最新美国发明专利第2014-02-25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
US08658606B2	Antibacterial aminoglycoside analogs Compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, Q3, R1, R2 or R3 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.
US08658605B2	Bioactivity composition of Reevesia formosana A series cardenolide derivatives including structure of formula I from the root of Reevesia formosana have provided. In formula (1) and (2), where R3, R5, R10 and R16 are as defined in the specification. The derivatives compounds showed potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and HepG2 cancer cell lines.
US08658604B2	Template-fixed beta-hairpin peptidomimetics with protease inhibitory activity Template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formulae wherein Z is a chain of 11 α-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain (counted starting from the N-terminal amino acid) are Gly, or Pro, or Pro(4NHCOPhe), or of certain types which, as the remaining symbols in the above formula, are defined in the description and the claims, and salts thereof, have the property to inhibit proteases, in particular serine proteases, especially Cathepsin G or Elastase or Tryptase. These β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be manufactured by processes which are based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy.
US08658603B2	Compositions and methods for inducing an immune response The present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing an immune response in a subject. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising immunostimulatory ligands (ISL) and methods of inducing an immune response in a subject therewith. Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in, among other things, clinical (e.g. therapeutic and preventative medicine (e.g., vaccination)) and research applications.
US08658596B2	Biglycan and related therapeutics and methods of use The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Examples of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.
US08658593B2	Treatment of extracellular matrix to reduce inflammation Pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a compound comprising the hyaluronan-containing structure A-(low molecular weight hyaluronan domain)-B. The compositions also comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. A is hydrogen, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene-6 (“TSG-6”) protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. B is hydroxyl, a substituent that does not comprise a binding site for TSG-6 protein, a substituent that interferes with binding of TSG-6 protein immediately adjacent thereto, or chondroitin. The composition is suitable for administration by injection, inhalation, topical rub, or ingestion. Also disclosed are methods and kits for treating a site of inflammation in an individual in need thereof and for decreasing heavy chain modification of pathological hyaluronan at a site of inflammation in an individual in need thereof based on administering the compounds or the compositions.
US08658592B2	Biologically active peptides and their new uses Novel peptides are disclosed with their use as a pharmaceutical composition. A method is also disclosed for making pharmaceutical compositions and treatment of an individual.
US08658589B2	Fatty acyl amido based surfactant concentrates A surfactant concentrate is provided that includes C8-C22 acyl amido compounds, a polyol and C8-C22 fatty acids. The concentrate is formed via an interesterification reaction between a fatty acid ester and an amino compound or salt thereof in a polyol. The resultant surfactant concentrate will have a Hunter Lab Color Scale value L ranging from 70 to 100.
US08658587B2	Container with a collapsible receptacle and a disinfectant composition A container has: a) a collapsible receptacle, the wall of which is designed flexibly such that the internal volume of the receptacle is adapted to the volume of a liquid contained therein, and which has an outlet with an outlet valve; and b) in the receptacle a disinfectant composition in the form of a solution with a content of aliphatic alcohol of at most 20% by weight. It is possible that the disinfectant composition is not contaminated with spores or other germs also after the container has been opened, even upon repeated discharge from the container.
US08658576B1	System, composition and method of application of same for reducing the coefficient of friction and required pulling force during installation of wire or cable A composition and method for reducing the coefficient of friction and required pulling force of a wire or cable are provided. A composition of aqueous emulsion is provided that is environmentally friendly, halogen free and solvent free. The composition is compatible with various types of insulating materials and may be applied after the wire or cable is cooled and also by spraying or submerging the wire or cable in a bath. The composition contains lubricating agents that provide lower coefficient of friction for wire or cable installation and continuous wire or cable surface lubrication thereafter.
US08658575B2	Composition of insulating fluid and process for the preparation thereof This invention provides a composition of insulating fluid and process for the preparation thereof that mainly contains alkyl benzenes. In addition to alkyl benzenes, the composition also contains an antioxidant, an antifoaming agent, a pour point dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor and a detergent-dispersant additive. The product of this invention has utility as an insulating fluid in electrical installations such as transformer.
US08658568B2	6-amino-2-substituted-5-vinylsilylpyrimidine-4-carboxylic acids and esters and 4-amino-6-substituted-3-vinylsilylpyridine-2-carboxylic acids and esters as herbicides 6-Amino-2-substituted-5-vinylsilylpyrimidine-4-carboxylates and 4-amino-6-substituted-3-vinylsilylpyridine-picolinates and their amine and acid derivatives are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US08658566B2	Composition and method for controlling plant diseases The present invention provides: a composition for controlling plant diseases comprising, as active ingredients, 4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl)amino]-butyric acid and ethaboxam; a method for controlling plant diseases which comprises applying effective amounts of 4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl)amino]-butyric acid and ethaboxam to a plant or soil for growing plant; and so on.
US08658564B2	Fungicide active ingredient combinations The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising the known fungicidally active compounds N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, metalaxyl and triazole (3), which are highly suitable for controlling unwanted phytopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the curative or preventive treatment of phytopathogenic fungi on plants or useful plants, in particular to the treatment of seed, for example seed of cereals, and not least to the treated seed itself.
US08658562B2	Method for hydrothermal preparation of metal-organic framework crystallised porous aluminium carboxylates The present invention relates to a method for hydrothermal preparation of a solid made up of a metal-organic framework (MOF) of crystallised, porous aluminium carboxylates, in an aqueous medium. The invention also relates to solids made up of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) of porous, crystallised aluminium carboxylates capable of being obtained by the method of the invention as well as to the uses thereof for the storage of liquid or gaseous molecules, for selective separation of gas and for catalysis.
US08658559B2	Implantation of Ni nano domains in refractory metal oxide support by means of sol-gel encapsulation—an effective solution to coke formation in the partial oxidation of natural gas A metal oxide-supported nickel catalyst includes a matrix containing a metal oxide and catalytic sites distributed throughout the matrix and having an intricate interface with the matrix, in which the catalytic sites are selected from the group consisting of nano-nickel(0) domains and nano-nickel(0)-A(0) alloy domains. Also disclosed are a method for preparing this catalyst and a method for using it to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen by partial oxidation of a C1-C5 hydrocarbon.
US08658557B2	Catalyst for n-butane oxidation to maleic anhydride A process for the preparation of a promoted VPO catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus and wherein the catalyst is promoted with at least one of niobium, cobalt, iron, zinc, molybdenum or titanium, said process comprising the steps of (i) preparing a VPO catalyst comprising vanadyl pyrophosphate as the major component and containing less than 5 wt % of vanadyl phosphate, (ii) contacting the VPO catalyst with a solution comprising a metal source compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, cobalt, iron, zinc, molybdenum or titanium to form a metal impregnated VPO catalyst, and (iii) drying the metal impregnated VPO catalyst to form the promoted VPO catalyst. In one embodiment, a niobium promoted VPO catalyst is prepared.
US08658555B1	Compositions comprising zirconium hydroxide and graphite oxide and methods for use Compositions and methods useful for removing toxic industrial compounds from air are disclosed, wherein said composition comprises a mixture of hydrous metal oxide and graphite oxide. In a most preferred embodiment the composition comprises a mixture of zirconium hydroxide and graphene oxide.
US08658554B2	Catalytic support for use in carbon dioxide hydrogenation reactions A catalyst support which may be used to support various catalysts for use in reactions for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide including a catalyst support material and an active material capable of catalyzing a reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction associated with the catalyst support material. A catalyst for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide may be supported on the catalyst support. A method for making a catalyst for use in hydrogenation of carbon dioxide including application of an active material capable of catalyzing a reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction to a catalyst support material, the coated catalyst support material is optionally calcined, and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide is deposited on the coated catalyst support material. A process for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide and for making syngas comprising a hydrocarbon, esp. methane, reforming step and a RWGS step which employs the catalyst composition of the present invention and products thereof.
US08658553B2	Catalytic composition and process for the transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons A catalytic composition for transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons which contains a zeolite and an inorganic binder and has an extra-zeolitic porosity higher than or equal to 0.7 cc/g for a fraction of pores of which at least 30% have a diameter greater than 100 nanometers. A catalytic composition having a crushing strength not lower than 1.7 kg/mm and an apparent density not higher than 0.5 g/cc. A process for transalkylating polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons using a catalytic composition.
US08658552B2	Chromia-containing refractory A high-chromia refractory, comprised of: about 60% to about 99% by weight of refractory grain, wherein the refractory grain is comprised of grains having about 20% to 100% by weight chromia; 0% to about 35% by weight of a fine particulate, the fine particulate selected from chromic oxide, alumina, ceria, yttria, lanthanum oxide, or combinations thereof; and about 1% to about 8% of a liquid resin or pitch.
US08658551B2	Creep-resistant zircon article and method of manufacturing same A creep-resistant zircon article and a method of manufacturing the creep-resistant zircon article are described herein. In one example, the creep-resistant zircon article has the shape of a forming apparatus (e.g., isopipe) which is used in the fusion process to manufacture glass sheets.
US08658550B2	Ceramic kneaded clay and usage thereof An oxide-ceramic forming clay comprising an oxide-ceramic forming material, a layered double hydroxide, a pore-forming agent, and water, wherein the amount of the pore-forming agent is between 3 and 50 parts by mass by superaddition to 100 parts by mass of a sum of the oxide-ceramic forming material and the layered double hydroxide and a sum of the pore-forming agent and an organic binder is between 5 and 55 parts by mass also by superaddition which has environment-friendly characteristics in a forming firing step, and usage thereof.
US08658548B2	Extremely high liquid barrier fabrics One embodiment of the present invention is a nonwoven fabric comprising a support web and a fibrous barrier web, having a hydrohead of at least about 145 cm and a Frazier permeability of at least about 0.3 m3/m2-min.
US08658547B2	Compositions for textile coatings The invention relates to compositions, containing (A) organopolysiloxanes, which have Si-bound hydroxy groups, (B) organopolysiloxanes, which have Si-bound hydrogen atoms, (C) platinum catalysts, (D) reinforcing fillers, (E) optionally non-reinforcing fillers, and (F) optionally inhibitors, which delay a platinum-catalyzed reaction of Si-bound hydroxy groups and Si-bound hydrogen atoms at room temperature, with the proviso that the organopolysiloxanes (A) have viscosities of 500 to 100,000,000 mPa·s at 25° C., that the platinum catalysts (C) are fame of phosphoric acid trisamide ligands, that the reinforcing fillers (D) are present in amounts of at least 3% by weight, relative to the total mass of the compositions, that the non-reinforcing fillers (F) are present in lower amounts than the reinforcing fillers (D), that the use of reactive silanes as bonding agents and the use of additional condensation catalysts, which accelerate the condensation reaction of Si-bound hydroxy groups and/or alkoxy groups, are excluded.
US08658546B2	Solution composition for forming oxide thin film and electronic device including the oxide thin film A solution composition for forming an oxide thin film may include a first compound including zinc, a second compound including indium, and a third compound including magnesium or hafnium, and an electronic device may include an oxide semiconductor including zinc, indium, and magnesium. The zinc and hafnium may be included at an atomic ratio of about 1:0.01 to about 1:1.
US08658543B2	Methods for pFET fabrication using APM solutions A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed that includes, in accordance with an embodiment, providing an integrated circuit comprising a p-type field effect transistor (pFET), recessing a surface region of the pFET using an ammonia-hydrogen peroxide-water (APM) solution to form a recessed pFET surface region, and depositing a silicon-based material channel on the recessed pFET surface region.
US08658539B2	Fin profile structure and method of making same A FinFET device may include a first semiconductor fin laterally adjacent a second semiconductor fin. The first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin may have profiles to minimize defects and deformation. The first semiconductor fin comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the first semiconductor fin may have a flared profile that is wider at the bottom than the upper portion of the first semiconductor fin. The second semiconductor fin comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the second semiconductor fin may have a flared profile that is wider than the upper portion of the second semiconductor fin, but less than the lower portion of the first semiconductor fin.
US08658534B2	Method for producing a semiconductor component, and semiconductor component In an insulation layer of an SOI substrate, a connection pad is arranged. A contact hole opening above the connection pad is provided on side walls and on the connection pad with a metallization that is contacted on top side with a top metal.
US08658532B2	Method and material for forming a double exposure lithography pattern Various lithography methods are disclosed. An exemplary lithography method includes forming a first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over a substrate by removing a first patterned resist layer, wherein the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer includes a first opening having a first dimension and a second opening having the first dimension, the first opening and the second opening exposing the substrate; forming a second patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer over the substrate by removing a second patterned resist layer, wherein a portion of the patterned second silicon-containing organic polymer layer combines with a portion of the first patterned silicon-containing organic polymer layer to reduce the first dimension of the second opening to a second dimension; and etching the substrate exposed by the first opening having the first dimension and the second opening having the second dimension.
US08658531B2	Method of forming connection holes The present invention provides a method of forming connection holes. The method utilizes two different gases to perform two etching processes for the interlayer dielectric layer so as to form connection holes. The etching rate of the interlayer dielectric layer in the first etching process using the first etching gas is proportional to the size of the openings which defines the connection hole while the etching rate of the interlayer dielectric layer in the second etching process using the second etching gas is inversely related with size of the openings. According to the present invention, the first etching gas and the second etching gas compensate for each other to eliminate the loading effect, thus the connection holes are formed with almost the same depth. Therefore the damage of the etching stopper layer due to the high etching rate in the larger connection holes can be avoided, which prevents the excessive variation of the connecting resistance and expands the process window.
US08658528B2	Bumping process and structure thereof A bumping process includes providing a silicon substrate; forming a titanium-containing metal layer on silicon substrate, the titanium-containing metal layer comprises a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas; forming a first photoresist layer on titanium-containing metal layer; patterning the first photoresist layer to form a plurality of first opening slots; forming a plurality of copper bumps within first opening slots, said copper bump comprises a first top surface and a first ring surface; removing the first photoresist layer; forming a second photoresist layer on titanium-containing metal layer; patterning the second photoresist layer to form a plurality of second opening slots; forming a plurality of bump isolation layers at spaces, the first top surfaces and the first ring surfaces; forming a plurality of connective layers on bump isolation layers; removing the second photoresist layer, removing the second areas to form an under bump metallurgy layer.
US08658527B2	Method of manufacturing GaN-based film A method of manufacturing a GaN-based film includes the steps of preparing a composite substrate, the composite substrate including a support substrate in which a coefficient of thermal expansion in its main surface is more than 0.8 time and less than 1.0 time as high as a coefficient of thermal expansion of GaN crystal in a direction of a axis and a single crystal film arranged on a main surface side of the support substrate, the single crystal film having threefold symmetry with respect to an axis perpendicular to a main surface of the single crystal film, and forming a GaN-based film on the main surface of the single crystal film in the composite substrate, the single crystal film in the composite substrate being an SiC film. Thus, a method of manufacturing a GaN-based film capable of manufacturing a GaN-based film having a large main surface area and less warpage without crack being produced in a substrate is provided.
US08658525B2	Methods for a gate replacement process A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming a gate structure including a first dummy gate over the substrate; removing the first dummy gate from the gate structure to form a trench; forming an interfacial layer, high-k dielectric layer, and capping layer to partially fill in the trench; forming a second dummy gate over the capping layer, wherein the second dummy gate fills the trench; and replacing the second dummy gate with a metal gate. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming an interfacial layer over the substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer; forming an etch stop layer over the high-k dielectric layer; forming a capping layer including a low thermal budget silicon over the etch stop layer; forming a dummy gate layer over the capping layer; forming a gate structure; and performing a gate replacement process.
US08658524B2	On-gate contacts in a MOS device A MOS device, (400) comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising a channel, an electrode (402) insulated from the channel and positioned at least partly over the channel, and at least one contact (403) to the electrode, the at least one contact being positioned at least partly over the channel.
US08658521B2	Method and device for layer deposition Method for depositing a layer on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises injecting a precursor gas from a precursor supply into a deposition cavity for contacting the substrate surface, draining part of the injected precursor gas from the deposition cavity, and positioning the deposition cavity and the substrate relative to each other along a plane of the substrate surface. The method further comprising providing a first electrode and a second electrode, positioning the first electrode and the substrate relative to each other, and generating a plasma discharge near the substrate for contacting the substrate by generating a high-voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The method comprises generating the plasma discharge selectively, for patterning the surface by means of the plasma. A portion of the substrate contacted by the precursor gas selectively overlaps with a portion of the substrate contacted by the plasma.
US08658515B2	Method of manufacturing film for semiconductor device The present invention aims to provides a method of manufacturing a film for a semiconductor device in which a dicing film, a die bond film, and a protecting film are laminated in this order, including the steps of: irradiating the die bond film with a light ray having a wavelength of 400 to 800 nm to detect the position of the die bond film based on the obtained light transmittance and punching the dicing film out based on the detected position of the die bond film, and in which T2/T1 is 0.04 or more, wherein T1 is the light transmittance of the portion where the dicing film and the protecting film are laminated and T2 is the light transmittance of the portion where the dicing film, the die bond film, and the protecting film are laminated.
US08658510B2	Processing phase change material to improve programming speed A phase change material may be processed to reduce its microcrystalline grain size and may also be processed to increase the crystallization or set programming speed of the material. For example, material doped with nitrogen to reduce grain size may be doped with titanium to reduce crystallization time.
US08658506B1	Method and apparatus for selectively improving integrated device performance Methods and apparatus for selectively improving integrated circuit performance are provided. In an example, a method is provided that includes defining a critical portion of an integrated circuit layout that determines the speed of an integrated circuit, identifying at least a part of the critical portion that includes at least one of a halo, lightly doped drain (LDD), and source drain extension (SDE) implant region, and performing a speed push flow process to increase performance of the part of the critical portion that includes the at least one of the halo, the LDD, and the SDE implant region. The resultant integrated circuit can be integrated with a mobile device.
US08658505B2	Embedded stressors for multigate transistor devices Multigate transistor devices and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. In accordance with one method, a fin and a gate structure that is disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the fin are formed. In addition, at least a portion of an extension of the fin is removed to form a recessed portion that is below the gate structure, is below a channel region of the fin, and includes at least one angled indentation. Further, a terminal extension is grown in the at least one angled indentation below the channel region and along a surface of the channel region such that the terminal extension provides a stress on the channel region to enhance charge carrier mobility in the channel region.
US08658503B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes: a silicon carbide substrate having first and second main surfaces; a first silicon carbide layer provided on the first main surface of the silicon carbide substrate; first silicon carbide regions formed on a surface of the first silicon carbide layer; second and third silicon carbide regions formed on respective surfaces of the first silicon carbide regions; a fourth silicon carbide region formed between facing first silicon carbide regions with the first silicon carbide layer therebetween; a gate insulating film formed continuously on surfaces of the first silicon carbide regions, the first silicon carbide layer, and the fourth silicon carbide region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrode; a first electrode electrically connected to the second and third silicon carbide regions; and a second electrode formed on the second main surface of the silicon carbide substrate.
US08658501B2	Method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors. One embodiment of a field effect transistor includes a substrate, a high-k dielectric layer deposited on the substrate, a gate electrode deposited on the high-k dielectric layer, and a dipole layer positioned between the substrate and the gate electrode, for shifting the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor.
US08658499B2	Three dimensional NAND device and method of charge trap layer separation and floating gate formation in the NAND device A monolithic three dimensional NAND string includes a vertical semiconductor channel and a plurality of control gate electrodes in different device levels. The string also includes a blocking dielectric layer, a charge storage region and a tunnel dielectric. A first control gate electrode is separated from a second control gate electrode by an air gap located between the major surfaces of the first and second control gate electrodes and/or the charge storage region includes silicide nanoparticles embedded in a charge storage dielectric.
US08658497B2	Non-volatile memory (NVM) and logic integration A method of forming an NVM cell and a logic transistor uses a semiconductor substrate. A metal select gate of the NVM cell is formed over a high-k dielectric as is metal logic gate of a logic transistor. The logic transistor is formed, including forming source/drains, while the metal select gate of the NVM cell is formed. The logic transistor is protected while the NVM cell is then formed including forming a charge storage region using metal nanocrystals and a metal control gate over a portion of the metal select gate and a portion of the charge storage region over the substrate. The charge storage region is etched to be aligned to the metal control gate.
US08658491B2	Manufacturing method of transistor structure having a recessed channel A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The disclosed semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a device isolation structure for delimiting an active region, the active region being recessed and grooves being defined in channel forming areas of the active region; gates formed in and over the grooves; gate spacers formed on both sidewalls of the gates over portions of the recessed active region which are positioned on both sides of the gates; an LDD region formed in the active region under the gate spacers; junction areas formed in the active region on both sides of the gates including the gate spacers; and landing plugs formed on the junction areas.
US08658490B2	Passivating point defects in high-K gate dielectric layers during gate stack formation Generally, the present disclosure is directed to techniques for improving the reliability of semiconductor devices with high-k gate dielectric layers by passivating point defects during the gate stack formation. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing a plurality of material deposition cycles to form a high-k dielectric layer above a semiconductor material layer, and introducing a passivating material into a gaseous precursor that is used for forming the high-k dielectric layer during at least one of the plurality of material deposition cycles.
US08658489B2	Method for dual work function metal gate CMOS with selective capping A CMOS device having an NMOS transistor with a metal gate electrode comprising a mid-gap metal with a low work function/high oxygen affinity cap and a PMOS transistor with a metal gate electrode comprising a mid gap metal with a high work function/low oxygen affinity cap and method of forming.
US08658487B2	Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises steps as follows: A first dummy gate having a first high-k gate insulator layer, a first composite sacrificial layer, and a first dummy gate electrode sequentially stacked on a substrate is firstly provided. The first dummy gate electrode is subsequently removed to expose the first composite sacrificial layer. The first composite sacrificial layer is then removed. Thereafter, a first work function layer is formed on the first high-k gate insulator layer, and a first metal gate electrode is formed on the first work function layer.
US08658479B2	Method of forming transparent electrode and fabricating array substrate for liquid crystal display device A method of forming a transparent electrode includes forming a first transparent conductive material layer on a base; performing a plasma process on the first transparent conductive material layer such that the upper portion of the first transparent conductive material layer is changed into semitransparent; forming a second transparent conductive material layer on the first transparent conductive material layer; patterning the second transparent conductive material layer and the first transparent conductive material layer; and annealing the patterned second transparent conductive material layer and the patterned first transparent conductive material layer such that the upper portion of the first transparent conductive material layer is changed into transparent.
US08658478B2	Transistor structure for improved static control during formation of the transistor A method of forming a shadow mask vapor deposited transistor includes shadow mask vapor depositing a semiconductor segment. An electrically conductive drain contact is shadow mask vapor deposited on a first part of the semiconductor segment and a first insulator is shadow mask vapor deposited on the drain contact. An electrically conductive source contact is shadow mask vapor deposited on a second part of the semiconductor segment spaced from the drain contact and a second insulator is shadow mask vapor deposited on the source contact. A third insulator is shadow mask vapor deposited over at least part of each of the first and second insulators and the semiconductor segment between the drain contact and the source contact. An electrically conductive gate contact is shadow mask vapor deposited on the third insulator and in spaced relation to the semiconductor segment between the drain contact and the source contact.
US08658477B2	Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device An exposure mask according to an embodiment of the invention includes a first transmission region where a plurality of dots through which light is shielded or transmitted are arrayed into a matrix form having rows and columns and a second transmission region where a plurality of dots through which the light is shielded or transmitted are arrayed into a matrix form having rows and columns and is disposed adjacent to the first transmission region. The dots arrayed in a row or a column of the first transmission region, which is adjacent to the second transmission region, have an area intermediate between areas of dots arrayed on both sides of the row or the column.
US08658474B2	Contact and via interconnects using metal around dielectric pillars An integrated circuit containing a vertical interconnect that includes a region of interconnect metal continuously surrounding one or more dielectric pillars. The vertical interconnect electrically contacts a top surface of a lower conductive structure. An upper conductive structure contacts a top surface of the vertical interconnect. A process of forming an integrated circuit that includes forming a vertical interconnect that has a region of interconnect metal continuously surrounding one or more dielectric pillars. The vertical interconnect electrically contacts a top surface of a lower conductive structure, and an upper conductive structure contacts a top surface of the vertical interconnect.
US08658473B2	Ultrathin buried die module and method of manufacturing thereof A method of forming a buried die module includes providing an initial laminate flex layer and forming a die opening through the initial laminate flex layer. A first uncut laminate flex layer is secured to the first surface of the initial laminate flex layer via an adhesive and a die is positioned within the die opening of the initial laminate flex layer. A second uncut laminate flex layer is secured to the second surface of the initial laminate flex layer via an adhesive and the adhesive between each pair of neighboring layers is cured. A plurality of vias and metal interconnects are formed in and on the first and second uncut laminate flex layers, with each of the metal interconnects extending through a respective via and being directly metalized to a metal interconnect on the initial laminate flex layer or a die pad on the die.
US08658472B2	Semiconductor device A module including a carrier and a semiconductor chip applied to the carrier. An external contact element is provided having a first portion and a second portion extending perpendicular to the first portion, wherein a thickness of the second portion is smaller than a thickness of the carrier.
US08658470B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with formed interconnects and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a die paddle having an internal portion with a trench along a perimeter of the die paddle; forming an interconnect having a concave indentation and an upper portion, the upper portion, opposite the concave indentation, aligned horizontally to the internal portion;attaching an integrated circuit device on the die paddle, the trench between the integrated circuit device and the perimeter; attaching an electrical connector to the integrated circuit device and to the upper portion; and applying an encapsulation over the integrated circuit device, the electrical connector, the die paddle, and the interconnect, the concave indentation exposed below the encapsulation.
US08658468B2	Method for fabricating a semiconductor and semiconductor package A method for fabricating a semiconductor chip module and a semiconductor chip package is disclosed. One embodiment provides a first layer, a second layer, and a base layer. The first layer is disposed on the base layer, and the second layer is disposed on the first layer. A plurality of semiconductor chips is applied above the second layer, and the second layer with the applied semiconductor chips is separated from the first layer.
US08658466B2	Semiconductor package structure and method for making the same A semiconductor package structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate and an encapsulant. The first substrate comprises a plurality of first bumps and a plurality of first solder layers. Each of the first solder layers is formed on each of the first bumps and comprises a cone-shaped slot having an inner surface. The second substrate comprises a plurality of second bumps and a plurality of second solder layers. Each of the second solder layers is formed on each of the second bumps and comprises an outer surface. Each of the second solder layers is a cone-shaped body. The second solder layer couples to the first solder layer and is accommodated within the first solder layer. The inner surface of the cone-shaped slot contacts with the outer surface of the second solder layer. The encapsulant is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08658465B2	System and method to manufacture an implantable electrode The method of the preferred embodiments includes the steps of providing a base having a frame portion and a center portion; building a preliminary structure coupled to the base; removing a portion of the preliminary structure to define a series of devices and a plurality of bridges; removing the center portion of the base such that the frame portion defines an open region, wherein the plurality of bridges suspend the series of devices in the open region defined by the frame; and encapsulating the series of devices. The method is preferably designed for the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more specifically for the manufacture of encapsulated implantable electrodes. The method, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.
US08658458B2	Patterned doping for polysilicon emitter solar cells An improved method of manufacturing a polysilicon solar cell is disclosed. To create the polysilicon layer, which has p-type and n-type regions, the layer is grown in the presence of one type of dopant. After the doped polysilicon layer has been created, ions of the opposite dopant conductivity are selectively implanted into portions of the polysilicon layer. This selective implant may be performed using a shadow mask.
US08658452B2	Low temperature ceramic microelectromechanical structures A method of providing microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) that are compatible with silicon CMOS electronics is provided. The method providing for processes and manufacturing sequences limiting the maximum exposure of an integrated circuit upon which the MEMS is manufactured to below 350° C., and potentially to below 250° C., thereby allowing direct manufacturing of the MEMS devices onto electronics, such as Si CMOS circuits. The method further providing for the provisioning of MEMS devices with multiple non-conductive structural layers such as silicon carbide separated with small lateral gaps. Such silicon carbide structures offering enhanced material properties, increased environmental and chemical resilience whilst also allowing novel designs to be implemented taking advantage of the non-conductive material of the structural layer. The use of silicon carbide being beneficial within the formation of MEMS elements such as motors, gears, rotors, translation drives, etc where increased hardness reduces wear of such elements during operation.
US08658449B2	Semiconductor layer, method of manufacturing the same, laser diode, and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a semiconductor layer with which inactivation of impurity is able to be inhibited by a simple method, a semiconductor layer in which inactivation of impurity is inhibited, a method of manufacturing a laser diode with which inactivation of impurity is able to be inhibited by a simple method, and a laser diode including a semiconductor layer in which inactivation of impurity is inhibited are provided. In the method of manufacturing a semiconductor layer, after a semiconductor layer is formed by epitaxial growth with the use of AsH3, supply of AsH3 is stopped without separately supplying new gas when process temperature is 500 deg C. or more.
US08658448B2	Display device and method for manufacturing the same A conductive layer to be a gate electrode, an insulating layer to be a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and an insulating layer to be a channel protective layer, which are each included in a transistor, are successively formed without exposure to the air. A gate electrode (including another electrode or a wiring which is formed in the same layer) and an island-like semiconductor layer are formed through one photolithography step. A display device is manufactured through four photolithography steps including the photolithography step, a photolithography step of forming a contact hole, a photolithography step of forming a source electrode and a drain electrode (including another electrode or a wiring which is formed in the same layer), and a photolithography step of forming a pixel electrode (including another electrode or a wiring which are formed in the same layer).
US08658443B2	Method for manufacturing light emitting device A method for manufacturing light emitting device is provided. Firstly, provide a substrate. Then arrange a light emitting unit on the substrate. Next form at least one electrode and arrange at least one protective layer on the electrode. The protective layer is to prevent a phosphor layer following formed on the light emitting unit from covering the electrode. After forming the phosphor layer, flatten the phosphor layer and the protective layer. A part of the phosphor layer over the protective layer is removed. Thus the electrode is not affected by the phosphor layer and conductivity of the electrode is improved to resolve phosphor thickness and uniformity problems of the light emitting device. Therefore, the thickness of the light emitting device with LED is effectively reduced and stability of white color temperature control is significantly improved.
US08658442B2	Method for producing an electronic component and electronic component A method for producing an electronic component comprising barrier layers for the encapsulation of the component comprises, in particular, the following steps: providing a substrate (1) with at least one functional layer (22), applying at least one first barrier layer (3) on the functional layer (22) by means of plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), and applying at least one second barrier layer (4) on the functional layer (22) by means of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
US08658437B2	Package method for electronic components by thin substrate Disclosed is a package method for electronic components by a thin substrate, comprising: providing a carrier; forming at least one metal layer and at least one dielectric layer on the carrier for manufacturing the thin substrate, and the thin substrate comprises at least one package unit for connecting at least one chip; forming at least one pad layer on a surface of the thin substrate; parting the thin substrate from the carrier; performing test to the thin substrate to weed out the package unit with defects in the at least one package unit and select the package units for connecting the chips; connecting the chips with the selected package units by flip chip bonding respectively. Accordingly, the yield of the entire package process can be improved and the pointless manufacture material cost can be reduced.
US08658431B2	Determination of pregnancy status in ungulate ruminants A method and kit for determining whether an animal is not pregnant, or is pregnant following a breeding. The level of expression of a pregnancy induced protein is determined in an animal for which pregnancy status information is desired and the level is compared to that of the level in animals that are not pregnant.
US08658428B2	Methodology for determination of nitrogen content in nitrocellulose In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of determining the nitrogen content in nitrocellulose by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). It is within the scope of the invention for the sample of nitrocellulose to be unstable nitrocellulose, unrefined nitrocellulose, or refined nitrocellulose. The sample of nitrocellulose can wet or dry. A sample of nitrocellulose that is wet can be in acid or in water. Before HPLC, the sample is dissolved in a suitable solvent. The nitrogen content of the sample is determined by comparing the retention time of the sample to a graph of retention time to amount of nitrogen due to the linear correlation of retention time and percent nitrogen substitution.
US08658426B2	Monitoring of ionic liquid catalyst deactivation A process for determining ionic liquid catalyst deactivation including (a) collecting at least one sample of an ionic liquid catalyst; (b) hydrolyzing the at least one sample to provide at least one hydrolyzed sample; (c) titrating the at least one hydrolyzed sample with a basic reagent to determine a volume of the basic reagent necessary to neutralize a Lewis acid species of the ionic liquid catalyst; and (d) calculating the acid content of the at least one sample from the volume of basic reagent determined in step (c) is described. Processes incorporating such a process for determining ionic liquid catalyst deactivation are also described. These processes are an alkylation process, a process for controlling ionic liquid catalyst activity in a reaction producing by-product conjunct polymers, and a continuous process for maintaining the acid content of an ionic liquid catalyst at a target acid content in a reaction producing by-product conjunct polymers.
US08658424B2	Myelinating oligodendrocyte precursor populations A method of differentiating embryonic stem cells into oligodendroglial precursor cells and oligodendroglial cells by culturing a population of cells comprising a majority of cells that are characterized by a neural tube-like rosette morphology and are Pax6+/Sox1+ into a population of cells that are PDGFRα+.
US08658423B2	Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) binding factors This invention relates to modified IGF-II binding domains of the Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Receptor (IGF2R) which have enhanced binding affinity for IGF-II relative to the wild type IGF-II binding domain. Suitable IGF-II binding domains may be modified, for example, by substituting residue E1544 for a non-acidic residue. These modified domains may be useful in the sequestration of Insulin-like Growth Factor II (IGF-II), for example, in the treatment of cancer.
US08658422B2	Culture plate comprising a lid for lateral ventilation The present invention pertains to a culture plate, and in particular to a culture plate comprising a lid wherein the peripheral side wall of the lid is formed at least partially of at least one filter element made of a filter material. This enables lateral, uniform ventilation of the culture plate even in a stacked arrangement of the culture plate, avoiding at the same time significant loss of culture medium by evaporation.
US08658407B2	Compositions and methods for conversion of lignocellulosic material to fermentable sugars and products produced therefrom The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the conversion of lignocellulosic material to fermentable sugars and to products produced therefrom (e.g., ethanol, foodstuffs, etc.). In particular, the invention provides lignocellulose-degrading compositions (e.g., generated via incubation of microbes with lignocellulosic priming feedstock in solid-state fermentation format) and methods of using the same (e.g., in saccharification and/or hydrolysis steps (e.g., on ethanologenic feedstock) and as food or feed additives).
US08658405B2	Process for hydrolysis of wet fiber and method for producing fermentation products from wet fiber Disclosed are a method of hydrolysis of wet fiber and a method for preparing ethanol. Generally, an agricultural plant material, such as corn hulls, distiller's dried grains, or spent germ, is treated to at least partially hydrolyze the fiber. The process may include a maceration step followed by a shearing operation in the presence of steam to yield a treated product, in which, in many embodiments, saccharides will be released and unbound from fibrous portions of the agricultural product. In some embodiments, the process includes macerating the material to provide a slurry having a solids content of at least 10 percent and jet cooking the slurry. A mixture of saccharides prepared in this fashion may be fermented to yield ethanol and/or biochemicals.
US08658403B2	Method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoic acid Provided is a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA). More particularly, a method of preparing PHA containing a high content of long-chain aromatic monomer-units by growing a phaZ mutant of a Pseudomonas strain in a medium containing a sugar, a substituted fatty acid, and a salicylic acid.
US08658401B2	Method for preparing high purity L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine Disclosed is a method for preparing L-α-Glycerylphosphorylcholine with high yields and purity. The method uses phospholipase A1-based enzymatic hydrolysis, ion-exchange resin purification and silica gel column chromatography to prepare L-α-glycerylphosphorylcholin with purity up to 99.8% and a final yield up to 78.4%. The method disclosed is simple, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and adaptable to industrial applications.
US08658400B2	Biocatalysts for manufacturing duloxetine alcohol The present invention relates to novel phenylethanol dehydrogenase mutants, to a method for the manufacture thereof; to coded nucleic acid sequences therefor, to expression cassettes, to vectors and recombinant microorganisms that contain said sequences; to a method for the biocatalytic synthesis of substituted, optically active alcohols and to the use of said mutants; and particularly to a method for manufacturing duloxetine alcohol or duloxetine, comprising a synthesis step catalyzed biocatalytic by said mutants.
US08658398B2	Heterologous expression of termite cellulases yeast The present invention provides for heterologous expression of termite and termite-associated symbiont cellulases. The cellulases can, for example, be codon-optimized and expressed in yeast host cells, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cellulases can also be co-expressed in host cells with other cellulases. The expression in such host cells of the termite and termite-associated symbiont cellulases, and variants and combinations thereof, result in yeast with improved cellulosic activity. Thus, such genes and expression systems are useful for efficient and cost-effective consolidated bioprocessing systems.
US08658397B2	Assay for detecting closely-related serotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) A real time Taq-Man PCR assay for detecting multiple serotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) wherein the number of serotypes detected exceeds the number of colorimetric channels for detection. A biological sample is combined with three oligonucleotide primer/probe sets such that the probes and primers anneal to a target sequence. Each primer/probe set is at least preferential for a specific serotype of an organism. The first and second primer/probe sets are degenerate with respect to each other. The third primer/probe set is not degenerate with respect to the first and second primer/probe sets and discriminates for a third serotype. The third primer/probe set has a signal moiety that emits signal at a wavelength that is the same or different from the wavelength emitted by the signal moiety of the degenerate primer/probe set probes. The target sequences, if present, are amplified and detected.
US08658390B2	Method for detecting muscle degenerative diseases, and method for determining therapeutic efficacy on the diseases Muscle degenerative diseases can be detected in the early stage and the therapeutic efficacy of a therapeutic agent and/or a therapy method for the diseases can be determined by measuring 11,15-dioxo-9α-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetranorprostan-1,20-dioic acid (referred to as “Tetranor-PGDM”, hereinbelow) in a sample isolated from a subject.
US08658389B2	Antibody conjugates Antibody/signal-generating moiety conjugates are disclosed that include an antibody covalently linked to a signal-generating moiety through a heterobifunctional polyalkyleneglycol linker. The disclosed conjugates show exceptional signal-generation in immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assays on tissue sections and cytology samples. In one embodiment, enzyme-metallographic detection of nucleic acid sequences with hapten-labeled probes can be accomplished using the disclosed conjugates as a primary antibody without amplification.
US08658386B1	Hybridomas producing highly specific monoclonal antibodies to detect mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis Hybridoma cell lines which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis have been produced. Cells of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis in biological samples may be detected and quantified by contacting the sample with the antibodies to form a M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis/antibody immunocomplex when M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis is present, which immunocomplex may then be detected. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits for the detection and quantification of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis.
US08658385B2	Purinergic (P2X) receptors in extra-cellular body fluid The invention relates to purinergic (P2X) receptors, to detection of protein in extra-cellular body fluids and to anti-bodies for the diagnosis or condition, especially cancer.
US08658384B2	Biomarkers for prediction of major adverse cardiac events and uses thereof The present invention relates to combinations of biomarkers and levels thereof that may be used, for example, in the determination of risk associated with the occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in a patient.
US08658383B2	Sweet taste receptor-expressing construct, cell body expressing the same, and utilization thereof [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a sweet taste receptor-expressing construct which can functionally stably express both of a sweet taste receptor (T1R2+T1R3) and a G protein α subunit at a high expression efficacy, and a stable expression cell body expressing the construct.[Solution] The sweet taste receptor-expressing construct of the present invention is such that respective genes encoding sweet taste receptor subunits T1R2 and T1R3, and a G protein α subunit are inserted into the same plasmid. The cell body of the present invention is such that the sweet taste receptor-expressing construct of the present invention is gene-introduced into a 293 cell in which an FRT (Flippase Recognition Target) sequence is incorporated into one place in a genome, to express sweet taste receptor subunits T1R2 and T1R3, and a G protein α subunit simultaneously.
US08658382B2	Proteins with pteridine glycosyltransferase activity and analysis method using the same The present invention relates to proteins with pteridine glycosyltransferase activity and an analysis method using the same. Since the proteins glycate tetrahydrobiopterin selectively through an enzyme reaction, the method enables quantitative analysis of tetrahydrobiopterin and oxides thereof at the same time or quantitative analysis of tetrabiopterin selectively.
US08658375B2	Compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating an inflammation A method of reducing an inflammatory response in a subject is provided. The method comprising providing to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent capable of reducing activity and/or expression of a scavenger receptor or of an effector thereof, thereby reducing the inflammatory response in the subject.
US08658373B2	Method of screening for an agent for treating arthritis and promoting growth of articular chondrocytes This invention provides a new therapeutic or prophylactic agent for arthritis such as osteoarthritis. Specifically, it provides a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for arthritis such as osteoarthritis, or an agent for promoting the growth of articular chondrocyte, comprising a guanyl cyclase B (GC-B) activator as an active ingredient; or a method for inhibiting arthritis or for promoting the growth of articular chondrocyte by activating GC-B; or a method for screening an agent for promoting the growth of articular chondrocyte or an agent capable of treating arthritis using the GC-B activity as an indication.
US08658372B2	Affinity-based detection of biological targets A method of biochemical identification by: providing a plurality of capture species bound to one or more substrates and suspected of having one or more biological targets affinity bound to at least one capture species; detecting which capture species contain bound biological targets to generate a binding pattern; and identifying the biological target based on the binding pattern. The capture species are independently selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial peptides, cytotoxic peptides, antibiotics, and combinations thereof. A device having the capture species bound to the substrates. At least two of the capture species are capable of multi-specific binding to one or more biological targets and may have overlapping but not identical affinity properties.
US08658368B2	Microfabricated crossflow devices and methods A microfluidic device is provided for analyzing or sorting biological materials, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides, proteins, enzymes, viruses and cells. The invention can be used for high throughput or combinatorial screening. The device comprises a main channel and an inlet channel that communicate at a droplet extrusion region so that droplets of solution are deposited into an immiscible solvent in the main channel. Droplets can thereafter be sorted according to biological material detected in each droplet.
US08658367B2	Microfabricated crossflow devices and methods A microfluidic device is provided for analyzing or sorting biological materials, such as polynucleotides, polypeptides, proteins, enzymes, viruses and cells. The invention can be used for high throughput or combinatorial screening. The device comprises a main channel and an inlet channel that communicate at a droplet extrusion region so that droplets of solution are deposited into an immiscible solvent in the main channel. Droplets can thereafter be sorted according to biological material detected in each droplet.
US08658357B2	Orotate transporter encoding marker genes A recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide construct comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, a cell comprising at least one exogenous copy of the marker gene, and a method of selecting or identifying a cell comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, and/or selecting or identifying a cell which has been cured of the recombinant marker gene.
US08658356B2	Methods and compositions for the specific inhibition of gene expression by double-stranded RNA The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.
US08658352B2	Compositions and methods useful for culturing differentiable cells The present invention relates to cell culture methods and compositions that are essentially serum-free and comprise a basal salt nutrient solution and an ErbB3 ligand.
US08658344B2	Patterning process and photoresist with a photodegradable base A resist material and methods using the resist material are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a resist layer over a substrate, wherein the resist layer includes a polymer, a photoacid generator, an electron acceptor, and a photodegradable base; performing an exposure process that exposes portions of the resist layer with radiation, wherein the photodegradable base is depleted in the exposed portions of the resist layer during the exposure process; and performing an developing process on the resist layer.
US08658343B2	Resist composition, and method of forming resist pattern A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, wherein the base component (A) contains a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a5) represented by general formula (a5-1). In formula (a5-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a halogenated alkyl group, X represents single bond or divalent linking group, W represents a cyclic alkylene group which may include an oxygen atom at arbitrary position, each of Ra and Rb independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may include an oxygen atom at arbitrary position, or alternatively, Ra and Rb may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the nitrogen atom in the formula, and p represents integer of 1 to 3.
US08658342B2	Photosensitive composition including photopolymerizable polymer having fluorene skeleton A material for a planarization film, a spacer, and a microlens that satisfies heat resistance and transparency requirements without impairing a refractive index. A negative photosensitive composition includes a photopolymerizable polymer (A) having a fluorene skeleton, a monomer (B) having a fluorene skeleton and a photopolymerization initiator (C). The photopolymerizable polymer (A) having a fluorene skeleton may include a moiety that is soluble in an alkaline developer solution, or a unit structure of Formula (1): herein each R1 is independently a C1-10 alkyl group or a halogen atom; each L is an integer of 0 to 4; X is an organic group having an unsaturated bond at a terminal thereof; and Y is a linking group including a portion that is obtained by removing an acid radical from a tetracarboxylic dianhydride.
US08658340B2	Toner, development agent, and image forming method A toner containing a binder resin comprising a first binder resin A and a second binder resin B, a coloring agent, and a releasing agent, wherein the first binder resin A is formed by reacting a compound A1 having an active hydrogen group with a resin A2 having a portion reactive with the compound A1 in an organic solvent and the resin A2 is formed by reacting a non-crystalline polyester resin “a” having a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid skeleton in the main chain with a compound having the portion reactive with the compound A1 having an active hydrogen group.
US08658339B2	Negative charge controlling agent and static charge image developing toner using the same, and method for producing the same A negative charge controlling agent, wherein: the negative charge controlling agent comprises polycondensation product obtained by a polycondensation reaction of phenols and aldehydes; and the phenols comprises a (A) mononucleus phenolic compound which has one phenolic hydroxy group in which a hydrogen is bonded at the ortho position of a hydroxyl group of the phenolic hydroxy group and a (B) multinucleus phenolic compound which has at least two phenolic hydroxy groups in which a hydrogen is bonded at the ortho position of a hydroxyl group of each of the phenolic hydroxy group; and the content of the (B) phenolic compound in the phenols is 1 to 30 mol %.
US08658336B2	Methods of correcting for variation across substrates during photolithography Some embodiments include methods for correcting for variation across substrates. A difference map is created to indicate differences between a desired pattern that is to be formed across the substrates utilizing photolithographic processing and a signature pattern representing the actual pattern formed with an initial setting of illumination optics. Modifications to the illumination optics are determined for improving problematic regions identified in the difference map, and the illumination optics are then modified. Substrates are photolithographically processed utilizing the modified illumination optics.
US08658324B2	Fuel cell system A fuel cell system FCS includes a fuel cell FC, a motor ES4 connected to the fuel cell FC, an FC boost converter ES6 which raises the output voltage of the fuel cell FC to output the voltage to the motor ES4, an inverter ES3, a current sensor S2, and a controller EC which controls the fuel cell FC, the FC boost converter ES6 and the inverter ES3. The controller EC controls the inverter ES3 so as to raise the target output voltage of the inverter, when the current detected by the current sensor S2 exceeds a predetermined current threshold value.
US08658321B2	Desulfurization system and method for desulfurizing a fuel stream A method for producing a substantially desulfurized a hydrocarbon fuel stream at temperatures less than 100° C. The method includes providing a nondesulfurized fuel cell hydrocarbon fuel stream that may include water and passing the fuel stream sequentially through a zeolite Y adsorbent and a selective sulfur adsorbent. The zeolite Y adsorbent may be exchanged with copper ions. The method produces a substantially desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel stream containing less than 50 ppb sulfur.
US08658320B2	Method of operating a fuel cell A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a deodorizing device (20) configured to remove an odor component contained in a raw material gas; a reformer (32) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas through reforming reaction using the raw material gas that is discharged from the deodorizing device; a fuel cell (1) configured to generate power by using the hydrogen-containing gas that is discharged from the reformer; at least one on-off valve (21a, 21b, 3a, 3b, 28, 29) provided on the combustible gas passage which is downstream from the deodorizing device and which extends through the reformer; and a stuck-state checker (13, 18, 7) configured to perform a stuck-state check on the on-off valve by supplying the raw material gas to the combustible gas passage.
US08658319B2	Metal oxygen battery containing oxygen storage materials In one aspect of the present invention, a battery system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery system includes a metal oxygen battery (MOB) having a first electrode and second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material. The battery system also includes an oxygen storage material disposed within the metal oxygen battery. In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material is on oxygen communication with the first electrode.
US08658304B2	Catholytes for aqueous lithium/air battery cells Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements.
US08658303B2	Middle or large-sized battery pack case of excellent cooling efficiency A middle or large-sized battery pack case having a plurality of stacked battery cells, a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, and a flow space (‘coolant introduction part’) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (‘coolant discharge part’) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, an upper end inside of the coolant introduction part facing the top of a unit cell stack is configured to have an inclined plane inclined from the end opposite to the coolant inlet port toward the coolant inlet port at a positive angle of 3 to 8 degrees to the top of the unit cell stack, and the coolant inlet port is inclined at an angle of 20 to 80 degrees.
US08658300B2	Fuel gauge circuit and battery pack A fuel gauge circuit detects a residual quantity of a battery 1 and is disposed on a substrate 20 together with a protection circuit 40 which protects charging/discharging of the battery 1. The fuel gauge circuit includes a voltage monitor terminal T1 disposed on a side facing a positive power-supply terminal 21 of the substrate and connected to each of the positive power-supply terminal 21 and a voltage sensor 31 disposed in the circuit, a voltage through terminal T6 disposed on a side facing the protection circuit, opposite to the side facing the positive power-supply terminal 21, and connected to a voltage monitor terminal T11 of the protection circuit, and a wiring 32 disposed within the circuit to connect the voltage monitor terminal T1 of the fuel gauge circuit to the voltage through terminal T11.
US08658294B2	Protective circuit module and secondary battery having the same A protection module capable of being utilized by a secondary battery regardless of the external mounting structure of the secondary battery for mounting the secondary battery to an external device. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to separately manufacture a protective circuit module according to the external mounting structure of the battery. The secondary battery includes: a plurality of bare cells each of which includes a can, an electrode assembly, and a cap assembly; a first protective circuit module located on the upper surface of the bare cells that is formed by the cap assemblies; and a secondary protective circuit module located on a side surface of the bare cells that is formed by curved surfaces of the cans. The first protective circuit module and the second protective circuit module are electrically connected to each other.
US08658293B2	Magnetic recording media and method for making the same A magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer that is made from a material having the chemical formula of FexMnyPtz, and that has a bottom surface and an upper surface; wherein x, y, and z indicate average atomic concentrations for Fe, Mn, and Pt, and x+y+z is 100, x and y being greater than 0 and not greater than 65, z being in the range from 35 to 60; and wherein atomic concentration of Fe is gradually decreased from the upper surface to the bottom surface, and atomic concentration of Mn is gradually increased from the upper surface to the bottom surface so that the ferromagnetic property of the magnetic recording layer is gradually reduced from the upper surface to the bottom surface.
US08658292B1	Systems and methods for controlling damping of magnetic media for assisted magnetic recording Systems and methods for controlling the damping of magnetic media for magnetic recording are described. One such system includes a magnetic media structure for magnetic recording, the media structure including at least one base layer including an interlayer, a bottom magnetic recording layer positioned on the interlayer, and an exchange coupling layer positioned on the bottom layer; and a capping magnetic recording layer positioned on the at least one base layer, the capping recording layer including a first material configured to increase a damping constant of the capping recording layer to a first preselected level.
US08658291B2	CMAS mitigation compositions, environmental barrier coatings comprising the same, and ceramic components comprising the same Calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) mitigation compositions selected from rare earth elements, rare earth oxides, zirconia, hafnia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, zirconia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, magnesium oxide, cordierite, aluminum phosphate, magnesium silicate, and combinations thereof when the CMAS mitigation composition is included as a separate CMAS mitigation layer in an environmental barrier coating for a high temperature substrate component.
US08658288B2	Method for manufacturing a porous device with restrictive layer and structure thereof A method for manufacturing a porous device with restrictive layer comprises the steps of providing a porous structure having a micro pore structure, flattening the porous carrier to form a surface, and forming a restrictive layer on the surface of the porous carrier, a method for manufacturing said restrictive layer includes forming a nickel-chromium alloy layer on the surface of the porous carrier, forming a copper metal layer on the nickel-chromium alloy layer, forming a nickel metal layer having a top surface on the copper metal layer, and processing said nickel-chromium alloy layer, said copper metal layer and said nickel metal layer to form a plurality of channels communicating with the micro pore structure and the top surface. The restrictive effect and damping effect can raise anti-vibration ability of the porous device itself by formation of dual restrictive structure composed of the micro pore structure and the channels.
US08658287B2	Strong nanopaper The present invention refers to a nanopaper comprising clay and microfibrillated cellulose nanofibers wherein the MFC nanofibers and the layered clay are orientated substantially parallel to the paper surface. The invention further relates to a method of making the nanopaper and the use of the nanopaper.
US08658281B2	Apparatus and method for surface-treating carbon fiber by resistive heating In an apparatus for surface-treating a carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber is heated by resistive heating, a carbon-containing gas is disposed on the carbon fiber, and carbon nanotubes are grown on a surface of the carbon fiber.
US08658280B2	Taggent flakes for covert security applications having a selected shape A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.
US08658274B2	Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same A thermoplastic laminate plank is described wherein the thermoplastic laminate plank comprises a core, a print layer, and optionally an overlay. The core comprises at least one thermoplastic material and has a top surface and bottom surface wherein a print layer is affixed to the top surface of the core and an overlay layer is affixed to the top surface of the print layer. Optionally, an underlay layer can be located and affixed between the bottom surface of the print layer and the top surface of the core. In addition, a method of making the thermoplastic laminate plank is further described which involves extruding at least one thermoplastic material into the shape of the core and affixing a laminate on the core, wherein the laminate comprises an overlay affixed to the top surface of the print layer and optionally an underlay layer affixed to the bottom surface of the print layer.
US08658273B2	Security sheet comprising a transparent or translucent layer The invention relates to a coated sheet of security paper which includes security elements and has a high print rendition and a high resistance to circulation, which sheet is characterized in that at least one of its sides is coated with a transparent or translucent coating comprising at least one colloidal silica and at least one transparent or translucent elastomeric binder. In particular, the binder is a polyurethane.The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing the said sheet and to a banknote obtained from this sheet.
US08658272B2	Basecoat and associated paperboard structure including a pigment blend of hyper-platy clay and calcined clay A basecoat including a pigment blend, the pigment blend including at least a calcined clay and a hyper-platy clay, the hyper-platy clay having a shape factor of at least about 40:1.
US08658268B2	Injection molded article and production method thereof An injection molded article is provided having a junction surface where side end surfaces of two thermoplastic resin members are bonded by injection molding one of the members onto the side end surface of the other member, wherein directions (A) of respective junction line segments with respect to the normal line of a front surface or a back surface of one thermoplastic resin member are different and the direction (B) of a third junction line segment is inclined with respect to the normal line, or the directions (A) are the same in the first junction line segment and the second junction line segment and are different between the first junction line segment and the third junction line segment and the direction (B) is inclined with respect to the normal line.
US08658264B2	Self-adjusting insulation, including insulation particularly suited for pipe or duct Embodiments disclosed herein include insulation used to insulate elongated members, such a pipe or duct, as examples. The insulation can address a number of features, including but not limited to expansion and compression of insulation material, expansion and compression of the elongated member insulated, and the ability to adapt the insulation for elongated member of different sizes and lengths. In one embodiment, the insulation is comprised of at least one plank comprised of a flexible polymeric foam configured to be wrapped around an elongated member. In order for the insulation to self-adjust to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the foam material, the plank is comprised of a plurality of flexible polymeric foam profiles. At least one flexible polymeric foam spacer may also be provided that self-adjusts to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the elongated member to prevent or reduce gaps in insulation.
US08658263B2	Shape-retaining film, process for producing same, laminate for packaging, packaging material and process for producing same, shape-retaining fiber, and anisotropic heat-conductive film Provided are a shape-retaining film which has excellent adhesion to inks and other functional layers while retaining high shape-retaining properties and a process for producing the shape-retaining film. The shape-retaining film comprises an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene/a-olefin copolymer having a C3-6 a-olefin content less than 2 wt. %, the ethylene homopolymer or copolymer having a density of 950 kg/m3 or higher and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of 5-20. The film has a tensile elasticity modulus of 6-50 GPa and has either an angle of recovery from 90 bending of 8 or less or an angle of recovery from 180 bending of 65 or less.
US08658261B2	Composition, film, polarizing plate, and liquid crystal display device Disclosed is a composition comprising a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by formula (I). Each of A1 and A2 represents a group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NRa— (Ra represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent), —S—, and —CO—; each of R1, R2 and R3 represents a substituent; n is an integer from 0 to 2; X represents an alkenylene group, alkynylene group, arylene group, or heterocyclic group; each of L1 and L2 independently represents a linking group.
US08658260B2	Laser-induced backside annealing using fluid absorber A coating material containing metal oxide is applied to one side of a substrate, both coating and substrate being transparent to visible light. An absorber material is placed in heat transfer proximity to the coating and a laser beam is transmitted through the substrate and through the coating to strike the absorber material at the interface between coating and absorber. The absorber material absorbs optical energy from the laser beam causing the material to heat. Heat from the absorber propagates to the coating to heat a localized region, causing the coating material to anneal. If desired, the coating material can include a doping material that fuses into the coating during annealing.
US08658259B2	Nanolayer deposition process A hybrid deposition process of CVD and ALD, called NanoLayer Deposition (NLD) is provided. The nanolayer deposition process is a cyclic sequential deposition process, comprising the first step of introducing a first plurality of precursors to deposit a thin film with the deposition process not self-limiting, then a second step of purging the first set of precursors and a third step of introducing a second plurality of precursors to modify the deposited thin film. The deposition step in the NLD process using the first set of precursors is not self limiting and is a function of substrate temperature and process time. The second set of precursors modifies the already deposited film characteristics. The second set of precursors can treat the deposited film such as a modification of film composition, a doping or a removal of impurities from the deposited film. The second set of precursors can also deposit another layer on the deposited film. The additional layer can react with the existing layer to form a compound layer, or can have minimum reaction to form a nanolaminate film.
US08658255B2	Methods for making environmental barrier coatings and ceramic components having CMAS mitigation capability Methods of making components having calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) mitigation capability involving providing a component; applying an environmental barrier coating to the component, the environmental barrier coating having a separate CMAS mitigation layer including a CMAS mitigation composition selected from rare earth elements, rare earth oxides, zirconia, hafnia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, zirconia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, magnesium oxide, cordierite, aluminum phosphate, magnesium silicate, and combinations thereof.
US08658254B2	Method of coating substrates The invention relates to a new method of coating substrates with an aqueous emulsion of a reactive silicone-based composition and a method of preparing said aqueous emulsion of said reactive silicone-based composition.
US08658252B2	Prefabricated membrane based on modified polyurethane bituminous binder and process for production The present invention has for its object a prefabricated sealing membrane formed by a support, coated on at least one surface, and preferably impregnated throughout, with a modified bitumen base composition, characterized in that the thermoplastic bituminous composition for coating and/or impregnation is a bituminous binder modified by a thermoplastic polyurethane having the following weight proportion: 40 to 90% bitumen, 10 to 50% thermoplastic polyurethane, 0 to 10% aromatic oil, 0 to 50% filler, 0 to 0.5% catalyst.
US08658249B2	Heteroleptic iridium precursors to be used for the deposition of iridium-containing films The present invention provides a process for the deposition of a iridium containing film on a substrate, the process comprising the steps of providing at least one substrate in a reactor; introducing into the reactor at least one iridium containing precursor having the formula: XIrYA, wherein A is equal to 1 or 2 and i) when A is 1, X is a dienyl ligand and Y is a diene ligand; ii) when A is 2, a) X is a dienyl ligand and Y is selected from CO and an ethylene ligand, b) X is a ligand selected from H, alkyl, alkylamides, alkoxides, alkylsilyls, alkylsilylamides, alkylamino, and fluoroalkyl and each Y is a diene ligand, and c) X is a dienyl ligand and Y is a diene ligand; reacting the at least one iridium containing precursor in the reactor at a temperature equal to or greater than 100° C.; and depositing an iridium containing film formed from the reaction of the at least one iridium containing precursor onto the at least one substrate.
US08658241B2	Simultaneous polymerization of two vinyl monomer mixtures to opposite faces of a flat porous substrate A bi-polar electrode having ion exchange polymers on opposite faces of a porous substrate is formed using a method that includes providing an electrode substrate with activated carbon layers on opposite faces of the electrode substrate, wherein said faces have an outer perimeter band void of the activated carbon layers. The electrode substrate is placed in a thermoplastic envelope formed by a pair of polyethylene films. A Mylar sheet is placed in each side of the envelope against the electrode substrate, and the envelope is thermally sealed to the outer perimeter band of the electrode substrate void of activated carbon to form a first pocket on one side of the electrode substrate and a second pocket on the opposite side of the electrode substrate. The method also includes inserting a first polymerizable monomer mixture having an anion exchange group into the first pocket of the envelope and inserting a second polymerizable monomer mixture having a cation exchange group into the second pocket of the envelope. The first and second polymerizable monomers mixtures are then polymerized in an oven.
US08658240B2	Paint shop and method of operating a paint shop In a paint plant which comprises at least one spray-painting device incorporating at least one application unit for painting workpieces and in particular motor vehicle bodies with a fluid paint, in order to enable the fluid paint overspray i.e. the paint particles which are not adhering to the workpieces that are to be painted and which are picked up and carried along in an air flow passing through the application area of the paint shop, to be re-separated from this air flow and also to enable the cleansed air flow to be returned to the application area in an air re-circulating system or else expelled into the environment of the plant, the paint shop comprises a device for separating fluid paint overspray from a stream of crude gas that contains overspray particles wherein this device comprises at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the stream of crude gas.
US08658233B2	Apparatus for depositing a confectionery mass, and method of producing a confectionery product An apparatus for depositing a confectionery mass comprising at least one discharge passageway extending to at least one elongate discharge outlet, wherein at least one discharge passageway diverges in a direction towards the discharge outlet, and a machine for producing a confectionery product having at least one such apparatus for depositing. In a method of producing a confectionery product, the confectionery mass is deposited as at least one strip having a width in the range of 5 to 500 mm and/or thickness in the range of 0.5 to 100 mm.
US08658220B2	Processes for extracting phytochemicals from pomegranate solids and compositions and methods of use thereof Processes for producing an extract containing phytochemicals from pomegranates are disclosed. The processes generally comprise providing pomegranate solids, such as the pericarp, inner membrane and seeds; creating a mixture comprising the pomegranate solids in an aqueous solution; adding enzymes to the mixture in an amount sufficient to at least partially degrade the pomegranate solids; heating the mixture to a temperature that permits the maximum rate of catalysis of the enzyme; maintaining the temperature of the heated mixture for a time sufficient to allow at least partial degradation of the pomegranate solids; and removing residual insoluble solid materials from the mixture. Compositions containing the extract may be used as a food product, beverage, pharmaceutical preparations, nutritional supplements, vitamin supplements, food additives, and food supplements. The compositions may also be used for preventing or ameliorating disease conditions by administering an effective amount of the composition to a subject in need thereof.
US08658219B2	Oxidatitive photoactivated skin rejeuvenation composition comprising hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, or allantoin There is provided a skin rejuvenation composition which comprises at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant, and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08658217B2	Cohesive osteogenic putty and materials therefor Described is an implantable medical material comprising a malleable, cohesive, shape-retaining putty including mineral particles, insoluble collagen fibers and soluble collagen. The medical material can be used in conjunction with biologically active factors such as osteogenic proteins to treat bone or other tissue defects in patients.
US08658215B2	Injectable microspheres for dermal augmentation and tissue bulking The present invention relates to elastic, hydrophilic and substantially spherical microspheres useful for dermal augmentation and tissue bulking. The invention provides injectable compositions comprising the microspheres and a biocompatible carrier for use in dermal augmentation. The present invention further provides methods of dermal augmentation and tissue bulking, particularly for the treatment of skin contour deficiencies, Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, urinary incontinence, and urinary reflux disease, using the injectable compositions.
US08658212B2	Pharmaceutical composition containing fenofibrate and method for the preparation thereof The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition containing micronized fenofibrate, a surfactant and a binding cellulose derivative, as solubilizing adjuvant, preferably hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. The cellulose derivative represents less than 20 wt. % of the composition. The association of micronized fenofibrate with a binding cellulose derivative, as solubilizing adjuvant and a surfactant enables to enhance the bioavailability of the active principle. The invention also concerns a method for preparing said composition without using any organic solvent.
US08658206B2	Compositions comprising strontium and vitamin D and uses thereof The invention relates to the finding that very favorable pharmacokinetic characters are obtained by combining two strontium salts in one pharmaceutical composition. The present invention relates in one aspect to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two strontium salts for use as a medicament, and in particular for the treatment and prevention of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. The composition preferably comprises strontium carbonate and strontium chlorides. Further included may be a vitamin D compound, preferably vitamin D3.
US08658205B2	Preparation of a lipid blend and a phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend The present invention describes processes for the preparation of a lipid blend and a uniform filterable phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend, such suspension being useful as an ultrasound contrast agent.
US08658203B2	Liposomes useful for drug delivery to the brain The present invention provides liposome compositions containing substituted ammonium and/or polyanion, and optionally with a desired therapeutic or imaging entity. The present invention also provide methods of making the liposome compositions provided by the present invention. The present invention also provides for the methods and kits for the delivery of liposomal compositions to the brain.
US08658199B2	Systems and methods for feeding sugar alcohol to ruminants during periods of heat stress Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.
US08658196B2	Graft materials and methods for staged delivery of bioactive components Described, in certain aspects of the invention, are multilaminate medical graft products, as well as methods for preparing and using the same. An illustrative multilaminate medical graft product of the invention comprises a first layer of remodelable extracellular matrix (ECM) material bonded to a second layer of remodelable ECM material, wherein the first material layer is enriched with a growth factor relative to the second material layer. Such a remodelable ECM material may be comprised of submucosa from a warm-blooded vertebrate, for example, porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS).
US08658191B2	Disinfection agent for suction systems used in the field of medicine or dentistry Concentrated or ready-for-use disinfecting agent for medical or dental suction apparatus and related equipment, comprising a special active ingredient of amine compounds and having a viscosity between 100 and 2000 mPas, preferably between 350 and 1000 mPas.
US08658189B2	Methods of treating acne A method of treating acne in a human in need thereof comprising administering systemically to said human a tetracycline compound in an amount that is effective to treat acne but has substantially no antibiotic activity, without administering a bisphosphonate compound.
US08658188B2	Radio-opaque bioactive glass materials Nanoparticulate material containing a matrix and embedded therein a radiopacifier are bioactive, show a high alkaline capacity and are radio-opaque. Compositions and formulations including such material are particularly useful in advanced dental applications, such as dental fillings and/or disinfection.
US08658187B2	Cosmetic powder bead compositions Provided herein are beads comprising at least one structuring agent and least one powder, and a novel process for making same. In one aspect, the process includes solubilzing at least one structuring agent with a solvent in the presence of at least one powder under turbulent high shear mixing to form small, nonspherical nucleated seeds of about 3 mm or less in diameter, and thereafter allowing the nucleated seeds to accrete under laminar low shear mixing to obtain substantially spherical beads of a desired size.
US08658186B2	Fragrancing transparent solid composition based on fatty acid salts and on an oxyethylenated fatty alcohol; and stabilization method The invention relates to a fragrancing aqueous transparent solid composition in a cosmetically acceptable support: a) at least one aqueous phase and b) at least one fatty acid salt (soap) and c) at least one oxyethylenated fatty alcohol of formula (I) below: CH3(CH2)x—CH2—(CH2CH2OH)y—OH (I) in which x is an integer greater than 20 and preferably ranging from 21 to 30 and y varies from 1 to 20 and d) at least one fragrancing substance. The present invention also relates to a method of stabilizing a fragrancing aqueous transparent solid composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable support: a) at least one aqueous phase and b) at least one fatty acid salt and c) at least one fragrancing substance, characterized by the fact that it comprises adding, to said composition, at least one polyoxyethylenated fatty alcohol of formula (I).
US08658184B2	Glass flakes, and the use thereof as transparent filler The present invention relates to glass flakes and to the use thereof, in particular as transparent filler in cosmetic formulations. Glass flakes having certain dimensions are suitable, owing to their transparency, as filler in cosmetic formulations since they do not change the basic color of the formulation and at the same time improve the skin feel.
US08658176B2	Lipidated tumor-associated antigens and immunotherapeutic compositions Disclosed are polypeptides and fusion proteins. Also disclosed are related immunotherapeutic compositions and methods.
US08658175B2	Anti-EGFR antibodies and their uses The present invention relates to antibodies directed to EGFR and uses of such antibodies, for example, to treat diseases associated with the activity and/or overproduction of EGFR.
US08658173B2	Anti-mesothelin antibodies This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and become internalized by mesothelin-positive cells and also induce an immune effector activity such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to mesothelin expressing cells as well as eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives, such as human, humanized, and chimeric monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, mammalian cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, derivatives and fragments, and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies, derivatives and fragments.
US08658172B2	Treatment of metastatic breast cancer The present invention relates to the use of an anti-EpCAM antibody for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The present invention further relates to a method of treating metastatic breast cancer comprising administering said anti-EpCAM antibody.
US08658169B2	Antibodies against IL-25 The present invention relates to IL-25 antibody VH domains and target binding members (e.g., antibodies) that comprise such antibody VH domains and bind IL-25. The invention also relates to compositions comprising target binding members {e.g., antibodies) that bind IL-25, methods of producing such target binding members, and uses of such target binding members for the treatment or prevention of diseases and conditions (e.g., asthma, inflammatory bowel disease).
US08658165B2	Method of treating aberrant mucus production in respiratory disease The present invention relates to modulators of the Neuregulin (NRG) family, particularly NRG1 and more particularly NRG1β, and most particularly NRG1β1. The present invention also relates to the use of such modulators to inhibit goblet cell hyperplasia and therefore also relates to the use of such modulators in the treatment or prevention of human diseases and disorders featuring pathological mucus production such as COPD, CF, chronic bronchitis and asthma.
US08658162B2	Dose escalation enzyme replacement therapy for treating acid sphingomyelinase deficiency The invention relates to dose escalation enzyme replacement therapy using acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) for the treatment of human subjects having acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD), and, in particular, patients with non-neurological manifestations of Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD), and in certain embodiments, NPD type B.
US08658161B2	Solubilized CoQ-10 The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08658159B2	Method to induce and expand therapeutic alloantigen-specific human regulatory T cells in large-scale Methods for inducing, expanding, and/or generating alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells. Alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells can be induced, expanded, and/or generated from naive CD4+CD25− T cells by using CD40-activated B cells. The regulatory T cells can be human T cells. In one embodiment, the alloantigen-specific human regulatory T cells can be CD4highCD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.
US08658153B2	Bifidobacterial species New bacterium GC61 belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, probiotic compositions comprising said bacterium, particularly food products, and use of said bacterium in the treatment of diseases, such as gastrointestinal diseases.
US08658149B2	Conjugates of a polymer, a bisphosphonate and an anti-angiogenesis agent and uses thereof in the treatment and monitoring of bone related diseases Conjugates of polymers or copolymers having attached thereto an anti-angiogenesis agent and a bisphosphonate bone targeting agent, and processes of preparing same, are disclosed.Pharmaceutical compositions containing these conjugates and uses thereof in the treatment of bone related disorders are also disclosed.
US08658143B2	Optically appealing cosmetic or dermatological preparation A cosmetic or dermatological preparation which comprises an aluminum containing antiperspirant active ingredient, an α-hydroxycarboxylic acid, water and optionally, a plurality of particles in a stably suspended state. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08658140B2	Compositions and methods for treating keratinous substrates The disclosure relates to compositions and methods of using the compositions to treat keratinous substrates. The compositions provide a water resistant and non-transferable protective barrier on the substrate. The compositions contain at least one polyamine, at least one acid, at least one water-insoluble ingredient, solvent and optionally at least one auxiliary ingredient. The methods for treating keratinous substrates involve contacting the keratinous substrates with the compositions of the disclosure.
US08658131B2	Compounds comprising 4-benzoylpiperidine as a sigma-1-selective ligand Bipiperidinyl compounds and salts thereof are disclosed. The compounds include high affinity ligands for σ1 receptors. Some compounds are also highly selective for σ1 receptor compared to σ2 receptor. Compounds can comprise radioisotopes, including 18F or 11C. Radiolabeled compounds can be used as probes for imaging distribution of σ1 receptor in a subject such as a human using positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.
US08658130B2	Agricultural compositions Suggested are agrochemical compositions, comprising (a) biocides, and (b) alkoxylation products of di- and/or oligosaccharide esters.
US08658127B2	Method of manufacturing mesoporous zeolite agglomerates A method of preparing a mesoporous zeolite material is disclosed. The method comprises forming template-occluded primary metal-doped silicate particles having an amorphous structure and aggregating the particles into mesoporous agglomerates. The amorphous structure is further transformed into a microporous nanocrystalline zeolite structure, thereby forming a mesoporous zeolitic material. Forming the mesoporous zeolite material includes removing the template from the template-occluded particles.
US08658125B2	Positive electrode active material and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing the same The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material comprising a lithium-containing composite oxide containing nickel with an oxidation state of 2.0 to 2.5 and manganese with an oxidation state of 3.5 to 4.0, the oxidation state determined by the shifts of energy at which absorption maximum is observed in the X-ray absorption near-K-edge structures, and to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the same, the positive electrode active material being characterized in having a high capacity, a long storage life and excellent cycle life.
US08658121B2	Method and apparatus for adjusting the concentration of acids or lyes A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
US08658118B2	High purity crystalline silicon, high purity silicon tetrachloride for processes for producing the same An object of the present invention is to provide more inexpensive high purity crystalline silicon which can satisfy not only a quality required to a raw material of silicon for a solar cell but also a part of a quality required to silicon for an up-to-date semiconductor and a production process for the same and provide high purity silicon tetrachloride used for production of high purity crystalline silicon and a production process for the same. The high purity crystalline silicon of the present invention has a boron content of 0.015 ppmw or less and a zinc content of 50 to 1000 ppbw. The production process for high purity crystalline silicon according to the present invention is characterized by that a silicon tetrachloride gas and a zinc gas are supplied to a vertical reactor to react them at 800 to 1200° C., whereby crude crystalline silicon is formed at a chip part of a silicon tetrachloride gas-supplying nozzle, and the crude crystalline silicon is grown downward from the chip part of the silicon tetrachloride gas-supplying nozzle; the grown crude crystalline silicon is discharged to an outside of the reactor, and the discharged crude crystalline silicon is subjected to acid treatment.
US08658114B2	Methods for recovering cobalt from copper solvent extraction raffinate A method for extracting cobalt from copper raffinate. First, a supply of raffinate containing at least cobalt, copper, ferric iron and nickel, is provided. The raffinate is pretreated by one or all of raising the raffinate pH level; removing solids; and, reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron. Substantially all copper is removed using first ion exchange resin selective for copper. A second ion exchange resin selective for both cobalt and nickel is used to remove the cobalt and nickel. Cobalt and nickel are separately eluted from the second ion exchange resin.
US08658111B2	Droplet actuators, modified fluids and methods The present invention provides droplet actuators, modified fluids and methods relating to droplet operations. An aspect includes a droplet actuator including a droplet operations substrate; an oil based filler fluid on the droplet operations substrate comprising an oil soluble additive in the filler fluid; and a droplet in contact with the oil based filler fluid. Still other aspects are provided.
US08658109B2	Use of a bis-maleic anhydride cross-linking agent for fixation of a cell or tissue sample The present disclosure relates to novel bis-maleic anhydrides and to the surprising discovery that bis-maleic anhydride cross-linking agents can be used for preservation/fixation of a cell or tissue sample. Various bis-maleic anhydride cross-linking agent scan be used in methods requiring fixation of a cell or tissue sample. These reagents and methods are especially useful in procedures that require that the fixation agent be removed in order to facilitate analysis with other reagents. The inventive reagents and methods make it easier to reliably assay for various proteins, a nucleic acid and the like using analytical methods such as like immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and the like.
US08658106B2	System and method for sanitizing a handle A system and method are provided for sanitizing a gas pump handle. A cover at least partially encloses the gas pump handle. The cover is able to be moved from a covered position to an uncovered position. Located on the cover are one or more nozzles or foggers for dispensing sanitizing fluid onto the handle. Sensors detect the position of the cover or the detect whether or not the handle is in the rest position. A controller, in communication with the sensors, sends a command to a pump to spray sanitizer through the nozzle or foggers after a user has pumped gas and returned the handle or the cover to the rest position.
US08658103B2	Exhaust gas processing device An exhaust gas processing device includes a pillar honeycomb structure, a first inorganic mat member, a first cylindrical metallic member, a second inorganic mat member, a second cylindrical metallic member, and an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a thickness of about 20 μm to about 400 μm and is provided at least one of a first part between an inner surface of the first cylindrical metallic member and the first inorganic mat member, a second part between an outer surface of the first cylindrical metallic member and the second inorganic mat member, and a third part between an inner surface of the second cylindrical metallic member and the second inorganic mat member.
US08658100B2	Pressure relief in high pressure processing system The present disclosure provides a system and method for responding to an unintended increase in pressure within a high pressure processing system. The system and method of the present disclosure provides a pressure relief system that releases pressure reliably even if the material under pressure is of mixed phase. In addition, the system and method for releasing pressure avoids the need for complex subsystems to contain and process materials that escape the system during the pressure release process.
US08658098B2	Portable detection system for allergic diseases A portable detection system for allergic diseases includes a filtration-based inspection module and a reader module. The filtration-based inspection module includes an FPW sensor and a liquid sample filtration apparatus, wherein the liquid sample filtration apparatus includes an injection opening, a passage module, a filtering membrane and a gathering aperture. The injection opening is in communication with the gathering aperture. The FPW sensor comprises a frame body, a carrier and a sensing chip having an accommodating slot in communication with the gathering aperture. The carrier comprises a plurality of conductive terminals, and the conductive terminals are electrically connected with the sensing chip. The reader module comprises a connection slot capable of being inserted by the conductive terminals of the carrier.
US08658095B2	High temperature and pressure oxidation-reduction potential measuring and monitoring device for hot water systems A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, an oxidation-reduction potential probe, a temperature detector, and an external pressure-balanced reference electrode assembly. Each component of the device works in conjunction with the other components and each has electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.
US08658093B2	Devices and methods for the detection of analytes System and methods for detecting analytes such as pathogenic cells are described. The methods allow for the direct measurement of analytes such as pathogenic organisms without the need for sample preparation and/or PCR. The devices can be used individually as point-of-use sensors for airborne pathogens and other pathogenic organisms in foods and agriculture products.
US08658092B2	Sterilization system and method and orifice inlet control apparatus therefor A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide. The path through the diffusion restriction can be closed to allow the pressure in a sterilization chamber to be lowered prior to receiving the concentrated germicide.
US08658091B2	Using supercritical carbon dioxide to remove residual EtO from sutures Treating absorbable sutures that have been sterilized using ethylene oxide with carbon dioxide at or near its supercritical pressure and temperature conditions to remove any residual ethylene oxide.
US08658089B2	Membrane concentrator Apparatus for concentrating a nebulant comprising a nebulant flow conduit and a counter-flow conduit, or preferably, a plurality of alternating nebulant flow conduits and corresponding counter-flow conduits eg in layered or coaxial arrangement, and wherein at least a portion of the nebulant flow conduit and said counter-flow conduits define respective opposed sides of a gas permeable membrane. In use a nebuliser is in communication with the nebulant flow conduit and the nebulant flow and counter-flow are in the same or opposite directions and act to concentrate the amount of active in a droplet eg from 35 wt % to 60 wt % hydrogen peroxide in water to disinfect and/or sterilize an article.
US08658088B1	Hand-held device with reagents and method for detection and diagnostics A hand-held device and method of processing a biological threat agent sample such that any infectious organism is rendered harmless while preserving it for subsequent testing, the method comprising placing a sample comprising a biological threat agent in a reservoir; adding a first reagent comprising peracetic acid in sufficient concentration to reach a predetermined minimal concentration after mixing with the sample in the reservoir; inactivating the sample upon interaction of the sample with the first reagent for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature; removing the inactivated sample from the reservoir; and providing the inactivated sample for subsequent diagnostic testing, wherein the subsequent diagnostic testing is unaffected by inactivation of the sample. In another embodiment, the first reagent comprises a cupric salt, which is mixed with ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide to generate cupric ascorbate.
US08658087B2	Method of treating substances in divided solid form for thermal debacterization, and an installation for implementing said method The invention relates to a method of treating substances in divided solid form for thermal debacterization, in which the substances are stirred in a closed enclosure provided internally with controlled heating contact wall means acting directly on the substances while they are being stirred. In accordance with the invention, the substances for treatment are previously mixed, prior to reaching an inlet to the closed enclosure, with an anti-clumping agent likewise in the form of divided solids, the mixture then being stirred in the closed enclosure while being subjected to the combined action of the heating contact walls and of the superheated wet steam, and being recovered at an outlet of the closed enclosure.
US08658080B2	Method for blow molding containers A method for blow molding containers in blow molds of a device operated with the recovery of air from the blow molds, where operation is accomplished consecutively in a preblow stage with a low pressure and at least two further blow stages with respective higher pressures, and where subsequently, in a recovery phase with several pressure stages, air is fed from the respective blow mold, air from the blow mold is first fed into the volumes allocated to the preblow stage, with priority over a feeding at least into the volume allocated to the pressure stage following the preblow stage. Further, a blow control and a control means for the pressure in the volume, where the blow control has a program section for primarily feeding air first into the volume, and possibly for limiting the pressure in the volume to a multiple of the pressure.
US08658078B2	Device and method for a layerwise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object from a building material in powder form A method is provided, by which a three-dimensional object is manufactured by a subsequent solidification of layers of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that corresponds to the cross-section of the object by means of the action of a laser or another energy source,wherein as building material in powder form a material is used which contains the old powder that has remained as unsolidified powder in the manufacturing of one or more previously formed objects and a proportion of new powder that has not been used before in any manufacturing process, characterized in that the building material in powder form is mechanically consolidated when a layer is applied.
US08658073B2	Crawler belt, crawler unit and method for manufacturing crawler belt ThemeTo provide a crawler unit having a light-weight and high-strength crawler belt.Means to SolveA crawler belt 20 comprises an endless steel belt 21 (high-tensile-strength belt) and a belt main body 22 made of rubber and attached around an outer periphery of the steel belt 21. The steel belt 21 has engagement holes 21a arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction thereof. The belt main body 22 has escape recesses 23a formed therein. A wheel 10 has projections 12a arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The projections 12a are adapted to be engaged with the engagement holes 21a of the steel belt 21 and at the same time to enter the escape recesses 23a of the belt main body 22.
US08658066B2	Chemiluminescent powders and methods of making and using thereof Described herein are chemiluminescent powders that can be applied to a variety of substrates or incorporated into a variety of articles that are generally sensitive to existing chemiluminescent compositions. Methods for producing the chemiluminescent compositions are also provided.
US08658065B2	Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals having 1-dimensional quantum confinement and methods of making the same A nanocrystal described herein comprises a semiconductor material MX, wherein M is a group II or a group III element and X is a group V or a group VI element to provide a II/VI compound or a III/V compound, the nanocrystal having lateral dimensions and a vertical dimension having the shortest axis, wherein surfaces of the nanocrystal normal or substantially normal to the axis of the vertical dimension comprise a layer of M ions passivated by a counter ion chemical species.
US08658061B2	Electrically conductive polymer compositions The present invention relates to electrically conductive polymer compositions, and their use in organic electronic devices. The electrically conductive polymer compositions include (i) an intrinsically conductive polymer having at least one monomer unit which is a pyridine-fused heteroaromatic and (ii) a fluorinated acid polymer.
US08658059B2	Liquid crystal composite material and liquid crystal electro-optical display device A liquid crystal composite material and a liquid crystal electro-optical display device are provided. A liquid crystal composite material, includes: a liquid crystal; a polymer; and a modified inorganic layered material, wherein the modified inorganic layered material is formed by modifying an inorganic layered material with a conjugated oligomer, and the conjugated oligomer has a quaternary ammonium group or sulfonate group.
US08658049B2	Method for manufacturing a touch panel A method for manufacturing a touch panel includes the following steps. A mother plate is provided. A plurality of adhesive materials are formed on the mother plate. A plurality of cover glasses are disposed on the adhesive materials respectively. The adhesive materials are cured, whereby the cover glasses are attached to the mother plate. A plurality of circuit units are formed on the cover glasses respectively. The cover glass having the circuit unit is removed from the mother plate, wherein the bonding strength of the cured adhesive material is within a range about between 5 g/25 mm and 600 g/25 mm, whereby the adhesive material provides enough adhesive force between the cover glass and the mother plate, and the adhesive material cannot be stayed on a surface of the cover glass during a removing process.
US08658045B1	Oil spill recovery vessel and method therefore An oil skimmer system on a marine vessel. The preferred embodiment contemplates a pickup wing pivotally mounted between two hulls in the forward section of the marine vessel, which is formed to collect and direct the oil to the pickup wing. The pickup wing is dynamically repositionable, the pickup wing mount having provided a mechanism for vertically positioning the unit in real time such that the front of the pickup wing is situated just below the water surface, to provide maximum collection of contaminants (in this case, hydrocarbons) floating thereupon. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pickup wing has a “teardrop” cross sectional profile, and is configured such that fluid motion over the its forward section, either from vessel motion or fluid current, provides a skimming action, so as to urge the surface contaminants over the wing and into a recovery area, where it is separated from the water and pumped into a collection tank.
US08658040B2	Modular valve system for countercurrent chromatography process The invention relates to a chromatographic process for substance separation in the context of the preparation of chemicals such as, for example, chiral pharmaceuticals, isomers or biomolecules on the small-scale and production scale, based on Simulated Moving Bed (SMB=countercurrent chromatography) technology.
US08658039B2	Sonication for improved particle size distribution of core-shell particles In one or more embodiments, a porous composite particulate material includes a plurality of composite particles including an acid-base-resistant core particle at least partially surrounded by one or more layers of acid-base-resistant shell particles. The shell particles are adhered to the core particle by a polymeric material. The shell particles and/or core particles may be made from an acid-base-resistant material that is stable in harsh chemical conditions. During application of the polymeric material/shell particle bilayer, the core particles are sonicated to homogenize the particle size distribution and minimize agglomeration of particles. Multiple bilayers of polymer/shell particles may be applied. In one embodiment, the core particle comprises generally spherical glassy carbon, while the shell particles may comprise nano-sized diamond particles. Other acid-base-resistant materials may be employed. The porous composite particulate materials may be used in separation technologies, including, but not limited to, chromatography and solid phase extraction.
US08658037B2	Method for determining physiological state of microbial community and wastewater treatment method The present invention provides a method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community, which rapidly and precisely determines the physiological state of a microbial community present in a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility; and a wastewater treatment method utilizing the same. In the method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community of the present invention, the method includes the steps of staining the microbial community collected from a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility with a first fluorescent dye which binds to a nucleotide chain of a microbe in the microbial community, and a second fluorescent dye which is degraded by an enzyme in cells of the microbe to emit fluorescent light having a wavelength different from that of the first fluorescent dye; measuring a first fluorescent intensity (F1) derived from the first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent intensity (F2) derived from the second fluorescent dye, regarding the stained microbial community; and determining the satisfactory degree of the physiological state of the microbial community.
US08658035B2	Apparatus and method for treating aqueous solutions and contaminants therein The present disclosure is generally directed to devices and methods of treating aqueous solutions to help remove or otherwise reduce levels, concentrations or amounts of one or more contaminants. The present disclosure relates to a apparatus including a substantially self-contained housing or container which is adapted to receive components including at least one counterelectrode (e.g. cathode) and at least one photoelectrode (e.g. anode) provided or arranged around at least one UV light source, and/or receive, contain and/or circulate fluid or aqueous solution.
US08658034B1	Mobile phase preparation device for liquid chromatography A mobile phase delivery device for use with high pressure liquid chromatography includes a manifold having a plurality of inlets, wherein each inlet is fluidly coupled with a solvent source. The manifold further has a mobile phase outlet that outputs a mobile phase, composed of solvent or solvent mixture, onto an analytical line. The device further includes at least one pump for delivering solvent to the manifold, and a fluid branch in the manifold that is located at a point downstream of the plurality of inlets, and is fluidly coupled with at least one of a pressure sensor and a purge valve.
US08658032B2	Filter cartridge A filter cartridge (60, 160) comprising a filter wall (63, 163) having a tubular shape and at least a support plate (61, 161) fixed to an end of the filter wall (63, 163), characterized in that a by-pass conduit (66, 166) is fashioned in the support plate (61, 161), which by-pass conduit (66, 166) is designed to place an internal volume (64, 164) delimited by the filter wall (63, 163) in communication with outside, which by-pass conduit (66, 166) is intercepted by a valve (70, 170) which is associated to the support plate (61, 161) in an out-of-center position with respect to a longitudinal axis (A, A2) of the filter wall (63, 163), the valve (70, 170) comprising an internally-hollow valve body (71, 171), which is provided with a hole (72, 172) suitable for setting the bypass conduit (66, 166) in communication with the internal cavity of the valve body (71, 171), an obturator (73, 174) housed in the internal cavity of the valve body (71, 171), and an elastically-acting element (75, 180) suitable for pressing the obturator (73, 174) against a valve seating (74, 179) such as to close the hole (72, 172), the valve (70, 170) being housed internally of a seating (67, 167) afforded in the support plate (61, 161).
US08658030B2	Method for deasphalting and extracting hydrocarbon oils Provided herein are processes for deasphalting and extracting a hydrocarbon oil. The processes comprise providing an oil comprising asphaltenes and/or other impurities, combining the oil with a polar solvent an extracting agent to provide a mixture, and applying a stimulus to the mixture so that at least a portion of any asphaltenes and/or impurities in the oil precipitate out of the oil.
US08658026B2	Method for producing fuel with renewable content having reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions According to the present invention, organic material is converted to a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons under conditions to hydrogenate the hydrocarbons with the renewable hydrogen.
US08658020B2	Process for upgrading kerosene to gasoline by ring contraction—ring opening—dehydrogenation A process is disclosed for converting distillate to gasoline-range hydrocarbons using a two-stage catalyst system including a first catalyst containing a Group VIII metal and a zeolite, and a second catalyst containing a Group VIII metal, tin and an inorganic oxide support.
US08658018B2	Lubricant base oil blend having low wt% noack volatility A lubricant base oil blend having a wt % Noack volatility less than 29, comprising a) a light base oil fraction having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. between 1.5 and 3.6, and a wt % Noack volatility both between 0 and 100 and less than a Noack Volatility Factor, and b) a petroleum-derived base oil fraction. A process to make the lubricant base oil blend having a wt % Noack volatility less than 29. Also, a pour point depressed lubricant base oil blend having a Brookfield viscosity at −40° C. of less than 18,000 cP, comprising the light base oil fraction, a petroleum-derived base oil fraction, and a pour point depressant.
US08658016B2	Carbon dioxide capture and conversion to organic products Methods and systems for capture of carbon dioxide and electrochemical conversion of the captured carbon dioxide to organic products are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce a solvent to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. Step (B) may capture carbon dioxide with at least one of guanidine, a guanidine derivative, pyrimidine, or a pyrimidine derivative to form a carbamic zwitterion. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between an anode and a cathode sufficient for the cathode to reduce the carbamic zwitterion to a product mixture.
US08658007B2	Oxygen-producing inert anodes for SOM process An electrolysis system for generating a metal and molecular oxygen includes a container for receiving a metal oxide containing a metallic species to be extracted, a cathode positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane positioned to contact a metal oxide housed within the container; an anode in contact with the oxygen-ion-conducting membrane and spaced apart from a metal oxide housed within the container, said anode selected from the group consisting of liquid metal silver, oxygen stable electronic oxides, oxygen stable crucible cermets, and stabilized zirconia composites with oxygen stable electronic oxides.
US08658006B2	System and method for electropolising devices A system and method is described for electropolishing tubular metallic prostheses. In one aspect, the system provides a continuously changing set of points of contact between anode and prosthesis. In another aspect, the cathode is given a conical shape to correct for current concentrations that would otherwise exist and unevenly affect the amount of electropolishing over the length of the prosthesis.
US08658005B2	Electrical-discharge surface-treatment method An electrode for an electrical-discharge surface-treatment method is molded with a metallic powder or a metallic compound powder having an average grain diameter of 6 micrometers to 10 micrometers. A coat on a surface of a workpiece is formed with a material constituting the electrode or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the material due to a pulse-like electrical discharge. The coat is built up with a material containing metal as a main constituent under conditions of a width of a current pulse for the pulse-like electrical discharge in a range of 50 microseconds to 500 microseconds and a peak of the current pulse equal to or less than 30 amperes.
US08658000B2	Preparation method of apigenin and dehydrosilybin mixture using radiation A preparation method of chromenone derivatives using radiation is provided. The preparation method exposes commercially-available silybin in reaction solvent to radiation, to thereby concurrently obtain both dehydrosilybin and apigenin compounds, which are chromenone compounds, in a simple reaction step and with high yield. Because the compounds are prepared at economic cost, the preparation method can be advantageously used particularly for the purpose of mass production. Further, in consideration of good cancer cell viability suppression effect thereof, dehydrosilybin and apigenin prepared according to the preparation method can be advantageously used as a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and treatment of cancer.
US08657998B2	Method and apparatus for particulate removal from moving paper webs An apparatus for removing particulate-carrying air from a moving web. The moving web has a first side and a second side. The apparatus includes a NACA duct positioned in a non-contacting relationship on a first side of the moving web, and at least partially submerged in a particulate-carrying boundary layer of the moving web. The NACA duct can have an intake opening and an exhaust opening such that when the intake opening is submerged in the boundary layer at least a portion of the particulate-carrying air from the boundary layer enters the intake opening and exits the exhaust opening, thereby scavenging particulate-carrying air from said boundary layer.
US08657996B2	Methods of using combinations of a lipase and an oxidant for pitch control in paper making processes and products thereof A method is provided for controlling deposit-forming contaminants that comprise pitch or other fiber components which can interfere with the processing of the fibers, reduce paper quality, or both in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers with a lipase and at least one peroxide source-free oxidant, and optionally nonionic surfactant, to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. Paper products of the method are also provided.
US08657993B2	Articles such as safety laminates and solar cell modules containing high melt flow acid copolymer compositions A process of manufacturing a solar cell module, the process comprising: (i) providing a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and an encapsulant film or sheet consisting essentially of a non-neutralized acid copolymer composition prepared from (a) non-neutralized acid copolymer of an alpha olefin and about 15 to about 23 wt % of alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer, wherein the acid copolymer has a Melt Index of greater than 100 to about 600 g/10 min, and (b) about 0.01 to about 10 wt %, based upon the total weight of the acid copolymer composition, of organic peroxide; and (ii) laminating the pre-laminate assembly to form the solar cell module by subjecting the assembly to heat and, optionally, vacuum.
US08657991B2	Robotic solar panel string assembly process The present invention is directed to a process for manufacture of a solar panel string assembly for a solar canopy including: horizontally aligning two solar panel support channels substantially parallel to one another; applying an adhesive with a robotic tool to an upper portion of the solar panel support channels, the robotic tool comprising a fixed track aligned parallel with the two solar panel support channels, a robotic arm assembly movably supported by the track, a positioning member for adjusting the position of the robotic arm assembly along the track, and wherein the robotic arm comprises an adhesive applicator and a vacuum lift component; and lifting with the vacuum lift component of the robot arm assembly of the robotic tool and aligning a solar panel on top of the two solar panel support channels near opposing edges of the solar panel.
US08657990B2	Nanotube-enhanced interlayers for composite structures Carbon nanotube interlayer assemblies, methods of manufacturing carbon nanotube interlayer assemblies, and methods of manufacturing composite parts with carbon nanotube interlayer assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a composite structure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes producing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on one or both sides of a substrate, and attaching the substrate to a first fiber layer. The method can further include positioning a second fiber layer adjacent to the first fiber layer to position the plurality of carbon nanotubes between the first and second fiber layers. The method can additionally include infusing the first and second fiber layers with resin, and curing the resin. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotube substrate can be attached to the first fiber layer by melt-bonding. In another embodiment, the carbon nanotube substrate can be attached to the first fiber layer with stitches.
US08657988B2	Method for applying carbon nanotube film A method for applying carbon nanotube films is provided. The method includes the following steps. At least one pre-laid supporter is placed on a film application device including a rotation axis and a rotator. The rotator is capable of rotating about the rotation axis, and includes a number of support surfaces, wherein the at least one pre-laid supporter is attached on the plurality of support surfaces. A carbon nanotube film is drawn from a carbon nanotube array that is supported by a supplier. One end of the carbon nanotube film away from the carbon nanotube array is adhered to one of the at least one pre-laid supporter. The rotator is rotates about the rotation axis such that the carbon nanotube film is applied on the at least one pre-laid supporter; and cutting the carbon nanotube film with a cutter.
US08657987B2	Manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing electronic monolithic ceramic components A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing electronic monolithic ceramic components, including a sheet supplier for supplying a plurality of ceramic green sheets of a plurality of types in a predetermined order, and a laminator for laminating the ceramic green sheets supplied by the sheet supplier. A plurality of trays is set in two vertical columns in a rack which is vertically movable. Each tray holds a stack of a plurality of ceramic green sheets of the same type. A particular tray positioned to a predetermined level by the vertical movement of the rack is drawn by a tray drawer device, and one ceramic green sheet is picked up from the tray, and is then conveyed to the laminator. The utilization efficiency of area in the sheet supplier is thus increased.
US08657986B2	Polyurethane plaster for the transdermal application of active substances, and method for the production thereof A method for producing an active substance-containing polyurethane plaster for transdermal application is described, said plaster containing at least one active substance at a highly accurate declared dose. In the described method, a solvent-free active substance-containing polyurethane is produced by reactively coating a solvent-free active substance-containing polyurethane material (40), which is mixed in a coating unit (60) immediately before or during the application process, onto an elastic backing foil (20) that has been rendered non-extensible at least in the direction in which the applied polyurethane material is processed by means of a supporting, adhering auxiliary foil (30) which is at least mono-axially non-extensible.
US08657985B2	Encapsulated organic electronic devices and method for making same Encapsulated organic electronic devices including organic light emitting diodes are made using an adhesive component as a mask while the device is being constructed. An adhesive-coated liner can be applied to the device substrate and openings created therein by removing portions of the liner and adhesive, or a patterned adhesive layer having openings therein can be formed on the device substrate, followed by deposition of the device layers and application of a sealing layer.
US08657984B1	Method for fabricating composite grid-stiffened structures with integrated fluid channels A method for fabricating a grid-stiffened panel which incorporates a network of fluid channels and passageways into the ribs and face sheet is described. The method is comprised of a base tooling assembly, an expansion tooling assembly, a composite prepreg, plugs, a face sheet and a network of valves and pumps, wherein the prepreg is draped over said expansion tooling and assembled with the base tooling assembly to form a rib structure. Channel plugs are placed therein such that gaps between adjacent expansion tooling blocks are filled, and the entire rib structure assembly is autoclaved. The face sheet may be comprised of a plurality of layers, whereby channels are machined into the lower layer(s). The upper layer(s) are bonded to the lower layer(s) to seal the channels, and said face sheet is bonded to the rib structure.
US08657983B2	Pre-lamination core and method for making a pre-lamination core for electronic cards and tags The disclosed pre-lamination core and the method of making such a pre-lamination core includes an electronic component or a non-electronic component, a bottom cover sheet, a top cover sheet, and a layer of thermosetting material between the bottom and top cover sheets. The pre-lamination core can be used in the manufacture of cards while using conventional equipment to apply top and bottom overlays to the pre-lamination core.
US08657981B2	Method of making a skin contacting product The present disclosure is directed to a skin contacting product and a method of making same wherein the skin contacting product is formed of a laminated material having at least two distinct layers including a fabric layer and a film layer. The laminated material also has a film-like surface on a selected surface portion of the fabric layer which is formed by applying heat to the selected surface portion. The heat is applied at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the film-like surface wherein the temperature and the period of time are dependent upon the physical characteristics of the laminated material.
US08657980B2	Process for making a glass brick and brick obtained by said process A process for making a brick comprises the steps of prearranging at least one pair of half-shells (3a, 3b) and fixing said half-shells (3a, 3b) to each other to define a main body (2) of the brick with a cavity {4} therein. The process further comprises the step of introducing a preset quantity of argon into said cavity (4), A brick comprises a pair of half-shells (3a, 3b) fixed to each other to define a main body (2) of said brick (1); said main body (2) exhibits an inner cavity (4); said cavity (4) holds a preset quantity of argon.
US08657979B2	Method of manufacturing a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure A fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure and a method of manufacturing the bladder and reinforcing structure are disclosed. In general, the reinforcing structure extends around the bladder, and the reinforcing structure is bonded to an exterior of the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure is recessed into the bladder and extends along side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process.
US08657976B2	Continuous web of optical film laminate with predefined slit lines, and method and system for manufacturing the same An optical film laminate that has predefined slit lines for enhancing both product accuracy and manufacturing speed in liquid-crystal display element manufacturing to radically improve manufacturing yield. The optical film laminate formed as a continuous web with the predefined slit lines for use in a continuous manufacturing system by laminating optically functional film sheets to liquid-crystal panels. The optical film laminate having defect-free regions having a predefined length corresponding to the dimension of a liquid-crystal panel and defective regions having a predefined length different from the defect-free region, based on the detected position of defects. The optical film laminate having a carrier film releasably laminated to an adhesive layer, wherein defect-free normal polarizing sheets and a defective polarizing sheets are formed on the carrier film by forming slit lines corresponding to above regions along the transverse direction of the optical film laminate.
US08657969B2	High-strength galvanized steel sheet with excellent formability and method for manufacturing the same A high strength galvanized steel sheet has a TS of 590 MPa or more and excellent processability. The component composition contains, by mass %, C: 0.05% to 0.3%, Si: 0.7% to 2.7%, Mn: 0.5% to 2.8%, P: 0.1% or lower, S: 0.01% or lower, Al: 0.1% or lower, and N: 0.008% or lower, and the balance: Fe or inevitable impurities. The microstructure contains, in terms of area ratio, ferrite phases: 30% to 90%, bainite phases: 3% to 30%, and martensite phases: 5% to 40%, in which, among the martensite phases, martensite phases having an aspect ratio of 3 or more are present in a proportion of 30% or more.
US08657958B2	CVD-Siemens monosilane reactor process with complete utilization of feed gases and total recycle The present invention relates to a monosilane (SiH4) and hydrogen recycle process/system for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of monosilane-based CVD polysilicon. In particular, the present invention relates to the substantially complete silane utilization and unconverted (from the reactor) contamination-free complete silane and hydrogen recycle process of producing polysilicon chunk materials via the decomposition of gaseous silane precursors.
US08657955B2	Melt composition for gallium nitride single crystal growth and method for growing gallium nitride single crystal It is provided a melt composition for growing a gallium nitride single crystal by flux method. The melt composition contains gallium, sodium and barium, and a content of barium is 0.05 to 0.3 mol % with respect to 100 mol % of sodium.
US08657954B2	Alkali-activated aluminosilicate binder containing glass beads The invention relates to a mixture containing an alkali-activated aluminosilicate binder, said mixture, after hardening, containing at least 25% by weight of glass beads, based on the total mass. The hardened product has a surface which has very little tendency to soil and is easy to clean. A process for the preparation of the mixture according to the invention and the use thereof as joint filler are disclosed.
US08657953B2	Cement additive A cementitious material manufactured by a process including adding, after pyroprocessing, at least one desugared molasses to at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material during manufacture of the at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material. A method of manufacturing a cementitious material including adding, after pyroprocessing, at least one desugared molasses to at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material during manufacture of the at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material.
US08657952B2	Bone graft substitute composition A composition includes calcium sulfate hemihydrate, stearic acid, an accelerant, and a mixing solution. The composition can be injected, e.g., through a needle, and is capable of setting, e.g., in vivo, in a relatively short period of time to a relatively high hardness.
US08657951B2	Manufactured item for the building industry A manufactured item for the building industry is disclosed, made mainly of bottom ash and/or debris coming from incineration processes of municipal solid waste or of waste which may be assimilated thereto and/or of RDF and of one or more binders. Such manufactured item may have the shape of small bricks, bricks, blocks, small blocks, curbs, interlocking paving blocks, panels, tiles, prefabricated slabs, beams, elements for walls, modular building elements, indoor and outdoor cladding elements, blocks, rocks, supports. Moreover, a process for the manufacture of an item for the building industry is disclosed, from bottom ash and/or debris coming from incineration processes of municipal solid waste or of waste which may be assimilated thereto and/or of FDR wherein the ash and/or debris undergo an oxidation process of the amphoteric metals and mixed with a binder.
US08657944B2	Inkjet ink The present invention pertains to an aqueous inkjet ink comprising pigment stabilized to dispersion with anionic dispersant, wherein cations present in the ink comprise a mixture, in a certain molar ratio, of lithium and one or more of sodium, potassium, rubidium and/or cesium. The inks exhibit greatly extended latency.
US08657943B2	1-hydroxy-2-O-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine compounds, preparation process, antifouling composition, process for its preparation, method to prevent fouling, method to turn a surface into an antifouling surface, and, covered surface 1-OH-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine compounds and its analogs, pure or mixed, having formula WCH2CHXCH2PO3YCH2CH2Z, where W is preferably a hydroxyl group or an O-acyl group containing from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, and where X is preferably an O-acyl group containing from 2 to 22 carbon atoms or a hydroxyl (OH) and where Y may be an (O−) or OH and where Z is preferably a trimethyl-ammonium group [N+(CH3)3] can be protonated dimethyl ammonium [N+H(CH3)2] group. In the O-acyl groups containing 18 carbon atoms can be observed from 0 to 3 instaurations, useful as biocidal agents; processes for their preparation; and antifouling compositions, preferably paints useful in susceptible fouling surfaces, such as hulls of vessels. Methods to turn a surface into an antifouling surface, to a method to prevent fouling and to the antifouling surfaces comprising a coating of the said antifouling composition.
US08657940B2	Separation and capture of liquids of a multiphase flow Assembly to separate a multiphase flow, comprising at least one compact separation unit chosen among an in-line deliquidiser and an in-line phase splitter, said compact separation unit is arranged to receive the multiphase flow for separation thereof to a gas flow and a mainly liquid containing flow, an outlet for gas, arranged to receive the gas flow from the compact separation unit and possible additional gas flows, one or more conduit separators, arranged to receive the mainly liquid containing flow from the compact separation unit and any additional liquid containing flows, having an outlet for liquid from the at least one conduit separator in a low-lying part thereof.
US08657939B2	Air dryer cartridge for a compressed air treatment system of a vehicle An air dryer cartridge for a compressed air treatment system of a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle, has a spring cover and a support element, which together define a volume of the air dryer cartridge in the assembled state of the air dryer cartridge. A desiccant box arranged inside the volume and filled with a desiccant is provided. The spring cover and the carrier element can be coupled via a snap connection.
US08657938B2	Air-supply system for breathing Disclosed is a system for supplying breathing air to a work space, which adopts a triple air-supply structure including a main air-supply unit for compressing, drying and filtering air supplied from the atmosphere so that breathing air is supplied to the work space, a plant air-supply unit for supplying industrial air used in a process plant to the work space, and an emergency air-supply unit for supplying breathing air to the work space in an emergency, wherein the operation of respective air-supply units is organically controlled, thus increasing the reliability of the air supply.
US08657936B2	Direct replacement air filter with automatic filter media advance and wireless communications The invention is directed to a direct replacement air filtration or handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a housing. A motor in communication with a controller and having an at least one sensor input or a timer or a transceiver and processing module. A filter media storage area is located on one end of the housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area. An exposed filter media containment area is located on an opposed end within the housing with the filter media extending therebetween. The filter media being paid out or advanced from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel as it removes contaminants from the air. The motor can be activated by said controller in response to input from the at least one sensor or based on a timed input from said timer and rotate an at least one movement member to move the filter media across the exposure area. This allows for higher efficiency operation and reduces maintenance and energy costs. The sensors and communications capability allow for the use of the filter in providing Air Quality Management (AQM). AQM allows the filter to monitor the quality of the air as it passes through the filter and interact with a network system to monitor the air quality at the point of filtration.
US08657935B2	Combination of expansion and cooling to enhance separation A method and system for expanding, separating, and compressing a multi-phase fluid. An expander receives and expands the multi-phase fluid to generate a lower-pressure fluid which can more efficiently be separated in a separator. Expanding the fluid also drives a main shaft adapted to drive at least the separator and a compressor coupled thereto. The separator receives the lower-pressure fluid, separates any higher-density components from the lower-density components disposed therein, and provides a substantially dry gas to the compressor to be re-compressed and discharged from the system.
US08657931B2	Gearbox deoiler with sychnronizer A gearbox that includes an inlet configured to receive a mixture of air and oil from an external source and a deoiler. The deoiler includes a shaft including an outlet passage formed on an inner portion of the shaft, a separator unit coupled to and surrounding a portion of the shaft and including an inlet port, and a synchronizer including one or more blades and that is coupled to the shaft proximate the inlet port.
US08657929B2	Method for treating exhaust gas Presented is a method and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas. A series of filters and conditioning units are used to separate and extract various substances from the exhaust gas, typically originating from an industrial process. In an exemplary embodiment, a cyclone filter, a ceramic filter, a baghouse filter, and a pair of gas conditioners are used to initially separate and extract iron-rich dust from an exhaust gas and then extract zinc from the gas.
US08657926B2	Device and method for condensing water A device for condensing water includes a container with a plurality of openings and a heat transfer zone arranged in an interior of the container. The heat transfer zone includes a bulk material layer and/or a fiber layer and/or a textile layer and/or a grid layer and/or a lattice layer and/or a perforated plate. The interior of the container is subdivided by the heat transfer zone into a first zone and a second zone. Further, the heat transfer zone has at least in sections an open porosity and/or channels through which process gas can flow from the first zone to the second zone and through which a further process gas in the form of cooling gas can flow in a reverse direction. A permeable region of the heat transfer zone partially includes materials which have a thermal conductivity of more than 20 W(mK)−1 in a temperature range up to 300° C.
US08657925B2	Method for flue gas scrubbing A method of scrubbing flue gas includes introducing flue gas comprising an acidic gas through an inlet into a tower; spraying an acid-absorptive fluid into the tower such that the acid-absorptive fluid contacts the flue gas; accumulating the acid-absorptive fluid in a recycle tank portion of the tower; and introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the acid-absorptive fluid in the recycle tank portion of the tower, wherein the oxygen-containing gas is introduced through at least one opening of an aerator, each of the at least one openings are positioned to release the oxygen-containing gas at least at a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined radial distance from the flue gas inlet, the predetermined radial distance being equal to at least 10% of a diameter of the recycle tank portion of the tower.
US08657923B2	Microporous carbon material, manufacturing method thereof, and hydrogen storage method using microporous carbon material The present invention provides a microporous carbon material capable of expressing functions that supported metal has while maintaining pore functions that the microporous carbon material inherently possesses. The microporous carbon material 5 includes: a three-dimensional long-range ordered structure within a range from 0.7 nm or more to 2 nm or less; and micropores 2a, wherein a transition metal 4 is supported on surfaces of the micropores 2a. The microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of and inside the micropores of a porous material containing transition metal, and obtaining a composite of the microporous carbon material containing the transition metal and the porous material by carbonizing the organic compound by a chemical vapor deposition method; and removing the porous material. Alternatively, the microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of a porous material and obtaining a microporous carbon material by a chemical vapor deposition method; and supporting the transition metal on a surface of the microporous carbon material by immersing and impregnating the microporous carbon material in a transition metal salt solution.
US08657922B2	Pressure swing adsorption-type gas separation method and separation apparatus A method which separates a component which is easily adsorbed by an adsorbent and a component which is not easily adsorbed by the adsorbent, from a feed gas which includes at least two kinds of components, with adsorption columns, wherein the adsorbent is filled in the adsorption columns and has strong adsorbability with respect to at least one kind of component included in the feed gas, and also has weak adsorbability with respect to at least one kind of other components included in the feed gas, and a temperature of the adsorbents which is filled in the column is maintained to be higher than the highest temperature of an ambient temperature around the adsorption columns which is variable throughout the year.
US08657921B2	Shell and tube heat exchanger and method for removing volatile substances from a polymer solution A shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for removing volatile substances from a polymer solution by degasification, includes a bundle of tubes arranged vertically and parallel to each other in a shell chamber through which a fluid heat-transfer medium flows. The upper end of each tube is fixed in an upper tube sheet and the lower end of each tube is fixed in a lower tube sheet, and the polymer solution flows through the tubes in the direction of gravity. One feature is that a multilayer woven wire fabric is attached to the top of the upper tube sheet. The finest meshed layer of the fabric has a mesh width of 50 μm to 1000 μm. The invention also relates to a method for removing volatile substances from a polymer solution by degasification in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger and use of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
US08657920B2	Apparatus for purifying hydrogen and method for using the same An apparatus and method purify hydrogen from a mixed fluid containing gaseous hydrogen, gaseous oxygen, and liquid water. The apparatus has a mixed fluid channel through which the mixed fluid flows; a first gas channel through which a mixed gas containing gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen flows; a second gas channel through which gaseous hydrogen or oxygen flows; a gas-liquid separating membrane forming a wall between the mixed fluid channel and the first gas channel, separating the mixed gas from the mixed fluid of the mixed fluid channel, and providing the separated mixed gas to the first gas channel; and a hydrogen or oxygen separating membrane forming a wall between the first gas channel and the second gas channel, separating gaseous hydrogen or oxygen from the mixed gas of the first gas channel, and providing the separated gaseous hydrogen or oxygen to the second gas channel.
US08657916B2	Pyrometallurgical method A method for the pyrometallurgical processing of sulphide material containing nickel using a fluxing composition that includes calcium. The fluxing composition forms a slag having an Fe/CaO ratio of between about 0.5 and 5.0 by weight and an SiO2/Fe ratio of less than 0.2 by weight.
US08657906B2	Direct replacement air filter with automatic pleated filter media advance The invention is directed to replacement media advancing air filter in air handling units with a flow channel. The filter having a housing and an exposure slot with filter media storage area that has an unexposed pleated, folded filter media portion stored therein. The filter media portion being folded and stacked in and compactly held at least in part within the storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moves a movement member that moves a portion of the filter media from a stored state in the storage area into the exposure slot and is exposed to the air in the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the filter media. The exposed portion is collected within a containment area as a further portion of media is moved into the exposure slot to replace the exposed portion therein.
US08657903B2	Cyclone separator A cyclone separator (100; 100′) including a first cyclone component (10; 10′) having at least one substantially cylindrical cell pipe (12) including a guide device (14), a particle outlet (30) for separated particles, and a second cyclone component (20; 20′) including at least one immersion pipe (22). The immersion pipe (22) is received in the cell pipe (12), at the outflow side end and is connected at least partially to the outflow side end of the cell pipe (12) and includes a central outlet (24) for the purified gas stream.
US08657902B2	Apparatuses for separating catalyst particles from an FCC vapor Apparatuses for separating solid catalyst particles from a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) vapor are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a vessel formed with a vessel wall. A conduit is positioned within the vessel and is configured to direct flow of an FCC vapor-solid stream. The apparatus also includes a channel positioned within the vessel and in fluid communication with the conduit. The channel has a channel inlet with an inlet cross-sectional area and a channel outlet with an outlet cross-sectional area less than about 75% of the inlet cross-sectional area. The channel outlet is configured to direct the vapor-solid stream tangentially toward the vessel wall to separate the solid catalyst particles from the FCC vapor.
US08657898B2	Air filter spin flow inlet/outlet housing An air filtration unit for conveying bulk granular material from a tank trailer, and uses air pressure to achieve granular flow, the air filtration unit incorporates an intake that induces a spiral flow, the unit incorporates a lid at the back end of the filter housing, and a baffle structure at the intake inlet of the unit, to dampen sound.
US08657896B2	High flow rate separator having paired coalescer and demister A separator is disclosed. The separator includes a gas/liquid separator vessel, an enclosure, a coalescer and a demister. The gas/liquid separator vessel has a first end, a second end, a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first separation chamber. The first inlet can be adjacent to the first end. The enclosure is positioned within the first separation chamber of the liquid separator vessel. The enclosure has a second inlet, a second outlet, a drain positioned therebetween, and a second separation chamber. The second inlet can be directed towards the first end of the gas/liquid separator vessel. The second separation chamber defines a flow path for a gas stream in which the flow path passes sequentially through the second inlet, second separation chamber and the second outlet. The coalescer is positioned in the second separation chamber to intercept the flow path of the gas stream. The demister is positioned in the second separation chamber between the coalescer and the second outlet to intercept the flow path of the gas stream.
US08657889B2	Arrangement for holding a substrate in a material deposition apparatus An arrangement (1) for holding a substrate (10) in a material deposition apparatus, which substrate (10) has a deposition side (10a) upon which material (M) is to be deposited, and which arrangement (1) comprises: a shadow mask (20) comprising a number of deposition openings (Di); a support structure (30) comprising a number of surround openings (Si); and a support structure holding means (6) for holding the support mask (30) and/or a substrate holding means (5) for holding the substrate (10), such that the support structure (30) is on the same side as the deposition side (10a) of the substrate (10), and the shadow mask (20) is positioned between the substrate (10) and the support structure (30) such that at least one deposition opening (Di) of the shadow mask (10) lies within a corresponding surround opening (Si) of the support structure (30).
US08657886B2	Systems and methods for actuating a prosthetic ankle Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.
US08657885B2	Pyloric valve obstructing devices and methods Methods, devices and systems facilitate intermittent and/or partial obstruction of a pyloric valve. Devices generally include a support portion for preventing the device from passing through the pyloric valve and a tissue engagement portion for contacting tissue adjacent the pyloric valve to obstruct the valve. Some embodiments also include a positioning member extending from the tissue engagement portion for helping position the device for obstructing the valve. A retaining member may optionally be included on the distal end of the positioning member for further maintaining a position of the device in the stomach. Some embodiments are deliverable into the stomach through the esophagus, either by swallowing or through a delivery tube or catheter. Some embodiments are fully reversible. Some embodiments self-expand within the stomach, while others are inflated or otherwise expanded.
US08657882B2	Expandable intervertebral devices and methods of use The present application is directed to an expandable intervertebral device. One context in which the device may be used is a corpectomy procedure to replace one or more vertebral members. The device is adjustable between a first orientation with a first overall height, and a second orientation with a second overall height. The device generally includes an inner member, an outer member, and a gear. Rotation of the gear causes relative movement between the inner and outer members to move between the first and second orientations and adjust the overall height.
US08657881B2	Meniscal repair scaffold Methods and apparatus for treating meniscal tissue damage are disclosed, including a biocompatible meniscal repair device comprising a biocompatible tissue repair scaffold and a cell growth conduit flap. The tissue repair scaffold is adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in the meniscus and can preferably provide a structure for supporting meniscal tissue and/or encouraging tissue growth. The cell growth conduit flap, which is attached to the tissue repair scaffold, allows communication between the synovium and the tissue repair scaffold.
US08657876B2	Methods and apparatus for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye Apparatus and methodology for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) into an eye. The apparatus includes a cartridge for holding an IOL and a handpiece with a body member for receiving the cartridge, an injector rod that is receivable by the body member, and a drive mechanism that longitudinally oscillates the injector rod in the body member when a rotational force is applied about a longitudinal axis in a single direction. In other words, a constant rotation in a single direction of the drive mechanism causes the injector rod to move distally and proximally in discrete increments, with the distal increments being larger than the proximal increments. Accordingly, the injector rod urges an IOL out of the handpiece in a two-steps-forward, one-step-back manner, thereby minimizing or eliminating the chance of the injector rod engaging with the IOL.
US08657873B2	System for improving cardiac function A system for improving cardiac function is provided. A foldable and expandable frame having at least one anchoring formation is attached to an elongate manipulator and placed in a catheter tube while folded. The tube is inserted into a left ventricle of a heart where the frame is ejected from the tube and expands in the left ventricle. Movements of the elongate manipulator cause the anchor to penetrate the heart muscle and the elongate manipulator to release the frame. The installed frame minimizes the effects of an akinetic portion of the heart forming an aneurysmic bulge.
US08657872B2	Cardiac valve repair system and methods of use Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing or replacing a defective cardiac valve including an anchor having a double helix configured to engage the cardiac valve leaflets of a diseased or defective cardiac valve, and a replacement valve body disposed in an expandable stent configured to be disposed within the anchor so that the anchor limits expansion of the expandable stent. The expandable stent of the replacement valve body may be self-expanding or mechanically expanded, e.g., using a balloon catheter or catheter-based mandrel and the valve body may be formed of animal tissue or a synthetic fabric.
US08657870B2	Implant delivery apparatus and methods with electrolytic release Implant release apparatus includes a connector connecting a lead having an electrolytically erodible portion and a restraint that restrains the implant. In one embodiment, the connector can include or comprise a nonconductive member.
US08657868B2	Rotating stent delivery system for side branch access and protection and method of using same A system for treatment of a vessel bifurcation and its method of use comprises a catheter having a catheter shaft, a portion of which is characterized as an axle about which a rotatable assembly is disposed and rotatable thereabout. The system employs a series of lumens, openings and/or ports to provide a balloon mounted on the rotatable assembly with fluid communication to the catheter shaft.
US08657865B2	Conical balloon for deployment into side branch A bifurcated catheter assembly has an undeployed state and a deployed state. The assembly comprises a bifurcated inflation shaft defining a shaft inner lumen, a first balloon defining a first balloon lumen, and a second balloon defining a second balloon lumen. The inflation shaft has a first inflation shaft defining a first lumen and a second inflation shaft defining a second lumen. The first balloon defines a first balloon lumen which is in fluid communication with the first lumen. The second balloon defines a second balloon lumen which is in fluid communication with the second lumen. The second balloon has a conical shape.
US08657864B2	Portable patient temperature adjustment apparatus and method Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for the in situ or in transit adjustment of the core body temperature of a patient. Devices according to some embodiments include a control unit and pressure chamber adapted to apply a pulsating negative pressure to a limb of the patient. An adjustment temperature applied during the application of the pulsating pressure can heat or cool the patient as necessary. Devices and methods disclosed herein can provide for efficient heating and/or cooling of a patient. In addition, devices and methods provide such functionality in a portable device that can be manually carried by an individual.
US08657863B2	System and method for cooled airflow for dermatological applications A system and method of providing a temperature controlled gaseous medium for dermatological applications is described. The gaseous medium may be cooled and applied to an area such as a skin area to provide an analgesic effect thereon. The system and method also include an automated defrost cycle for minimizing the effects of decreased hydraulic diameter due to freezing.
US08657852B2	Closure device A device for closing an opening in a wall of a body lumen includes a closure element with a first flange and a second flange. Both the first flange and the second flange may have a delivery cross-sectional dimension and a deployed cross-sectional dimension. The device for closing an opening further includes a first coupler element disposed on the first flange and a second coupler element disposed on the second flange, the first and second coupler elements cooperating to couple the first flange to the second flange.
US08657851B2	Surgical tweezers The invention provides tweezers for microsurgery, in particular opthalmological surgery, the tweezers comprising a one-piece working part (1) of U-shape, with the free ends (2a, 3a) of each branch (2, 3) being shaped into a point, the part being derived from a flat blank of thickness (e) constituting the dimension perpendicular to the plane (P) in which the branches (2, 3) move, and elements for manipulating the working part together forming a handle for gripping the tweezers, wherein each element is in the form of an elongate body (4, 5) presenting a convex outside surface (4a, 5a) and a substantially plane surface (4b, 5b) having a longitudinal groove (6, 7) hollowed out therein to house one of the branches (2, 3) of the working part (1), the end of each handle element facing towards the points being provided with centering means (8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) co-operating with a complementary centering member of the corresponding end of the other element.
US08657848B2	Magnetically retrievable vena cava filter and retrieval device therefor The disclosure pertains to magnetically retrievable vena cava filters having a low torque associated therewith when subjected to a strong external magnetic field and retrieval devices therefor. The vena cava filter may include a magnetically permeable sphere or a spherical dipole magnet located within the spherical cavity of the apical hub wherein the spherical dipole magnet is free to rotate about any of three mutually orthogonal axes. The retrieval device is capable of substantially containing the vena cava filter in a collapsed state and includes a magnetically active member capable of interacting with the vena cava filter. The retrieval device may optionally include a supplemental mechanical latch.
US08657847B2	Embolic protection device having expandable trap An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.
US08657846B2	Guide catheter and method of use A system for manipulating a guide catheter within a patient's nasal passages or sinus cavities includes a guide catheter formed from an elongate flexible member having a lumen passing there through. A wire guide is slidably disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system further includes a steering member fixedly secured to a proximal end of the wire guide and a proximal hub secured to a proximal end of the guide catheter. The system further includes a recessed handle having a first recess for fixedly receiving the proximal hub of the guide catheter and a second recess for receiving the steering member, the second recess being dimensioned to permit axial and rotational movement of the steering member while disposed in the second recess.
US08657837B2	Tissue fixation devices and a transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and assembly using same Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together. The fasteners include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. The first and second members are substantially parallel to each other. The fasteners may be deployed in limited spaces and in various applications including the restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve.
US08657835B2	Automated intraocular lens injector device An intraocular lens injection device comprises a tubular housing with a plunger longitudinally disposed within the tubular housing. An electric drive system longitudinally translates the plunger so that its tip engages an insertion cartridge to fold and displace an intraocular lens disposed within and to inject the folded lens into the lens capsule of an eye. A control circuit is configured to start translation of the plunger, responsive to user input, to detect at least one fault condition based on a counter-electromotive force produced by the electric motor, and to stop translation of the plunger assembly responsive to the detected fault condition, which may comprise excessive resistance to forward or rearward translation of the plunger or insufficient resistance to forward translation of the plunger.
US08657834B2	Double offset surgical tool handle assembly having a locking linkage aligned along two different planes A surgical tool handle for releasable connection to a surgical tool is described. The tool handle comprises a housing providing a linkage chamber extending from a proximal housing grip end to a distal housing tool end for receiving a surgical tool. A tool linkage is partially housed within the housing linkage chamber comprising an axial handle region extending along axis A-A and a radiused housing region curving about a focal point. That way, a locking pawl of the tool linkage changes planes from its proximal end to a distal extending hook end. This provides a relatively short connection to a surgical tool that is optimum in the tight space requirements of a minimally invasive hip surgery.
US08657833B2	Double offset surgical tool handle assembly to provide greater offset from the coronal plane A surgical tool handle for releasable connection to a surgical tool is described. The tool handle comprises a housing providing a linkage chamber extending from a proximal housing grip end to a distal housing tool end for receiving a tool. A tool linkage is partially housed within the linkage chamber. That way, manipulation of the tool linkage causes a locking pawl to pivot with respect to the housing from an open configuration ready to receive a tool for attachment to the housing to a closed configuration engageable with the tool supported at the distal housing tool end.
US08657826B2	Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct Apparatus and devices for adding an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. In one arrangement the additional spinal construct extends an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an inline rod connector in a minimally invasive or preferably, percutaneous procedure. In another arrangement, the ipsilateral extension of an existing spinal construct uses an offset rod connector for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.
US08657822B2	Surgical kit for cartilage repair comprising implant and a set of tools A surgical kit for cartilage repair at an articulating surface of a joint, including a medical implant and a set of tools. The medical implant includes a substantially plate shaped implant body having a predetermined cross-section that substantially corresponds to the area of the damaged cartilage. The set of tools includes a guide tool including a positioning body and a guide channel. The positioning body has a cartilage contact surface that has a shape and contour that is designed to correspond to and to fit the contour of the cartilage or subchondral bone in the joint in a predetermined area surrounding the site of diseased cartilage. The guide channel has a cross-sectional profile that is designed to correspond to the cross-section of the plate shaped implant body. Additional tools in the set of tools have a cross-sectional profile that is designed to correspond to the cross-sectional profile of the guide channel.
US08657820B2	Bone plate and keel systems Systems and methods for stabilizing portions of bone are provided. In some aspects, a bone plate system includes a plate configured to be fastened to at least one bone portion. The plate includes a keel slot and a locking assembly. The bone plate system also includes a keel configured to extend into the at least one bone portion through the keel slot. The locking assembly is configured to substantially prevent the keel from dislodging from the plate when the keel extends into the at least one bone portion through the keel slot.
US08657817B2	HF surgical instrument The invention relates to an HF surgical instrument for treating, in particular for cutting and coagulating, biological tissue by means of an HF current. The HF surgical instrument comprises an HF generator for supplying an HF current to a cutting electrode and at least one control device for interrupting an HF current circuit. The control device comprises a current monitoring device, which detects the amplitude of the HF current and then generates a first switch-off signal when the HF current decreases over a defined period of time and/or the HF current falls below a threshold value characterizing a state of the treated tissue, as well as an arc monitoring device, which generates a second switch-off signal when an arc is formed between the cutting electrode and the tissue. The control device is configured in such a way that the HF current circuit is interrupted in response to the first switch-off signal or the second switch-off signal.
US08657813B2	Circular thermal capsulotomy tool and system A system and tool for performing a capsulotomy procedure. The system includes an air pressure unit, a capsulotomy and movement control unit providing electrical current and movement control, and a capsulotomy tool, and an extendable-retractable burning element coupled to the tool, and a slidable shaping element. A capsulotomy and movement control unit provides electrical current to the burning element and movement control for extending and retracting the burning element. When the burning element is in a flattened, retracted configuration, the tip of the tool can be inserted through a relatively small corneal incision. Then, the burning element is opened to a full circular, extended configuration, by pressing the shaping element against both joints of the bands, allowing a capsulotomy by applying an electrical pulse to the burning element.
US08657812B2	Side-firing laser fiber with internal bent fiber and related methods A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment includes a distal end portion of an optical fiber disposed inside a lumen defined along a curved path within a capillary. The distal end surface of the optical fiber can be substantially flush with a portion of an outside surface of the capillary that defines a transmissive portion. The distal end portion of the optical fiber and the curved path can be collectively configured to direct laser energy through the transmissive portion in a lateral or side-fired direction that is offset from a longitudinal axis or centerline of the capillary. In some embodiments, more than one optical fiber can be disposed along the curved path. In other embodiments, more than one curved path can be defined within the capillary such that a distal end portion of an optical fiber can be disposed along each of the curved paths.
US08657806B2	Device suitable for carrying on the body of a user to generate vacuum for medical applications A device for carrying on the body of a user to generate a vacuum for medical applications, having a vacuum-producing device and a disposable vessel, with a suction tube connection leading to Ihe body, wherein the vacuum-producing device is disposed in a first housing part of the device and the vessel forms a second housing part of the device, and the housing parts are separably fixed one against the other, the device having body fastening means. The housing pans can be separably fixed to each other by a positive-action locking mechanisms and the locking mechanism having a manually operable operating element. The first and/or second housing part is constituted for manual gripping so that the device or the first or second housing part can be gripped and separated from the other housing part, and the manually operable operating element is provided in the region of the manual gripping.
US08657805B2	Complex shape steerable tissue visualization and manipulation catheter Complex steerable catheter visualization and tissue manipulation systems and their methods of use are disclosed herein. The deployment catheter is articulated using various steering mechanisms. Tissue visualization is accomplished from the visualization hood at the distal end of the deployment catheter, the hood having an ability to expand and other features to facilitate visualization and articulation at the tissue surface.
US08657802B2	Pull-on wearable article with informational image A pull-on wearable article includes a main portion including an outer cover, the main portion defining a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between and connecting the front and rear waist regions. First and second extendable side panels extend between and connect the main portion front waist region and the main portion rear waist region to form the article in a closed waist configuration, at least a portion of each side panel being extendable between a relaxed state and an extended state. The article defines first and second side regions, each side region including one of the first and second side panels and a transverse region of the main portion bordering the respective side panel. An informational image is disposed in at least the first side region. The article may further include a texture feature formed in an outer surface of the article and positioned proximate to the informational image to form a composite image. Alternatively or additionally, the image includes a cognitively functional graphic.
US08657801B2	Switching device and an irrigation system comprising the device The invention provides a switching device for an irrigation system. The switching device provides selective communication between a supply port to which a supply of fluid under pressure can be attached and a balloon port to which a fixing balloon of a catheter can be attached, and between the supply port and a port to which a liquid reservoir can be attached. By use of a selection handle, the user can deform conduits in a pre-determined sequence and thus control an irrigation procedure by opening and closing fluid flow in various conduits. The invention further provides an irrigation device incorporating the switching device and a method of controlling a fluid flow e.g. in an irrigation system.
US08657800B2	Suction device having a rotary switch A suction device having a rotary switch is provided. A main body of the suction device is provided with a patient-end connector, an oxygen supply connector, a suction connector, a cleaning connector and a connecting portion. The rotary switch is assembled with the connecting portion and can be switched between a first position and a second position. The rotary switch is provided with two opposite suction holes. When the rotary switch is located in the first position, the two suction holes are aligned with the patient-end connector and the suction connector to thereby communicate the patient-end connector with the suction connector. When the rotary switch is located in the second position, the communication between the patient-end connector and the suction connector is shut off.
US08657793B2	Space saving plunger cap and rod assembly A syringe assembly includes a syringe barrel defining a chamber and having a stopper disposed within the chamber, a sleeve having a first end and a second end and extending at least partially about the syringe barrel, and a cap associated with a second end of the sleeve. The syringe assembly also includes a plunger rod having a first end associated with the cap and a second end, wherein the plunger rod is transitionable from a pre-use position, in which at least a portion of the second end of the plunger rod extends along a portion of a barrel sidewall, to a ready-to-use position in which the plunger rod is aligned with the stopper. Upon proximal movement of the sleeve in a direction away from a first end of the barrel, the plunger rod is configured for lateral movement with respect to the cap into the ready-to-use position.
US08657792B1	Medicinal tube lubricating system and associated use thereof A medicine delivering tube capable of transporting fluid from an existing medicine dispensing unit to the patient preferably includes a protective sleeve concentrically positioned about the medicine delivering tube such that a lubricant receiving zone is intercalated between an outer surface of the medicine delivering tube and an inner surface of the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve preferably includes a plurality of holes spaced along a major surface area of the protective sleeve. A lubricant dispensing unit is in fluid communication with the protective sleeve thereby injecting lubricant into the lubricant receiving zone for reducing friction between the outer surface of the medicine delivering tube and the inner surface of the protective sleeve. In this manner, upon applying an external force to the protective sleeve, the lubricant is caused to egress the protective sleeve via the holes thereby reducing friction along an outer surface of the protective sleeve.
US08657790B2	Access device with blunting device A device may include a hollow needle, a dilator mounted coaxially on the needle, and a sheath mounted coaxially on the dilator. The dilator may be slideably displaceable relative to the sheath.
US08657787B2	Injector having low input power A powered injector that stores energy at a low rate when not in use and delivers energy at a high rate during injection. Energy may be stored in a highly responsive energy storage device, such as a capacitor, for rapid delivery of power to the injector motor. In certain embodiments, wires connecting the powered injector to a power supply may be relatively small and inexpensive because the current and voltage loads placed on the wires are relatively low.
US08657786B2	Needle array assembly and method for delivering therapeutic agents A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.
US08657784B1	Catheter stop A catheter stop includes an obstruction attached to a catheter at a location that represents the maximum acceptable insertion depth of the catheter into a tracheal tube without causing damage to a patient or the tube. In one embodiment, the obstruction is a pad having a pair of opposing adhesive wings for securing the pad to the catheter. In another embodiment, the obstruction is formed of a triangular housing having a pair of hinged sections that open and close in a clamshell-type fashion. Each section includes a longitudinal, semi-cylindrical, bore that cooperates with the bore on the other section to form a tubular passageway for accommodating the catheter when the sections are closed. A clamp on an edge of one section detachably engages a latch on the corresponding edge of the other section to secure the housing about the catheter.
US08657781B2	Automated alignment Systems and method are disclosed whereby elongate medical instruments may be registered to adjacent tissue structures and other structures, and may be navigated and operated in a coordinated fashion to maximize ranges of motion, ease of use, and other factors. A method for registering an instrument relative to nearby structures may comprise moving a portion of the instrument between two in situ positions, tracking movement during this movement with both a kinematic model and also a localization sensor based configuration, determining the orientation of the tracked portion relative to both the instrument coordinate system used in the kinematic modeling and also a localization coordinate reference frame, and adjusting the orientation of the instrument coordinate reference frame to minimize the difference between determined orientations using the kinematic model and localization sensors. Methods and configurations for navigating coupled and registered instrument sets are also disclosed.
US08657779B2	Insulin pump based expert system An apparatus comprising a pump configured to deliver insulin, an input configured to receive blood glucose data, a user interface, and a controller communicatively coupled to the pump, the input, and the user interface. The controller includes a blood glucose data module to compare the blood glucose data to a target blood glucose level for an insulin pump user. The controller is configured to present a question related to the blood glucose level via the user interface when the blood glucose level is different than the target blood glucose level, receive a response to the question via the user interface, and present a recommended user action based at least in part on the response. Other devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08657775B2	Method of treating a subject suffering from end stage renal disease against cardiovascular disease The present invention relates to high cut-off hemodialysis membranes for the treatment of chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients, with the potential to improve long-term survival of these patients by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, through down-regulation of monocyte activation in the blood. Monocytes are the major circulating blood cells involved in the progression of cardiovascular disease. High cut-off hemodialysis in chronic dialysis patients results in a sustained decrease in expression of monocyte cell-surface proteins that direct the movement of these cells from the blood to the walls of blood vessels, where they promote the progression of arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD); heart disease, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.
US08657774B1	Spinal decompression device and method of use There is provided a device for use with a patient. The device includes a first load line including an anchor attachment end and a first inline end. The anchor attachment end is sized and configured to be attachable in a terminating manner to an anchor object. The device further includes a second load line including a head attachment end and a second inline end. The head attachment end is sized and configured to attach to a head of the patient. The device further includes an elastomeric member disposed between and attached to the first and second inline ends. The elastomeric member has a significantly lower linear elastic modulus than each of the first and second load lines. The device further includes an adjustment element sized and configured to adjust the tension in an effective tension length of the device.
US08657770B1	Spinal stretching and decompression device A spinal stretching and decompression device (10) that is effective for treating a plurality of spinal disorders or lower back conditions, such as sciatica. The device (10) is worn around a person's mid-section, and encompasses the person's buttocks and crotch region, during an exercise or stretching session. There are two embodiments of the device (10) with both embodiments comprising a base support belt (12 or 112), a lower support unit (44) that is attached to the base support belt (12 or 112), a first side support belt (72) and a second side support belt (92). The two side support belts pass through loops on the base support belt (92) and each belt is secured together around a person's waist. The difference between the two embodiment is that the first embodiment elements are integrally attached, and the second embodiment elements are removably attached by multiple buckles.
US08657769B2	Thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis A thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis includes an upper body support for use with a torso orthosis. The upper body support has an anterior assembly including an anterior plate secured to the torso orthosis, a sternal assembly connected to the anterior plate, and a pectoral assembly connected to the sternal assembly. A posterior assembly is connected to the torso orthosis and is connected to the pectoral assembly by at least one strap. The sternal assembly has at least one pivot point arranged to pivot the sternal assembly relative to the anterior plate.
US08657761B2	Apparatus for inserting needle Provided is an apparatus for inserting a needle capable of obtaining automation of tissue sample collection or drug injection and operation stability by applying a link mechanism between a needle inserted into a specific part of a human body and a power source for providing a drive force. The apparatus includes a needle unit inserted into a human body, a drive unit configured to provide a drive force to the needle unit such that the needle unit reciprocates between an insertion position at which the needle unit is inserted into the human body and a withdrawal position at which the needle unit is withdraw to the outside of the human body, and a guide unit including a plurality of guide links each having at least two links relatively rotated by the drive force of the drive unit and radially disposed around the needle unit, and configured to guide the needle unit such that the needle unit translates between the insertion position and the withdrawal position in a longitudinal direction of the needle unit.
US08657756B2	Implantable device employing movement sensing for detecting sleep-related disorders Methods and systems for evaluating a pathological condition include acquiring movement information, such as electromyogram (EMG) information, and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) information, and detecting the presence of a pathological condition using both movement and SDB information. Methods may involve sensing physiological signals including at least muscle movement signals. Sleep-related disorders are detected using the sensed physiological signals, the sleep-related disorders including at least an involuntary muscle movement disorder and sleep-disordered breathing. Methods and systems also provide for detecting and treating a sleep-related disorder using movement and SDB information. Cardiac, respiratory, nerve stimulation, drug, or a combination of such therapies may be delivered to treat a detected or diagnosed pathological condition.
US08657755B2	System and method of measuring changes in arterial volume of a limb segment A medical diagnostic device performs diagnostics for assessing the ability of the arteries to respond to an increase in blood flow. The medical diagnostic device determines relative changes in arterial volume of the limb segment during a time period after a stimulus relative to the arterial volume of the limb segment during a baseline period using the amplitudes or other portions of the component pulse waves (such as early systolic components) of volume pulse waves during the baseline period and after the stimulus.
US08657750B2	Method and apparatus for motion-compensated ultrasound imaging An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring first ultrasound data, the first ultrasound data comprising data of a first plane through a structure of interest. The ultrasound imaging system and method include tracking the motion of a landmark based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method acquiring second ultrasound data, the second ultrasound data including data of a second plane through the structure of interest, the second plane being distinct from the first plane, where the position of the second plane is adjusted to track the motion of the landmark. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes generating an image based on the second ultrasound data.
US08657749B2	Ultrasonic puncture needle An ultrasonic puncture needle used in combination with an ultrasonic endoscope including a distal-end hard part, a bendable part, and an operation part, includes: a sheath inserted into an insertion channel of the ultrasonic endoscope; a needle tube that includes an opening; a releasing mechanism that releases a substance. In a state in which the needle tube is disposed inside the bendable part, a periphery of the needle tube receives a force from an inner wall of the insertion channel while the bendable part is in a bent state by the operation part. The needle tube is rotated around a long axis of the insertion channel by the force, such that an axis line matching the direction of the opening in the needle tube protruding from the insertion channel becomes substantially parallel with an ultrasonic scanning face of the ultrasonic endoscope.
US08657740B2	Instrument access device An instrument access device comprises first, second and third instrument seals for sealing around instruments extended through the device. The seals have respective connector sleeves. Each sleeve connects a base to one of the instrument seals. The device also comprises two insufflation/desufflation ports. Each of the ports comprises a connector extending from the base, a tube extending from the connector, a luer connector and a removable cap. The luer connector is used for connection to any suitable supply line for insufflation gas or for discharge if insufflation gas. In use, the insufflation/desufflation ports facilitate independent control of insufflation and desufflation as may be required during a surgical procedure. Access sleeve at the proximal end is cut-off, folded over the inner proximal ring and is held in place between the base and the inner proximal ring when the base is fitted. The proximal end of the sleeve that is generated when the sleeve is pulled upwardly to retract an incision is removed from the field of use.
US08657738B2	Endoscope system and illumination light control method therefor In an endoscope system, a light guide for conducting illumination light from a light source to an endoscope distal end consists of a first fiber bundle and a second fiber bundle. Optical fibers of the first fiber bundle have a smaller numerical aperture than optical fibers of the second fiber bundle. A light volume control mechanism is controlled to project the illumination light only from the first fiber bundle in a close-up inspection mode. In an ordinary inspection mode, the illumination light is projected only from the second fiber bundle. When the volume of light projected from the second fiber bundle toward a target site is insufficient in the ordinary inspection mode, the light volume control mechanism is controlled to let the illumination light be projected from the first fiber bundle.
US08657737B2	Electronic endoscope system, an electronic endoscope processor, and a method of acquiring blood vessel information The system includes an illuminating unit, an electronic endoscope, a unit for outputting first image data having different wavelength bands from the imaging signal, a unit for producing blood vessel information from the first image data, a unit for setting a given region in an image as reference value region, a unit for calculating a reference value for the blood vessel information based on second image data for a region within a reference value region, a unit for calculating relative value blood vessel information from the difference between the blood vessel information and the reference value blood vessel information, a unit for producing a simulated-color relative value blood vessel information image from the relative value blood vessel information, and a monitor for displaying a relative value blood vessel information image.
US08657736B2	Medical robotic system having entry guide controller with instrument tip velocity limiting A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.
US08657734B2	Implantable universal docking station for prosthetic hearing devices A system for implantation in a recipient comprising: first and second functional implantable components configured to interoperate in order to stimulate the recipient's ear, and an implantable docking station having a plurality of interfaces, the interfaces comprising: a first interface configured to at least one of detachably mechanically and electrically connect to the first component, and at least a second interface configured to at least one of detachably mechanically and electrically connect to the second component, wherein one of the plurality of interfaces is configured to at least one of detachably mechanically and electrically connect to a third component, and wherein the third component is configured to perform an analogous function as one of the first and second components.
US08657730B2	Umbilicus for use in an umbilicus-driven fluid processing system An umbilicus is provided for use in an umbilicus-driven fluid processing system. The umbilicus has a pair of anchor portions, at least one fluid-transmitting lumen, and a drive shaft. The fluid-transmitting lumen and drive shaft extend between the anchor portions. The lumen and drive shaft may be comprised of different materials. If multiple lumen are provided, they may either be separate from each other and the drive shaft or defined in a single umbilicus body which also provides a lumen for receiving at least a portion of the drive shaft.
US08657727B1	Resistance training exercise device including governor A resistance training exercise device includes a stretchable cord having an internal cavity and a governor in the form of a limit band situated within that cavity and including first and second end segments. A retaining member attaches each of the end segments to the cord so as to impart stretching motion to the limit band when the cord is stretched during exercising. The retaining members provided at each end of the limit band each include a cup-shaped outer member and an inner, member having an outer peripheral surface. Each end segment of the limit band is positioned through an opening in the cup-shaped outer member and is secured to the inner member.
US08657724B2	Folding treadmill A folding treadmill includes a base frame, a running platform having a first end thereof pivotally connected to the base frame, a lifting mechanism mounted to one end of the base frame and to the first end of the running platform for lifting the associated first end of the running platform relative to the base frame A damping device is mounted to the base frame, and a folding mechanism having a lift cylinder is installed in the running platform and a link is pivotally connected between the lift cylinder and the damping device.
US08657716B1	Drive train component with structural cover A drivetrain component is provided that may include a housing, a component, a cover and a pair of bearings. The housing may define an internal cavity and a pair of bearing bulkheads. The component may be received in the internal cavity. The cover may be coupled to the housing and may close a side of the internal cavity. The cover may include a pair of bearing caps. Each of the bearing caps may be mounted to a corresponding one of the bearing bulkheads. The pair of bearings may be received on the component. Each bearing may be engaged to an associated one of the bearing bulkheads and an associated one of the bearing caps.
US08657714B1	Journal bearing and method of facilitating hydrodynamic oil flow, load capacity and optimization of bearing performance A journal bearing for use in an epicyclical gearbox including a journal pin, a journal bearing body into which the journal pin is disposed and at least one lubricating fluid inlet. The lubricating fluid inlet is configured to provide for an input of a lubricating fluid in a loaded arc portion proximate at least one high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event, thereby permitting a free flow of a lubricating fluid there between the journal pin and the journal bearing body during the high pressure event. In an embodiment, the journal pin is configured to mimic the shape of the journal bearing body at least at a high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event. An epicyclical gearbox including the journal bearing and method of facilitating a hydrodynamic oil flow in the planet gear journal bearing.
US08657710B2	Universal hockey puck A hockey puck for use on both ice and non-ice surfaces. The puck has a plurality of conically shaped apertures extending at an angle from the top to the bottom of the puck to provide a stabilized cushion of air when the puck is in motion. The cushion of air reduces the friction between the puck and the surface, enabling the puck to remain at a high speed for a longer time period. The puck can be manufactured in a standard weight of 6 ounces for regular use or a lighter puck in the range of 4 to 4.25 ounces for junior hockey, street hockey or roller-hockey use. The annular side surface of the puck can be knurled or dimpled to enhance controllability and aerodynamics. Additionally, the corners of the puck can be rounded to reduce the effect of snow-plowing.
US08657708B2	Portable target game training device A Portable Target Game Training Device for training play by a user that elevates a target comprised of a base, a stand connected to the base, a rotatable shaft connected to the stand, an arm connected to the rotatable shaft connection means between the arm and the rotatable shaft and a target secured to the remote end of the arm. The arm can be forced to bow by tethered cords connected to the rotatable shaft. When the target is hit, the arm, the cords and the shaft rotate. The speed and character of rotation and counter rotation is governed by stretching and easing an elastic cord connected to the base of the device and the top of the rotatable shaft. The angle of the shaft vis a vis the stand may be adjusted. The height of the stand may be adjusted.
US08657707B2	Swing analysis method An analysis method includes the steps of: measuring a swing of a golf club to which a sensor capable of measuring accelerations in directions of three axes and angular velocities or angles about the three axes is attached; obtaining an index for classifying the swing based on a measuring result of the sensor; and classifying the swing based on the index. The index includes the item (a) or (b): (a) a grip angular velocity at least at one time during a downswing; and (b) a grip velocity at least at one time during the downswing. Preferably, times of an address, a top, and an impact are determined in the analysis method.
US08657706B2	Low lift golf ball A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a drag coefficient (CD) below about 0.255 at a Reynolds Number (Re) of about 165,000 and at a spin rate in the range of about 3,400 rpm to about 3,550 rpm and below about 0.330 at a RE of about 80,000 and at a spin rate in a range of about 2,900 rpm to about 3,000 rpm.
US08657697B2	Play system accessory with motion-activated sound module An accessory for a play system comprises a support configured to be suspended from or supported on the play system; and a sound module coupled with the support. The sound module comprises a motion detector for detecting motion of the support and a sound-emitting device for emitting sounds in response to motion of the support as detected by the motion detector.
US08657696B1	Trampoline arena A trampoline arena includes a framework assembly having a plurality of frame elements defining an outwardly sloping outer wall, and a deck, a plurality of voids being defined between the framework elements. The arena also includes a plurality of trampolines connected to the frame elements along peripheries thereof and extending across the plurality of voids to further define the outwardly sloping outer wall and deck, and a padding assembly including a plurality of pads overlying the frame elements and the peripheries of the trampolines.
US08657693B2	Torsional shock absorbing apparatus The torsional shock absorbing apparatus includes a boss, a cam member provided on the boss to be integrally rotated with the boss and having a cam surface formed in an oval shape, and an arm member disposed between the cam member and a coil spring to transmit the rotation torque of the disc plates to the boss. The arm member has one end portion held in contact with the cam surface and the other end portion held in engagement with circumferential one end portion of the coil spring, and is swingable around the center of a pin provided on the disc plates.
US08657689B2	Annular flow distribution control of lubrication oil between concentric rotary shafts A concentric cylinder drive assembly (1) used for the transmission of power in industrial machinery is disclosed. More specifically, a concentric drive assembly (1) with a hollow outer cylinder (5) having an internal surface with a bi-directional surface lay; an inner cylinder (3) having an external surface with a unidirectional surface lay oriented at a predetermined angle (φ) along the length of the cylinder; an annular channel established between the outer and inner cylinders having a predetermined gap (7); and a lubrication oil that substantially fills the annular channel is presented.
US08657688B1	Promotion generation engine for a money transfer system A money transfer system is promoted by providing a user access to a game or contest generated by a promotions engine computer. The user is directed to a customer relations portal accessible via an access device to participate in the game or contest. The customer relations portal comprising a server configured to manage the game or contest and associated with the promotions engine computer. A response is received from the user at the server related to the user's participation in the game or contest. The server determines whether the user is to receive a reward or prize based on the response from the user, and an output is provided to the user on the access device indicating whether the user is to receive the reward or prize.
US08657687B2	Presenting and controlling wagering game marketing information Described are one or more embodiments that include a browser application (“browser”) with a first part (e.g., a toolbar, a dropdown, a pop-up, a widget, etc.) that presents first content associated with one or more wagering games and a second part (e.g., a main content display area) that concurrently presents second content independently from presentation of the first content in the first part of the browser. In some embodiments, the first content and second content are from separate content providers. Some embodiments are directed to determining, based on concurrent presentation of the first content and the second content, that one or more awards are available from a first of the content providers conditional upon performance of one or more activities indicated by a second of the content providers, and the browser application presents one or more indicators to indicate the one or more awards and/or the one or more activities.
US08657686B2	Synthetic environment character data sharing Synthetic environment character data sharing is described, including retrieving data from a first computer configured to interact with a synthetic environment by a game server, the first computer and the game server being in data communication with each other and configured using a client-server network topology, determining one or more attributes associated with the first computer relative to the synthetic environment in real-time or substantially real-time by accessing a file updated by the first computer, the file being stored on the game server, and generating a display on a second computer using the data, the display being presented using a synthetic environment mapping application, including at least a location and a login status associated with the first computer relative to the synthetic environment.
US08657681B2	Safety scheme for gesture-based game system Technologies are generally described for a safety scheme for a gesture-based game. In some examples, a method performed under control of a gesture-based game system may include determining whether an obstacle exists within a playing space associated with a game being currently played on the gesture-based game system, and generating in a display area associated with the game a barrier image associated with the obstacle.
US08657675B1	Bonus jackpots in enriched game play environment Systems and methods for a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system A jackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game and a gambling game in a gambling game portion of the hybrid game is triggered when a player initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the bonus element. It is then determined if the player wins the gambling game triggered by the player's encounter with the bonus element in the entertainment game a payout is provided to the player when it is determined that the player has won the gambling game.
US08657672B2	Electronic gaming device The present invention relates to an electronic gaming machine having a game server to which a gaming apparatus can be connected, wherein the game server has a ticket block including a plurality of electronic game tickets which are each individually characterized by a winning number combination, wherein the gaming apparatus can be connected to a credit store associated with it which can be loaded by an input apparatus and including a ticket purchasing apparatus for purchasing a game ticket while reducing the credit stored in the credit store. The gaming apparatus has a gaming device which can be actuated in dependence on a course of a game while using as the basis the data of the same game ticket in a plurality of game rounds from the credit store and then from a winnings store.
US08657670B2	Data access and communication system A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The gaming machine includes a determining module for determining whether or not at least one further prize, following the awarding of an initial prize, is to be awarded, the determining module using the value of that initial prize in determining the probability of the player successfully winning the at least one further prize.
US08657669B2	Gaming machine power fail enhancement An operating system for a gaming system includes a data producer which generates non-reproducible data relating to a transaction carried out in respect of the gaming system. A data consumer is in communication with the data producer for storing data relating to the non-reproducible data. A game controller is in communication with the data producer and the data consumer which effects communications between the data producer and the data consumer by means of a transaction-based protocol. The invention also relates to the use of data storage device for a gaming system that includes a local power supply.
US08657663B2	Slot machine displaying count of symbols determining prize and control method thereof A slot machine comprising a display and a controller programmed to execute processing of: (A) variably displaying a plurality of symbols on the display, and then stop-displaying the symbols; (B) determining a prize based on the number of the symbols of respective types stop-displayed on the display; and (C) displaying sequence numbers on each of the plurality of symbols of the type corresponding to the prize determined in the processing (B).
US08657659B2	Networked wagering game with a randomly-selected feature game Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods that include a randomly selected feature game are disclosed. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
US08657653B2	Homogeneous polishing pad for eddy current end-point detection Homogeneous polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are described. Methods of fabricating homogeneous polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are also described.
US08657650B2	Grinding wheel dressing system A grinding wheel dressing assembly includes a driving gear rotatable about a central axis and a dressing ring engaged with the driving gear. Rotation of the driving gear about the central axis results in rotation of the dressing ring about an offset axis, which is offset from the central axis. The dressing ring includes a contact surface generally normal to the offset axis and adapted to remove dull CBN particles from a substantially planar grinding surface of a grinding wheel that comes into contact with the contact surface.
US08657646B2	Endpoint detection using spectrum feature trajectories A method of polishing includes polishing a substrate, making a sequence of measurements of light reflected from the substrate while the substrate is being polished, at least some of the measurements of the sequence of measurements differing due to material being removed during polishing, for each measurement in the sequence, determining a first value of a first characteristic and a second value of a different second characteristic of the light to generate a sequence of first values and second values, storing a predetermined path in a coordinate space of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, for each measurement in the sequence, determining a position on the path based on the first value and the second value, and determining at least one of a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing rate based on the position on the path.
US08657642B2	R/C car with demolition features A radio controlled R/C car including, a body supported on a plurality of wheels including at least one drive wheel, a remote control in communication with a controller on the car, a plurality of removable panels each panel including a latch to hold the panel in a first position on the car body and each latch associated with a plunger movable from a first position holding the latch in place to a second position releasing the latch, a first spring biasing the plunger to the first position and a second spring loaded by the latch the second spring biasing the panel away from the first position such that the panel springs away from the car body to simulate a crash. Once all the panels are released a sound plays and a driver ejects from the car and the car stops. Two or more cars can be used in a demolition derby where the last car still running with a driver would be the winner.
US08657638B1	Systems and methods for determining oil level in outboard motors In systems and methods for determining oil level in a marine outboard motor having an internal combustion engine, a control circuit determines whether oil has drained back into a sump from the internal combustion engine. An oil sensor senses an oil level in the sump. The control circuit calculates a characteristic of the actual oil level of the outboard motor based upon the oil level after the oil has drained back into the sump and based upon a trim position of the outboard motor.
US08657637B1	Multi-engine Jack Plate A multiple engine jack plate, comprising, in combination, a transom plate, a center plate connector, a pair of outer slides and a pair of inner slides. There is at least one hydraulic cylinder coupling the transom plate and the slides. There is a hydraulic pump system having a pump and a hydraulic fluid flow control valve and a hydraulic fluid reservoir holding a volume of hydraulic fluid.
US08657635B2	Terminal and connector using the same A terminal configured to be pressed into and fixed to a base material has a press-fit fixing portion configured to be pressed into the base material, a branch portion extending from the press-fit fixing portion, a plurality of extension portions that extend from the branch portion in a meandering manner, such that at least one meandering slit is formed thereby, a tip portion integrated with a free end of the extension portion, and a movable contact portion formed on the tip portion that is configured to protrude out of a contacting hole of the base material so as to be taken in and out.
US08657632B2	I/O connector A connector includes an insulating housing having a rear wall of which a front side extends forward to form a tongue portion and a back side defines a concave groove in accordance with the tongue portion. The tongue portion defines a plurality of terminal grooves. A plurality of terminals each has a fixing portion fixed in a rear of the terminal groove with a rear end thereof further projecting into the concave groove, a contact portion disposed in the terminal groove, and a soldering tail stretching outside the insulating housing. A water-proof member is formed in the concave groove by injecting molten water-proof colloid in the concave groove to seal up intervals between the fixing portions of the terminals and inner sides of the rears of the terminal grooves. A metal shell is molded in the insulating housing.
US08657629B2	SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot The embodiments of the present invention provide a SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot. The SIM card slot comprises: an accommodating space for accommodating the SIM card; and a cover, which may be of metal, positioned above the accommodating space; wherein a recessed zone is arranged in the cover, the recessed zone constituting a stopping sheet for blocking the insertion of the bevel edge of the SIM card. The wrong insertion of the SIM card of the electronic apparatus, such as a mobile terminal, may be prevented by the SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot of the present invention. Upon correct insertion the SIM card edge will cause the stopping sheet to be lifted, but with incorrect insertion the stopping sheet will engage the card bevel edge to block further insertion.
US08657627B2	Mezzanine connector A two-piece mezzanine connector for high speed, high density signals. The connector is assembled from wafers that may be formed of identical wafer halves. The halves may have interior portions that form a channel in which a lossy member may be captured for selectively configuring the connector for high frequency performance. The lossy member may be serpentine, to both provide different spacing relative to signal and ground conductors and to provide compliance to press against ground conductors when captured between wafer halves. Instead of, or in addition to, the lossy member captured between two wafer halves, the wafer halves may each have lossy material overmolded on at least one side, so that an assembled wafer may have lossy material disposed on the outside. The wafers may have dovetail projections that are secured within dovetail channels, forming structural members of the connector.
US08657620B2	Connector assembly having a cable clamp coupled to a collet including an arbor A connector assembly for coupling an coaxial cable to an ultrasound probe includes a cable clamp having an opening extending therethrough, the opening sized to receive a coaxial cable therethrough, the coaxial cable including a strain member and a plurality of coaxial cables extending therethrough, and a collet configured to couple to the cable clamp, the collet including an arbor that is configured to tension the strain member to a predetermined tension. A method of fabricating a connector assembly and an ultrasound imaging system are also described herein.
US08657619B2	Fixing mechanism for fixing a board and electronic device therewith A fixing mechanism includes a bottom plate, a base, an engaging component and a resilient component. The engaging component is installed on the base for engaging a side of a board. The engaging component includes a main body, a pivoting portion connected to an end of the main body and pivoted to the base, a hook portion connected to another end of the main body for hooking the side of the board, a handle portion connected to another end of the main body for driving the hook portion to separate from the side of the board, and a pin portion installed on a side of the main body. The resilient component sheathes with the pin portion for driving the engaging component to pivot relative to the base. An end of the resilient component contacts with the main body, and the other end of the resilient component contacts with the base.
US08657608B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes a grounding terminal, a signal terminal and an insulating body. The grounding terminal has an annular body. The annular body is formed by curling and has a seam. The seam extends to form at least one grounding pin. The signal terminal has a base located below the annular body. The base has one end provided with a soldering portion and the other end extending upwards to form a contact portion in the center of the annular body, and the base does not overlap a projection of the seam on a plane where the base locates. The insulating body wrapps the grounding terminal and the signal terminal, and the grounding pin and the soldering portion protrude out of the insulating body.
US08657607B2	Socket connector A socket connector includes an insulating body having a base portion and a holding portion extending upward from a front of the base portion. The holding portion defines a terminal fillister spread to the base portion. A plurality of openings is opened in a front face of the holding portion and communicates with the terminal fillister. A terminal group is molded in the terminal fillister of the insulating body. The terminal group has a plurality of elastic touching arms stretching outside the insulating body, and a plurality of contact slices exposed through the openings respectively. A magnetic body is curved from a magnetic metal board and defines a window. The magnetic body is mounted around the holding portion with the window facing the openings of the insulating housing to further expose the contact slices therethrough. The terminal group further electrically contacts with the magnetic body.
US08657606B2	Asynchronous art jurying system A remote art jurying system in which art jurors independently evaluate works of art at different locations, times and places. A central database presents information about each work of art and/or the artist to an individual juror. The database provides images of the artwork along with relevant information. Each juror can access the database independent of other jurors in terms of location, or time. The system provides enhanced voting methods. The juror can review or change their votes at any time prior to final submission. They can review all works of art, by categories of art, or by scores. The juror reviews artwork thumbnail images, which can be used to select high resolution images with extended information. Selected categories of art can be enhanced by eliminating the lowest scores to balance artwork finalists across multiple categories of art. An online artist's application system is integrated with an image portfolio management system which allows artists to maintain permanent portfolio copies which can be electronically attached to applications. The system can be used for jurying art or other types of competitive ratings.
US08657603B2	System for compiling knitting/crocheting patterns into stepwise time-adjustable voice and visual instructions A system for authoring knitting, crocheting, weaving patterns and other fiber arts patterns, and for converting those patterns into stepwise voice and visual instructions comprising a hardware architecture and modular software including a database of predefined stitch objects each corresponding to a stitching step or sequence. Each stitch object is linked in the database to a sound bite enunciating that stitch step and to a graphic illustration depicting that stitch step with a written explanation. The software includes an authoring module with a pattern compilation user-interface that allows a user to construct a complete pattern by selecting knitting commands from a menu of predefined commands in the database. Once constructed, the pattern is loaded into a playback module which employs an enunciation engine that speaks the complete pattern step-by-step and a playback user interface that displays a visual depiction and description of each step all at a user defined pace.
US08657602B2	Waved implant integrating soft tissue area and osseous tissue area Disclosed herein is a waved implant integrating a soft tissue area and an osseous tissue area. The implant is connected at an upper end thereof to a process tooth. The implant includes a screw portion, a flange and a soft tissue area. The screw portion is inserted into an alveolar bone. The flange is connected to the upper end of the screw portion and inserted into the alveolar bone. The flange has on the upper end thereof a waved shape that is concave in front and rear portions thereof and is convex in left and right portions thereof. The flange comprises on the circumferential surface thereof a fine threaded portion having a thread pitch and/or a thread height smaller and denser than those of the screw portion. A plurality of waved microthreads is formed on the fine threaded portion. The soft tissue area is combined with the upper end of the flange in a body.
US08657600B2	Plastic material injection molding system A plastic material injection molding system includes a feeding nozzle, a forming mold having a cave therein, and a material-passing mold having a runner therein. The runner communicates both the feeding nozzle and the cave, and has two curved parts therein for slowing down the plastic material injected from the feeding nozzle in order.
US08657599B2	Device for demoulding negatives in plastic injection A device for demolding negatives in plastic injection, which is coupled to means for ejecting a plastic injection mold. A guide bushing can be attached to the die plate of the moveable part of the mold, inside which extends a counter-mold which molds the negative and is formed by a guide runner and a head that can be lowered to demold the negative. The guide bushing contains a projection which pushes against the side of the head as the counter-mold moves forward, so that the head is lowered sideways and the negative is released.
US08657598B2	Pressure adjustment device in stretch blow moulding machines A pressure adjustment device applicable in particular, but not exclusively, to stretch blow molding machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a pressure adjustment device for stretch blow molding machines of containers made of plastic material. The device includes an opening for dispensing a blowing fluid, a hollow body having a first inlet opening for a high pressure fluid and a second inlet opening for a piloting fluid. A shutter is slidably arranged within the hollow body, the shutter being held in a closed position by elastic means, wherein the adjustable opening of the shutter occurs, in contrast with the elastic means, by introducing—through said second inlet opening—the piloting fluid into a piloting chamber arranged between the hollow body the shutter, and wherein the piloting fluid has a controlled and adjustable pressure.
US08657597B2	Templates for use in imprint lithography and related intermediate template structures A method of forming a template for use in imprint lithography. The method comprises providing an ultraviolet (“UV”) wavelength radiation transparent layer and forming a pattern in the UV transparent layer by photolithography. The pattern may be formed by anisotropically etching the UV transparent layer and may have feature dimensions of less than approximately 100 nm, such as dimensions of less than approximately 45 nm. An additional embodiment of the method comprises providing a UV opaque layer comprising a first pattern therein, forming a first UV transparent layer in contact with the first pattern of the UV opaque layer, forming a second UV transparent layer in contact with the first UV transparent layer, and removing the UV opaque layer to form the template. An intermediate template structure for use in imprint lithography is also disclosed. In other embodiments, a template that is opaque to UV wavelength radiation and a method of forming the same are disclosed.
US08657596B2	Method and apparatus for deforming a web Methods and apparatuses for deforming a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least two intermeshing rolls. The rolls are configured for deforming a web with at least two sets of deformations that are oriented in different directions relative to the surfaces of the web.
US08657595B2	Device for transforming materials by induction heating The present invention concerns a device for molding of thermoplastic matrix composite materials or thermosetting materials. Two mold casings that are mobile relative to each other, electrically conductive material include a molding zone designed to be in contact with the material to be transformed, and an induction circuit for generating a magnetic field. The faces of one of the two mold casings are situated so as to be facing induction circuit, except for the molding zones, being coated with a shielding layer made of a non-magnetic material preventing the magnetic field from penetrating into the mold casings. The mold casings are electrically insulated from each other during the molding phase to define an air gap wherein flows the magnetic field that induces currents at the surface of the molding zones, thus localizing the heating at the interface between the molding zone and the material to be transformed.
US08657592B2	Pumping apparatus with a hollow shaft acting as a valve A pumping apparatus includes a pump housing, a pumping member which is rotatable in the housing to pump fluid, the pumping member being provided on a support which is in use, driven, the housing including in communication with an inlet, a lower pressure region, and in communication with an outlet, a higher pressure region, there being a passage for fluid from the higher pressure region to the lower pressure region through the support when the fluid pressure in the higher pressure region exceeds a threshold value.
US08657590B2	Hydraulic power steering system with charging valve and air cushion in the tank A hydraulic power steering system which includes a tank and a power steering pump which takes in a pressure medium from an intake area which is decoupled from the prevailing atmospheric pressure on the side of the tank wall and delivers it under pressure to the power steering system. A valve device builds up a pre-pressure in the intake area and prevents a negative pressure and a positive pressure from building up on the interior of the oil tank.
US08657589B2	Operating method for a hydraulic machine A hydraulic machine has at least one working chamber (11) of cyclically changing volume, and low-pressure and high pressure valves (15, 13) to control the connection of each of the at least one working chambers to low-pressure and high-pressure lines (16, 14) respectively. A method of operating the machine includes holding the low-pressure valve means (15) closed during at least an entire cycle of the chamber (11), starting at minimum chamber volume, such that gas dissolved in liquid in the chamber is released therefrom during an expansion of the chamber volume and re-dissolved during a reduction thereof.
US08657586B2	Voltage compensating piston fuel pump and fuel delivery system therewith A piston-type fuel pump is provided. The fuel pump includes a housing bounding an internal cavity with a cylindrical tube disposed in the internal cavity. The cylindrical tube provides a bore extending along an axis and a piston is disposed in the bore. A spring is configured to bias the piston in a first direction along the axis. A coil is disposed about the cylindrical tube and a control circuit is disposed in the internal cavity. The control circuit is configured in electrical communication with the coil. The voltage supplied to the control circuit can be varied, with the control circuit compensating for the variable supply voltage to regulate the actuation of the coil from a de-energized state to an energized state. The piston is biased in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the coil being actuated.
US08657580B2	Blade retainment system A blade retention system for retaining a foot of a turbine blade in a shoe of a turbine disc of a turbine wheel includes: a hook on a heel end of the blade foot that protrudes from a bottom of the blade foot to engage a heel end of the turbine disc shoe; and a compound fillet that engages the hook with the bottom of the blade foot.
US08657578B2	Gear box for wind turbine generator and wind turbine generator In an object to provide a gear box for a wind turbine generator and a wind turbine generator in which the life of the planet bearings are further enhanced, a gear box of the present invention includes a casing, a carrier, planet pins held to the carrier, planet bearings supported to the planet pins, respectively, a plurality of planet gears supported to the planet pin via the planet bearings, respectively, and a ring gear and a sun gear meshed with the planet gears. In the gear box, the carrier has an inclined surface facing the planet bearing as a part of an outer cylinder part provided on both ends of the planet pins in axial direction of the planet pin and surrounding the outer circumference of the both ends of the planet pins and the incline surface inclines such that the farther from an axial center of the planet pin, the longer a distance between the inclined surface and the planet bearing.
US08657575B2	Oscillating fluid power generator A system and method for harvesting the kinetic energy of a fluid flow for power generation with a vertically oriented, aerodynamic wing structure comprising one or more airfoil elements pivotably attached to a mast. When activated by the moving fluid stream, the wing structure oscillates back and forth, generating lift first in one direction then in the opposite direction. This oscillating movement is converted to unidirectional rotational movement in order to provide motive power to an electricity generator. Unlike other oscillating devices, this device is designed to harvest the maximum aerodynamic lift forces available for a given oscillation cycle. Because the system is not subjected to the same intense forces and stresses as turbine systems, it can be constructed less expensively, reducing the cost of electricity generation. The system can be grouped in more compact clusters, be less evident in the landscape, and present reduced risk to avian species.
US08657574B2	System and method for cooling a turbine bucket A turbine bucket includes an airfoil, a platform adjacent to the airfoil, and a shank adjacent to the platform. The shank defines a shank cavity, and a divider in the shank cavity creates a pressure differential across the shank cavity. A method for cooling a turbine bucket includes directing a fluid to a forward shank cavity and creating a pressure differential between the forward shank cavity and an aft shank cavity.
US08657568B2	Variable turbine nozzle and valve An air cycle machine includes a turbine wheel, a turbine inlet nozzle, a valve body, and a poppet member. The turbine wheel is mounted to rotate within the air cycle machine and the turbine inlet nozzle is positioned to direct airflow thereto. The poppet member selectively extends into the turbine inlet nozzle and the valve body controls a pressure on the poppet member to move the poppet member relative to the turbine inlet nozzle to vary the size of the turbine nozzle directing airflow to the turbine wheel.
US08657563B2	Sealing assembly A sealing assembly is provided for sealing against a component. The sealing assembly comprises a seal carrier and a continuous seal element that is attached to the seal carrier at at least two discrete positions of attachment. The seal element is provided with a sealing surface that is arranged to seal against the component. The seal element is further provided with a thermal expansion slot that is located between the discrete positions of attachment and which extends from a first edge of the seal element over a portion of the width of the seal element. This allows the seal carrier and seal element to thermally expand in the length direction at different rates.
US08657562B2	Self-aligning flow splitter for steam turbine A steam turbine diaphragm stage having a self-aligning flow splitter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a steam turbine flow splitter body is disclosed, the steam turbine flow splitter body having a central portion and two end portions, and including: a flow divider proximate to the central portion; and a substantially radially outward extending hook proximate to at least one of the two end portions.
US08657555B2	Counter ejector of cardboard sheet box-making machine A counter ejector of cardboard sheet box-making machine is disclosed. A front contact plate contacting cardboard sheets is movable in a feed direction. A spanker is disposed to face the front contact plate in the feed direction, and contacts the back edge portion of the cardboard sheet, aligning the sheet edge portions. Ledges separate cardboard sheets loaded between front contact plate and the spanker, forming a batch of a predetermined number of sheets. A transfer conveyor transfers batches in a transfer direction, which is the same direction as the feed direction. An elevator is furnished with a table, and carries batches from the height at which the front contact plate and the spanker are disposed to the height at which the transfer conveyor is disposed. The table is moved by the same amount and in the same movement direction as the movement of the front contact plate.
US08657554B1	Material handling and transport system A combination transport and load handling vehicle that includes a truck having a chassis with a cab mounted to a forward portion of the chassis and a hitch plate mounted toward the rear of the chassis and a forklift assembly pivotally mounted to the chassis intermediate the cab and the hitch plate so that arms of the forklift are movable from a stowed position above the cab to a deployed position extending rearwardly of the chassis when no trailer is connected to the hitch plate. The forklift assembly has a lift frame including a boom pivotally mounted to the chassis and which supports a forklift tower along which the arms of the forklift device are movable adjustable.
US08657551B2	Yieldable brace for a vehicle at a loading dock To help hold a trailer bed of a truck steady at a loading dock as the truck is being loaded or unloaded of its cargo, a yieldable vehicle brace exerts a substantial, but limited, reactive force upward against the trailer's rear impact guard to resist the trailer's downward movement. In some embodiments, the brace holds the trailer bed stationary up to a certain load limit and provides the trailer bed with a controlled or dampened descent when the load exceeds that limit. In some cases, the reactive upward force exerted by the brace increases with the downward velocity of the trailer bed. The reactive force can be created by one or more pressure relief valves, hydraulic fluid passing through a flow restriction, a brake, a spring, or various combinations thereof. Some embodiments of the brace include provisions for accommodating horizontal movement of the rear impact guard.
US08657546B2	Cover device for fixing portion Disclosed is a cover device for a fixing portion, including a coupling hole formed at a side of the fixing portion, and a cover member rotatably coupled with the coupling hole to selectively close the fixing portion, wherein the fixing portion includes a fastening member and a fastening hole, to which the fastening member is fastened. By forming the coupling hole at a side of the fastening hole and rotatably coupling the cover member to a case member, the cover device can prevent the cover member from being lost during fastening or separating the fastening member.
US08657545B2	Strut clamp An assembly includes a first structure and a clamp configured to clamp the first structure to a second structure. The clamp may include a top portion configured to extend through the slot, where the top portion includes a head, a neck portion coupled to the head and a cylindrical body coupled to the neck portion. The clamp may also include a rotatable nut located adjacent the slot, where the rotatable nut has an opening to receive the cylindrical body. The clamp may further include a spring nut configured to receive a portion of the cylindrical body. The rotatable nut is configured to be turned such that when the head of the clamp is aligned with the slot in the first structure, the top portion of the clamp is configured to lower into the opening and clamp the first structure to a second structure.
US08657539B2	Round cutting insert with reverse anti-rotation feature A round cutting insert with a reverse anti-rotation feature that can be manufactured easily and inexpensively is disclosed. The round cutting insert includes a plurality of dimples formed on a first surface and another plurality of dimples formed on a second, opposing surface. The round insert is reversible and indexable. The round cutting insert is removable received in an insert receiving pocket in a tool body. The insert receiving pocket includes a single projection that is capable of being received in one of the plurality of dimples. The cooperation between the projection and one of the plurality of dimples prevents rotation of the round cutting insert when mounted in the insert receiving pocket. The plurality of dimples and the projection can be any desirable complimentary shape, such as a slot, a V-shape, a wagon wheel, a sports wheel, a pyramid, and the like.
US08657537B2	Cutting instrument and methods for implementing same A rotating cutting tool (10, 110) includes a body (12, 112) with a longitudinal axis (14, 114) and at least one flute (16, 116) and one active part (18, 118). Each active part has a peripheral surface including: a radial cutting edge (20, 120) that is at a cutting distance (Rc) from the longitudinal axis, a clearance face (30, 130) that is at a final clearance distance (Rd) from the longitudinal axis, and a control face (40, 140) that is at a penetration control distance (Rp) from the longitudinal axis. These distances satisfy the relation: 0<Δp<Δd, with Δp=\|Rc−Rp\| and Δd=\|Rc−Rd\|.
US08657535B2	Tideway positioning system A sea-bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by the downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from the hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.
US08657531B2	Installation method of flexible pipe with subsea connector, utilizing a pull down system The disclosure provides an installation method to deploy the flexible pipe below the water, utilizing supporting equipment between a flexible pipe and intended connections. In addition, the method of connection and pull down can maintain control of the flexible pipe subsea throughout the method with limited or no surface intervention. This installation method provides a redundancy as the connector approaches in a subsea connection in at least one embodiment. The method utilizes combinations of buoyancy elements, hand-off sequences, and pull down equipment, such as subsea winches and wire rope, to accomplish such connections with limited or no surface intervention.
US08657530B2	Subsea pipe stub pulling devices and methods A device for retrieving a subsea tubular comprises a housing. In addition, the device comprises a receiving body slidingly disposed within the housing. The body has a central axis, a lower end, and a receptacle extending from the lower end. Further, the device comprises an actuation member configured to move the housing axially relative to the body. Still further, the device comprises a plurality of cam members. Each cam member is rotatably coupled to the lower end of the body and has a cam head extending radially into the receptacle and a lever arm extending from the cam head. Each cam member is configured to rotate in a first direction to move the cam head radially inward and rotate in a second direction to move the cam head radially outward. Moreover, the device comprises a plurality of biasing members configured to bias the cam members in the first direction.
US08657522B2	Threadless fork compression system and method for kick style scooter A compression coupler contains a robust and simple mechanism to couple threadless tubes in bicycles and/or scooters. Particulrly, the handlebar/stem tube-to-fork joint is coupled with a compression sleeve. The coupler provides more surface area for binding and is tightened along a slot on the length of the coupler. The coupler can include a headtube bearing preloading mechanism, a keyway for aligning the handlebar/stem tube to the fork, and shims to accommodate different sized tubing.
US08657520B2	Ball joint apparatus A ball seat made of a resin material having a recessed spherical surface and an external peripheral surface, a stud ball having a spherical head portion that engages with the recessed spherical surface in a rotatable manner, and a housing that accommodates the ball seat which is inserted from an opening portion toward a bottom surface, and comprises a ball seat insertion unit where an inner peripheral surface is engaged with an external peripheral surface of the ball seat are provided, wherein an external diameter of the external peripheral surface increases from the bottom surface toward the opening portion, and an internal diameter of the inner peripheral surface increases from the bottom surface toward the opening portion.
US08657518B2	Brush head An interproximal squirt brush, includes a solution container having a solution chamber for containing a solution and a hollow nozzle head having an opening communicating with the solution chamber; and a brush head having an elongated retention portion replaceably coupling at the opening of the nozzle head and a brush portion extended from the retention portion, wherein a clearance is formed between the opening and the retention portion of the brush head for enabling the solution from the solution chamber being discharged to the brush portion of the brush head along the retention portion.
US08657512B2	Crafting apparatus including a workpiece feed path bypass assembly and workpiece feed path analyzer A method of operating a crafting apparatus. The method includes moving a workpiece along a first feed path for printing on the workpiece with a printer and moving the workpiece along a second feed path for cutting the workpiece with a cutter. The first feed path bypasses a workpiece mover of the cutter.
US08657509B2	Camera mounting device The present camera mounting device is designed as an paintball marker or gun accessory. It can be used with either still or video cameras. It is comprised a bracket and an adjustable clamp. The bracket is comprised of a horizontal member and a vertical member that are connected at ninety degree angles to each other. The clamp is attached to the vertical member of the bracket with a screw. To use the mounting device, a camera is either top mounted or bottom mounted to the horizontal member via a thumbscrew. The adjustable clamp fits onto the barrel of a paintball marker, gun or rifle. The diameter of the clamp is adjusted by releasing a lock on the locking clamp screw on the clamp and turning the screw either clockwise or counter clockwise.
US08657508B1	Camera stabilization and support apparatus In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for stabilizing a camera, the apparatus including a first main body having at least front, top, bottom, left and right surfaces forming a wedge shape, the top and bottom surfaces including a concave back edge adapted to engage a stationary structure, the left and right surfaces including edges adapted to engage a stationary structure, the front surface including a surface texture adapted to engage the camera, and at least one of the edges of the top, bottom, left and right surfaces including a plurality of teeth along at least a portion of a length of the at least one edge. The first main body may be stackable with a second main body. In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus can be used to stabilize a trail camera.
US08657502B2	Inner ring of wheel bearing device, manufacturing method therefor, and wheel bearing device An inner ring of a wheel bearing device has a ring mounting surface on which a pulsar ring for detecting a rotation speed of an axle is mounted and first and second inner raceway surfaces which are arranged along an axis of the axle and on which rolling elements roll. The inner ring includes a first inner ring member that has the first inner raceway surface and the ring mounting surface and a second inner ring member that has the second inner raceway surface and a portion that is spaced apart in an axial direction from the second inner raceway surface toward one side at a distance that is longer than or equal to a distance in the axial direction between the first inner raceway surface and the ring mounting surface. A diameter of the portion is smaller than a diameter of the ring mounting surface.
US08657498B2	Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. At least some of the superhard bearing elements may include a first end surface, a second end surface generally opposite the first end surface, a first side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, a second side surface generally opposite the first side surface, and a bearing surface extending between the first end surface, the second end surface, the first side surface and the second side surface. Such superhard bearing elements may also include a ramped feature negatively sloping away from the bearing surface. The bearing assembly may further include a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing elements.
US08657496B2	Package bag and spout member A spout member including a base portion which is fixed to a bag body, a cylindrical portion which protrudes upward from the base portion, and a sealing portion which seals a front end of the cylindrical portion through a breakable thin portion is disposed between two sheets of film forming the bag body. A sealing chamber accommodating the cylindrical portion and the sealing portion is opened by tearing the two sheets of film along an opening assisting line. An opening assisting plate protruding to at least one of a left side and a right side of the sealing portion is disposed above the opening assisting line. A sandwiching reinforcement seal portion for reinforcing the two sheets of film by sealing inner surfaces thereof is provided between the opening assisting plate and the opening assisting line.
US08657495B2	Multilayer draw tape The bag includes a draw tape that may be used to cinch closed the opening of the bag. The draw tape is multilayer with a polypropylene core and propylene-ethylene copolymer or other suitable polymers in the outer layers.
US08657494B2	Swiveling device for a swiveling C-arm of an X-ray unit A swiveling device for a swiveling C-arm of an X-ray unit includes a motorized drive unit and an adapter removably attachable to the C-arm concentrically with a swiveling axis thereof. The adapter connects the C-arm to the drive unit in driving manner. The swiveling device also includes an angular position encoder for recording the swivel angle of the C-arm.
US08657493B2	Radiographic image detection apparatus A radiographic image detection apparatus includes a detection panel and a housing for containing the detection panel. The housing consists of a front surface member, a back surface member, and a carbon plate attached so as to cover an opening formed in the front surface member. The carbon plate is faced to the detection panel. To the carbon plate is adhered a transparent sheet having transmissivity to radiation and visible light. A first index and a second index are printed on an inner surface of the transparent sheet. The first index is a square-frame shaped index showing a radiation detection range of the detection panel. The second index is a cross-shaped index showing a center position of the radiation detection range. The first and second indices are formed of nonmetallic UV curable ink having no radiation shielding properties.
US08657485B2	Agricultural mixer with hydraulic drive system including jam detection and resolution features and method of using same An agricultural mixer includes a hydraulic drive system. The mixer includes an automatic jam-resolving feature, whereby if an auger becomes jammed, the drive system will cause the auger to rotate in a reverse direction for a period of time to resolve the jam. The hydraulic drive system will maintain a speed of rotation of the auger at a relatively constant rate during mixing while choosing an efficient displacement setting for the hydraulic motor. The auger is maintained at a constant speed during a discharge mode by maintaining the motor in a maximum displacement setting. A clean-out mode is provided wherein the auger is rotated at a maximum speed to aid in cleaning out the last remaining feed mixture in the mixer.
US08657484B1	Apparatus for mixing contents enclosed within a container An apparatus for mixing contents within an enclosed container, which includes a mixing element composed of a magnetically interactive material, which is configured for placement within the enclosed container, a movable member disposed outside of the enclosed container, the movable member being magnetically engageable with the mixing element, a base member for positioning the movable member proximate the enclosed container, and a motor adapted for driving the movable member in a continuous, reciprocating or oscillating motion relative to the enclosed container, wherein the movable member interacts with and urges the mixing element to translate between a first position and a second position within the container, and one of the mixing element or an end portion of the armature is a magnet.
US08657482B2	Method of mixing bone cement with a power tool including monitoring the mixing of the cement based on data regarding characteristics of components forming the cement and the current drawn by the power tool A system and method for mixing bone cement. The components forming the cement are contained in a cartridge. A motorized device, such as a surgical handpiece, rotates a blade in the cartridge that mixes the cement. The current drawn by the motor is monitored. The current draw is evaluated to determine the viscosity of the cement. If the current draw indicates that the cement is at the target viscosity, the mixing may be terminated. A low current draw measure may be interpreted as an indication that the cement is of low viscosity and that it may be necessary to continue the mixing process.
US08657480B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus includes a display panel which displays images, a light source unit which generates and emits a light, a reflective sheet disposed below the display panel, and a plate disposed between the reflective sheet and the display panel. The reflective sheet includes a light diffusion pattern provided on an upper surface thereof facing the display panel, which diffusely reflects the light, to guide the light provided from the light source unit toward the display panel. The plate is spaced apart from the reflective sheet by a predetermined distance and includes a plurality of prisms provided on a lower surface thereof facing the reflective sheet to selectively reflect and transmit the light, which is provided from both the light source unit and the reflective sheet, according to an incident angle of the light.
US08657477B2	Illumination unit and display apparatus using the same An illumination unit includes LEDs and a tabular light guide plate having a light emitting surface for emitting light from the LEDs as planar light, wherein a recessed portion is formed in the opposite surface of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and the LED is provided in the recessed portion so that the optical axis of the LED becomes parallel to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Here, a dimming pattern is provided at a location corresponding to the LED of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and furthermore a first light guide pattern is provided on the light emitting surface of the light guide plate and a second light guide pattern is provided on a rear surface that is a reflective surface.
US08657475B2	Light source Wherein the light source comprising: a monolithic emissive semiconductor device; and an array of lenslets, the lenslets being optically and mechanically coupled to the monolithic emissive semiconductor device; wherein the monolithic emissive semiconductor device comprises an array of localized light emission regions, each region corresponding to a given lenslet; wherein the lenslets have an apparent center of curvature (Ca), an apparent focal point (fa), a radius of curvature (R) and a lenslet base diameter (D), the base diameter being the width of the lenslet at the intersection with the monolithic emissive semiconductor device; wherein the distance along the lenslet optic axis between the Ca and the fa are normalized, such that Ca is located at distance 0 and fa is located at point 1; wherein each localized light emission region is located at a point that is greater than 0, and less than Formula (I); and wherein each light emission region has a diameter, the emission region diameter measuring one-third or less of a corresponding lenslet base diameter.
US08657462B2	Illumination module A luminous module for a luminous chain may include at least one light source; and at least one electrical connection configured to supply the at least one light source, wherein the luminous module includes a heat sink.
US08657460B2	Lamp with orientable lighting source Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a portable lamp. Various embodiments of the portable lamp comprise a base having an upper surface, a substrate coupled to the base on the upper surface of the base, the substrate including at least one surface having a plurality of light emitting units disposed thereon, the substrate being movable relative to the base to direct light emitted from the light emitting units in a desired direction, and a light-transmitting cover surrounding the substrate.
US08657459B2	Lighting apparatus A low profile lighting apparatus is characterized by a battery housing, a rail-engaging plate connected to the housing by a pair of arms, and a recessed activating push-button located between the arms and adjacent the rail-engaging plate. A flexible resilient tab, also recessed between the arms, secures the apparatus to a rail. A lock-out switch is built into a plug for closing an end of the housing. The plug has three discrete rotational positions, one for attachment, a second for activation of an illumination source, and a third for preventing accidental activation of the illumination source by requiring simultaneous axial pressure and rotation. Instead of the plug, a hinged door having a sliding latch part can be utilized. The sliding latch part includes a pair of resilient legs that cooperate with surfaces inside the door to urge the latch part toward a latching condition.
US08657456B2	Display device and method for manufacturing the same A display device where concentration of a stress in a display panel is suppressed, to allow improvement in display quality, reliability and the like. A display device includes a display panel, an adhesive layer and a supporting substrate. The adhesive layer is provided on the display panel. The supporting substrate is made up of a member previously provided with curved surfaces. The display panel is bonded onto the curved surface of the supporting substrate by the adhesive layer. The supporting substrate supports the display panel in a curved form along the curved surface.
US08657454B1	Vacuum formed reflector for solar energy A reflector particularly adaptable to the collection of solar energy for use in heating systems, thermal to electrical conversion systems and in photovoltaic conversions systems. The reflector can also be used for transmission, or reception or both of radio frequency radiation.
US08657453B2	Display device A display device is capable of freely setting a viewing location for a real image formed by an imaging optical system of real specular image. The display device includes: an object of view; the imaging optical system having a semitransparent substrate with a plane of symmetry to define an object side space in which the object exists and a viewer side space in which a viewer exists, where the imaging optical system forms a real image of the object of view in the viewer side space with light passing through the substrate; and a reflective mirror arranged in the viewer side space so as to reflect light beams supplied from the imaging optical system to guide the reflected light beams toward the viewer.
US08657449B2	Projection type display apparatus A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
US08657444B2	Visual function testing device A visual function testing device includes: a visual target image presentation unit that presents a visual target image; a visual target image rendering unit that renders the visual target image to be presented on the visual target image presentation unit; a visual function test item selection unit that selects a visual function test item; a visual target image generation unit that generates a visual target image corresponding to the test item selected by the visual function test item selection unit; a viewpoint distance input unit that inputs a distance between the visual target image presentation unit and a viewpoint of an observer; and a visual angle input unit that inputs an angle to be made by the visual target image and the viewpoint of the observer. Based on the viewpoint distance and the visual angle, a display size and display position of a visual target image are calculated.
US08657443B2	Systems and methods for altering visual acuity Provided are systems and methods to temporarily alter visual acuity of a subject. An example system includes a first light source configured to produce infrared light in an infrared wavelength spectrum for transient propagation into an eye of the subject and a second light source configured to produce visible light in a visible wavelength spectrum for transient propagation into the eye of the subject. The system further includes a transmission unit configured to propagate the infrared light and the visible light into the eye, wherein the light propagated into the eye temporarily alters visual acuity of the subject.
US08657440B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method This invention can generate a high-resolution, low-noise tomogram while minimizing the influences of the flicks of the eyeballs, the movement of the head, and the like. The invention is an image processing apparatus which processes a tomogram of an eye to be examined and includes detection units to detect the motion amount of the eye by using a signal obtained by capturing the tomogram, and a decision unit to decide the number of scanning lines for capturing of the tomogram based on the motion amount detected by the detection units.
US08657432B2	Ink composition and textile printing method using the same Disclosed is a reactive dye ink exhibiting excellent ejection stability when used in a printer having an inkjet head for commercial use which requires a high-viscosity ink. The reactive dye ink has excellent storage stability and excellent fixability to textiles. Specifically disclosed is an ink composition containing at least one reactive dye serving as a coloring matter, which also contains water and a compound represented by formula (1) and having an average molecular weight of 340-2,200. (1) [In the formula, X1, X2, X3 and X4 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and the sum of j, k, m and n is a number not less than 4 but not more than 40.]
US08657431B2	Phase change magnetic ink comprising carbon coated magnetic nanoparticles and process for preparing same A phase change magnetic ink including a phase change ink carrier; an optional colorant; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional antioxidant; and a carbon coated magnetic nanoparticle comprising a magnetic core and a carbon shell disposed thereover.
US08657430B2	Curable phase change inks containing crystalline polyesters This disclosure is generally directed to curable phase change inks, such as radiation-curable phase change inks, and their use in forming images, such as through inkjet printing. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to radiation-curable phase change inks, such as ultraviolet-light-curable phase change inks, that an ink vehicle and at least one crystalline polyester resin.
US08657427B2	Liquid container The environmental burden of a liquid container during its life cycle is reduced, and a decrease in the reading or writing precision of an information recording unit provided on the liquid container is suppressed. A liquid container mounted in a liquid container holder of a liquid consuming apparatus, equipped with a first container section enclosing at least a portion of a liquid containing space capable of containing a liquid, the material thereof including a plant derived material, a high rigidity member having higher rigidity than the first container section, the material thereof including a material different from the plant derived material, and an information recording unit positioned above the high rigidity member, in which information relating to the liquid container is recorded, for which the information is read or written by a reading unit or a writing unit provided on the liquid consuming apparatus.
US08657424B2	Ink supply container An ink supply container includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to hold a first volume of ink and is configured to be releasably connectable to a printhead. The second portion is configured to hold a second volume of ink and is in communication with the first portion. The second portion is configured to extend over a top of at least one other ink supply container upon releasable connection of the first portion of the container to a printhead assembly.
US08657423B2	Fluid container In one embodiment a fluid container includes: a housing having a chamber therein for holding a fluid, the housing defined at least in part by a rectangular box and a one piece, L-shaped lid; and a first leg of the lid extending along and closing a first, open side of the box and a second leg of the lid extending along and interlocked with a closed, second side of the box disposed perpendicular to the first side of the box.
US08657422B2	Liquid supply flow path device and liquid ejecting apparatus using the same A recording apparatus that comprises a case in the interior of which is an ink nozzle; an opening and closing member movably affixed to an upper side of the case, the opening and closing member being configured to open and close; an external tank located exterior to the case; a liquid supply flow path that provides a liquid from the external tank to the ink nozzle; and a securing member disposed between the opening and closing member and liquid supply flow path and that secures the liquid supply flow path.
US08657417B2	Piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus A piezoelectric element, comprises a piezoelectric layer consisting of a complex oxide represented as a mixed crystal including bismuth ferrate and barium titanate and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer contains 1 to 15 mol % of lithium relative to the complex oxide.
US08657416B2	Piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus A piezoelectric element comprises a electrode and a piezoelectric layer made of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing at least bismuth, barium, iron, and titanium. A layered compound containing iron, barium, titanium and oxygen is formed between the piezoelectric layer and the electrode.
US08657410B2	Liquid discharging nozzle and method for recovering water-repellent layer of the liquid discharging nozzle A liquid discharging nozzle of the present invention includes (i) a liquid reservoir for reserving a discharging liquid and (ii) a discharging tube connected to a bottom part of the liquid reservoir. A water-repellent layer is provided on an inner surface of the discharging tube, on an inner surface of the discharging tube, and on an inner surface of the liquid reservoir, and is a fluorinated water-repellent layer. An aluminum oxide layer and a silicon oxide layer are used as foundation layers of the fluorinated water-repellent layer. The aluminum oxide layer, the silicon oxide layer, and the fluorinated water-repellent layer, which are stacked together, have a combined thickness of not more than 25 nm. The fluorinated water-repellent layer alone has a thickness of 1 nm to 4 nm.
US08657409B1	Line printer hammer banks In one embodiment, a hammer bank for a line printer includes a back plate and a plurality of elongated pole pieces extending forwardly from a front surface thereof. Each of the pole pieces has an electrical coil disposed about a circumfery thereof. A permanent magnet has a back surface coupled to the front surface of the back plate, and a shunt fret defining a plurality of elongated, downwardly extending shunts has a back surface coupled to a font surface of the permanent magnet. A hammer fret defining a plurality of elongated, upwardly extending hammers has a back surface coupled to the front surface of the back plate. Each of the hammers is interdigitated between a pair of adjacent shunts. Each hammer includes an elongated spring portion having a hammer head disposed at an upper end thereof, and each hammer head has a forwardly projecting printing tip thereon.
US08657405B2	Method of maintenance for an imaging apparatus A maintenance station for servicing a printhead mounted on a carrier includes mechanisms that separate a wiping function from a capping function. The maintenance station includes a housing mounting a maintenance sled that is movable between a wiping position and a capping position. The capping position follows the wiping position along a direction of travel by the carrier when it enters the maintenance station. As the carrier enters the maintenance station, a latch pivotably mounted to the maintenance sled selectively locks the maintenance sled in the wiping position without engaging the capping position based on a stop position of the carrier upon initial entrance into the maintenance area.
US08657400B2	Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid discharging method A liquid discharging apparatus is provided, which including: a pressure chamber communicating with a liquid supply portion and each nozzle; an element that performs an operation for providing change of pressure to liquid within the pressure chamber; and a pulse generating section that generates a pulse of which a voltage is changed to operate the element. The pulse generating section generates a first discharge pulse that causes the element to perform an operation for discharging liquid droplets from the nozzles, a non-discharge pulse, generated later than the first discharge pulse, that produces pressure vibration of strength, by which the liquid droplets are not discharged from the nozzles, in the liquid within the pressure chamber, which has a phase different from pressure vibration produced in the liquid within the pressure chamber by applying the first discharge pulse to the element, and a second discharge pulse, generated later than the non-discharge pulse, that causes the element to perform the operation for discharging the liquid droplets from the nozzles, while using the pressure vibration produced in the liquid within the pressure chamber by applying the non-discharge pulse to the element.
US08657394B2	Image forming apparatus Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording head ejecting a liquid droplet; a liquid tank storing ink to be supplied to the recording head; a first flow path communicated with the recording head and the liquid tank; a liquid feeding unit provided in the first flow path; a second flow path provided parallel to the liquid feeding unit of the first flow path; and a fluid resistance control unit provided in the second flow path. The fluid resistance control unit changes fluid resistance in accordance with the flow rate of a flowing liquid and feeds, when the liquid droplet is ejected from the recording head, the liquid from the liquid tank to the recording head with the liquid feeding unit in a state in which the recording head and the liquid tank are communicated with each other via the second flow path.
US08657391B2	Merchandise display system and method A merchandise display system and method which promotes self-service by customers. The system includes plurality of cabinets each having a top surface and a plurality of pull-out racks. The top surface has a plurality of display areas corresponding to the plurality of pull-out racks. Each display area and a corresponding rack is marked with a matching identifying indicia. A merchandise sample is provided for each display area and is also conspicuously marked with matching identifying indicia. An inventory of merchandise removably hangs from each of the plurality of racks having the same features as the corresponding merchandise sample. A consumer viewing a desired merchandise sample on display can easily locate the corresponding inventory of merchandise by matching the identifying indicia of the desired sample with the rack supporting the corresponding inventory of merchandise.
US08657388B2	Brake system for motor vehicles A brake system for motor vehicles having a brake master cylinder that can be operated by a brake pedal, a fluid reservoir assigned to the brake master cylinder, a hydraulic booster stage which is operatively connected to the inlet side of the brake master cylinder, with a booster piston which is subjected to a hydraulic boost pressure supplied by a pressure source and which in all operating modes allows a direct mechanical action by the brake pedal on a hydraulic piston of the brake master cylinder, and having an electrically controllable pressure regulating valve arrangement for metering the boost pressure. In order to provide a brake system of simple design, which is cost-effective to produce and which functions reliably, the pressure regulating valve arrangement can be hydraulically controllable.
US08657386B2	Vehicle wheel There is provided a vehicle wheel which can reduce a rolling resistance by rising a tire temperature with a simple structure. A heat-insulation rubber is pasted on all circumference surface of a portion of an outer circumference surface of a rim other than a bead seating portion where a bead portion of a tire closely contacts and a rim flange portion. The heat-insulation rubber suppresses any heat transfer from air in a tire air chamber and from the internal surface of the tire to the rim at the outer circumference surface of the rim which contacts the air in the tire air chamber.
US08657385B2	Carbide block and sleeve wear surface An assembly is disclosed including a holder block, a cutting pick, and an optional hollow sleeve, wherein the shank of the cutting pick is inserted into the holder block or, where present, into the hollow sleeve. When assembled, surfaces of the components meet at an interface. At least one of the first interface and the second interface includes one or more sets of wear elements including cemented carbide bodies press fit into recesses in the forwardly oriented surfaces meeting at the interfaces. The wear elements mitigate direct contact between the opposing surfaces of the components at the interfaces and prevents excessive wear from repetitive impact because the harder wear elements, e.g., cemented carbide, are contact points between the opposing surfaces of the components at the interfaces. A machine incorporating the assembly and a method of manufacturing the assembly are also disclosed, particularly a machine for mining, excavating, tunneling, road planing and/or construction.
US08657384B1	Track scraper A track scraper for removing rubber from a racetrack is provided. The scraper comprises rotating blades that are moved along the surface of the track and that skim off portions of rubber that has been deposited on the track by race cars. The scraper is installed on and powered by a standard garden tractor.
US08657381B2	Adjustment kinematics for an arm rest The invention relates to an arm rest, particularly for a center console of a motor vehicle, comprising a carrier element (1) having a support element (11) moveably arranged on the carrier element (1), wherein the carrier element (1) and the support element (11) can be pivoted about a first pivoting axis (y) by means (3, 5, 7A, 7B or 3, 7A, 8) arranged in or on the carrier element (1). The support element (11) can be displaced with respect to the carrier element (1) by a connection to one of the arranged means (3, 5, 7A, 7B or 3, 7A, 8). According to the invention, pivoting of the carrier element (1) together with the support element (11) and displacing the support element (11) with respect to the carrier element (1) can be released or blocked by actuating a single control element (6) that acts upon the arranged means (3, 5, 7A, 7B or 3, 7A, 8).
US08657377B2	Seat assembly with easy entry release mechanism A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a recliner assembly having an easy entry mechanism. The easy entry mechanism can be mounted to either an outboard or an inboard side of a seat back frame side member used in seat assemblies for both five-door and three-door vehicle models. The recliner assembly includes an adaptor to couple the easy entry mechanism to a recliner heart disposed on an opposite side of the seat back frame side member.
US08657375B2	Resilient rocking element for furniture member A rocking furniture member includes an occupant support member supporting an occupant of the furniture member. A frame is connected to the occupant support member and supports the seat portion for rocking motion with respect to a furniture member support surface. An elastically resilient member connecting the occupant support member to the frame permits occupant induced rocking motion of the occupant support member with respect to the support surface. The resilient member is a monolithic bar having a uniform cross section.
US08657374B2	Chair There is provided a chair (101) comprising: a seating portion (102) for occupation; a base portion (103) for location upon a support surface; and a connecting portion (104) connectedly extending between said seating portion (102) and said base portion (103); wherein said connecting portion (104) is configured to provide a degree of freedom of the position of said seating portion (101) relative to said base portion (103), such that said seating portion (102) is movable between a default unloaded position relative to said base portion (103) and each of a plurality of available loaded positions relative to said base portion (103), whereby when unoccupied, said seating portion (102) is in said default unloaded position relative to said base portion (103), and when occupied, said seating portion (102) is in one of said plurality of available loaded positions relative to said base portion (103), whereby said chair is configured to dynamically respond to changes in the posture of an occupant.
US08657372B2	Vehicle seat A vehicle seat including at least two components connected, directly or indirectly, by an adjustment mechanism. A locking means is provided, arranged to lock the two components relative to each other when predetermined conditions are experienced, to restrict relative movement of the two components. The locking means may be arranged to engage when a vehicle in which the seat is mounted is involved in an impact. The locking means reduces the amount of relative movement of seat components owing to compliance in seat adjustment mechanism in the event of a vehicle impact.
US08657365B2	Vehicle body front structure of electric vehicle A vehicle body front structure of an electric vehicle includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a unit frame, and a bending inducing bracket. The unit frame includes a rear frame portion. The bending inducing bracket is provided in a substantially central area of the rear frame portion and protrudes from the rear frame portion toward a rear of the electric vehicle. The bending inducing bracket is spaced apart from a wall member of a vehicle cabin in a front-rear direction. The bending inducing bracket is provided to come into contact with the wall member when an impact load is input from a front side of the electric vehicle.
US08657359B2	Folding top for a convertible, comprising at least two roof segments and a roofliner A folding top (3) for a convertible is disclosed, with at least two roof segments (7), which can be moved by means of a folding top linkage (11) between a closed position covering a passenger compartment (10) and an open position uncovering at least some areas of the passenger compartment (10), and with an interior ceiling (15) facing the passenger compartment (10), which has at least one zone (18) that is loosely guided relative to at least one roof segment (7). At least one wire-type shaping element (19) cooperates with the interior ceiling (15) in order to shape the interior ceiling (15).
US08657352B2	Robotic device for substrate transfer applications A device for use in the semiconductor industry includes a robotic arm whose end effector includes at least two prongs designed to hold a substrate carrier. A pushing member located between the prongs can move independently of the prongs and is configured to exert force against the substrate carrier while the prongs are retracted from the substrate carrier, after the substrate carrier has been brought to its intended position. In this manner, the position of the substrate carrier is maintained at its intended position as the prongs are retracted. Each of the prongs may include a claw or gripping member for grasping the substrate carrier.
US08657351B2	Golf disc and flying disc and multipurpose pick up tool The GOLF DISC AND FLYING DISC AND MULTIPURPOSE PICK UP TOOL is a lightweight, collapsible, segmented shaft fitted with a durable suction cup. The suction cup provides a vacuum adhesion on either side, or any location, on the golf disc or flying disc or other generally flat and smooth objects. The disc or object can then be picked up (retrieved) from any surface or obstacle within reach. A flick of the finger to the suction cup edge breaks the vacuum and the tool and disc or object are separated. The tool can be deployed and used with one hand. The tool can be carried and used as extended or folded and stowed.
US08657350B2	Impact protection device for an underbody-mounted member of a motor vehicle An impact protection device for a motor-vehicle member mounted protrudingly beneath the body thereof, including a fairing element configured to be rigidly connected to at least one structural body element of the motor vehicle located between one extremity of the motor vehicle from which an obstacle may appear during a maneuver of the motor vehicle and the motor-vehicle member. The fairing element includes a lower support surface extending beneath the body substantially between the extremity of the motor vehicle and the motor-vehicle member along a negative incline, such that the low point of the lower support surface is lower than the low point of the motor-vehicle member along a vertical axis of the motor vehicle.
US08657349B2	Latch assembly for a vehicle A latching system includes a striker defining an outer width and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a support structure including a first side plate, a second side plate spaced from the first side plate, and a top plate fixedly attached to and extending between the first side plate and the second side plate. The first side plate and the second side plate are spaced from each other a separation distance that is greater than the outer width of the striker such that the outer width of the striker is completely disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate when the latch assembly is in a lock position.
US08657348B2	Latch assembly A latch assembly is provided herein, the latch assembly having: a chassis; a latch bolt, movably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker, an open position for releasing the striker; a first safety position between the closed position and the open position for retaining the striker; a first pawl having a first pawl engaged position at which the first pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a first pawl disengaged position at which the first pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to at least move towards the first safety position; and a second pawl having a second pawl engaged position at which the second pawl is engageable with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the first safety position and a second pawl disengaged position at which the second pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt thereby allowing the latch bolt to move towards the open position.
US08657343B2	Quick connector assembly A connector assembly including a connector body having a coupling end and sealing means. A collet couples to the connector body and has resilient fingers. An adjustment ring has a stop and defines guide tracks. A collar has protrusions coupled in the guide tracks. A ferrule is slidingly housed within the collar and adjustment ring. A locking split ring clips onto the adjustment ring to limit travel of the collar. In a locked position, the locking split ring is installed and a pipe, inserted into the connector body is retained in place by the resilient radially inward fingers of the collet and sealed by the sealing means. In the released position, the collar has been moved to force the ferrule into the collet to splay the resilient fingers such that the pipe is freely insertable and removeable from the connector assembly.
US08657342B2	Consist communication system having inductive transmission A consist communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The consist communication system may have a fluid conduit, at least a first cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit communication signals, and at least a second cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit electrical power. The communication conduit may also have a coupling fixedly connected to an end of the fluid conduit, a first transformer coil connected to the at least a first cable, and a second transformer coil connected to the at least a second cable and disposed in an orthogonal orientation relative to the first transformer coil.
US08657340B2	Sleeper berth occupants rollover protection A rollover safety system for truck cab sleeper berths and other sleeper berths in moving vehicles. The system includes a rollover sensor which generates a signal in response to a rollover condition. The signal is used by a controller to tension a tether which is attached to a load bearing harness worn by a sleeper berth occupant. The tether is tensioned to prevent the occupant from injuriously contacting the roof and or walls of the berth The system moves the occupant away from the potentially injurious surfaces while allowing freedom of movement when there is no crash.
US08657336B1	Protective device for trucks A protective device for use on an axle of a flatbed of a truck to protect air hoses and mechanical mechanisms of a braking system from accidental damage caused when trucks collide with objects on the roadway. The protective device includes a grated shield that integrally couples to the axle of the flatbed through a specially designed coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism includes a coupling bracket, having a pair of legs and a rod, and a clamping bracket for accepting the axle therein and providing stability, shock absorbency, and durability to the shield for withstanding accidental damage.
US08657332B2	Air belt apparatus An air belt apparatus is provided in which a bag is stored while being folded short prior to deployment and inflation. An air belt apparatus includes a bag provided in a part of a seatbelt, a collision detection device, and a gas supply device that supplies deployment gas to the bag. The bag includes a cylindrical portion connected to the gas supply device, and an inflatable portion wider than the cylindrical portion. Prior to deployment and inflation, the inflatable portion is stored on a radial inner side of the cylindrical portion while being turned inside out and folded up to a width substantially equal to a width of the cylindrical portion.
US08657331B2	Airbag device In an airbag device to be mounted to a vehicle-body side wall, an airbag and a mounting bracket are temporarily, but securely, attached to each other, so that mounting of the airbag to the vehicle-body side wall can be easily performed.A bolt (50) is inserted through a plurality of mounting tabs (11) provided on an airbag (10) of an airbag device (1), a mounting bracket (40) having inner and outer plates (41) and (42), and an annular member (44) provided in the inner plate (41). In this state, a toothed washer (70) is fitted and temporarily attached to the bolt (50). The annular member (44) is fastened by screwing the bolt (50) into a nut (55) attached to the vehicle-body side wall (15) when the airbag (10) is mounted to a vehicle-body side wall (15).
US08657329B2	Instrument panel module A decorative panel is suppressed from coming off during airbag inflation and deployment. In an instrument panel module 10, an opening section 32 formed in a frame section 28 of the retainer 22 is closed off by the door main body section 52A of the airbag door 52, and the door adjacent portion 62 formed in a decorative panel 60 adjacent at the vehicle bottom side of the door main body section 52A. A main body portion 62A of a door adjacent portion 62 is joined to a joining section 70 formed at an upper portion of a hinge member 68, such that the door adjacent portion 62 is supported by the hinge member 68 so as to be capable of opening towards the vehicle bottom side. First fixing portions 72 are formed to the lower portion of the hinge member 68, and the first fixing portions 72 are fixed to a top edge portion 78A of the opening section 78 of a glove box 76 provided to the instrument panel base member 12.
US08657328B2	Arrangement of an inflatable airbag in an instrument panel comprising a flap connected to the instrument panel by a linear tether The invention relates to an inflatable airbag arrangement (1) comprising an instrument panel body (2) having an aperture (3), a flap (10) closing this aperture (10) while being articulated to a transverse articulation edge of this aperture, a firing canal (4) fixed on the underside face of the instrument panel body (2). At least one tether (18) is fixed to the flap (10) and to the firing canal (4) so as to form a hinge and/or so as to limit the opening of the flap (10), and the firing canal (4) comprises at least one opening (28, 29, 42) establishing communication between an internal face and an external face of an edge (8, 9, 6) of the firing canal (4). The tether (18) passes through this opening (28, 29, 42) to be fixed while being held firmly at an external face of the firing canal (4) when the flap (10) opens.
US08657327B2	Vehicle interior panel, and airbag device Provided are a vehicle interior panel and an airbag device wherein it is possible to prevent the weld strength and the rigidity of a panel from deteriorating. In a vehicle interior panel, a joint surface of a flap portion has first welding ribs, second welding ribs, and a third welding rib formed thereon. The first welding ribs include the first communication grooves each allowing adjacent grids and to communicate with each other. The second welding ribs include second communication grooves each allowing adjacent grids to communicate with each other. The third welding rib includes third communication grooves formed on sides substantially perpendicular to a hinge portion. The second communication grooves are formed so as not to be successively aligned in a direction perpendicular to the second welding ribs. The first to third communication grooves form an exhaust channel allowing the air in the grids to be discharged outside during vibration welding.
US08657324B2	Tractor-trailer hose support A hose support for supporting hoses which extend between the tractor and the trailer of a tractor-trailer rig with the tractor having a headache rack, with forward and rearward sides, positioned rearwardly of the cab of the tractor. A substantially vertically disposed mounting plate is secured to the rearward side of the headache rack and has an elongated hose support arm, having forward and rearward ends, with the rearward end of the hose support arm being pivotally secured, about a vertical axis to the mounting plate. The hose support arm may extend rearwardly and upwardly from the mounting plate or extend rearwardly and downwardly from the mounting plate. The rearward end of the hose support arm is adapted to have the hoses secured thereto.
US08657317B2	Quick-release fixing structure for a fender of a bicycle A quick-release fixing structure for a fender of a bicycle is provided with a mounting member fixed to the front fork, an engaging member fixed on the fender, and a U-shaped control member. The mounting member is formed with an elastic piece, a receiving cavity, and two penetrating holes which have two cutting grooves in communication with the receiving cavity and the penetrating holes. The engaging member is received in the receiving cavity of the mounting member and formed with two arc-shaped cutting grooves for mating with the arc-shaped cutting grooves of the mounting member. The control member is inserted in the penetrating holes and formed with two arc-shaped grooves. The quick-release fixing structure is capable of assembling the fender onto the front fork of bicycle or disassembling it therefrom by a simple pressing operation.
US08657316B1	Rear axle support assembly A rear axle support assembly includes a swing arm assembly, a second axle tube, and a rear final gear assembly. The swing arm assembly includes a first support arm, a second support arm laterally spaced from the first support arm, a first axle tube attached to the first support arm, and an axle support bracket attached to the second support arm. Each of the first and second axle tubes is configured to receive an axle therewithin. The second axle tube includes an axle tube mount flange. The first axle tube is releasably attached to the rear final gear assembly. The axle tube mount flange is positioned laterally between, and is releasably attached to each one of, the axle support bracket of the swing arm assembly and the rear final gear assembly, and in direct, contacting engagement with the rear final gear assembly.
US08657315B2	Vehicle suspension and improved method of assembly A suspension having a frame attachment portion having an opening with a spring mount positioned therein, and a first shear spring positioned between a wall of the spring mount and a side wall of the opening, and a second shear spring positioned between another wall of the spring mount and another wall of the opening. The first spring mount comprises an inboard part and an outboard part with a first through-hole positioned therein adapted to allow passage of a first connecting rod therethrough, wherein the first connecting rod connects the inboard and outboard parts together, and wherein the first shear spring is compressed between a wall of the spring mount and a wall of the opening, and wherein the second shear spring is compressed between a wall of the spring mount and a wall of the opening.
US08657313B2	Rear wheel steering system for vehicles and vehicle comprising said system The present disclosure relates to a rear wheel steering system for vehicles and vehicle comprising said system which allows rotating the rear wheels by means of a single actuator without increasing the suspended masses, comprising an independent suspension assembly for each rear wheel, wherein each independent suspension assembly comprises a suspension arm having a first end operatively connected to an axle of a wheel, each suspension arm having two second ends which are articulated to a fixed part of the vehicle, each suspension arm being able to rotate with respect to a rotation shaft where the two second ends of each suspension arm are articulated; the system comprising a synchronization device comprising at least one synchronization rod the ends of which are connected by means of sliding carriages to the rotation shafts, each sliding carriage being operatively connected to the axle of each wheel by means of a transmission rod.
US08657311B2	Stroller frame with a swivel seat and a limiting mechanism A stroller frame includes a wheeled frame, a seat support, a handle bar and a limiting mechanism. The wheeled frame has a front wheel side and rear wheel side. The seat support is pivotally mounted atop the wheeled frame about a seat support axis, and selectively may have a forward facing direction and a rearward facing direction positioned by a locking member. The handle bar is pivotally and lockably connected to the seat support about a handle bar axis and associated with the locking member for interchanging the facing directions of the seat support. The limiting mechanism is associated between the wheeled frame, the seat support and the handle bar, for preventing the handle bar from rotating about the handle bar axis from the upright position to a position extending toward the front wheel side while tilting up the handle bar and rotating the seat support for interchanging the facing directions.
US08657297B2	Air riding seal An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith. A plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential dam is provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film. Features of the invention allow for higher operating speeds.
US08657295B2	Device and method for measuring reaction time A manual neurological testing device for measuring a subject's reaction time comprising: a releasable holding member operable to be grasped by the subject; a stimulus device coupled with the releasable holding member, the stimulus device outputting a perceivable stimulus; and a measurement device coupled with the releasable holding member, the measurement device measuring the subject's reaction time for grasping the releasable holding member relative to the perceivable stimulus.
US08657294B2	Lifting device for hammer game machine A lifting device for hammer game machine includes frame, a motor laterally mounted to a lower portion of the frame, a seat longitudinally mounted to an upper portion of the frame, a lifting unit partially received in and extending through the seat, a first bracket is secured on a lower end of the lifting device, a linkage assembly connected to the motor and a second bracket laterally mounted onto the linkage assembly through the frame. The first bracket and the second bracket are slidably relative to the frame and selectively connected to each other before being operated.
US08657288B2	Three-dimensional puzzle A three dimensional puzzle assembly 12 is formed of a plurality of puzzle pieces 18. The puzzle pieces 18 have tabs 28 that are received in recesses 30. The tabs 28 and recesses 30 have cooperating engagement features 32, 34 that prevent adjacent puzzle pieces from being displaced in a direction normal to an exterior surface of the puzzle pieces. The puzzle assembly 12 defines a guide 24 in which a lock 20 may be attached. A bayonet connector 88, 90 may be used to attach a liner 14 to the lock through a hole 52 in the puzzle assembly. A retainer 54 on the liner 14 may pass through the hole 52 and engage the lock 20.
US08657285B2	Sheet transport apparatus and sheet transport method Provided are a sheet transport apparatus and a sheet transport method preventing false detection of multiple feeding when feeding sheets of different thicknesses. The sheet transport apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver disposed opposite each other across a sheet transport path, a type detector for discriminating between a first sheet and a second sheet thicker than the first sheet while one or the other of the sheets is being fed along the transport path, and a multiple feed detector for detecting the presence or absence of multiple feeding of sheets along the transport path, based on an output produced by the ultrasonic sensor and on a detection result supplied from the type detector.
US08657281B2	Sheet conveying apparatus, image recording apparatus, and image reading apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet accommodating unit for accommodating a sheet, the sheet accommodating unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; a feeding unit for feeding the sheet from the sheet accommodating unit; a press-contact device for press-contacting the sheet in the sheet accommodating unit to the feeding unit; a guiding member provided in the sheet feeding apparatus for guiding the sheet accommodating unit such that sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating unit is not contacted to the feeding unit when the sheet accommodating unit is mounted to the apparatus; a moving device for moving the guiding member to bring the sheet into contact to the feeding unit after the sheet accommodating unit is mounted to the apparatus.
US08657279B2	Non-circular suction wheel and sheet feeder A suction wheel attracts sheets by suction and transports them. The suction wheel contains a suction wheel body rotatable about an axis of rotation and provided with a plurality of suction openings formed in the circumferential surface of the suction wheel body. Accordingly, the suction wheel body is of a non-circular shape. In particular, the suction wheel includes an attraction area for attracting a sheet, a retaining area for retaining and conveying a sheet, and a release area for releasing a sheet. A sheet feeder ideally incorporates such a suction wheel.
US08657275B2	Material-saving and energy-saving multifunctional bench clamp A material-saving and energy-saving multifunctional bench clamp includes a movable clamp body, a fixed clamp body and a transmission pair of a screw and a nut. The fixed clamp body is provided with a holding accessory and a retractable locating-guiding device. The movable clamp body is made up of a left part and a right part. The left part is provided with two work heads, each head includes holding members, which form a holding assembly together with the accessories installed on the fixed clamp body. At least two axially locating-guiding key grooves are shaped on the cylinder guide rail of the right part and positioned the corresponding work heads of the left part. The bench clamp not only reduces processing surfaces and costs, but also saves about 30% material of clamper body under the same standard size and rated clamp force by comparison to the old multifunctional bench clamp.
US08657273B2	Jig The jig 1 is used for positioning an inner tube and a transition piece of a combustor for a gas turbine when assembling the combustor. The jig 1 has the alignment member 2 that is inserted into the transition piece when positioning the transition piece to determine an installation position of the transition piece. The alignment member 2 has an outer circumferential shape which is substantially the same as an inner circumferential shape of the transition piece.
US08657266B2	Separator roll membrane coating for fuel cell humidifier A water vapor transfer unit with separator plates and a method of making the same. In such an assembly, an ionomer coating that facilitates moisture transfer from a moisture-rich flowpath to a moisture-deficient flowpath and an underlying separator may both be prepared from continuous, roll-based methods. The ionomer may be applied to a separator assembly as the last processing step such that the handling of the fragile membrane is kept to a minimum.
US08657262B2	Device and method for foaming a liquid foodstuff, especially milk A device for foaming a liquid foodstuff, especially milk, is provided including a pump (2) that has, on the suction side, a feed line (3) that can be connected in a fluid-conducting way to a storage container for the liquid foodstuff. An air feed line (3a) by which air can be fed to the foodstuff is arranged in a path of flow of the liquid foodstuff on the suction side of the pump (2) and, a throttle (4a) is arranged in the path of flow of the foodstuff on the downstream side of the pump (2). The air feed line (3a) includes an air valve (3b) that can be controlled by a control unit (9) and the air valve (3b) is an intermittent air valve (3b) having at least one state with high air flow and one state with comparatively lower air flow and/or with no air flow can be specified selectively by the control unit (9), and the control unit (9) and air valve (3b) are constructed to interact such that the average air flow of the air valve can be controlled through repeated switching between the at least two states of the air valve.
US08657261B2	Mobile ski towing system A mobile ski towing system is a fixed or portable towing system used to pull a towee on a; ski, wakeboard, snowboard, longboard, surfboard, skateboard, mountainboard, or other similar ski or board, by reeling a towrope with a handle around a spool which is driven by a motor. There are three operating modes to control the towing independently or dependently of a dedicated-operator; a pull-to-start mode for independent towing, an on-board control mode for dependent towing, and a remote control mode for either independent or dependent towing. A mobile ski towing system comprises a mobile base with an outside frame and an internal pivoting frame, onto which the components of; motor, spool, spool shaft, spool shaft bearings, spider coulper and brake are mounted. The pivoting frame senses a load on the towrope to activate and deactivate the motor.
US08657259B2	Fish tape leader A fish tape leader comprises a leader body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. A spheroid cap is at the first end. A tail portion extends from the spheroid cap to the second end. An eyelet extends through the leader body transverse to the longitudinal axis. The fish tape leader further comprises an attachment portion configured to secure the leader body to a fish tape.
US08657258B2	Portable pump jack A pump jack for driving a reciprocating pump is provided. The pump jack comprises a support base and a support frame mounted thereto. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the support frame. A pulley mechanism is connected to a piston of the hydraulic cylinder, the support frame, and to a sucker rod of the reciprocating pump. The pulley mechanism translates movement of the piston into movement of the sucker rod such that pushing action of the piston provides pulling action acting on the sucker rod. A drive mechanism connected to the hydraulic cylinder for actuating the hydraulic cylinder.
US08657248B2	Supporting apparatus for thin electronic product A supporting apparatus for a thin electronic product is composed of a main body having a chamber, a plurality of fillers received in the chamber, an external lateral surface, and a locating portion located on the external lateral surface. The thin electronic product can be visibly fastened to the external lateral surface by the locating portion. Because the supporting apparatus can be firmly put on a surface and define a predetermined angle with respect to the surface, while the thin electronic product is fixed to the external lateral surface of the main body, the thin electronic product can define the predetermined angle with respect to the surface to allow the user to conveniently operate the thin electronic product.
US08657246B2	Movable base with control surface In a further embodiment, a method of controlling a base assembly can be provided. An actuation member can be pumped to deploy one or more wheels to lift a base assembly on said wheels. Further, a pin can be received in a holding portion on a semi-planar contoured surface in response to the pumping of the actuation member. The wheels can be held in a deployed position via the pin being held in the holding portion. Further pumping of the actuation member can separate the pin from the holding portion and retract the wheels from the deployed position.
US08657244B2	Support hanger for insulation and other materials An article for supporting a material that includes a hanger of rigid material, with the hanger including a first planar portion connected to an offset but parallel second planar portion by a planar shoulder disposed perpendicularly to both the first and second planar portions and further including at least one spike disposed upon a front surface of the first planar portion and at least one notch disposed upon a side surface of the second planer portion. A pair of hangers may be used to form a shelf-like support through connecting the pair of hangers with a wire or filament engaged within a notch, a barb, or both.
US08657243B2	Operating table An operating table has a movable base which is provided with four casters, wherein the casters are each pivotable via a pivot lever. The pivot levers are connected to one another by a common drive and a linkage.
US08657241B2	Storable intravenous stand The present invention is directed to a base member for a portable intravenous stand. The base member includes a plurality of segments configured to facilitate the close nesting or alignment of multiple portable intravenous stands; and thus reducing the amount of space required for storing the portable intravenous stands when not in use.
US08657240B2	Throttle interface for variable thrust vector aircraft An aircraft control input apparatus is configured to accept and provide to the aircraft control inputs from a user regarding the magnitude and direction of the aircraft's thrust vector. The present invention enables a user to continually provide control inputs to an aircraft in which both the magnitude and the direction of thrust vary. A rotational throttle interface is configured to alter its orientation within the aircraft based on the directional component of the aircraft's thrust vector. The rotational throttle interface enables the user to provide continual control inputs to command both the directional component of the thrust as well as the magnitude component. Accordingly the user can provide inputs regarding direction and magnitude throughout the operating envelope of the aircraft's thrust vector while maintaining continuous physical contact with the throttle.
US08657237B2	Flying object for transonic or supersonic velocities A flying object which moves with a transonic or supersonic velocity is disclosed. The inventive flying object comprises a main body, a streaming element and a holding element. The holding element holds the streaming element distant from the main body. The streaming element is permeable for the airstream. For one embodiment the streaming element is built with a porous material. The streaming element has an outer surface with the shape of a cone or a truncated cone. The holding element holds the streaming element in an orientation with the cone opening towards the airstream.
US08657235B2	Space debris removal using upper atmosphere and vortex generator The systems and methods of the invention modulate atmospheric gases to temporarily increase the amount of atmospheric particles in the path of the debris, in order to decelerate the debris and accelerate natural orbital decay to the point of atmospheric re-entry. In one aspect of the invention, clearing the space debris includes propelling a plume of atmospheric gases substantially orthogonal to the path of the debris such that the debris collides with the gaseous plume as it passes through the plume. Increased atmospheric drag from the gaseous particles of the plume in the path of the debris obstructs a forward propagation of the debris and gradually decelerates the debris, leading eventually to atmospheric recapture. Embodiments of the invention can be employed in any number of applications, including without limitation, clearing debris in the low-earth orbit (LEO) which is particularly susceptible to debris build-up, de-orbiting non-refuse payloads from orbits, and clearing debris from geosynchronous orbits.
US08657232B2	Fuselage structure for combined fixing of insulation blankets and items of equipment, aircraft incorporating such a structure An installation of systems in aircraft fuselages such as thermophonic insulation mattresses and devices such as onboard systems, and bundles of electric wires or fluid ducts (air, water, oxygen, hydraulic fluid). A structure for fastening onto an aircraft fuselage includes at least frames and stringers, the structure further including: fuselage stabilizers connecting the frames and stringers, wherein two stabilizers of two consecutive frames face each other between the two consecutive frames; and a strip board connecting the two stabilizers and including a fastening mechanism arranged so as to receive corresponding fastening mechanisms of the insulation mattresses and the devices.
US08657229B2	Method and apparatus for actively manipulating aerodynamic surfaces A method and apparatus is provided, including an actuator system that may be connected to a wing frame for controlling an active element. The actuator system may include sliding elements movable along an axis parallel to the span-wise axis of the wing. The sliding elements may be connected to fixed elements and a crank element, the crank element generally comprising a beam element and a pivot element. The beam element may be offset from the pivot element so that the crank element is rotatable about the pivot element with a negative stiffness under an external force that tends to pull the sliding elements away from the fixed elements.
US08657228B2	Method and apparatus for actively manipulating aerodynamic surfaces A method and apparatus is provided, including an actuator system that may be connected to a wing frame for controlling an active element. The actuator system may include sliding elements movable along an axis parallel to the span-wise axis of the wing. The sliding elements may be connected to fixed elements and a crank element, the crank element generally comprising a beam element and a cross-axis flexure pivot element. The beam element may be offset from the pivot element so that the crank element is rotatable about the pivot element with a negative stiffness under an external force that tends to pull the sliding elements away from the fixed elements.
US08657225B2	Paper dispenser A paper dispenser has a transport roller which can be alternatively rotated by a motor-driven mechanism or by a manually driven mechanism. A first coupling member is associated with the transport roller and respective second coupling members are associated with the two drive mechanisms. The two secondary coupling members are interconnected by a movable connecting element and can be alternatively engaged with the first coupling member.
US08657222B2	Drag mechanism for dual-bearing reel A drag mechanism is configured to brake rotation of a spool in a fishing-line releasing direction about a handle shaft. The drag mechanism includes a drag regulation member, a drag washer, a handle, a one-way clutch, and a cam. The drag regulation member is configured to regulate drag force, where the drag regulation member includes an operating part and a regulation nut. The regulation nut is axially movably and unitarily rotatably coupled to the operating part. The regulation nut is screwed onto an outer peripheral surface of a tip end of the handle shaft. The drag washer is disposed onto the handle shaft. The handle is disposed between the drag washer and the drag regulation member. The one-way clutch is configured to prevent rotation of the handle shaft in the fishing-line releasing direction. The cam mechanism is configured to increase the drag force.
US08657221B2	Roller mill structure A roller mill structure which achieves uniform distribution of fine particles passed through a rotary classifier to fine particle exits disposed at four points when conveying as pulverized coal milled in the roller mill on the air current is provided. A roller mill structure is configured to discharge pulverized coal obtained by milling a raw coal, which is loaded in a mill body (11), from fine particle exits (14) formed on the top of the mill body so as to be quartered in the circumferential direction to the outside by air current conveyance. The roller mill structure includes a table which rotates in the mill body (11), three rollers for rotating on the table and milling the raw coal, and a rotary classifier (20) disposed upstream of the fine particle exits (14), wherein a movable vane (21) for partly narrowing the cross-sectional area of a flow channel is provided at a midpoint of the flow channel for fine particle current flowing into the interior of the rotary classifier (20), and proceeding toward the fine particle exits (14).
US08657220B2	Rotor with closed centre space and cover member The invention relates to a rotor (139) for the acceleration of material, in particular a stream of granular or particulate material, with the aid of centrifugal force, with, in particular, the aim of causing the accelerated grains or particles to collide with an impact member at such a velocity that the particles are crushed. The invention provides ways to hinder that particles are pulled from the center space though vortex pulling. The sliding member (143) is provided with a closed space that provides the rotor with a closed center space. When the sliding member (143) are positioned some distance away from the metering member (141), a cover member (134) is positioned above the rotor (139) between the metering member and the sliding member. This enables to design the sliding members shorter and hence cheaper. It enables to place more sliding members on the rotor and hence increase continuous operation time accordingly.
US08657219B2	Sheet waste processing device, image forming apparatus, and sheet waste processing method A sheet waste processing device includes: a sheet processing tool that generates piece-like sheet wastes by processing for sheets; a waste receiver that is provided freely movably under the sheet processing tool between a setting position where the sheet wastes generated by the sheet processing tool are housed and a non-setting position where the sheet wastes housed are disposed of; and a transporting/guarding member that is provided between the sheet processing tool and the waste receiver, transports the sheet wastes into the waste receiver located at the setting position, and blocks direct touching the sheet processing tool from a waste receiver space generated by movement of the waste receiver under the condition that the waste receiver is moved to the non-setting position.
US08657218B2	System and method for separating minerals from ore without fluid The system and method of separating minerals from ore without fluid includes a materials feeding device, a friction vibration separator and a dry separation concentrator, the materials feeding device passing a dry mixture to the friction vibration separator. At least two materials transport grooves collect the rough separation mixture from the friction vibration separator to at least two materials transport devices for passing the rough separation mixture to the dry separation concentrator. The method includes crushing ore into a mixture of minerals and ore, drying the mixture, storing and transporting the dry mixture to the friction vibration separator by the materials feeding device, collecting a rough separation mixture from the friction vibration separator, transporting the rough separation mixture to a dry separation concentrator to collect a collection mixture.
US08657214B2	Fuel injection valve and internal combustion engine A fuel injection valve includes a valve body and a valve member. The fuel injection valve is configured to control fuel supply by a movement of the valve member relative to the valve body. A slit that is configured to inject fuel having a first end portion opened in a sack portion of the valve body and a second end portion opened at an outer wall of the valve body is formed in the valve body. A through hole having a first end portion opened in the sack portion and a second end portion opened at the outer wall of the valve body is formed in the valve body.
US08657213B2	Fuel injection valve A plate convex is formed on the upstream side of the injection hole plate and a plate concave is formed on the downstream side of the injection hole plate so as to form a pair together, a minimum of one set of the plate convexes and the plate concaves are formed, and the injection holes are arranged so that the radial centerline which connects the centerline of the plate convex from the axial center of the fuel injection valve does not overlap the center of the injection hole on an upstream flat surface of the injection hole plate, and the plate convex is arranged so as to straddle the injection hole on the upstream flat surface of the injection hole plate, and the top surface of the plate convex.
US08657207B2	Hot water circulation system associated with heat pump and method for controlling the same Disclosed is a hot water circulation system associated with a heat pump and a method for controlling the same. The present invention allows the system to be defrosted while hot water supply or a heating operation is performed, making it possible to improve a phenomenon that heating efficiency is deteriorated.
US08657203B2	Wireless mobile communicator for contactless payment on account read from removable card A wireless mobile communications apparatus reads removable cards and can communicate an account corresponding to the removable card in order to conduct a wireless transaction with a merchant on the account with the wireless mobile communications apparatus. A total currency amount for the transaction, and remaining balance in the account after the transaction, can be displayed on a display screen of the wireless mobile communications apparatus. The removable card can be a gift card bearing a magnetic strip having an identifier for the account encoded thereto that will be read when inserted into the wireless mobile communications apparatus which can be a cellular telephone or Web enabled portable device. The magnetic strip gift card can be substantially composed of paper so as to be intended for disposable after use.
US08657199B2	Compact imaging engine for imaging reader A compact, low-cost, high-performance, imaging engine for an imaging reader for, and a method of, imaging targets, include a single printed circuit board (PCB), an illumination light assembly supported by the PCB for illuminating a target, a single chassis mounted on the PCB, an imaging lens assembly supported by the chassis for capturing return light from the illuminated target, and a solid-state imager supported by the PCB for detecting the captured return light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured light. A controller is mounted on or off the imaging engine, and is operatively connected to, and controls the operation of, the imager and the illumination light assembly, for processing the electrical signal into data indicative of the target being imaged.
US08657195B2	Document capture with imaging-based bar code readers A method includes (1) obtaining a captured image of a document physically placed on a background having specifically designed patterns; (2) storing into a memory the captured image that includes an image of the document and an image of the background surrounding the document; and (3) analyzing the captured image to search for a boundary of the document in the captured image, where step of analyzing includes distinguishing the image of the background from the image of the document.
US08657192B2	Apparatus and method for encrypting data in a magnetic stripe reader A magnetic stripe reader assembly for a point of sale terminal is provided. The magnetic stripe reader reads the account data from a card and may encrypt it within the magnetic head. An encrypted representation of the account data may be provided to a host processor in the terminal for carrying out a financial transaction, such as a payment for goods or services. The account data is typically recorded on the magnetic stripe on the card in a magnetic flux pattern that is sensed and then converted to an analog signal. Such sensing and conversion and other processing of the account data to produce the encrypted representation of the account data typically involves one or more parameters, and may include at least one parameter that is adjustable.
US08657190B2	Apparatus for a checkpoint The invention relates to an apparatus for a checkpoint, comprising a controlled access passage, the exit of which is closed by an exit door (gate). Said exit door (5) opens in response to a signal of a least one biometric unit (8) which is arranged in the controlled access space (3) and by which the biometric features of a person desiring passage can be detected, and said biometric unit (8) is arranged frontally opposite of the entrance to the controlled access space (3) and preferably integrated in the exit door (5) of the controlled access space (3). A person entering the controlled access space (3) is therefore immediately located quasi automatically in the correct position for detection by the biometric unit (8), which is to say, frontally opposite of the biometric unit.
US08657189B2	Systems and methods for generating, reading and transferring identifiers Systems and methods for generating, reading and transferring identifiers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a handheld system for associating a selected audio content with an object includes an identifier applied to a surface of the object and having a predetermined graphical format that is configured to encode the selected audio content, and a handheld device operable to encode the identifier and further operable to detect an audio content associated with the identifier.
US08657185B2	Moveable mailbox tray A moveable mailbox tray for mounting in a new or existing mailbox wherein said mailbox tray is attached to the door of the mailbox and is repositioned, along with the contents of the mailbox, both horizontally and vertically in the direction of the user when the mailbox door is opened.
US08657184B2	Foldable paper box A foldable paper box includes an inner panel that has an inner base wall secured to an outer base wall of an outer panel, two first inner sidewalls and two second inner sidewalls connected foldably to the inner base wall to confine a receiving space that is closed by a cover wall of the outer panel. The outer and inner base walls confine therebetween two insert slots adjacent to the first inner sidewalls. The first inner sidewalls are insertable partially into respective insert slots after being folded to extend uprightly from the inner base wall. The second inner sidewalls are inserted partially and non-removably in between the inner and outer base walls and secured to the outer base wall after being folded.
US08657183B2	Method of bonding poly-crystalline diamonds to wear surfaces A method of bonding poly-crystalline diamonds to a wear surface, using commercially available poly-crystalline diamond cutters having poly-crystalline diamond buttons bonded to a carbide core. The poly-crystalline diamond cutters are cooled with cryogenic liquid. The poly-crystalline diamond cutters are crushed to form poly-crystalline diamond cutter fragments, with each of the fragments having a poly-crystalline diamond button fragment still bonded to a carbide core fragment. The carbide core fragment is then bonded onto the wear surface, such that the wear surface includes poly-crystalline diamond buttons fragments.
US08657180B2	Bond pad assessment for wire bonding For selecting suitable bonding parameters for forming wire bonds onto bond pads of a substrate, one or more indentations are made onto at least one bond pad of the substrate with an indentation tool by applying a series of predetermined forces onto the at least one bond pad with the indentation tool. A depth-force profile of the substrate is measured comprising a relationship between each predetermined force that is applied and a resultant depth of the indentation made by the indentation tool. An appropriate set of bonding parameters suitable for forming wire bonds on the substrate is determined based on the measured depth-force profile.
US08657179B1	Weld nugget temperature control in thermal stir welding A control system for a thermal stir welding system is provided. The control system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is coupled to the welding system's containment plate assembly and generates signals indicative of temperature of a region adjacent and parallel to the welding system's stir rod. The controller is coupled to the sensor and generates at least one control signal using the sensor signals indicative of temperature. The controller is also coupled to the welding system such that at least one of rotational speed of the stir rod, heat supplied by the welding system's induction heater, and feed speed of the welding system's weld material feeder are controlled based on the control signal(s).
US08657176B2	Tissue thickness compensator for a surgical stapler A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
US08657172B2	Device for dispensing plastic fasteners A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock includes a motor-driven head assembly adapted to receive the supply of fastener stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply and in turn eject the severed fastener. The head assembly includes a pair of needle block assemblies that retain corresponding hollow needles, each needle block assembly being shaped to define a feed channel that transitions a side rail for the fastener stock into axial alignment behind its corresponding needle. In addition, at least one needle block assembly includes a rearward shelf and a forward bowing plate. In use, the lowermost cross-links of the fastener stock fittingly align between the shelf and the bowing plate. In this manner, the lowermost cross-links are limited to distort uniformly upward within the single plane defined by the pair of feed channels, thereby optimizing feed reliability of the device.
US08657171B2	Connecting rod fracture splitting apparatus and fracture splitting method A fracture splitting jig is fitted into a crank pin hole of a connecting rod, and a fracture load is applied in a longitudinal direction of the connecting rod via the fracture splitting jig to thereby fracture a big end of the connecting rod. A mandrel as the fracture splitting jig is divided into four parts to be separable from each other in a longitudinal direction of the connecting rod and in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. When the big end is fractured, a fractured portion thereof is allowed to come in contact with a predetermined portion of the fracture splitting jig.
US08657170B2	False eyelash dispenser The invention is an apparatus that dispenses false eyelashes. The apparatus uses tape attached to the false eyelashes spun about a cylinder that the eyelashes spin off to a point at the front of the apparatus where the false eyelashes separate from the tape and the tape then rolls on to a second cylinder. In one embodiment, the apparatus's casing may be separated and the cylinders removed so new ones can be added to replace the old.
US08657167B2	Target thrower mount A target thrower mount attachable to a hitch on a vehicle. The target thrower mount may comprise a reconfigurable frame having an adjustable height and length and a universal attachment bracket removably attached to the frame. The frame may comprise horizontal and vertical support structures. The universal attachment bracket may comprise an E-shaped bracket and a base plate attached to and spaced apart from the E-shaped bracket. The E-shaped bracket and the base plate may have aligned holes formed therethrough with a configuration that allows attachment of a plurality of types of target throwers. The spacing between the E-shaped bracket and the base plate may also allow for a portion of an attachment piece of some target throwers to be slid therebetween.
US08657166B1	Back support lifting device for emergency personnel An apparatus that aids emergency personnel in transporting and carrying incapacitated people on stretchers or similar devices is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a belt worn by a user around the lower or middle back. The belt is designed to prevent back strain and injury by keeping the spine aligned and by forcing the user to maintain a proper posture when lifting a patient. The apparatus also comprises a harness to give additional support to the back and non-captive hook positioned on either the front or buckle area of the belt. The hook aids in supporting the stretcher or gurney when the user of the apparatus is an upright position. Its non-captive design allows for quick disconnection should the user stumble, fall or lose their balance.
US08657163B2	Draining device with a puncturing device for puncturing a package containing liquid material A draining device and a package with such a draining device for a liquid material. The draining device comprises a housing part and a draining part, which is articulated around an axis in relation to the housing part. The housing part comprises a first channel with an inlet which ends on the inside of the package. The draining part comprises a second channel with an outlet which ends on the out-side of the package. The housing part is arranged to be attached on the outside of the wall of the package. The draining part is arranged with at least one puncturing device in its end being arranged opposite to the outlet. The puncturing device is arranged to puncture the wall of the package so that at least one passage is formed through which liquid material being located in the package may be made to flow out through the draining part to the outside of the package.
US08657162B2	Recharge insert for cleaning, sanitizing or disinfectant fluid spray system A recharge insert, for use with a spray dispenser device, is made of a matrix material impregnated with a chemical composition that is made dry-to-the-touch and is held in place by a porous three-dimensional polyethylene film that prevents direct skin contact, while allowing the chemical composition to be dissolved in solution with a diluent fluid such as water. When the spray bottle is filled with water, sealed, and shaken, the fluid penetrates into the matrix material, and the chemical composition becomes dissolved in solution, thereby creating a cleaning, sanitizing or disinfectant solution that will remain stable and fully active in use. The recharge insert may be engaged with an insert locating adapter as may be desired.
US08657160B2	Pump bottle adapter Fluid dispensers can be provided with a pump bottle that can have a fluid retaining portion, a pump neck that can be engaged with the fluid retaining portion such that the pump neck can be fluid communication with the fluid retaining portion, and a pump head that can be associated with the top portion of the pump neck, where the pump head can be configured to dispense a fluid retained in the fluid retaining portion of the pump bottle. The fluid dispenser can have an adapter ring that can be engaged with the pump neck, where the adapter ring can be selectively movable along a vertical length of the pump neck. The fluid dispenser can have a lock member, where the locking member can be associated with the adapter ring and the locking member can have a first unlocked position and a second locked position.
US08657154B2	Loss prevention merchandiser A merchandise dispensing apparatus for providing theft deterrence includes a housing defining an interior space adapted to hold a plurality of associated products. A vending door is mounted to the housing for selectively allowing access to the interior space. A bar is provided on which the associated products are supported, the bar extending in the interior space of the housing. An advancing assembly is disposed in the housing for urging product supported on the bar in a direction towards the vending door.
US08657153B2	Inner wipes The present invention provides a dispenser for moisturized sheets in the core of a toilet paper roll. Not only are wet and dry wipes provided coincidentally, the location is particularly handy for toilet use. In a utilization of existing bathroom fixtures, the novel concept offsets the rotational axis of the toilet paper roll to make an aperture available to dispense the moisturized sheets from the volume of the core previously occupied by the conventional spool. The invention further provides a hermetically sealed refill unit, a mechanism for singlating individual wipes, and means for preventing moisture loss from the sheets.
US08657152B2	Wet tissue package, manufacturing method of wet tissue package and manufacturing device of wet tissue package To provide a wet tissue package that allows for easy taking out of a wet tissue accommodated in a package body. A wet tissue package includes: a package body having an opening; and a plurality of wet tissues accommodated in the package body in a state of being individually folded and stacked without being interfolded, in which each of the plurality of wet tissues includes: a first folding line parallel to the first side edge; a second folding line parallel to the first folding line; and a turn-back portion formed by folding the wet tissue on the first folding line and the second folding line, in which the turn-back portion is directed toward the opening and a part of the turn-back portion is disposed so as to be exposable through the opening.
US08657149B2	Thin-walled packaging sheath closure having a form-shaping support part A resealable, thin-walled packaging having snap-in closure wherein the packaging sheath has an, open plug-in collar that receives a snap-in closure with a form-shaping support part that extends into the collar.

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