first impurity region on a substrate. The LDMOS transistor has a source that includes a second impurity region. The second impurity region is implanted into the surface of the substrate within the first impurity region. Additionally, the LDMOS transistor has a drain that includes a third impurity region. The third impurity region is implanted into the surface of the substrate within the first impurity region. The third impurity region is spaced a predetermined distance away from a gate of the LDMOS transistor. The drain of the LDMOS transistor further includes a fourth impurity region within the third impurity region. The fourth impurity region provides an ohmic contact for the drain.
US08354713B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a MISFET of trench gate structure, a trench is formed from a major surface of a semiconductor layer of first conductivity type which serves as a drain region, in a depth direction of the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film including a thermal oxide film and a deposited film is formed over the internal surface of the trench, and after a gate electrode has been formed in the trench, impurities are introduced into the semiconductor substrate of first conductivity type to form a semiconductor region of second conductivity type which serves as a channel forming region, and impurities are introduced into the semiconductor region of second conductivity type to form the semiconductor region of first conductivity type which serves as a source region.
US08354709B2	Semiconductor component with improved robustness One aspect is a semiconductor component including a terminal zone; a drift zone of a first conduction type, which is doped more weakly than the terminal zone; a component junction between the drift zone and a further component zone; and a charge carrier compensation zone of the first conduction type, which is arranged between the drift zone and the terminal zone and whose doping concentration is lower than that of the terminal zone, and whose doping concentration increases at least in sections in the direction of the terminal zone from a minimum doping concentration to a maximum doping concentration, the minimum doping concentration being more than 1016 cm−3.
US08354707B2	Electrically programmable device with embedded EEPROM and method for making thereof A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first gate oxide layer overlying a first device region and a second device region in the substrate, a first gate in the first device region, and a second gate and a third gate in the second device region. The device also has a first dielectric layer with a first portion disposed on the first gate, a second portion disposed adjacent a sidewall of the first gate, and a third portion disposed over the third gate. An inter-gate oxide layer is disposed on the first gate and between the first portion and the second portion of the first dielectric layer. A fourth gate overlies the second gate oxide layer, the inter-gate oxide layer, and the first portion and the second portion of the first dielectric layer in the first device region. A fifth gate overlies the third portion of the first dielectric layer which is disposed over the third gate in the second device region.
US08354706B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a first gate insulator formed on the substrate and serving as an F-N (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling film, a first floating gate formed on the first gate insulator, a second gate insulator formed on the first floating gate and serving as an F-N tunneling film, a second floating gate formed on the second gate insulator, an intergate insulator formed on the second floating gate and serving as a charge blocking film, and a control gate formed on the intergate insulator, at least one of the first and second floating gates including a metal layer.
US08354700B2	Image sensor and method for manufacturing an image sensor An image sensor and a method for manufacturing an image sensor are described in which the image sensor includes at least one substrate having a plurality of light-sensitive elements forming a sensor field and first microfilter elements for wavelength-selective filtering of incident light. The first microfilter elements are attached to a transparent carrier made of glass or a transparent film, for example. A first microfilter element is situated in front of a portion of the light-sensitive elements for wavelength-selective filtering of light striking the light-sensitive element. No microfilter element is situated in front of a further portion of the light-sensitive elements.
US08354699B2	Method and apparatus providing CMOS imager device pixel with transistor having lower threshold voltage than other imager device transistors A transistor of a pixel cell for use in a CMOS imager with a low threshold voltage of less than about 0.4 V is disclosed. The transistor is provided with high dosage source and drain regions around the gate electrode and with the halo implanted regions and/or the lightly doped LDD regions and/or the enhancement implanted regions omitted from at least one side of the gate electrode. The low threshold transistor is electrically connected to a high voltage transistor with a high threshold voltage of about 0.7 V.
US08354688B2	Semiconductor chip assembly with bump/base/ledge heat spreader, dual adhesives and cavity in bump A semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, a conductive trace and dual adhesives. The heat spreader includes a bump, a base and a ledge. The conductive trace includes a pad and a terminal. The semiconductor device is mounted on the bump in a cavity in the bump, is electrically connected to the conductive trace and is thermally connected to the heat spreader. The bump extends into an opening in the first adhesive and is aligned with and spaced from an opening in the second adhesive. The base and the ledge extend laterally from the bump. The first adhesive is sandwiched between the base and the ledge, the second adhesive is sandwiched between the conductive trace and the ledge and the ledge is sandwiched between the adhesives. The conductive trace is located outside the cavity and provides signal routing between the pad and the terminal.
US08354686B2	Light emitting device array A light emitting device array is provided comprising a printed circuit board on which a plurality of electrode patterns having the same width is formed, a light emitting device package disposed on a predetermined number of electrode patterns and a power supply line disposed on at least one of the remaining electrode pattern except for the predetermined number of electrode patterns.
US08354683B2	Semiconductor element A semiconductor element according to an embodiment of present application includes a first voltage drop portion providing a first voltage drop, a second voltage drop portion providing a second voltage drop, and a connecting material between the first voltage drop portion and the second voltage drop portion and having a physical dimension smaller than that of at least one of the first voltage drop portion and the second voltage drop portion. The semiconductor element can operate under a total bias voltage. The total bias voltage is greater than the second voltage drop, while the second voltage drop is greater than or equal to the first voltage drop.
US08354682B2	Radiation emitting element A radiation-emitting component (10) having a layer stack (1) which is based on a semiconductor material and which has an active layer sequence (4) for generating electromagnetic radiation, and a filter element (2) which is arranged after the active layer sequence (4) in the irradiation direction (A) and by means of which a first radiation component is transmitted, and a second radiation component is reflected into the layer stack (1), wherein the second radiation component is subjected to a deflection process or an absorption and emission process, and the deflected or emitted radiation impinges on the filter element (2).
US08354679B1	Microcavity light emitting diode method of manufacture A high efficiency microcavity light emitting diode comprises a stack of AlxInyGa1-x-yN layers, where 0≦x, y, x+y≦1, with each layer having a high crystalline quality. The stack has a uniform thickness less than 6λ/n, with an active layer centered approximately (2i+1)λ/(4n) from a reflective electrical contact, where λ is the peak emission wavelength, n is the index of refraction at the peak emission wavelength, i is an integer, and each layer within the stack has a dislocation density below about 105 cm−2.
US08354678B1	Structure and method for forming a light detecting diode and a light emitting diode on a silicon-on-insulator wafer backside A structure and method for fabricating a light emitting diode and a light detecting diode on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer is provided. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming a light emitting diode and light detecting diode on the SOI wafer's backside and utilizing a deep trench formed in the wafer as an alignment marker. The alignment marker can be detected by x-ray diffraction, reflectivity, or diffraction grating techniques. Moreover, the alignment marker can be utilized to pattern openings and perform ion implantation to create p-n junctions for the light emitting diode and light detecting diode. By utilizing the SOI wafer's backside, the structure and method increases the number of light emitting diodes and light detecting diodes that can be formed on a SOI wafer, enables an increase in overall device density for an integrated circuit, and reduces attenuation of light signals being emitted and detected by the diodes.
US08354675B2	Enhanced capacitance deep trench capacitor for EDRAM A substrate including a stack of a handle substrate, an optional lower insulator layer, a doped polycrystalline semiconductor layer, an upper insulator layer, and a top semiconductor layer is provided. A deep trench is formed through the top semiconductor layer, the upper insulator layer, and the doped polycrystalline semiconductor layer. Exposed vertical surfaces of the polycrystalline semiconductor layer are crystallographically etched to form random facets in the deep trench, thereby increasing the total exposed surface area of the polycrystalline semiconductor layer in the deep trench. A node dielectric and at least one conductive material are deposited to fill the trench and to form a buried strap portion, which constitute a capacitor of an eDRAM. Access transistors and other logic devices can be formed.
US08354671B1	Integrated circuit with adaptive VGG setting A technique for setting Vgg in an IC is disclosed. The technique includes specifying a design reliability lifetime for the IC, and a relationship between maximum gate bias and gate dielectric thickness for the IC sufficient to achieve the design reliability lifetime is established. The IC is fabricated and the gate dielectric thickness is measured. A maximum gate bias voltage is determined according to the gate dielectric thickness and the relationship between maximum gate bias and gate dielectric thickness, and a Vgg trim circuit of the IC is set to provide Vgg having the maximum gate bias voltage that will achieve the design reliability lifetime according to the measured gate dielectric thickness.
US08354670B2	Transistor, method of manufacturing transistor, and electronic device including transistor Provided are a transistor, a method of manufacturing the transistor, and an electronic device including the transistor. The transistor may include a gate insulator of which at least one surface is treated with plasma. The surface of the gate insulator may be an interface that contacts a channel layer. The interface may be treated with plasma by using a fluorine (F)-containing gas, and thus may include fluorine (F). The interface treated with plasma may suppress the characteristic variations of the transistor due to light.
US08354669B2	Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same An organic light-emitting display device and a method of its manufacture are provided, whereby manufacturing processes are simplified and display quality may be enhanced. The display device includes: an active layer of a thin film transistor (TFT), on a substrate and including a semiconducting material; a lower electrode of a capacitor, on the substrate, doped with ion impurities, and including a semiconducting material; a first insulating layer on the substrate to cover the active layer and the lower electrode; a gate electrode of the TFT, on the first insulating layer; a pixel electrode on the first insulating layer; an upper electrode of the capacitor, on the first insulating layer; source and drain electrodes of the TFT, electrically connected to the active layer; an organic layer on the pixel electrode and including an organic emission layer; and a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode, the organic layer between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode.
US08354668B2	Emissive triaryls Disclosed herein are compounds represented by Formula 1. Compositions and light-emitting devices related thereto are also disclosed.
US08354666B2	Organic polymer semiconductor, method of preparing the same, and ambipolar organic thin film transistor using the same Disclosed are an organic polymer semiconductor, an ambipolar organic thin film transistor using the same, an electronic device comprising the ambipolar organic thin film transistor and methods of fabricating the same. Example embodiments relate to an organic polymer semiconductor, which may include an aromatic ring derivative having p-type semiconductor properties and a heteroaromatic ring having n-type semiconductor properties in the main chain thereof, and which thus may exhibit both p-type transistor properties and n-type transistor properties when used in the organic active layer of an electronic device, e.g., an organic thin film transistor, an ambipolar organic thin film transistor using such an organic polymer semiconductor, an electronic device comprising the ambipolar organic thin film transistor and methods of fabricating the same.
US08354665B2	Semiconductor light-emitting devices for generating arbitrary color A light-emitting device includes a conductive substrate (320), a multilayer semiconductor structure situated above the conductive substrate including a n-type doped semiconductor layer (308), a p-type doped semiconductor layer (312) situated above the n-type doped semiconductor layer (308), and a MQW active layer (310) situated between the p-type and n-type doped semiconductor layer (308,312). The multilayer semiconductor structure is divided by grooves (300) to form a plurality of independent light-emitting mesas (304,306). At least one light-emitting mesa (304,306) comprises a color conversion layer (324,326).
US08354662B2	Semiconducting nanoparticles with surface modification The invention relates to semiconducting nanoparticles. The nanoparticles of the invention comprise a single element or a compound of elements in one or more of groups II, III, IV, V, VI. The nanoparticles have a size in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and comprise from 0.1 to 20 atomic percent of oxygen or hydrogen. The nanoparticles are typically formed by comminution of bulk high purity silicon. One application of the nanoparticles is in the preparation of inks which can be used to define active layers or structures of semiconductor devices by simple printing methods.
US08354660B2	Bottom electrodes for use with metal oxide resistivity switching layers In a first aspect, an MIM stack is provided that includes (1) a first conductive layer comprising a first metal-silicide layer and a second metal-silicide layer; (2) a resistivity-switching layer comprising a metal oxide layer formed above the first conductive layer; and (3) a second conductive layer formed above the resistivity-switching layer. A memory cell may be formed from the MIM stack. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08354649B2	Apparatus for the extension and retraction of a peripheral device The present invention provides an extendible support mechanism in which a counterbalance system allows extension and retraction of the arm to be carried out with the same level of mechanical effort. Embodiments of the present invention allow the system to be used in a plurality of orientations, and thus the invention has particular utility in the extension and retraction of peripheral devices for radiotherapy systems, where use of a rotatable gantry is common.
US08354645B2	Radiation sensor and radiation image detection apparatus Provided are a radiation sensor having a first flexible substrate provided with a phosphor layer which converts incident radiation into an electromagnetic wave in a wavelength region that is at least different from that of the radiation; an organic photoelectric conversion layer which includes a charge transport layer and a charge generation layer containing a charge transporting agent and 55% by mass to 75% by mass of a polymer binder, and photoelectrically converts the electromagnetic wave; a second flexible substrate provided with a charge detection layer which includes a storage capacitor and a thin film transistor and is adapted to read electrical charge generated at the organic photoelectric conversion layer; and a polymer subbing layer disposed between the organic photoelectric conversion layer and the charge detection layer, and a radiation image detection apparatus using the radiation sensor.
US08354644B2	Total reflection tera hertz wave measuring apparatus A total reflection terahertz wave measuring apparatus 1 is configured to acquire information on a subject S by a total reflection measurement method by use of a terahertz wave, and includes a light source 11, a branching part 12, a chopper 13, an optical path length difference adjusting part 14, a polarizer 15, a separator 17, a terahertz wave generating element 20, an internal total reflection prism 31, a terahertz wave detecting element 40, a ¼ wavelength plate 51, a polarization split element 52, a photodetector 53A, a photodetector 53B, a differential amplifier 54, and a lock-in amplifier 55. The internal total reflection prism 31 is a so-called aplanatic prism, and has an entrance plane 31a, an exit plane 31b, and a reflection plane 31c. The terahertz wave generating element 20 is provided to be integrated with the entrance plane 31a of the internal total reflection prism 31, and the terahertz wave detecting element 40 is provided to be integrated with the exit plane 31b of the internal total reflection prism 31.
US08354643B2	Infrared motion sensor An infrared motion sensor has a multi element IR detector with first and second separate arrays of optical elements associated with respective first and second detector elements and a partition of a material substantially opaque to IR radiation and substantially transparent to visible/NIR light arranged to separate the IR optical paths from the first and second optical elements to the respective first and second detector elements. In this way, the detector elements function individually with respect to IR radiation and individual optical elements produce separate and independently oriented fields of view on the first and second sides of the sensor, while visible/NIR light still falls on both detector elements so that detector element signals resulting from NIR radiation roughly cancel one another.
US08354639B2	IR camera with adjustable view parameter settings The invention relates to an IR camera for capturing thermal images of an imaged view, the IR camera comprising an IR camera display arranged to display the captured thermal images to a user of the IR camera according to a view parameter setting. The IR camera is characterized in that it further comprises a display control unit arranged to automatically adjust the view parameter setting in the IR camera display based on a temperature reference area in the captured thermal images, wherein the temperature reference area is obtained using an indication means when a manual indication is performed by the user of the IR camera. The invention further relates to a method for adjusting view parameter settings in an IR camera and a computer program product.
US08354637B2	Method for obtaining crystal lattice moire pattern and scanning microscope A method for taking a crystal lattice moiré pattern of a crystal structure using a scanning microscope, and the scanning microscope implementing the method, arranges multiple virtual lattice points periodically corresponding to the crystal structure and an orientation thereof, on a scan plane of the crystal structure, detects signals from the multiple virtual lattice points, generated by an incident probe of the scanning microscope, and generates data of the crystal lattice moiré pattern, based on the detected signals.
US08354636B2	Mass spectrometer Problem: To provide a mass spectrometer wherein the door can be easily opened even when the door becomes stuck to a third wall surface.Solution: A mass spectrometer comprising a door 50 can be opened and closed and a lever 60 having a straight-shaped section 60a that is rotatable about a rotation shaft that is perpendicular to a first edge, wherein the rotation in a forward direction of one end of the straight-shaped section 60a of the lever 60 by a person taking measurements when the door 50 is closed causes a male part 61 formed on the lever 60 to interfere with and become locked with a female part 62 that is formed on an enclosure 110, thus making the door 50 unopenable and unclosable while the rotation in a reverse direction of the one end of the straight-shaped section 60a of the lever by a person taking measurements creates an unlocked state that allows the door 50 to be opened and closed and the other end of said straight-shaped section 60a of the lever 60 presses against a part of a third wall surface 110c that creates a force to open the door 50.
US08354634B2	Mass spectrometer A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitised. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitised signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.
US08354630B2	A/D converter circuit and solid-state imaging device having series-connected capacitative elements with plural input circuits Provided are a solid-state imaging device and A/D converter circuit comprising: series-connected capacitative elements; a voltage comparator circuit comparing the output of the capacitative element C1 with a threshold voltage; a first input circuit inputting an analog voltage signal to the node between the capacitative elements C1 and C2; a second input circuit inputting a first reference voltage, monotonously changing in a first conversion process for finding the upper-order bit value, to the node between the capacitative elements C2 and C3; a third input circuit inputting a second reference voltage, monotonously changing in a second conversion process for finding an unconverted bit value after the first conversion process, to the input terminal of the capacitative element C3; and a control circuit generating a control signal to hold the first reference voltage in the capacitative element C3 when the output of the voltage comparator circuit changes in the first conversion process.
US08354628B2	Luminescent solar concentrator with distributed outcoupling structures and microoptical elements A luminescent solar concentrator including a light-guiding slab containing a luminescent material that generates light emissions in response to received sunlight, spaced-apart outcoupling structures that provide a distributed outcoupling of the light emissions through predetermined locations on one of the “broadside” (e.g., upper or lower) surfaces of the light-guiding slab, and optical elements positioned to redirect the outcoupled light emissions such that the light emissions are concentrated onto a predetermined target (e.g., a PV cell). Each optical element includes a collimating surface portion and optional returner surface.
US08354625B2	Apparatuses for and methods of forge welding elongated articles with electrodes and an induction coil The present application relates to an apparatus for and a method of forge welding elongate articles (1, 2), such as tubes, together. In addition to electrode (12, 13) assemblies (9) for heating the article (1, 2) ends with high frequency resistive heating, the apparatus includes a coil (3) for induction heating the articles (1, 2) before or after welding, as well as means for cooling the welding seam.
US08354624B2	Device for curing a plastic material The invention relates to a device for curing a plastic material, in particular a sealing compound and/or a filling compound for tolerance adjustment or gap filling, respectively, wherein the plastic material is at least partly inserted in a gap area between two components, and wherein at least one of the components is made of a fiber reinforced plastic material, in particular of a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin. According to the invention the device is provided with at least one electromagnetic inductor for a locally defined heating of the gap area and for curing the plastic material arranged in the gap area. Due to the electromagnetic inductor which might be a linear inductor or a circular inductor a contact-less and fast curing of the plastic material is possible.
US08354623B2	Treatment apparatus, treatment method, and storage medium A treatment apparatus uses an inductive heating method to allow an object to be heated while preventing a treatment chamber from being heated. The treatment apparatus for performing a heat treatment on the object has a treatment chamber and an induction heating coil section. The treatment chamber is capable of accommodating a plurality of objects. The induction heating coil section is wound around an outer circumference of the treatment chamber. The treatment apparatus also has a high frequency power supply and a gas supply unit. The high frequency power supply applies high frequency power to the induction heating coil section. The gas supply unit introduces a necessary gas to the treatment chamber. A holding unit is inserted in and removed from the treatment chamber under the condition that the holding unit holds the object and an induction heating generator adapted to be inductively heated by means of a high frequency wave emitted by the induction heating coil section.
US08354614B2	Method to monitor the life of the contact tip in robotic or automatic GMAW A method of monitoring contact tip useful life in a welding torch includes measuring at least one of welding current (I) and welding voltage (V) of the contact tip mounted in the welding torch. Deterioration of the contact tip is quantified based on one or both of (i) a decrease of the welding current and increase of a standard deviation of the welding current (sd_I), and (ii) an increase of the welding voltage. Deterioration of the contact tip may be quantified by calculating an index of contact tip life (ITL) based on the welding current and standard deviation of the welding current and/or by calculating a reference index of contact tip life (ITL_v) based on the welding voltage.
US08354610B2	High quality hole cutting using variable shield gas compositions A method and apparatus for a plasma torch system having a plasma torch tip configuration that includes a nozzle, an electrode, and a control unit for controlling a composition of the shield gas flow, such that while cutting the contour the shield gas flow comprises a first shield gas composition and while cutting the hole the shield gas flow comprises a second shield gas composition.
US08354609B2	High quality hole cutting using variable shield gas compositions A method and apparatus for a plasma torch system having a plasma torch tip configuration that includes a nozzle, an electrode, and a control unit for controlling a composition of the shield gas flow, such that while cutting the contour the shield gas flow comprises a first shield gas composition and while cutting the hole the shield gas flow comprises a second shield gas composition.
US08354608B2	Methods for control of a fusion welding process by maintaining a controlled weld pool volume A new method of process control for fusion welding maintains a controlled weld pool size or volume, for example in some applications a substantially constant weld pool size or volume. The invention comprises a method of linking machine and process variables to the weld pool size or volume in real time, thereby enabling constant weld pool volume control. The invention further comprises a method of using thermal inverse models to rapidly process real-time data and enable models-based control of welding processes so as to implement constant weld pool volume control.
US08354606B2	Push switch equipped with capacitance sensor and input device including the same A push switch includes an operating member, a holding member, a detecting electrode including a plate-shaped spring, a conductive coil spring, and a wiring substrate. The operating member includes a top portion. The rear surface of the top portion and the holding member define a storage space. The detecting electrode, received in the storage space, includes a detecting portion in resilient contact with the top portion, a base in resilient contact with the coil spring, and a height adjusting portion coupling the detecting portion to the base. The amount of compression of the detecting electrode is defined depending on the height of the storage space. The detecting portion detects a change in capacitance caused when the operation surface is touched by a human body and a detection signal indicating the change is output to the wiring substrate through the height adjusting portion, the base, and the coil spring.
US08354603B2	Switching device A switching device includes a switching appliance, a cap, at least one connecting device for firm connection of the switching appliance to the cap, and a monitoring device. In at least one embodiment, the monitoring device includes a sensor and a tripping element, whose position is variable after connection and which, when the switching appliance is ready to operate, is located in a position in which the tripping element can be detected by the sensor, the monitoring device further including a signal unit which is connected to the sensor and is used to signal operational readiness once the sensor has detected this.
US08354600B2	Printed wiring board and electronic device A printed wiring board includes a land formed on a surface layer, at least one power supply pattern formed on a layer except the surface layer on which the land is formed, a plurality of vias which includes a first via electrically connected to the power supply pattern and a second via electrically connected to the power supply pattern and the first via and the second via are electrically connected to the land.
US08354590B2	Communication cable with improved crosstalk attenuation A matrix tape with conductive segments. The conductive segments are preferably provided on two layers of the matrix tape. The conductive segments can be attached to a film with an adhesive. A barrier tape is preferably applied between the cable core and the matrix tape.
US08354589B2	Power cable A power cable is configured for connecting at least one electrical device to a power source. The power cable includes an input terminal, at least one output terminal, a power transmitting wire, a switch, a voltage setting device, a voltage sampling device, a voltage comparing device and a power supply. The power transmitting wire connects the input terminal and the output terminal via the switch. The voltage sampling device is configured for sensing a voltage of the output terminal. The voltage comparing device is configured for comparing a preset voltage stored in the voltage setting device and the sampled voltage sensed by the voltage sampling device to turn on or turn off the switch according to the compared result. The power supply is configured for reducing the voltage of the power source to the rated voltage of the voltage comparing device to power the voltage comparing device.
US08354584B2	Dye sensitized solar cell An object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged dye sensitized solar cell which has a short-circuit preventing structure while a distance between a transparent conductive oxide and a counter electrode, that is, a cell gap is shortened.The dye sensitized solar cell includes a transparent conductive oxide which includes a transparent substrate and a conductive metal oxide having a light transmission property; a metal grid which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide; a protective film with which the metal grid is coated; a dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide in which the metal grid is not formed; and a counter electrode substrate, wherein a short-circuit preventing layer is provided in the counter electrode substrate facing the metal grid, and a width formed by a short side of the short-circuit preventing layer is larger than a width formed by the metal grid and protective layer.
US08354579B2	Music linked photocasting service system and method A music linked photocasting service system and method are provided. The music linked photocasting service method includes reproducing music at the request of a user, analyzing a mood of the reproduced music at prescribed times, until music reproduction is completed, searching photographs suitable for a analyzed mood of the music, and displaying the searched photographs.
US08354574B1	Maize variety hybrid X95A940 A novel maize variety designated X95A940 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X95A940 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X95A940 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X95A940, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X95A940. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X95A940.
US08354571B2	Bacillus thuringiensis gene with coleopteran activity The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Coleoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.
US08354569B2	Plant acyltransferases specific for long-chained, multiply unsaturated fatty acids The invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with acyltransferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, and constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process according to the invention and to their use.
US08354568B2	Suppression of B-cell apoptosis in transgenic animals expressing humanized immunoglobulin The invention provides a novel approach to increase immunoglobulin expression in non-human transgenic animals. For instance, the invention provides a method to increase humanized immunoglobulin production in animals genetically engineered to express one or several human or humanized immunoglobulin transloci. This can be done by overexpressing the apoptosis inhibitor, i.e. a rabbit bcl-2, whose expression is driven by a B-cell specific promoter specifically in the B-cell of the animal, thereby enhancing the survival of B-cells. This invention further relates to a method for selectively enhancing the survival of exogenous B-cells, that is B-cells expressing any immunoglobulin transgene locus, over the survival of endogenous B-cells that do not express the transgene locus. Selectivity is achieved by expressing the apoptosis-inhibitor only within exogenous B-cells, that is, by coupling exogenous immunoglobulin expression with apoptosis inhibitor expression. This latter method allows for increased expression and production of the transgene encoded product(s) over the endogenously produced immunoglobulin of the transgenic animal. The invention also provides a novel apoptosis-inhibitor, rabbit bcl-2.
US08354562B2	Method of making alkylene glycols Methods and systems for preparing alkylene glycols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of alkylene oxides with water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time.
US08354556B2	Processes for preparing a polymeric compound The present invention provides methods for preparing a polymeric compound of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention also provides useful intermediates for preparing the compound of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08354554B2	Process for preparing organometalloids Disclosed are a process for preparing organometalloids functionalized with an unsymmetrical 1,1-disubstituted alkene, and compounds prepared therewith.
US08354550B2	Skin treatments containing carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives and methods of preparation and use thereof The present invention relates to novel carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, skin treatment compositions containing these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, methods of treating skin changes by topical application of these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, and their methods of synthesis. The carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention are unexpectedly effective in treating skin, particularly with respect to skin tolerance. When included in a topical composition, the carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention have an antioxidant effect that is useful in treating a skin change.
US08354548B2	Glycine chroman-6-sulfonamides for use as inhibitors of diacylglycerol lipase The present disclosure is generally directed to compounds that can inhibit DAGLα and/or β activity, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for inhibiting DAGLα and/or β activity.
US08354547B2	4β-amino podophyllotoxin congeners as anti tumour antibiotics a process for the preparation thereof The present invention provides novel β-amino podophyllotoxin congeners of general formula (A); R=CH3, or H; R1=(a) or (b) or (c) or (d) or (e) or (f). The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of 4β-amino podophyllotoxin congeners useful as antitumour agents.
US08354546B2	Process for manufacture of optically active 2-(acyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolanes There is provided a process for manufacture of optically-active, 2-(acyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolanes of Formula I comprising a preparation of a racemic compound and an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the enantiomers. The invention may further provide for the esterification and racemization of the by-product of the enzymatic reaction. In this manner, 2(R)-(benzoyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolane is prepared as a useful intermediate for manufacture of the anti-HIV drug Apricitabine.
US08354544B2	Process for the preparation of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-1H-indazole and its derivatives and required magnesium intermediates The present invention relates to the process for the preparation of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-1H-indazole according ing to formula (II), to be used in a subsequent process for the preparation of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-1H-indazole according to formula (I).
US08354543B2	Process for the preparation of 4-(benzimidazolylmethylamino)-benzamides and the salts thereof The invention relates to a process for preparing an optionally substituted 4-benzimidazol-2-ylmethylamino)-benzamidine, characterized in that (a) an optionally correspondingly substituted diaminobenzene is condensed with 2-[4-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-on-3-yl)-phenylamino]-acetic acid, (b) i) the product thus obtained is hydrogenated and ii) optionally the amidino group is carbonylated, without isolating the intermediate product of the hydrogenation beforehand; as well as a process for preparing a salt of an optionally substituted 4-(benzimidazol-2-ylmethylamino)-benzamidine, wherein (a) an optionally correspondingly substituted diaminobenzene is condensed with 2-[4-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-on-3-yl)-phenylamino]-acetic acid, (b) the product thus obtained is hydrogenated, and (c) i) optionally the amidino group is carbonylated and ii) without prior isolation of the intermediate product of the carbonylation the desired salt is isolated.
US08354541B2	Optical purification of esomeprazole The present invention relates to process for optical purification of esomeprazole or a salt thereof. Thus, esomeprazole sodium having 20 to 1% R-omeprazole by weight of the sum of the contents of esomeprazole and R-omeprazole is precipitated from a solvent selected from an alcohol or a mixture of alcohols and the precipitated solid is collected to obtain optically pure esomeprazole sodium.
US08354538B2	Small-molecule inhibitors of the androgen receptor The present invention provides tetrahydropyrvinium (THP), derivatives thereof, benzoxazole compounds, and derivatives thereof. The present invention provides a method of using tetrahydropyrvinium (THP), derivatives thereof, benzoxazole compounds, and derivatives thereof.
US08354537B2	R,R1-atracurium salts The present invention provides R,R′-atracurium salts, processes for producing and purifying such salts, and methods of using such salts to produce highly pure cisatracurium besylate.
US08354534B2	Selective opioid compounds The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I or II, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which relates to morphinan compounds useful as μ, δ, and/or κ receptor opioid compounds and pharmaceuticals containing same that may be useful for mediating analgesia, combating drug addiction, alcohol addiction, drug overdose, mental illness, bladder dysfunctions, neurogenic bladder, interstitial cystitis, urinary incontinence, premature ejaculation, inflammatory pain, peripherally mediated and neuropathic pain, cough, lung edema, diarrhea, cardiac disorders, cardioprotection, depression, and cognitive, respiratory, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-intestinal disorders, immunomodulation, and anti-tumor agents.
US08354531B2	Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases Dihydrothienopyrimidines of formula 1 and the pharmacologically acceptable salts, enantiomers, racemates, hydrates, or solvates thereof, which are suitable for the treatment of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin, or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system or cancers, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds.
US08354524B2	Synthesis of selenium-derivatized nucleosides, nucleotides, phosphoramidites, triphosphates and nucleic acids The present invention provides selenium derivatives of nucleosides, nucleoside phosphoramidites, nucleotides, nucleotide triphosphates, oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, and larger nucleic acids and methods for their synthesis. Selenium derivatives of both ribonucleic acids and deoxyribonucleic acids, as well as methods for their synthesis, crystallization and uses in structural determinations, particularly by X-ray crystallographic techniques are disclosed. The selenium derivatives of the present invention are also useful as food supplements.
US08354515B2	Oligonucleotide derivative, labeling agent and use for labeling agent A labeling agent comprising a plurality of nucleotide derivative units represented by Formula (1) below: (where, Z represents a nitrogen atom or CH, Y represents an uncondensed aromatic hydrocarbon group or condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon group, X1 represents O, S or Se, and X2 represents SH (or S−), Se−, a C1-4 alkyl or a morpholino group).
US08354514B2	Multiplex detection of agricultural pathogens Described are kits and methods useful for detection of agricultural pathogens in a sample. Genomic sequence information from agricultural pathogens was analyzed to identify signature sequences, e.g., polynucleotide sequences useful for confirming the presence or absence of a pathogen in a sample. Primer and probe sets were designed and optimized for use in a PCR based, multiplexed Luminex assay and/or an array assay to successfully identify the presence or absence of pathogens in a sample.
US08354511B2	Method for purifying protein A method is provided for purifying protein having steps of loading a sample containing proteins into a column containing an ion exchanger in a first direction to allow the ion exchanger to absorb proteins; and passing a salt solution through the column in a second direction opposite to the first direction to elute a target protein from the ion exchanger. The method is proven as capable of improving homogeneity of eluted target protein without combining minute and complicated techniques for protein purification. Therefore, the method is convenient, efficient and economic for purifying proteins.
US08354509B2	Antibodies to human programmed death receptor PD-1 Antibodies which block the binding of human Programmed Death Receptor 1 (hPD-1) to its ligands (hPD-L1 or hPD-L2) and their variable region sequences are disclosed. A method of increasing the activity (or reducing downmodulation) of an immune response through the PD-I pathway is also disclosed.
US08354508B2	PRO115 antibody compositions and methods of use The invention provides isolated anti-Pro115 antibodies that bind to Pro115. The invention also encompasses compositions comprising an anti-Pro115 antibody and a carrier. These compositions can be provided in an article of manufacture or a kit. Another aspect of the invention is an isolated nucleic acid encoding an anti-Pro115 antibody, as well as an expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid. Also provided are cells that produce the anti-Pro115 antibodies. The invention encompasses a method of producing the anti-Pro115 antibodies. Other aspects of the invention are a method of killing an Pro115-expressing cancer cell, comprising contacting the cancer cell with an anti-Pro115 antibody and a method of alleviating or treating an Pro115-expressing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-Pro115 antibody to the mammal.
US08354503B2	Method for extracting hydrophobin from a solution Process for extracting hydrophobin from a solution wherein carrageenan is added to the solution and the pH of the solution is brought below 3.5, and the ionic strength of the solution is below 0.5.
US08354501B2	Methods for stepwise deposition of silk fibroin coatings The invention provides a method for the controlled assembly of layered silk fibroin coatings using aqueous silk fibroin material. The methods described herein can be used to coat substrates of any material, shape, or size. Importantly, the described methods enable control of the biomaterial surface chemistry, thickness, morphology and structure using layered thin film coatings, or bulk coatings. Furthermore, the methods can be performed in all water and do not require intensive chemical processing enabling controlled entrapment of labile molecules such as, drugs, cytokines, and even cells or viruses to generate functional coatings that can be used in a variety of applications.
US08354499B2	Cyanine-based probe\tag-peptide pair fluorescence protein imaging and fluorescence protein imaging methods A molecular probe comprises two arsenic atoms and at least one cyanine based moiety. A method of producing a molecular probe includes providing a molecule having a first formula, treating the molecule with HgOAc, and subsequently transmetallizing with AsCl3. The As is liganded to ethanedithiol to produce a probe having a second formula. A method of labeling a peptide includes providing a peptide comprising a tag sequence and contacting the peptide with a biarsenical molecular probe. A complex is formed comprising the tag sequence and the molecular probe. A method of studying a peptide includes providing a mixture containing a peptide comprising a peptide tag sequence, adding a biarsenical probe to the mixture, and monitoring the fluorescence of the mixture.
US08354495B2	Process for the preparation of oxymethylene polymers and apparatus suitable for this purpose Process for the preparation of oxymethylene polymers and apparatus suitable for this purposeA process and an apparatus for the preparation of oxymethylene polymers is described. The process encompasses the polymerization of a monomer that forms oxymethylene groups, if appropriate in the presence of a cyclic acetal, together with an acetal of formaldehyde and with an initiator for cationic polymerization, preferably in a gas-tight kneader or extruder. The temperature profile of the polymerization here is designed in such a way that the polymerization mixture, which is initially heterogeneous by virtue of precipitating polymer, is converted to a homogeneous phase at the end of the polymerization. The homogeneous phase in which the polymer is present in liquid form is stabilized via addition of deactivators.After removal of volatile constituents, oxymethylene polymers are obtained with high thermal stability and with good mechanical properties.The oxymethylene polymers can be prepared at low energy cost and their properties can be adjusted as desired via prescription of the temperature profile during the polymerization.
US08354492B2	Preparation of cast polyamides using special activators The present invention relates to a system comprising a) at least one catalyst for the anionic polymerization of lactams, and b) at least one activator for the anionic polymerization of lactams, wherein the at least one activator is a cyclic isocyanate, at least one allophanate or a mixture thereof.
US08354488B2	Reactive surfactants and their use in emulsions and dispersions A reactive polymeric surfactant that contains: (a) at least two hydrophilic monomeric units per molecule, each independently according to formula (I): wherein R1 is alkylene or oxyalkylene, R2 is H, methyl, or ethyl, R3 is H, and n is greater than about 5, (b) one or more hydrophobic monomeric units per molecule, each independently according to formula (II) wherein R4 is H or methyl, R5 is a hydrophobic group, is useful in stabilizing aqueous emulsions and aqueous dispersions.
US08354487B2	Castable golf ball components using acrylate functional resins Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.
US08354483B2	Reactor system and process for the catalytic polymerization of olefins, and the use of such reactor system in catalytic polymerization of olefins The invention relates to a reactor system and process for the catalytic polymerization of olefin monomer and optionally comonomer(s), having one or more inlets for olefin monomer, catalyst, optionally for comonomer, chain growth controllers or chain transfer agents, and/or inert gas, an outlet for gas and an outlet for polymerized particles. The reactor system has at least one fluidized bed unit and at least one moving bed unit, wherein the fluidized bed unit has means for maintaining a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed unit and wherein the moving bed unit is provided with an inlet and an outlet which are connected to the fluidized bed unit, wherein the outlet of the moving bed unit is provided with means for displacing metered quantities of polymerized particles from the moving bed unit into the fluidized bed unit, and to the use of such reactor system.
US08354481B2	Method of controlling a polymerization reactor The present invention provides methods of controlling a gas-phase polymerization process. The method includes determining a difference between a control variable of the polymerization process, such as the production rate, and the desired value of the control variable; adjusting or maintaining a first manipulated variable to at least partially compensate for the difference between the control variable and the desired value; and adjusting or maintaining a second manipulated variable to at least partially compensate for the effect of adjusting or maintaining the first manipulated variable. The first and second manipulated variables can include process variables such as the fluidized bed weight, the catalyst concentration, the concentration of one or more monomers, the flow of one or more comonomers, the ratio of one comonomer to another comonomer, the activator concentration, the ratio of an activator to selectivity control agent, the concentration of a chain transfer agent, and the retardant concentration.
US08354479B2	Functional filler and resin composition containing same The present invention provides a functional filler which is excellent in dispersibility or interaction with polylactic acid as a matrix polymer and can improve heat resistance, moldability and mechanical strength of the polylactic acid; and a resin composition containing the functional filler. The functional filler of the present invention is characterized in including a raw material filler and polylactic acid, wherein a surface or end the raw material filler is modified by the polylactic acid.
US08354478B2	Silicone polyurethane blends The invention describes the unexpected characteristics of blends, including crosslinked reaction products of elastomeric silicone polymers with various polyurethanes and their applications in personal care products.
US08354476B2	Functionalized poly(ether-anhydride) block copolymers The present application is directed to biodegradable polymers, compositions, including microspheres and nanospheres, formed of such polymers, and methods of using such polymers and compositions. In certain embodiments, the subject polymer compositions include therapeutic agents, optionally providing sustained release of the encapsulated agent after administration to a patient.
US08354472B2	Fluoroelastomer composition An ionically crosslinkable fluoroelastomer composition comprising: (a) at least one fluoroelastomer [polymer (F)]; (b) at least one ionically crosslinking system comprising at least one accelerator and at least one curing agent; (c) from 0.5 to 20 weight parts, per hundred parts of fluoroelastomer [polymer (F)], of at least one polar compound having boiling point of 150° C. or less, selected among: alcohols having formula: RH—OH wherein RH is a C1-12 hydrocarbon group, aliphatic or aromatic, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched; aldehydes having formula: wherein R′H is a C1-12 hydrocarbon group, aliphatic or aromatic, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched; ketones having formula: wherein R″H groups, equal or different from each other, are C1-6 hydrocarbon groups, aliphatic or aromatic, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched; esters having formula: wherein R′″H groups, equal or different from each other, are C1-6 hydrocarbon groups, aliphatic or aromatic, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched.
US08354469B2	Perfluoropolymer composition The invention concerns a composition comprising: at least one melt-processible per(halo)fluoropolymer (polymer A); from 0.01 to 5% by weight of polymer A of at least one smoke-suppressant agent (S) having a decomposition temperature of at least 350° C., selected from the group consisting of molybdenum derivatives, borates of an alkaline-earth metal or of a group 12 transition metal, and mixtures thereof; optionally, at least one oxide of a metal different from molybdenum. The composition of the invention excels simultaneously in providing excellent insulating properties on meal wires or optical fibers, outstanding processing parameters for high speed cable manufacture and high performance ratings on flammability, smoke generation and fuel load. Advantageously, cables comprising said composition comply with 25/50/8 requirements according to NFPA-255 and -259 for limited combustible materials.
US08354468B2	Thermoplastic elastomer composition A thermoplastic elastomer composition that exhibits excellent rubber elasticity, etc. is obtained by dynamically heating a polymer composition in the presence of the crosslinking agent, the polymer composition including an α-olefin thermoplastic resin (A), and an oil-extended ethylene copolymer (B) that includes an ethylene copolymer that satisfies given conditions, and 50 to 150 parts by mass of a first mineral oil-based softener based on 100 parts by mass of the ethylene copolymer, the content of the oil-extended ethylene copolymer (B) being 30 mass % or more based on the total amount (=100 mass %) of the polymer component including the α-olefin thermoplastic resin (A) and the oil-extended ethylene copolymer (B).
US08354466B2	Method for formulating agrochemical active ingredients so as to regulate their release kinetics, protect them from outside stresses, and keep their users safe The invention pertains to a new method for formulating any agrochemical active ingredient so as to protect the user, protect this active ingredient from outside stresses, and control its release kinetics. It relies on the use of acrylic and thickening emulsions with a pH greater than five and containing hydrophobic groups in order to trap said active ingredient. The invention also pertains to the various embodiments of the active ingredient thereby formulated: a mixture in water of that active ingredient with these thickening emotions, a dispersion of solid particles of these polymers and this active ingredient after a certification, and the solid particles obtained in a dried state after the water has been removed. Finally, the invention pertains to the use of these various formulations in order to protect and active ingredient, protect its user, and slow its release kinetics.
US08354465B2	Elastic film compositions with improved tear resistance A film composition comprising one or more propylene-based polymers and one or more hydrocarbon resins, and methods for making the same are provided. The propylene-based polymer may have (i) 60 wt % or more units derived from propylene, (ii) isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences, and (iii) a heat of fusion less than 65 J/g. The hydrocarbon resin may have a glass transition temperature greater than 20° C.
US08354463B2	Flame retardant thermoplastic elastomers A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is disclosed which is flame retardant and essentially halogen-free. An embodiment also includes expandable graphite filler to further provide fire protection.
US08354461B2	Foamable fluoropolymer composition The present invention discloses a foamable composition. The foamable composition includes a partially-crystalline melt processible perfluoropolymer and a foam nucleating package. The foamable composition has a uniform foam cell size where the foam cell size of at least 90% of the foamed cells is 50 micrometers or less. The foam nucleating package ranges from 0.1 to 10 wt % of the combined weight of the perfluoropolymer and the foam nucleating package.
US08354453B2	Bupropion hydrobromide and therapeutic applications A method of reducing the incidences of bupropion induced seizures by coadministration of a bromide salt with a bupropion salt.
US08354451B2	Treatment of microbial infections with compounds that inhibit 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase Methods of inhibiting phagolysosomal fusion in patients infected with a microorganism involve the administration of a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting compound, such as 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) to the patient. A HPPD-inhibiting compound administered in an amount effective to enhance phagolysosomal fusion in the macrophages or neutrophils of the patient reduces or treats the infection. Methods for treating bacterial infections by administering a HPPD-inhibiting compound and reducing the production of pyomelanin or melanin in microorganisms are disclosed.
US08354448B2	Use of (−)(3-trihalomethylphenoxy)(4-halophenyl) acetic acid derivatives for treatment of type 2 diabetes The present invention provides the use of (−)(3-trihalomethylphenoxy)(4-halophenyl)acetic acid derivatives and compositions in the treatment of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
US08354443B2	Cyclopropane indolinone derivatives The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 to R4 have the significance given in claim 1. The compound may be used, for example, for the treatment or prophylaxis of obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
US08354440B2	3-3-di-substituted-oxindoles as inhibitors of translation initiation Compositions and methods for inhibiting translation using 3-(5-tert-Butyl-2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are provided. Compositions, methods and kits for treating (1) cellular proliferative disorders, (2) non-proliferative, degenerative disorders, (3) viral infections, and/or (4) disorders associated with viral infections, using 3-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are described.
US08354439B2	Agent for inhibition of cytokine production and agent for inhibition of cell adhesion The present invention provides an agent for inhibiting cytokine production or cell adhesion, comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of thiazole derivatives represented by the following general formula: [wherein R1 is a phenyl group which may have a lower alkoxy group(s) as a substituent(s) on the phenyl ring, and R2 is a group represented by the following general formula: (wherein R3's, which may be the same or different, are each a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxy group or the like) or the like] and salts thereof.
US08354435B2	Modulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and methods of use thereof The present invention provides compounds that function as modulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The present invention provides therapeutic methods involving administering a subject compound, or a subject pharmaceutical composition.
US08354430B2	Monohydrochloride salt of 1-[3-[3-(4-chlorophenyl) propoxy]propyl]-piperidine A method is provided for the treatment of sleep apnea and other conditions wherein an effective amount of crystalline 1-[3-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)propoxy]propyl]-piperidine monohydrochloride of formula (I): optionally comprising water up to 6%, and having an X-ray diffractogram that comprises characteristic peaks (2θ) at 11.2°, 19.9°, 20.7° and 34.1°±0.2° is administered to a patient in need thereof.
US08354429B2	Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus replication Compounds of formula I: wherein R4, R6 and R7 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of HIV replication.
US08354425B2	Azabicyclic carboxamide derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof The disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Ra, Rb, n, Y, and W are as defined in the disclosure, or a salt thereof, or a hydrate or solvate thereof, and to processes for the preparation of these compounds and the therapeutic use thereof.
US08354417B2	Solid forms comprising 3-(2,5-dimethyl-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione, compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same Provided herein are solid forms comprising 3-(2,5-dimethyl-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the solid forms and methods for treating, preventing and managing various disorders are also disclosed.
US08354415B2	Thienopyrimidine compounds and compositions Compounds of formula (I) are A2B wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, or optionally substituted CrC6 alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy-(C1-C6)-alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-(C1-C6)-alkyl, or heteroaryl-(C1-C6)-alkyl; or R−1 and R2 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring; R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, or optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy-(C1-C6)-alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-(C1-C6)-alkyl, or heteroaryl-C1-C6)-alkyl; or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered ring; R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, aryl-(C1-C6)-alkyl, —NHR7—N(—R8)—R9, —NH—(C═O)—R10, —(C═O)—NH—R11, —(C═O)—O—R12, or halo; and R7, R8, R9, R10, R−11, and R12 are independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, aryl-(C1-C6)-alkyl and heteroaryl.
US08354414B2	Substituted bicyclic pyrimidines The present invention is related to chemical compositions, processes for the preparation thereof and uses of the composition. Particularly, the present invention relates to compositions that include substituted heterobicyclic pyrimidines of Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X, W, and ring A are as defined herein; pharmaceutical compositions of substituted heterobicyclic pyrimidines of Formula (I); and their use in the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, neurotraumatic diseases, depression and/or diabetes. More particularly, the present invention relates to substituted pyrazolopyrimidines of Formula (I).
US08354413B2	Quinolin-4-one and 4-oxodihydrocinnoline 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.
US08354412B2	Beta-3 receptor ligands and their use in therapy The present invention relates to new compounds, ligands of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor, their preparation and their use in therapy or as research tools for said receptor; the invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the compounds of the invention and the use of inverse agonists of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor as medicaments.
US08354407B2	2-anilino-4-(heterocyclic)amino-pyrimidines The present invention relates to 2-arylamino-4-(heterocyclic)aminopyrimidines inhibitors which are inhibitors and therefore inhibit Protein Kinase C-alpha (PKC-α). The PKC-α inhibitors of the present invention are important for improving myocardial intracellular calcium cycling, resulting in improved myocardial contraction and relaxation performance and thereby slowing the progression of heart failure. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising said 2-arylamino-4-(heterocyclic)amino-pyrimidines and to methods for controlling, abating, or otherwise slowing the progression of heart failure.
US08354402B2	Polyarylcarboxamides useful as lipid lowering agents Polyarylcarboxamide compounds of formula (I) are useful as lipid lowering agents.
US08354397B2	Mediators of hedgehog signaling pathways, compositions and uses related thereto The present invention makes available methods and reagents for inhibiting aberrant growth states resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function comprising contacting the cell with a hedgehog antagonist, such as a small molecule, in a sufficient amount to aberrant growth, e.g., to agonize a normal ptc pathway or antagonize smoothened or hedgehog activity.
US08354396B2	Drug identification and treatment method The invention relates to methods to identify compounds that can treat autoimmune conditions and treat specified clinical disorders such as multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis or arthritis. Compounds include 17α-ethynylandrost-5-ene-3β,11β,7α,17β-tetrol, 4α-acetoxy-17α-ethynylandrost-5-ene-3β,7β,17β-triol, 17α-ethynylandrost-5-ene-3β,4β,7α,17β-tetrol, 17α-ethynylandrost-5-ene-3α,4β,7α,17β-tetrol and 17α-ethynylandrost-5-ene-3α,4β,17β-triol-7-one.
US08354394B2	Diuretics A compound having the structure (I) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of 1) and 2), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and methods of using the compounds for treating hypertension.
US08354392B2	Drug-introduced photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid derived gel A drug-introduced photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid derived gel which is a photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel into which a drug is introduced through a covalent bond, and has characteristics that are capable of extruding from an injection device. The drug-introduced photo-cross-linked hyaluronic acid derived gel is capable of extruding, for example, by an injection needle of 20 to 25 gauge with a pressure of 0.5 to 5 kg/cm2.
US08354390B2	Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of a gene from the ebola virus The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a gene from the Ebola virus.
US08354388B2	Inhibitors of MRP4 for the treatment of vascular disorders The invention relates to inhibitors of MRP4 for the treatment and/or the prevention of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, post-angioplasty restenosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension or vein-graft disease.
US08354383B2	6,11-bridged biaryl macrolides The present invention discloses compounds of formula I, II or X, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which exhibit antibacterial properties. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject in need of antibiotic treatment. The invention also relates to methods of treating a bacterial infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. The invention further includes process by which to make the compounds of the present invention.
US08354380B2	NY-ESO-1 peptide analogs Some embodiments relate to analogs of peptides corresponding to class I MHC-restricted T cell epitopes and methods for their generation. These analogs can contain amino acid substitutions at residues that directly interact with MHC molecules, and can confer improved, modified or useful immunologic properties. Additionally classes of analogs, in which the various substitutions comprise the non-standard residues norleucine and/or norvaline, are disclosed.
US08354377B2	Use of factor VIIa or factor VIIa equivalents for preventing or attenuating haemorrhage growth, and/or oedema generation following intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in a selected subpopulation of ICH patients The invention relates to a method for preventing or attenuating one or more complications of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), the method comprising: (i) selecting an ICH patient who exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: age≦70, baseline ICH volume≦60 mL, baseline IVH volume≦5 mL, and elapsed time since onset of symptoms of less than about 2.5 hours; and (ii) administering to said patient in need thereof an effective amount of a first coagulation agent comprising Factor VIIa or a Factor VIIa equivalent.
US08354376B2	Osteogenic devices and methods of use thereof for repair of endochondral bone, osteochondral and chondral defects Disclosed herein are improved osteogenic devices and methods of use thereof for repair of bone and cartilage defects. The devices and methods promote accelerated formation of repair tissue with enhanced stability using less osteogenic protein than devices in the art. Defects susceptible to repair with the instant invention include, but are not limited to: critical size defects, non-critical size defects, non-union fractures, fractures, osteochondral defects, subchondral defects, and defects resulting from degenerative diseases such as osteochondritis dessicans.
US08354375B2	Repair of ligament using osteogenic proteins Provided herein are methods and devices for inducing the formation of functional replacement nonarticular cartilage tissues and ligament tissues. These methods and devices involve the use of osteogenic proteins, and are useful in repairing defects in the larynx, trachea, interarticular menisci, intervertebral discs, ear, nose, ribs and other fibrocartilaginous tissues in a mammal.
US08354370B2	Administering a biological composition or compositions isolated from self-renewing colony forming somatic cell growth medium to treat diseases and disorders The present invention relates to methods and uses of cells for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases and disorders and the repair and regeneration of tissues and organs using low passage and extensively passaged in vitro cultured, self-renewing, colony forming somatic cells (CF-SC). For example, adult bone marrow-derived somatic cells (ABM-SC), or compositions produced by such cells, are useful alone or in combination with other components for treating, for example, cardiovascular, neurological, integumentary, dermatological, periodontal, and immune mediated diseases, disorders, pathologies, and injuries.
US08354368B2	Cleaning composition comprising graft copolymers Disclosed is the use of water-soluble graft copolymers prepared by free-radically initiated graft polymerization of 40 to 90% by weight of component (A), selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and derivatives thereof, with 5 to 40% by weight of monomers (B), selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated C3-C10 monocarboxylic acids or the alkali or ammonium salts thereof, and 10 to 50% by weight of monomers (C), selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated N-containing monomers and/or ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing sulfo-groups, in cleaning compositions which, as well as the graft polymer, comprise at least one surfactant component, for hydrophilization and/or improvement of shine retention of hard surfaces which have been brought into contact with these cleaning compositions.
US08354364B2	Foamable composition containing alcohol This invention relates to compositions containing lower (C1-C4) alcohol and a polymeric fluorosurfactant formulated for being dispensed as a foam product. More particularly, the invention relates to improved compositions formulated with polymeric fluorosurfactants with pendant perfluoroalkyl side chains of a fully fluorinated chain length of C1-C7. The compositions also relate to use for personal care, such as skin sanitizing and cleansing.
US08354362B2	Polymer and lubricating compositions thereof The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and a hydrogenated copolymer of an olefin block and vinyl aromatic block, wherein the copolymer is optionally functionalized. The invention further provides a method for preparing a hydrogenated copolymer; and the use of the lubricating composition.
US08354360B2	Method of subterranean formation treatment A method of treating a subterranean formation with a xanthan-viscosified cesium formate brine wherein the pH and/or another characteristic selected from density, xanthan loading, sodium formate loading, potassium formate loading and combinations thereof are modified to delay solid hydrogel formation and maintain pumpability. Also disclosed is a method of delaying onset of solid hydrogel formation, in a gel comprising cesium formate brine viscosified with xanthan polymer, comprises introducing acid into the brine in an amount effective for a pH from 7 to 11, wherein the acid introduction is before, during or after xanthan viscosification and prior to hydrogel formation, wherein the hydrogel formation in the acidified gel occurs at a later time relative to the same gel at a natural pH.
US08354359B2	Heat-sensitive adhesive agent and heat-sensitive adhesive sheet Provided is a heat-sensitive adhesive agent that mainly comprises a thermoplastic resin and a heat-meltable substance capable of melting upon heating, and further comprises swellable mica.
US08354358B2	Fine particulate titanium dioxide, and production process and uses thereof Titanium dioxide having a ratio Dtop/D50 of 1 to 3, between the maximum particle diameter Dtop and the average particle diameter D50, as determined based on observing the primary particles by a field emission-type scanning electron microscope. A production process of the titanium dioxide comprises performing a vapor phase process of reacting a titanium tetrachloride-containing gas with an oxidative gas to produce titanium dioxide, wherein when the titanium tetrachloride-containing gas and the oxidative gas are reacted by introducing each gas into a reaction tube, the temperature in the reaction tube is from 1,050 to less than 1,300° C.
US08354355B2	Method of producing particles by physical vapor deposition in an ionic liquid A method is provided for producing particles, such as nanoparticles. The method includes introducing an ionic liquid into a deposition chamber, and directing one or more material toward or depositing one or more materials onto the ionic liquid by physical vapor deposition to form nanoparticles in the ionic liquid.
US08354353B2	Cubic boron nitride ceramic composites and methods of making thereof Composite materials composed of cubic boron nitride (cBN) and a matrix component of various ceramic oxides, nitrides, and solid solutions of matrix materials as well as whisker reinforcements. Methods of manufacture and their use in high performance machining of ferrous metals are also claimed and disclosed.
US08354351B2	Serial irradiation of a substrate by multiple radiation sources A system for configuring and utilizing J electromagnetic radiation sources (J≧2) to serially irradiate a substrate. Each source has a different function of wavelength and angular distribution of emitted radiation. The substrate includes a base layer and I stacks (I≧2; J≦I) thereon. Pj denotes a same source-specific normally incident energy flux on each stack from source j. In each of I independent exposure steps, the I stacks are concurrently exposed to radiation from the J sources. Vi and Si respectively denote an actual and target energy flux transmitted into the substrate via stack i in exposure step i (i=1, . . . , I). t(i) and Pt(i) are computed such that: Vi is maximal through deployment of source t(i) as compared with deployment of any other source for i=1, . . . , I; and an error E being a function of \|V1−S1\|, \|V2−S2\|, . . . , \|VI−SI\| is about minimized with respect to Pi (i=1, . . . , I).
US08354345B2	Method for forming side contact in semiconductor device through self-aligned damascene process A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of active regions, each having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, by etching a semiconductor substrate, forming an insulation layer on the first sidewall and the second sidewall, forming an etch stop layer filling a portion of each gap between the active regions, forming a recess exposing the insulation layer formed on any one sidewall from among the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and forming a side contact exposing a portion of any one sidewall from among the first sidewall and the second sidewall by selectively removing a portion of the insulation layer.
US08354344B2	Methods for forming metal-germanide layers and devices obtained thereby The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor processing and, more particularly, to the formation of low resistance layers on germanium substrates. One aspect of the present invention is a method comprising: providing a substrate on which at least one area of a germanium layer is exposed; depositing over the substrate and said germanium area a metal, e.g., Co or Ni; forming over said metal, a capping layer consisting of a silicon oxide containing layer, of a silicon nitride layer, or of a tungsten layer, preferably of a SiO2 layer; then annealing for metal-germanide formation; then removing selectively said capping layer and any unreacted metal, wherein the temperature used for forming said capping layer formation is lower than the annealing temperature.
US08354338B2	Carrier board structure with embedded semiconductor chip and fabrication method thereof A circuit board structure with an embedded semiconductor chip and a fabrication method thereof are provided, including the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer having an active surface with a plurality of electrode pads, a connection metal layer formed on the electrode pads: forming a protective layer on the connection metal layer and the semiconductor wafer, performing a cutting process to form a plurality of semiconductor dies, providing a carrier board having at least one cavity for receiving the semiconductor chip; and forming sequentially on the protective layer covering the semiconductor chip and the carrier board a dielectric layer and a circuit layer electrically connected to the connection metal layer of the semiconductor chip. The present invention is a simple, in process and low in process cost, due to the connection metal layer covered by the protective layer formed on the semiconductor chip protected from oxidation and contamination.
US08354336B2	Forming an electrode having reduced corrosion and water decomposition on surface using an organic protective layer Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of forming an electrode having reduced corrosion and water decomposition on a surface thereof. A substrate which has a conductive layer disposed thereon is provided and the conductive layer has an oxide layer with an exposed surface. The exposed surface of the oxide layer contacts a solution of an organic surface active compound in an organic solvent to form a protective layer of the organic surface active compound over the oxide layer. The protective layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 nm to about 5 nm and ranges therebetween depending on a chemical structure of the surface active compound.
US08354335B2	Apparatus and associated method for making a floating gate cell with increased overlay between the control gate and floating gate A method for fabricating a floating gate memory device comprises using a buried diffusion oxide that is below the floating gate thereby producing an increased step height between the floating gate and the buried diffusion oxide. The increased step height can produce a higher GCR, while still allowing decreased cell size using a virtual ground array design.
US08354333B2	Patterned doping of semiconductor substrates using photosensitive monolayers A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention use a photosensitive self-assembled monolayer to pattern the surface of a substrate into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, and an aqueous (or alcohol) solution of a dopant compound is deposited on the substrate surface. The dopant compound only adheres on the hydrophilic regions. After deposition, the substrate is coated with a very thin layer of oxide to cap the compounds, and the substrate is annealed at high temperatures to diffuse the dopant atoms into the silicon and to activate the dopant. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate including an oxide surface, patterning said surface into hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, depositing a compound including a dopant on the substrate, wherein the dopant adheres to the hydrophilic region, and diffusing the dopant into the oxide surface of the substrate.
US08354327B2	Scheme for planarizing through-silicon vias Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to conductive via elements, such as through-silicon vias (TSV's), and methods for forming the same. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a layer of isolation material above a via opening formed in a semiconductor device, the via opening extending into a substrate of the semiconductor device. The method also includes performing a first planarization process to remove at least an upper portion of the layer of isolation material formed outside of the via opening, and forming a conductive via element inside of the via opening after performing the first planarization process.
US08354322B2	Fabricating and operating a memory array having a multi-level cell region and a single-level cell region Techniques are disclosed herein for applying different process steps to single-level cell (SLC) blocks in a memory array than to multi-level cell (MLC) blocks such that the SLC blocks will have high endurance and the MLC blocks will have high reliability. In some aspects, different doping is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. In some aspects, different isolation is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. Techniques are disclosed that apply different read parameters depending on how many times a block has been programmed/erased. Therefore, blocks that have been cycled many times are read using different parameters than blocks that have been cycled fewer times.
US08354321B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor devices with reduced junction diffusion A transistor which includes halo regions disposed in a substrate adjacent to opposing sides of the gate. The halo regions have upper and lower regions. The upper region is a crystalline region with excess vacancies and the lower region is an amorphous region. Source/drain diffusion regions are disposed in the halo regions. The source/drain diffusion regions overlap the upper and lower halo regions. This architecture offers the minimal extension resistance as well as minimum lateral diffusion for better CMOS device scaling.
US08354318B2	Semiconductor memory device and method of fabrication of the same A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell transistor. The first memory cell transistor includes a tunnel insulation film provided on a semiconductor substrate, a floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film, an inter-gate insulation film provided on the floating electrode, and a control electrode provided on the inter-gate insulation film. The floating electrode includes a first floating electrode provided on the tunnel insulation film and a second floating electrode provided on one end portion of the first floating electrode, the floating electrode having an L-shaped cross section in a wiring direction of the control electrode.
US08354317B2	Relaxed-pitch method of aligning active area to digit line According to one aspect of the invention, a memory device is disclosed. The memory device comprises a substantially linear active area comprising a source and at least two drains defining a first axis. The memory device further comprises at least two substantially parallel word lines, at least a portion of a first word line located between a first drain and the source, and at least a portion of a second word line located between a second drain and the source, which word lines define a second axis. The memory device further comprises a digit line coupled to the source, wherein the digit line forms a substantially zig-zag pattern.
US08354312B2	Semiconductor device fabrication method The present invention is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including the steps of: a first silicon nitride film having a refractive index of 2.2 or higher on a semiconductor layer made of a GaN- or InP-based semiconductor; forming, on the first silicon nitride film, a second silicon nitride film having a refractive index lower than that of the first silicon nitride; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode in areas in which the semiconductor layer is exposed; annealing the source electrode and the drain electrode in a state in which the first silicon nitride film and the second silicon nitride film are formed; and forming a gate electrode on the semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08354311B2	Method for forming nanofin transistors One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for forming a transistor. According to an embodiment, a fin is formed from a crystalline substrate. A first source/drain region is formed in the substrate beneath the fin. A surrounding gate insulator is formed around the fin. A surrounding gate is formed around the fin and separated from the fin by the surrounding gate insulator. A second source/drain region is formed in a top portion of the fin. Various embodiments etch a hole in a layer over the substrate, form sidewall spacers in the hole, form a fin pattern from the sidewall spacers, and etch into the crystalline substrate to form the fin from the substrate using a mask corresponding to the fin pattern. Other aspects are provided herein.
US08354310B2	SOI MOS device having a source/body ohmic contact and manufacturing method thereof The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of SOI MOS device having a source/body ohmic contact. The manufacturing method comprises steps of: firstly creating a gate region, then performing high dose source and drain light doping to form the lightly doped N-type source region and lightly doped N-type drain region; forming an insulation spacer surrounding the gate region; performing large tilt heavily-doped P ion implantation in an inclined direction via a mask with an opening at the position of the N type Si source region and implanting P ions into the space between the N type Si source region and the N type drain region to form a heavily-doped P-type region; finally forming a metal layer on the N type Si source region, then allowing the reaction between the metal layer and the remained Si material underneath to form silicide by heat treatment. In the device prepared by the method of the present invention, an ohmic contact is formed between the silicide and the heavily-doped P-type region nearby in order to release the holes accumulated in body region of the SOI MOS device and eliminate floating body effects thereof. Besides, the device of the present invention also has following advantages, such as limited chip area, simplified fabricating process and great compatibility with traditional CMOS technology.
US08354305B2	Thin film transistor liquid crystal display array substrate and manufacturing method thereof A TFT LCD array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: forming a thin film transistor on a substrate to form a gate line and a gate electrode connected with the gate line on the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer and a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode; forming an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a transparent pixel electrode layer and a source/drain electrode metal layer in sequence on the resultant substrate, wherein the transparent pixel electrode layer is electrically insulated from the gate line and the gate electrode, and the transparent pixel electrode layer forms an ohmic contact with two sides of the semiconductor layer via the ohmic contact layer; and performing masking and etching with a gray tone mask with respect to the resultant substrate to form a transparent pixel electrode, a source/drain electrode and a data line simultaneously.
US08354303B2	Thermally enhanced low parasitic power semiconductor package A method and structure for a dual heat dissipating semiconductor device. A method includes attaching a drain region on a first side of a die, such as a power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) to a first leadframe subassembly. A source region and a gate region on a second side of the die are attached to a second leadframe subassembly. The first leadframe subassembly is attached to a third leadframe subassembly, then the device is encapsulated or otherwise packaged. An exposed portion of the first leadframe subassembly provides an external heat sink for the drain region, and the second leadframe subassembly provides external heat sinks for the source region and the gate region, as well as output leads for the gate region. The third leadframe subassembly provides output leads for the drain region.
US08354300B2	Reducing susceptibility to electrostatic discharge damage during die-to-die bonding for 3-D packaged integrated circuits Mitigating electrostatic discharge damage when fabricating a 3-D integrated circuit package, wherein in one embodiment when a second tier die is placed in contact with a first tier die, conductive bumps near the perimeter of the second tier die that are electrically coupled to the substrate of the second tier die make contact with corresponding conductive bumps on the first tier die that are electrically coupled to the substrate of first tier die before other signal conductive bumps and power conductive bumps on the second tier and first tier dice make electrical contact.
US08354297B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming different height conductive pillars to electrically interconnect stacked laterally offset semiconductor die A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die mounted over a carrier. Wettable contact pads can be formed over the carrier. A second semiconductor die is mounted over the first semiconductor die. The second die is laterally offset with respect to the first die. An electrical interconnect is formed between an overlapping portion of the first die and second die. A plurality of first conductive pillars is disposed over the first die. A plurality of second conductive pillars is disposed over the second die. An encapsulant is deposited over the first and second die and first and second conductive pillars. A first interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant, first conductive pillars, and second die. The carrier is removed. A second interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant, second conductive pillars, and first die. A third conductive pillar is formed between the first and second build-up interconnect structures.
US08354296B2	Semiconductor structure and circuit including ordered arrangement of graphene nanoribbons, and methods of forming same A semiconductor structure including an ordered array of parallel graphene nanoribbons located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided using a deterministically assembled parallel set of nanowires as an etch mask. The deterministically assembled parallel set of nanowires is formed across a gap present in a patterned graphene layer utilizing an electric field assisted assembly process. A semiconductor device, such as a field effect transistor, can be formed on the ordered array of parallel graphene nanoribbons.
US08354295B2	Backside illuminated sensor processing The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for reducing dark current in a backside illuminated semiconductor device. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface, and forming a plurality of sensor elements in the substrate, each of the plurality of sensor elements configured to receive light directed towards the backside surface. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer on the backside surface of the substrate, wherein the dielectric layer is formed to have a compressive stress to induce a tensile stress in the substrate. A backside illuminated semiconductor device fabricated by such a method is also disclosed.
US08354294B2	Liquid chemical deposition apparatus and process and products therefrom A method, apparatus and material produced thereby in an amorphous or crystalline form having multiple elements with a uniform molecular distribution of elements at the molecular level.
US08354292B2	CMOS image sensor having a crosstalk prevention structure and method of manufacturing the same In a method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor, a P type epitaxial layer is formed on an N type substrate. A deep P+ type well layer is formed in the P type epitaxial layer. An N type deep guardring well is formed in a photodiode guardring region. The N type deep guardring region makes contact with the N type substrate and also be connected with an operational voltage terminal. A triple well is formed in a photodiode region and a peripheral circuit region. The triple well is used for forming a PMOS and an NMOS having different operational voltages. An isolation region is formed in the photodiode region. The isolation region in the photodiode region has a depth different from a depth of an isolation region in the peripheral circuit region.
US08354288B2	Etchant and method of manufacturing an array substrate using the same An etchant includes about 0.1 percent by weight to about 30 percent by weight of ammonium persulfate (NH4)2S2O8, about 0.1 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight of an inorganic acid, about 0.1 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight of an acetate salt, about 0.01 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of a fluorine-containing compound, about 0.01 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of a sulfonic acid compound, about 0.01 percent by weight to about 2 percent by weight of an azole compound, and a remainder of water. Accordingly, the etchant may have high stability to maintain etching ability. Thus, manufacturing margins may be improved so that manufacturing costs may be reduced.
US08354287B2	Method for manufacturing organic electroluminescence device The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an organic EL device. When an organic EL element which is composed of a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is transparent or translucent, and an organic EL layer which comprises a light-emitting layer held between the electrodes, and a sealing layer which includes at least one layer of inorganic film being in contact with the organic EL element and which seals the organic EL element are formed on a substrate, a first sealing film which is included in the sealing layer and in contact with the organic EL element is formed by the facing target sputtering method, and the other inorganic film which is included in the sealing layer is formed by any method other than the facing target sputtering method.
US08354286B2	Method of manufacturing silicon optoelectronic device, silicon optoelectronic device manufactured by the method, and image input and/or output apparatus using the silicon optoelectronic device A method of manufacturing a silicon optoelectronic device, a silicon optoelectronic device manufactured by the method, and an image input and/or output apparatus including the silicon optoelectronic device are provided. The method includes preparing an n- or p-type silicon-based substrate, forming a microdefect pattern along a surface of the substrate by etching, forming a control film with an opening on the microdefect pattern, and forming a doping region on the surface of the substrate having the microdefect pattern in such a way that a predetermined dopant of the opposite type to the substrate is injected onto the substrate through the opening of the control film to be doped to a depth so that a photoelectric conversion effect leading to light emission and/or reception by quantum confinement effect in the p-n junction occurs. The silicon optoelectronic device has superior light-emitting efficiency, can be used as at least one of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, and has high wavelength selectivity. In addition, the silicon optoelectronic device panel having the two-dimensional array of the silicon optoelectronic devices can be applied in the image input and/or output apparatus capable of directly displaying an image and/or inputting optical information in a screen.
US08354284B2	LED module and method of manufacturing the same An exemplary LED module includes a base, an anisotropic conductive film on the base, multiple LED dies on the anisotropic conductive film, multiple first electrodes between the base and the anisotropic conductive film, and multiple second electrodes on the LED dies. The LED dies are arranged in multiple rows by multiple columns. The first electrodes each are elongated and parallel to each other. The second electrodes each are elongated and parallel to each other. The LED dies of each column are connected to one of the first electrodes electrically. Each second electrode is electrically coupled to the LED dies of one row.
US08354282B2	Very high transmittance, back-illuminated, silicon-on-sapphire semiconductor wafer substrate for high quantum efficiency and high resolution, solid-state, imaging focal plane arrays An advanced, very high transmittance, back-illuminated, silicon-on-sapphire wafer substrate design is presented for enabling high quantum efficiency and high resolution, silicon or silicon-germanium avalanche photodiode detector arrays. The wafer substrate incorporates a stacked antireflective bilayer between the sapphire and silicon layers, comprised of single crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) and non-stoichiometric, silicon rich, amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiNX<1.33), that provides optimal refractive index matching between sapphire and silicon. A one quarter wavelength, magnesium fluoride (λ/4-MgF2) antireflective layer deposited on the back surface of the thinned sapphire provides refractive index matching at the air-sapphire interface. Selecting a composition of x=0.62 for a-SiNX, tunes an optimal refractive index for the layer. Selecting design thicknesses of 52 nm for single crystal AlN, 30 nm for a-SiN0.62, and 120 nm for λ/4-MgF2 yields a back-illuminated optical transmittance T>50% for 250-300 nm, T>70% for 300-400 nm and T>90% for 400-1100 nm.
US08354276B2	T-cell compositions that elicit type I cytokine response A method of manipulating allogeneic cells for use in allogeneic cell therapy protocols is described. The method provides a composition of highly activated allogeneic T-cells which are infused into immunocompetent cancer patients to elicit a novel anti-tumor immune mechanism called the “Mirror Effect”. In contrast to current allogeneic cell therapy protocols where T-cells in the graft mediate the beneficial graft vs. tumor (GVT) and detrimental graft vs. host (GVH) effects, the allogeneic cells of the present invention stimulate host T-cells to mediate the “mirror” of these effects. The mirror of the GVT effect is the host vs. tumor (HVT) effect. The “mirror” of the GVH effect is the host vs. graft (HVG) effect. The effectiveness and widespread application of the anti-tumor GVT effect is limited by the severe toxicity of the GVH effect. In the present invention, the anti-tumor HVT effect occurs in conjunction with a non-toxic HVG rejection effect. The highly activated allogeneic cells of the invention can be used to stimulate host immunity in a complete HLA mis-matched setting in patients that have not had a prior bone marrow transplant or received chemotherapy and/or radiation conditioning regimens.
US08354275B2	Induction of dendritic cell development with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) A method of inducing dendritic cell (DC) development by administering Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor is provided. M-CSF induces DCs to differentiate into subtypes, for example plasmacytoid DCs and conventional DCs. Induction with M-CSF can be achieved in vitro from hematopoietic precursors, such as bone marrow cells, or in vivo. In vitro, M-CSF-derived DCs can be used to produce cytokines and to stimulate other immune response cells. M-CSF can also be used to induce precursor cells removed from an animal to develop into DCs. In addition, these isolated DCs can be exposed to antigens to stimulate a specific immune response when reintroduced into the animal. Treatments for cancers, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, are also provided in the invention.
US08354273B2	Isoforms of human somatostatin receptor type 5 The present invention concerns two human nucleic acids comprising sequences which code two novel isoforms of human somatostatin receptor type 5 produced by alternative adjustment, called sst5B and sst5C and with possible uses in tumoral processes. Additionally, the invention concerns oligonucleotide pairs used for the differential detection of said isoforms by means of the PCR technique in different tissues.
US08354271B2	Biosensor A sensor includes a diaphragm having a through-hole (1), and includes a frame supporting a diaphragm and having a cavity. Kerfs are formed in a frame so as to extend from an end surface of the frame, and the wall surfaces of the kerfs are made hydrophilic. This structure can suppress the occurrence of bubbles in the vicinity of the through-hole, and efficiently remove the remaining bubbles. As a result, the bubbles adhering to the vicinity of the through-hole can be removed, and the measuring reliability of the sensor can be improved.
US08354270B2	Method and apparatus for performing a lateral flow assay An embodiment of the present invention provides a-method for performing a lateral flow assay. The method includes depositing a sample on a test strip at an application region, detecting a first detection signal arising from the test strip in the first detection zone, and generating a baseline for the first measurement zone by interpolating between values of the detection signal outside of the first measurement zone and inside of the first detection zone. The method may include locating a beginning boundary and an ending boundary for the first measurement zone on the test strip. Additional detection zones having measurement zones may also be incorporated with the embodiment.
US08354269B2	Optimised media containing nickel for fermentation of carbonmonoxide The invention relates to improvements in the production of alcohols by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO. It more particularly relates to the provision of an improved fermentation media, comprising nickel, to a fermentation system such that one or more micro-organisms convert a substrate comprising CO to one or more alcohols, such as ethanol. In particular embodiments, a microbial culture is provided with at least 10 μM nickel, such that CO uptake by the microbial culture increases and ethanol productivity improves.
US08354267B2	Microbial fuel cell Transgenic microbes with an altered electrogenic efficacy, biofilms comprising such microbes, and microbial fuel cells comprising such microbes are provided. The microbial fuel cells can be operated as monitors, filtration devices, and sensors.
US08354266B2	Method for producing extracellular multi-enzyme complexes in host cells A polycistronic expression cassette encoding proteins necessary for constructing a multi-enzyme complex was developed. Also disclosed herein is a host cell containing this polycistronic expression cassette and uses thereof in degrading biomass.
US08354261B2	Highly stable β-class carbonic anhydrases useful in carbon capture systems The present disclosure relates to β-class carbonic anhydrase polypeptides having improved properties including increased thermostability and/or stability in the presence of amine compounds, ammonia, or carbonate ion. The present disclosure also provides formulations and uses of the polypeptides for accelerating the absorption of carbon dioxide from a gas stream into a solution as well as for the release of the absorbed carbon dioxide for further treatment and/or sequestering. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the carbonic anhydrase polypeptides and host cells capable of expressing them.
US08354259B2	Method and system for lactose-free or lactose-reduced milk and associated products, production thereof, and associated processes A system and method capable of hydrolyzing lactose, where the system includes a support formed from a functionalized hydrophobic polymer that is covalently linked to a hydrophilic molecule covalently that is, in turn, covalently linked to an enzyme such as lactose. The method includes the steps of functionalizing a hydrophobic polymer support, covalently linking a hydrophilic molecule to said functionalized polymer support, and covalently linking an enzyme such as lactase to said hydrophilic molecule. The system and method generally relate to the field of food science and engineering and, more particularly to dairy-based food products and their production including solutions to problems associated with lactose intolerance such as product processing methods and products produced by these methods.
US08354251B2	Transactivation system for mammalian cells The present invention is directed generally to compositions and methods for expressing recombinant proteins in a mammalian host cell using a co-expressed transcriptional activator. In particular, the invention provides vectors, host cells, and methods of expressing at least one desired polypeptide by transfecting a mammalian host cell with cistrons encoding a transactivator, a desired polypeptide, and an apoptosis-protective protein.
US08354245B2	Method of assaying glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase on a chromatographic test strip A lateral flow chromatographic assay format for the performance of rapid enzyme-driven assays is described. A combination of components necessary to elicit a specific enzyme reaction, which are either absent from the intended sample or insufficiently present therein to permit completion of the desired reaction, are predeposited as substrate in dry form together with ingredients necessary to produce a desired color upon occurrence of the desired reaction. The strip is equipped with a sample pad placed ahead of the substrate deposit in the flowstream, to which liquid sample is applied. The sample flows from the sample pad into the substrate zone where it immediately reconstitutes the dried ingredients while also intimately mixing with them and reacting with them at the fluid front. The fluid front moves rapidly into the final “read zone” wherein the color developed is read against predetermined color standards for the desired reaction. Pretreatment pads for the sample, as needed, (e.g. a lysing pad for lysing red blood cells in whole blood) are placed in front of the sample pad in the flow path as appropriate. The assay in the format of the invention is faster and easier to perform than analogous wet chemistry assays.
US08354244B2	Method for diagnosing hemangiosarcoma in canine using detection of thymidine kinase activity The disclosure relates to a method for detecting hemangiosarcoma in canines. The method includes the steps of: (1) obtaining a quantity of blood from the subject canine; (2) separating the quantity of blood into a serum portion and a non-serum portion; (3) contacting the serum portion of the blood with a detector to detect presence of an amount of Thymidine Kinase (TK); and (4) detecting the level of TK in serum and determining whether TK is present in amounts of about 8 units/L or greater.
US08354243B2	Method for determining presence of cancer in a sample by assaying for expression of ECSA/DPPA-2 nucleotide sequences The invention relates to the discovery of known molecule “DPPA-2” and a so-called “cancer-testis antigen.” DPPA-2 is also a possible cancer stem cell marker. One can determine presence of cancer by assaying for the molecule, and also prevent or treat cancer via administration of the molecule.
US08354238B2	Method of immunoassaying specimen using aggregation reaction of microparticles and assay kit A method of assaying a sample with the use of the aggregation reaction of immunological microparticles and an assay kit. The assay is conducted by using microparticles wherein the same or an analog of the analyte and a substance that specifically binds to a substance that can specifically bind to the analyte are both bound to an insoluble carrier. Thus, it becomes possible to conveniently carry out the assay even in the case where the analyte has only a small number of specific binding sites, without especially adding a competitive substance carrying hapten bonded thereto to the reaction system so as to induce simultaneous competition of the target substance and the competitive substance.
US08354234B2	Mass spectrometric analysis of ligand conjugated magnetic nanoparticles The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for mass spectrometric analysis of magnetic nanoparticles displaying ligands on their surface. For example, the present invention provides methods of screening a sample for the presence of at least one analyte using ligand conjugated magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic separation, and mass spectrometric analysis. The present invention also relates to MALDI matrix compositions comprising ligand conjugated magnetic nanoparticles.
US08354233B2	Sequence data by reduction of noise due to carry-over primer The present invention provides methods of reducing the background signal of a nucleic acid sequencing reaction. In particular, the invention provides methods of specifically degrading unwanted chain termination reaction products generated by the extension of primers carried over from the amplification step of the sequencing reaction. These methods are amenable for use with both one step and two-step amplification/chain termination reaction sequencing protocols.
US08354232B2	T-structure invasive cleavage assays, consistent nucleic acid dispensing, and low level target nucleic acid detection The present invention relates to systems, methods and kits for low-level detection of nucleic acids, detecting at least two different viral sequences in a single reaction vessel, and increasing the dynamic range of detection of a viral target nucleic acid in a sample. The present invention also relates to T-structure invasive cleavage assays, as well as T-structure related target dependent non-target amplification methods and compositions. The present invention further relates to methods, compositions, devices and systems for consistent nucleic acid dispensing onto surfaces.
US08354231B2	Methods and systems for detecting and/or sorting targets Provided herein are methods and systems for detecting and/or sorting targets in a sample based on the combined use of polynucleotide-encoded protein and substrate polynucleotides. The polynucleotide-encoded protein is comprised of a protein that specifically binds to a predetermined target and of an encoding polynucleotide that specifically binds to a substrate polynucleotide, wherein the substrate polynucleotide is attached to a substrate.
US08354229B2	MiR-25-based methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The invention also provides methods of identifying anti-AML agents.
US08354225B1	Amplification of oligonucleotides containing non-standard nucleobases This invention relates to nucleoside, nucleotide, and oligonucleotide analogs that incorporate non-standard nucleobase analogs, defined to be those that present a pattern of hydrogen bonds to a paired nucleobase analog in a complementary strand that is different from the pattern presented by adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Most specifically, this invention discloses and claims processes for amplifying nucleic acid analogs containing non-standard nucleobases using polymerase chain reactions, and enzymes that perform this amplification.
US08354224B2	MicroRNA fingerprints during human megakaryocytopoiesis The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer and myeloproliferative disorders. The invention also provides methods of identifying anti-cancer agents.
US08354218B2	Resist composition and method of forming resist pattern A resist composition that includes a base component (A) that exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid, an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and an epoxy resin (G). Also, a method of forming a resist pattern that includes using the above resist composition to form a resist film on the substrate, conducting exposure of the resist film, and alkali-developing the resist film to form a resist pattern.
US08354215B2	Method for stripping photoresist Disclosed is a method for stripping a photoresist comprising: (I) providing a photoresist pattern on a substrate where the substrate has at least a copper (Cu) wiring and a low-dielectric layer thereon, and selectively etching the low-dielectric layer by using the photoresist pattern as a mask; (II) contacting the substrate after the step (I), with ozone water and/or aqueous hydrogen peroxide; and (III) contacting the substrate after the step (II), with a photoresist stripping solution that contains at least a quaternary ammonium hydroxide. The present invention provides a method for stripping a photoresist that enables to strip effectively photoresist films and etching residues after etching step even in a process not including an O2 plasma ashing treatment in micropatterning of a substrate having at least Cu wiring and a low-dielectric layer thereon, as in a dual damascene forming process, and, in addition, the method of the invention does not have any negative influence on the dielectric constant of the low-dielectric layer, and ensures an excellent anti-corrosivity.
US08354213B2	Toner compositions The present disclosure provides processes for producing images of excellent color fidelity when incorporating a cyan toner with a lower colorant loading in addition to a first cyan toner. In embodiments, the cyan pigmented particles may be cyan emulsion aggregation toners. In accordance with the present disclosure, a pair of cyan toners are matched in color, wherein the color of a first cyan toner printed at a predetermined halftone area coverage on a substrate substantially matches the color of the solid (100%) printed patch of the second cyan toner, which is lighter than the first cyan toner, thus avoiding a visible hue shift on the print that would otherwise be objectionable. In embodiments, the light cyan toner is color matched by adding a hue-adjusting colorant or combination of colorants which absorb wavelengths of light between 500 and 600 nanometers, and optionally adding a shade-adjusting colorant or combination of colorants which absorb wavelengths of light between 400 and 500 nanometers.
US08354201B2	Fuel cell with spatially non-homogeneous ionic membrane A fuel cell includes a first flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over at least a portion of the first flow field plate. A polymeric ion conducting membrane is disposed over cathode catalyst layer. An anode catalyst layer is disposed over the polymeric ion conducting membrane. Finally, a second flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel is disposed over the anode catalyst layer. The polymeric ion conducting membrane extends beyond the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer such that the fuel cell has at least one peripheral region with the polymeric catalyst layer interposed between first flow field plate and the second flow field plate without the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer.
US08354200B2	Method of adjusting fuel distribution, membrane which adjusts fuel distribution, method of producing membrane which adjusts fuel distribution, fuel cell, and method of producing fuel cell A method of adjusting a fuel distribution includes: adjusting a distribution of a fuel supply amount to a membrane electrode assembly so that a temperature distribution in the membrane electrode assembly becomes substantially uniform by a membrane provided in a fuel supply side of the membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell. A membrane adjusts a fuel distribution, which is provided in a fuel supply side of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell. The membrane is provided with openings so that a temperature distribution in the membrane electrode assembly becomes substantially uniform.
US08354199B2	Multi-layer diffusion medium substrate A multi-layer diffusion medium substrate having improved mechanical properties is disclosed. The diffusion medium substrate includes at least one stiff layer and at least one compressible layer. The at least one stiff layer has a greater stiffness in the x-y direction as compared to the at least one compressible layer. The at least one compressible layer has a greater compressibility in the z direction. A method of fabricating a multi-layer diffusion medium substrate is also disclosed.
US08354197B2	Fuel cell stack having an integrated end plate assembly A fuel cell stack (30) includes an integrated end plate assembly having a current collector (40) secured adjacent and end cell (36) of the stack, a pressure plate (42) secured adjacent the current collector (40), and a backbone (60) secured within a backbone-support plane (44) defined within the plate (42). Tie rod ends (62, 64, 66, 68) of the backbone (60) extend over a gap (84) defined between the backbone-support plane (44) and a deflection plane (50) defined within the pressure plate (42) so that the tie rod ends deflect within the gap (84) upon tightening of tie rods (78, 80). Deflection of the backbone enables the backbone (60) to permit limited expansion of the fuel cell stack (30) during operation, and the backbone (60) has adequate flexural strength to prohibit expansion of the stack (30) beyond operating dynamic limits of the stack (30).
US08354192B2	Electrode active material, electrode, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery The present invention provides an electrode active material, an electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The electrode active material comprises a mixture of 10 parts by weight to 900 parts by weight of a first lithium mixed metal oxide and 100 parts by weight of a second lithium mixed metal oxide, wherein the first lithium mixed metal oxide is in a powder form and has a BET specific surface area of 3 m2/g or more and 30 m2/g or less, and the second lithium mixed metal oxide is in a powder form and has a BET specific surface area of 0.1 m2/g or more and 2 m2/g or less.
US08354190B2	Electrodes and electrode material for lithium electrochemical cells An electrode and an electrode material for lithium electrochemical cells are disclosed. The electrode material is in powder form and has a particle size distribution wherein the measured particle size distribution of the electrode material has a median size D50 ranging from 1.5 μm and 3 μm, a D10≧0.5 μm, a D90≦10.0 μm, and a calculated ratio (D90/D10)/D50≧3.0 which is indicative of a peak of the measured particle size distribution on the left of the median D50 which improves the loading and energy density of the electrode produced with this electrode material powder.
US08354188B2	Polymer for lithium ion secondary battery and lithium ion secondary battery using same A polymer for bonding the positive electrode and negative electrode of a lithium secondary battery, which includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte solution, with a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The polymer contains a cationically polymerizable monomer unit (A), a monomer unit (B) providing affinity to the electrolyte solution, a monomer unit (C) providing poor solubility to the electrolyte solution, and a monomer unit (D) containing an anionic or nonionic hydrophilic group. This polymer can be obtained through radical polymerization such as emulsion polymerization or suspension polymerization, and is characterized by having a dissolution rate into a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) [EC:DEC=5:5 (weight ratio)] of not more than 10% by weight.
US08354186B2	Interconnection washer assembly for a battery assembly A battery module having a washer assembly includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each of the cells includes at least one terminal. A circuit board includes a plurality of apertures. Each of the apertures is configured for receiving a terminal of one of the plurality of electrochemical cells. A plurality of flat washers are coupled to the circuit board. An inner diameter of each of the washers is aligned with a central axis of each of the apertures of the circuit board and is configured to receive the associated terminal. The circuit board is configured to allow the plurality of washers to be substantially simultaneously conductively coupled to the terminals of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
US08354181B2	Battery Provided is a battery capable of providing both fixing durability of a protective film during normal use and peeling easiness of the protective film during operation of a safety valve. A lithium ion secondary battery (100) includes a protective film (140) fixed to a battery case (110) while covering a safety valve part (125) including a breakable portion (126). This protective film (140) has a first fixed portion (145) located around a valve-corresponding unfixed portion (144) and fixed to the battery case (110) and a second fixed portion (147) located more outside than the first fixed portion and fixed to the battery case (110) through an intermediate unfixed portion (146). They are configured such that the first fixed portion (145) first peels off when the safety valve part (125) operates, prompting peeling of the second fixed portion (147), thus releasing gas to the outside.
US08354176B2	Oxidation-corrosion resistant coating A metallic coating for protecting a substrate from high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion environments comprising about 2.5 to about 13.5 wt. % cobalt, about 12 to about 27 wt. % chromium, about 5 to about 7 wt. % aluminum, about 0.0 to about 1.0 wt. % yttrium, about 0.0 to about 1.0 wt. % hafnium, about 1.0 to about 3.0 wt. % silicon, about 0.0 to about 4.5 wt. % tantalum, about 0.0 to about 6.5 wt. % tungsten, about 0.0 to about 2.0 wt. % rhenium, about 0.0 to about 1.0 wt. % molybdenum and the balance nickel.
US08354175B2	Metal panel with cellular structure, related manufacturing process, and use in an impact energy absorber Metal cellular panel (8) constituting a semifinished product formed by various corrugated plate half shells (1, 1′) wherein all the contact points between the half shells (1, 1′) are welded or riveted, and preferably the axial height (b) of the cells of the panel (panel thickness) does not exceed the maximum diameter of the cells. The panel production process ensures maximum flexibility, since it is adaptable to various cell shapes, various pitches between the cells, and various cell heights (h) (measured in the plane of the panel).
US08354174B2	Environmentally friendly degradable paper products A card, such as a gift card, a security card, a ticket, and/or a pass, includes a machine readable component. The card is formed of a paper or paper/film laminate material that is compostable, thereby forming a degradable product.
US08354164B2	Semiconductive member, and developing roll, charging roll, transfer belt, and image forming apparatus using same A semiconductive member including an alkali metal salt having the formula (M)n.X in a surface layer thereof. M represents Na+, K+, or Li+; X represents Cl−, Br−, I−, F−, CH3COO−, CF3COO−, CH(COOH)CHCOO−, (CHCOO−)2, CH2(COOH)CH2COO−, (CH2COO−)2, (HOOC)Ar(COO−), Ar(COO−)2, (HOOC)2Ar(COO−), (HOOC)Ar(COO−)2, Ar(COO−)3, (HOOC)3Ar(COO−), (HOOC)2Ar(COO−)2, (HOOC)Ar(COO−)3, Ar(COO−)4, Ar—SO3−, Ar(SO3−)2, an oligomer or a polymer having an acrylic acid anion unit, or an oligomer or a polymer having an methacrylic acid anion unit; Ar represents a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, or a biphenyl ring; and n is a numeral equivalent to the anionic valence of X.
US08354163B2	Resin substrate provided with coating layer To provide a resin substrate provided with a coating layer having excellent weather resistance and thereby capable of maintaining properties of the resin such as transparency and fracture resistance over a long period of time.A resin substrate provided with a coating layer, which comprises a substrate made of a resin containing an aromatic ring and a coating layer containing an acrylic polymer having an acid value of at most 1 mg KOH/g, a glass transition point of from 60° C. to 150° C. and a mass average molecular weight of from 90,000 to 1,000,000, and an ultraviolet light absorbing component selected from a polymer having ultraviolet light absorbing groups and an ultraviolet light absorber, having an average of absorption coefficients of from 3.5 g/(mg·cm) to 100 g/(mg·cm) to light in a wavelength region of from 350 nm to 380 nm, formed on at least one surface of the substrate.
US08354162B2	Curable resin composition for anti-glare layer, and anti-glare film An anti-glare film having the following: an anti-glare layer which is provided on a transparent substrate film, has a concavo-convex shape on the outermost surface thereof, and has at least a concavo-convex layer formed by curing a curable resin composition, which composition has optically-transparent fine particles A that have an average particle diameter of 1 μm or more and 10 μm or less, reactive inorganic fine particles B that have an average particle diameter of 30 nm or more and 100 nm or less and reactive functional groups b on the surface thereof, and a binder component C that has reactive functional groups c; a skin layer which has a small number of the reactive inorganic fine particles B in an interface on the side opposite to the transparent substrate film side and in the vicinity of the interface; and a region which is situated nearer the transparent substrate film than the skin layer, in which the fine particles B are uniformly dispersed.
US08354161B2	Flattened bamboo panel A flattened bamboo panel is disclosed having one single, solid layer of pressed bamboo culm wall with most of the exterior and interior zones. The processed bamboo panel provides at least one of its longitudinal surfaces seamless and both longitudinal cross sections parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal surfaces. Also disclosed is the process of constructing such flattened bamboo panel.
US08354160B2	Articles having durable hydrophobic surfaces Method of forming a very hydrophobic, extremely hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface comprising depositing a composition comprising hydrophobic microparticles, hydrophobic nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof and a binder in sufficient quantity to provide a hydrophobic or a superhydrophobic surface on a substrate having a micropatterned surface having raised portions, recessed portions or a combination thereof.
US08354159B2	Polyamide based mixed resin laminated film roll and a process for producing the same The present invention provides a polyamide based mixed resin laminated film roll formed by winding up a polyamide based mixed resin laminated film comprising a plurality of polyamide mixed resin sheets stacked on top of each other. A first sample cutout portion is provided within 2 m from the winding end of film, and a final sample cutout portion is provided within 2 m from the winding start of film. The roll is regulated so that, when sample cutout portions are provided at intervals of about 100 m from the first sample cutout portion, for all samples cutout from the cutout portions, the elastomer content, tensile modulus of elasticity, thickness unevenness in the longitudinal direction and other properties fall within a predetermined variation range.
US08354158B2	Microfibrous article and method of forming same A microfibrous article includes a substrate and a plurality of magnetic fibers disposed on the substrate. Each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is individually sheathed with a polymer and includes a plurality of magnetic particles. Further, each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is aligned along a magnetic field and not connected by the polymer to any adjacent magnetic fiber. A method of forming the microfibrous article is also disclosed.
US08354152B2	Adhesive tape and its use An adhesive tape for flying splice, having a left and right boundary edge, at least one main carrier and a first layer of self-adhesive on the obverse of the main carrier, the reverse of the main carrier bearing a parting system suitable for effecting an adhesive bond to a substrate that can be parted again in such a way that sticky residues are left neither on the reverse of the main carrier nor on the substrate in the region of the parted bond, the parting system being constructed in the form of a multiply interrupted stripe having a plurality of segments that extends in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape, the individual segments having less of an extent in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape than the adhesive tape itself, and the parting system being suitable for effecting the parting process without the main carrier being damaged.
US08354147B2	Polymerizable liquid crystal compound, composition and polymer The purpose of the invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal compound that has a liquid crystal phase with a wide temperature range, has an excellent compatibility with another polymerizable liquid crystal compound, has an excellent solubility in organic solvent and is polymerizable in air by heat or light.Means for Solving the SubjectA polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1) wherein A1 and A2 are a ring such as 1,4-cyclohexylene and 1,4-phenylene; Z1 to Z3 are a bonding group such as a single bond and —O—, m is an integer of 1 to 5; Q1 and/or Q2 are —O(C2H4O)n1(C3H6O)n2— or —O(C3H6O)n2(C2H4O)n1—, where n1 and n2 are integer of 0 to 5 and the sum of n1 and n2 is 2 to 5; one of Q1 and Q2 may be alkylene; P1 and P2 are a polymerizable group represented by any one of formula (2-1) to formula (2-3) and R is hydrogen, halogen or alkylene having 1 to 5 carbons.
US08354142B2	Method for coating polyimide layer using inkjet device A method for coating a polyimide layer includes, placing a substrate on a print table; jetting polyimide liquid onto the substrate from a jetting surface provided over the print table; and wiping the jetting surface by moving a wiper from one side of the jetting surface to another side of the jetting surface while the wiper contacts the jetting surface, wherein the wiper is made of one of a perfluoro-based polymer.
US08354138B2	Preparing method for coating PMMA particles with silicon dioxide A preparing method for coating polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles with silicon dioxide is disclosed and includes the following steps of: preparing a silicon dioxide solution by mixing a silicon dioxide powder and a solvent; adding a dispersant-and-interface-modifier agent into the silicon dioxide solution; performing a wet grinding to the silicon dioxide solution with the dispersant-and-interface-modifier agent so as to obtain a plurality of nano-sized silicon dioxide particles with negative charge; performing an interface modification to a plurality of PMMA particles to be charged with positive charge; adding the PMMA particles into the silicon dioxide solution; making the PMMA particles adsorb the nano-sized silicon dioxide particles; and performing a solid-liquid separation process to the silicon dioxide solution so as to obtain the chemical composite particles.
US08354136B2	Thick superconductor films with improved performance A method for producing a thick film includes disposing a precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film. The precursor solution contains precursor components to a rare-earth/alkaline-earth-metal/transition-metal oxide including a salt of a rare earth element, a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and a salt of a transition metal in one or more solvents, wherein at least one of the salts is a fluoride-containing salt, and wherein the ratio of the transition metal to the alkaline earth metal is greater than 1.5. The precursor solution is treated to form a rare earth-alkaline earth-metal transition metal oxide superconductor film having a thickness greater than 0.8 μm. precursor solution.
US08354135B2	Thermal processing apparatus, method for regulating temperature of thermal processing apparatus, and program There are provided a thermal processing apparatus, a method for regulating a temperature of a thermal processing apparatus, and a program, by which a temperature can be easily regulated. A control part 50 of a thermal processing apparatus 1 controls the apparatus so as to deposit SiO2 films on semiconductor wafers W, and judges whether the SiO2 films satisfy an in-plane uniformity. When the in-plane uniformity is not judged to be satisfied, the control part 50 calculates a temperature of a preheating part 23 by which temperature the in-plane uniformity can be satisfied. The control part 50 controls the apparatus so as to deposit SiO2 films on semiconductor wafers W under process conditions in which the temperature of the preheating part 23 has been varied into the calculated temperature, and the temperature of the preheating parts 23 is regulated. When the in-plane uniformity is judged to be satisfied, the control part 50 regulates temperatures of heaters 11 to 15 by the same procedure so as to satisfy an inter-plane uniformity.
US08354132B2	Laminated lidstock and package made therefrom A laminated lidstock includes a substrate film, a support web; a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed between the substrate and support webs, and covering the substrate film and support web; a product die cut disposed in the substrate film; and an array of opening die cuts disposed in the substrate film; wherein at least one of substrate film and the support web comprises an oxygen barrier, and wherein at least one of the substrate film and the support web carries a registration device. A method of making the lidstock, and a package, are also disclosed.
US08354131B2	Microwavable food products The packaging system includes a first food product sealed within an inner wrapper, a second food product positioned within a tray and spacing the first food product from the tray, and an outer wrapper sealing the first food product, sealed within the inner wrapper, the second food product and the tray therein. A shield is disposed on the tray and is in contact with more than one surface of the second food product. Prior to microwave heating, the inner and outer wrapper are removed.
US08354130B2	Systems and methods for facilitating intake of edible substances A system for facilitating a user's intake of edible substances. The system may include a first portion, a second portion, and a partition unit disposed between the first portion and the second portion. A first space may be located between the first portion and the partition unit for containing a first edible substance. A second space may be located between the second portion and the partition unit for containing a second edible substance. The system may also include a tube for causing a change at the partition unit to open an opening between the first space and the second space, and for transmitting a portion of an edible mixture to the mouth of the user. The edible mixture may include part of the first edible substance provided from the first space and part of the second edible substance provided from the second space.
US08354129B2	Vitamin containing product A food product comprising menaquinone at a level of 50 to 5,000 μg per 100 g of product.
US08354128B2	Blackberry leaf extract as an active ingredient against skin irritations and inflammations The present invention concerns the field of plant extracts and their uses, in particular for cosmetic, oral hygiene and pharmaceutical purposes. In particular the invention concerns blackberry leaf extracts and preparations and medicaments containing them, as well as their use to inhibit irritating and inflammatory skin conditions.
US08354127B2	Structure and bioactivity of the polysaccharides and oligomers in medicinal plant Dendrobium huoshanense Compositions and methods are disclosed relating to use of fractions, polysaccharides, and oligosaccharides of Dendrobium huoshanense. The fractions, polysaccharides, and oligosaccharides are able to effect an increase in beneficial cytokines and chemokines.
US08354125B2	Ex-vivo treatment of peripheral blood leukocytes with IFN-λ The present invention provides a method of treating Th2-associated diseases and disorders by modulating the expression or secretion of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 using interferon lambda (IFN-λ). For Th2-associated diseases and disorders, cells of a patient having a Th2-associated disease or disorder are treated ex vivo, with IFN-λ and returned to the patient. The present invention also provides a method of ex vivo treatment, in conjunction with co-administration of IFN-λ.
US08354124B2	Oral drug delivery system Dosage forms and drug delivery devices suitable for administration of pharmaceutical compounds and compositions, including the oral drug administration of compounds.
US08354123B2	Non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrices The present invention is a substantially non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix. The matrix is both non-adhesive to wounds, tissues and organs and is also elastic such that it is flexible. The matrix is a lyophilized mixture of protein(s), polymer(s), cross-linking agent(s) and optional plasticizer(s). The invention also provides methods for making the non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix.
US08354122B2	Solid dispersion preparation Provided are a granule or a tablet of a solid dispersion that allows a drug in a preparation to be rapidly dissolved without impairing the dissolution of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided are a granule of a solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer, an excipient and a disintegrator, wherein a content of the water-soluble polymer is 1 to 10% by weight and a content of the disintegrator is 15 to 50% by weight; a tablet of a solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer, an excipient and a disintegrator, wherein a content of the water-soluble polymer is 1 to 5% by weight and a content of the disintegrator is 15 to 50% by weight; and a method for producing a granule or tablet of a solid dispersion comprising spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a mixed powder of an excipient and a disintegrator, and granulating and drying a resultant.
US08354119B2	Resorbable extracellular matrix containing collagen I and collagen II for reconstruction of cartilage A resorbable extracelluar matrix for reconstruction of cartilage tissue includes a mixture of collagen I and collagen II in a respective ratio of from about 1:19 to 19:1. The matrix can be utilized as a scaffold implant for vertebral or meniscal cartilage regeneration.
US08354114B2	Multi plasmid system for the production of influenza virus Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics.
US08354113B2	Gene expressing a bifidobacterium surface-presented fusion protein According to the present invention, there is provided a means of expressing and displaying a protein on the cell surface of a bifidobacterium. In the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention, a gene coding for a bifidobacterium-derived GNB/LNB substrate-binding membrane protein and a gene coding for the target protein or peptide are linked in this order from the 5′ end side. Thus, a bifidobacterium transformed by introducing the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention expresses the target protein or peptide on the surface thereof. When the target protein or peptide is an antigen protein or an antigen peptide, the transformed bifidobacterium of the present invention is useful as an oral vaccine.
US08354109B2	Multimeric Fc receptor polypeptides A soluble multimeric protein or polypeptide is disclosed that is able to inhibit interaction of leukocyte Fcγ receptors (FcγR) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). The protein or polypeptide comprises two or more linked Fc binding regions, at least one of which is derived from an FcγR type receptor and, particularly, FcγRIIa. Also described are polynucleotide molecules encoding the protein or polypeptide and the use thereof in methods of treating a subject for an immune-complex (IC)-mediated inflammatory disease.
US08354108B2	Fully human antibody to human TNFα, molecular evolution and use thereof The present invention relates to the discovery and improvement of proteins that can specifically bind with human TNFa (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha), the proteins are full human anti human TNFa monoclonal antibodies derived from human B cells. This invention disclosed the anti human TNFa monoclonal antibodies, their amino acid sequence of light chain comprising SEQ ID NO:8, and that of heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO:16 or SEQ ID NO:18. This invention disclosed the coding genes of these antibodies, their Fab molecules, and their potential application to treat clinically the diseases related to TNFa, such as inflammation diseases.
US08354106B2	Antibodies against HMGB1 and fragments thereof In various embodiments, the present invention is drawn to antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to particular fragments of HMGB1, methods of treating a condition in a subject characterized by activation of an inflammatory cytokine cascade, methods of detecting and/or identifying an agent that binds to an HMGB1 polypeptide or fragment thereof, and methods of detecting HMGB1 in a sample.
US08354100B2	Chondrocyte therapeutic delivery system Systems and methods for modifying the environment of target cell using genetically altered chondrocytes are provided. The genetically engineered chondrocytes can be used to express a therapeutic agent in a subject, including in an environment typically associated with chondrocytes and in an environment not typically associated with chondrocytes.
US08354094B1	Pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08354093B2	Cell permeable nanoconjugates of shell-crosslinked knedel (SCK) and peptide nucleic acids (“PNAs”) with uniquely expressed or over-expressed mRNA targeting sequences for early diagnosis and therapy of cancer A functional biologically active particle conjugate useful for diagnosis and treating cancer as a bioportal comprises a nanoscale particle having associated therewith an intracellular targeting ligand comprising a PNA, or another nuclease resistant oligonucleotide analog such as MOE-mRNA (2′-methoxyethyl mRNA) or LNA (locked nucleic acid), having a sequence that binds selectively to an uniquely expressed or overexpressed mRNA specific to the cancer or disease state in a living mammal. In one aspect the uniquely overexpressed target specific to the cancer or disease state is the unr mRNA which can be targeted by the antisense sequence PNA50.
US08354092B2	Development of molecular imaging probes for carbonic anhydrase-IX using click chemistry The present application discloses methods for identifying inhibitors with high binding-affinity for the carbonic anhydrase-IX (CA-IX) enzyme using click chemistry and uses the candidates thereof as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents.
US08354091B2	Alumina powder and method for preparing the same as well as use thereof Herein disclosed is alumina powder incorporated into a composition which should have excellent heat conduction and used as a heat-radiating member and for sealing a semiconductor. The spherical α-alumina powder has an average sphericity of not less than 0.93 and a content of α-crystalline form is not less than 95% and the spherical α-alumina powder is prepared according to the method, which comprises the steps of: (1) softening metallic aluminum powder or alumina powder through the treatment with a flame; (2) solidifying the softened powder by passing the same through a zone maintained at a temperature ranging from 800 to 500° C.; (3) increasing the content of α-phase by passing the solidified powder through a zone maintained at a temperature ranging from 950 to 1,500° C.; and (4) collecting the resulting powdery product while cooling the same.
US08354089B2	Catalytic etching of carbon fibers The present invention relates to a method for etching carbon fibers, in particular carbon nanofibers and to the carbon nanofibers obtainable by this method, and the use thereof.
US08354085B1	Actinide and lanthanide separation process (ALSEP) The process of the invention is the separation of minor actinides from lanthanides in a fluid mixture comprising, fission products, lanthanides, minor actinides, rare earth elements, nitric acid and water by addition of an organic chelating aid to the fluid; extracting the fluid with a solvent comprising a first extractant, a second extractant and an organic diluent to form an organic extractant stream and an aqueous raffinate. Scrubbing the organic stream with a dicarboxylic acid and a chelating agent to form a scrubber discharge. The scrubber discharge is stripped with a simple buffering agent and a second chelating agent in the pH range of 2.5 to 6.1 to produce actinide and lanthanide streams and spent organic diluents. The first extractant is selected from bis(2-ethylhexyl)hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) and mono(2-ethylhexyl)2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (HEH(EHP)) and the second extractant is selected from N,N,N,N-tetra-2-ethylhexyl diglycol amide (TEHDGA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentanediamide (TODGA).
US08354084B2	Cracking furnace Piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace, wherein the tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centerline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. The tube can be formed as a helix.
US08354083B2	Multi-tubular reactors with monolithic catalysts Multi-tubular reactors for fluid processing incorporate reactor tubes containing thermally conductive monolithic catalyst structures with relative dimensions and thermal expansion characteristics effective to establish both a non-interfering or slidably interfering fit between the monolith structures and the reactor tubes at selected monolith mounting temperatures, and geometries at reactor operating temperatures such that the operating gaps between tubes and monoliths under the conditions of reactor operation do not exceed about 250 μm over tube sections where high heat flux to or from the monoliths is required.
US08354081B2	Portable fuel processor apparatus and enclosure and method of installing same A portable fuel processing apparatus and enclosure including an enclosure having an outer wall that defines an interior space and provides a gas impermeable barrier. Attached to the enclosure is porting means for use in moving the enclosure from one location to another. A fuel reformer capable of providing sufficient hydrogen-rich reformate to a fuel cell stack for use in generating at least about 1 kW per hour is disposed within the enclosure. An optional gas detection system includes a sensor disposed within the enclosure to monitor the interior of the enclosure for presence of combustible gases. The portable apparatus can have a number of connectors for connecting the enclosure and the fuel processing systems to a source of a reformer fuel and water as well as a domestic drain. Preferred sources of fuel and water are common utility lines available in buildings. Additional connectors can be provided to couple the fuel processor with a fuel cell, for used in delivering a reformate stream, air stream and circulating cooling medium to a fuel cell and for returning a fuel cell exhaust stream to the enclosure. Moreover, the portable fuel processing apparatus and enclosure can further include connectors for establishing electronic communications with a remote process control unit. A method of installing the portable fuel processing apparatus is also provided.
US08354077B2	Universal interface for a micro-fluidic chip An integrated capillary electrophoresis system comprising a universal interface is disclosed. The universal interface includes one or more of the following structural elements: a chip assembly that receives a capillary electrophoresis CE chip; a fluidic interface for coupling fluids between the chip assembly and external sources or destinations; a first electrical interface for coupling power from an external source to the chip assembly; a second electrical interface for coupling electrical signals from the chip assembly to external analysis electronics; an optical interface for coupling optical signals between the chip assembly and external sources or destinations; and a docking station for uniting and spatially locating the various other structural elements.
US08354076B2	Fluid stirring mechanism A fluidic system and method includes a channel reservoir which holds 1.5 milliliters or less of fluid. The agitation mechanism, which is partially integrated with the channel or reservoir, includes a fiber or rod at least partially situated within the channel or reservoir, and which acts to move or vibrate to stir and/or agitate fluid within the channel or reservoir. The fluid is then extracted from an extraction area following the agitation or stirring operation.
US08354072B2	Corrosion management systems for controlling, eliminating and/or managing corrosion The present invention generally relates to corrosion management systems designed to deliver corrosion protection and/or the management of corrosion to a top portion of an enclosure (e.g., storage tanks, cisterns, containers, etc.). In one embodiment, the present invention relates to corrosion management systems designed to deliver corrosion protection and/or the management of corrosion to a top portion, or roof portion, of an enclosure where such a system includes one or more dispensers designed to deliver at least one corrosion inhibitor to a system designed to protect a top portion of an enclosure (e.g., storage tanks, cisterns, containers, etc.).
US08354067B2	Processing asphaltene-containing tailings Embodiments of a method and a system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings are disclosed. The asphaltene-containing tailings can be generated, for example, from a process for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand. Embodiments of the method can include a flotation separation and a hydrophobic agglomeration separation. Flotation can be used to separate the asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase. The asphaltene-rich froth, or an asphaltene-rich slurry formed from the asphaltene-rich froth, then can be separated into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings. Hydrophobic agglomeration can be used to recover an asphaltene concentrate from the light tailings. Another flotation separation can be included to remove sulfur-containing minerals from the heavy mineral concentrate. Oxygen-containing minerals also can be recovered from the heavy mineral concentrate. Water removed by the various separation steps can be recycled and its heat energy recovered.
US08354062B2	Mixing device and mixing method A mixing method is disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.
US08354054B2	Method and device for blow-molding containers The invention relates to a method and a device for blow-molding containers. Following a thermal conditioning process, a parison is stretched by a horizontal bar inside a blow station provided with a blow mold, and is molded into a container by the effect of the blowing pressure. In order to carry out the blow-molding, pressurized gas is introduced into the container. The horizontal rod is hollow at least in parts. Once a maximum blowing pressure has been reached in the blow station and at the earliest at the beginning of a pressure drop, a cooling gas is guided out of the horizontal bar towards the bottom of the blown container.
US08354053B2	Blow moulding machine having a cooling device An apparatus for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers having at least one blow mold, within which the plastic preforms may be expanded into plastic containers is described. The blow mold has at least two blow mold parts which are movable relative to each other, including an application device which is movable relative to the blow mold, in order to apply pressure onto the plastic preform for the expansion thereof; wherein at least one area of the blow mold may be tempered. The apparatus has a tempering body which may be separated from the blow mold in its entirety for tempering the area of the blow mold.
US08354051B2	Method and installation for the production of containers The invention relates to a method of producing a container from a thermoplastic blank (2), comprising: a step in which the blank (2) is heated using at least one beam (22) of coherent electromagnetic radiation, and a step in which the container is formed from the blank (2) thus heated. The invention also relates to an installation (1) which is used to produce containers (2) and which comprises a unit (16) for heating the blanks (2) in order to form containers from the blanks (2) thus heated. The inventive installation (1) defines a path (23) along which the blanks (2) travel inside the heating unit (16). In addition, the heating unit (16) comprises at least one coherent electromagnetic radiation source (26) which is directed towards a zone (25) that is located on the aforementioned path (23).
US08354049B2	Photocatalytic apatite-containing resin An antibacterial measure using titanium oxide includes mixing titanium oxide in a resin to form a coating resin, and then coating a key surface with the coating resin. This method requires formation of a coating layer on a resin molding and thus increases the number of the production steps and cost. Furthermore, in the method, a coating film containing an antibacterial agent is scraped off light by little at each time of keying, and thus the film is finally completely removed to lose its antibacterial function. A conceivable measure against this includes directly mixing a resin and an antibacterial agent. However, titanium oxide used as an antibacterial agent degrades a raw material resin. It has recently be thought that photocatalytic apatite as a substitute for titanium oxide also causes chalking, and an antibacterial coating layer has been formed on a surface of a resin molding. However, the inventor of the present invention found that photocatalytic apatite does not cause chalking, thereby achieving a resin containing the photocatalytic apatite.
US08354047B2	Method for press molding lens array A method for press molding a lens array is provided. First, a mold core is provided. The mold core has a first surface having a first alignment formed thereon using a lithography method, and a lens molding surface array and a second alignment formed thereon using an ultra-precision machining method. Then, a substrate is provided. The substrate has a second surface having a third alignment mark formed thereon using the lithography method. The substrate is first aligned with the mold core by aligning the third alignment mark with the first alignment mark, then is further aligned by offsetting the substrate the spacing between the first and second alignment marks to align the center of the substrate with the center of the lens molding surface array. Finally, a molding material is applied on the substrate, then the mold core is applied on the molding material to press mold the lens array.
US08354044B2	EL device, light-sensitive material for forming conductive film, and conductive film An EL device (1), contains: a transparent support (21), a conductive layer (2), a phosphor layer (3), a reflection insulating layer (4), and a back electrode (5); wherein the conductive layer (2), the phosphor layer (3), the reflection insulating layer (4) and the back electrode (5) are provided on the transparent support (21) in this order, and wherein the conductive layer (2) includes silica in an amount of 0.05 g/m2 or more.
US08354043B2	Natural gas odorization A composition comprising natural gas, methane, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or propane, and an oxygenate odorant, where the oxygenate odorant has a vapor pressure of about 0.002 psi or greater at 25° C. and 1 atmosphere, and has a smell detectable at less than 1 ppm by a human nose, and where the oxygenate odorant is a cyclic compound consisting only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, including one or more carbonyl groups, and is stable under high pressure and temperature storage, transport and use conditions.
US08354042B2	Method of raising the flash points and improving the freeze resistance of volatile green solvents A method of raising the flash point of a green solvent includes adding from about 0.05 to 5.0 wt. % of at least one terpene alcohol, based on the weight of the at least one terpene alcohol and the green solvent. Green solvents are derived from organic matter, such as plants. They are not the product of petroleum feed stocks. Preferably, two terpene alcohols are added to the green solvent. Further, the addition of at least one terpene alcohol improves both the freeze resistance and the shelf life of the final green solvent solution.
US08354035B2	Method for removing implanted photo resist from hard disk drive substrates A method of removing resist material from a substrate having a magnetically active surface is provided. The substrate is disposed in a processing chamber and exposed to a fluorine-containing plasma formed from a gas mixture having a reagent, an oxidizing agent, and a reducing agent. A cleaning agent may also be included. The substrate may be cooled by back-side cooling or by a cooling process wherein a cooling medium is provided to the processing chamber while the plasma treatment is suspended. Substrates may be flipped over for two-sided processing, and multiple substrates may be processed concurrently.
US08354032B2	Method of manufacturing a micromechanical part A method of manufacturing a mechanical part includes providing a substrate of micro-machinable material; etching, using photolithography, a pattern that includes said part through said entire substrate; assembling a clip on said part so that said part is ready to be mounted without the portion made of micro-machinable material having to be touched by a tool other than the clip; releasing the part from the substrate so as to mount said part in a device such as a timepiece movement.
US08354031B2	Liquid filtering system and its automatic cleaning procedure A filtering system for water and other liquids includes different filtering stages in the same element, with its cleaning being done automatically by a new procedure. The filtering system includes a cylindrical outer casing with the pipe of the water to be filtered penetrating tangentially through its base, using centrifugal force in the first filtering stage to separate the particles with greater density. Then the liquid takes a helicoidal path and passes through different filtering devices, such as mesh or rings with the filtered and, therefore, clean water finally being collected in an appropriately perforated central pipe that comes out of the filter through the center of its lower base. The system is used for the cleaning of liquids, basically water, in agriculture for localized irrigation, in industry, or the environment.
US08354030B1	Purification system for cyanotoxic-contaminated water A system for removing cyanotoxins and excess ions from contaminated water. Contaminated water passes from a storage tank (200), through a sand filter (210), through a reaction chamber (230), and finally through a carbon filter (270). The sand filter removes particulates and bacteria. The reaction chamber first destroys cyanotoxins, algae, and bacteria through the use of high voltage shocks applied between two groups of electrodes (285, 285′ then the voltage on the electrodes is lowered and electrolysis is used to sequester free ions in the water in the region near the electrodes. Partially treated water is removed from the upper portion of the reaction chamber and passed through a carbon filter (270) to remove radiation, and improve taste and smell. The water is then potable. The water remaining in the reaction chamber is discarded into a reservoir (265).
US08354028B2	Method for separating an organic phase from an electrolyte-containing aqueous and organic phase A method for separating electrolyte-containing water from an organic phase by means of permeation on a hydrophobic separating means. The permeated organic solution is substantially depleted in water and the retained water is enriched with electrolytes.
US08354026B2	Center tube configuration for a multiple spiral wound forward osmosis element A center tube is disclosed which allows a draw solution to flow through all membrane elements in a membrane system in parallel. The center tube may include a cylindrical wall with two open ends and a barrier element there between separating an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber within the cylindrical wall. At least one non-perforated bypass tube may be located substantially within the cylindrical wall, which extends a length of the downstream chamber and/or the upstream chamber so that the upstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second upstream chamber of a second center tube and/or the downstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second downstream chamber of the second center tube.
US08354023B2	Tank A tank is proposed for appliances which use water, in particular domestic appliances or appliances for preparation of foodstuffs and/or drinks, such as automatic drinks machines, in particular automatic coffee machines, drinking water dispensers, cooking and baking appliances, steam appliances, in particular steam irons, steam cleaners, high-pressure cleaners, air cleaners and conditioners or the like, wherein a suction connection is provided on the tank in order to suck in water from the tank by means for production of a reduced pressure, and a filter connection is provided for connection of a filter cartridge in the interior of the tank, while ensuring that only one permissible filter type is used. A tank according to the invention is distinguished by mechanical coding structures on the filter connecting element, in order to prevent the use of a filter cartridge which does not correspond to the tank.
US08354015B2	Detection of the presence or absence of a gas bubble by dynamic sensor response A method for detecting the presence or absence of a gas bubble in an aqueous liquid is provided comprising providing a sensor positioned within a measuring chamber, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the concentration of a gaseous component dissolved in a liquid, the sensor comprising a sensitive region; setting a gas partial pressure at the sensor, wherein the gas partial pressure differs from an expected value of the gas partial pressure of the gaseous component of a liquid to be measured; exposing the sensor to the liquid to be measured; resting the liquid until standstill is attained; recording a signal from the sensor as a function of time until the signal becomes constant; and detecting the presence or absence of a gas bubble from the variation of the signal over time. The gas bubble, if present, is in at least partial contact with the sensitive region of the sensor.
US08354013B2	Analyte sensors comprising high-boiling point solvents Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to analyte determining methods and devices (e.g., electrochemical analyte monitoring systems) that have improved uniformity of distribution of the sensing layer by inclusion of a high-boiling point solvent, where the sensing layer is disposed proximate to a working electrode of in vivo and/or in vitro analyte sensors, e.g., continuous and/or automatic in vivo monitoring using analyte sensors and/or test strips. Also provided are systems and methods of using the, for example electrochemical, analyte sensors in analyte monitoring.
US08354012B2	Electrochemical cell An electrochemical cell for detection and quantification of analytes in a liquid sample, particularly a liquid sample having a small volume. In a preferred embodiment, the electrochemical cell comprises an assembly of conducting layers and insulating layers. The electrochemical cell can be formed by depositing conducting materials and insulating materials in alternating layers on an insulating substrate. It is preferred that the layer furthest from the insulating substrate be an insulating layer to minimize the damage of the conducting layers during handling of the electrochemical cell. In another embodiment, the assembly of conducting layers and insulating layers can be formed on both major surfaces of the insulating substrate. The assembly can comprise at least one working electrode and at least one other electrode, e.g., a dual-purpose reference/counter electrode.
US08354009B2	Apparatus and method for manufacturing stress-free flexible printed circuit board An apparatus and method for manufacturing a highly efficient flexible thin metal film-laminated strip by improves adhesiveness between a polyimide strip and a thin metal film, and removes stress from thin films laminated through magnetron sputtering, which is a dry deposition process. The stress-free flexible circuit board manufacturing method includes the steps of: a) depositing a seed layer on the substrate using the magnetron deposition source; b) depositing a compressive thin film using the single magnetron deposition source arranged next to the magnetron deposition source; c) depositing tensile thin film using the dual magnetron deposition source arranged next to the single magnetron deposition source; and d) repeating the steps b) and c) so as to sequentially and alternately deposit compressive thin films and tensile thin films thereby obtaining a thick film with a desired thickness.
US08354007B2	Method for producing and purifying trifluoromethanesulfinic acid The invention relates to a process for purifying trifluoromethanesulfinic acid by azeotropic distillation with an aromatic solvent, to processes for preparing purified trifluoromethanesulfinic acid and to the use of the purified trifluoronnethanesulfinic acid for preparing trifluoromethylsulfinylated pyrazole derivatives, especially fipronil.
US08354006B1	Device for continuous pyrolysis A device for pyrolysis of a material has a horizontal receiving chamber, a horizontally moving compressing element compressing the material in the receiving chamber to form a compact body, a horizontal pyrolysis chamber communicating with the receiving chamber and subjecting the compact body to a heat treatment, a separating partition separating the chambers, and a cylinder-piston unit with a compressing plate which, with the closed partition, first compresses the material in the receiving chamber, then after vertically withdrawing the partition, moves the compressed material from the receiving chamber into pyrolysis chamber and is heated there to produce pyrolysis gas.
US08354004B2	Unruptured, ionic, swollen starch for use in papermaking A novel filler treatment comprising the preparation of swollen starch compositions, prepared in the presence or absence of co-additives, and the addition of the said composition to a filler suspension, has been developed. Use of the treated filler during papermaking improves filler retention and produces filled papers where addition of the filler has only a minimal negative effect on strength properties. The swollen starch compositions can be prepared in a batch or jet cooker, or by mixing with hot water under controlled conditions (i.e., temperature, pH, mixing, mixing time) in order to make the starch granules swell sufficiently to improve their properties as a filler additive but avoiding excess swelling leading to their rupture. The swollen starch composition is then rapidly mixed with the filler slurry, preferably in a static mixer, and added to the papermaking furnish at a point prior to the headbox of the paper machine.
US08354003B2	Reinforced porous fibre product The present invention relates to a porous fiber product, which contains chemical pulp or wood fibers, between which structural filler particles are attached, as well as to a method of manufacturing this product, wherein filler drops are produced in a spray dryer from the aqueous solution of the filler, the drops forming filler particles when the water evaporates, the particles being attached to the chemical pulp or wood fibers.
US08354000B2	Apparatus for laser cutting and welding A method of forming plastic containers is disclosed. The method includes: providing a support platen having a cut outline and a groove outline in the top surface of the support platen and a plurality of exhaust ports in the bottom of the groove, where a plurality of spaced perforations are in the top surface of the support platen, where the groove is configured to define a cut outline; positioning a first film on the top surface of the support platen; providing a laser to cut the first film along the cut outline of the top surface of the support platen; providing a second film on top of the first film; connecting the plurality of exhaust ports and the plurality of space perforations to a vacuum source to secure the first film to the support platen; directing a jet of gas onto the second film at the to maintain the second sheet in contact with the first sheet at a seam during welding concentric with a beam from the laser to weld the first film and the second film; moving the laser and the support platen relative to each other to weld the first film and the second film along a seam outline; and providing the laser to cut the first film and the second film along the cut outline to provide a trimmed bag.
US08353992B2	High young's modulus steel plate and method of production of same Steel sheet having a composition of ingredients containing substantially, by mass %, C: 0.005 to 0.200%, Si: 2.50% or less, Mn: 0.10 to 3.00%, N: 0.0100% or less, Nb: 0.005 to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.002 to 0.150% and satisfying the relationship of Ti−48/14×N≧0.0005, having a sum of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {100}<001> orientation and the {110}<001> orientation of a ⅙ sheet thickness part of 5 or less, having a sum of the maximum value of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {110}<111> to {110}<112> orientation group and the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {211}<111> orientation of 5 or more, and having a high rolling direction Young's modulus measured by the static tension method and a method of production of the same are provided.
US08353988B2	Rotating pressure distributor and carousel-type machine for treating hollow bodies which is equipped therewith Rotating pressure distributor (I) for a carousel-type machine for treating hollow bodies in a plurality of identical treatment stations, comprising two rings, (2) fixed and (3) rotating, in sealing contact, the ring (3) having orifices (6) each adapted for being connected to a station and opening onto the contact face (5) thereof, the ring (2) having at least one aperture (7) which may be connected to a pressure source and opening onto the contact face (4) thereof by being on the trajectory of the orifices (6); grease is spread between the contact faces (4, 5) of the two rings (2, 3) to provide the seal; at least one annular channel (13) covers the annular opening (19) of the joint plane (P) and is connected to the atmosphere; in the channel respective flanges (14) are mutually interlaced without contact with one another, forming chicanes; the channel is filled with grease.
US08353987B2	System and method for depositing a material on a substrate A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film.
US08353981B2	Condensing tube and filtration module thereof The present invention discloses a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof. The condensing tube comprises a hollow body having a central hollow compartment; a porous covering layer having gas permeability but being liquid impermeable; and a condensation chamber, being a space formed between the hollow body and the porous covering layer wherein a plurality of fins are provided radially along the hollow body in the condensation chamber to divide the condensation chamber into a plurality of condensation compartments.
US08353980B2	Flue gas scrubbing apparatus and process An apparatus and process for removing acidic gases from flue gases produced by, for example, utility and industrial facilities. The acidic gases are removed as the flue gas flows upward through a contact zone within a passage, where the flue gas is contacted with an ammonium sulfate-containing scrubbing solution to absorb the acidic gases from the flue gas. The scrubbing solution and absorbed acidic gases therein are then accumulated, and ammonia and an oxygen-containing gas are injected into the accumulated scrubbing solution to react the absorbed acidic gases and produce ammonium sulfate. An acid solution is flowed across the passage above the contact zone of the passage, and the scrubbed flue gas is flowed upward through the acid solution to remove unreacted ammonia from the scrubbed flue gas. The acid solution is then removed from the passage after the acid solution has been contacted by the scrubbed flue gas.
US08353979B2	Heat recovery apparatus and heat recovery method A heat recovery apparatus, for an absorption apparatus for removing CO2 in combustion exhaust gas emitted from a thermal power plant 112 and for regeneration apparatuses 104 to 107 for regenerating CO2 in an absorbing liquid from the absorption apparatus, includes a regeneration-apparatus-exit-CO2-gas cooling apparatus 100 for cooling CO2 gas from an exhaust port of the regeneration apparatus, and may further include a circulation line 102 for circulating reflux water among boiler feedwater heaters 114 and 116 in the thermal power plant 112 and the regeneration-apparatus-exit-CO2-gas cooling apparatus 100.
US08353978B2	Temperature swing adsorption system A multi-step process for removing CO2 from a process gas stream having CO2 and other gaseous components commences by adjusting the temperature of a CO2 laden process gas stream to be between about 80° and about 500° C. A first part of the temperature adjusted process gas stream is taken and contacted with a adsorbent in thermal contact with a heat-exchange surface. The remainder of said temperature adjusted process gas stream is taken and contacted with said heat-exchange surface to transfer heat to said adsorbent, thus causing any adsorbed CO2 to be desorbed for collection, and to cool said process gas stream remainder and removing any condensate from said cooled process gas stream remainder. The cooled process gas stream remainder is passed in contact with a cooled section of said adsorbent to adsorb CO2 therefrom, producing a CO2 depleted process gas stream. The desorbed CO2 is withdrawn for collection. The CO2 depleted process gas stream is passed into contact with heated regenerated adsorbent to cool it sufficiently for return of the process. Finally, any fines are withdrawn for collection.
US08353976B2	Method for the anti-erosion coating of a wall, anti-erosion coating and use thereof The invention relates to a method for the anti-erosion coating of the wall of a cyclone for separating and recovering solid particles driven in a fluid, in which a composite material is deposited in a mould comprising the wall of the cyclone (13) and an adapted form (17) in order to obtain, upon stripping, an impression having a predetermined geometry, at least one means for attaching the composite material to the wall of the cyclone (15), and connected to said wall, is provided before casting in the body of the impression. The invention also relates to an anti-erosion coating for a cyclone inner wall that includes a composite material provided in the form of a continuous layer on the inner wall of the cyclone, and at least one attachment means connected to the wall of said cyclone in the body of the coating, particularly with a smooth exposed surface. The invention also relates to a cyclone including such a coating and to the use of said coating.
US08353975B2	Process for producing a fleece having metallic wire filaments, process for producing honeycomb body having at least one fleece, fleece, honeycomb body, apparatus and vehicle A process for producing a fleece having metallic wire filaments, includes at least the following steps:a) forming a layer including wire filaments;b) producing first cohesive connections between at least some of the metallic wire filaments in a first joining process; andc) producing second cohesive connections between metallic wire filaments in a second joining process. A process for producing a honeycomb body having at least one fleece, a fleece, a honeycomb body, an apparatus and a vehicle using fleeces in the treatment of exhaust gas from motor vehicles, are also provided.
US08353974B2	Superabrasive elements, methods of manufacturing, and drill bits including same Methods of manufacturing a superabrasive element and/or compact are disclosed. In one embodiment, a superabrasive volume including a tungsten carbide layer may be formed. Polycrystalline diamond elements and/or compacts are disclosed. Rotary drill bits for drilling a subterranean formation and including at least one superabrasive element and/or compact are also disclosed.
US08353970B2	Method of assembling electric storage battery packs A method of assembling a battery assembly includes forming battery packs, each pack including battery cells and cooling passages extending along a length of the pack, connecting terminals of each pack to a dc source and charging each pack to a desired state of charge, installing battery packs on a tray located on an automatically guided cart, using the cart to carry the battery assembly to locations where method steps are performed including performing testing for fluid leaks in a cooling circuit comprising interconnected passages of each pack on the tray and installing electric circuits in the assembly.
US08353963B2	Expandable spacer and method for use thereof An expandable implant is disclosed having an adjustable height for insertion between two adjacent bony structures or joint surfaces, for example between two adjacent spinal vertebrae. The implant includes at least one gear associated with at least one threaded shaft. Rotation of the gear engages the threaded shaft to expand the implant. The implant can be inserted in a collapsed configuration and expanded in situ. The invention also provides methods for using the implant to facilitate arthrodesis or fusion of adjacent joint surfaces or spinal vertebrae.
US08353962B2	Dual composition vertebral defect device A vertebral defect device, for insertion between a pair of adjacent lumbar or thoracic vertebrae, includes a frame comprised of a generally rigid first material for structural support strength and rapid fixation. The frame has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper and lower portions are partially convex, spaced from each other and joined together by distal and proximal supports. A housing is comprised of a second material for minimizing interference with imaging. The housing has a convexly tapered distal end and two generally parallel side walls spaced from each other and extending from the tapered distal end. The housing is coupled to the frame by cooperatively surrounding at least a portion of the frame and oriented such that the side walls are generally perpendicular to the upper and lower portions of the frame when assembled.
US08353960B2	High precision manufacture of polyurethane products such as spinal disc implants having a gradual modulus variation A process for making a polymeric product having a gradual variation in modulus through at least a portion of the product is disclosed together with an artificial spinal disc formed using the process.
US08353957B2	Expandable medical device and method Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices may be inserted with a longitudinal biasing force between anatomical structures to be stabilized and then expanded laterally or otherwise filled to provide secure fixation between or among the anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies, or portions of vertebral bodies, of the spine.
US08353953B2	Device for the in situ delivery of heart valves A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes a distal valve holder portion and a shaft extending towards the valve holder portion. The shaft is selectively bendable to a curved shape to vary the spatial orientation of the valve holder portion with respect to the desired implantation site.
US08353950B2	Stent with flexible hinges A helical stent includes at least one helical winding. Each helical winding includes a plurality of alternating long struts and short struts, ends of at least some of the long struts being joined to an end of an adjacent short strut by a flexible hinge arrangement, the struts being substantially rigid. The stent also includes at least one interconnection member connecting a hinge arrangement on one turn of the at least one winding with a hinge arrangement on an adjacent turn of the at least one winding. Fewer than all hinge arrangements on the at least one helical winding are connected to other hinge arrangements by an interconnection member.
US08353948B2	Fracture-resistant helical stent incorporating bistable cells and methods of use Vascular prostheses and methods of use are provided, wherein the vascular prosthesis includes a plurality of bistable unit cells configured to form a helical structure. A visualization catheter also is provided for use ensuring accurate measurement of a lesion and ensuring delivery and placement of the vascular prosthesis.
US08353945B2	Delivery catheter having active engagement mechanism for prosthesis Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.
US08353943B2	Variable weave graft with metal strand reinforcement for in situ fenestration The disclosure relates to an implantable woven graft for bridging a defect in a main vessel near one or more branch vessels. The graft includes a region of reduced density. Reduced density regions are alignable with at least one of the one or more branch vessels, and are suitable for in situ fenestration, for example by perforation. The disclosed examples are particularly suited for bridging abdominal aortic aneurysms.
US08353931B2	Long term bioabsorbable barbed sutures Barbed surgical sutures and a method of forming a barbed surgical suture from a degradable material are provided having degradation rates tailored to provide the suture with a desired mass loss profile.
US08353928B2	Electrochemical wound therapy A method for wound-healing is disclosed where the method comprises providing a housing forming a cavity, the cavity comprising at least one opening configured to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient. The method includes sealing a perimeter of the at least one opening to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region and absorbing a wound fluid in the cavity. A chamber is provided in communication with the cavity, and would fluid is electrochemically removed from the cavity into the chamber.
US08353922B2	Guidewire for crossing occlusions or stenoses Systems and methods for crossing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The systems generally include an elongate member such as a hollow guidewire that houses a rotatable and translatable drive shaft. The drive shaft typically has a distal portion that is advanced to create a path in the occlusive material that is large enough to allow the hollow guidewire to cross the occlusive material.
US08353920B2	Suture instrument A suture instrument includes a gripping portion that grips a plurality of tissue pieces by sandwiching them, and a suture needle that punctures and sutures the plurality of tissue pieces, the suture needle is supported so as to be able to move forwards or backwards relative to the gripping portion, and a direction of the forward or backward movement of the suture needle is set in a direction that intersects the tissue pieces gripped by the gripping portion.
US08353918B2	Method of using an atraumatic circumcision apparatus Method of using a disposable neonatal circumcision device that secures the foreskin of the penis in a precise location, applies radially circumferential clamping, and delivers a longitudinal circumferential cutting device along the path precisely controlled by the device itself, not the operator, ensuring the incision to the clamped foreskin is made in the precise location, independent of the operator.
US08353915B2	AMZ tibial tuberosity transfer system An AMZ tibial tuberosity transfer system and method of treatment of patellofemoral joints. The AMZ system includes 1) a retractor with a better conformation to anatomy and more curve (not just a bend), and also with a larger radius on the front of the retractor to allow for easier insertion; 2) a cutting block that can fully accept a collared pin; 3) a rod preferably formed of stainless steel; 4) a tuberosity pin guide; 5) an exit indicator that engages tightly the cutting block so there is no slope on exit indication; and 6) a horizontal bar provided with markings to measure the medial shift.
US08353914B2	Methods and apparatus for improved profile based resection Alignment guides, cutting guides, cutting tools and soft tissue management techniques for profile based resection (PBR) arthroplasty facilitate intraoperative and postoperative efficacy and ease of use. In one embodiment, a manual alignment guide is provided that permits less invasive incisions by providing soft tissue accommodating contours or reliefs. In another embodiment, a single medial drill guide plate is used for the PBR arthroplasty.
US08353907B2	Ablation device with internally cooled electrodes An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and defining an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another and have their fluid passageways in fluid communication. Alternatively, the end effector may comprise four electrically conductive ablation members arranged as two pairs of ablation members, all of the ablation members having internal fluid passageways that are electrically isolated from each other, with the fluid passageways of each of the four ablation members being in fluid communication with each other.
US08353906B2	Electrochemical probe and method for in situ treatment of a tissue A method and apparatus for dehydrating, electro-oxidizing, or electro-reducing a target tissue is described. The apparatus utilizes an electrochemical probe or other device to deliver one or more beneficial agents into the target tissue. Water from the target tissue provides a precursor that may be split by electrolysis to generate the beneficial agent. Alternatively, water is provided from an external source to generate the beneficial agent. The beneficial agent facilitates in situ oxidation and/or reduction of a material within the tissue. One type of beneficial agent is ozone.
US08353903B2	Power-stage antenna integrated system Disclosed is a system for generating and delivery electrosurgical energy, the system including a microwave generator and a power-stage device. The microwave generator further including a microwave signal generator configured to generate a microwave frequency signal at a first power level and a DC power supply configured to generate a DC power signal. The power-stage device connects to the microwave signal generator by a transmission line and is configured to receive the microwave frequency signal and the DC power signal from the transmission line. The power-stage device further including a power-stage microwave signal amplifier configured to amplify the microwave frequency signal from the first power level to at least one second power level and a microwave antenna configured to transmit the microwave frequency signal.
US08353902B2	Articulating ablation device and method An ablation device including a handle portion, a shaft and at least one cable. The shaft extends distally from the handle portion and includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the inner conductor. The cable extends from the handle portion along at least a portion of the shaft. The distal tip of the inner conductor is positionable distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor. In response to movement of the at least one cable relative to the handle portion, the distal tip of the outer conductor is movable form a first position where the distal tip is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the outer conductor to at least a second position where the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08353893B2	System and method for rapidly cooling cardiac arrest patient A combined occlusion/infusion catheter is placed in the aorta of a cardiac arrest patient to occlude the aorta at a location just above the renal arteries/celiac trunk while rapidly infusing a liter or more of cold saline into the aorta below the occlusion. This flushes white cells from the bowel (now placed into a state of hypothermic stasis) induces hypothermia in the whole body, with perfusion pressure of the cold fluid maximized to the brain.
US08353891B2	Absorbent incontinence article An absorbent incontinence article (2) has a main part (4) composed of a front area (6) and of a rear area (8) and, lying between these in the longitudinal direction (10), a crotch area (12) that comes to lie between the legs of a user, the main part (4) comprising an absorption body (14), and with mutually separate side portions (16) which are joined to the rear area (8) and/or to the front area (6) on both sides and which extend in the transverse direction (22) across lateral longitudinal edges (20) of the main part (4) and connect the front area (6) and the rear area (8) to each other when the article is applied. To prevent tearing of the side portions, it is proposed that the incontinence article be designed such that the side portions (16) have a reinforcing means (24) which, seen in the transverse direction (22), is designed narrower than a respective side portion (16), and which is provided at least in an area bridging the longitudinal edge (20) of the main part (4), that is to say crosses both a lateral longitudinal edge area of the main part (4) and also a part of the side portion (16) in the transverse direction (22).
US08353885B2	Method and apparatus for converting supplies and reducing waste A method and apparatus for technique and cycling (Techni-cycling as herein defined) such that converting delivery supply containers (supplies) into waste and disposal receptacles is disclosed. More particularly, a container transformation comprising deriving a supply container from a health care delivery sequence and converting the container into a waste receptacle by connection to a vacuum/suction source and collection system reduces the amount of waste contributed to the waste stream.
US08353884B2	Anal patch An anal patch comprising an absorbent pad (3) in a shape with two substantially parallel flat surfaces and a contact surface perpendicular to the flat surfaces, the area of the contact surface being smaller than each of the two parallel flat surfaces, an adhesive part, comprising an adhesive coated backing layer (4), having a central aperture (8) wherein at least a part of the contact surface of the absorbent pad is aligned with the aperture of the adhesive part.
US08353879B2	Syringe/plunger coupling A medical fluid injector, replaceable syringe, and coupling mechanism to engage the syringe plunger to the plunger drive ram of the injector are provided wherein coupling involves a cam cleat-like mechanism, thereby allowing for cooperative movement between the plunger drive ram and syringe plunger. The coupling mechanism of the plunger drive ram is provided with first and second movable members, each having toothed, arcuate surfaces, while the coupling mechanism of the syringe plunger is provided with a knurled cavity. Disengagement of the coupling mechanism is facilitated by translational movement of a face plate located on the forward end of the injector housing.
US08353874B2	Access apparatus including integral zero-closure valve and check valve An access apparatus for use in surgical procedures is provided. The access apparatus includes a zero-closure valve disposed within a housing associated with the access apparatus and adjacent a longitudinal passage defined by an access member operably associated with the access apparatus. The zero-closure valve is configured to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal in the absence of the surgical instrument inserted therethrough. A check-valve is operably associated with the zero-closure valve and is in fluid communication with the longitudinal passage and an insufflation port operably associated with the access member. The check-valve is configured to provide a fluid-tight seal when a pressure inside the access apparatus is greater than a pressure external thereof.
US08353870B2	Medical temperature sensors and related systems and methods This disclosure relates to medical temperature sensors and related systems and methods. In some aspects, a sensor assembly includes a non-invasive temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a medical fluid in a medical fluid line and an ambient temperature sensor to detect an ambient air temperature.
US08353869B2	Anti-tampering apparatus and method for drug delivery devices An anti-tampering apparatus and method for drug delivery devices provides for the capture of caps in a manner that restricts repositioning of a captured cap onto a corresponding drug delivery device. The anti-tampering apparatus includes one or more retention members to define a capture region for restrainably capturing a cap. The anti-tampering apparatus further locates an obstruction surface thereof to engage a surface of a drug delivery device and thereby restrict recapping of the device by the captured cap. As such, tampering of a drug delivery device is indicated by the absence of a cap captured within the anti-tampering apparatus.
US08353868B2	Medical balloon having strengthening rods A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing the internal pressure within the balloon. The balloon comprises a balloon layer having an outer surface, the balloon layer including a base layer, a first reinforcing layer and a second reinforcing layer. The base layer is formed of a polymer material. The first reinforcing layer is one of either a plurality of discrete inelastic fibers oriented substantially parallel to the long axis of the balloon and a first layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. The second reinforcing layer is one of either at least one inelastic fiber wrapped around the circumference of the balloon substantially transverse to the long axis of the balloon and a second layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. At least one of the first and second reinforcing layers is a layer of textile fabric material. At least one strengthening rod is connected to the outer surface of the balloon layer.
US08353866B2	Multi-chambered mixing syringe device and methods of use The present invention relates to a mixing syringe device for delivering a medicament or medical composition to a site of interest. The mixing syringe device generally includes a multi-chambered open lumen and optionally a sectioned plunger. The open lumen has at least two longitudinally oriented chambers within the interior of the lumen, and the optional sectioned plunger has at least two longitudinally oriented extensions corresponding in configuration to the at least two longitudinally oriented chambers of the open lumen and configured to be reciprocatably disposed in the chambers of the open lumen. Each compartment of the lumen is configured to store a medicament component or medical composition component in its interior. In certain embodiments, each compartment is sealed at one end by a movable stopper mechanism and sealed at the other end by a sealing mechanism capable of temporarily or otherwise opening. Methods of use are also provided.
US08353865B2	Breast pump system A breast receiving funnel (5) for a breast pump (1) comprising an expandable layer (18) formed from a hydrogel which is configured to expand such that an inner surface of the breast receiving funnel (5), against which a user's breast is locatable, swells towards said user's breast to apply a positive pressure thereto and aid the expression of milk therefrom.
US08353864B2	Low cost disposable infusion pump Disclosed is a low cost, disposable, infusion pump. The infusion pump can include an integrated occlusion detector that detects both upstream and downstream occlusions in an infusion tube. In addition, the infusion pump can easily monitor flow rates through the infusion tube, and be quickly set to infuse at a pre-determined rate. An armature within the infusion pump works in concert with a pair of tubing pinchers to precisely control the movement of fluid within the tubing. Sensors mounted within the device detect the position of the armature and can determine if an occlusion has occurred in the tubing.
US08353861B2	Applicator for applying functional substances into human skin An applicator for applying functional substances, such as cosmetic powder, food color marking, India ink effect marks, or drugs into human skin, having a base, a plurality of microneedles fixed to and projecting from the base a distance only sufficient to penetrate into the stratum corneum or dermis, with the microneedles being of a material that is capable of disintegration and dispersion into the stratum corneum or dermis, such as maltose. The needles contain the functional substance for delivery into the stratum corneum or dermis. The microneedles are of a length approximately 0.5 to 500 μm when used to apply a functional substance to the stratum corneum, or are of a length of approximately 500 to 5,000 μm when used to apply a functional substance to the dermis.
US08353860B2	Device for obstruction removal with specific tip structure In one aspect, the present invention is a system for preparing a patient for an endoscopy procedure, such as a colonoscopy. The endoscopic preparation and examination system includes an endoscope, a source of irrigation and aspiration, and a control unit. The endoscope includes an elongated flexible shaft with a distal tip and a proximal end, at least one aspiration lumen and at least one irrigation lumen. A plurality of irrigation ports are functionally connected to the at least one irrigation lumen and a plurality of aspiration ports are functionally connected to the at least one aspiration lumen. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of clearing an obstructed view in a patient prior to, or during an endoscopic examination.
US08353855B2	Therapeutic system The therapeutic system provides an oscillatory, pivoting table for applying motion-induced therapeutic sensory stimuli to a user. Further, therapeutic audio and visual output may be provided to the user during the application of the therapeutic sensory stimuli. The therapeutic system includes a base having an upper vertex. A tabletop is pivotally mounted to the upper vertex of the base, and the upper surface of the tabletop is adapted for supporting the user. At least one piston is provided, with the lower end thereof being mounted within the base, and the upper end thereof being pivotally mounted to a lower surface of the tabletop in order to pivot the table with respect to the base in a controlled, oscillatory manner. Oscillation of the table at a user-controlled frequency and angle induces the therapeutic sensory stimuli in the user.
US08353851B2	Apparatus for automatic replacement of instruments during minimally invasive procedures The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic replacement of instruments during minimally invasive procedures, comprising a housing, an outlet element for an instrument, a selection unit and a guide element.
US08353850B2	Steerable guide wire with torsionally stable tip A steerable guide wire includes a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end. A braided filament is affixed to the distal end of the core wire. An outer coil surrounds at least a portion of the core wire and the braided filament. A proximal end of the braided filament is secured to a distal end of the coil. By locating the braided filament in the distal tip portion of the guide wire, a guide wire is provided that is highly flexible, has a high degree of tensile integrity, and is highly steerable, even in tortuous vasculature. Filter and balloon catheters having braided filaments at the distal end are also described.
US08353846B2	Method and apparatus for tinnitus evaluation Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for evaluating tinnitus are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a tinnitus evaluation system may include a tinnitus evaluation module configured to perform one or more tinnitus evaluation tests. A tinnitus evaluation test may comprise generating a first single-frequency sound based at least in part on a sound of a patient's tinnitus, and generating a narrow-band sound centered at the frequency of the first single-frequency sound. Tests include a hearing threshold test, a loudness match test, a pitch match test, a bandwidth match test, a minimum masking level test, and a residual inhibition test.
US08353839B2	Intracavity probe with continuous shielding of acoustic window An ultrasound probe has a transducer array which is moved to scan a patient with ultrasonic energy. The array is located in a fluid chamber (42) which is enclosed by an acoustic window end cap (34). The acoustic window cap is coated with a thin conductive layer (38) which shields the transducer and its motive mechanism from EFI/RFI emissions. The conductive layer is coupled to a reference potential.
US08353838B2	Ultrasonic probe volume compensation system An ultrasound probe includes a transducer which is pivotally mounted inside a fluid chamber for scanning a region outside the probe as the transducer is oscillated. A volume compensation balloon is attached to the fluid chamber and is partially filled with acoustic fluid at nominal (room) temperatures. The balloon is made of a high performance thermoplastic which enables the balloon to have a very thin wall. The thin wall is highly compliant as the volume of the fluid inside the balloon changes, and remains so at low temperatures of transport and use. The thin wall exhibits a low permeability to the acoustic fluid. The balloon is formed of a non elastic material and exhibits good thermal stability and high burst strength.
US08353835B2	Ultrasound diagnostic system and method for displaying doppler spectrum images of multiple sample volumes The embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasound diagnostic system, including: an ultrasound diagnosis unit for transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving ultrasound echo signals to acquire B-mode image signals and Doppler spectrum image signals; a processor for forming at least one B-mode image based on the B-mode image signals and forming a plurality of Doppler spectrum images for a plurality of sample volumes designated on the B-mode image based on the Doppler spectrum image signals; a user input unit for allowing a user to input selection information indicating locations and sizes of the plurality of sample volumes; and an image display unit for displaying at least one B-mode image and the plurality of Doppler spectrum images.
US08353834B2	Method and apparatus for guidance and application of high intensity focused ultrasound for control of bleeding due to severed limbs An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding. Heat dissipation due to the blood flow is reduced by tracking and continuously heating the same bolus of blood as it flows, or by heating a significant length of the blood vessel instead of a fixed spot in the vessel.
US08353830B2	Non-invasive subject-information imaging method and apparatus A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus according to this invention includes a light generating unit which generates light containing a specific wavelength component, a light irradiation unit which radiates the generated light into a subject, a waveguide unit which guides the light from the light generating unit to the irradiation unit, a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements, a transmission/reception unit which transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving the electroacoustic transducer elements, and generates a reception signal from electrical signals converted by electroacoustic transducer elements, and a signal processing unit which generates volume data about a living body function by processing a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light irradiation, and generates volume data about a tissue morphology by processing a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves.
US08353825B2	Access portal including sponge A surgical access portal includes a seal housing and a sleeve mounted to the sleeve housing having an internal longitudinal passage adapted to provide access to underlying tissue. A seal is in mechanical cooperation with an inner wall of the seal housing and has an opening for reception and passage of a surgical instrument in a substantially sealed relation. A sponge is disposed distally of the seal and absorbs fluids that enter the seal housing.
US08353803B2	Automatic transmission An automatic transmission excelling in transmission efficiency than the prior art is provided. The automatic transmission is equipped with an input shaft 2 and an output shaft 3 and a plurality of planetary gear mechanisms 5, 6. Any one element Sa of a plurality of the planetary gear mechanisms 5, 6 is coupled to the input shaft 2. One element Ca is coupled to the output shaft 3 via the first gear row G1. One element Rb is connected to the output shaft 3 via a second gear row G2 having a gear ratio different from that of the first gear row G1. Five or more engagement mechanisms C1 through C3, B1, B2 for coupling each element Ra and Cb, each element Sb, Cb with the input shaft 2, and each element Sb, Cb with the transmission case 1 releasably.
US08353802B2	Clutch and gear arrangement for a front wheel drive vehicle A front wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake arranged within a transmission housing. Each of the clutches and the brake are located within specific areas defined by the planetary gear sets and the housing walls.
US08353800B2	Limited slip differential using face gears and a pinion housing A differential includes a differential case; a side gear comprising a helical face gear; a helical pinion configured for meshing engagement with the side gear; and a pinion housing configured to support the helical pinion. The pinion housing includes a first face; a second face opposing the first face; a first projection located on the first face; and a second projection located on the second face. In some embodiments, the differential further comprises an actuator configured for engagement with the pinion housing and a plurality of friction plates disposed between the actuator and the differential case. The pinion housing also includes an aperture or hole extending radially inwardly from an outer radial surface of the generally annular ring; and a channel extending from the first face to the second face, wherein the channel is substantially radially aligned with the aperture or hole.
US08353795B2	Two-armed tensioner for the drive belt of a motor vehicle Described herein is a tensioner for a belt of a drive of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two idle pulleys designed to co-operate with respective belt runs of the belt; two arms bearing the pulleys; and elastic means acting at least indirectly on the arms for tensioning the belt, in which the arms are constrained to one another, and at least one of the arms is hinged to a first mobile axis.
US08353791B2	Tracking balls in sports A system for tracking balls in sports in which players kick, pass, bounce, strike or carry a ball. The ball is equipped with two beacons pulsing in the 5-10 Hz range at a frequency which is not attenuated by the body of the players. one beacon has a very short range of 40-120 cm and the other has a range of 1-5 meters. A data logger worn by the players includes a clock, location and speed sensors, a receiver for the beacon signals and a micro controller to record the data from all the sensors. The micro controller is able to record whether the player is in possession of the ball or is contesting the ball. The path of the ball from player to player is tracked relative to the playing field. An impact or pressure sensor may be fitted to the players footwear, glove or a bat stick, club or racquet to register a kick or ball strike.
US08353785B2	Golf club head An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a first piece including a portion of an iron-type face. A second piece including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a hinge region, and a front opening for receiving the first piece is also disclosed. A first contact surface of the first piece is connected with a second contact surface of the second piece at a contact interface. A continuous weld extends along the contact interface attaching the first and second pieces together at the contact interface. The continuous weld includes a fusion zone occurring substantially on the iron-type face outside the hinge region of the club head.
US08353783B2	Golf club head with stiffening and sound tuning composite member A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.
US08353781B2	Golf-club shafts having selectable-stiffness tip regions, and golf clubs comprising same The subject golf clubs have a shaft and clubhead. The shaft has a tip-end coupled to the clubhead, a butt-end, a reduced-EI portion located adjacent the tip-end, and a remaining portion extending between the butt-end and the reduced-EI portion. The portions are coupled together at an interface. The remaining portion exhibits a respective rate of stiffness reduction as a function of distance from the butt-end. The reduced-EI portion is typically shorter than and has less stiffness than the remaining portion. A stiffener insert is inserted into the shaft, such as in the reduced-EI portion, to add stiffness locally. The reduced-EI portion exhibits a respective rate (which can be zero) of stiffness reduction as a function of distance toward the tip-end. These rates can be similar or different. The interface can exhibit a greater rate in stiffness reduction than the other portions. The stiffeners can be user-selectable, from a kit supplied with the club, for example. The clubhead can be removable from the shaft to facilitate stiffener exchange.
US08353776B2	Universal ball joint A universal ball joint includes a first pivotal body and a second pivotal body rotatably assembled with the first pivotal body. The first pivotal body includes a substantially elliptical ball head and a connecting portion extending out from the ball head. The ball head has a major axis and a minor axis substantially perpendicular to the major axis. The second pivotal body defines a substantially elliptical ball socket rotatably engaging with the ball head of the first pivotal body such that the ball head may rotate around the major axis or the minor axis of the ball head.
US08353767B1	System and method for a virtual character in a virtual world to interact with a user A virtual presentation for entertaining a user, and includes generating a virtual environment that includes at least one virtual object, and displaying a virtual character in the virtual environment. The virtual character is to be controlled in the virtual environment to interact with the virtual object responsive to commands input by the user via a user computer. The method further includes evaluating a parameter associated with at least one of the virtual object and the virtual character and, responsive to the evaluating, preparing a communication from the virtual character to be transmitted to the user. The communication includes content related to the parameter evaluated and is transmitted from the virtual character to the user with the user computer.
US08353765B2	Gaming machine and system having secondary game A gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines (EGMs) and a secondary game control section. The secondary game control section is provided with a plurality of data sets having different target investment amount between two triggerings of the secondary game. The secondary game control section is adapted to receive a bet contribution from each of the EGMs and calculate an average bet amount from the received bet contributions. The secondary game control section selects one of the data sets depending on the calculated average bet amount, and determines whether the secondary game is triggered for each bet contribution from the EGMs using the target investment amount associated with the selected one of the data sets and a random number, and if it is determined that the secondary game is triggered, pays out a secondary game award to an EGM of which bet contribution triggered the secondary game.
US08353764B2	Behavioral biometrics for authentication in computing environments Techniques for authenticating one or more entities are disclosed. Authentication can be performed based on one or more attributes associated with an image and/or input provided in connection with an image. The image is effectively provided for authenticating one or more entities associated with a computing environment. The attributes which can be measures include the manner in which an image has been created and/or traced by a person being authenticated. A person can initially register with an authentication system by creating and/or tracing an image. Subsequently, the person can be provided with the same, similar and/or completely different image in order to be authenticated by the authentication system. It will be appreciated that the image needs not be a signature or provide any personal information about the person being authenticated.
US08353762B2	Gaming system, gaming device and gaming method providing additional award opportunities for an activation of a symbol generator based on an occurrence of a triggering event A gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method including a symbol generator, where a number of awards available to the player in a single activation of the symbol generator and/or which awards are available to a player in a single activation of the symbol generator are based on an occurrence of one or more triggering events.
US08353758B2	Amusement device having electronic game and jukebox functionalities An amusement device has a display, an audio output, and an input component. The display includes a touchscreen. The input component receives at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards. The amusement device also includes a common controller. The common controller is configured to select and play at least one electronic game and to select and retrieve for playing a music data set from a plurality of music data sets. The electronic game and the music data set may optionally be played simultaneously. In certain embodiments, a reward based on one of either the electronic game or selection of the music data set is applied to the respective other of the electronic game and the selection of the music data. In further embodiments, a content of the electronic game is based on the music data set.
US08353756B2	Method and apparatus for setting game parameters The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels or random number generators. In some embodiments, game parameters may be established with various initial values, and then, by spinning the gaming devices' reels, for example, random reel values lining up on the payline may be used as new game parameter values. Parameter values may be used to control or initialize almost any aspect of the gaming device play experience, ranging from the types of symbols seen on the reels, to the appearance or behavior of game characters, to the rate at which “complementary” points are awarded.
US08353753B2	Wagering game with randomly funded progressive amounts A gaming system that includes a gaming terminal with a wagering game. The wagering game includes a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. The wagering game allows the player to be eligible for a plurality of progressive jackpots. A controller is operative to randomly increase the amount of one or more of the plurality of progressive jackpots by at least a portion of the wager input. Further, the percentages of the portion that are allocated to each progressive jackpot can be randomly selected as well. Thus, the progressive jackpots are randomly funded, instead of being funded by a predetermined percentage of each wager input.
US08353752B2	Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container A method and apparatus is disclosed that documents and authenticates cap removal data. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus measures a parameter indicative of the number of times that a cap has been removed by a user. The apparatus also encodes at least the parameter indicative of the cap removal data, thereby deriving encoded cap removal data. The apparatus outputs the encoded cap removal data to a user. According to a second aspect of the present invention, another apparatus receives the encoded cap removal data and decodes it to authenticate the cap removal data. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a medicine container is operable to output a result of a game based on cap removal data associated with the medicine container.
US08353751B2	Gaming device and method for providing multiple-hand poker game A gaming device having a multi-player poker game includes a plurality of two-card hands dealt to a player and to a virtual opponent. First, the player has an option to place a wager on or fold each of the player hands. Then, the gaming device folds a number of dealer hands corresponding to the number of folded player hands and contributes a wager to the pot for each remaining virtual opponent hand in play. A primary award is provided if at least one of the active player hands outranks all of the non-folded virtual opponent hands. A bonus award is provided to the player if the rank of the player's winning hand is a predetermined rank.
US08353749B2	Vehicle tracking system, method and game The “Vehicle Tracking System and Game” integrates a GPS navigation system with invention specific hardware and software. A user installs a mobile unit on his race vehicle which features software allowing a processor connected to the electronics of the user's vehicle to communicate with an inertial navigation system which collects racing information, with a remote database which features software for various interactive real-time or virtual GPS Racing Games and processing the racing information of all users, and with a GPS system in real time. The mobile unit collects, processes, saves and transmits user specific racing information continuously throughout the game. This racing information is data of racing performance parameters specific to the game subscribed for by the user. The database processes and evaluates the received racing information, offsets this information with the users' basic input data and compares the information of all users.
US08353747B2	Selectable real-world representation system descriptions A method of operating a set of devices comprises receiving a real-world description (30) in the form of an instruction set of a markup language, selecting a source of assets (32) for use by the set of devices, and operating the devices (34) according to the description. The source of assets can be a local store or a broadcast channel, or a combination of the two.
US08353741B2	System and method for removing a coating from a substrate A system and a method for removing a coating from a substrate. The system provides a compressed air source, a heated water source, a particulate cleaning medium source, and a mixing valve including an air input, a water input, and a particulate cleaning medium input. The inputs are positioned on the valve so that the water input is positioned downstream of the compressed air input, and the particulate cleaning medium input is positioned downstream of both the compressed air and water inputs. The method of mixing the air, water, and particulate cleaning medium provides a coating removal mixture having a volumetric ratio of air to water of at least 100:1 and a volumetric ratio of air to particulate cleaning medium of at least 70:1.
US08353739B2	Method for detecting and/or preventing grind burn The present invention provides a method of detecting and preventing grind burn from developing on a gear. The method includes performing acoustic emission testing while the gear is being ground during a grinding operation. The grinding wheel is evaluated during an eddy current test to detect material buildup on the grinding wheel which could cause grind burn. In addition, the method includes collecting swarf from the gear during the grinding operation and inspecting the swarf for an indication of grind burn.
US08353732B2	Dual housing connector with locking members A connector in which terminal extraction work using an extraction jig can surely be done when necessary and also at the normal time, a terminal of the other connector can be connected to a terminal of the inside of a terminal receiving chamber without any mistakes and fear of a poor fit can be removed is provided. In the connector having two connector housings 20, 10 attached with the connector housings stacked mutually, a connector front wall 17 with which the front ends of terminal receiving chambers 21 of the first connector housing 20 are covered is formed integrally to the second connector housing 10, and a terminal insertion opening 18 opened in the connector front wall 17 is provided so as to deviate from the front of a first terminal 70 and be positioned in the front of a first lance 22 for locking the first terminal when both the connector housings are held in a temporary locking position.
US08353730B1	Probe connector A probe connector includes an insulating housing defining inserting passages each longitudinally penetrating therethrough with a blocking rib being protruded in a periphery inside thereof. A probe has a base board of which a front end has a contact head stretched forward out of the inserting passage, and a rear end has a resisting board extending downward from an end edge thereof and two blocking boards protruded downward from two side edges thereof for cooperating with the blocking rib to prevent the probe from sliding out of the inserting passage. A terminal has a base plate blocking a rear end of the inserting passage, and an elastic arm extending forward from a top of the base plate with a free end designed as a contact portion abutting against the base board. An elastic element is retractably located between the resisting board and the base plate.
US08353726B2	Electrical connector with grounding bars therein to reduce cross talking An electrical connector includes an insulated housing defining an uninterrupted tongue portion with opposite first surface and second surface, the first surface defining a rib and a plurality of contacts loaded in the tongue portion. The contacts include first contacts with contacting sections loaded in the first surface at one side of the rib, second contacts with contacting section loaded in the first surface at another side of the rib and third contacts with contacting section loading in the second surface opposite to the rib. Each of the first and third contacts is composed of signal contacts and grounding contacts. Two distinct grounding bars are embedded in the tongue section and touch with front ends of grounding contacts of the first and third contacts respectively to reduce cross talk between signal contact of the first and third contacts.
US08353722B1	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a front surface concaved rearward to define a receiving chamber with a tongue board therein. Electrical terminals are disposed in the tongue board and elastically stretch into the receiving chamber. A frame-shaped holding shell is mounted in the receiving chamber. A shielding cover adapted for being connected to ground and punched from a metal board has a base board with a window being opened therein and a plurality of contact strips being formed and apart arranged to periphery edges of the base board. The base board is covered onto the front surface of the insulating housing with the window being communicated with the receiving chamber. The contact strips stretch freely outside the insulating housing. A shielding shell is put around the insulating housing and electrically connected with the shielding cover.
US08353720B2	Cable connector assembly for connecting hard disk drive A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector, a second cable connector, a locking element, and a retaining frame. The first cable connector includes a first base portion. The second cable connector includes a second base portion. The retaining frame includes a front wall. The front wall defines a mounting hole. The mounting hole includes a pair of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides. The first base portion and the second base portion are slidably received in the mounting hole. The first base portion contacts one of the widthwise sides. The second base portion contacts the first base portion. The locking element is mounted in the mounting hole and squeezed between the second base portion and the other widthwise side to push the second base portion to press on the first base portion.
US08353718B2	Handle assembly for electrical connection with a grounding mechanism A handle assembly is for use with an electronic device having a chassis, where at least a portion of the handle assembly is part of a path that crosses through the chassis. The handle assembly has a handle member moveable with respect to the chassis, wherein the handle member has a profile to allow for gripping by a user to move the electronic device. The handle assembly has an electrical contact to make electrical connection with the grounding mechanism of the chassis upon the handle member being moved to a first position.
US08353712B2	Lever-type connector A housing (20) is formed with pairs of projections (31A, 31B) at opposite sides in a width direction perpendicular to a connecting direction and supporting shafts (29) located between the projections (31A, 31B) at the opposite widthwise sides and behind the projections (31A, 31B) in the connecting direction and adapted to rotatably support a lever (60). The lever (60) is formed with stoppers for preventing a rotation of the lever (60) by being engaged with the projections (31A) on one widthwise side at a connection start position. Further, the lever (60) is formed with pressing portions (72) for correcting a connection posture of the housing (20) by pressing the projections (31B) on the other widthwise side in the connecting direction when the housing (20) is inclined from a proper connection posture with respect to a mating housing (80) in a process reaching a connection position.
US08353707B2	Electrical connector assembly having a receptacle with three rows of contacts and a printed circuit board with three rows of pads An electrical connector comprises a PCB (220) having a front edge to be inserted into a mating receptacle. The PCB comprises a top face having a row of first mating pads (242), and an opposite bottom face having a row of second mating pads (262) and a row of third mating pads (264) behind the second row of mating pads. The first and second mating pads are compatibly fit with an SFP receptacle (120). The PCB comprises a first sub-PCB (540) having a first outer layer containing the first mating pads and an opposite second outer layer containing the second mating pads, and a second sub-PCB (560) attached to the second outer layer on an area behind the second mating pads, the second sub-PCB having a second outer layer containing the third mating pads.
US08353706B2	Breathing apparatus simulator A breathing apparatus simulator unit (BASU) comprises a mouthpiece/noseclip subassembly and a cartridge subassembly. The mouthpiece/noseclip subassembly includes the same mouthpiece/noseclip subassembly that is utilized in an actual self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR) device. The cartridge subassembly comprises a container containing a reactionary material. The reactionary material reacts with at least one product of a user's exhalation to generate heat and resistance, thereby providing sensations to simulate the use of an actual SCSR.
US08353705B2	Attendance tracking system An automated attendance monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes (i) identification tags, with wireless communication capabilities, for each potential attendee, (ii) scanners for detecting the attendees' tags as they enter a given room, (iii) at least one server in communication with the scanners, (iv) handheld computing devices for use by attendance trackers, such as teachers, to verify a provisional attendance report generated by the scanners and server, and (v) software running on the server for receiving and managing the attendance data received from the scanners, and for generating attendance reports. Although particularly well-suited for tracking attendance in schools, the present invention can also be used in a variety of other settings where there is a need to track the whereabouts of a number of individuals.
US08353704B2	Training simulator A training simulator may be used to present a number of different scenarios to a user, and to evaluate the user's response to the scenarios. In some implementations, the training simulator may include a simulation timer that advances at a rate that is different than real-time, such as a real-time minute equaling an hour of simulated time. For each of the scenarios presented during a training episode, the user may respond by selecting one or more possible decision options, each relating to a different way to address the situation presented in the scenario. The user's response may be scored, according to certain implementations, by adjusting the value of multiple scoring metrics, each of which relates to a different user performance indicator.
US08353703B2	Healing components for use in taking impressions and methods for making the same The present invention provides a healing abutment for attachment to a dental implant with marking locations thereon. The marking locations either lack or have markers that provide a binary code system for retrieving unique information about the healing abutment and the underlying implant.
US08353702B1	Dental implant system A dental implant system is described which includes a root form for attaching to a patient's jaw bone and an abutment. The root form has a cavity. Furthermore, the abutment has an attachment portion, an insertion portion and an aperture. The insertion portion may be receivable within the cavity and form a taper lock therein. Finally, the aperture may pass through the abutment from the attachment portion to the insertion portion. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is configured to receive a predetermined amount of hydraulic pressure to eject the abutment from the cavity, whereby the predetermined amount of hydraulic pressure overcomes the taper lock between the insertion portion of the abutment and the cavity.
US08353701B2	Salivary duct constriction apparatus A saliva control device for controlling saliva flow from a salivary duct without damaging the salivary duct and surrounding soft oral tissue includes an elastic body, a constriction hole formed through the elastic body, and an interior wall defining the constriction hole. The interior wall is substantially smooth and the elastic body sufficiently stretchable that the constriction hole expands during placement around a salivary duct and the wall constricts around the salivary duct to prevent flow of saliva without substantially cutting off blood flow to and damaging the salivary duct and soft oral tissue surrounding the salivary duct.
US08353699B2	Orthodontic brace system and method An orthodontic brace system includes brackets having a diamond-shaped tie-wing configuration that defines two parallel, horizontal slots, each of which is adapted to receive an archwire. Each slot is angled with respect to the base of the bracket to produce a specific, maximum torque value, and generally, the maximum torque value of the gingival slot is less than the maximum torque value of the incisal slot. The brackets provide multiple force vectors in different directions simultaneously, which decreases the amount of time required for a patient to wear braces, reduces the number of costly and time consuming visits to an orthodontist, and reduces time and effort required of an orthodontist for installation and adjustment of the braces on a per visit basis.
US08353698B2	Co-axial injection system A coaxial injection device for injecting and dispersing reagents into a reactor, including an exterior duct for high-velocity gas injection; an outer-middle injector with at least one nozzle for liquid injection; an inner-middle duct for low-velocity gas injection; and an interior injector with nozzle for liquid injection; wherein, the exterior duct is formed by the internal wall of an insert and the external wall of the outer-middle injector; and is located externally to and circumferentially surrounds all other injectors and ducts; the outer-middle injector is formed by two concentric cylinders with end plate and injector nozzles; the inner-middle duct is formed by interior wall of the outer-middle injector and the exterior wall of the interior injector; the interior injector is formed by a cylinder with an endplate, the endplate having a nozzle; thereby ensuring the mixing and dispersion of the liquids and gases into the reactor to increase reaction homogeneity, reaction efficiency, reactor efficiency and reduced byproduct formation. A multiple coaxial injection device system and a method for operating the system are also described.
US08353697B2	Injection molding apparatus having a pressure disk disposed between a back plate and a valve pin actuator An actuator is disposed between a back plate and a manifold and is connected to a valve pin. A nozzle flange, locating ring, or pressure disc can transmit a first load between the manifold and a mold plate. A pressure disc can be disposed between the actuator and the back plate. The pressure disc transmits a second load between the back plate and the manifold through the actuator.
US08353693B2	Fluid machine A fluid machine includes an inflow passageway arranged and configured to introduce fluid from outside into inner and outer fluid chambers of a first eccentric rotation mechanism, a communication passageway arranged and configured to introduce fluid discharged from the inner and outer fluid chambers of the first eccentric rotation mechanism into inner and outer fluid chambers of a second eccentric rotation mechanism, and an outflow passageway arranged and configured to allow fluid discharged from the inner and outer fluid chambers of the second eccentric rotation mechanism to flow to outside. Each of the first and second eccentric rotation mechanisms preferably includes a cylinder, a piston, and a blade. A drive shaft has a main shaft portion and first and second eccentric portions arranged to engage the first and second eccentric rotation mechanisms.
US08353689B2	Vibratory cavitation pump lishanski A vibratory cavitation pump is provided that includes a working cylinder having an fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rod extending into the cylinder, a piston fixed to the rod, a plate fixed to the rod and spaced from the piston, an activator slidably mounted to the rod between the piston and the plate and an oscillating pumping mechanism operably connected to the rod to move the rod with respect to the working cylinder. The sliding activator creates cavitation in the fluid being pumped to increase the ease of pumping the fluid, such as high viscosity fluids. The pump can also include an external cylinder disposed around the working cylinder to impart rotational motion to the incoming fluid, thereby enhancing the cavitation created in the fluid by the pump, rendering the fluid easy to displace.
US08353688B2	Volumetric pump comprising a driving mechanism A volumetric pump comprises at least one piston inside a cylindrical housing and means to cause a relative to-and-fro linear movement between the cylindrical housing and the piston in order to produce a stroke of the volumetric pump. This pump further comprises a bi-directional angular rotatable disc acting as a valve which connects alternately at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port to a least one pump chamber located inside the housing, and a driving mechanism arranged to dissociate at least partially the bi-directional angular movement of the rotatable disc with the to-and-fro linear movement of the housing. This driving mechanism is arranged such that the rotatable disc reaches an angular position at which it opens and/or closes the inlet and/or outlet ports when there is no relative to-and-fro linear movement between the cylindrical housing and the piston.
US08353684B2	Phase change compressor A method for compressing a gas by using energy produced from a heat source. A boiler is provided. The boiler is segregated into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a barrier such as a piston, a bellows, or a diaphragm. The lower chamber is filled with a liquid having a suitable boiling point and other properties. The upper chamber is filled with a gas to be compressed. Heat from any suitable source is applied to the liquid in the lower chamber in order to bring the liquid to a boil, and thereby produce pressurized vapor in the lower chamber. The rising pressure in the lower chamber moves the barrier in the direction of the upper chamber, thereby compressing the gas in the upper chamber.
US08353677B2	System and method for sensing a liquid level A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a borehole. The system includes a pulse generator to generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy to propagate along the wellbore towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic pulse reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated along the wellbore towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid, and a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore based on the fluid surface level.
US08353673B2	Main rotor blade with integral cuff A main rotor blade assembly includes a main spar with an integral cuff. The main spar is directly to a rotor hub assembly through the integral cuff.
US08353670B2	Axial balancing clip weight for rotor assembly and method for balancing a rotor assembly A balancing weight clip for balancing a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine which includes a weight portion, and a first flange engaging portion and a second flange engaging portion extending from the weight portion. The weight portion and the first and second flange engaging portions define a flange receiving opening for receiving a flange of a disc of the rotor assembly. The first flange engaging portion is provided with a detent facing the second flange engaging portion and engageable with a mating groove provided on a face of the flange. At least one of the first and second flange engaging portions is elastically deformable so that the first and second flange engaging portions are elastically moveable away from one another to removably receive the flange in the flange receiving opening and engage the detent with the mating groove.
US08353665B1	Impeller for two-chamber extracting blower An impeller for use in a two-chamber extracting blower that separates liquid and solid contaminants from a supply of and provides a supply of clean air moving at high velocity air. The impeller includes a plurality of blades wherein each blade includes a first section perpendicular to and formed of the blade and a second section perpendicular to the first section, also formed of the blade and radiating outward. The height of each section and the construction of the main section of the blade create differing pressure zones during rotation of the impeller, segregating air contain the impurities and prompting separation of the impurities. The construction of the first and second sections promotes more efficient and quieter operation, strengthens the blade, and permits removal of the impeller.
US08353658B2	Debris-free plastic collating strip for nails A fastener assembly is for use in an associated fastener driving tool. The assembly includes a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each fastener has a shank and defines an axis. A collation system is formed from a plastic material that is molded onto and adhered to the fasteners. The plastic material defines a collar portion at least substantially encircling the fastener shank and a connecting portion extending between and connecting adjacent collar portions. The connecting portion includes a bridge and a rib. The bridge is a relatively thin, elongate element spanning adjacent collar portions and the rib is a relatively thick, short element that is disposed at about an upper portion of the bridge. When the fastener is driven from the driving tool, the collar portion remains adhered to the fastener such that the collar portion penetrates the substrate with the fastener. The connecting portion can include a weakened region for separating the connecting portion from the collar.
US08353657B2	Partially coated fastener assembly and method for coating A fastener assembly includes a row of fasteners having a head, a tip, and a portion of a shank coated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as polyurethane and metal particles. The polymer composition is used to provide improved corrosion and ultraviolet radiation resistance when used with naturally corrosive or pressure preservative treated wood. The fastener assembly is coated with the polymer composition by vacuum coating a dispersion of the polymer composition in a solvent such as water and removing the solvent.
US08353655B2	Floor anchor The invention relates to a floor anchor (10) made of steel pipe. The floor anchor comprises a hollow shaft segment (14) having an external thread (16) at least in segments, and a head segment adjacent to the shaft segment (14) and facing downward in the anchored state in the floor. The head segment (12) is designed as a drill head and comprises elements for removing earth.
US08353654B2	Integrated fastener and sealing system for plumbing fixtures A metallic bolt fastener assembly that includes a threaded shank, a head and an end, the head and a portion of the shank encapsulated with a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a polymer material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermal plastic materials. The polymer composition provides improved corrosion resistance and superior fluid sealing properties when used as a water tank-to-toilet bowl or other similar plumbing fixture connection system.
US08353652B2	Anchor assembly with toggle for hollow walls An anchor assembly (A) for hollow walls comprises an anchor body (400) and a toggle member (231) that is displaceable between a first position wherein the toggle member (231) is substantially aligned with the anchor body (400) such that the anchor assembly (A) can be inserted in the wall (W) via a cutting distal end (325) of the toggle member (231), and a second position wherein the toggle member (231) extends behind the wall (W) at an angle relative to the anchor body (400) which extends through the wall (W). The toggle member (231) is held captive in the first position but is released and then rotated to the second position by a fastener (218) introduced in the anchor body (400). The fastener (218) threadably engages the toggle member (231) thereby drawing the toggle member (231) against a hidden side of the wall (W).
US08353649B2	Apparatus and methods for securing a fastener A nut plate assembly and a method for securing a nut plate assembly may include a support for a fastener element wherein the support has a base to be supported and/or fixed on a support surface and the base has another surface against which the fastener element bears. The base also supports a structure for supporting the fastener element where the structure is at least partly non-symmetrical about a plane other than a horizontal plane parallel to the base. One side of the base may be secured to the support surface and the other side of the base may have the fastener element bearing against it when a complementary fastener element is secured to the first fastener element.
US08353647B2	Collapsible intermodal transport platform A collapsible intermodal transport platform and methods for its operation are disclosed. The invention comprises structural ribbings that rotate about an axle disposed beneath the loading surface of the platform. The ribbings are positioned along the platform so as to provide lifting and stacking fitments at the standard overhead crane lifting points when in a lift configuration. The ribbings may be rotated inboard down to the loading surface, thereby presenting stacking blocks at the crane lifting points for stacking several platforms together. Alternatively, the ribbings may be rotated outboard to accommodate full size loading of cargo. The ribbings are rotated under electric or hydraulic power, according to the various embodiments disclosed. Other features and aspects disclosed lend to the invention's low weight and high carrying capacity, as well as its unique load securing features.
US08353645B1	Counterbore bit A counterbore bit having a blade with paired cutting edges along the distal end of the blade and a circular pilot with a serrated cutting edge positioned medially between the paired cutting edges can be positioned over an embedded nail or fastener and activated to free or clear the embedded nail by creating a pair of concentric bores around and about the nail thus facilitating its extraction by conventional means.
US08353643B2	Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together.
US08353642B2	Screed for road finishing machine In a screed with a basic screed and at least one extendable screed movable relative to the basic screed with a hydraulic cylinder and an electro-hydraulic control comprising a magnet-actuated directional control valve for at least controlling the direction of the hydraulic cylinder, the directional control valve for changing the rate of motion of the hydraulic cylinder is guided by an operator or automatically and is a proportional directional control valve (W) with proportional-electric direct actuation or proportional-electric-hydraulic pilot control. The proportional directional control valve for the hydraulic cylinder is connected on the actuation side with an electro-hydraulic control of a hydraulic system of the road finishing machine.
US08353638B2	Adapter for mounting rotary load on motor flywheel housing An adapter for fitting a flywheel housing to a rotary load has a generally circular centering plate having a central circular aperture dimensioned to fit snugly around the load's collar and a circular outer periphery. The centering plate is formed with first and second arrays of holes equispaced from a center of the aperture. The first-array holes are spaced identically to and alignable with fastening formations of the load. An adapter plate engaged flatly with the centering plate is formed with a first array of at least two holes spaced identically to and alignable with the formations, and is stiffened. Respective fasteners are engageable, when the first-array holes of both plates are aligned with the formations of the load, through the adapter plate, centering plate, and fastener formations. The second-array holes of the circular centering plate are covered by the adapter plate when the plates are thus fastened together.
US08353636B2	Support device for a cosmetic article and associated method This device comprises a covering (12) which defines an internal cavity (22) and a body (14) which can be moved in a first direction relative to the covering (12) between a storage position and a position in which the body (14) is removed from the covering.The device comprises a pushing member (54) which is mounted so as to be able to move relative to the covering (12) in the first direction between an idle position and a configuration for moving the body towards the removal position thereof.The device comprises a releasable assembly (80; 64) for retaining the body in the storage position thereof, and a member (56) for resiliently urging the pushing member (54) towards the idle position thereof.
US08353630B2	Fluid dynamic bearing with a labyrinth seal A device for providing an air-gap associated with a portion of a fluid dynamic bearing, a sleeve is provided and surrounds a portion of a shaft. The sleeve and the shaft are configured for establishing the air-gap proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing. In addition, a cap is also provided and coupled to the sleeve. The cap has an outer end proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing such that the air-gap is provided between the outer end of the cap and the portion of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the air-gap forms a labyrinth seal.
US08353623B2	Timepiece movement including a karussel The timepiece movement includes a barrel, an escapement that has an escape wheel and pinion (27, 25), a balance (19) and a gear train for transmitting energy stored in the barrel to the escape wheel. This gear train has an intermediary wheel (23), kinematically connected to the barrel by a first part of the gear train, and kinematically connected to the escape wheel (27) by a second part of the gear train, the second part of the gear train, and the escapement and balance are mounted in a rotating carriage (16) kinematically connected to the movement and arranged for rotating coaxially about the intermediary wheel (23) at a different speed from the speed of the intermediary wheel. The timepiece movement is characterized in that it imposes a speed of one revolution per minute on the carriage (16).
US08353621B2	Bowl cooling jacket for mixers A cooling jacket for use with mixing bowls typically incorporated into industrial mixers is provided. This cooling jacket includes plurality of substantially parallel coolant channels formed from the material of the jacket, wherein each of the plurality of channels further includes a least one vertical portion and at least one horizontal portion, and wherein each horizontal portion further includes a plurality of parallel ridges and parallel valleys formed therein and running lengthwise therethrough.
US08353616B2	Illumination device The invention relates to an illumination device (10) for illuminating a surface (101), with at least one lighting element (20) and an illuminating body (30), wherein the lighting element (20) emits an artificial light (21,21), a housing element (40) comprises the lighting element (20) and supports the illuminating body (30), the illuminating body (30) comprises a transparent light conductive material suitable to illuminate the surface (101) lying subjacent. The invention discloses, that the illuminating body (30) comprises a surface pattern (80), forming a Fresnel-type lens to optically magnify the surface (101).
US08353613B2	Light guide plate and display apparatus comprising the same A light guide plate includes a plurality of quantum dots on at least one of a surface of the light guide plate and inside the light guide plate, wherein the plurality of quantum dots emit light having a different wavelength than a light incident thereto.
US08353612B2	Light guide with coupling portion having a plurality of reflective facets An optical device, in particular for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling device, this device comprising at least one light guide which is designed to guide at least part of the light which is emitted by a source of light, the light guide comprising at least one output surface and at least one main reflection surface, which is designed to reflect towards the output surface light which is propagated in the guide, the light guide comprising a portion for coupling with the source of light, this coupling portion having a transverse axis (Y), wherein the coupling portion is arranged such that the light which is emitted from this coupling portion is propagated in the light guide, around the transverse axis, according to a total angular opening, measured around this transverse axis, which is strictly less than 360°, and in particular is less than 320° or 300°.
US08353611B2	Fastener with illuminator A fastener includes a main body having a front portion and a rear portion, a securing member engageable with the rear portion of the main body, and a light source unit securable between the securing member and the front portion of the main body, for providing light to illuminate the front portion of the main body.
US08353605B2	Wireless network apparatus capable of illumination A wireless network apparatus capable of illumination includes a casing, a motherboard, a prompting unit, and a light emitting unit. The casing has a light permeable portion. The motherboard is disposed in the casing for serving a networking function. The prompting unit is disposed at the motherboard and electrically connected thereto for generating a prompting signal in accordance with a status of the networking function being performed by the motherboard. The light emitting unit is disposed on the motherboard or in the casing and corresponds in position to the light permeable portion. The light emitting unit is powered by the motherboard and configured to emit light passing through the light permeable portion, thereby serving a lighting function. Accordingly, the wireless network apparatus provides home illumination, increases the value-added, and boosts consumers' willingness to buy and install the wireless network apparatus.
US08353604B2	Illuminated cup holder assembly An illuminated cup holder assembly for a vehicle includes at least one side wall and a base wall together defining a cup holder recess. The base wall has a light transmissive portion. An illumination source is secured to an underside of the base wall for illuminating the cup holder recess through the light transmissive portion of the base wall.
US08353600B1	MEMS actuator assembly for optical switch A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator assembly includes a mirror and four actuators. Each actuator includes a lever pivotable about a fulcrum axis. The inner end of each lever is coupled to one side of the mirror. Force is applied to one outer end of the levers to move one side of the mirror, which positions the mirror in one of four positions. Force is applied to two outer ends of the levers to move two sides of the mirror, which positions the mirror in one of four additional positions.
US08353598B2	Display systems and methods for mobile devices Display systems and methods for mobile devices and mobile devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display system for a mobile device is provided. The mobile device is handheld and includes a primary display screen. The display system includes an auxiliary screen and a connecting device coupled to the auxiliary screen and attachable to the mobile device. An image from the mobile device is producible on the auxiliary screen. The display system is removable from the mobile device.
US08353595B2	Fundus camera A hand camera for photographing an eye fundus is provided. The camera consists of a tube (3c), a camera housing (3a, 3b), which camera housing is attached to one end (3d) of the tube in a light-tight way, a camera device (4) that is able to record images by means of a two-dimensional optical sensor or a photographical film and that is accommodated in the camera housing (3a, 3b), a telephoto lens (5) that is arranged in the beam path of the light that is reflected from the eye fundus, which is accommodated in the camera housing (3a, 3b), a wide-angle lens (2), which is arranged in the beam path of the light that is reflected from the eye fundus at the other end (3e) of the tube (3c), and a light supplying device (1) consisting of a homogeneous trans-luminescent material, wherein the light supplying device (1) is arranged with respect to the tube (3c) in such a way that for a sufficient approach of the other end (3e) of the tube (3c) to the eye to be examined the light supplying device touches the sclera of the eye, provided that the center of the wide-angle lens is aligned with the center of the pupil.
US08353590B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects liquid to be cured by receiving irradiation of an electromagnetic wave onto a medium; a provisional-curing irradiation section that emits a first electromagnetic wave to a dot formed on the medium by the liquid; and a main-curing irradiation section that emits a second electromagnetic wave, which has irradiation intensity higher than that of the first electromagnetic wave, to the dot to which the first electromagnetic wave is emitted. When the main-curing irradiation section emits the second electromagnetic wave, a dot forming surface of the medium faces the lower side in the direction of gravity.
US08353588B2	Drawing device A drawing device includes a carriage, a base configured and arranged to mount a substrate, and a movement device configured and arranged to move the substrate and the carriage relative to each other in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The carriage includes a plurality of types of droplet ejection head units and a plurality of ink-curing light irradiation sections. The droplet ejection head units are configured and arranged to respectively eject a plurality of types of photo-curing inks onto the substrate with the droplet ejection head units being aligned along a direction intersecting the second direction at a predetermined pitch. The ink-curing light irradiation sections are respectively disposed in positions adjacent to both sides of each of the droplet ejection head units in the second direction, and configured and arranged to cure the photo-curing inks.
US08353586B2	Ink jet printer, ink jet recording method, and recorded matter The present invention provides an ink jet printer having storage for storing ink, a recording head including a nozzle for ejecting ink, and a passage between the storage and the recording head for conducting the ink. At least one of these components comprising an ink-contacting member that comprises an antioxidant of the following formula (1) of a concentration of 100 ppm or less: Further, an ink jet recording method using the ink jet printer causes such printer to eject droplets of an ink composition and attach the droplets to a recording medium.
US08353580B2	Liquid ejection head A liquid ejection head including: a channel unit having pressure chambers, ejection openings, and liquid channels; and an actuator unit including a piezoelectric layer and individual electrodes formed on a face of the piezoelectric layer, the actuator unit being configured to apply a drive voltage to the individual electrodes, wherein each of the individual electrodes includes: a land to which the drive voltage is applied; a main portion disposed such that an entire area thereof is opposite to a corresponding one of the pressure chambers in a direction perpendicular to the face of the piezoelectric layer; an extended portion extending, in an extending direction in which the extended portion extends, from the main portion toward the land along the face so as to connect the main portion and the land; and a dummy extended portion extending from the main portion along the face in an opposite direction opposite to the extending direction.
US08353576B2	Liquid discharge head and electric wiring substrate A liquid discharge head includes a recording element substrate having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, and a plurality of recording elements for generating energy to discharge liquid, and an electric wiring substrate electrically connecting the recording element substrate and a driving circuit substrate having a circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements, the electric wiring substrate having a plurality of first electrical contact groups including a plurality of electrical contacts, for electrically connecting with the driving circuit substrate, provided along a disposed direction in which the plurality of discharge ports are disposed. The plurality of first electrical contact groups are detachably attached to a plurality of second electrical contact groups electrically connected with the driving circuit substrate, such that adjacent first electrical contact groups do not overlap each other in the disposed direction and in a direction orthogonal to the disposed direction.
US08353571B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for manufacturing liquid ejecting apparatus A printer apparatus includes a drive circuit and a flexible board on which the drive circuit is mounted. A first input line and a second input line for inputting a driving signal respectively to the drive circuit and an actuator are provided on the flexible board. A thermistor that has a high resistance value with terminals provided therein being in an electrically disconnected state at a temperature not less than a predetermined temperature and has a low resistance value with the terminals being in an electrically connected state at a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature is provided between the first input line and the second input line.
US08353570B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle. A head movement section moves the liquid ejecting head in a movement direction. A controller controls a movement ejection operation that ejects the liquid from the nozzle while moving the liquid ejecting head in the movement direction. If there is satisfied a decision condition that indicates that the ejection rate is excessive, the controller causes the number movement ejection operations related to a certain range to be larger than if the decision condition were not satisfied. With respect to second liquid being higher in viscosity than first liquid, the controller determines the number movement ejection operations related to the above-mentioned certain range by the above-mentioned decision condition determined as excess of the above-mentioned ejection rate at an ejection rate being smaller than that of the first liquid.
US08353563B2	Roller extraction guide A roller pull-out guide pulls out a furniture part from a furniture body in a pull-out direction and slides the furniture part into the furniture body in a slide-in direction. The guide includes at least one guide rail and at least one roller guided in this guide rail as well as a self-retraction device with a spring-loaded, tiltably and displaceably supported tilt slide for retracting the furniture part in the slide-in direction. The tilt slide includes a claw which engages on the roller for the retraction of the furniture part in the slide-in direction.
US08353561B2	Operating lever structure for vehicle seat, and method of manufacturing operating lever structure In an operating lever structure for a vehicle seat in which an opening through which a seat belt extends is provided adjacent to a seat cushion lifting and lowering mechanism and a fixed end portion of the seat belt is connected to a seat cushion frame, a lifter lever includes a plate-like extending portion that is coupled to the lifting and lowering mechanism and a protrusion portion. The plate-like extending portion extends toward a front of the seat. The protrusion portion extends from the front end of the plate-like extending portion toward the outside in the seat width direction. The protrusion portion protrudes from an outer shield through a first exposing port of the outer shield, installed to a side portion of the seat cushion.
US08353557B2	Movable wind deflector A movable wind deflector assembly for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle comprises at least one pivoting wind deflector arm that with a first end is pivotally connected to the vehicle at a hinge point and at its opposite second end carries a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The wind deflector assembly further comprises an operating mechanism for moving the wind deflector arm and wind deflector body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
US08353553B2	Actuation means for a rotatably supported flap in an automobile comprising a push-push kinematics A drive for actuating a flap pivotably supported in or on an automobile includes a push-push kinematics. The kinematics includes a pushbar axially displaceably supported in a housing and having an external actuation end cooperating with the flap. A rotatable ring encloses the pushbar. A groove runs parallel to the pushbar axis and engages with a protrusion at the inner circumference of the ring. A first deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion of the ring to rotate this ring when the pushbar is pushed into the housing. A locking recess situated at the pushbar for receiving the protrusion when the pushbar is released, to lock the pushbar in the housing. A second deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion when the pushbar is moved out of the locked position by being pushed farther into the housing.
US08353552B2	Vehicle seat with striker mechanism A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a seat back, and a striker. The seat back connects with the seat base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The striker is moveable in a linear direction between a retracted position where the striker is disposed in the seat back and an extended position where the striker extends from the seat back for engaging an associated latch. Movement of the seat back in a first direction, which is toward the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the retracted position. Movement of the seat back in a second direction, which is away from the seat base, results in the striker moving toward the extended position.
US08353546B1	Apparatus for opening doors A device for assisting a disabled person to open and close and to lock or unlock doors. The device includes a coated metal hook equipped with a silicon strip attached to a rod with a lock opener attached to the opposite end from the hook. The person using the device can open doors by placing the hook over the door knob and rotating the rod and pulls or pushes to open the door from a preferred distance.
US08353535B2	Skate with pivoting rocker and replaceable blade A replaceable blade ice skate (9) comprising a holder (2), a blade system having at least one blade engagement portion (11) and a blade (4, 52), at least one attachment device (5) mounted to the holder for movement between a blade securing position and a blade releasing position. The attachment device having an attachment engagement portion (6), wherein the blade system is retained in the holder via the blade engagement portion detachably mating with the attachment engagement portion when the attachment device is in the blade securing position. The blade system further comprising a downward facing rocker (3) and a flexible replaceable blade (4) which conforms to the first defined curvature of the rocker when mounted thereon.
US08353534B2	Vehicle having utility bed and passenger restraint assembly A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, and a passenger restraint assembly. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame and includes a bed floor, a side wall, and a rear scat. The passenger restraint assembly includes a securing member, a belt and a retractor. The securing member is coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat. The belt includes a first end; a second end, and a securing portion. The securing portion is configured for selective engagement with the securing member. The retractor is coupled with the side wall. The retractor includes a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt.
US08353530B2	Inflatable airbag assemblies with anti-slip patches Inflatable curtain airbags can be used to mitigate the likelihood of an occupant being ejected from a vehicle through a side window. Inflatable curtain airbags are typically tethered to a vehicle structure on a car-forward side, but may not be tethered to a vehicle structure on their car-rearward side. Increased friction between the car-rearward side of the airbag and an adjacent vehicle structure can be used to help the airbag say in place, and thereby decrease the likelihood of an occupant passing the airbag and being ejected from the vehicle.
US08353525B2	Pyrotechnic tether release assembly with a break-away piston for inflatable airbags A depth to which an inflatable airbag can deploy may be varied by internal tethers. If the tethers are coupled to a release assembly, then in an unreleased state, the tethers can limit the depth of airbag deployment; however, if the tethers are released, the airbag can deploy of a full depth.
US08353522B2	Towing assembly The present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road.
US08353517B2	Late bet baccarat Among other things, enabling late bets in a game of Baccarat includes accepting a first bet from one or more participants. Two cards are dealt to each of a player position and a bank position. A player position score and a bank position score are determined based on the two cards dealt to each of the player position and the two cards dealt to the bank position. Based on the determined scores for the player position and the bank position, a determination is made on whether to deal a third card to at least one of the player position and the bank position.
US08353511B2	Paper discharge device A paper discharge device includes a waiting path, one side of which is connected to an input port and another side of which is connected to a discharge port. A collection path has one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms disposed along the waiting path convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after conveyance of the paper to the discharge port, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. The waiting path has a downward curvature between the merged portion and the discharge port.
US08353510B2	Variable media feed system and printhead apparatus A print media feed system for media of variable thickness having a slanted loading platform with drive wheels to direct print media to a feed zone having a belt system and hanging friction wheels to draw out single print medium of varying thickness and feed the medium to a print zone for a ink jet, laser or other printer wherein the print zone includes a floating deck to maintain a constant clearance distance between the printhead and the print medium.
US08353507B2	Sheet feeding device Occurrence of improper sheet-feeding of sheets is reduced. A sheet stacking section is lifted by an amount that is larger when a sheet-feed retry is performed than when an ordinary lifting operation is performed.
US08353504B2	Sheet folding apparatus A sheet folding apparatus includes a blade member having an edge configured to push a surface of a sheet so as to push the sheet into a sheet folding unit configured to fold the sheet, a pair of nipping members that is included in the sheet folding unit and nips the sheet pushed into the sheet folding unit by the blade member, a blade member moving unit that moves the blade member and a nipping member moving unit that moves the pair of nipping members. The blade member moving unit and the nipping member moving unit are driven by the same driving unit.
US08353500B2	Pre-manufactured fence system A pre-manufactured fence system is constructed of horizontal rails, posts that form a fence field surface or and area and pickets or panels that complete the field. The posts and rails are hollow extruded members of polymer or metal material that are interconnected by bracket members that fit within bracket compartments of the rails. Bracket bar members are connected with the bracket members and are received within key-ways of the posts to properly position the rails with respect to the posts. The extruded components perform fence component positioning and establish pre-determined dimensioning and locations of the accompanying parts and pieces of the complete fence system and provide for component attachment that is not visible when the fence installation is completed.
US08353494B2	Mounting appratus for slide rail A mounting apparatus is provided for mounting a slide rail to a rack post defining a plurality of through holes. The mounting apparatus includes a supporting bracket slidably mounted to the slide rail, and a resilient latch member. The supporting bracket includes an end plate at the front end with two inserting pins extending from a front surface of the end plate and engaged in corresponding through holes of the rack post. The latch member includes a middle plate retained to the supporting bracket, and a latch arm extending forwards. The latch member is operable to be deformed to make the latch arm abut a front surface of the rack post, to prevent the inserting pin from retracting from corresponding through holes.
US08353492B2	Equipment enclosure kit and assembly method An equipment enclosure for housing electronic components includes a front assembly having a front frame, the front assembly defining a front of the enclosure, and a rear assembly having a rear frame. The enclosure further includes at least two side brace members, each side brace member having a first end and a second, opposite end. A first connector is configured to releasably connect the first end of one of the side brace members to the front frame. A second connector is configured to releasably connect the second end of the one of the side brace members to the rear frame. Other embodiments and methods are further disclosed.
US08353490B2	Device for attaching electronic components to flat-screen television Bracket for attachment to a flat-screen television having a support platform for positioning electronic components below the television. The caddy comprises top support brackets which hook over the top of the television or over the television wall mount bracket and has a horizontal member abutting the top of the television, and front vertical extension member that extends down in front of the television. Extending down from the top support brackets are side vertical bars in back of the television. Attached to the bottom of the side vertical bars are horizontal bottom support brackets upon which the television sits. The electronic component support platform is attached to the bottom of the two vertical bottom side bars which includes lateral and perpendicular support bars which function to support the electronic components. Many of the bars telescope allowing its use with a variety of sized televisions and electronic components of varying sizes.
US08353486B2	Lateral seismic brace A sway brace fitting clamp is used for lateral bracing of sprinkler or other types of pipe (designated the service pipe) to a structure, to prevent movement of the service pipe perpendicular to the axis of a sway brace relative to the structure to which it is attached. The sway brace fitting clamp includes a body which fits around the service pipe, and a pair of hooks that are coupled to the body, for hooking the sway brace. The nuts may be tightened to pull the sway brace into contact with the service pipe, or otherwise firmly clamping the sway brace and the service pipe together.
US08353484B2	Cockpit rudder control mechanism for an aircraft A cockpit rudder control mechanism is described for accepting aircraft control input utilizing rudder pedals depending from a movable carriage to rotate a shaft. The mechanism may be removed from the aircraft for maintenance and the position of the mechanism within the aircraft may be adjusted for a particular user. Movement of the rudder pedals is conveyed by linkages to a collar which rotates a shaft. The rotation of the shaft is measured for control input to the aircraft or is transferred to the mechanical control systems for the aircraft.
US08353480B2	Concentric peripheral canopy parachute A concentric peripheral canopy parachute having a canopy system including a number of peripheral, stacked, concentric, canopies, each superior canopy centered and spaced above the inferior canopy and having its skirt connected to the vent of the inferior canopy for generating an increased low pressure disturbance behind the canopy system for producing higher fluid drag.
US08353474B2	Food processing system Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments can be quickly and conveniently used to dry, grind, mill, dispense, or otherwise process foodstuff.
US08353471B2	Method of producing a frame unit A method of producing a foundation bed (1) for a granulator mill includes the steps that the foundation bed is cast from a plastic- or concrete based casting material in a mold (13) manufactured from thin sheet metal, the mold being given surfaces (16) for cooperation with a granulator mill housing (2) with high precision. In order to avoid after-treatment of the surfaces (16) of the mold intended for cooperation with the granulator mill housing, these surfaces are clamped during the casting process against a common, configurationally stable clamping member.
US08353470B2	Power-assisted docking station for mobile irrigation apparatus A mobile irrigation apparatus includes a frame assembly supporting at least one sprinkler and adapted for movement in a first direction along a path in a field to be irrigated; a docking station suspended from the frame assembly and adapted to engage and open one or more supply valves in a hydrant located in or adjacent the path for movement in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction, and at least one power actuator arranged to move the docking station in the second direction in response to at least one sensor to thereby facilitate lateral alignment of the docking station with the hydrant.
US08353463B2	Methods and apparatus for heating air with hot water A method controls an air handler that generates heated air from hot water generated by a water heater. The method includes generating a signal in the presence or absence of an indicia of water flow associated with the water heater; initiating operation of a pump associated with the air handler when the signal indicates that water flow associated with the water heater is at least at a selected level to supply hot water to the air handler sufficient to generate heated air; and/or terminating operation of the pump and/or a blower/fan associated with the air handler when the presence or absence signal indicates that the water flow associated with the water heater is less than the selected level.
US08353460B2	Reset signal generation circuit and semiconductor device An object is to provide a reset signal generation circuit which has a simple circuit configuration without hysteresis characteristics so as not to occupy a larger area, and is resistant to noise and can surely generate a power-on reset signal; and to provide a semiconductor device including the reset signal generation circuit. The reset signal generation circuit includes a first buffer circuit, a low pass filter, a resistor, and a second buffer circuit. An output terminal of the first buffer circuit is electrically connected to an input terminal of the low pass filter. An output terminal of the low pass filter is electrically connected to one terminal of the resistor and an input terminal of the second buffer circuit. A constant potential is supplied to the other terminal of the resistor.
US08353459B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same It is an object of the present invention to suppress poor connection or increase in contact resistance even in the case where an antenna is formed over an integrated circuit portion. An integrated circuit portion having a first conductive film is formed over a substrate, an insulating film is formed over the integrated circuit portion, a second conductive film serving as an antenna is formed over the insulating film, an opening is formed in the insulating film and the second conductive film to expose the first conductive film, and a third conductive film is formed in the opening and over a top surface of the second conductive film by a plating process to electrically connect the first conductive film and the second conductive film.
US08353454B2	Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.
US08353453B2	Electronic voting method and apparatus The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for electronic voting performed in response to insertion of an electronic ballot by a voter into an electronic voting machine. The method includes storing candidate information in a candidate database, issuing an electronic ballot by a ballot dispenser in response to a ballot issuance request of a voter, displaying by the electronic voting machine a list of candidates from the candidate database when the electronic ballot is inserted into the electronic voting machine, and printing by a printer vote data related to a selected candidate on the electronic ballot, followed by dispensing the printed electronic ballot when the voter selects the candidate whom the voter wishes to vote from among the list of candidates. The electronic ballot is printed with a barcode corresponding to vote information containing at least one of data for authentication, precinct ID and polling place ID.
US08353451B2	Transaction apparatus, systems and methods Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to alternative kinds of transactions, which do not involve payment using only cash or a token device such as a smart card or chip and PIN card. In some embodiments, transactions involve a customer providing token-less transaction authentication information using customer interface means (150) that is adapted to receive, from a customer, in a first mode of operation, PIN or other token device authentication information, for use in a token device transaction, and token-less transaction authentication information, when operating in another mode of operation. In some embodiments, the customer interface means may be a specially-adapted chip and PIN card reader apparatus. Accordingly, such a customer input means facilitates manual input by a customer of voucher, coupon, accrued loyalty points, Air Miles, ticket or pass authentication information, without the need for a retailer to install new equipment or IT infrastructure.
US08353443B2	Device and method for cooling rail weld zone A device for cooling a rail weld zone according to the invention includes a first cooler cooling a head portion of the rail weld zone, a second cooler cooling a rail web portion of the rail weld zone, and a control section controlling the first and second coolers. The first cooler includes a first temperature detecting section that detects the temperature of the head portion, and a first ejection section that ejects a first cooling fluid to the head portion. The second cooler includes a second temperature detecting section that detects the temperature of the rail web portion, and a second ejection section that ejects a second cooling fluid to the rail web portion. The control section individually changes the kinds, the flow rates, and the flow velocities of the first and second cooling fluids while cooling the head portion and the rail web portion.
US08353438B2	Circular stapler introducer with rigid cap assembly configured for easy removal Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise a hollow flexible sheath that has a distal end and an open proximal end that is sized to receive a stapling head portion of the circular stapler therein. A rigid cap assembly may be attached to the distal end of the hollow flexible sheath The rigid cap assembly may be configured to selectively move between a closed position wherein a distal face of the stapling head is covered and an open position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed. A portion of the rigid cap assembly has a shape that substantially matches a perimetrical shape of a portion of the stapling head to enable the rigid cap assembly to pass proximally over the stapling head when the introducer is withdrawn from the patient.
US08353435B2	Multistage solenoid fastening tool with decreased energy consumption and increased driving force A fastening device that drives one or more fasteners into a workpiece generally includes a tool housing and a multistage solenoid contained in the tool housing. The multistage solenoid includes an armature member that travels through at least a first stage, a second stage, and a sense coil disposed therebetween. A driver blade assembly includes a blade member connected to the armature member. The driver blade assembly is operable between an extended condition and a retracted condition. A control module determines a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage and the second stage based on a signal from the sense coil. The control module adjusts a force imparted on the armature by at least one of the first stage, the second stage, and a combination thereof based on the signal from the sense coil.
US08353431B2	Spray bottle suction straw diversion device A spray bottle that has a Suction Straw Diversion Device (SSDD) that diverts or directs the sprayer pump suction straw towards the perimeter of the bottle. This can be accomplished through the use of a protrusion, bar, tube, rail, plate, hook or any other device built into the bottle that will keep the suction straw diverted to the perimeter of the bottle and in the liquid thus allowing it to be dispensed.
US08353428B2	Volumetric metering fitment and package including the same A package including a fitment for holding a liquid therein to dispense the liquid and the fitment itself. The fitment is a metering dispensing valve arranged to be secured to a flexible bag for selectively dispensing a metered quantity of the liquid therefrom. It includes a piercing member for piercing through the bag to provide access to the interior of the bag and a compressible bulb having a reservoir in it. The dispensing valve also includes an inlet valve to the reservoir and an outlet valve from the reservoir. The bulb is arranged to be compressed and then released to enable a metered amount of the liquid to be drawn into a reservoir. The bulb can then be compressed again to dispense the metered amount of liquid from the reservoir through the outlet valve to the outlet.
US08353426B2	Gas generation dispenser method for on-demand fluid delivery A method of dispensing a fluid comprising generating a gas from a liquid, directing the gas to an expandable gas chamber to expand a volume of the expandable gas chamber, reducing a volume of a fluid chamber in response to expansion of the expandable gas chamber to dispense an amount of the fluid from the fluid chamber, and removing the gas from the expandable gas chamber to collapse the expandable gas chamber.
US08353425B2	Time delay product pushing system A system for controlled advancement of product. Systems of this invention includes a pushing system having a track, a pusher, and an optional resistance mechanism. The resistance mechanism couples to the track and the pusher, controlling forward movement of the pusher along the track and thereby controlling the speed at which product is advanced for access by the consumer. Certain embodiments of the invention include additional mechanisms to further limit the forward progression of the pusher along the track, such as a stop mechanism or an indexing mechanism.
US08353424B2	Component feeder A component feeder capable of enhancing productivity is provided by that the component feeder includes a tape feeding device intermittently feeding a component housing tape constituted of a carrier tape having component housing parts formed with predetermined interval to contain respective electronic components, and a cover tape covering the component housing parts to prevent the components from jumping out from the component housing parts while the component housing tape wound on a housing tape reel is sequentially fed to a component extracting position, and an electronic component exposing device exposing the electronic components in the component housing parts to be allowed to be extracted, wherein the tape feeding device is constituted of a first feeding device and a second feeding device, and the electronic component exposing device is provided between the first feeding device and the second feeding device.
US08353419B2	Lockable cap A lockable cap assembly including a handle having at least one protrusion, and a flip cap defining an internal chamber surrounded by a flip cap edge. The flip cap including at least one locking groove configured to engage the at least one protrusion, and an engagement surface. The lockable cap also including a collar having a release mechanism for engaging with the engagement surface. The flip cap being moveable between an open configuration in which a portion of the flip cap edge is not in contact with a surface of the collar and a closed configuration in which the flip cap edge is in full contact with the collar.
US08353418B2	Pressure relief cap A pressure relief cap engageable with a container includes a vent passage between an interior of the cap and an exterior of the cap. A two-way pressure relief valve is located along the vent passage and is configured to open automatically in response to a positive net interior pressure exceeding a first threshold pressure and in response to a negative net interior pressure exceeding a second threshold pressure. A manual actuator is actuable from the exterior of the cap to open the two-way pressure relief valve. A plug is positioned along the vent passage in series with the two-way pressure relief valve, movable between a first position in which the vent passage is open between the two-way pressure relief valve and the exterior of the cap and a second position in which the plug closes the vent passage between the two-way pressure relief valve and the exterior of the cap.
US08353416B2	Bottom-dumping flexible debris container In a non-limiting, illustrative embodiment a bottom-dumping flexible debris container includes a top section including flexible side members. A bottom section includes flexible bottom members that are hingedly attached to the flexible side members of the top section. A release mechanism is configured to releasably attach the flexible bottom members to each other.
US08353415B2	Synthetic resin bottle A biaxially stretched, blow molded synthetic resin bottle with a bottom comprising a sunken bottom portion, which is formed by contouring and concaving the bottom plate upward in a direction of bottle inside, starting from an inner edge of a ground contact portion disposed along the peripheral foot, the sunken bottom portion being capable of drawing upward in a reversible manner, when internal pressure goes down.
US08353407B2	Apparatus and method for making wire screen A method of making a screen with an apparatus, the screen including a plurality of wires arranged in a patterned configuration, the apparatus including an extruder and a mold, the method including (a) longitudinally aligning the plurality of wires in the apparatus in a first direction only and arranging the wires in the patterned configuration, (b) applying a first bead of molten material on the wires via the extruder, and (c) directly molding the first bead of molten material into a support member for the screen by closing the mold about the bead, wherein the support member at least partially encases at least one of the wires.
US08353405B2	Reverse froth flotation of calcite ore The invention relates to a reverse froth flotation process for treating a calcium carbonate ore containing silicates. The process comprises the use of two collectors selected from the group consisting of fatty tri-lower-alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty di-lower-alkyl benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty lower-alkyl di-benzyl quaternary ammonium compounds, di-fatty di-lower-alkyl quats, di-fatty lower-alkyl benzyl quats, and fatty bis-imidazoline quats. The use of a combination of different quats was found to result in a synergetic performance of the collectors.
US08353402B2	Stackable low depth tray A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A plurality of interior columns extend upwardly between the base walls. Longitudinal dividers connect the interior columns. Lateral dividers connect the interior columns to side columns along side edges of the tray. The side columns have tapered mid-portions, such that upwardly-opening windows between side columns are contoured convexly.
US08353399B2	Preparation-at-use device comprising pre-formed hydrogel product Disclosed is a preparation-at-use device comprising: (1) a pre-formed hydrogel component packaged in a first compartment; the pre-formed hydrogel component comprising a gelling agent and a solvent; and (2) a benefit component packaged in a second compartment; the benefit component comprising at least one compound that is unstable when contacted with the pre-formed hydrogel component; wherein the first and second compartments are separately packaged prior to use, and wherein the device comprises means for contacting the pre-formed hydrogel component and benefit component upon use.
US08353398B2	Package for beverage-type containers A package for holding a plurality of articles. The package has panels that cooperate to at least partially form an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one opening is in the top panel for at least partially receiving at least a portion of one of the articles. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the top panel adjacent the at least one opening. The at least one retention flap has a free edge for engaging at least one article of the plurality of articles. The at least one retention flap is at least partially defined by at least one J-shaped cut.
US08353393B2	Operator interface controllable brake with field responsive material A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever. The operator input device includes an interface lever controllable brake coupled to the operator interface lever, and a brake controller coupled to the sensor system for receiving the operator interface mechanism position signal and with the brake controller coupled to the brake for responsively transmitting a plurality of brake signals to the brake with the operator interface lever controllable brake responsively providing resistive braking forces to the operator interface lever for opposing a force applied to the operator interface lever by the operator, the operator interface lever controllable brake providing the resistive braking forces in response to controller brake signals, with the brake controller providing a first background force signal followed with a second below background force drop signal followed with a third above background stop force signal wherein the operator is provided with a mechanical detent sensation at a target lever location.
US08353390B2	Splash shield for brake corner assembly A brake corner assembly includes a steering knuckle fixed against rotation, a rotary member including a outer surface, and a shield secured to the steering knuckle and including a ring including a sealing surface located adjacent to the outer surface, the sealing surface having a first diameter that is substantially equal to a second diameter of a portion of the outer surface that is adjacent to the sealing surface.
US08353385B1	Decorative end-cap for motor vehicle exhaust system An exhaust pipe end-cap that includes an annulus having an annular leading edge and an annular trailing edge, an annular interior surface having a frusto-conical shape for mating with an exterior frusto-conical shape of an exterior surface of an exhaust system, an outer surface on said annulus for carrying a decorative design thereon, and a fastener located on the annular interior surface for securing the exhaust end-cap to the exterior surface of the exhaust system.
US08353384B2	Method and apparatus for a loudspeaker assembly A loudspeaker assembly is provided. In one or more embodiments the loudspeaker assembly comprises a perforated grille, a three dimensional loudspeaker frame to which a speaker driver is mounted, and a rear baffle. In one or more embodiments, the loudspeaker frame and rear baffle define a controlled volume around the speaker driver. In one or more embodiments the controlled volume comprises a driver cavity and a horn cavity in communication with the driver cavity and a port aperture.
US08353383B2	Water motion powered seismic energy source and method for seismic surveying therewith A seismic energy source includes an inlet aperture and an inlet pipe in fluid communication with an outlet of the inlet aperture at an inlet end of the inlet pipe. The inlet pipe is in fluid communication with an accumulator at an outlet end of the inlet pipe. An outlet pipe is in fluid communication with the accumulator at an inlet end of the outlet pipe and is connected to an outlet valve at an outlet end of the outlet pipe. The outlet valve is actuated by fluid pressure in the outlet pipe. An actuation pressure of the valve, and diameter, length and material properties of the outlet pipe are selected to cause a reflected water pressure wave resulting from closure of the valve to travel within the outlet pipe at a selected velocity. Motion of the seismic source through the water provides water pressure to operate the source.
US08353382B2	Steering valve having a planetary gear train A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic.
US08353379B2	Optionally connectable four-wheel drive vehicle An optionally connectable four-wheel drive vehicle having: an engine having a drive shaft; two main drive wheels; a main power train permanently connecting the drive shaft to the main drive wheels and, in turn, having a transmission and a main differential; two normally driven secondary drive wheels; an optionally connectable secondary power train for also connecting the drive shaft to the secondary drive wheels, a gear drive with at least two different, alternatively selectable velocity ratios, and at least one secondary clutch, which is connected on one side to the drive shaft upstream from the transmission and on the other side to the secondary drive wheels.
US08353377B2	Steering cylinder mounting arrangement used with a length-adjustable axle A windrower having an adjustable axle to vary a width of steerable caster-mounted rear wheels operably connected by right and left steering cylinders mounted to right and left reaction arms pivoted to respective rods coupled to steering arms fixed to respective spindles mounted within a cylindrical receptacle at outer ends of the adjustable axle. One embodiment each reaction arm has a bracket coupled to a fixed portion of the rear axle when telescopic end sections of the axle are in a narrow width position, and selectively mounted to outer ends of the telescopic end sections of the axle when in a wide width position. A second embodiment has the reaction arms mounted to spindle receptacles at outer ends of the axle sections to provide the reaction arms with an infinite number of angular positions about the spindle receptacles for different tread widths of the steered rear wheels.
US08353375B2	Direct drive electric traction motor A direct drive traction vehicle motor system for a wheeled vehicle includes an electric motor rotor for mechanically attachment to a vehicle wheel for rotational movement with the vehicle wheel. An attachment structure is concentrically mounting the rotor to the vehicle wheel. An electric motor stator is mounted in a concentric relationship with the rotor. A mechanical structure is coupled between the vehicle and the stator for inhibiting rotation of the stator. An electric drive circuit is electrically coupled to the motor stator for exciting the motor stator to impart a rotational force on the vehicle wheel through the rotor.
US08353372B2	Tracked vehicle A tracked vehicle, particularly a piste grooming vehicle, comprising a chassis frame and at least one sprocket for a track is characterized in that the sprocket has limited movement between a working position—in which the sprocket protrudes beyond the chassis frame—and a transit position in which the sprocket is located at least partially, preferably totally, within the width of the chassis frame.
US08353367B2	Methods of using a particle impact drilling system for removing near-borehole damage, milling objects in a wellbore, under reaming, coring perforating, assisting annular flow, and associated methods A particle impact drilling system and method are described. In several exemplary embodiments, the system and method may be a part of, and/or used with, an apparatus or system, methods, to excavate a subterranean formation. The system can including, for example, removing near-borehole damage, casing, window milling, fishing, drilling with casing, under reaming, coring, perforating, effective circulatory density management, assisted annular flow, and directional control. Embodiments of associated systems and methods are also included.
US08353362B2	Battery pack-operated hand-guided power tool with throttle lever A hand-held power tool has a device housing and at least one grip disposed on the device housing. An electric drive motor is arranged in the device housing for operating a working tool. A battery pack provides electric energy for operating the electric drive motor. An electronic control unit is connected to the electric drive motor and the battery pack. An operating element disposed on the grip controls the electric drive motor. An electric actuator is acted upon by the operating element and the output signal of the electric actuator is supplied to the electronic control unit. Electric energy is applied to the electric drive motor by the electronic control unit as a function of a position of the operating element, wherein in a first dead travel range of the operating element that adjoins an inoperative position of the operating element the supplied electric energy is zero.
US08353359B2	Apparatus and method for attaching a utility vehicle 3-point hitch to an implement bracket A connecting apparatus and method of using the apparatus provide for attaching an implement to a utility vehicle that has a 3-point hitch including lower lift arms and connecting arms attached to rockshaft arms. The attachment apparatus and corresponding method include a lift support attached to the lower lift arms of the 3-point hitch. This combination of the lift support and lower lift arms provides for the hydraulic positioning of the implement, so that the implement (and/or brackets attached to the implement) may be attached to the utility vehicle (and/or brackets attached to the utility vehicle) without removing the lower lift arms and connecting arms.
US08353357B2	Fire protection sprinkler with highly sensitive trigger A heat responsive trigger assembly for a fire protection sprinkler may include a first plate having a bottom face; a second plate including a top face engaging the bottom face; a thermally conductive member disposed between the top and bottom faces and extending beyond a perimeter of at least one of the first and second plates; and a heat fusible material securing the first and second plates in an engaged position. The first and second plates may disengage in response to the heat fusible material reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby allowing a fire suppressant to discharge from the sprinkler.
US08353355B2	Drill string/annulus sealing with swellable materials A well system can include a drill string having a drill bit at an end thereof, and a swellable seal exposed to fluid in an annulus external to the drill string. The swellable seal can include a swellable material which swells in response to the fluid comprising a predetermined activating agent. A method of preventing undesired release of fluid from a wellbore can include displacing a drill string through the wellbore, thereby drilling the wellbore, and installing in the wellbore a swellable seal which, in response to the fluid comprising a predetermined activating agent, reduces flow through an annulus formed radially between the drill string and the wellbore. Another well system can include a swellable seal carried into a wellbore on a drill string, with the swellable seal including a swellable material which swells in response to a fluid in the wellbore comprising a predetermined activating agent.
US08353352B2	Switch mechanisms that allow a single power cable to supply electrical power to two or more downhole electrical motors alternatively and methods associated therewith A switch mechanism is provided for inclusion in a downhole production string located in a wellbore. The switch mechanism includes an electrical power input and at least two electrical power outputs. In addition, the switch mechanism includes an actuator mechanism which is capable of being actuated from a position remote from the wellbore to selectively move between at least two positions. The movement thereby provides a selective electrical connection between the input and one of the outputs when the actuator is in one of the at least two positions.

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