最新美国发明专利第2015-01-13期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08933011B2	Treatment of preterm labor with toll-like receptor 9 antagonists The invention provides a method for treating or preventing preterm labor in pregnant female subjects. The method comprises the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Toll-like Receptor 9 antagonist sufficient to prevent the activation of Toll-like Receptor 9 by fetal DNA. The invention further provides compositions comprising a Toll-like Receptor 9 antagonist for use in the methods of the invention. The compositions and methods of the present invention enhance gestation and therefore improve neonatal morbidity and mortality.
US08933010B2	Cationic micelles with anionic polymeric counterions compositions thereof The invention relates to polymer-micelle complex. The polymer-micelle complexes include a positively charged micelle selected from the group consisting of a monomeric quaternary ammonium compound, a monomeric biguanide compound, and mixtures thereof. The positively charged micelle is electrostatically bound to a water-soluble polymer bearing a negative charge. The polymer does not comprise block copolymer, latex particles, polymer nanoparticles, cross-linked polymers, silicone copolymer, fluorosurfactant, or amphoteric copolymer. The compositions do not form a coacervate, and do not form a film when applied to a surface.
US08933003B2	Multifunctional hydrocarbon oil composition A multifunctional, high-performance hydrocarbon composition is demanded. Concretely, a metalworking oil composition having high workability even under a severer lubricating condition while resisting to high productivity, and further capable of suppressing deterioration of working environments or degradation of quality of a product without rise of lubricant cost, a metalworking oil composition for minimal quantitative lubrication system, which is excellent in characteristics as a water-insoluble lubricant for nonferrous metalworking and also in characteristics as a lubricant for cutting/grinding by minimal quantitative lubrication method, and can attain improvement in working efficiency and a further extended tool life, an electric discharge machining oil improved in working environments such as odor or skin roughness and further improved in processing rate, particularly processing rate in high-level finish, a rust preventing oil composition improved in resin compatibility, and a detergent excellent in adaptability with organic material are demanded.Therefore, metalworking oil which contains, as hydrocarbon base oil, hydrocarbon base oil having a density at 15° C. of 0.7 to 0.8 g/cm3, and including a n-paraffin content of 10 to 90% by mass, an aromatic content of 0 to 3% by volume, and a naphthene content of 0 to 20% by volume, a metalworking oil including the above-mentioned base oil and ester oil, and electric discharge machining oil, rust preventing oil, and a detergent composition including the above-mentioned base oil are provided.
US08933002B2	Lubricating oil compositions Disclosed herein is a neutral or overbased salt of a sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound obtained by the process comprising the steps of (a) sulfurizing an alkylhydroxyaromatic compound derived from alkylation of a hydroxyaromatic compound with one or more olefins comprising C9 to C18 oligomers of monomers selected from propylene, butylene or mixtures thereof to provide a sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic reaction product; (b) removing any unsulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound from the sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic reaction product of step (a) to obtain a sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound substantially free of the unsulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound; and (c) neutralizing the sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound of step (b) to provide a salt of the sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound, wherein the overbased salt of the sulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound contains less than about 2% by combined mass of the unsulfurized alkylhydroxyaromatic compound and its unsulfurized metal salt.
US08932999B2	Breaker and displacement fluid and method of use A method of cleaning a wellbore prior to the production of oil or gas is disclosed, wherein the wellbore has been drilled with an invert emulsion drilling mud that forms an invert emulsion filter cake. The method may include the steps of circulating a breaker fluid into the wellbore, where the breaker fluid includes an aqueous fluid, and imino diacetic acid or salt thereof. Optionally an acid buffering agent, and a weighting age are also included. The breaker fluid is formulated such that after a predetermined period of time and the filter cake present in the wellbore or on the wellbore face is substantially degraded. Other methods may also include drilling the wellbore with a water-based drilling mud that forms a water-based filter cake, wherein the method may include the steps of circulating a breaker fluid into the wellbore, where the breaker fluid may include an aqueous fluid, and an iminodiacetic acid or a salt thereof.
US08932998B2	Methods for crosslinking water soluble polymers for use in well applications A method for forming a well and pipeline treating fluid is provided. The method comprises combining a cross-linkable gelling polymer, a scavenging compound capable of reducing a concentration of divalent and polyvalent metal ions and salts thereof available for reaction, a hydration solvent and optionally an acid. The resulting mixture has a pH ranging from about 3 to about 7 and a first viscosity. The mixture is maintained at conditions suitable for hydration of the cross-linkable gelling polymer until the mixture has a second viscosity that is greater than the first viscosity. The mixture is combined with an aqueous based fluid and at least one cross-linking agent. The pH of the mixture is raised to a sufficient level to allow a desired degree of cross-linking to occur. Other methods, a well and pipeline treating gel and a well and pipeline treating fluid are also provided.
US08932995B2	Combinatorial process system A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
US08932986B2	Herbicidal composition Provided are technologies for controlling weeds, specifically, a herbicidal composition comprising as active ingredients pyrasulfotole, mefenpyr-diethyl, and one or more compounds selected from Group A has a herbicidal effect,Group A:a group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen, and a compound represented by formula (I)
US08932983B1	Chitosan based adsorbent An adsorbent for removing compounds from a fluid comprising chitosan and one or more additional materials to enable selectivity of compounds removed. A chitosan based adsorbent is functionalized and cross linked to a predetermined degree to enhance its capacity and selectivity for various molecules and/or ions.
US08932981B2	Manganese oxide-cerium oxide composite A process which comprises providing a porous matrix, mixing said porous matrix with a precursor solution containing manganese and cerium ions dissolved therein, triggering the formation of a non-fluid phase which contains manganese and cerium in the interior of said porous matrix, separating said porous matrix from a liquid phase containing soluble metals, completing the formation of said non-fluid phase which contains manganese and cerium in the interior of said porous matrix, heat treating said porous matrix to convert said non-fluid phase containing manganese and cerium placed therein into a manganese oxide-cerium oxide composite, and isolating said composite from said porous matrix. The resulting composite, and its use as a catalyst, are also provided.
US08932980B2	Ordered mesoporous titanosilicate and the process for the preparation thereof The invention discloses three-dimensional, ordered, mesoporous titanosilicates wherein the Ti is in a tetrahedral geometry and exclusively substituted for Si in the silica framework. Such titanosilicates find use as catalysts for epoxidation, hydroxylation, C—H bond oxidation, oxidation of sulfides, aminolysis of epoxide and amoximation, with approx. 100% selectivity towards the products.
US08932979B2	Catalyst composition, a process for preparing the catalyst composition and a use of the catalyst composition A catalyst composition comprising a support having a surface area of at least 500 m2/kg, and deposited on the support: silver metal, a metal or component comprising rhenium, tungsten, molybdenum or a nitrate- or nitrite-forming compound, and a Group IA metal or component comprising a Group IA metal having an atomic number of at least 37, and in addition potassium, wherein the value of the expression (QK/R)+QHIA is in the range of from 1.5 to 30 mmole/kg, wherein QHIA and QK represent the quantities in mmole/kg of the Group IA metal having an atomic number of at least 37 and potassium, respectively, present in the catalyst composition, the ratio of QHIA to QK is at least 1:1, the value of QK is at least 0.01 mmole/kg, and R is a dimensionless number in the range of from 1.5 to 5, the units mmole/kg being relative to the weight of the catalyst composition.
US08932974B2	Mesostructured zeolitic materials, and methods of making and using the same One aspect of the present invention relates to mesostructured zeolites. The invention also relates to a method of preparing mesostructured zeolites, as well as using them as cracking catalysts for organic compounds and degradation catalysts for polymers.
US08932971B2	Ceramic material A material composed of a large fraction of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and strontium aluminate.
US08932965B1	Camouflage pattern with extended infrared reflectance separation Fabrics containing camouflage patterns are produced from dyes wherein at least certain of the colors contained in the pattern contain a low reflectance dye. The low reflectance dye is added to one or more colors in the pattern in order to preserve the camouflage pattern when viewed through night vision goggles as relatively long wavelengths, such at wavelengths greater than 900 nm. In one embodiment, the low reflectance dye comprises a thiazine. The low reflectance dye is blended with other dyes to produce colors in the pattern. By altering the concentration of the low reflectance dye in each of the colors, the colors contained in the camouflage pattern remain separate and distinct even at relatively long wavelengths.
US08932962B2	Chemical dispensing system and method A method and apparatus for dispensing a liquid etchant onto a wafer dispenses the liquid etchant onto a wafer using a scanning dispensing nozzle while controlling the dispensing temperature of the etchant in real time as a function of the radial position of the dispensing nozzle over the wafer. The dispensing temperature of the etchant is controlled to enhance the effectiveness of the etchant and thus compensate for the lower etching rate zones in the wafer.
US08932961B2	Critical dimension and pattern recognition structures for devices manufactured using double patterning techniques An illustrative test structure is disclosed herein that includes a plurality of first line features and a plurality of second line features. In this embodiment, each of the second line features have first and second opposing ends and the first and second line features are arranged in a grating pattern such that the first ends of the first line features are aligned to define a first side of the grating structure and the second ends of the first features are aligned to define a second side of the grating structure that is opposite the first side of the grating structure. The first end of the second line features has a first end that extends beyond the first side of the grating structure while the second end of the second line features has a first end that extends beyond the second side of the grating structure.
US08932958B2	Device manufacturing and cleaning method A method of manufacturing is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate and forming one or more layers over the substrate. The method further includes forming a surface layer over the one or more layers. The method further includes performing a patterning process on the surface layer thereby forming a pattern on the surface layer. The method further includes performing a cleaning process using a cleaning solution to clean a top surface of the substrate. The cleaning solution includes tetra methyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and water (H2O).
US08932954B2	Impurity analysis device and method According to one embodiment, an impurity analysis method comprises performing vapor-phase decomposition on a silicon-containing film formed on a substrate, heating the substrate at a first temperature after vapor phase decomposition, heating the substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature after heating at the first temperature, to remove a silicon compound deposited on the surface of the silicon-containing film, dropping a recovery solution onto the substrate surface after heating at the second temperature and moving the substrate surface, to recover metal into the recovery solution, and drying the recovery solution, to perform X-ray fluorescence spectrometry on a dried mark.
US08932949B2	FinFET structure and method to adjust threshold voltage in a FinFET structure FinFET structures and methods of manufacturing the FinFET structures are disclosed. The method includes performing an oxygen anneal process on a gate stack of a FinFET structure to induce Vt shift. The oxygen anneal process is performed after sidewall pull down and post silicide.
US08932948B2	Memory cell floating gate replacement A NAND flash memory chip is formed by depositing two N-type polysilicon layers. The upper N-type polysilicon layer is then replaced with P-type polysilicon and barrier layer in the array area only, while maintaining the upper N-type polysilicon layer in the periphery. In this way, floating gates are substantially P-type while gates of peripheral transistors are N-type.
US08932947B1	Methods for forming a round bottom silicon trench recess for semiconductor applications Embodiments of the present invention provide methods to etching a recess channel in a semiconductor substrate, for example, a silicon containing material. In one embodiment, a method of forming a recess structure in a semiconductor substrate includes transferring a silicon substrate into a processing chamber having a patterned photoresist layer disposed thereon exposing a portion of the substrate, providing an etching gas mixture including a halogen containing gas and a Cl2 gas into the processing chamber, supplying a RF source power to form a plasma from the etching gas mixture, supplying a pulsed RF bias power in the etching gas mixture, and etching the portion of the silicon substrate exposed through the patterned photoresist layer in the presence of the plasma.
US08932946B2	Power semiconductor device According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a method for driving a power semiconductor device that has a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor layer formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a plurality of gate electrodes formed within the semiconductor layer, and a plurality of conductive layers that are formed between the gate electrodes and the drain electrode and in electrical communication with the gate electrodes. The method comprises providing a first electric potential to the source electrode, providing a second electric potential to the drain electrode, providing a third electric potential to the gate electrodes, providing a first electric potential to at least one of the conductive layers, and providing a third electric potential to at least another one of the conductive layers.
US08932941B2	Graphene device and method of fabricating the same The method of manufacturing a graphene device includes forming an insulating material layer on a substrate, forming first and second metal pads on the insulating material layer spaced apart from each other, forming a graphene layer having a portion defined as an active area between the first and second metal pads on the insulating material layer, forming third and fourth metal pads on the graphene layer spaced apart from each other with the active area therebetween, the third and fourth metal pads extending above the first metal pad and the second metal pad, respectively, forming a first protection layer to cover all the first and second metal pads, the graphene layer, and the third and fourth metal pads, and etching an entire surface of the first protection layer until only a residual layer made of a material for forming the first protection layer remains on the active area.
US08932940B2	Vertical group III-V nanowires on si, heterostructures, flexible arrays and fabrication Embodiments of the invention provide a method for direct heteroepitaxial growth of vertical III-V semiconductor nanowires on a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate is etched to substantially completely remove native oxide. It is promptly placed in a reaction chamber. The substrate is heated and maintained at a growth temperature. Group III-V precursors are flowed for a growth time. Preferred embodiment vertical Group III-V nanowires on silicon have a core-shell structure, which provides a radial homojunction or heterojunction. A doped nanowire core is surrounded by a shell with complementary doping. Such can provide high optical absorption due to the long optical path in the axial direction of the vertical nanowires, while reducing considerably the distance over which carriers must diffuse before being collected in the radial direction. Alloy composition can also be varied. Radial and axial homojunctions and heterojunctions can be realized. Embodiments provide for flexible Group III-V nanowire structures. An array of Group III-V nanowire structures is embedded in polymer. A fabrication method forms the vertical nanowires on a substrate, e.g., a silicon substrate. Preferably, the nanowires are formed by the preferred methods for fabrication of Group III-V nanowires on silicon. Devices can be formed with core/shell and core/multi-shell nanowires and the devices are released from the substrate upon which the nanowires were formed to create a flexible structure that includes an array of vertical nanowires embedded in polymer.
US08932934B2	Methods of self-forming barrier integration with pore stuffed ULK material A process is provided for methods of reducing contamination of the self-forming barrier of an ultra-low k layer during semiconductor fabrication. In one aspect, a method includes: providing a cured ultra-low k film which contains at least one trench, and the pores of the film are filled with a pore-stuffing material; removing exposed pore-stuffing material at the surface of the trench to form exposed pores; and forming a self-forming barrier layer on the surface of the trench.
US08932932B2	Highly scalable trench capacitor An improved trench structure, and method for its fabrication are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide a trench in which the collar portion has an air gap instead of a solid oxide collar. The air gap provides a lower dielectric constant. Embodiments of the present invention can therefore be used to make higher-performance devices (due to reduced parasitic leakage), or smaller devices, due to the ability to use a thinner collar to achieve the same performance as a thicker collar comprised only of oxide (with no air gap). Alternatively, a design choice can be made to achieve a combination of improved performance and reduced size, depending on the application.
US08932930B2	Enhancing integrity of a high-K gate stack by protecting a liner at the gate bottom during gate head exposure Sophisticated gate stacks including a high-k dielectric material and a metal-containing electrode material may be covered by a protection liner, such as a silicon nitride liner, which may be maintained throughout the entire manufacturing sequence at the bottom of the gate stacks. For this purpose, a mask material may be applied prior to removing cap materials and spacer layers that may be used for encapsulating the gate stacks during the selective epitaxial growth of a strain-inducing semiconductor alloy. Consequently, enhanced integrity may be maintained throughout the entire manufacturing sequence, while at the same time one or more lithography processes may be avoided.
US08932922B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device having dual gate A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.
US08932920B2	Self-aligned gate electrode diffusion barriers A self-aligned diffusion barrier may be formed by forming a first masking layer, having a vertical sidewall on a semiconductor layer, above a first portion of the semiconductor layer. A first spacer layer, including a spacer region on the vertical sidewall, may be formed above the semiconductor layer. A second portion of the semiconductor layer not covered by the first masking layer or the spacer region may then be doped. A second masking layer may then be formed over the first spacer layer and planarized to expose at least a portion of the spacer region. The spacer region may then be etched to form a notch exposing a third portion of the semiconductor layer. The third portion may then be doped with a barrier dopant. The first masking layer may be removed and a second spacer layer filling the notch may be formed. The first portion may then be doped.
US08932918B2	FinFET with self-aligned punchthrough stopper A finFET with self-aligned punchthrough stopper and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming spacers on sidewalls of a gate structure and fin structures of a finFET device. The method further includes forming a punchthrough stopper on exposed sidewalls of the fin structures, below the spacers. The method further includes diffusing dopants from the punchthrough stopper into the fin structures. The method further includes forming source and drain regions adjacent to the gate structure and fin structures.
US08932913B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device To provide a semiconductor device which prevents defects and achieves miniaturization. A projecting portion or a trench (a groove portion) is formed in an insulating layer and a channel formation region of a semiconductor layer is provided in contact with the projecting portion or the trench, so that the channel formation region is extended in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. Thus, miniaturization of the transistor can be achieved and an effective channel length can be extended. In addition, before formation of the semiconductor layer, an upper-end corner portion of the projecting portion or the trench with which the semiconductor layer is in contact is subjected to round chamfering, so that a thin semiconductor layer can be formed with good coverage.
US08932912B2	One-time programmable device According to one embodiment, a one-time programmable (OTP) device having a lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) structure comprises a pass gate including a pass gate electrode and a pass gate dielectric, and a programming gate including a programming gate electrode and a programming gate dielectric. The programming gate is spaced from the pass gate by a drain extension region of the LDMOS structure. The LDMOS structure provides protection for the pass gate when a programming voltage for rupturing the programming gate dielectric is applied to the programming gate electrode. A method for producing such an OTP device comprises forming a drain extension region, fabricating a pass gate over a first portion of the drain extension region, and fabricating a programming gate over a second portion of the drain extension region.
US08932907B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming interposer frame electrically connected to embedded semiconductor die A semiconductor device has an interposer frame mounted over a carrier. A semiconductor die has an active surface and bumps formed over the active surface. The semiconductor die can be mounted within a die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Stacked semiconductor die can also be mounted within the die opening of the interposer frame or over the interposer frame. Bond wires or bumps are formed between the semiconductor die and interposer frame. An encapsulant is deposited over the interposer frame and semiconductor die. An interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant and bumps of the first semiconductor die. An electronic component, such as a discrete passive device, semiconductor die, or stacked semiconductor die, is mounted over the semiconductor die and interposer frame. The electronic component has an I/O count less than an I/O count of the semiconductor die.
US08932901B2	Stressed phase change materials A memory device includes a substrate and a memory array on the substrate. The memory array includes memory cells including stressed phase change materials in a layer of encapsulation materials. The memory cells may include memory cell structures such as mushroom-type memory cell structures, bridge-type memory cell structures, active-in-via type memory cell structures, and pore-type memory cell structures. The stressed phase change materials may comprise GST (GexSbxTex) materials in general and Ge2Sb2Te5 in particular. To manufacture the memory device, a substrate is first fabricated. Memory cells including phase change materials in a layer of encapsulation materials are formed on a front side of the substrate. A tensile or compressive stress is induced into the phase change materials on the front side of the substrate.
US08932898B2	Deposition and post-processing techniques for transparent conductive films In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabrication of a semitransparent conductive mesh. A first solution having conductive nanowires suspended therein and a second solution having nanoparticles suspended therein are sprayed toward a substrate, the spraying forming a mist. The mist is processed, while on the substrate, to provide a semitransparent conductive material in the form of a mesh having the conductive nanowires and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are configured and arranged to direct light passing through the mesh. Connections between the nanowires provide conductivity through the mesh.
US08932897B2	Phase change memory cell A phase change memory cell includes a first contact, a phase change region above and in contact with the first contact, an electrode region, and a second contact above and in contact with the electrode region. The phase change region surrounds the electrode region. The electrode region has a first surface in contact with the phase change region and a second surface in contact with the second contact, and the second surface is wider than the first surface.
US08932890B2	Vertical-structure semiconductor light emitting element and a production method therefor The present invention relates to a vertical-structure semiconductor light emitting device and a production method thereof, more specifically, to a vertical-structure semiconductor light emitting device having a high-performance heat sink support comprising a thick metal film or metal foil. The vertical-structure semiconductor light emitting element produced in accordance with the present invention constitutes a highly reliable light emitting element with absolutely no thermal or mechanical damage since it has the high performance heatsink support and so suffers not fine micro-cracking and can be freely subjected to heat treatment and to post-processing including of a side-surface passivation thin film.
US08932881B2	Ultra-sensitive chemiluminescent substrates for enzymes and their conjugates New chemiluminescent compounds, stable in aqueous buffers, for use in biological assaying include acridane-based compounds and 1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new acridane-based compounds are water-soluble acridanes, enhancer coupled acridanes, bis and tris-acridanes as well as acridane-1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new 1,2-dioxetanes are electron deficient group-containing dioxetanes and tethered bis-1,2-dioxetanes. The 1,2-dioxetanes are useful as substrates for various enzymes. The acridanes can be admixed with an oxidizing agent, an aqueous buffer and, optionally, a stabilizer to form a substrate or reagent formulation useful for assaying, inter alia, HRP.
US08932865B2	Method for quantifying the amount of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 A method that enables quantification of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) in a test sample without requiring a laborious operation is disclosed. The method for quantifying cholesterol in HDL3 having: Step 1 wherein a surfactant that reacts with lipoproteins other than high-density lipoprotein 3 is reacted with a test sample to transfer cholesterol to the outside of the reaction system; and Step 2 in which cholesterol remaining in the reaction system is quantified. The method enables specific quantification of HDL3 cholesterol in a test sample using an automatic analyzer without requirement of a laborious operation such as ultracentrifugation or pretreatment. Further, quantification of the HDL2 cholesterol level can also be carried out by subtracting the HDL3 cholesterol level from the total HDL cholesterol level obtained by a conventional method for quantifying the total HDL cholesterol in a test sample.
US08932858B2	Modified polysaccharide for cell culture and release Hydrophobically modified polysaccharide compositions, articles incorporating the compositions, and methods for cell culture, automatic release of cells, and release of cell culture coating from a substrate or the cell culture articles incorporating the coating compositions, as defined herein.
US08932857B2	Method for selecting reduced differentiation resistance human induced pluripotent stem cells The present invention provides a method for selecting human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells which can be safely used for transplantation. That is, the present invention provides a method for selecting human iPS cells having reduced differentiation resistance, comprising the steps of: (1) inducing differentiation of human iPS cells; (2) detecting remaining undifferentiated cells after the step (1); and (3) selecting human iPS cells whose rate of remaining undifferentiated cells detected in step (2) is equivalent to or not more than that of control cells.
US08932856B2	Methods for reprogramming somatic cells The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
US08932853B2	Method for manufacturing pancreatic-hormone-producing cells The present invention provides a method of more efficiently producing pancreas cells, particularly pancreatic hormone-producing cells, a method of stably producing pancreas cells in a large amount by more efficiently inducing differentiation of stem cells into pancreas cells, a medicament containing a pancreas cells and a screening method using the cells.A method of producing pancreatic hormone-producing cells, including subjecting stem cells to the following steps (1)-(4): (1) a step of cultivating stem cells in a medium containing an activator of activin receptor-like kinase-4,7 and a GSK3 inhibitor (2) a step of cultivating the cells obtained in the aforementioned step (1) in a medium containing an activator of activin receptor-like kinase-4,7 (3) a step of cultivating the cells obtained in the aforementioned step (2) in a medium containing any one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of (a) retinoic acid receptor agonists, (b) at least one kind selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of AMP-activated protein kinase and/or activin receptor-like kinase-2,3,6, and BMP antagonists, and (c) inhibitors of activin receptor-like kinase-4,5,7 (4) a step of cultivating the cells obtained in the aforementioned step (3).
US08932848B2	Microbial production of nitrous oxide coupled with chemical reaction of gaseous nitrous oxide A bioreactor designed to produce N2O from organic nitrogen and/or reactive nitrogen in waste is coupled to a hardware reactor device in which the N2O is consumed in a gas phase chemical reaction, e.g., catalytic decomposition to form oxygen and nitrogen gas.Heat from the exothermic reaction may be used to generate power. The N2O may alternatively be used as an oxidant or co-oxidant in a combustion reaction, e.g., in the combustion of methane. The bioreactor may have various designs including a two-stage bioreactor, a hollow-fiber membrane bioreactor, or a sequencing batch reactor. The bioreactor may involve Fe(II)-mediated reduction of nitrite to nitrous oxide.
US08932845B2	Highly productive isopropyl alcohol-producing bacterium An isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli equipped with an isopropyl alcohol production system, having at least one enhanced enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of an enhanced malate dehydrogenase activity, an enhanced NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase (AB-specific) activity, and an enhanced thiolase activity, and an isopropyl alcohol producing method including producing isopropyl alcohol from a plant-derived raw material using the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli.
US08932844B2	Process for stimulating the defense mechanism of a plant using a bacterial extract elicitor The invention induces an increase in the resistance of potato plants, without apparent toxicity for the plant. Preliminary experiments indicate that the increase in metabolism of plants efficiently fosters (above 60%) the reduction of the development of the pathogenic phytobacteria, Erwinia carotovora, one of the principal agents in causing diseases in potatoes.
US08932840B2	Process for the conversion of a xylan-containing feed A xylan-containing feed is contacted, in the first reactor essentially operated at plug flow, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 140° C. to equal to or less than 210° C. to produce an intermediate product. Then, the intermediate product is contacted, in the second reactor which comprises a continuously stirred tank reactor, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from more than 130° C. to equal to or less than 200° C. to produce a final product.
US08932833B2	Thermal cycler and control method of thermal cycler An attachment unit for attachment of a reaction container including a channel filled with a reaction solution and a liquid having a specific gravity different from that of the reaction solution and being immiscible with the reaction solution, the reaction solution moving close to opposed inner walls, a first heating unit that heats a first region of the channel and a second heating unit that heats a second region of the channel when the reaction container is attached to the attachment unit, a drive mechanism that switches arrangement of the attachment unit, the first heating unit, and the second heating unit between a first arrangement and a second arrangement in which a lowermost position of the channel is located within a first region and a second region, respectively, and a control unit that controls the drive mechanism, the first heating unit, and the second heating unit are provided.
US08932831B2	Insertion of sequence elements into nucleic acids The present invention concerns a method for inserting one or more tag sequences into a nucleic acid characterized by the following steps: (a) preparation of a template nucleic acid; (b) hybridization of at least one anchor sequence of at least one anchor oligonucleotide with one sequence section of the template nucleic acid; and (c) synthesization of a new strand of nucleic acid, which is partially complementary to the template nucleic acid and which contains a sequence complementary to the non-hybridized portion of the anchor oligonucleotide, e.g. to at least one tag sequence, on its 3′ end.
US08932826B2	Method for simultaneously determining multiple coagulation proteases The present invention relates to a chromogenic method for simultaneously determining the activity of multiple coagulation proteases or for simultaneously determining the inhibition of multiple coagulation proteases in a single test reaction. For this purpose, use is made of two chromogenic substrates which have different absorption maxima and whose color signals can be separated spectrally.
US08932823B2	Methods for determining the risk of prenatal complications The disclosure relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual has for developing pre-eclampsia based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers. The disclosure also relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual is carrying a fetus having a chromosomal abnormality based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers.
US08932814B2	CRISPR-Cas nickase systems, methods and compositions for sequence manipulation in eukaryotes The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for manipulation of sequences and/or activities of target sequences. Provided are vectors and vector systems, some of which encode one or more components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells and methods for selecting specific cells by introducing precise mutations utilizing the CRISPR/Cas system.
US08932812B2	Restriction enzyme based whole genome sequencing Method for de novo whole genome sequencing based on a (sequence-based) physical map of a DNA sample clone bank based on end-sequencing tagged adapter-ligated restriction fragments, in combination with sequencing adapter-ligated restriction fragments of the DNA sample wherein the recognition sequence of the restriction enzyme used in the generation of the physical map is identical to at least part of the recognition sequence of the restriction enzyme used in the generation of the DNA sample.
US08932811B2	Genomic selection and sequencing using encoded microcarriers The present invention relates to a method for determining the sequence of a nucleic molecule. Herein a capture oligonucleotide probe is attached to an encoded microcarrier, wherein the code of said microcarrier identifies the sequence of said oligonucleotide probe. The capture oligonucleotide probe is hybridized with a sample comprising nucleic acids molecules, wherein said DNA fragment comprises a sequence which is complementary to the sequence of the capture oligonucleotide probe. The sequence of the DNA molecule is determined, wherein the capture oligonucleotide probe serves as a primer for a DNA polymerase, in the case of single molecule sequencing this is a sequencing primer. After the sequence determination, the nucleotide sequence of the capture oligonucleotide probe is identified by determining the code on the microcarrier, which corresponds with the capture oligonucleotide probe. This sequence information directly identifies the location of the sequenced DNA fragment on the genome, allowing direct comparison.
US08932808B1	Methods and compositions for determining a graft tolerant phenotype in a subject Methods are provided for determining whether a subject has a graft tolerant phenotype. In practicing the subject methods, the expression of at least one gene in a sample from the subject, e.g., a blood sample, is assayed to obtain an expression evaluation for the at least one gene. The obtained expression evaluation is then employed to determine whether the subject has a graft tolerant phenotype. Also provides are compositions, systems and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods. The methods and compositions find use in a variety of applications, including the determination of an immunosuppressive therapy regimen.
US08932807B2	High throughput in vitro translation (cell-lysate based) assay for detecting quorum sensing signals A cell-lysate extract based assay reagent for detecting quorum sensing signals is generally provided, along with methods of making and using the same. The assay reagent generally includes a cell-lysate extract formed from a biosensor bacterium (e.g., Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 (pCF218)(pCF372)) and a detecting substrate (e.g., an absorbance-based or luminescence-based substrate). The cell-lysate extract can be prepared by (1) disrupting the cell membranes of the biosensor bacterium to release the cellular components into a solution, (2) centrifuging the resulting solution, and (3) removing the resulting supernatant solution.
US08932806B1	Method for identifying t-cell stimulating protein fragments The invention relates to a method for identifying T-cell stimulating protein fragments using the following steps: a) detecting the amino acid sequence of an antigen; b) subdividing the found amino acid sequence of the antigen into protein fragments; c) synthesizing at least one protein fragment; d) incubating a suspension containing t-cells with the protein fragments; e) identifying an induced T-cell cytokine or activation marker by flow-through cytometry, and; f) assigning the T-cells, with which T-cell cytokines and/or activation markers were identified, to the protein fragments which were incubated with the T-cells. The corresponding protein fragments/peptides are synthetically produced with the assistance of the detected positive sequence, and said corresponding protein fragments/peptides can be utilized to produce a medicament for immunostimulation.
US08932803B2	Pattern forming process A pattern is formed by coating a first chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a resin comprising recurring units having an acid labile group so that it may turn soluble in alkaline developer upon elimination of the acid labile group, a photoacid generator, and a first organic solvent, onto a processable substrate, prebaking, exposing, PEB, and developing in an alkaline developer to form a positive pattern; heating the positive pattern to render it resistant to a second organic solvent used in a second resist composition; coating the second resist composition, prebaking, exposing, PEB, and developing in a third organic solvent to form a negative pattern. The positive pattern and the negative pattern are simultaneously formed.
US08932797B2	Photoacid generators A photoacid generator compound has formula (I): G+Z− (I) wherein G has formula (II): In formula (II), X is S or I, each R0 is commonly attached to X and is independently C1-30 alkyl; polycyclic or monocyclic C3-30 cycloalkyl; polycyclic or monocyclic C6-30 aryl; or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing groups. G has a molecular weight greater than 263.4 g/mol, or less than 263.4 g/mol. One or more R0 groups are further attached to an adjacent R0 group, a is 2 or 3, wherein when X is I, a is 2, or when X is S, a is 2 or 3. Z in formula (I) comprises the anion of a sulfonic acid, a sulfonimide, or a sulfonamide. A photoresist and coated film also includes the photoacid generator, and a method of forming an electronic device uses the photoresist.
US08932794B2	Positive photosensitive composition and pattern forming method using the same A positive photosensitive composition, includes: (A) a resin having a repeating unit represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification and a repeating unit represented by formula (2) as defined in the specification and being capable of increasing a solubility of the resin (A) in an alkali developer by an action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; and a solvent, and a pattern forming method uses the positive photosensitive composition.
US08932790B2	Toner, developer including the toner, image forming apparatus using the toner, and block copolymer The toner includes a pigment; and a block copolymer having a polyester block A including a residual group of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and a polyester block B including an anionic group. When cross-section of the block copolymer is observed by a tapping mode atomic force microscope to obtain a phase image of the cross-section, the polyester block B, which has relatively large phase delay, is dispersed as domains having an average size of from 20 nm to 100 nm in a domain of the polyester block A, which has relatively small phase delay. The block copolymer has a first glass transition temperature of from −20° C. to 20° C., and a second glass transition temperature of from 35° C. to 65° C. when the first and second glass transition temperatures are determined from a thermogram obtained by subjecting the block copolymer to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at a temperature rising speed of 5° C./min.
US08932788B2	Toner, developer, and image forming method The present invention provides a toner containing at least a binder resin and a pigment, wherein the amount of the pigment in the toner is 3.0% by mass to 8.5% by mass, the volume average particle diameter of the toner is 2.0 μm to 6.0 μm, and a monochrome image, which has been fixed on a recording medium so that the amount of the toner adhered onto the recording medium is 0.25 mg/cm2, has a reflection density of 1.2 to 2.5.
US08932787B2	Electrophotographic photoconductor, electrophotographic apparatus and process cartridge An electrophotographic photoconductor including: an electroconductive substrate; an intermediate layer; and a photoconductive layer, the intermediate layer and the photoconductive layer being on the electroconductive substrate, wherein the intermediate layer includes an inorganic pigment and a binder resin, wherein a volume ratio of the inorganic pigment in the intermediate layer is 30% by volume to 50% by volume, wherein the inorganic pigment comprises titanium oxide and a content of the titanium oxide in the inorganic pigment is 70% by mass to 90% by mass, wherein the inorganic pigment has a specific surface area of 70 m2/g to 140 m2/g, and wherein the intermediate layer has a volume resistivity at an electrical field intensity of 2.5×105 V/cm of 5×1011 Ω·cm to 1×1013 Ω·cm.
US08932778B2	Fuel cell with fuel gas outlets A fuel cell includes separators-sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. The separators each include first and second fuel gas supply sections through which a fuel gas supply passage extends centrally, first and second bridges extending radially outwardly from the first and second fuel gas supply sections and first and second sandwiching sections connected to the first and second bridges. A fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel are provided in the first and second sandwiching sections. Each of the first sandwiching sections has pairs of fuel gas outlets, and a fuel gas consumed in the fuel gas channel is discharged through the fuel gas outlets.
US08932777B2	Fuel supply system with compressed gas and liquid fuel chambers for fuel cells Disclosed herein is a fuel supply comprising a compressed gas chamber and liquid fuel chamber. A pressure regulator connects the compressed gas chamber to the liquid fuel chamber. The pressure regulator is capable of taking a high pressure input from the compressed gas chamber and providing a substantially constant lower output pressure to the liquid fuel chamber. The pressure of the compressed gas chamber can decrease over time, but the pressure that urges liquid fuel out of the liquid fuel chamber remains substantially at the same level.
US08932776B2	Solid oxide fuel cell device and system The invention provides tubular solid oxide fuel cell devices and a fuel cell system incorporating a plurality of the fuel devices, each device including an elongate tube having a reaction zone for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone that remains at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated. An electrolyte is disposed between anodes and cathodes in the reaction zone, and the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending to an exterior surface in a cold zone for electrical connection at low temperature. In one embodiment, the tubular device is a spiral rolled structure, and in another embodiment, the tubular device is a concentrically arranged device. The system further includes the devices positioned with their reaction zones in a hot zone chamber and their cold zones extending outside the hot zone chamber. A heat source is coupled to the hot zone chamber to heat the reaction zones to the operating reaction temperature, and fuel and air supplies are coupled to the tubes in the cold zones.
US08932775B2	Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a fuel cell A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a controller, a resistance sensor, and a regulator. The fuel cell has a cathode plate, an anode plate, and an ion-exchange membrane interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate. The controller is for controlling a gas flow rate to the anode plate. The resistance sensor is coupled to the fuel cell for measuring a resistance of the fuel cell. The regulator is coupled to the controller and coupled to the anode plate for regulating the gas flow to the anode plate. The controller receives a signal from the resistance sensor and is configured to control the regulator to adjust the gas flow to the anode plate based on the signal from the resistance sensor.
US08932771B2	Cathode architectures for alkali metal / oxygen batteries Electrochemical energy storage devices, such as alkali metal-oxygen battery cells (e.g., non-aqueous lithium-air cells), have a cathode architecture with a porous structure and pore composition that is tailored to improve cell performance, especially as it pertains to one or more of the discharge/charge rate, cycle life, and delivered ampere-hour capacity. A porous cathode architecture having a pore volume that is derived from pores of varying radii wherein the pore size distribution is tailored as a function of the architecture thickness is one way to achieve one or more of the aforementioned cell performance improvements.
US08932770B2	Electrodes for use in bacterial fuel cells and bacterial electrolysis cells and bacterial fuel cells and bacterial electrolysis cells employing such electrodes A bacterial fuel cell including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified, the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes each including a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled across a load in an electrical circuit and an electrically conductive coating at least between the metal electrical conductor and the liquid to be purified, the electrically conductive coating being operative to mutually seal the liquid and the electrical conductor from each other.
US08932766B1	Nanostructured thermoelectric elements, other ultra-high aspect ratio structures and hierarchical template methods for growth thereof A method is disclosed for producing elements ultra-low diameter, ultra-high aspect ratio nanowires. A hierarchical template with ordered and arrayed nanopores either freestanding or on a support material is provided. The template can be pre-shaped. Optionally, one or more compounds can be layered within the nanopores to reduce the diameters thereof. The template is filled with material to form a nanostructure array configured as ultra-low diameter, ultra-high aspect ratio nanowires with a diameter of less than 10 nm. The optional layering is self-initiated by selectively adjusting pH of a coating material. The nanostructure array may be supported in a lower thermal conductivity material. The method can be used to produce elements that function as a phonon-confined thermoelectric device, a photovoltaic device and a battery.
US08932754B2	Electrode structure and method of manufacturing the same, and battery and method of manufacturing the same An electrode capable of preventing variations in electrical performance to stabilize performance and improve yields is provided. An electrode structure includes: an electrode including an current collector and an active material layer arranged on the current collector; and an electrode lead arranged on the active material layer, wherein a hole is arranged so as to penetrate the electrode and the electrode lead, and the electrode and the electrode lead are folded back around the hole in a direction away from the hole so that the electrode is placed inside, and the thickness of the active material layer in a region where the electrode lead is not arranged is uniform, and the thickness of the active material layer in a region where the electrode lead is arranged is nonuniform.
US08932749B2	Battery module A battery module includes one or more battery cells aligned in one direction, a housing member that accommodates the battery cells, and is opposite to a whole of at least one surface of the battery cells; and a top cover that is connected and fastened to at least one portion of the housing member, and covers tops of the battery cells.
US08932741B2	Conductor plate for a vehicle battery module In a conductor plate for a vehicle battery module, the vehicle battery module is adapted to accommodate a plurality of longitudinal battery cells. The battery cells are arranged in parallel with respect to their longitudinal axes, and each battery cell has a first end and an opposite second end with respect to its longitudinal axis. The conductor plate includes: a base part; and a plurality of longitudinal members. Each of the plurality of longitudinal members includes a first end and a second end, the first ends of the longitudinal members being connected to the base part, the base part and the plurality of longitudinal members being substantially arranged in a common plane. The longitudinal members are arranged spaced from each other such that an interval between two of the plurality of longitudinal members matches to an interval between two rows of the battery cells.
US08932737B2	Durable UV blocking transparent coating A coating and associated method for coating is disclosed. The coating provides a hard, transparent, UV blocking coating for a substrate. A UV blocking layer is first deposited upon the substrate, and a hard coating is deposited above the UV blocking layer. A soft coating layer may be deposited between the UV blocking layer and the hard coating. The soft and hard coating layers may both have the general composition SiOxCy. the soft and hard coating layers may be deposited by a plasma vapor deposition process.
US08932735B2	Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescent element comprising the same An aromatic amine derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein A1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group or an organic group represented by the following formula (2): wherein X1, X2 and X3 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; X1 and X2 are linkage groups which are different from each other; and B1, B2 and B3 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.
US08932734B2	Organic electroluminescent materials and devices Compounds comprising a 3,9-linked oligocarbazole moiety and a dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, aza-dibenzothiophene, aza-dibenzofuran, or aza-dibenzoselenophene are provided. The 3,9-linked oligocarbazole and dibenzo or aza-dibenzo moiety are separated by an aromatic spacer. The compounds may be used as non-emissive materials for phosphorescent OLEDs to provide devise having improved performance.
US08932732B2	Materials for organic electroluminescent devices The present invention relates to organic electroluminescent devices, in particular blue-emitting devices, in which compounds of the formulae (1) to (4) are used as host material or dopant in the emitting layer and/or as hole-transport material and/or as electron-transport material.
US08932731B2	Compounds for organic electronic devices The present invention relates to the improvement of organic electroluminescent devices, in particular blue-emitting devices, by using compounds of the formula (1) or formula (2) as dopants in the emitting layer or as hole-transport material in a hole-transport layer.
US08932724B2	Reflective coating, pigment, colored composition, and process of producing a reflective pigment A reflective coating is disclosed that has a base layer provided with a reflective surface for reflecting electromagnetic radiation, such as visible and solar near-infrared light. The reflective coating also has a dielectric layer formed on the reflective surface, and an absorber layer. The absorber layer is formed on the dielectric layer that is formed on the base layer. The reflective coating has an average reflectance greater than about 60% for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 800 to 2500 nm that is irradiated upon the reflective coating. Additionally, the reflective coating has an average reflectance for wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 400 to 700 nm irradiated upon the reflecting coating that is less than the average reflectance of the reflective coating from 800 to 2500 nm.
US08932723B2	Low emissivity glass comprising dielectric layer and method for producing the same Provided is low emissivity glass including a low emissivity layer containing electrically conductive metal; and a composite metal oxide formed on one or both sides of the low emissivity layer and expressed by a following chemical formula 1: TiCeOx (1) wherein Ti is titanium element, Ce is cerium element, and Ox is oxide. Since the dielectric layer which serves as protecting low emissivity layer of low emissivity glass and reducing emissivity contains the composite metal oxide expressed by the above chemical formula 1, visible light transmissivity can be greatly increased with excellent low emissivity.
US08932722B2	Process for the preparation of low-viscosity, water-dilutable urethane (meth)acrylates The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of highly reactive, low-viscosity and water-dilutable polyisocyanate reaction products which contain activated groups which react, by polymerization, with ethylenically unsaturated compounds under the action of actinic radiation. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of such products and their use.
US08932716B2	Conductive particle, and anisotropic conductive film, bonded structure, and bonding method To provide a conductive particle, containing: a core particle; and a conductive layer formed on a surface of the core particle, wherein the core particle is a nickel particle, and wherein the conductive layer is a nickel plating layer a surface of which has a phosphorous concentration of 10% by mass or lower, and the conductive layer has an average thickness of 1 nm to 10 nm.
US08932714B2	Method and apparatus for controlling particle diameter and particle diameter distribution of emulsion particles in emulsion A method for controlling a particle diameter and a particle diameter distribution of emulsion particles during manufacturing of an emulsion dispersion is provided. The method includes causing two or more types of liquids substantially immiscible with each other to continuously and sequentially pass through net bodies. The net bodies are disposed in a cylindrical flow passage at intervals of 5 to 200 mm, and the number of the net bodies is more than 50 and 200 or less. Each of the net bodies is equivalent to a gauze having a mesh number of 35 mesh to 4000 mesh in accordance with an ASTM standard and has a surface that intersects the direction of the flow passage. An emulsification apparatus used for the method includes a feed pump for feeding two or more types of liquids substantially immiscible with each other; and a cylindrical flow passage to which the two or more types of liquids fed by the feed pump are delivered. A predetermined number of net bodies are disposed in the cylindrical flow passage at predetermined intervals, and each net body has a surface intersecting the direction of the flow passage.
US08932710B2	Adhesive optical film, multilayer optical film and image display To provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film that can satisfy durability even when a thin pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed. A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film comprising an optical film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one side of the optical film, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive, comprising: a (meth)acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 2,800,000; containing, as a monomer component, 3 to 10% by weight of a heterocyclic ring-containing acrylic monomer; 0.5 to 5% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing monomer; 0.05 to 2% by weight of a hydroxyl group-containing monomer; and 83 to 96.45% by weight of an alkyl(meth)acrylate monomer, and a crosslinking agent.
US08932709B2	Ground cover for containment barriers A ground cover for use as a containment barrier including a geomembrane sheet and a geotextile sheet bonded together by an adhesive layer positioned therebetween. The adhesive layer does not fully cure, remains tacky and has an adhesive strength sufficient to maintain a bond between the geomembrane sheet and the geotextile sheet under normal foot traffic and a release point allowing separation of the geomembrane sheet and the geotextile sheet under shear forces generated by heavier traffic.
US08932704B2	Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs and methods of making and using the same Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. A spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. A meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. Antishrinkage and antistatic additives are also added to the fibrous webs. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing.
US08932702B2	Low k dielectric A spin-on dielectric of novel composition formed as a sol comprising an a source of silicon such as an orthosilicate ester, alone or in combination with an alkylated orthosilicate ester, a polar solvent, water, an acid catalyst, which may be a strong acid catalyst, and an amphiphilic block copolymer surfactant, optionally including an organic acid, a co-solvent and/or a reactive solvent. Also provided is a method of formulating the sol, a film made from the spin-on dielectric that has desirable electrical and mechanical properties, methods for treating the film described to optimize the film's electrical and mechanical performance, and methods for depositing the film onto silicon, steel or other surfaces.
US08932701B2	Laminates and methods of making same An optical sheet suitable for use in a laminate comprising at least one glazing component. The optical sheet comprises a non-metallic multi-layer optical film that has multiple optical layers, and can be, for example, a solar energy reflective film (e.g., an infrared radiation reflective film). The multiple layers are thermally and/or otherwise fused together along all, substantially all or at least a substantial portion of the peripheral edge of at least the optical film, so as to prevent or at least substantially reduce the occurrence or degree of delamination of the multiple layers along all, substantially all, or the substantial portion of the peripheral edge of the optical film. At least the optical film can be dimensioned such that, when bonded to a glazing component, all, substantially all or at least the substantial portion of the peripheral edge of at least the optical film is positionable so as to be co-extensive with or substantially co-extensive with a corresponding portion of the peripheral edge of the glazing component to which the optical sheet is to be bonded.
US08932700B2	Panel A panel which includes, among protrusions protruding from a predetermined reference surface, flat sections being flush with the reference surface, and recesses being recessed from the reference surface, the protrusions, and the flat sections or recesses, wherein; when the panel includes the flat sections, the entire periphery of each of the protrusions is surrounded by the flat sections, and the entire periphery of each of the flat sections is surrounded by the protrusions, while when the panel includes the recesses, the entire periphery of each of the protrusions is surrounded by the recesses, and the entire periphery of each of the recesses is surrounded by the protrusions.
US08932698B2	Perforated wallpaper system for use in a locker An apparatus and system for locker wallpaper panels include perforations and features for adapting the panels to selected locker configurations. The system includes magnets that are configured to affix the wallpaper panels to corresponding surfaces of the locker.
US08932696B2	Legally safe recordable information storage medium A recordable information consists of a flat polycarbonate disk having two main faces and a light sensitive film covering one main face and on which information may be recorded. The film is multi-layered with at least two elementary superposed layers, respectively containing one element A and one element B, one of the layers containing an element chosen in the Group IIIa, while the other layer contains an element chosen in Groups Va or VIa; or one of layers contains an element from Groups IIa or IIb while the other layer contains an element from Group VI. The thickness of each layer is nearly identical and the overall thickness of the light-sensitive film being at least equal to 35 nm. A burning process for safely and durably recording information on such a medium is also disclosed.
US08932692B2	Cushions comprising deformable members and related methods Cushions include a plurality of pockets formed from a support material and a deformable member comprising a deformable polymer material disposed in each pocket of the plurality of pockets. The support material may comprise at least one of a fabric and a film. Each of the deformable members may be configured as a column having a column axis. Methods of forming cushions include forming a plurality of deformable members, forming a plurality of pockets from a support material, and disposing each of the deformable members of the plurality of deformable members in each of the pockets of the plurality of pockets. The deformable members may be configured so that each of the deformable members is isolated from the other deformable members by the support material.
US08932690B2	Plate and shaft device A method for the joining of a ceramic shaft and a ceramic plate into an assembly, such as a heater, adapted to be used in semiconductor processing. The joined pieces are adapted to withstand the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, chamber cleaning processes, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with aluminum. The joint material is adapted to withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The joint is adapted to provide a hermetic seal across the joint. The joined pieces are adapted to be separated at a later time should rework or replacement of one of the pieces be desired.
US08932689B2	Artificial christmas tree connection structure An artificial Christmas tree connection structure includes a branch connection base and branch shaft units, the branch connection base coupled at a tubular main trunk body, the branch shaft units being selectively adjusted the orientations thereof to hang at the branch connection base. The branch connection base, having a tubular configuration, has a plurality of first limitation indentions and a plurality of connection slots. The branch shaft unit has a metal shaft, wherein a connecting end portion of the shaft is bent to form a hook connector, wherein tree leaves are provided at the shaft. The hook connector passes through the first limitation indentions, the second limitation indentions, and the connection slots to hang the branch shaft unit at the branch connection base. The connection structure provides an ease of assembling, high production efficiency, low manufacturing cost, reliable connection, detaching prevention, and adjustment of the orientation of the branch.
US08932683B1	Method for coating a tow with an electrospun nanofiber Method and apparatus for enhancing the durability as well as the strength and stiffness of prepreg fiber tows of the sort used in composite materials are disclosed. The method involves adhering electrospun fibers onto the surface of such composite materials as filament-wound composite objects and the surface of prepreg fiber tows of the sort that are subsequently used in the production of composite materials of the filament-wound, woven, and braided sorts. The apparatus performs the methods described herein.
US08932679B2	Method for coating metallic surfaces with a mixture containing at least two silanes A method for coating a metallic surface with an aqueous composition for pretreating before applying another coating or for treating said metallic surfaces. The method is characterized in that the composition contains, in addition to water; a) at least one hydrolyzable or at least partially hydrolyzed fluorine-free silane, and; b) at least one hydrolyzable or at least partially hydrolyzed fluorine-containing silane. The invention also relates to corresponding compositions.
US08932672B2	Substrate processing apparatus A substrate processing apparatus comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, a resist cover film processing block, a resist cover film removal block, a cleaning/drying processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block in the substrate processing apparatus. The exposure device subjects a substrate to exposure processing by means of an immersion method. In the edge cleaning unit in the cleaning/drying processing block, a brush abuts against an end of the rotating substrate, so that the edge of the substrate before the exposure processing is cleaned. At this time, the position where the substrate is cleaned is corrected.
US08932671B2	Polymer nanocomposite precursors with carbon nanotubes and/or graphene and related thin films and patterning Nano-composites include a graphite material such as nanotubes or graphene sheets and a partial or complete coating of a polymer including sufficient π-conjugated moieties to interact with surfaces of the graphite material. The polymers may also include electropolymerizable or oxidatively polymerizable moieties so the films may be crosslinked. The films may be used to form layers on substrates or patterned layers on substrates.
US08932670B2	Glass article with an anti-smudge surface and a method of making the same A method of making a glass article with an anti-smudge surface includes providing a glass article with a target surface. The method includes providing a coating solution consisting essentially of a fluorosilane compound and a solvent that is miscible with the fluorosilane compound. The method includes spray-coating the target surface with the coating solution while controlling the spray-coating to form a coating layer having a thickness in a range from 1 to 20 nm on the target surface.
US08932664B2	Surgical finger, hand and arm barrier coating and covering, method and system A protective coating solution, liquid, gel, or film and a method of using such a material to provide a sterile covering for fingers, hands, arms or other selected skin surface for use as a glove substitute.
US08932662B2	Coatings prepared from poly(ethylene oxide) and photo-initator-containing scaffolds The application discloses a method for the preparation (by extruding, injection molding or powder coating and subsequent cross-linking by irradiation with UV or visible light) of a medical device element involving a coating composition comprising: a) as the only polymer constituent(s), at least 50% by weight of poly(ethylene oxide)(s) optionally in combination with non-thermoplastic hydrophilic polymer(s), and b) low molecular weight scaffold(s) having a plurality of photo-initiator moieties covalently linked thereto and/or covalently incorporated therein, wherein the photo-initiator moieties constitute 0.01-20% by weight of the combined amount of the poly(ethylene oxide)(s), any non-thermoplastic hydrophilic polymers and the low molecular weight scaffolds. The application further discloses such extruded, injection molded or powder coated medical devices having thereon a layer of a covalently cross-linked coating composition of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), optionally a non-thermoplastic hydrophilic polymer and a low molecular weight scaffold having a plurality of residues of photo-initiator moieties.
US08932661B2	Salty taste enhancer and food or drink containing same It is possible to provide an excellent salty taste enhancer is provided that can compensate for insufficient salty taste when attempting to reduce salt content in a food. A salty taste enhancer consisting of a mixture of an enzymatic decomposition product of an animal protein and an enzymatic decomposition product of a plant protein. A salty taste enhancer in which the enzymatic decomposition products are treated with a protein-hydrolyzing enzyme and/or a nucleic acid-hydrolyzing enzyme. A salty taste enhancer in which the animal protein is a fish or shellfish extract and the plant protein is a soy bean protein. A salty taste enhancer in which a basic amino acid, and especially arginine, is further added to the salty taste enhancer. A salty taste enhancer to which potassium chloride is further added. A salty taste enhancer obtained by rendering the salty taste enhancer mildly acidic. A method for producing these salty taste enhancers, a method for enhancing a salty taste by using these salty taste enhancers, and a food or drink that contains these salty taste enhancers.
US08932659B2	Isolation and purification of components of whey A process for the isolation and/or purification of a desired component, particularly 3′sialyl lactose, from whey, particularly cheese whey, comprising the steps of: optionally subjecting the whey to ultrafiltration to provide a protein concentrate and a whey permeate; contacting the whey or whey permeate with at least one series of ion exchange resins, said series comprising a first weak acid cation resin, a first weak base anion resin, a second strong acid cation resin, a second weak base anion resin to demineralize the whey permeate; contacting this demineralized permeate with two final ion exchange resins comprising a strong acid cation resin and a final weak base anion resin, wherein the desired component, such as 3′ sialyl lactose, is taken up on the final anion resin; and eluting the desired component from the final anion resin.
US08932658B2	Method and apparatus for steam-cooking Method and apparatus for steam-cooking food products to improve their appearance and decrease yield loss. A steam cooker includes a low-temperature, forced-convection cooking region in series with a high-temperature, steam-impingement cooking region. The food product is conveyed through both regions atop a foraminous conveyor belt. The temperature in the high-temperature cooking region is greater than the temperature in the low-temperature cooking region and less than or equal to 100° C.
US08932654B2	Swinglea glutinosa leaves derived material in combination with avermectins for control of acari The invention of the present application provides a natural material derived from Swinglea glutinosa leaves that in combination with avermectins, increases the effect of avermectins over mites. The material derived from Swinglea glutinosa leaves, in a preparation with avermectins, results in an all natural material with the potential to replace combinations of avermectins with synthetic pyrethroids, eliminating the need to use synthetic pesticides for acari control.
US08932648B2	Method of selecting phosphate binder and its uses thereof A method of selecting or determining a candidate compound suitable for use as a phosphate binder is disclosed. The candidate compound includes ferric compounds, ferric compound complexes, and their derivatives, salts, analogs, and metabolites. The effectiveness of the candidate compound as a phosphate binder is evaluated by a method, comprising measuring and correlating reduction of phosphate concentration in solution and reduction of phosphate absorption in cells.
US08932647B1	Functional beverage composition A functional beverage that can be used by athletes and bodybuilders for restoring human growth hormones using an HGH precursor. The composition includes water, sweeteners, acids, gums, natural colorants, natural flavors, including pantothenic acid, chromium, copper, choline, and boron. The composition also includes selected amino acids such as L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, and L-Arginine.
US08932645B2	Composition and methods for relief of chemical sensitivity The formulations of the present disclosure alter the perception of symptoms, especially as experienced by subjects reporting the characteristic features associated with the syndrome known as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). The present disclosure encompasses formulations for the relief of symptoms associated with MCS, where the formulations comprise orthophosphoric acid, a vegetable oil comprising an esterified mono-unsaturated fatty acid, folic acid, and a molybdenum salt. The formulations can further comprise magnesium citrate, magnesium aspartate, malic acid, L-carnitine, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, co-enzyme Q10, glycerol, inositol, and choline bitartrate, optionally Q10, and riboflavin to provide a yellow color to the formulation. Another aspect of the disclosure are methods for alleviating MCS-related symptoms in subject human, comprising: providing to a subject an effective dose of a formulation comprising orthophosphoric acid, a mono-unsaturated fat, folic acid, molybdenum, and water.
US08932644B2	Composition and method for control of plant pathogenic bacteria and endophytic microorganisms using silver phosphite The present disclosure is directed toward a composition and method of treating and preventing infection of pathogenic microorganisms and endopyhtic microorganisms in a plant through the use of phosphite compositions.
US08932636B2	Method and composition for hyperthermally treating cells A method and composition for hyperthermally treating tumor cells in a patient under conditions that affect tumor stem cells and tumor cells. In one embodiment, the method is administered in combination with localized internal ionizing radiation therapy.
US08932630B1	Opioid agonist/antagonist combinations The invention is directed in part to oral dosage forms comprising a combination of an orally analgesically effective amount of an opioid agonist and an orally active opioid antagonist, the opioid antagonist being included in a ratio to the opioid agonist to provide a combination product which is analgesically effective when the combination is administered orally, but which is aversive in a physically dependent subject. Preferably, the amount of opioid antagonist included in the combination product provides at least a mildly negative, “aversive” experience in physically dependent addicts (e.g., precipitated abstinence syndrome).
US08932626B2	Felbinac-containing transdermally absorbable preparation An adhesive patch is a felbinac-containing transdermally absorbable preparation substantially free of a solubilizer for felbinac in a final preparation but still having high releasing of felbinac. The adhesive patch in which lidocaine and felbinac are formulated has the releasing of felbinac without losing the releasing of lidocaine. The felbinac-containing transdermally absorbable adhesive patch contains felbinac as an active component and lidocaine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an absorption promoter. In particular, the content of felbinac is from 0.1% to 10% by weight to the total weight of the drug-containing plaster and the content of lidocaine or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is from 0.01% to 20% by weight to the total weight of the drug-containing plaster.
US08932625B2	External patch preparation comprising ketoprofen and a specific UV screening agent An adhesive patch comprising a substrate and a pressure-sensitive adhesive base, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive base comprises a rubbery polymer having double bonds in the main chain and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic and contains a UVA screening agent and/or UVB screening agent as a stabilizer for the rubbery polymer. The adhesive patch is excellent in the stability of the pressure-sensitive adhesive base and in drug infiltration into the skin.
US08932622B2	Tissue coating for preventing undesired tissue-to-tissue adhesions Disclosed herein are a kit and a method for forming a tissue coating that prevents undesired tissue-to-tissue adhesions resulting from trauma, surgery, infection, or other stimulus. The tissue coating is a hydrogel formed by reacting an aminocarboxymethyldextran containing primary amine groups with an oxidized carboxymethylcellulose containing aldehyde groups.
US08932619B2	Dural repair material Multilayer structures including a porous layer and a non-porous layer having a reinforcement member are useful as dural repair materials.
US08932618B2	Biodegradable osmotic pump implant for drug delivery The present disclosure relates to a drug delivery device including a biodegradable housing and a hydrogel within the biodegradable housing. The housing, the hydrogel, or both, may include a bioactive agent. Also disclosed is a method of drug delivery including the steps of forming the biodegradable housing, in embodiments a hydrogel, suspending a bioactive agent in the hydrogel, and introducing a second hydrogel and/or precursors of a second hydrogel into the biodegradable housing.
US08932613B2	Ectoparasite control method This invention relates to a method of controlling or preventing infestations of ectoparasites, preferably hematophageous ectoparasites, on an animal by administering to the animal a composition comprising an parasiticidally effective amount of a compound of Formula 1, or an N-oxide, or a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is Me, Cl, Br or F; R2 is F, Cl, Br, C1-C4 haloalkyl or C1-C4 haloalkoxy; R3 is F, Cl or Br; R4 is H; C1-C4 alkyl, C3-C4 alkenyl, C3-C4 alkynyl, C3-C5 cycloalkyl, or C4-C6 cycloalkylalkyl, each optionally substituted with one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, CN, SMe, S(O)Me, S(O)2Me, and OMe; R5 is H or Me; R6 is H, F or Cl; and R7 is H, F or Cl.
US08932605B2	Deletion mutants of flagellin and methods of use Compositions that include Toll-like Receptor 5 agonists and at least a portion of at least one viral antigen can be employed in methods that stimulate an immune response in a subject, in particular, a protective immune response in a subject. Compositions can be associated with particles and employed in the methods in relatively low doses to provide protective immunity to viral infection.
US08932604B2	Recombinant non-pathogenic marek's disease virus constructs encoding infectious laryngotracheitis virus and newcastle disease virus antigens Recombinant multivalent non-pathogenic Marek's Disease virus constructs that encode and express both Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus and Newcastle Disease virus protein antigens, and methods of their use in poultry vaccines.
US08932603B2	Modified antibody Recombinant antibody-based molecules that trigger both T-cell and B-cell immune responses are disclosed. The recombinant molecules are comprised by at least one targeting unit and at least one antigenic unit connected through a dimerization motif. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding the recombinant antibody-based molecule and methods of treating multiple myeloma or lymphoma in a patient using the recombinant antibody-based molecules or the nucleic acid molecules.
US08932602B2	Pharmaceutical products from fungal strains Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an isolated cellulose degrading fungus and pharmaceutical substances produced by the fungus.
US08932601B2	Hybrid and chimeric polypeptides that regulate activation of complement A hybrid complement-regulating protein comprises a first functional unit of a first complement regulatory protein having complement regulating properties, a first spacer sequence of at least about 200 amino acids encoding a polypeptide that does not exhibit complement regulating properties and at least a second functional unit attached to the spacer sequence. The second functional unit may be a polypeptide providing a functional unit of a second complement regulatory protein, a polypeptide derived from an immunoglobulin, or a polypeptide that enhances binding of the protein to an animal cell. The hybrid protein may also contain a second spacer sequence and a third functional unit of a complement regulatory protein, a polypeptide derived from an immunoglobulin, and a polypeptide that enhances binding of the protein to an animal cell. The optional third functional unit may be the same or different from the first or second functional units.
US08932598B2	Fusion proteins and methods of use Compositions that include a fusion protein comprising flagellin and at least one antigen that has an isoelectric point greater than about 7.0 and that is fused to at least one domain 3 of the flagellin activate Toll-like Receptor 5. Methods of stimulating an immune response, in particular, a protective immune response include administering a composition that includes an antigen fused to a loop of domain 3 of flagellin.
US08932595B2	Nicotine immunonanotherapeutics The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or in B cells. The invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface having a plurality of nicotine moieties. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. For example, the present invention describes nanocarriers capable of eliciting an immune response and the production of anti-nicotine antibodies.
US08932594B2	Adjuvants and methods of use Compositions comprising NKT cell agonist compounds and a physiologically acceptable vehicle are provided. Methods of stimulating an NKT cell and enhancing an immune response are also disclosed. Further provided are vaccine preparations comprising NKT cell agonist compounds.
US08932587B2	Methods of reducing or inhibiting toxic effects associated with a bacterial infection using alkaline phosphatase This invention relates generally to a therapeutic use of alkaline phosphatase to reduce or inhibit toxic effects associated with a bacterial infection in a subject.
US08932586B2	Modified forms of Pseudomonas exotoxin A Pseudomonas exotoxin A or “PE” is a 66 kD, highly potent, cytotoxic protein secreted by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Various forms of PE have been coupled to other proteins, such as antibodies, to generate therapeutically useful cytotoxin conjugates that selectively target cells of a desired phenotype (such as tumor cells). In the present invention, peptides spanning the sequence of an approximately 38 kD form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A protein were analyzed for the presence of immunogenic CD4+ T cell epitopes. Six immunogenic T cell epitopes were identified. Residues were identified within each epitope for introduction of targeted amino acid substitutions to reduce or prevent immunogenic T-cell responses in PE molecules which may be administered to a heterologous host.
US08932584B2	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.
US08932580B2	Methods for purification of bacterial cells and cell components The present invention relates to a method for the selective purification of bacterial cells and/or cell components, whereby the purification is performed by means of a solid support.
US08932577B2	Treatment of limb ischemia The present invention uses neural stem cells in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a patient suffering peripheral arterial disease. The invention is particularly suited for treating limb ischemia or Buerger's disease.
US08932575B2	Compositions and methods for inducing migration by dendritic cells and an immune response Compositions and methods of activating dendritic cells with LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cell based compositions and methods are effective for dendritic cell therapy and provide an adjuvant function for vaccine administration. LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 chimeric protein may be used to activate and mature dendritic cells. LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cells act as an adjuvant to enhance the cellular immune response. Also disclosed herein are kits for activating dendritic cells and for preparing a vaccine formulation. Administration of the dendritic cells transfected with LMP1 can induce an immune response against cancer or infection. The mature dendritic cells may comprise an antigen and at least one cytokine in addition to LMP1. Use of LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 provides a way to activate and mature dendritic cells that retain functional and migratory abilities without the side effects that result from maturing the dendritic cells using PGE2.
US08932570B2	Long-wearing glossy cosmetic composition A transfer-resistant, single phase aqueous cosmetic compositions are provided. The compositions consist essentially of a water-soluble, film-forming acrylates copolymer and a water-soluble plasticizer for the copolymer. The compositions contain no oils, waxes, surfactants or emulsifiers, are water- and oil-resistant upon drying on the skin, and exhibit high gloss and long-wear and transfer-resistant properties. Compositions containing pigment also demonstrate high color intensity. The compositions are useful as eyeliner, mascara, lipgloss, lipliner, and other cosmetic products.
US08932565B2	Thermal cosmetic treatment process using a semi-crystalline polymer The present invention relates to a non-therapeutic makeup and/or care process for non-fibrous human keratin matter, such as the skin, the lips and the fingernails, comprising the following steps: placing a heating device on or near an outer surface of a lump of a solid cosmetic composition to heat said lump locally in such a way as to soften essentially only said outer surface and lower its coefficient of dynamic friction and then apply the outer surface of the heated composition to the region to be treated, said solid cosmetic composition comprising in a physiologically acceptable medium at least one semi-crystalline polymer.
US08932562B2	Optically controlled CNS dysfunction Provided herein are animals expressing light-responsive opsin proteins in the basal lateral amygdala of the brain and methods for producing the same wherein illumination of the light-responsive opsin proteins causes anxiety in the animal. Also provided herein are methods for alleviating and inducing anxiety in an animal as well as methods for screening for a compound that alleviates anxiety in an animal.
US08932561B2	Medical device rapid drug releasing coatings comprising a therapeutic agent and a contrast agent The invention relates to a coated medical device for rapid delivery of a therapeutic agent to a tissue in seconds to minutes. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent, a contrast agent, and an additive.
US08932560B2	Advanced functional biocompatible polymeric matrix used as a hemostatic agent and system for damaged tissues and cells A hemostatic tissue sealant sponge and a spray for acute wounds are disclosed. The sponge comprises hydrophobically modified polymers that anchor themselves within the membrane of cells in the vicinity of the wound. The seal is strong enough to substantially prevent the loss of blood inside the boundaries of the sponge, yet weak enough to substantially prevent damage to newly formed tissue upon recovery and subsequent removal of the sponge. In examples, the polymers inherently prevent microbial infections and are suitable for oxygen transfer required during normal wound metabolism. The spray comprises hydrophobically modified polymers that form solid gel networks with blood cells to create a physical clotting mechanism to prevent loss of blood. In an example, the spray further comprises at least one reagent that increases the mechanical integrity of the clot. In another example, the reagent prevents microbial infection of the wound.
US08932558B2	Multi-subunit biological complexes for treatment of plaque-associated diseases Provided herein are methods and compositions for the in vitro formation of multi subunit biological platforms. The biological platforms may be used to screen chemical or biological compounds, in particular compounds that may disrupt or otherwise affect the formation of the multi subunit complexes, or disrupt already-formed in vitro assembled multi subunit complexes. Also provided herein are methods and compositions for the in vivo formation of multi-subunit biological complexes. The methods and compositions described herein may be used to develop animal models of diseases or disorders.
US08932557B2	Imaging agents for detecting neurological dysfunction Disclosed here in are compounds and methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease or a predisposition thereto in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a diagnostically effective amount of a radiolabeled compound, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of radiolabeled carbazoles and derivatives thereof and triazoles derivatives, allowing the compound to distribute into the brain tissue, and imaging the brain tissue, wherein an increase in binding of the compound to the brain tissue compared to a normal control level of binding indicates that the mammal is suffering from or is at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.
US08932556B2	Rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticles and ordered acicular aggregates of same Ordered acicular aggregates of elongated TiO2 crystallites which resemble nano-sized flower bouquets and/or triangular funnels, and process for their preparation by thermally hydrolyzing a soluble TiO2 precursor compound in aqueous solution in the presence of a morphology controlling agent selected from carboxylic acids and amino acids.
US08932553B2	Method for manufacturing cubic diamond nanocrystals A method for manufacturing cubic diamond nanocrystals (10) comprising the following successive steps: (a) providing crystalline diamond powder where the maximum particle size of the powder is equal or more than 2 um and equal or less than 1 mm; (b) milling said crystalline micron diamond powder using nitrogen jet milling micronization so as to manufacture a fine powder; (c) nanomilling the fine powder of step b) using a planetary tungsten carbide ball mill; (d) acid treating the nanomilled powder of step c); (e) extracting the cubic diamond nanocrystals (10) by centrifugation. Advantageously round-shaped cubic diamond nanocrystals are manufactured.
US08932549B2	Sulfur containing silica particle A silica-containing composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a compound having the following formula: (SiO2)x(OH)yMzOaF.B: wherein M is at least one of the following: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; wherein F optionally exists and comprises at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of about 0.01 to about 100%. The molar ratio of y/x is equal to about 0.01 to about 0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to about 0.5 to about 300, and the molar ratio of a/z is dependent on the nature of the metal oxide. B comprises a hygroscopic solid and preferably comprises at least one alkaline earth oxide, lanthanide oxide, or combinations thereof.
US08932545B2	Synthesis of metal compounds A method is provided for the synthesis of a mesoporous lithium transition metal compound, the method comprising the steps of (i) reacting a lithium salt with one or more transition metal salts in the presence of a surfactant, the surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to form a liquid crystal phase in the reaction mixture (ii) heating the reaction mixture so as to form a sol-gel and (iii) removing the surfactant to leave a mesoporous product. The mesoporous product can be an oxide, a phosphate, a borate or a silicate and optionally, an additional phosphate, borate or silicate reagent can be added at step (i). The reaction mixture can comprise an optional chelating agent and preferably, the reaction conditions at steps (i) and (ii) are controlled so as to prevent destabilization of the liquid crystal phase. The invention is particularly suitable for producing mesoporous lithium cobalt oxide and lithium iron phosphate. The method can be used to synthesize mesoporous lithium cobalt oxide having a specific surface area in excess of 10 m2/g, preferably 15 m2/g or more.
US08932544B2	Microreactor array, device comprising a microreactor array, and method for using a microreactor array Disclosed are a method and a device for feeding and/or discharging fluids in microreactor arrays through one or several fluid ducts that extend into each individual microreactor and can be individually controlled and regulated, in order to control, regulate, influence, and/or verify processes. The fed or discharged amounts of fluid are introduced into or discharged from the volume of the reaction liquid during a continuous shaking process and are evenly mixed as a result of the shaking process. The continuous shaking process causes sufficient mass transfer and thorough mixing of the reaction partners or fluids while the reaction is not limited or restricted by the mass transfer conditions.
US08932542B2	Apparatus for processing biological material A gripper unit for handling a vessel for receiving biological material is proposed, inter alia. The vessel has a lid which can assume an open position and a closed position. The gripper unit comprises a gripper for gripping and releasing the vessel, and a lid holder, for holding a lid in a defined position in relation to the vessel. The defined position is an open position of the lid.
US08932538B2	Apparatus for analyzing sample A apparatus for analyzing sample to prevent a sample from being stuck to a surface of the apparatus for analyzing sample in the course of being injected into the apparatus for analyzing sample. The apparatus for analyzing sample includes a platform having a disk shape. The platform includes chambers and channels, a sample inlet hole which is formed in an outer surface the platform and through which a sample is injected into the platform; an opening which is formed in the outer surface of the platform and through which a residual of the sample, present on the outer surface of the platform around the sample inlet hole, is introduced into a receiving space isolated from the chambers and channels; and a barrier which is formed on the outer surface of the platform around a portion of the opening to prevent the residual of the sample from moving past the opening in a radial outward direction of the platform.
US08932533B2	Cyclonic catalytic ducts Implementations and techniques for cyclonic catalytic ducts are generally disclosed.
US08932529B2	Method and an apparatus for performing an energy efficient desulphurization and decarbonisation of a flue gas A desulphurization and decarbonisation apparatus includes (a) a starter for starting a reaction between an electropositive metal and sulphur oxides and carbon dioxide of a flue gas; (b) a first reaction chamber with a cooling unit for reducing the sulphur oxides and the carbon dioxide of the flue gas in an exothermic reaction with the electropositive metal; (c) a second reaction chamber for generating a first suspension including suspended carbon containing reaction products and sulphur containing reaction products by extracting solid reaction products of the first reaction chamber in a solvent; (d) a third reaction chamber for oxidizing the first suspension to generate a second suspension including suspended carbon containing reaction products and oxidized sulphur containing reaction products; and (e) a separator for separating the oxidized sulphur containing reaction products from the suspended carbon containing reaction products.
US08932527B1	Elbow and horizontal configurations in a loop reactor Loop reactors for olefin polymerization and processes utilizing such loop reactors are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the loop reactor generally includes a plurality of vertical sections; a plurality of elbow sections connecting the vertical sections to either a horizontal section having a horizontal length (LH) or another elbow section, at least one elbow section having an internal diameter (d), a radius (Rc) of an inner curvature and a chord length (W) and wherein the horizontal length (LH) is from 0 feet to 3 feet, the chord length (W) is 250 inches or less and a ratio (Rc/d) of the radius (Rc) of the inner curvature to the internal diameter (d) of the at least one elbow section is maintained from 2 to 4; and at least one loop reaction zone configured to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer.
US08932522B2	Revolutionary toothbrush cleaner An apparatus for cleaning a toothbrush comprises a hollow container having an interior with an upper section and a lower section. The upper section is open for allowing insertion and withdrawal of a toothbrush along an axis and the lower section defines a reservoir for storing a cleaning fluid. A plurality of fins are mounted to the container and arranged about the axis to project inward toward the axis at a distance above a bottom of the reservoir. The distal ends of the fins are spaced for deflecting bristles of the toothbrush during passage of the toothbrush along the axis past the distal ends of the fins from one side of the plurality of fins to another side of the plurality of fins. An additional set of fins is provided for drying excess cleaning fluid from the brush. The fins are removable from the container for thorough cleaning or replacement.
US08932521B2	Chitosan-based hemostatic textile A microfibrillar high molecular weight chitosan-based textile can be used as a hemostat. The chitosan has been treated in a nitrogen field by applying energy to ionize nitrogen in and around the chitosan textile. A single or multiple such treatments may be employed. For example, the chitosan textile may be irradiated under nitrogen using γ-irradiation, treated under a nitrogen plasma, or both.
US08932520B2	Method for non-contact particle manipulation and control of particle spacing along an axis Method and system for uniformly spacing particles in a flowing system comprising suspending particles in an elongated fluid filled cavity; exposing said cavity to an axial acoustic standing wave field, wherein said axial acoustic standing wave field drives said particles to nodal and anti-nodal positions along the center axis of said cavity to result in uniformly spaced particles; and focusing said particles to the center axis of said cavity.
US08932517B2	Powder based soft magnetic inductive component, and a method and a device for production thereof A process for production of a packed soft magnetic component, comprises the steps of:—preparing a rotational mold, consisting of at least one mold cavity connected to a driven rotational axle, arranging a coil in the mold, filling the at least one mold cavity with a binder and a soft magnetic, metallic material in the form of a powder,—driving the axle for rotation of said at least one mold, whereby the soft magnetic, metallic material is packed by centrifugal forces to one side of said at least one mold cavity, mixed with the binder, thus forming a component comprising a soft magnetic composite with a coil embedded therein.
US08932506B2	Resin injection molding method The resin injection molding method of the present invention is a method for molding resins inside a cavity formed within a mold. The method comprises injecting resins into the cavity through a plurality of paths installed so as to be openable and closable and optionally maintaining the resin inside the cavity at a pressure; closing each of the plurality of paths such that the resins injected from each path converge, there being a time difference between when a first path and a second path of the plurality of paths are closed; and solidifying at least the resin which is injected from the path closed earliest with a crystallinity greater than or equal to a predetermined crystallinity degree.
US08932503B2	Mold structure for molding housing, method for molding housing, and housing A mold for forming a housing having a lance includes a first mold and a second mold. The lance has a first projection for engaging a terminal and a second projection provided at a position nearer with an end of the lance than the first projection. The first mold includes a first member having a third projection. The second mold includes a second member and a third member. The second member has a first concave portion into which the third projection is inserted. The third member is configured to be moved with respect to the second member. The second member defines, with the first member, a first space where the housing is adapted to be formed. The third member defines, with the first member, a second space where the first projection and the second projection are adapted to be formed.
US08932502B2	Recyclable thermoplastic packaging Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein relate to a recyclable thermoplastic unit that includes a casing body composed of a first thermoplastic having a first melting point. The casing body also includes a first locking mechanism that is configured to mate with a second locking mechanism of a sacrifice layer. The sacrifice layer is composed of a second thermoplastic and includes the second locking mechanism. The sacrifice layer has a melting point that is greater than the melting point of the casing body.
US08932501B2	Production of and drying of copolymer fibers The present invention concerns processes for reducing water in never-dried fiber comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6) -amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process comprising the steps of: (a) heating the never-dried fiber to a temperature of at least 20° C. but less than 100 ° C. until the moisture content of the fiber is 20 weight percent or less of the fiber; and (b) further heating the fiber to a temperature of at least 350° C.
US08932499B2	Method for producing an SMC multi-layer component Method for producing an SMC multi-layer component in a production process. The component has a sandwich structure. At least one foam material layer (3) is embedded between two SMC cover layers (2, 2′). An insert layer arrangement comprising at least one first and one second SMC semifinished product cover layer (2, 2′) is positioned in a press mold comprising a punch (1) and a die (1′). A first and a second SMC semifinished product cover layers (2, 2′) are shaped into two SMC cover layers (2, 2′) by applying pressure to the layer arrangement. Curing of the first and the second SMC semifinished product cover layers (2, 2′) is initiated. The punch (1) and the die (1′) are moved away from each other, until the distance provided therebetween corresponds to a thickness of the SMC multi-layer component to be produced. A foaming process of a material (3′) that can be foamed, which is provided between the two SMC cover layers (2, 2′) is initiated, producing the foam material layer (3). After the foaming has ended, the SMC multi-layer component is removed from the press mold.
US08932498B2	Device for preparation of liposomes and method thereof Disclosed is a device for preparation of liposomes, comprises a reaction tank and an infusion unit. The reaction tank comprises a collector mounted in a predetermined position of the reaction tank; Two inlet ports are included: the first inlet port for infusing an aqueous solution; and the second inlet port for infusing an organic solution. The infusion unit can introduce a bioactive agent containing-aqueous solution into the reaction tank. The infusion unit comprises a filter connected to one end of the infusion unit and being adjacent to the collector. The method using the device comprises the steps of infusing an aqueous solution and an organic solution into the reaction tank of the device and thus forming an interface between the filter and the collector; infusing a bioactive agent containing-aqueous solution and being filtered by the filter, the bioactive agent is encapsulated to form a water-in-oil emulsion; the water-in-oil emulsion is passing through the aqueous solution and thus to form a water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion. Finally the removal of the organic phase of water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion enables the harvest a plurality of liposomes. It has advantages such that simple-used and automation production. Thus nano size or sub-micro size liposomes can be prepared with high encapsulation efficiency without sonicators or delicate microfluidic systems.
US08932490B2	Anti-caking compositions for fertilizers The invention relates to novel compositions for preventing caking and crust formation in several types of manures or fertilizers in the form of granular solids. Said compositions comprise at least one phosphoric ester and at least one fatty trialkylamine of formula (III) wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group containing between 6 and 24 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkyl group containing between 1 and 5 carbon atoms, R3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group containing between 1 and 5 carbon atoms, or alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group containing between 6 and 24 carbon atoms.
US08932488B2	Thermoluminescent phosphor and method of producing the same There is provided a thermoluminescent phosphor characterized in that a distribution of the emission intensity of thermoluminescence is present in a visible range that does not overlap the peak of the heating-caused emission intensity of the thermoluminescent phosphor itself and also has one peak within a temperature range in which a resin to be used as a binder can resist heat optically. There is also provided a method of producing the thermoluminescent phosphor. More specifically, there are provided a thermoluminescent phosphor that comprises lithium heptaborate as a base material and copper as a luminescent center present in the base material and which is characterized in that the distribution of the emission intensity of thermoluminescence versus temperature is a sole and monomodal distribution within the range of from 45° C. to 130° C., and a method of producing the thermoluminescent phosphor.
US08932486B2	Persistent phosphors of alkaline earths modified by halides and 3d ions Phosphorescent compositions including silicate of alkaline earth materials which are modified by at least one halide are provided. The phosphorescent compositions may include 3d ions. A variety of embodiments may be realized. The appearance of some embodiments may be glassy (i.e., vitreous).
US08932485B2	Fluorescent nanoparticle composites themselves, process for the preparation of such composites, and use in rapid diagnosis systems with affinity to biological molecules The present invention provides fluorescent nanoparticle composites themselves, the process of preparing such composites, to systems for rapid diagnosis (as “kits”) containing such composites, and to the use of such composites. In a preferential embodiment, the composites of the present invention have an affinity for biological molecules, such as DNA. The present invention also comprises the preparation of probes containing biological material, upon which are added fluorescent nanoparticle composites, making viable a rapid and economic biological diagnosis of, for example, diseases and genetic traits, notably in the medical and veterinarian fields. There is yet the fact that the absorption of radiation in the ultraviolet and visible regions, with the emission of light in the near ultraviolet and visible range, including in the colors of deep blue and/or green, provides advantageous use of its fluorescent properties in photovoltaic or electroluminescent devices, such as organic LEDs, or for the increase in luminous gain of fluorescent lamps, which represents another characteristic of the invention.
US08932481B2	Cathode active material, method of preparing the same, and cathode and lithium battery including the cathode active material A cathode active material includes a core including a material having an olivine structure, and a nitrogen atom doped into at least a portion of the core.
US08932480B2	Stoichiometric lithium cobalt oxide and method for preparation of the same The present invention provides a LiCoO2-containing powder comprising LiCoO2 having a stoichiometric composition via heat treatment of a lithium cobalt oxide and a lithium buffer material to make equilibrium of a lithium chemical potential there between; a lithium buffer material which acts as a Li acceptor or a Li donor to remove or supplement Li-excess or Li-deficiency, coexisting with a stoichiometric lithium metal oxide; and a method for preparing a LiCoO2-containing powder. Further, provided is an electrode comprising the above-mentioned LiCoO2-containing powder as an active material, and a rechargeable battery comprising the same electrode.
US08932468B2	Separation of enzymatically synthesized polyepicatechin via high performance liquid chromatography Disclosed is a process for the separation of one or more fractions from a resulting reaction mixture of an enzymatically catalyzed polymerization of flavonoid using HPLC with a varying concentration of organic solvent in the mobile phase. The isolated fractions can be used in numerous applications including as an antioxidant.
US08932467B2	Method and a system for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material The invention relates to a method and a system for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material by thermal hydrolysis, in particular with a view to producing bioethenol, wherein the material is first admixed with water and is then passed to a reactor, in which the soaked material is subjected to a high temperature and a high pressure to such an extent that is it accessible for a subsequent treatment with enzymes, following which the treated material is separated into liquid part and a solid part, where the solid component is subsequently used for the production of bioethenol and enzymation and fermentation. Exclusively steam is used in the method and the corresponding system for heating, stirring and transport, as e.g. the transport through the various elements of the system is provided by a pressure difference between the compartments of the elements. The material (32) is discharged to an economizer (4), in which a separator (5) separates the material into a solid part and a liquid part. The solid part (29) is discharged for use in the further process. The method is performed as a two step proceed, as the material (32) from the first reactor (3) is injected into the economizer (4) and from there further on (26) to an additional reactor (8) for an additional treatment step. A high efficiency is achieved, as all pressures are established by direct steam addition, and heating surfaces and mechanical elements, such as pumps, stirrers, stuffing boxes, bearings, etc. are avoided. The use of economizers (4, 9) improves the consumption of energy relative to previously known processes.
US08932465B2	Filter cartridge having a filter within a filter, and an endplate sealing structure on an outer filter element A filter within a filter cartridge design is described that includes a sealing structure on an endplate of an outer filter element. Generally, the sealing structure includes an annular flange on the endplate that can directly seal against an interior surface of a housing when the filter cartridge is assembled for use. During filtration, the annular flange prevents a working fluid from bypassing the outer filter element. The sealing flange can seal with the housing in a press fit engagement.
US08932463B2	Filter assembly A filter assembly for filtering a liquid or gaseous medium includes a filter housing for receiving an exchangeable filter insert. The filter housing has a housing head and a housing cover that can be removably connected to the housing head by means of a connecting element. The connecting element interacts with a locking element associated with the housing head so that, for the purpose of assembly, the housing cover can be connected to the housing head only if the filter insert is located in the filter housing.
US08932462B1	Oil filter conversion kit An engine oil filter conversion assembly is provided for allowing a user to replace a standard canister oil filter with an assembly that facilitates removal and replacement of the internal paper filter element therein. The assembly comprises a housing similar to a canister oil filter, wherein the canister includes removably attached components such that the internal filter element is accessible, whereby the filter element can be replaced during an oil change instead of the complete canister. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce waste and allow the filter element only to be discarded, while facilitating quick access to the filter element and providing an assembly that can replace canister oil filters on modern internal combustion engines. The assembly comprises a baseplate, a louvered center tube, a removable filter element, a filter housing, a lower end seal and a joining fastener.
US08932460B2	Preparative separation/purification system The present invention aims at providing a preparative separation/purification system for vaporizing an eluate in a short period of time, while enhancing the efficiency of collecting the target substance by accelerating the initiation of collecting the eluate. The preparative separation/purification system in which water containing a target component is passed through a column 8 to capture the target component in the column 8 and then a solvent is passed through it to collect the target compound, includes: a liquid supply means 7 for supplying a solvent to the column 8, with the target component captured in the column 8, while the column 8 is vertically held with the inlet end thereof directed downwards and the discharge end thereof directed upwards, the solvent having a low solubility to water and having a specific gravity greater than that of water; a passage selection means 12 for changing the passage configuration so that a solution exiting from the column 8 is selectively sent to either a collection passage 13 or a disposal passage 14; a passage control means 30 for controlling the passage selection means 12 so that, when water exits from the column 8, the water is sent to the disposal passage 14, and when solution containing solvent exits from the column 8, the solution is sent to the collection passage 13; and a flow rate control means 30 for controlling so that the water is supplied at a first flow rate to the disposal passage 14, and the solution containing solvent is supplied to the collection passage 13 at a flow rate lower than the first flow rate.
US08932458B1	Using a H2S scavenger during venting of the coke drum The delayed coking process comprises the steps of: thermally cracking hydrocarbon feedstock in the coke drum thereby converting the feedstock to coke and hydrocarbon products; routing thermally crack hydrocarbon products to downstream fractionators; and periodically removing coke out of the drum. Before coke removal, the drum has to be steam stripped, water quench, then vented. During venting, H2S scavenger is injected to the drum vapor space to remove residual H2S.
US08932456B2	Integrated process for the manufacture of olefins and intermediates for the productions of ammonia and urea An integrated process for the manufacture of olefins and intermediates for the production of ammonia and urea, comprising an FCC reactor, a regenerator, a steam reforming unit, an air-separation unit, an ammonia production unit and a urea production unit, is described. This process makes it possible to minimize CO2 emissions to atmosphere, make use of heavy feedstocks of low added value (AR) for the production of light olefins, in addition to making maximum use of all the flows involved, thus increasing the energy efficiency achieved, all at the same time.
US08932449B2	Analytical test strip with an electrode having electrochemically active and inert areas of a predetermined size and distribution An electrochemical-based analytical test strip for the determination of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in a bodily fluid sample (such as a whole blood sample) includes an electrically insulating base layer and a patterned conductor layer (for example, a gold patterned conductor layer) disposed over the electrically-insulating layer. The patterned conductor layer includes at least one electrode with the electrode having electrochemically inert areas and an electrochemically active area(s). Moreover, the electrochemically inert areas and electrochemically active area(s) are of a predetermined size and a predetermined distribution such that electrochemical response of the electrode during use of the electrochemical-based analytical test strip is essentially equivalent to a predetermined electrochemical response.
US08932444B2	Sputtering target of nonmagnetic-particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material A sputtering target of nonmagnetic-particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material is provided having a phase (A) such that nonmagnetic particles are dispersed in a ferromagnetic material formed from a Co—Cr alloy containing 5 at % or more and 20 at % or less of Cr and Co as the remainder thereof, and schistose textures (B) with a short side of 30 to 100 μm and a long side of 50 to 300 μm formed from a Co—Cr alloy phase in the phase (A); wherein each of the foregoing nonmagnetic particles has such a shape and size that the particle is smaller than all hypothetical circles with a radius of 1 μm around an arbitrary point within the nonmagnetic particle, or a shape and size with at least two contact points or intersection points between the respective hypothetical circles and the interface of the ferromagnetic material and the nonmagnetic material.
US08932443B2	Adjustable wafer plating shield and method A wafer carrier is described. In one embodiment, the wafer carrier includes a variable aperture shield. The wafer carrier may include an electrically conductive wafer plating jig base having a plurality of concentric overlapping cavities of different depths, each cavity configured to receive a semiconductor wafer of a different size, a plurality of concentric magnetic attractors, at least one positioned within each of the plurality of overlapping cavities, and a cover plate comprising an open center surrounded by a support, the cover plate comprising an attractive material positioned within the support adjacent to the open center and aligned with at least one of the magnetic attractors when the cover plate is positioned over the wafer plating jig base.
US08932438B2	Method of manufacturing magnetoresistive element, sputter deposition chamber, apparatus for manufacturing magnetoresistive element having sputter deposition chamber, program and storage medium The magnetic anisotropy of a magnetic layer in a spin valve tunnel magnetoresistive element or giant magnetoresistive element is enhanced. Deposition of the magnetic layer is performed by making sputtering particles obliquely incident on a substrate from a certain incident direction at a certain incident angle.
US08932436B2	Non-stoichiometric NiOx ceramic target The subject of the invention is an essentially ceramic target for a sputtering device, especially for magnetically enhanced sputtering, said target comprising predominantly nickel oxide, the nickel oxide NiOx being oxygen-deficient with respect to the stoichiometric composition.
US08932433B2	Retention and drainage in the manufacture of paper A method of improving retention and drainage in a papermaking process is disclosed. The addition of an associative polymer, a poly(vinylamine) and optionally a siliceous material to the papermaking slurry to improve retention and drainage is disclosed. Additionally a method to improve retention and drainage comprising addition of an organic microparticle, a poly(vinylamine) and optionally a siliceous material to the papermaking slurry is disclosed. A composition comprising an associative polymer, and a poly(vinylamine) and optionally further comprising cellulose fiber is disclosed.
US08932432B2	Substrate separating apparatus, load lock apparatus, substrate bonding apparatus, substrate separating method, and manufacturing method of a semiconductor apparatus A substrate separating method includes: holding, in a predetermined position, a substrate sandwiched between a first holder and a second holder opposed to each other; and relatively moving the first holder and the second holder while the substrate is held in the predetermined position. In holding the substrate, the substrate may be held in the predetermined position by effecting a pressurizing force or a suction force onto the substrate. Also in holding the substrate, the substrate may be held in contact with one of the first holder and the second holder.
US08932431B2	Method for separating disks Disks stuck together in a stack are separated by placing the disks on a shaft of a vibratory apparatus and vibrating the shaft to vibrate the disks by contact of the disks with the vibrating shaft to separate them and also constrain the disks with the shaft as the disks are vibrated.
US08932430B2	RF coupled plasma abatement system comprising an integrated power oscillator The present disclosure is directed towards a method and apparatus for generating an abatement plasma downstream of a processing chamber using an RF plasma ignited and sustained with an integrated power oscillator circuit driven by feedback based upon a load of the abatement plasma. In one embodiment, a plasma ashing system includes an abatement system configured to receive an effluent byproduct from an upstream processing chamber containing a workpiece. The effluent byproduct is provided along an exhaust conduit to a downstream afterburner unit having an integrated power oscillator, that relies upon an oscillating circuit operatively coupled to an antenna to ignite the abatement plasma within the exhaust conduit. The antenna, together with the plasma load, form a resonant tank circuit, which provides a feedback that drives operation of the oscillating circuit, thereby allowing the oscillating circuit to vary its output based upon changes in the abatement plasma load.
US08932429B2	Electronic knob for tuning radial etch non-uniformity at VHF frequencies System and methods for plasma processing of a wafer include a chamber with an electrode having a support surface and an outer edge region defined thereon. A radio frequency power is communicated to the electrode via a conductive delivery connection and returned through a conductive return connection. A capacitance is applied to a first end that causes appropriate capacitive adjustment and opposite impedance adjustment at a second end of the conductive delivery connection that is coupled to a dielectric surround structure that surrounds the electrode. The dielectric surround structure presents the opposite impedance adjustment near an outer edge of the electrode, such that increasing the capacitance at the first end causes a corresponding increase of impedance at the second end and a corresponding increase in voltage distribution near the outer edge region of the electrode that decreases toward a center of the support surface of the electrode.
US08932426B2	Pipe fusion fitting and installation method A method for connecting a pipe fitting with a buried pipe from above ground in which the top, outer wall surface of the buried pipe is exposed to an aboveground location, producing an exposed outer wall surface. An opening into the pipeline is formed at the exposed outer wall surface following which a fitting to be connected with the pipeline is inserted through the opening into the pipeline and connected with a circumferential pipe surface encircling the opening into the pipeline. Preferably, keyholing techniques are used to carry out the steps of the method so as to substantially limit the amount of excavation required compared with conventional pipe fitting connection procedures.
US08932425B2	Method for decorating surfaces The invention relates to a method and a transfer strip for decorating surfaces, in particular for decorating outer packagings. A transfer strip comprising a strip-like backing film (11), a decorative layer (13) and a release layer (12) arranged between the decorative layer (13) and the backing film is provided. The decorative layer (13) has a multiplicity of identical optically variable decorative elements, which are arranged in first area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip. The decorative layer (13) has second area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip and in which the decorative layer (13) has one or more individualizable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings. A first area region or a subregion of a first area region and a second area region or a subregion of a second area region of the decorative layer (13) is respectively transferred to a surface to be decorated. The one or more individualizable layers of the respective second area region are individualized before or during the transfer, so that, in addition to one of the optically variable decorative elements, an individualized machine-readable optical marking is transferred from the transfer strip to the surface to be decorated.
US08932422B2	Sandwich structure with a high load-bearing capacity, as well as methods for the manufacture thereof A sandwich structure based on a composite panel made of a thermoplastic core layer connected to at least one fiber-reinforced thermoplastic layer, in particular in-situ manufactured sandwich panels, comprises a thermoplastic core, which is arranged between two cover layers, in which the core is reinforced with fiber-reinforced thermoplastic reinforcing ribs which extend between the cover layers. Preferred methods for the manufacture are also described.
US08932410B2	Dishwasher using ozone water The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) wherein ozone water is applied to improve the washing performance and to provide hygiene. The ozone gas that is generated by an ozone generator (7) located in the dishwasher (1) is mixed to the wash water by the Venturi device (8) and by means of an ozone water line (9) extending into the tub (2), of branch pipes (10, 110, 210) and of spray nozzles (N), ozone wash water is sprayed to the lower dish rack (3) or the upper dish rack (103).
US08932406B2	In-situ generation of the molecular etcher carbonyl fluoride or any of its variants and its use The molecular etcher carbonyl fluoride (COF2) or any of its variants, are provided for, according to the present invention, to increase the efficiency of etching and/or cleaning and/or removal of materials such as the unwanted film and/or deposits on the chamber walls and other components in a process chamber or substrate (collectively referred to herein as “materials”). The methods of the present invention involve igniting and sustaining a plasma, whether it is a remote or in-situ plasma, by stepwise addition of additives, such as but not limited to, a saturated, unsaturated or partially unsaturated perfluorocarbon compound (PFC) having the general formula (CyFz) and/or an oxide of carbon (COx) to a nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) plasma into a chemical deposition chamber (CVD) chamber, thereby generating COF2. The NF3 may be excited in a plasma inside the CVD chamber or in a remote plasma region upstream from the CVD chamber. The additive(s) may be introduced upstream or downstream of the remote plasma such that both NF3 and the additive(s) (and any plasma-generated effluents) are present in the CVD chamber during cleaning.
US08932403B1	Method of fabricating low-dislocation-density epitaxially-grown films with textured surfaces A method for forming a surface-textured single-crystal film layer by growing the film atop a layer of microparticles on a substrate and subsequently selectively etching away the microparticles to release the surface-textured single-crystal film layer from the substrate. This method is applicable to a very wide variety of substrates and films. In some embodiments, the film is an epitaxial film that has been grown in crystallographic alignment with respect to a crystalline substrate.
US08932399B2	Light-weight composition and mix for masonry, mortar and stucco A pre-mixed mortar, stucco or masonry composition includes from 70 to 80 percent sand and from 20 to 30 percent of a light-weight cement mix composition. The light-weight cement mix composition comprises either slag cement, gypsum or a combination of slag cement and gypsum; Portland cement; silicon dioxide; calcium stearate; and metakaolin.
US08932395B2	Ceramic compositions for reduced plug rate A precursor batch composition that can be used to make porous ceramic articles is provided. The batch composition includes a cellulose-based polymer and, in particular, a methylcellulose having a number average molecular weight (Mn) from about 120,000 to about 170,000 grams per mole and showing a specified micro-calorimetry thermal response fingerprint.
US08932394B2	Ink, ink cartridge and ink jet recording method The present invention provides an ink jet ink that is capable of recording an image excellent in light resistance and ozone resistance and has excellent intermittent ejection stability. The ink jet ink contains a coloring material and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coloring material contains a compound represented by the following general formula (I), the water-soluble organic solvent contains ethylene urea end an alkanediol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and a content A (% by mass) of the coloring material, a content B (% by mass) of the ethylene urea and a content C (% by mass) of the alkanediol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms based on a total mass of the ink satisfy relationships of 0.20≦B/A≦10.0 and 0.10≦C/A≦10.0.
US08932391B2	Thermal ink jet ink composition A thermal ink jet ink composition includes one or more volatile organic solvents, one or more solvent dyes, and one or more humectants. The one or more volatile organic solvents are selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C4-C8 ethers, C3-C6 ketones, C3-C6 esters, and mixtures thereof. The one or more solvent dyes are soluble in the organic solvent or solvents with a solubility of at least 0.1% by weight. The thermal ink jet ink composition is free or substantially free of tetrahydrofuran, binder resin, and water.
US08932390B2	Liquid chemical for forming protecting film Disclosed is a liquid chemical for forming a water-repellent protecting film. The liquid chemical contains an agent for forming a water-repellent protecting film, and a solvent. The agent is for provided to form a water-repellent protecting film on a wafer after a cleaning step for the wafer and before a drying step for the wafer, the wafer having at its surface an uneven pattern and containing at least one kind element of titanium, tungsten, aluminum, copper, tin, tantalum and ruthenium at surfaces of recessed portions of the uneven pattern, the water-repellent protecting film being formed at least on the surfaces of the recessed portions. The liquid chemical is characterized in that the agent for forming a water-repellent protecting film is a compound represented by the following general formula [1].
US08932388B2	Apparatus and method for converting gas into fuel The present invention is related to an apparatus and a method for converting gas into fuel. The apparatus for converting gas into fuel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include: a first gas processing unit discharging first fuel gas by removing hydrogen sulfide in the raw gas by spraying a solution; a second gas processing unit discharging second fuel gas by removing moisture in the first fuel gas; a third gas processing unit discharging third fuel gas by removing hydrogen sulfide remaining in the second fuel gas; and a solution reservoir supplied with the solution from at least one of the second gas processing unit and the third gas processing unit and storing the solution.
US08932387B2	Enrichment system for combustible gas A combustible gas enrichment system includes an adsorption unit charged therein with an adsorbent for selectively adsorbing a combustible gas, a source gas feeding means capable of feeding source gas containing the combustible gas into the adsorption unit from the outside, a suctioning means capable of suctioning the gas from the inside of the adsorption unit and a controlling means for executing an adsorption process for feeding the source gas into the adsorption unit for adsorption of the combustible gas to the adsorbent and a desorption process for desorbing the combustible gas from the adsorbent under the suction force of the suctioning means after the adsorption process and taking the desorbed combustible gas to the outside. The controlling means operates the suctioning means such that the suction force of the suctioning means when no desorption process is effected is smaller than the suction force when the desorption process is effected.
US08932385B2	Apparatus and method for metal surface inertion by backfilling The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.
US08932384B1	Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy gold nanorods substrates for detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoulene and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid explosives The invention described relates to the synthesis of gold nanorods in high concentrations in a single batch and their use in detection of nitroexplosives using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The nanoparticle suspensions were stable up to a month after preparation. The aggregated nanorods have a strong SERS effect for nitroexplosives (3,5-dintro-4-methylbenzoic acid and 2,4,6-TNT) with sensitivity of 5.0 pg in a few seconds. The results obtained in numerous tests demonstrated a high reproducibility that makes aggregated nanorods very attractive substrates for defense and security applications.
US08932382B2	Process of producing bio-organo-phosphate (BOP) fertilizer through continuous solubilization of rock phosphate by a composting bioprocess and bioaugmentation with phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms A method and processes to solubilize and transform phosphorus contents of rock phosphate (RP) into bio-organo-phosphate (BOP) fertilizer have been developed and integrated. The methods include collecting and sorting of organic wastes; blending with RP; subjecting the blend to biocomposting; collection, isolation, selection and growth optimization of consortia of efficient phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) and novel plant growth regulating microorganisms (PGRM); where in PSM produce organic acids and other organic compounds using compost substrate at mesophillic stage, whereas the organic acids released during composting also act in synergism of PSM, thus forming a carbon rich acidic culture resulting in the solubilization of rock phosphate.
US08932380B2	Dust removal device A dust removal device is provided which reduces the differences, among different dusty environments, in time at which dust collection is started until the time when possible clogging may occur to significantly increase the time from the start of dust collection until the time when possible clogging occur, while improving dust removal performance. The dust removal device includes main filter 10 that is formed of non-woven cloth 8 with charged fiber, duct 6-1 with main filter 10 disposed therein, sub-filter 11 including a plurality of cylindrical air trunks formed of a charged member, and duct 6-2 with sub-filter 11 disposed therein. Duct 6-1 and duct 6-2 are in communication with each other. In operation, air flows from duct 6-1 to duct 6-2. Main filter 10 in duct 6-1 has a larger vent cross-sectional area than sub-filter 11 in duct 6-2.
US08932377B2	Deep leach pressure vessel for shear cutters A system for producing thermally stable cutting elements may include a heat source, a pressure vessel, at least one polycrystalline diamond body attached to a carbide substrate, and a leaching agent is disclosed, wherein the heat source includes a container comprising at least one receiving mechanism and at least one retention mechanism, and wherein the carbide substrate is disposed in the at least one receiving mechanism of the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent is disposed in the pressure vessel, and wherein the leaching agent removes the catalyzing material from the interstitial spaces interposed between the diamond particles of the at least one polycrystalline diamond body, and wherein the at least one retention mechanism of the pressure vessel seals at least a portion of the carbide substrate into the at least one receiving mechanism and prevents the leaching agent from contacting at least a portion of the carbide substrate.
US08932376B2	Diamond-bonded bodies and compacts with improved thermal stability and mechanical strength Thermally stable diamond-bonded compacts include a diamond-bonded body having a thermally stable region extending a distance below a diamond-bonded body surface. The thermally stable region comprises a matrix first phase of bonded together diamond crystals, and a second phase interposed within the matrix phase. At least some population of the second phase comprises a reaction product formed between an infiltrant material and the diamond crystals at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond bonded body further includes a polycrystalline diamond region that extends a depth from the thermally stable region and has a microstructure comprising a polycrystalline diamond matrix phase and a catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions of the matrix phase. The compact includes a substrate attached to the diamond-bonded body.
US08932372B2	Integrated process for producing alcohols from a mixed acid feed Processes for producing alcohols such as ethanol and propanol from a mixed acid feedstock in an integrated process. In one embodiment, the process comprises the step of carbonylating methanol in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst to form a mixed acid feedstock comprising acetic acid and one or more higher acids, preferably comprising propionic acid. The mixed acid feed is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude alcohol product comprising ethanol and one or more higher alcohols, preferably including propanol.
US08932369B2	Method and apparatus for determining an unbalance condition in a laundry treating appliance An apparatus and method for determining an unbalance condition in a laundry treating appliance having a rotating drum based on the rotational speed of the drum.
US08932358B1	Anterior intervertebral spacer and integrated plate assembly and methods of use A precisely size matched intervertebral plate and spacer assembly for ensuring a tight fit within a disc space to promote spinal fusion, comprising: a “U-shaped” spacer configured to fit within the intervertebral space; and, a matching countersunk low profile “H-shaped” anterior plate joined perpendicularly to the spacer. The plate further comprises: a plurality of anchor members configured to attach to the junctions of the anterior cortex faces and the endplates; and, channels individually traversing through the anchor members for inserting screws into the vertebral bodies' cortical bone. The spacer comprises a hollow three-sided U-shaped member, comprising two opposing parallel side walls, and a perpendicular posterior wall, while lacking a superior, inferior, and anterior wall. The exterior walls of the plate and spacer are planar, while the interior walls of the spacer are curved to house a precisely fitting cylindrical graft, or other insert such as DBM, bone dust, bone paste, bone dowel with direct contact to the endplates to promote fusion.
US08932353B2	Mammary prosthesis filled with expanded polymer microspheres A mammary prosthesis built from a sack of elastic material or biocompatible material having a sealed interior cavity with the sack having an anterior surface forming a dome and a posterior surface forming a base, with a sealed and seamless interior cavity filled with microspheres of foamed or expanded polymers or a combination of both. The sack may also be permeable to establish equilibrium between body fluids and interstitial volume of the microspheres.
US08932352B2	Optical material and method for modifying the refractive index An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.
US08932350B2	Reduced dehiscence annuloplasty ring A prosthetic remodeling annuloplasty ring for use in tricuspid or mitral valve repairs to provide support after annuloplasty surgery. The annuloplasty ring includes a relatively rigid core extending around an axis that is discontinuous to define two free ends. A suture-permeable interface surrounding the core includes floppy regions adjacent both free ends of the core. Sutures are used to attach the annuloplasty ring to the annulus, including at least one suture through each of the floppy regions to secure the free ends of the ring and minimize the risk of ring dehiscence, or pull through of the sutures through the annulus tissue. The floppy regions may project from each free end into the gap toward each other, be radially enlarged such as paddle-like extensions, or may comprise outwardly lateral extensions at the free ends of the core.
US08932345B2	Medical device coatings for releasing a therapeutic agent at multiple rates Medical device coatings are provided that simultaneously release a therapeutic agent at different rates from different portions of the medical device coating. In a first embodiment, medical device coatings are provided that include particles comprising a therapeutic agent with two or more different particles sizes within a single layer on a surface of the implantable device. In a second embodiment, medical device coatings are provided having a higher concentration of the therapeutic agent in a first region of the coating than in a second region of the coating. In a third embodiment, medical device coatings are provided that are formed by certain coating processes wherein the droplet size of a spray coating solution is changed during the coating process. These coating processes preferably include applying a solution comprising a therapeutic agent and a suitable solvent to a surface of an implantable medical device. In a fourth embodiment, methods of treatment are provided that include implanting a coated medical device.
US08932344B2	Aortic conduit configured with terminal ends having neosinuses of valsalva A prosthetic aortic conduit (1) for use during surgery on the aorta of a patient. The conduit includes an elongate tubular portion (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (11) between a first conduit terminal end (12) and a second conduit terminal end (13). The first conduit terminal end (12) is configured with two substantially U-shaped tongues (21, 22) extending away from the tubular portion (10) generally along the longitudinal axis (11). Each of the tongues (21, 22) is appropriately sized to together collectively approximate the shape of the scalloped bicuspid valve annulus. The second conduit terminal end (13) is configured with three substantially U-shaped tongues (31, 32, 33) extending away from the tubular portion (10) generally along the longitudinal axis (11). Each of the tongues (31, 32, 33) is appropriately sized to together collectively approximate the shape of the scalloped tricuspid valve annulus.
US08932343B2	Blunt ended stent for prosthetic heart valve A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a plurality of struts. The struts have free ends configured to inhibit tissue penetration. The valve assembly, including a plurality of leaflets, is disposed within the stent.
US08932342B2	Controlled release and recapture prosthetic deployment device A delivery device for deploying and resheathing an expandable prosthesis and method of use thereof are described. The delivery device includes a fixed outer sheath and a pusher member that is configured for retracting in a proximal direction and resheathing the prosthesis. The device includes two plates engaging the pusher member, with a first plate configured engage the pusher member to prevent proximal movement and the other plate configured to engage the pusher member for distal movement.
US08932341B2	Method for establishing an artificial arterio-venous fistula A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The shunt rivet may be formed to have a central section, a proximal clinch section, and a distal clinch section each having one or more clinch members. These one or more clinch members may be trained to be resiliently biased to bend radially outwardly from the central section.
US08932339B2	Method and device for non-invasive anatomical and systemic cooling and neuroprotection The present invention provides a method and device for non-invasive anatomical and systemic cooling. The method and device provide for cooling of various bodily fluid-containing spaces or surfaces, such as mucus-containing spaces or surfaces via delivery of a dry fluid not including a coolant into or upon the mucus-containing space or surface. Exposure of such mucus to the dry fluid results in evaporation and cooling of the anatomical feature and/or systemic cooling, as intended. In this fashion, therapeutic hypothermia may be achieved to provide for neuroprotection of various organs after ischemic insult, such the brain after cardiac arrest.
US08932338B2	Noninvasive method for site-specific fat reduction A noninvasive method of reducing fat from targeted regions of a patient's body by applying low-level laser energy externally through the skin of the patient to the targeted areas. Sufficient laser energy is applied to release at least a portion of intracellular fat into the interstitial space. The released intracellular fat is removed from the body through the body's natural functions. The preferred embodiment uses laser energy at about 635 nm.
US08932330B2	Method and device for securing body tissue A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a securing of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.
US08932329B2	Compound barb medical device and method A compound barb medical device includes a body portion and at least one barb extending therefrom. The at least one barb defines an inner surface. The inner surface includes a first portion disposed at a first orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the body portion and a second portion disposed at a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis. The at least one barb is made from a shape memory material which can be deformed into a temporary shape from a permanent shape. The barb projects from the body portion in a first position relative to the body portion when in the permanent shape and in a second position when in the temporary shape.
US08932328B2	Length of self-retaining suture and method and device for using the same A method and device for anchoring a length of self-retaining suture. The method of anchoring includes providing for an assembly having a length of self-retaining suture and a suture insertion device. The length of suture includes at least a portion of the length having a plurality of retainers thereon extending in a first direction. The insertion device has a length and a recess to receive a portion of the suture length. The method further includes placing a portion of the suture length in the recess and inserting the device into the body of a mammal until the recess reaches a predetermined location thereby forming an insertion pathway. The method further includes retrieving the insertion device from the body by moving the insertion device in a direction substantially opposed to the insertion pathway.
US08932324B2	Redundant tissue closure methods and apparatuses A tissue closure device including a tissue eversion apparatus, and a first and a second, redundant closure element that are placed on the external surface of a tissue puncture wound to enhance the efficacy of closure. The first closure element and the second closure element are left resident on the external surface of or in proximity to the tissue puncture wound in order to provide redundancy of closure.
US08932323B2	Treatment tool for endoscope An treatment tool for a endoscope comprises a treatment tool insertion portion to be inserted into a channel of the endoscope; an open/close member support portion formed in a distal end of the treatment tool insertion portion; an open/close member which is freely supported so as to be opened or closed and treats a target site; a liquid conduit which transports a liquid to a target site, liquid conduit being provided on an outside of the open/close member in a direction orthogonal to a lengthwise direction of the open/close member, and comprising at least one distal end aperture which opens toward the distal end direction of the open/close member support portion, the liquid conduit transports.
US08932322B2	Neuromuscular release therapy device, system and methods Disclosed are neuromuscular release (including myofascial trigger point) therapy devices, systems, kits and methods. The therapy tool comprises a body, wherein the body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a tip defined at the upper-most portion of the body, a base, a stop surface defined in the body outer surface, a pocket defined by the inner surface and extending from the base upwards in the direction of the tip, and a recessed groove defined in the inner surface and extending upwards from the base and having a groove diameter and depth. The body can be generally bell-shaped with the base having a larger diameter than the tip. The system can further include a riser, either disk or wedge shaped, and a rocker base. The system components are configured to stack and nest into a compact assembly for easy carrying as a kit.
US08932320B1	Methods of aspirating thrombi Methods of providing suction may include providing suction patterns having varying intensity levels, such as a “crescendo suction” pattern. Cycles of crescendo suction patterns may comprise variable intensities of negative suction in a crescendo pattern (such as a small intensity negative suction pressure, a medium intensity negative suction pressure, and a large intensity negative suction pressure). The suction patterns may include pauses or temporary stops to the negative suction pressure.
US08932319B2	Retrieval systems and methods for use thereof The devices and methods described herein relate to improved structures for removing obstructions from body lumens. Such devices have applicability in through-out the body, including clearing of blockages within the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen.
US08932318B2	Embolic coil detachment mechanism with polymer tether Provided herein are a system and method for detaching a therapeutic device, e.g. an embolic coil, from a delivery tube at a target site in a patient's body. The system includes a bead disposed against a distal end of the therapeutic device that retains the therapeutic device to the delivery tube in a first compressed configuration through a series of connectors. The series of connectors include a stretch resistant member through which the bead is attached to an anchor inside the therapeutic device. The anchor, in turn, is disposed against a thermally responsive element comprised of a polymeric material configured to melt or otherwise change configuration to release the anchor, and with it, to also release the bead and therapeutic device. Energy may be supplied to the thermally responsive element through electrical conductors and a resistive heating element disposed within the delivery tube.
US08932317B2	Intracorporeal occlusive device and method An intracorporeal space filling device and a delivery system and method for using the device is disclosed. The space filling device is preferably configured for percutaneous delivery from a peripheral conduit of a patient. The space filling device has an elongated tubular or interconnected bead structure which may have a transmutable material disposed within it. The transmutable material can be altered from a non-rigid state to a rigid state by the application of various types of energy or by other suitable means. The space filling device can be positioned by a delivery system and detached from the delivery system after desired positioning is achieved.
US08932313B2	Blood collection system for collecting blood from a body part for diagnostic purposes A blood collection system for collecting blood from a body part for diagnostic purposes, comprising a housing with a lancet guide, by which a lancet is guided on a predetermined puncture path, and a lancet drive for driving a puncturing movement of the lancet on the predetermined puncture path. The puncturing movement comprises a forward movement phase in the direction of puncturing and, after reaching a reversal point, a subsequent retraction movement phase in the direction opposite the puncture direction. The lancet drive has a driving spring, which is arranged behind the lancet and is connected to the lancet during the forward movement phase of the puncturing movement so that the lancet is driven in the puncturing direction. The system comprises an oscillation control device for controlling oscillation of the lancet and the driving spring in such a manner that repeated puncturing of the body part by the lancet is prevented.
US08932311B2	Occluder An occluder (7) for sealing body orifices (6, 6a) of the human or animal body is illustrated and described, in particular an occluder (7) for percutaneous transcatheter sealing of atrium septum defects of the human or animal heart (1). According to the invention it is provided that the occluder (7) or parts of the occluder (7) form an electric oscillating resonance circuit, whereby at least one conductive loop forming the inductivity of the oscillating resonance circuit is provided and the occluder (7) or parts of the occluder (7) are formed by the conductive loop.
US08932308B2	Left atrial appendage treatment systems and methods Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods to prevent complications from atrial fibrillation by preventing or reducing the likelihood of blood flow out of the left atrial appendage, to eliminate a possible source of aberrant electrical circuits, or both. Accordingly, techniques are provided for delivering ligature loops or closure means to the left atrial appendage, and to other anatomical structures of a patient which may be desirable in other surgical procedures.
US08932306B1	Device and associated method for use in the treatment of hemorrhoids A medical device for use in hemorrhoid treatment is an elongate unitary body having a conical portion at one end and a cylindrical portion at an opposite end. The cylindrical portion is truncated along a longitudinal plane to provide the cylindrical portion with a planar outer surface area extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. A coupling structure is provided on a side of the cylindrical portion opposite the conical portion for releasably attaching the body to a band-holding cylinder of a hemorrhoid ligator.
US08932302B2	Methods and apparatus for insertion of vertebral body distraction and fusion devices An inserter can be used to implant a distractible intervertebral body fusion device into a disc space and expand the device. The inserter includes a shaft frame and a drive shaft assembly for expanding the device and a support shaft assembly for stabilizing the device extending distally from the shaft frame. A drive housing can be operably connected to the shaft frame and extend outwardly from shaft frame distal of a proximal end of the shaft frame. Drive housing can have an internal passage that provides access into the shaft frame to a proximal end of the drive shaft assembly. An actuation tool can be disposed with the drive housing with a distal end extending through the access into the shaft frame to interface with the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly such that activation of the actuation tool rotates the drive shaft assembly to expand the device.
US08932299B2	Patient-specific total hip arthroplasty Disclosed herein are systems and methods for performing total hip arthroplasty with patient-specific guides Pre-operative images of a pelvic region of a patient are taken in order to predefine the structure of the guides and corresponding implants. From the obtained image data an insertional vector for implanting an acetabular implant or component into an acetabulum of the patient is determined, wherein the insertional vector is coaxial with a polar axis of the acetabular component. Also from the obtained image data, a superior surface of the guides and implants can be shaped to match the acetabulum of the patient. A nub portion extending outwardly from the superior surface of the guides and implants is shaped to substantially match the shape of a fovea of the acetabulum. A guide portion of the guides forming a slot has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the determined insertional vector of a corresponding acetabular component.
US08932298B2	Guide assembly A method for locating the mechanical axis of a long bone involves generating an image of the long bone and determining the angle between the mechanical axis of the bone and a reference axis, which contains at least two reference points towards one end of the bone. A reference arm is positioned relative to the at least two predetermined reference points, and the mechanical axis is located relative to the reference arm with reference to the previously determined angle.
US08932297B2	Devices for delivering bone filler material and associated methods of use Methods and apparatus for treating bones, including, in one or more embodiments, a device for delivering a bone filler material comprising: a housing having a throughbore; a plunger comprising a shaft having external threads, wherein the plunger is configured for advancement through the throughbore of the housing; and a threaded receiving member configured to releasably engage the plunger. Methods for removing an instrument from a vertebral body comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the instrument, wherein a distal end of the instrument is disposed in a cavity in the vertebral body, wherein the cavity contains a filler material; and removing the instrument from the vertebral body.
US08932295B1	Bone graft delivery system and method for using same A bone graft delivery system can include an elongate tube, a handle having a trigger, and a tip. The trigger is actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube. The tip has one or more openings to deliver the bone graft material to a desired location and includes a surface suitable to act as a rasp for decorticating bone. A method for delivering bone graft material to a desired surgical location includes providing a bone graft delivery device, positioning the device adjacent the surgical location, decorticating bone, and delivering bone graft material to the surgical location.
US08932291B2	Electrosurgical systems An electrosurgical generator is provided and includes an RF energy output module and an energy request detection module both in communication with one or more processors of the electrosurgical generator. The RF energy module outputting RF energy through a first transformer, and the energy request detection module in electrical communication with primary windings of a second transformer. An electrosurgical instrument is provided and includes a housing, at least one treatment member and one or more switches. The switch is in electrical communication with the first transformer and is coupled to secondary windings of the second transformer such that when the at least one switch is moved to a closed configuration the energy detection module detects an occurrence at the second transformer and provides a signal to the at least one processor to transmit electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical instrument.
US08932289B2	Delivery devices with coolable energy emitting assemblies Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input.
US08932284B2	Methods of determining tissue temperatures in energy delivery procedures Methods and systems for treating tissue that employ a radiometer for measurement and/or control are provided. For example, methods and systems are provided for radiometrically measuring temperature, such as by calculating temperature based on signal(s) from a radiometer, thereby providing useful information about tissue temperature at depth, even during an optional irrigated procedure.
US08932283B2	Cable assemblies for electrosurgical devices and methods of use Herein described is a novel cable assembly that is free from additional resistor, capacitor and inductor components and suitable for connecting a bipolar device to the monopolar active and return receptacles of a standard multipurpose electrosurgical generator. The cable assembly of the instant invention uses a conventional connector currently in use for either hand or foot control of electrosurgical pencils and a standard connector currently in use for dispersive electrodes; either single-foil (solid) or dual-foil (split) configuration connectors may be used. No resistors, capacitors, inductors transformers, or interface circuitry are incorporated in the cable or connectors distal to the electrosurgical generator.
US08932279B2	System and method for cooling of a heated surgical instrument and/or surgical site and treating tissue A cooling system for a surgical handpiece may provide fluid flow to the surgical tip and to the internal electronic components to prevent temperatures that may damage or make the patient or surgeon uncomfortable. Tip directed gas further controls the tip-tissue interface by displacing blood or serum from the incision point, increasing precision and diminishing coagulum build-up. In the alternative, cooling fluid may be used to quench tissue being treated.
US08932270B2	Variable infusion length catheter and method A variable infusion length catheter includes a tube assembly having a plurality of coaxial tubes each with a plurality of side ports formed therein, and having among the tubes a plurality of different rotational configurations each defining a different pattern of fluid communication among the side ports and a corresponding different infusion length of the catheter. Related methodology is also disclosed.
US08932267B2	Inflatable face seal for a respiratory mask and method of producing same An inflatable face seal (1′; 30′) for a respiratory mask, the inflatable face seal comprising an annular air-tight hollow portion (12′; 40′) where a cross section through one section of the annular hollow portion (12; 40) comprises a bonded joint (11; 41) which joins two overlapping flanges (6,7; 35,36). The two flanges are bonded together such that an inwardly facing surface (10; 39) of a first flange (6; 35) of the two overlapping flanges is in contact with an outwardly facing surface (9; 38) of a second flange (7; 36) of the two overlapping flanges. In this way, the bond is strong and only exposed to shear stresses when the annular air-tight hollow portion is exposed to increased pressure.
US08932262B2	Indwelling device The present invention provides a medical device for insertion into a body, the device having at least one surface covered by and attached to at least one detachable cover and at least one surface hole, such as the cover encapsulate and seals the medical device. The cover can be detached and pulled off the device which remains in the body. The cover includes at least one sealing element for preventing ingress of fluids between the cover and at least part of the medical device. The cover and the at least one sealing element, encapsulates the medical device though it's length, overlapping at least one surface hole.The cover and the at least one sealing element are designed to isolate at least one hole from at least another holes, while enabling free passage through it, in at least partial time period in which the medical device is within the body.
US08932256B2	Insertion device systems and methods An insertion device may include a device housing configured to be operatively engaged with and disengaged from a base, and engageable with an actuation device, the device housing having a carrier body supporting a piercing member. The carrier body moveable by a carrier body of the actuation device at least between a retracted position and an advanced position. The device housing having a section for supporting a portion of the carrier body of the device housing, the section moveable relative to the carrier body of the device housing to provide sufficient clearance to allow the carrier body of the device housing to be moved by the carrier body of the actuation device.
US08932251B2	Biopsy spacer device and method of operation A breast cavity spacer device, such as for use with a percutaneous lumpectomy, is provided. The device includes a body having a projection on one end. The body has a bore extending there through. A catheter is disposed at least partially within the bore. A balloon member is fluidly coupled on one end of the catheter, the balloon member having an elliptical shape.
US08932246B2	Device for supporting the heart and circulatory system The present invention relates to a device for circulating a body fluid in a body of a living organism, especially to support the heart and/or circulation of the living organism, comprising a catheter device which has at least one inlet portion to take up the body fluid at at least one first location within the body of the living organism, at least one outlet portion some distance from the at least one inlet portion to discharge the body fluid at at least one second location some distance from the at least one first location within the body of the living organism and a pump device for directed transport of the body fluid between the at least one inlet portion and the at least one outlet portion of the catheter device; and a valve arrangement coupled to the catheter device for controlled uptake of the body fluid as a function of operation of the pump device at the at least one inlet portion of the catheter device and controlled discharge of the body fluid at the at least one outlet portion of the catheter device.
US08932244B1	Animal spinal decompression brace A wearable device for spinal decompression of dogs or other quadrupedal animals. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises front and rear harnesses of flexible material extending around the animal's torso, curved members attached to the front and rear harnesses and lying along the animal's body, and rigid extensible braces connected to the front and rear curved members, generally parallel to the animal's spine. The harnesses, braces, and curved members are selected or can be adjusted to fit the animal. The extensible rods are adjustable, with means to produce therapeutic decompression and support of the animal's spine between the front and rear harnesses.
US08932243B2	Cervical collar with independent height and circumference adjustability An adjustable cervical collar designed to accommodate a broad range of prospective wearers with unique physical attributes, and to restrict the movements of the wearer's cervical spine, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The cervical collar includes a front portion and back portion, which may be adjusted in relation to one other to vary the circumference of the cervical collar. The front portion includes upper and lower plastic portions which may be adjusted to vary the height of the cervical collar, and a front thoracic extender which may be adjusted to achieve a desired restrictiveness of flexion movement. The back portion includes occipital and back thoracic extenders which may be adjusted to achieve a desired restrictiveness of extension movement. The adjustable features may be operated independently of one another. The adjustable features include locking means to ensure that the cervical collar is securely applied to the wearer.
US08932240B2	Method and apparatus for providing a dynamically loaded force and/or a static progressive force to a joint of a patient A method and a continuous passive motion device for providing a dynamically loaded force and a static progressive force to a joint of a patient.
US08932236B1	Monitoring posture In order to monitor an individual's posture, a cable is incorporated within a garment that is configured to be worn on an individual's upper body such that at least a portion of the cable spans an upper back region of the garment. A sensor is configured to monitor tension in the cable and to generate an alert when the tension in the cable exceeds a threshold level.
US08932234B2	Devices, systems, and methods for the collection of body fluids Devices, systems, and methods for the collection of biological samples. In at least one exemplary embodiment, a device comprises a collection medium having top and bottom surfaces and a predetermined size and shape, the top surface comprising a position marker and at least one binding site operable to bind a biological sample, a protective facing substantially impermeable to the biological sample, the protective facing coupled to the top surface of the collection medium and having a size and shape substantially similar to the predetermined size and shape of the collection medium. The protective facing being sized and shaped to define a first void positioned to allow for the transfer of the biological sample through the protective facing and onto the at least one binding site of the collection medium, and a second void positioned to expose the position marker for alignment of the collection medium.
US08932231B2	Lacrimal drainage manometer and method of use A lacrimal drainage manometer includes a syringe having a syringe body and a piston. The syringe body defines a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a cannula configured for insertion into at least a portion of a lacrimal drainage system. The piston dispenses a fluid from the fluid cavity through the cannula. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the syringe for measuring fluid pressure in the fluid cavity. A position sensor operably coupled to the syringe measures the position of the piston relative to the syringe body. A user feedback unit in electrical communication with the pressure sensor and the position sensor provides user feedback based on data from at least one of the pressure sensor and the position sensor indicative of a condition of the lacrimal drainage system.
US08932224B2	Energy based hyperhidrosis treatment A method and system for energy-based (e.g., ultrasound treatment and/or other modalities) of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound (or other energy) through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.
US08932222B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and system using an ultrasonic probe An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave at a group of a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators arranged in an array form to and from a subject and incorporating a preamplifier groups for amplifying the resulting weak ultrasonic echo received after obtaining tissue information about the subject. The ultrasonic vibrator group has a first area to which a first amplifier group is to be connected and a second preamplifier group to which a second amplifier group is to be connected. In an operating mode to cease the first preamplifier group from operating, a control circuit switches to supply the bias current being supplied to the first preamplifier group over to the second preamplifier group.
US08932217B2	Vital signs monitor A multi-parametric vital signs monitoring device configured for use as an ambulatory and a bedside monitor wherein the device can be patient-wearable and is battery powered. The monitoring device can be used with a charging cradle to provide power to the device in lieu of the battery as a power source for bedside applications, in which the cradle further serves as an intermediary device to enable a data link with a PC or other peripheral device. The monitoring device can include a wireless radio to enable bi-directional transfer of patient-related data to a separate remote station.
US08932214B2	Surgical access system The invention is directed to a surgical access system that provides access to a surgical area while maintaining pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery. The access system comprises a sheath retractor adapted to dilate a wound stretchable to a desired diameter and a detachable seal adapted to be removable from the sheath retractor. In another aspect, the detachable seal comprising a valve including a plurality of overlapping sheets defining an access channel that extends into communication with the incision in the patient. Each of the overlapping sheets includes a portion of the perimeter that is not fixed to the inner diameter of the ring, which provide open edges defining the access channel.
US08932213B2	Seal anchor with non-parallel lumens A seal anchor member defines a housing defining a longitudinal axis, the housing having leading and trailing ends, and including a plurality of lumens extending between the leading and trailing ends, each lumen being adapted for substantially sealed reception of an object therein and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein at least two of the lumens define longitudinal axes that are non-parallel to facilitate angled, at-rest placement of multiple instruments within the seal anchor member.
US08932204B2	Pump with one-touch release A pump adapted to be attached between a fluid reservoir and an inflatable penile cylinder of an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a pump bulb connected to a pump body. The pump body includes a deflate valve chamber communicating with an actuator chamber, a deflate cap attached to the deflate valve chamber, and the actuator chamber including a restriction ring. An inlet valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the deflate valve chamber. An exhaust valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the actuator chamber. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The restriction ring in the actuator chamber is sized to engage a ring engagement surface of the deflate valve to maintain the deflate valve in the deflate mode.
US08932202B2	Incontinence implant with soft tissue anchors and length not allowing abdominal wall penetration A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence comprises a suburethral support and first and second polymer soft tissue anchors. The suburethral support has a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion. Each of the first and second soft tissue anchors is connected to a respective one of the first and second opposite end portions of the suburethral support. The first and second anchors are configured to penetrate and retain in soft tissue. A length of the implant between the first and second soft tissue anchors is configured to allow the suburetnral support to be positioned below a urethra of a patient and to allow the anchors to be retained in soft tissue on first and second sides of the urethra without the anchors penetrating the abdominal wall.
US08932199B2	Systems and methods for optimization of sleep and post-sleep performance Sleep mask for reducing sleep inertia. In an embodiment, the sleep mask comprises a foam layer having a shape that covers both of a human subject's eyes so as to attenuate ambient light. Visual stimulation element(s), configured to emit light, are positioned between the foam layer and the subject's eyes. In addition, a plurality of sensors positioned on the forehead of the subject collect electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG) signals. A soft exterior cover houses the foam layer, the visual stimulation element(s), and the sensors. The sleep mask further comprises processor(s) that determine and record each sleep stage of the subject, determine when to wake the subject, and, when it is determined to wake the subject, control the visual stimulation element(s) to wake the subject using emitted light.
US08932196B2	Thermally assisted pulsed electro-magnetic field stimulation device and method for treatment of osteoarthritis A method, apparatus and a system for thermally-assisted pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation for treatment of osteoarthritis are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a multi-coil applicator adapted for positioning near or around of the treated joint, a pulse generator functionally coupled to the applicator, a power supply, and a feedback loop for stabilizing the temperature of the joint. The feedback loop includes a heating element, a temperature sensor and an electronic controller for maintaining the temperature of the joint in the range of 38 to 42 degree C. At elevated temperatures the healing effect of PEMF stimulation on the cartilage is maximized and overall efficiency of the treatment is improved. To produce a high electric field, the coils of the applicator are made with a low number of turns, for example less than 5 turns, and are spatially arranged to cover the whole joint without “dead” zones.
US08932195B2	Process and apparatus for improving neuronal performance A method for improving neuronal performance of a target nerve of a patient according to one exemplary embodiment includes the step of: exposing the nerve to a pulsed magnetic field generated by DC current having a predetermined magnetic field strength at a predetermined frequency. The predetermined magnetic field strength and the predetermined frequency are selected such that an amplitude of a compound action potential of the target nerve increases as a result of the exposure and remains elevated for a time period after the exposure has ended.
US08932193B2	Sheet feed rolling element for use in an electrophotographic device and mold for injection molding for producing the sheet feed rolling element A sheet feed rolling element for an electrophotographic device includes a roller portion and shoulders on both sides formed by curved chamfers. A parting line between the fixed mold plate and the movable mold plate of an injection mold is located at the boundary between one shoulder and the roller portion outer periphery, a step is provided at the boundary due to a difference between the opening diameter of the cavity portion defined by the fixed mold plate and the opening diameter of the cavity portion defined by the movable mold plate so the one shoulder has a smaller diameter than the outer peripheral surface, and a chamfer is provided adjacent to the one shoulder to absorb any difference in molding shrinkage rate due to a difference in molecular orientation of resin at the step, thereby preventing circumferential bulging on the outer periphery of the formed roller portion.
US08932191B2	Portable training device, in particular for arm exercises The invention relates to a training device for fixing in the area of the human waist, composed of a belt-like element (2) and of at least one force element arranged on the belt-like element (2), wherein the force element is coupled at least indirectly to a grip element, and the force element has the property of providing a resistance force (tensile force) against the pull of the grip element. According to the invention, provision is made that the force element (4; 204) is additionally designed such that it also provides an opposing force (pressure force) when the grip element (4.3; 204.3) is moved back in the direction of the force element.
US08932189B2	Training tool, coupling piece and method for handling a training tool A training tool comprising an elongate hollow space enclosed by a holder, which hollow space is partly filled with an amount of freely movable particles, the particles being configured to provide a reactive impact when the particles collide during acceleration and deceleration.
US08932183B2	Training system A training system for training of part of a trainee's body includes a training machine, a control device controlling the training machine, and a display unit displaying a game screen. The training machine imposes a load on the trainee, with an MR-fluid load generating unit using MR fluid, which has viscosity varying with a magnetic field strength. The load is calculated on the basis of a target load and a relationship between the current in the MR-fluid load generating unit and the load generated by the MR-fluid load generating unit. The control device produces the game screen in correspondence with the trainee's training motion detected by a displacement detection sensor, and makes the display unit display the game screen, while controlling the load in the training machine.
US08932179B2	Methods and systems for transitioning between braking modes Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between driveline braking and wheel brakes is provided.
US08932174B2	Clutch and gear arrangement for a rear wheel drive vehicle A rear wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing. Each of the clutches and brakes are located within specific areas defined by the planetary gear sets and the housing walls.
US08932171B2	Apparatus for equalizing the tensions among elevator wire ropes Disclosed is an apparatus for equalizing tensions among elevator wire ropes, which immediately eliminates imbalance and equalizes the tensions among elevator wire ropes in the event of differences in the lengths of elevator wire ropes, thereby improving safety, durability and reliability. The apparatus automatically corrects imbalance caused by changes in the lengths of a plurality of elevator wire ropes (700) to maintain a balance in the tensions of elevator wire ropes. The apparatus includes a body (200f) formed therein with a receiving space; a tension adjustment unit coupled to a plurality of belts (10f, 20f, 30f and 40f) connected to the elevator wire ropes (700), respectively, and installed in the body (200f); a main rotary shaft (50f) rotatably coupled to the body (200f) by passing through the tension adjustment unit; and first and second external gears (45f and 48f), which are fixed to the main rotary shaft (50f) such that the first and second external gears (45f and 48f) are rotatable, and which are coupled to the front and rear surfaces of the tension adjustment unit to transmit rotating forces.
US08932170B2	Planetary gear device A planetary gear device comprises planetary shafts, a planetary gear supported on the planetary shafts via bearings, and an internally-toothed gear. The planetary shafts are arranged at positions offset from a shaft center of the internally-toothed gear. Orbital motion of the planetary shafts is restricted so as to retrieve rotation output from a casing integrated with the internally-toothed gear. Lubricant in which the bearings around some of the plurality of planetary shafts are immersed is sealed in the casing. The planetary gear device further comprises a retention part for retaining the lubricant on a part integrally rotated with the casing.
US08932164B2	Wear-resistant chain There is provided a wear-resistant chain having a high durability even in severe use environments such as those of a timing chain of an engine even though it is highly efficient and productive. A miniaturizing agent containing silicon is doped in a vanadium cementation process of a base material of steel. Vanadium carbide forming a surface-hardened layer contains a secondary phase composed of an amorphous structure containing silicon within crystal grains and a crystal grain size of the vanadium carbide is miniaturized to 1 μm or less.
US08932159B2	Non-lethal arrow A non-lethal arrow is disclosed that includes a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. A nock is located on a first end of the shaft and a flight is positioned at approximately the first end of the shaft. A tip connector including a shaft connection end, wherein the shaft connection end is connected with the shaft. The shaft connection end defines a hollow interior portion sized a configured to receive an end of the shaft. A foam tip surrounds at least a portion of the tip connector. The foam tip is overmolded over the tip connector.
US08932154B2	Golf ball with softer feel and high iron spin A golf ball comprising (a) a core; (b) at least one mantle layer adjacent to the core; (c) an inner cover layer adjacent to the mantle layer; and (d) an outer cover layer adjacent to the inner cover layer, wherein the inner cover layer has a material Shore D hardness that is at least 3 less than the material Shore D hardness of the outer cover layer, and the inner cover layer has a thickness of less than 0.050 in.
US08932152B2	Golf ball A center of a golf ball is formed from a composition having a flexural modulus from 150-450 MPa, a maximum loss factor (tan δ) between −20 and 0° C. of 0.08 or less, a rebound resilience of 55% or more, and a slab hardness ranging from 40-60 in Shore D hardness. The center composition includes, as a resin component, 30 to 70 mass % of (A) a modified polyester elastomer having a Shore A hardness of 95 or less; 70-30 mass % of (B) a binary ionomer resin having a Shore D hardness of 65 or more, a flexural modulus of 300 MPa or more, and a melt flow rate (190° C., 2.16 kg) of 1.0 g/10 min or more; and 0-50 mass % of (C) a thermoplastic resin other than (A) and (B) components (provided that a total content of (A), (B), and (C) components is 100 mass %).
US08932147B2	Golf coupling mechanisms and related methods Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08932146B2	Golf putter grip A golf putter grip comprises a main tubular body having a non-circular cross-section being symmetrical and remaining similar throughout its axial length, and a flat front area also along and throughout its axial length. The non-circular cross-section and the flat front area respectively have a width dimension sufficient to have two hands cupped together at the same height and two thumbs placed side by side on the flat front area to hold the putter grip comfortably with minimal wrist breaking-down. The main tubular body has flat-topped arch cross-section and is reversely tapered, and its reverse taper is sufficient in certain degrees to accommodate different finger lengths of two hands for reducing the gripping pressure, so as to make the gripping comfortable.
US08932140B2	Transferring awards via optical machine readable data representation images Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
US08932133B2	Game board, pawn and system for playing board games A system for playing board games includes a game board and at least one pawn. The game board includes a display configured to display on a board surface a game board layout. The display is further configured to display a pawn input image on the board surface. The pawn includes a contact surface for supporting the pawn on the board surface, and an image input part cooperating with the board surface to receive the pawn input image. The pawn also includes an image surface to display a pawn output image, and a device for relaying the pawn input image from the image input part to the image surface.
US08932131B2	Game with chance element or event simulation In various embodiments, a player may view a list of popular games.
US08932130B2	Gaming devices with dedicated player RNG and time share features Gaming machines or devices utilize the output of random number generators (RNGs) in the presentation of games, wherein one or more of the RNGs are each assigned to a single player. Each uniquely assigned RNG is used to determine the outcome of the games played only by the assigned player, such as a casino gaming machine or a game board devices accessed via a remote presentation device such as a phone or computer. An RNG may also be stopped or paused and then restarted, whereby a sequence of random data remains continuous or contiguous relative to a number of games played, such as by the single player to which the RNG is assigned. Multiple players may also time-share a gaming machine in a manner whereby the gaming machine acts as a unique device to each player.
US08932129B2	Multi-play central determination system Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for using a central determination system with multi-play gaming machines having sub-games and with gaming machines having a base game and a bonus game. A seed value is provided for each of the games (i.e., each of the sub-games or the base game and the bonus game). This ensures that all possible game outcomes may be displayed for each of the games.
US08932126B2	Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the symbols at a plurality of display positions on a display; determining whether there is a match between a first subset of symbols at a first subset of the display positions and a second subset of symbols at a second subset of the display positions based on at least one matching rule, the first and second subsets of display positions having the same number of display positions; and taking at least one designated action if a match is determined.
US08932124B2	Game of chance systems and methods In various embodiments, players may compete in a gaming context.
US08932123B2	Assembly block and display system An assembly block (20) including an LED element (51), a control unit (52) that controls the LED element (51), and a housing (30) that holds the LED element (51) and the control unit (52) is provided. The housing (30) includes mechanical interfaces (32, 33) for mechanically connecting to the outside and is at least partially translucent. The control unit (52) includes a first functional unit (111) that stores, on receiving first data sets (D1) that include data for controlling the color of light to be outputted from the LED element (51) and a transfer command via the first electrical interface (79a) associated with the first mechanical interface (32), the first data set (D1) in a buffer (121) and outputs the stored first data set (DS1) in the buffer (121) together with the transfer command via a second electrical interface (79b) associated with the mechanical interface (33) on the second side.
US08932121B2	Methods and devices for multi-state card games with card replacement Players in a multi-state card game, such as blackjack or baccarat, are presented with opportunities to exchange their cards for new cards when the card game is in one or more particular states. These opportunities may include offers to redeal the player's hand of cards or redeal the player's opponent's hand of cards. Additionally, when the player is dealt a new card to be added to the player's hand, the player may be offered options to discard the new card, replace the new card with another new card, or to redeal the player's hand and/or the opponent's hand. In this way, the player may be able to improve his or her position in the card game. At the same time, the game provider may charge the player for acceptance of these offers, thus improving the profit margin of the game provider.
US08932120B1	Game management server apparatus A game management server apparatus that provides, to terminal devices connected via a network, a game service in which players operating the terminal devices cooperate with each other to battle against an enemy, includes, a storing unit storing a battle history of a player; a generating unit generating strategy guide information for conquering an opposing enemy; an attacking screen information generating unit generating attacking screen information including the battle history and the strategy guide information; a communication screen information generating unit generating communication screen information for a plurality of players to have communication with each other; and a screen information sending unit sending the attacking screen information and the communication screen information to the terminal devices, wherein the attacking screen information generating unit generates attacking screen information in which display of the battle history and the strategy guide information are terminated when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US08932117B1	Poultry euthanasia device A method and apparatus for euthanizing poultry by rapidly impacting the spinal column of the bird.
US08932115B2	Abrasive articles An abrasive article is provided. The article includes (a) a flexible backing having opposing first and second surfaces; (b) an abrasive layer comprising plurality of abrasive particles disposed on the first surface of the flexible backing; and (c) an adhesive layer comprising load bearing particles and an adhesive matrix, the adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the polymer layer. At least a portion of the load bearing particles is substantially enveloped in the adhesive matrix and is in contact with the second surface of the polymer substrate.
US08932114B2	Chain link sharpening method and apparatus Embodiments provide various components of a chain saw, including saw chain elements, sprockets, and other fixtures, that may facilitate sharpening of cutter links during operation. In various embodiments, the components may increase stability during sharpening, provide nose mounted sharpening fixtures, and/or facilitate the resizing and/or reshaping of a sharpening element.
US08932112B2	Core cleaning apparatus Apparatus for removing remnants of debris from the exterior surface of cores includes an assembly moveable from a position spaced from the exterior surface of the cores to a position adjacent the exterior surface. One or more abrasion belts are looped around rotatable shafts which move the belts to abrade the exterior surface of the cores.
US08932111B2	Apparatus for altering a surface of a bowling ball An apparatus (10) for altering a surface of a bowling ball (14) has a bowing ball holder (12) with a surface altering mechanism (16). The bowling ball holder (12) includes a portion (18) to receive the bowling ball (14). The surface altering mechanism (16) is positioned in the ball receiving portion (18) of the bowling ball holder (12). The surface altering mechanism (16) applies a surface pattern onto the bowing ball (14).
US08932106B2	Polishing apparatus having thermal energy measuring means A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, a substrate holding apparatus configured to hold the substrate and to press the substrate against the polishing surface, and a controller. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane configured to form a substrate holding surface which is brought into contact with the substrate, a carrier provided above the elastic membrane, at least one pressure chamber formed between the elastic membrane and the carrier, and an infrared light detector configured to measure thermal energy from the elastic membrane. The controller calculates an estimate value of a temperature of the elastic membrane using a measured value of the infrared light detector.
US08932104B2	Sports bra A one piece sports bra with a maximally adjustable back strap and two maximally adjustable shoulder straps of substantially elastic hook and loop material. The back straps can be attached to hardware atop breast two covers and worn in a crisscross or conventional pattern.
US08932098B2	Relief printing plate and method for producing organic EL device using the same A method is provided for forming a uniform light emitting medium layer by a relief printing method without occurrence of printing defects. The method includes producing an organic EL device containing a substrate having thereon a pixel electrode, pixel regions that are demarcated with a partition wall on the pixel electrode, a light emitting medium layer having a light emitting layer containing at least an organic light emitting material on the pixel regions, and a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode. The method can have a step of forming at least one layer constituting the light emitting medium layer by a relief printing method, and the ink used in the relief printing method being transferred from two or more adjacent relief patterns within one of the pixel regions and being integrated by flow thereof to form the light emitting medium layer.
US08932095B1	Stand-up paddle board outrigger system An outrigger system for a paddle board uses an outrigger that is connected to the board via a pair of spaced apart extension arms that are angled upwardly above the water. A pair of plates is positioned onto opposing deck surfaces of the board and strapped together at either end and tightened so that boards of various sizes can be accommodated. The upper plate receives one end of the extension arm. Two such plate systems are provided with the lower plate spaced apart from the board surface via a riser system to help prevent plate twisting during board travel. One or two kick bars run between the two extension arms and provide a basis of side support for a rider who may be fishing and provide a rectangular frame for installing a deck between board and outrigger.
US08932094B2	Multi-part stringer for a sports board A stringer for use in a board comprising an internal core and an outer skin, the stringer comprising a first compressible side member adjacent the outer skin on a first side of the board and a second compressible side member adjacent the outer skin on a second opposite side of the board. A central member is provided extending from a location adjacent the first member to a location adjacent the second side member, the first and second side members being relatively flexible in relation to the central member. Longitudinal flexing of the board results in compression of the first and second side members by the central member such that as the amount of flexing increases, the force transferred through the first and second side members from the outer skin to the central member increases, thereby increasing the stiffness of the board.
US08932091B2	Propulsion system A propulsion system may include a cylindrical support member and a tubular rotatable member rotatably mounted within the support member that may be adapted to permit fluid flow therethrough. The tubular rotatable member may extend past a down stream end of the support member. An exemplary embodiment of a propulsion system may also disclose a vane attached on an interior surface of the tubular member and may include a blade which extends in a direction toward a rotational axis of the rotatable member such that rotation of the tubular member and the vane attached thereon draws fluid into the tubular member to accelerate the fluid flow through the tubular member. Additionally, a nozzle may be attached to the down stream end of the support member and include a primary nozzle and a secondary nozzle within the primary nozzle. The secondary nozzle may be engaged with the primary nozzle by a stator.
US08932089B2	Connecting arrangement having a terminal screw with a blind hole covering a through-hole and a fixing screw A connecting arrangement is disclosed for an electrical switching device for attaching an electrical connection to the electrical switching device, including a terminal, a fixing screw and a terminal screw including an external thread. The terminal includes a connection opening for introducing the electrical connection, a fixing opening through which the fixing screw can be passed for the purpose of securing the terminal to an electrical contact of the electrical switching device, and a terminal bore having an internal thread through which the terminal screw can be screwed in for the purpose of retaining the electrical connection. The terminal screw includes a through-hole and, arranged concentrically with respect to the through-hole, a blind hole which is embodied for receiving a turning tool. The blind hole covers the through-hole and has a greater cross-sectional area than the through-hole. An electrical switching device including at least one such connecting arrangement is disclosed.
US08932086B2	Battery terminal lug equipped with shunt for measuring battery current A battery terminal lug (1) is disclosed, the lug being equipped with a shunt (7) for measuring the battery current and other battery characteristics. The lug includes a support (8), such as for a printed circuit, of at least one electronic component. The lug is made up of a first part (2), which is configured to be secured to a terminal of the battery, and a second part, which is configured to be secured to the cable of the battery (which is ordinarily directly associated with the terminal of the battery). The two parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug are electrically insulated from one another and are provided with projecting portions (28, 38) to bear the shunt (7), and a casing (5, 6) to accommodate the shunt (7) and the support (8), wherein electrical insulation (4, 17) is positioned so as to intervene between the two parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug (1).
US08932083B2	Connector and connector assembly for use with flex circuits An assembly comprises a plug device and a receptacle device which can be mated with each other. The plug device comprises an outer housing, a first circuit board, and a plug connector. The outer housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing having a penetrating window. The plug connector comprises an insulative body and a first terminal group. The receptacle device comprises a casing and a receptacle connector. The casing has an insertion groove communicated with an outside and is engaged with the plug device and a receiving groove located under the insertion groove and communicated with the insertion groove. The receptacle connector comprises an insulative base and a second terminal group. Electrical connections are established between the contact portions of the second terminals and contact portions of corresponding first terminals of the first terminal group when the plug device is positioned in the insertion groove.
US08932075B2	Electrical connection device An electrical connection device for connecting at least one stripped conductor end, having a bus bar piece and a clamping spring which compresses an insert conductor end, the bus bar piece having a conductor through opening and a contact section which borders the conductor through opening and extends in the conductor through direction, the clamping spring forming a spring force clamping connection for the electrical conductor. The bus bar piece of the connection device requires less material use since the contact section has two side walls which extend in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar piece, are connected integrally to the bus bar piece and the contact section, and the side walls have a maximum extension in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar piece which is smaller than the longitudinal extension of the conductor through opening.
US08932073B2	Electrical clip connector, electrical clip connection and also ready-to-use electrical cable The invention relates to an electrical clip connector for an electrical connection of a cable (20) to an electrical mating connector, in particular to an electrical connection device of a controller for an electric motor of a cooling fan, wherein the clip connector (100) has a holder section (110) and a fastening section (120), and at least one electrical line (200) of the cable (20) can be provided in the holder section (110) in such a way that an electrical contact device (210) of the line (200) projects freely from said holder section, and the clip connector (1) can be fitted to the connection device by means of the fastening section (120). The invention also relates to an electrical clip connection having an electrical clip connector (100) and an electrical mating connector, in particular an electrical connection device of an electrical/electronic device, wherein an electrical contact device (210), in particular a flat plug sleeve (210) or a socket contact, of the clip connector (100) can be accommodated and is accommodated in the mating connector by way of a circumferential section in at least two steps in a successively more interlocking manner when the clip connection comprising the clip connector (100) and the mating connector is established. The invention also relates to a ready-to-use electrical cable (20), in particular for electrically connecting a controller (3) to an electric motor (2) of a cooling fan, having an electrical clip connector (100) according to the invention.
US08932066B2	Electrical harness connector A connector is provided for joining two electrical harnesses. Each harness is formed from a flexible printed circuit board which provides a plurality of conductive tracks, and each harness has a substantially planar terminating region at which the conductive tracks of the harness fan out. One or more receiving holes are formed in each terminating region to extend to respective conductive tracks. Each receiving hole extends in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the respective terminating region. When in use, the connector includes a connection formation between respective terminating regions of the two electrical harnesses. The connector further includes a housing configured to hold the respective terminating regions of the two electrical harnesses in face-to-face relationship with the connection formation. The housing has one or more apertures through which the harnesses can exit the housing as they extend away from their terminating regions.
US08932055B2	Method employing electric fields to selectively kill microbes in a root canal preparation Methods employing an electric field for disinfection of a root canal preparation during an endodontic procedure. A monopolar electrode probe sized and configured for insertion into a root canal of a tooth is inserted within the root canal preparation. A ground electrode is electrically connected to the patient to complete the circuit with the monopolar electrode probe. An electrical voltage is applied between the probe and ground, resulting in virtually no current flow between the electrodes, but rather the generation of an electric field within the root canal and adjacent dental tissues. The electric field kills microbes within the root canal system of the tooth without significant heating or damage to surrounding dental tissue.
US08932052B2	Delivery systems for orthodontic chains Delivery systems suitable for dispensing orthodontic chains. Such a delivery system includes a housing assembly adapted to enclose an orthodontic chain within an interior cavity of the delivery system defined by and between individual components of the housing assembly. The delivery system further includes an advancement mechanism adapted to engage the orthodontic chain within the interior cavity and dispense the orthodontic chain from the delivery system, a cutting mechanism adapted to cut the orthodontic chain while disposed within the interior cavity, and an exit through which the orthodontic chain exits the interior cavity.
US08932043B2	Plastic trim pelletizer and bricker reclaim device Disclosed is a plastic trim reclaim process that recycles otherwise wasted trim into for reuse or densified composite bricks for resale. The device combines four sections to process trim scrap from a typical plastic extrusion process. The four sections comprise an input and feed section, a grinding and pre-sizing section, a compaction and sizing section, and a repelletizing and recovery section. The final product takes one of two forms: a compacted plastic brick or pellet-sized beads that can be directly reused in a new extrusion process. The compaction and sizing section utilizes a heating chamber and ram to force ground trim through an extruder, which is then cut into sections to form brick. The repelletizing and recovery section utilizes an extrusion process that feeds into a cutting plate, whereafter the sized pellets are cooled to solidify their structure prior to being vacuum transported into a container for reuse.
US08932041B2	Mold structure, patterning method using the same, and method of fabricating liquid crystal display device A mold structure, a patterning method thereof and a method of fabricating an LCD device using the same are disclosed, which can realize a conformal contact by applying a voltage between a mold structure and a material layer being opposite to each other in an In-Plane Printing process, so as to prevent defective patterns, wherein the mold structure comprises a mold whose surface is provided with patterns; a backplane for supporting the mold; and a conductive film formed between the backplane and the mold.
US08932040B2	Injection unit with a piston position measurement system An injection unit includes a cylinder casing comprising an inner cylindrical surface extending along an axis, and a piston housed in the casing and translatable along the axis between an advanced and a retracted position. The piston includes a piston radial surface in facing relation to the inner cylindrical surface, and the piston radial surface has a measurement detection feature. A probe is fixed relative to the cylinder casing, the probe communicating with the measurement detection feature when the piston is in and moving between the advanced and retracted positions to measure the translation of the piston.
US08932039B1	Injection molding machine for manufacturing an electrically heated over-molded hose and fluidic fitting assembly A injection mold machine including a polymer injection assembly, a mold comprising an mold injection half and an mold ejection half, the mold injection half of the mold aligned with the injection assembly for operable mating therewith and the mold injection half adapted for removable, operable mating with the mold ejection half of the mold when aligned therewith, the mold injection half and mold ejection half forming a mold cavity when clamped together adapted to over-mold a portion of an elongated article, a shuttle table supporting the mold ejection half movable between a first position and a second position, where the mold ejection half is aligned with the mold injection half in the first position, and a first basket movable with the shuttle table positioned to contain a portion of the elongated article being over-molded.
US08932037B2	Pump unit of a vane pump with movable sleeve and spring element A pump unit of a vane-type pump having no dedicated housing including a drive shaft, a rotor that interacts with the drive shaft and accommodates vanes, a contour ring surrounding the rotor, and a first and a second side plate which are disposed laterally of the contour ring.
US08932026B2	Fuel supply apparatus A fuel supply apparatus includes a fuel pump having an electrically driven motor. A controller is connected to the motor of the first fuel pump and is capable of determining an estimated pressure based on a value of current supplied to the motor and a rotational speed of the motor. The controller controls the motor so that the estimated pressure becomes relatively equal to a target pressure.
US08932019B2	Radial or diagonal fan wheel A fan wheel (1) is designed as a radial or diagonal fan, comprising a top plate (2) with an inlet port (4), a base plate (6) and a plurality of fan blades (8) distributed around the inlet port (4) and around an axis of rotation (Z). Blade ducts extend (10) respectively between the adjacent fan blades (8). The blade ducts lead radially or diagonally outward from the area of the inlet port (4) and form blow-out ports in the outer region. The blade ducts (10) are designed, with respect to their effective flow cross-section, as large enough that during operation, a turbulent flow with a Reynolds number markedly greater than 2300 is achieved. The top plate (2) or the base plate (6) or both feature a rotationally asymmetrical geometry with a continuous profile, at least in angular sections encompassing the fan blades (8).
US08932017B2	Wind turbine torque limiting clutch system A wind turbine power generating system includes a wind turbine connected to a speed increasing gearbox having an output shaft. An electrical generator having an input shaft is also provided. An asymmetrical coupling interconnects the input and output shafts. The coupling includes a first torque limiting clutch in series connection with a one-way clutch between the input and output shafts. A second torque limiting clutch is provided in parallel connection with the one-way clutch between the input and output shafts. The first and second torque limiting clutches have different characteristic slip torques. The interconnection of the clutches, and the implementation of the one-way clutch, provides for effective operation of the first and second torque limiting clutches in opposite rotational directions of the input and output shafts. The second torque limiting clutch has a characteristic slip torque that is a fraction of the first torque limiting clutch, the second torque limiting clutch providing protection against reverse impulse loads.
US08932016B2	Deicing device for propfan-type propeller blades A deicing device for propfan-type aircraft propulsion unit blades, wherein the propulsion unit includes a turbomachine that drives in rotation at least one rotor including a plurality of blades arranged around an annular crown moving with the blades, which forms with its outer wall part of an outer envelope of the propulsion unit, the outer envelope being subjected to atmospheric conditions outside the propulsion unit, the turbomachine generating a flow of hot gases that exit via an annular vein, which is concentric with the moving annular crown, and defined for part of its surface by the inner wall of the moving annular crown. The deicing device includes: a mechanism capturing thermal energy from the annular vein, within the moving annular part; a mechanism transferring thermal energy towards the rotor blades; and a mechanism distributing the thermal energy onto at least a part of the surface of the blades.
US08932015B2	Hydraulic cyclic blade speed control apparatus and method A hydraulic blade speed control apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a rotor assembly comprising a shaft; a first blade assembly pivotably attached to the shaft at a first initial position; a second blade assembly pivotably attached to the shaft assembly at a second initial position opposite to the first initial position; and a hydraulic movement mechanism. An initial angle of 180 degrees exists between the first blade assembly with said respect to the second blade assembly. The rotor assembly is configured to rotate the first blade assembly and the second blade assembly in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The hydraulic movement mechanism is configured to pivotably move the first blade assembly in different angular positions with respect to the rotor assembly and the second blade assembly.
US08932007B2	Axial flow gas turbine An axial flow gas turbine (20) includes a rotor (13) and a stator, and a hot gas path through which hot gas passes. The rotor (13) includes a rotor shaft (15) with axial slots for receiving a plurality of blades (B1-B3) arranged in a series of blade rows, with rotor heat shields (R1, R2) interposed between adjacent blade rows. The rotor shaft (15) is configured to axially conduct a main flow of cooling air along the rotor heat shields (R1, R2) and the lower parts of the blades (B1-B3), and the rotor shaft (15) supplies the interior of the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18). Stable and predictable cooling air parameters at any blade row inlet are secured by providing air-tight cooling channels (21), which extend axially through the rotor shaft (15) separate from the main flow of cooling air (17), and supply the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18).
US08932006B2	Rotary pump with thrust bearings A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.
US08932004B2	Inlet bleed heat system An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an IBH system that has two conduits, which are positioned close to a downstream end of a silencer section. This arrangement may reduce the overall pressure drop associated with the inlet system. This arrangement may also promote a substantially uniform mixing between the cooler ambient air and the warmer heated air.
US08932003B2	Vacuum self-priming pump Disclosed is a vacuum self-priming pump in which a main pumping chamber and a sub-pumping chamber divided from each other by a diaphragm are provided within a case, main impellers and a sub-impeller rotated by a motor are respectively installed within the main pump chamber and the sub-pumping chamber such that a space is formed between a pair of left and right main impellers, and connection pipes are respectively formed between suction pipes of the main pumping chamber and the sub-pumping chamber and between discharge pipes of the main pumping chamber and the sub-pumping chamber, so as to more rapidly suck fluid every pumping operation and to effectively pump the fluid without clogging even if the pumped fluid contains various sludge or solid matter.
US08931997B2	Bale loading trailer and method of using same An apparatus for picking up stacks of bales and moving them into and/or out from a trailer. The trailer has a moving floor and is pivotally attached to the prime mover along a vertical axis and along a horizontal axis. Tandem wheels attached to the frame are moveable between a forward position and a rear position and can be locked in either the forward or rear position. Ground engaging tracks are attached to the trailer for moving the trailer forward or back. A starter conveyor section operatively attached to the rear of the trailer with a forward end being adjacent to the rear of the moving floor. The starter conveyor section tilts with the trailer to have a first elevated position when the frame is in transport position and a second position close to the ground when the trailer is in the tilted loading/unloading position.
US08931995B2	Seed cart A seed cart includes first and second mating frames. The hopper is mounted on the first frame for holding seed and has an outlet to discharge the seed. A conveyor is mounted on the second frame for movement between seed loading and unloading positions. A plurality of cylinders with extendible and retractable arms control the desired position of the conveyor. A plurality of load cells are mounted on the second frame and support the first frame. The weigh scales weigh the first frame, the hopper, and the seed in the hopper, without weighing the conveyor. Therefore, an accurate amount of seed can be dispensed from the hopper via the conveyor. Wheels and a hitch tongue can be detachably mounted on the second frame to convert the cart from a stationary unit to a mobile unit.
US08931992B2	Cylinder rings Cylinder rings having single-start nut and bolt threads matched to one another and axial stop surfaces, running perpendicularly to the cylinder axis, between the cylinder rings are distinguished by the fact that the stop surfaces (11, 12) assigned to the nut thread (3) and the bolt thread (4) extend in an axially rising manner over at most one thread turn and each have at the end a step surface (13, 14) between the axially offset stop planes of the stop surfaces (13, 14).
US08931982B2	Throw-away rotating tool A throw-away rotating tool includes plural protrusions formed in a part of an outer peripheral wall of a projecting coupling portion. Since the twist angle and a twist direction of the protrusions are set in such a way that with relative rotation when coupling the projecting coupling portion and erected portions together, due to the reaction force received by the protrusions from inner peripheral walls, the projecting coupling portion is pulled to the rear and side of the erected portions and the projecting coupling portion is stably held between the erected portions. Since the number of portions that require stringent dimension control and high machining accuracy can be reduced, productivity can be improved.
US08931979B2	Cutting insert having cutting edges divided by recesses and a milling cutter provided with the same A cutting insert has top and bottom surfaces in the thicknesswise direction, and front and rear surfaces in the widthwise direction. First and second cutting edges are formed in the lengthwise direction at intersection portions where the top surface intersects with the front and rear surfaces. Third and fourth cutting edges are formed in the lengthwise direction at intersection portions where the bottom surface intersects with the front and rear surfaces. The first to fourth cutting edges are divided by a plurality of recesses. The plurality of recesses are symmetric with respect to the lengthwise centerline (A), which runs between the first and third cutting edges on the front surface and are asymmetric with respect to the thicknesswise centerline (B) perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline (A).
US08931970B1	Ticket printer A ticket printer includes a housing having a frame and a front panel concurrently formed as a single unit. A printer unit is positioned in the housing and includes a print body and swing assembly having a print roller head. The swing assembly can be selectively rotated away from the print body for maintenance and cleaning. A paper guide, located at an outlet side of the printer unit, is positioned within the housing. Paper is routed between the print roller head and the print body of the printer unit. The paper guide directs the paper along a paper pathway and out of a ticket outlet in the front panel. The paper guide may be transparent to visualize jammed paper in the paper pathway. Paper directing ramps formed in the swing assembly and the paper guide direct the paper into the paper pathway and downwardly to the ticket outlet.
US08931966B2	Triplexer and/or optical line terminal compatible with a 10G ethernet passive optical network and a housing therefor An optical triplexer and/or optical line terminal (OLT) compatible with 1.25 and 10 Gb/s passive optical networks is disclosed. The triplexer/OLT includes an optical fiber, first and second laser diodes, a photodiode, and first and second lenses. A hemispherical lens may be at an end face of the photodiode or receiver subassembly housing. A first optical splitter is mounted between the first and second lenses, and a second optical splitter is mounted between the optical fiber and the second laser diode. The first lens and first laser diode, and the second lens and second laser diode share respective common linear optical axes. The present triplexer/OLT advantageously accords with an interface standard IEEE802.3av-2009 PRX30. In addition, the present triplexer can advantageously implement analog receiving and digital transceiving, save optical fiber resources, and provide high efficiency coupling. Thus, requirements for high power output and smaller housing outlines can be served.
US08931964B2	Loose tube fiber optic cable assembly A fiber optic connector assembly comprises a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub. The ferrule has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the ferrule is mounted to the hub. The ferrule defines a fiber passage that extends through the ferrule from the proximal end to the distal end. The fiber optic assembly further comprises an optical fiber having an end portion potted within the fiber passage of the ferrule. A loose tube receives the optical fiber. The loose tube has a distal end positioned inside the hub and defines a venting opening that starts at the distal end of the loose tube and extends proximally along a length of the loose tube.
US08931963B2	Plug-in connector The invention relates to a plug-in connector for connecting at least one conductor, in particular a conductor cable with an optical conductor, comprising a main body (2) having a continuous opening, a tube-like conductor holder (3) and an anti-kink element (4). The conductor holder (3) is arranged at least partially inside the main body and movably mounted therein. The anti-kink element (4) protrudes at least partially over the main body (2). A spring element (5) is provided for positioning the conductor relative to the main body (2) and is clamped between the conductor holder (3) and the anti-kink element (4).
US08931954B2	Thermometer with voltage switch A thermometer includes a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member is adapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposed in the body member. An electric generator with a start voltage and an operation voltage is disposed in the body member. A capacitor is electrically connected to the electric generator for storing the electric energy generated by thereof and supplying the electric energy to the processor. A voltage switch with a threshold voltage is electrically connected between the capacitor and the processor, in which the threshold voltage is lower than the operation voltage.
US08931953B2	Low voltage low power CMOS temperature sensor circuit The present invention provides an ultra-low power embedded CMOS temperature sensor based on serially connected subthreshold MOS operation particularly well suited for passive RFID food monitoring applications. Employing serially connected subthreshold MOS as sensing element enables reduced minimum supply voltage for further power reduction, which is very important in passive RFID applications. The temperature sensor may be part of a passive RFID tag and incorporates a temperature sensor core, proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) and complimentary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) delay generators, and a time-to-digital differential readout circuit. In one embodiment, the sensor is embedded inside a passive UHF RFID tag fabricated with a conventional 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process. With the sensor core working under 0.5 V and digital interfacing under 1 V, the sensor dissipates a measured total power of 119 nW at 33 samples/s and achieves an inaccuracy of +1/−0.8° C. from −10° C. to 30° C. after calibration.
US08931952B2	Temperature monitoring device for workflow monitoring system A temperature monitoring device that can automatically collect temperature data and wirelessly interface with a workflow management system. The device is provided in a portable housing and incorporates one or more temperature sensors, such as a physical probe, infrared sensor, or RFID transceiver, along with an interface for wirelessly communicating with a host personal device that has been programmed with temperature management tasks. The device may be used to automatically collect temperatures and provide wirelessly provide the data to the host for monitoring and tracking as part of a comprehensive workflow management system that includes food safety monitoring and compliance programs.
US08931949B2	Exterior element with improved fastening A middle part of a timepiece case includes an exterior element secured to the middle part on a securing area by an elastic securing structure. The middle part includes an aperture opening onto the securing area at the securing structure allowing a user to act on and deform the securing structure and to separate the exterior element from the middle part. The securing structure includes a male part including two hooks, one of which is flexible, arranged on one of faces of the exterior element and a female part arranged on the middle part including a groove. The male part cooperates elastically with the female part so that the two hooks are inserted into the groove to secure the exterior element to the middle part. The aperture opens into the female part, allowing the user to act on the flexible hook to separate the exterior element from the middle part.
US08931947B2	Desktop item with LED means has USB-unit(s) or USB-module to charge other electric or digital data device(s) Desk top items with LEDs also include USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) and, optionally, additional outlet-units, to supply charging power to other electric or digital devices such as a smart phone or digital data device. The USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) are arranged to supply power only, and do not have an additional USB data transfer function.
US08931945B2	Lighting apparatus A lighting apparatus is held by a chassis and includes a plurality of LED modules emitting light toward an outer edge portion of the chassis and a light guiding plate for controlling the direction of light emission from the plurality of LED modules to perform illumination. The LED module is not arranged at the outer edge portion of the chassis so that moment acting on the chassis as the apparatus main body holding the LED module can be reduced as compared with the case where the LED module is arranged at the outer edge portion of the chassis. Therefore, the deformation such as bending of the chassis can be prevented.
US08931944B2	Display apparatus and light source packages employed therein Display apparatuses are provided. The display apparatus includes a light source package generating light, a circuit board including a recessed region in which the light source package is disposed, a display panel displaying images, and a light guide plate directing the light generated from the light source package onto the display panel. The light guide plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sidewall surfaces. One of the sidewall surfaces of the light guide plate is a light incident surface on which the light from the light source package is irradiated. A distance between the light source package and the light incident surface is less than a width of the circuit board.
US08931938B2	Locomotive LED/optics headlight assembly A headlamp assembly comprising a housing forming an internal chamber and forming an opening to one side, at least a first light source having a first illumination axis, the first light source mounted in a central portion of the internal chamber substantially at a first depth, at least a second light source having a second illumination axis, the second light source mounted in a circumferential portion of the chamber substantially at a second depth wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth, a first aspherical lens formed about a first optic axis, the first aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the first optic axis aligned with the first illumination axis and a second aspherical lens formed about a second optic axis, the second aspherical lens mounted within the opening with the second optic axis aligned with the second illumination axis.
US08931932B2	Moisture release valve for an outdoor light fixture A moisture release valve for an outdoor light including a valve body having a stem received in a valve guide and having a head seating with a valve seat integrally formed of part of a sidewall of a light casing of the light fixture. Valve body is gravity displaced between a closed position and an open position depending upon light fixture orientation and can include a counterweight carried by its stem interiorly disposed within the fixture helping to cause displacement of the valve body toward the desired open or closed position in response to a change in light fixture orientation. Valve body can be a rivet, such as a split rivet, and the counterweight can be a washer, such as an annular washer, having an opening generally in registry with the valve guide permitting fluid within the fixture to drain from the fixture when the valve is open.
US08931931B2	Soft box with zipper mounted thereon for improving heat resistance Provided is a soft box having a plurality of poles, an adapter ring having a plurality of holes into which the plurality of poles is correspondingly coupledly inserted, and a reflecting cloth adapted to connect the plurality of poles in such a manner as to reflect light therefrom, the soft box including: a zipper mounted on the reflecting cloth between the neighboring poles; and an auxiliary reflecting cloth disposed on the reflecting cloth adjacent to the inner side of the zipper along the longitudinal direction of the zipper in such a manner as to cover the inner surface of the zipper.
US08931928B2	Removable window frame for lighting module A lighting module has an array of light-emitting elements, a housing defining at least one opening, and a window frame that is selectively removable from the opening of the housing. The window frame has a frame and a window that is operably secured to the frame. The array of light-emitting elements is positioned within the housing. The window frame is replaceable or selectively removable from the housing of the lighting module. The window frame may include a gasket that is positioned between the frame and a portion of the window that is operably secured to the frame. In some examples, the gasket is a die-cut expanded PTFE gasket.
US08931927B2	Faceted folded-optic collimator A folded circularly symmetric illumination optic comprising a first light transfer mode having a first central refractive surface and a second central refractive surface, wherein one of the first and second central refractive surfaces has at least one peened feature; a second light transfer mode having a first refractive surface, a first TIR surface, a second TIR surface and a second refractive surface; a third light transfer mode having a first refractive surface, a first TIR surface and a second refractive surface, wherein the first TIR surface has at least one peening feature, and wherein the second refractive surface is conical; wherein the first TIR surface and second refractive surface of the second light transfer mode is coincident at least one point, wherein the second refractive surface of the third light transfer mode is coincident with the first TIR surface and second refractive surface of the second light transfer mode.
US08931925B2	LED heat dissipation device having axial and radial convection holes The present invention provides a LED heat dissipation device having axial and radial convection holes for meeting the heat dissipation requirement of a light emitting diode (LED), so the heat dissipation device is not only equipped with a function of dissipating heat to the exterior through the surface of the heat dissipation device, but also provided with the air flowing capable of assisting heat dissipation through the hot airflow in a heat dissipation member having axial and radial convection holes (101) generating a hot ascent/cold descent effect for introducing airflow from an air inlet port formed near a light projection side to pass an axial tubular flowpath (102) then be discharged from a radial air outlet hole (107) formed near a connection side (104) of the heat dissipation member having axial and radial convection holes (101).
US08931912B2	Display illumination structure A display illumination structure includes: a display including a gauge portion; a light source; a light guiding member including an incident portion, a horizontally extending portion configured to guide the light emanating from the light source along the gauge portion, and an interior reflecting bent portion configured to reflect the light that enters from the incident portion towards the horizontally extending portion; and a housing including a main reflecting surface configured to reflect light that exits from the light guiding member so as to be returned to the light guiding member, and an auxiliary reflecting surface configured to reflect light that is not incident on the incident portion and light that leaks from a halfway portion of the light guiding member towards a low-luminance poorly illuminated portion being formed in a position on the gauge portion which lies closer to the light source.
US08931911B2	Lighting system and display apparatus using the same Disclosed herein are a backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector partially having an inclined surface, at least one light source module disposed between the first and second reflectors, and at least one reflective structure disposed on the second reflector.
US08931905B2	Binocular measurement method and device A method of performing an ophthalmic test on an examinee's eyes utilizes a three-dimensional display screen that includes a right-eye image and a left-eye image to induce ocular responses in the examinee's eyes. The right and left-eye images are varied while detection devices are used to monitor the examinee's eyes ocular responses to the variations. The induced ocular responses of the examinee's eyes are then used to diagnose any ocular, mental or neurological conditions present. The ocular response inducing images are preferably included in a three-dimensional video game such that a players' performance while playing the game will be indicative of any disorders that may be present.
US08931903B2	Ophthalmologic apparatus, control method therefore, and recording medium storing method Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus including: a first control unit which controls a scanning unit for scanning an eye to be inspected with light emitted from a light source; a memory unit which stores control information for causing the first control unit to control the scanning unit to sequentially perform a first scan and a second scan after the first scan; and a second control unit which decreases a light amount irradiating the eye to be inspected after finishing the first scan and before starting the second scan, which are performed based on the control information.
US08931898B2	Non-progressive corridor bi-focal lens with substantially tangent boundary of near and distant visual fields An axially symmetric, bifocal, non-progressive ophthalmic lens which, in a smooth pathway between a distant vision field and a near vision field, has no perceptible progression of power, dividing line, image jump, nor other optical distortion.
US08931896B2	Eyewear including a docking station Eyewear is provided including a frame and an electronic docking station. The docking station may be configured to provide power to a docked electrical component, such as a camera, an audio player, a video player, etc. The electrical component docked into the docking station may provide a power source. The eyewear may also include an electro-active lens and/or a heads up display.
US08931894B1	Glasses and nose pad assembly thereof A nose pad assembly includes a top rod having a recessed section in an inner side thereof. A chamber is defined in a bottom wall of the recessed section. A rib and a fixing groove are provided on a bottom face of the chamber. A nose pad includes a connection rod received in the chamber and having a guiding hole and a ridge. A closure plate is mounted in the recessed section and includes a block extended through the guiding hole and engaged in the fixing groove. The ridge is forcibly passable through the rib and movable between an upper position at an upper side of the rib and a lower position at a lower side of the rib. The nose pad assembly can be assembled with a lens unit to form glasses, with the lens unit held by the nose pad and the top rod.
US08931892B2	Sheet-supply device and image forming apparatus incorporating same A sheet-supply device internally defining a supply route through which to supply a sheet. The sheet-supply device includes a supply member to supply the sheet from a rolled long sheet, a guide member to guide the sheet to the supply member, provided upstream in a direction in which the sheet is moved to the supply member and, movable between a guide position at which the sheet is guided to the supply member and an escape position at which the guide member is away from the supply route of the sheet.
US08931889B2	Inkjet ink with self-dispersed pigments and hydroxyl terminated polyurethane ink additives An ink for inkjet is provided for printing, comprising a self-dispersed pigment colorant and certain hydroxyl terminated polyurethanes derived from polyether diols which enhances fastness of the print towards highlighter and finger smudge without compromising jetting performance and storage stability of the ink.
US08931886B2	Inkjet head and method for manufacturing inkjet head An inkjet head according to an embodiment includes a base portion, a driving element, a wire, a protection portion, and a boundary portion. The base portion includes a mounting surface. The driving element is mounted on the base portion. The wire is formed on the mounting surface and connected to the driving element. The protection portion is formed on the mounting surface, covering a portion of the driving element and the wire, and possesses an insulation property. The boundary portion is provided at an end of the protection portion contacting the wire that is exposed. The boundary portion is thinner than the protection portion and possesses an insulation property. Thus, an inkjet head in which stripping of an insulating portion can be restrained is provided.
US08931885B1	Anti-wetting coating composition A composition is made from ingredients comprising a fluorinated polyurethane and a copolymer of (i) a fluoroalkylene monomer unit and (ii) a dioxole monomer unit substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a fluorine atom and a fluoroalkyl. The fluorinated polyurethane is a product of an isocyanate and a hydroxyl functionalized fluorinated polyether. The composition can be employed for making anti-wetting coatings used, for example, in printhead devices.
US08931883B2	Head moving mechanism and printing apparatus A head driving mechanism includes a first cam follower an end portion of which is attached to a first holding unit and the other end portion of which includes a first sliding-contact surface disposed in sliding contact with a cam, and a second cam follower an end portion of which is attached to the second holding unit and the other end portion of which includes a second sliding-contact surface disposed in sliding contact with the cam. The first cam follower and the second cam follower are each displaced by rotation of the cam so as to move the first printing head and the second printing head, while the first sliding-contact surface and the second sliding-contact surface are in sliding contact with an outer circumferential surface of the cam.
US08931882B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a carriage having a removable liquid receptacle that holds a liquid or a removable connector connected via a flexible liquid channel to an external liquid receptacle that holds a liquid, an ejecting head, mounted in the carriage, that has a nozzle that ejects the liquid, and a maintenance unit that runs maintenance on the ejecting head; the ejecting head has a filter disposed so as to be capable of contact with a liquid absorption member provided in the liquid receptacle and in the connector.
US08931881B1	Treatment agent liquid application apparatus for an inkjet printer A inkjet printer treatment agent liquid application apparatus includes a supplying pan storing treatment agent liquid; a squeeze roller, partially immersed in the liquid stored in the supplying pan, drawing and transferring the liquid; an application roller applying the liquid transferred by the squeeze roller onto a recording medium surface; a press roller sandwiching and conveying the recording medium between the press roller and the application roller, pressing the recording medium against the application roller, transferring the liquid on the application roller onto the recording medium; a cartridge containing the liquid, to be exchangeably installed in a cartridge installation unit, and having an IC chip; a reader/writer reading/writing information from/to the IC chip; a liquid supply route connecting the installed cartridge and the supplying pan; a supplying pump placed on the liquid supply route; and a drive time measurement unit measuring a drive time of the supplying pump.
US08931880B2	Devices, systems, and methods for the fabrication of tissue Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.
US08931879B2	Laser transmission laminating of materials for ink jet printheads A method for assembling a printhead such as an ink jet printhead can include the use of a laser to bond two or more printhead layers together. In an embodiment, a laser beam is directed through a transparent layer to an energy-absorbing layer, where the energy-absorbing layer is melted such that after removal of the laser beam the melted layer solidifies to adhere the energy-absorbing layer to the transparent layer. In another embodiment, heating the energy-absorbing layer melts the transparent layer to adhere the energy-absorbing layer to the transparent layer after removal of the laser beam. The laser transmission lamination process described can result in a fluid-tight seal which requires less processing time and materials over an adhesive-based process.
US08931874B1	Media-tracking system using marking heat source A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark.
US08931873B2	Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not a multiple of the column thinning number Provided is a printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not restricted to being a multiple of the column thinning number. A mask pattern of a size corresponding to the number of printing elements in use is prepared, and divided into blocks 1 to P. Taking R(x) to be the mask pattern for the region corresponding to block x (where x=1 to P), these P block mask patterns satisfy the following condition. Namely, for all integers s obtainable between the values from 1 to M, the arrangements of printing pixels exist in a complementary relationship with each other in the combination of mask patterns R(s), R(s+M), R(s+2M), and so on to R(s+N×M). However, for all s, N is taken to be the largest integer satisfying s+N×M≦P.
US08931872B2	Printing apparatus, color conversion method, program, and recording medium A printing apparatus, which performs the printing using a polish and a colorant includes a reduction region setting portion that sets a reduction region, which is a region where an amount of the polish is reduced, at a dark portion side of a color gamut of the printing apparatus in a device-independent color space; and a color conversion portion which converts color of an image to be input to the printing apparatus into a print color to be expressed by the polish and the colorant, wherein, among pixels constituting the image, in a pixel included in the reduction region, the color conversion portion reduces the amount of the polish compared to a pixel not included in the reduction region, and converts color of the image to the print color.
US08931867B2	Printing device, and printing device maintenance method A printing device is equipped with a head, a first reservoir unit, a second reservoir unit, a first flow path connected to the head and the first reservoir unit, a second flow path connected to the first flow path and the second reservoir unit, a third flow path connected to the second reservoir unit and the second flow path, a first pressure supply unit provided on the second flow path, a second pressure supply unit, and a control unit for stirring the sedimentary ink by returning the sedimentary ink inside the second reservoir unit to the first reservoir unit using the second pressure supply unit after moving the sedimentary ink inside the first reservoir unit to the second reservoir unit using the first pressure supply unit.
US08931864B2	Apparatuses for printing on generally cylindrical objects and related methods An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical objects comprises one or more printheads positioned above a line of travel and a carriage assembly configured to hold an at least partially cylindrical object axially aligned along the line of travel and to position said object relative to the printheads, and then rotate the object relative to said one or more printheads. The printer also includes a curing device located along the line of travel and configured to emit an energy suitable to cure the deposited fluid.
US08931862B2	Drawer A drawer with a first wall part, a second wall part, and a fixing device, via which the first wall part and the second wall part can be connected to each other. The fixing device has at least one locking element for locking the wall elements to each other. The locking element has at least one tongue, which is spring-elastic in particular and which can be inserted into a recess of one of the wall parts and fixed in the recess, in particular in a clamped manner. The locking element is substantially designed in a comb-like manner in which two or more tongues that are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of a connecting piece project laterally from the connecting piece.
US08931861B2	Drawer slide In some example implementations, a drawer slide assembly may including an elongate member including a first slot extending through an upper region and a second slot. The drawer slide assembly may further include a first end cap coupled to the first end region of the elongate member, in which the first end cap has a first projection that extends at least in part through the first opening. The drawer slide assembly may also include a second end cap coupled to the second end region of the elongate member, in which the second end cap has a second projection that extends at least in part through the second opening.
US08931860B2	Mounting apparatus for sliding drawer mechanism A mounting apparatus for a sliding drawer mechanism is disclosed. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a latching member and a mounting piece. The bracket includes a side plate, and the side plate defines a limiting hole. The latching member is secured to the sliding drawer mechanism and includes an elastic latching portion. The mounting piece extends from the sliding drawer mechanism, and a mounting post protrudes from the mounting piece. The mounting post is received in the limiting hole to prevent the sliding drawer mechanism from sliding along a direction substantially parallel to the side plate, and the elastic latching portion and the mounting piece are located on two opposite sides of the side plate, to prevent the sliding drawer mechanism from sliding along a direction substantially perpendicular to the side plate.
US08931858B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes a box and a separating plate. The box includes a bottom plate and a first side plate. The bottom plate defines a clip slot, and the first side plate defines a clasping hole. The separating plate includes a main body, a clipping portion, and a hook. The clipping portion is deformable and engaged in the clasping hole for preventing the separating plate from moving in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first side plate. The hook is slidably received in the clip slot for preventing the separating plate from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08931857B2	Multiple access aircraft galley chiller A chiller for an aircraft galley is disclosed having a housing defining an interior space, the housing including dividers to segregate the interior space into separate chambers. The chambers are enclosed by a pair of doors on a front of the housing that allow a user to gain access to the chambers, a first door providing access to at least one chamber and a second door providing access to at least one different chamber. A side door is also provided that permits access to at least one chamber, wherein at least one chamber is not accessible through said side door.
US08931855B1	Toothbrush with formable handle A formable handle toothbrush has a handle portion that allows a user to heat and form the handle to the shape of their hand to provide for more secure grip of the toothbrush. In one embodiment, a hand formable toothbrush has a toothbrush head attached to a shank that can be inserted into a socket within the toothbrush handle. This configuration allows for the use of replacement toothbrush heads. This makes manufacturing of higher cost handles more economical, as the formable handle portions would not be thrown out when the toothbrush head needs replacement. To customize the formable handle portion, a user may simply place the toothbrush, or handle portion of the toothbrush, in boiling water for a period of time and then remove the toothbrush handle, allow it to cool to a safe temperature and then grasp the handle to form it into the shape of their hand.
US08931851B2	Seat belt adjuster The present invention provides a seat belt adjuster applicable to seat belts in vehicles, comprising: a pair of supporting swing rods composed of a first swing rod and a second swing rod, with the adjacent ends of the first and second swing rods hinged together and forming an included angle between the swing rods, either non-adjacent end of the first and second swing rods fixed in stationary state, and the other non-adjacent end of the first and second swing rods movable as the included angle between the swing rods changes; and an actuator, which changes the included angle between the swing rods by exerting force to the first swing rod and/or the second swing rod and/or the hinge point of the swing rods, and thereby directly applies variable force on the strap of the seat strap via the other non-adjacent end.
US08931847B2	Passenger seating assemblies and aspects thereof Multiple features of seating assemblies are detailed. Innovations in or to tray tables, luggage bars, arm rests, seat backs, and seat frames are included, with features being incorporated into seating assemblies either separately or in any combination. The assemblies are configured principally for passenger aircraft but may be used elsewhere as appropriate or desired.
US08931844B2	Easy slim fold seat A vehicle seating assembly including a seat having a top surface. A seatback includes a back support surface. A tab extends forward from the seatback. A track assembly includes a rail and a slide. A bracket is coupled to the slide and includes an elongate slot disposed at a mid-portion thereof. A linkage includes a first end coupled with the seat. A second end is coupled with the tab. A protrusion is disposed at an intermediate portion of the linkage and is engaged with the elongate slot. Movement of the protrusion is relative to the elongate slot, causing translation of the seating assembly between a deployed position, in which a planar extent of the seatback extends substantially orthogonally relative to a planar extent of the seat, and a stowed position, in which the top surface of the seat and the back support surface of the seatback are in abutting contact.
US08931843B2	Fitting for a vehicle seat A fitting (10), in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), on which a gear rim (17) is formed and a second fitting part (12) on which a gearwheel (16) is formed. The gearwheel meshes with the gear rim (17), whereby the two fitting parts (11, 12) are in geared connection with each other. The fitting also has a rotatably mounted, revolving eccentric driven by a driving element for driving a relative rolling motion of gearwheel (16) and gear rim (17). During this rolling motion a tooth flank (16d) of a tooth (16a) of the gearwheel (16) rests against a tooth flank (17d) of a tooth (17a) of the gear rim (17) at a contact point (K). The tooth flanks (16d, 17d) of the teeth (16a, 17a) of the gearwheel (16) and gear rim (17) resting against each other at the contact point (K) each follow the course of a portion of a respective logarithmic spiral.
US08931840B2	Composite frame A composite frame includes a frame body including two support units, two lower connecting rods, two suspending units and an upper connecting rod that are removably connectable together so that the constructed frame body is structurally stable, while assembly and disassembly of the same are manually operable and convenient to allow for effective storage and cost reduction in terms of packaging and delivery.
US08931836B2	Child safety seat A child safety seat includes a seat back and a head rest disposed on the seat back. When a child sits on the child safety seat, his back is against the seat back, and his head is against the head rest. The child safety seat also includes two sliding slot structures, formed on the seat back, and two sliding rods. The two sliding rod are connected to two opposite sides of the head rest corresponding to the two sliding slot structures and slidably disposed in the corresponding sliding slot structures. When the sliding rod is at a first restraining position of the sliding slot structure and the child safety seat shakes because of an impact, the head rest moves relative to the seat back, so that the sliding rod slides to a second restraining position sliding slot structure, which reduces possible harm to the head of the child.
US08931834B2	Armrest assembly with deployable bed extension An armrest assembly for a seat of the type that is convertible into a lie flat bed, the armrest assembly including an armrest, an armrest housing in which the armrest is mounted for vertical movement, and a planar bed extension having an upper bed surface is mounted in the armrest housing for movement between a stowed position wherein the bed extension is contained in a vertical position in the armrest housing and a deployed position wherein the bed extension is positioned exterior to the armrest housing in a raised, horizontal position, wherein the armrest and bed extension reside in horizontal alignment with a seat back and seat bottom of the seat to collectively define a portion of a bed.
US08931832B2	Swivel stool A swivel stool includes a foldable leg arrangement having a plurality of leg frames pivotally connected to each other to form a receiving cavity defined within the leg frames, a seat unit including a seat frame and a back frame pivotally connected to the seat frame. The swivel stool is arranged to operate between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein in the folded position, the back frame is overlappedly folded toward the seat frame, while the seat unit is pivotally and downwardly folded with respect to the leg frames to receive into the receiving cavity of the foldable leg arrangement, wherein in the unfolded position, the seat unit is pivotally and upwardly unfolded with respect to the leg frames while the back frame is pivotally unfolded with respect to the seat frame for allowing a user to sit on the seat unit.
US08931831B2	Beach chair A lightweight, compact foldable beach chair is presented. The present invention beach chair features an upper seatback portion and a lower sand engagement portion. The seatback portion forms the backrest of the chair and the sand engagement portion anchors the chair in sand. The beach sand itself serves as the seat support for a user. The seatback and sand engagement portions are interconnected by a hub such that the seatback portion and sand engagement portion can rotate about the hub from an open, ready for use position, to a closed position for carrying. The new beach chair includes a detent system such that the seatback and sand engagement portions lock together when in the open and closed positions.
US08931830B2	Wind deflector for sliding roof system A wind deflector for a sliding roof system is disclosed herein, the wind deflector having: a wind deflector element that is adjustable between a lowered position and an extended position; and a pair of raising arms that are each connected with the wind deflector element at one end and with an abutment at the other end, wherein the abutment is vehicle-fixed, that the raising arms are configured to be telescopically length-adjustable, and that an adjustment mechanism is provided by which the distance of the wind deflector element from the abutments is reduced when it is moved from the lowered position to the extended position.
US08931829B2	Open roof construction for a vehicle An open roof construction includes at least one closure element for selectively opening and closing a roof opening and a wind deflector assembly having a wind deflector arm pivotally connected to a stationary part and a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A spring biases the wind deflector assembly in an upward direction to a first, operative position, in which the wind deflector body is positioned above the surface of the roof opening, from a second, inoperative position in which the wind deflector body is positioned in a storage position, below the surface of the roof. At least one guiding clamp guides the wind deflector assembly, at least during a part of the movement from the first operative position to the second inoperative position.
US08931824B2	Pedestrian-friendly structure for motor vehicle front end A pedestrian-friendly forward structure of a motor vehicle includes a grill opening reinforcement (GOR), a front fascia located forward of and spaced from the GOR, and a support bracket extending transversely to the vehicle forward of the GOR and rearward of the front fascia. The support bracket has a transverse cross-bar and left and right legs extending rearward from a cross-bar adjacent opposite ends thereof. The legs are attached to respective outboard positions on the GOR, and the cross-bar has an upper flange underlying an upper rear panel of the front fascia. If a pedestrian strikes the forward structure, the fascia and support bracket yield rearward in an injury-reducing manner.
US08931821B2	Adhesively bonded window and hardware assembly An adhesively bonded window and hardware assembly includes a window member (12) presenting a surface (12a), a hardware member (14) having a flange (14a) and a projecting portion (14b) contiguous with and projecting from the flange, an adhesive member (18) disposed between the flange and the surface of the window member and adhesively bonding the hardware member (14) to the window member (12), and a sealing member (20) that envelopes part of the flange, fully surrounds the adhesive member, and bonds to and seals against the surface of the window member. The sealing member (20) serves to protect the adhesive member (18) from heat and humidity in the surrounding environment. The sealing member (20) can comprise an overmolded member formed of a polymer material.
US08931820B2	Fastening device for a child seat in a motor vehicle The invention relates to a fastening device for a child seat in a motor vehicle, comprising a one-piece bracket part (4) in the form of a top-tether bracket to be affixed to a support (13) on the backrest (3) of a rear seat. According to the invention, the one-piece bracket part (4) consists of a U-shaped bracket element (6) and of a fitting element (9) connected to the U-legs (7, 8). The fitting element (9) has a connection surface (10) that faces the support (13) when in the installed state, whereby, projecting from the connection surface (10) in the direction of the support (13), there is at least one positioning pin (11) that can be inserted into a diameter-adapted positioning recess (12) of the support (13), and whereby at least one spacer block (14) facing the support (13) is arranged on the connection surface (10) and is offset with respect to the positioning pin (11), and, in the installed state, said spacer block lies against the support (13), and the fitting element (9) can be screwed to the support (13) through said spacer block (14).
US08931817B2	Robot hand An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger sections are connected is provided.
US08931816B2	Metal detector digging tool apparatus A metal detector digging tool apparatus has an elongated pole having a nonmetallic digging tool or scoop attached to one end thereof and a nonmetallic bracket removably clamped between the ends thereof. The nonmetallic bracket clamps to the pole between the ends thereof and has a metal detector clamp extending therefrom that clamps a pinpoint metal detector to said bracket adjacent the nonmetallic digging tool for remotely isolating and examining an object detected by a metal detector without the operator bending or kneeling over.
US08931814B2	Arrangement having a lock crossbeam and a hood lock for a motor vehicle An arrangement for a vehicle body of a motor vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes a lock crossbeam having a front wall and a hood lock fastened on the front wall of the lock crossbeam and having a lock case. The front wall has a first depression in which the hood lock is at least partially accommodated. The first depression is stepped. The front wall has a front stop surface that is spaced apart from a rear stop surface. The lock case presses against the front stop surface and the rear stop surface while a middle part of the lock case is accommodated in the first depression.
US08931811B1	Monster tail loom for forming Brunnian links A kit for creating Brunnian link items such as bracelets, necklaces and other wearable or decorative items is disclosed and includes a loom, a hook, and a plurality of clips and a plurality of elastic bands. The loom includes a base supporting a plurality of upward extending pins. Each of the pins includes a flange for holding an elastic band in a desired orientation.
US08931809B2	Tubular threaded connection A threaded tubular connection includes a first tube and a second tube. The first tube includes a pin member and the second tube includes a box member. A cross-sectional area of a pin critical cross-section is within approximately ±5% of cross-sectional area of a box critical cross-section of the box member. The cross-sectional areas of each of the pin and box critical cross-sections are within approximately ±5% of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of a box intermediate critical cross-section of the box member and a pin intermediate critical cross-section of the pin member. In a made-up state, a first seal surface on the pin engages a second seal surface on the box in a radial direction so as to form an off-center fluid tight seal that extends in an axial direction of the threaded tubular connection.
US08931808B2	High pressure fitting with self-releasing ferrule A fitting assembly is provided having a nut and a self-releasing ferrule, which in certain embodiments may be assembled by an operator. The fitting assembly includes a nut with a first end, and a second end that defines a slot, and a ferrule with a first end that defines one or more slots, and a second end, with the second end of the nut adapted to receive the first end of the ferrule, the second end of the ferrule adapted to be received in a component or fitting of a liquid chromatography system. The nut and ferrule of the fitting assembly have passageways therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing.
US08931804B2	Steering device In a steering device, when a telescopic position of a steering wheel is disposed at a vicinity of an adjustment end on a front side of a vehicle body, if a large force is applied erroneously to the steering wheel toward the front side of the vehicle body, rear ends of telescopic position adjusting long grooves are brought into contact with a fastening rod and push the fastening rod to the front side of the vehicle body. An engaging protrusion pushes an inner column to the front side of the vehicle body. A large force to the front side of the vehicle body, which is applied to the steering wheel is supported by the vehicle body via the inner column, and a force which is applied to a vehicle body attaching bracket can be reduced. This prevents the vehicle body attaching bracket from becoming detached from the vehicle body.
US08931798B1	Foam-in-place interior panels having integrated airbag doors including substrates with airbag chute-door assemblies for motor vehicles Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having an opening. A skin covering and foam cover the substrate. An airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate. The airbag chute-door assembly comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. The chute wall is configured to direct passage of an airbag through the interior space towards the opening. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall via a hinge section and at least partially covers the opening. A gusset hinge feature extends from the hinge section between and operatively coupled to the door flap portion and the chute wall. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall away from the interior space and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate.
US08931789B2	Tie rod with locking system at the ends A tie rod comprising locking elements to lock the tie rod to respective end supports (60,60′), the locking elements comprising, at each end support, two pairs of spacers (42, 43, 42′, 43′), each pair having surfaces joined to each other in the shape of an annular portion of a spherical cap, and at least two tightening nuts (41); wherein, at each end support, there are provided, symmetrically with respect to the support, two pairs of spacers, wherein the pair of joined surfaces of the first pair of spacers (42,43) has a radius equal to the radius of the pair of joined surfaces of the second pair of spacers (42′, 43′), said pairs of joined surfaces being arranged on different spherical surfaces, and wherein the two tightening nuts (41) are tightened externally on the first pair of spacers (42,43).
US08931787B2	Support cart for industrial machine screw A support cart for a machine screw may comprise a frame and a plurality of trolleys. The frame may have a pair of tracks and a caster assembly. The caster assembly may have a first position where the frame does not contact a surface, such as a floor, allowing the frame to be movable. The caster assembly may also have a second position which allows the frame to contact the surface, such as a floor, rendering the frame to be substantially stationary. The plurality of trolleys may include a base, an adjuster, a support bracket, and a plurality of rollers. The trolleys may be movable along the tracks of the frame via the plurality of rollers. A height position of the support bracket may be adjustable relative to the base via the adjuster.
US08931786B1	Snow vehicle with remote control capabilities A snow vehicle propelled by gravitation has a frame supported by four posts attached to four skis. The two rear skis are attached to the supporting posts using hinges with one degree of liberty. The two front skis are rigidly attached to the support posts and the posts are attached to the frame at a 45 degree angle using hinges with two degrees of liberty. Two linear actuators are attached to the frame and to the rear of the front skis using hinges with two degrees of liberty. The actuators are remotely controlled by a human using an on board computerized steering/braking controller that works in such a manner as to replicate the human wedge style of skiing (a.k.a. plow skiing).
US08931780B2	Apparatus for object information detection and methods of using same A system for determining information regarding at least one object, comprising: a sensor sensitive to capacitive coupling; at least one object adapted to create a capacitive coupling with the sensor when at least one signal is input to the sensor; a detector adapted to measure at least one output signal of said sensor associated with the at least one object, wherein the output signal associated with the at least one object is an object information code.
US08931778B2	Functional jewelry Dice rings are designed in a way that one or multiple outer thinner ring(s) spin in a grooved inner ring that slips onto a finger. The outer smaller ring may have numbers, characters, symbols or words distributed around the ring such that when spun, a random result is produced, designated by an indicator marking on the sides of the grooved inner ring.
US08931777B2	Multi-feed detection apparatus, sheet conveyance apparatus, and sheet processing apparatus A multi-feed detection apparatus may include an ultrasonic transmission unit, arranged on one side of a conveyance path configured to convey a sheet-like member, for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward the conveyance path, an ultrasonic reception unit, arranged on the other side of the conveyance path, for receiving the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transmission unit, and a multi-feed determination unit for determining, based on the reception result of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic reception unit, whether multi-feed of sheet-like members has occurred. The ultrasonic transmission surface of the ultrasonic transmission unit is inclined with respect to the conveyance path, and the ultrasonic reception surface of the ultrasonic reception unit is arranged to be almost parallel to the conveyance path.
US08931776B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus has a main body having a sheet feed path and an opening. A sheet placing part defined in the main body. The sheet inserted through the opening is placed on the sheet placing part. A supply roller arranged to face the placing part and feeds the sheet placed on the sheet placing part in a sheet feed direction toward the sheet feed path, a frame arranged to face the sheet placing part and configured to support the supply roller, the frame having a protruded part protruded on an opening side with respect to the supply roller. An image forming unit is provided inside the main body. An inclined surface is formed on a side of the protruded part facing the sheet placing part, and the protruded part has an inclined surface facing the sheet placing part and inclined such that a distance between the inclined surface and the sheet placing part becomes gradually smaller toward the supply roller.
US08931772B2	Method and apparatus for securing a workpiece to a fixture plate using an adjustable, low-profile, light-duty workpiece clamp A workpiece clamp comprising: a body; a workpiece-engaging spring edge connected to the body; and an opening for accepting a screw for securing the body to a fixture plate.
US08931771B2	Device for removing clamping block made of resin and device for clamping clamping block made of resin When, while a resin-made clamping block molded to cover a part of a turbine blade is placed on a seat part, paired sliders disposed on opposite sides of the seat part are made to move closer to the resin-made clamping block, paired wedge members provided respectively on the paired sliders engage with notches formed respectively in paired side surfaces, opposed to each other, of the resin-made clamping block to generate cracks. Accordingly, it is possible to divide the resin-made clamping block into at least two pieces and to reliably remove the resin-made clamping block from the turbine blade. Furthermore, since the resin-made clamping block is not broken by a mechanical strike, there is no fear that the turbine blade might be damaged due to an erroneous setting of the strike force.
US08931768B2	Mount assembly for suspension damper A mount assembly for a suspension damper is provided which includes a piston rod extending about an axis and a mount housing. A jounce bumper is axially positioned about the piston rod and has an end surface and a radially outer surface. The jounce bumper is formed of a first deformable material selectable for absorbing energy from an axial force applicable through the piston rod. A jounce bumper cup formed of a second deformable material selectable for absorbing additional energy fits onto the end surface of the jounce bumper. The jounce bumper cup has a wall portion extending sufficiently around the radially outer surface of the jounce bumper to retain it in position and a load mount portion extending to the mount housing and being configured to absorb the additional energy.
US08931766B2	Centrifugal hysteresis package A damper assembly including a cover having at least one aperture therein, a flange operatively connected to the cover, and a spring having at least one leg engaged with a radially outer surface of the flange, the spring having at least one post engaged in the aperture of the cover, wherein engaging the post in the aperture preloads the spring against the radially outer surface of the flange for exerting a force on the damper.
US08931760B2	Ball valve The ball valve may be manually opened and dosed with ease and securely prevent leakage. The ball valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet passage, fluid outlet passage, and a communicating part provided between these passages. The ball valve includes a ball having a fluid communication passage and preferably is arranged on the communicating part of the valve body for rotating about a reference axis. A substantially cylindrical ball seat which preferably has a desired opening part on its peripheral wall and is arranged between the ball and valve body. The ball valve includes a ball seat pressing part inside the valve body, adjacent to the ball seat and a presser screw screwed into the inner periphery of the valve body. The presser screw preferably presses the ball seat pressing part by adjustment of its tightening force and presses the ball seat pressing part without contacting the packing.
US08931755B2	Manual to automatic valve conversion device An apparatus and method for automating the operation of a manual control valve upon the occurrence of a specified condition includes a valve handle engaging member mounted on an operating shaft turned by a motor held by a housing or support which is mountable to the manual valve body or associated conduit. The motor is operated by a motor control circuit when a sensor detects the condition. The structure and method of mounting may include a quick disconnect mechanism. The control circuit may operate at different power levels depending on the state of the sensor.
US08931751B2	Molding tool for original shaping or reshaping of components composed of materials that can be thermally influenced The invention relates to a molding tool for the production of components composed of fiber composite materials, in which the molding tool has a fiber composite structure and an electrical resistance heating element, whereby carbon fibers or carbon filaments are embedded into the fiber composite structure of the molding tool in a plastic matrix, close to the shaping surface of the molding tool. Such a molding tool is further developed in that the carbon fibers or carbon filaments in the plastic matrix, close to the shaping surface, essentially determine the mechanical strength of the molding tool, and that the electrical resistance heating element is interconnected in such a manner that at least individual sections of the electrical resistance heating element form an electrical parallel circuit with one another.
US08931749B2	Base for supporting an upstanding mast A portable base is provided for supporting an upstanding mast and particularly a davit with a jib where the jib includes a load connecting point arranged such that on application of a load beyond a predetermined limit the spacing of the load connecting point from the mast is reduced to reduce a side load on the base. The base includes bottom and side panels connected edge to edge to form a container with a hollow interior filled by concrete where at least one side by side panels forming a top wall has a sleeve extends from the panel at least partly through the hollow interior to the base. The sleeve which is welded to reinforcing bars passing through the material receives and supports the mast and is held in place by forces contributed both by the set filling material and the panels.
US08931745B2	Securing and supporting apparatus for mobile electronic devices An apparatus for securing and supporting a mobile electronic device, comprising a protective shell for mounting the mobile electronic device, the protective shell comprising a female connector, wherein the female connector having a first magnet; and a support for fixing to a supporting surface, the support comprising a male connector, wherein the male connector having a second magnet; wherein the protective shell and the support constitute a detachable connecting structure; and wherein exposed ends of the first magnet and the second magnet having opposite magnetic poles. When joining the protective shell and the support, the male and female connectors need only be placed in approximate of each other for the connectors to be drawn towards each other and guided into proper alignment by magnetic force exerted by the two magnets. This way, the user's sight on the joining process is not necessary.
US08931739B1	Aircraft having inflatable fuselage A method and apparatus for deploying an aircraft. An inflation system is activated to generate a gas. A fuselage of the aircraft is inflated with the gas. The fuselage comprises a frame for the aircraft and a number of flexible layers associated with the frame in which the number of flexible layers are configured to define a volume for at least a portion of the aircraft when the number of flexible layers are in an inflated configuration.
US08931738B2	Releasable radome cover A protective cover (10) for an instrument dome (12) extending from a body (20) of a vehicle, such as a missile. The cover (10) includes multiple segments (14 and 16) having trailing ends (18) connectable to the body (20) at joints (22) that allow for rotational movement. The cover (10) further includes a releasable holder (26) that includes a retention device (28) that holds leading ends (24) of the segments (14 and 16) together, and a release mechanism (30) for causing the retention device (28) to release the leading ends (24). The joints (22) hold the trailing ends (18) of the segments (14 and 16) to the body (20) through a predetermined range of motion beyond which the segments (14 and 16) will be released to separate from the body (20) when the segments (14 and 16) rotate beyond the predetermined range.
US08931737B2	Shower system for aircraft A shower unit for an aircraft comprises: a shower head, and controls to manually control the water output. A shower enclosure defines a receiving cavity to receive the user. The shower enclosure supports the shower head and the controls for the user to shower in the receiving cavity. The shower enclosure comprises a first door on a first side of the shower enclosure, and a second door on a second side of the shower enclosure to define a passageway through the shower enclosure. The shower unit is adapted to be positioned in the aircraft such that the passageway communicates between two separate zones of the aircraft.
US08931735B2	Temporary clamp-on landing gear wheel safety zone fence A safety device to separate personnel from landing gear tires which incorporates a clamping collar configured to wrap around a landing gear post. A support frame extends outward from the clamping collar and defines a perimeter around the landing gear. A mesh skirt extends downward from the support frame.
US08931734B2	Ram air turbine release cable assembly A ram air turbine assembly is provided including a release cable coupled at a first end to a turbine release pin and coupled at a second end to a release lever. Aluminum tubing surrounds a portion of the release cable. An upper cable bracket supports the aluminum tubing adjacent the first end of the release cable. A lower cable bracket supports the aluminum tubing adjacent the second end of the release cable. The lower cable bracket includes a threaded bushing having an axial bore for receiving the release cable. The threaded bushing is in direct contact with an end fitting coupled to the aluminum tubing.
US08931733B2	Wing for an aircraft An aerodynamic body that can be adjusted relative to a main wing of an aircraft by an adjusting device is provided. A gap between the aerodynamic body and another aerodynamic body or a component of the fuselage or the main wing is formed on one lateral end and said and the gap is variable due to the adjustability of the aerodynamic body. The body features a gap bridge-over device with a shell part that extends along the gap and overlaps the outer shell of the aerodynamic body in the wingspread direction on the front side thereof so that the shell part can be telescopically moved relative to this aerodynamic body in the wingspread direction. An airfoil for an aircraft with a main wing and a plurality of aerodynamic bodies that are arranged adjacent to one another transverse to the chord direction is also provided.
US08931732B2	Electric powered rotary-wing aircraft A rotary-wing aircraft with an electric motor mounted along an axis of rotation to drive a rotor system about the axis of rotation.
US08931727B2	Dual-aircraft atmospheric platform A platform including two winged aircraft are tethered during flight by a single tether near their respective centers of gravity. The tether is windable about a reel, so that a distance between the aircraft can be changed during flight. The aircraft contain avionics configured to enable autonomous flight using natural wind gradients. One aircraft imposes aerodynamic forces on the other, through the tether, while flying at an altitude where wind speed is significantly different than wind speed at an altitude of the other aircraft. The two aircraft cruise back and forth within a maximum distance from a station on the ground. Cruise conditions are established using an iterative computer algorithm which utilizes flight measurements. The aircraft communicate information between each other, and the ground, and contain a payload which performs a useful function at high altitudes.
US08931726B2	Wire winding-off auxiliary device To provide a wire unwinding auxiliary device capable of, compared to a conventional device, effectively preventing an unwound wire material from getting twisted, entangled or flawed.A wire unwinding auxiliary device used for guiding an unwound wire material when unwinding the wire material which is wound in a coiled shape. The device comprises a plurality of rotation members 1a-1e on which the unwound wire material is set to run therethrough, and a non-rotation member 2 provided adjacent to at least a rotation member 1a through which the wire material passes first in the plurality of rotation members 1a-1e, thereby a running path of the wire material is stabilized between the non-rotation member 2 and the rotation member 1a.
US08931718B2	Valve assembly for an injection valve and injection valve A valve assembly for an injection valve may include a valve body comprising a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet, and a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet in further positions, the valve needle comprising a radially extending protrusion and an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle and comprising an armature in the cavity. The armature comprises an armature cavity having a first stop surface and a second stop surface that faces the first stop surface. The protrusion of the valve needle is arranged in the armature cavity axially between the first stop surface and the second stop surface such that a relative movement between the valve needle and the armature in axial direction is limited.
US08931717B2	Nozzle design for high temperature attemperators An improved spray nozzle assembly for use in a steam desuperheating device that is adapted to spray cooling water into a flow of superheated steam. The nozzle assembly is of simple construction with relatively few components, and thus requires a minimal amount of maintenance. In addition, the nozzle assembly is specifically configured to, among other things, prevent thermal shock to prescribed internal structural components thereof, to prevent “sticking” of a valve element thereof, and to create a substantially uniformly distributed spray of cooling water for spraying into a flow of superheated steam in order to reduce the temperature of the steam.
US08931714B1	Apparatus and method for an improved synthetic jet actuator A synthetic jet actuator employs a case having a cavity with an orifice. An intermediate interface is contained within the case adjacent the cavity. The intermediate interfaced is excited in a sloshing mode to expand or reduce the volume of the cavity thereby entraining air into or expelling air from the cavity.
US08931710B2	Rotary atomizer having electro-magnetic bearings and a permanent magnet rotar An improved rotary disc atomizer for use in, for example, spray dryers or congealers is disclosed. The rotary disc may be directly mounted to the shaft of a high-speed electrical motor. The high-speed electrical motor comprises a permanent magnet rotor and electro-magnetic bearings. The electro-magnetic bearings may be supported by one or more upper/lower bearing housings and used to enable frictionless support of the shaft/rotor and rotary disc. The atomizer system may further comprise a gas distributor enabled to dynamically adjust the velocity at which the gas leaves the radial vanes and meets with the atomized droplets.
US08931709B2	Rail A rail or grooved rail having upper and lower parts made of different materials, the upper part having a head and being made of a water-resistant material, and the lower part being made of structural steel, and wherein the lower part of the rail is a profile element having a web or a flat element forming a web.
US08931707B2	Appliance with thermostatic controls An appliance comprises a burner and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the burner in order to create a low-pressure area for siphoning fuel to the burner. A flame sensor senses for the presence or absence of a flame in the burner and a temperature sensor senses an actual temperature of the appliance. There is a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The controller shuts off the compressor and overrides the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is present when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of the appliance is greater than a maximum threshold temperature. The controller starts up the compressor overriding the flame sensor such that the appliance acts as if a flame is absent when the temperature sensor senses that the actual temperature of appliance is less than a minimum threshold temperature.
US08931706B2	Mixed water control valve having a water pressure balance function to stabilize a water temperature A mixed water control valve for a faucet includes a control unit, two mounting seats and a balance unit. The control unit includes a valve housing, a rotation plate and a control handle. The balance unit includes a fixed sleeve and a pressure regulating sleeve. The pressure regulating sleeve is movable in the fixed sleeve by a pressure differential between the two mounting seats to control the water flow rate of the cold and hot water of the two mounting seats and to regulate the water pressure automatically so as to provide a pressure balance and to stabilize the temperature of the mixed cold and hot water in the valve housing so that the mixed water flowing from the valve housing is kept at a constant temperature.
US08931704B2	Transaction card The present invention relates to a process for producing an opaque, transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features, such as a holographic foil, integrated circuit chip, silver magnetic stripe with text on the magnetic stripe, opacity gradient, an invisible optically recognizable compound, a translucent signature field such that the signature on back of the card is visible from the front of the card and an active thru date on the front of the card. The invisible optically recognizable compound is preferably an infrared ink comprising an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink can be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.
US08931701B2	Methods and systems for authenticating and tracking objects In part, the invention relates to a security feature for authenticating an object having an outer surface and an inner surface. The security feature includes a substrate having a length and a width and a two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of two dimensional regions, the plurality of two dimensional regions disposed in the substrate, the two-dimensional code is substantially invisible when inspected during exposure to visible light and readable during exposure to ultraviolet light.
US08931699B1	Bidirectional audio communication in reader devices Aspects of the subject disclosure provide a card reader for receiving payment card information at a mobile point-of-sale terminal. In some implementations, a reader of the subject technology can include a memory, a conditioning module and a 3.5 mm audio plug including an audio bus that is configured for insertion into a headphone port of a host device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer. Implementations of the subject technology also include a microprocessor configured to perform operations for receiving a training sequence for use in determining communication parameters associated with a mobile device, and in response to the training sequence, transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the mobile device, via the audio bus, to indicate that a communicative coupling with the mobile device has been successfully established.
US08931693B1	Extracting card data using IIN database Extracting card data comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, a digital image of a card; perform an image recognition process on the digital representation of the card; identifying an image in the digital representation of the card; comparing the identified image to an image database comprising a plurality of images and determining that the identified image matches a stored image in the image database; determining a card type associated with the stored image and associating the card type with the card based on the determination that the identified image matches the stored image; and performing a particular optical character recognition algorithm on the digital representation of the card, the particular optical character recognition algorithm being based on the determined card type. Another example uses an issuer identification number to improve data extraction. Another example compares extracted data with user data to improve accuracy.
US08931689B2	Systems and methods for anti-counterfeit authentication through communication networks An anti-counterfeit authentication system provides authentication services over available communication networks. The system assigns unique anti-counterfeit certificates to authentic items. The certificates are stored in anti-counterfeit tags that are attached to the authentic items. An authentication server provides authentication services to authentication clients over the communication networks. The authentication clients read, via tag readers, the anti-counterfeit certificates from the tags associated with items to be authenticated, provide the anti-counterfeit certificates to the authentication server which determines authenticity and supplies authentication results back to the authentication clients.
US08931688B2	System and method for currency validation A system and method for currency validation of a bank note with a radio frequency identification device therein utilizes a computer, server and communication link and a smartphone including an RFID reader, transmitter/receiver and an internet connection. A bank note is issued with a value, a serial number and a secret seed message that is also saved on the issuer's server. A tamper proof RFID mu-chip is embedded in the currency note and includes the value, serial number, plus the secret message for making a calculation. The smartphone reads the information on the chip and requests an issuer/authenticator to validate the note. The issuer/authenticator transmits a challenge and the mu-chip calculates an answer that is sent to the issuer/authenticator. An approval or disapproval is then sent to the smartphone.
US08931686B2	Polygonal containers having a locking bottom and blanks and methods for forming the same A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes two end panels, two side panels, and four corner panels connected in series along a plurality of fold lines. The blank further includes a plurality of bottom panels each extending from one panel of the end panels and the side panels. The plurality of bottom panels is configured to define a locking slot and a locking tab that is insertable into the locking slot to form a bottom wall of the container.
US08931684B2	Induction bonding The described embodiment relates generally to the field of inductive bonding. More specifically an inductive heater designed for use in assembling electronics is disclosed. A number of methods for shaping a magnetic field are disclosed for the purpose of completing an inductive bonding process without causing harm to unshielded adjacent electrical components.
US08931682B2	Robotically-controlled shaft based rotary drive systems for surgical instruments A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.
US08931680B2	Surgical instrument with safety mechanism A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a safety mechanism, an elongated body portion and a head portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a stationary handle, an approximation mechanism, and a firing trigger. A lever of the safety mechanism is movable between a first position where the firing trigger is prevented from being actuated, and a second position where the firing trigger is able to be actuated. A first jaw member of the head portion is movable in relation to a second jaw member of the head portion between spaced and approximated positions. Movement of the first jaw member in relation to the second jaw member from the approximated position towards the spaced position causes the lever of the safety mechanism to move from its second position to its first position.
US08931678B2	Pneumatic tool having a passage unit A pneumatic tool includes: a body; a pneumatic driving unit disposed in the body for performing pneumatically a fastener-driving operation; a trigger valve unit disposed on the body and adapted for controlling flow of air into the pneumatic driving unit and out of the body; and a passage unit formed in the body and including an air storing chamber adapted for guiding flow of air into the trigger valve unit, a bidirectional passage for intercommunicating the trigger valve unit and the pneumatic driving unit, an exhaust passage communicated with the trigger valve unit, and an expansion passage adapted for intercommunicating the exhaust passage and the atmosphere and extending along a peripheral portion of the body as to permit flow of air from the exhaust passage into the atmosphere therethrough.
US08931659B2	Pressure cooker with a plastic trim A domestic pressure cooker (1) is disclosed comprising at least a pan (2) and a lid designed to be added to the pan (2) to form a cooking chamber with the latter. The lid has an inside face designed to be positioned opposite the inside of the chamber and an outside face opposite thereof, characterized in that it comprises a plastic trim which substantially covers all of the outside face.
US08931657B2	Pharmaceutical container with child-resistant closure A pharmaceutical container including a bottle having a bottom wall and side walls. A ridge proximate to the bottom wall projects from an interior surface of at least one of the side walls, to facilitate nested stacking of a plurality of bottles. One or more of the side walls includes a cover locking receptacle proximate to the top end of the side wall. The pharmaceutical container also includes a cover including a sliding lid contained in a cover housing. The cover housing has a top wall, which includes an opening, and cover side walls. A child-resistant closure mechanism is also provided to limit the movement between the sliding lid and the bottle.
US08931655B2	Bin lid and bin incorporating same There is disclosed a lid for a bin, particularly a front-lift bin, the lid being configured for engagement, at an end thereof, with an open-topped receptacle of the bin whereby the lid is pivotable between an open position in which it is substantially clear of the open top to permit emptying of the bin by inversion of the bin, and a closed position, in which it covers the open top, the lid further comprising a closure which is movable across an opening defined through the lid, between an open condition, in which it permits waste to be placed into the receptacle through the opening at the end, and a closed condition, in which it covers the opening. There is also disclosed a bin incorporating the lid.
US08931652B2	Lockable cap for a bottle A lockable cap is a security feature for a medical prescription bottle. The lockable cap may have a dial locking mechanism that is attached to the cap and the dial locking mechanism and the cap can be attached or removed from the bottle only when the user has the correct combination on the dial lock. When the combination is incorrect, the cap cannot be removed from the bottle.
US08931650B2	Vented baby bottle Baby bottles can have a single container, or two containers to create a space for thermal isolation, as selected by the user. The baby bottle can be vented to allow air to enter the bottle through a passageway as liquid is removed. A filter and one-way valve can be provided in the passageway. The passageway can be formed by radially aligning a vent opening in a top cap with a vent opening in a nipple flange, or by providing a channel in the top cap which is always in radial alignment with both the top cap vent opening and the flange vent opening.
US08931649B2	Rack structure for cup objects The creation is a rack for cup objects, which provides a rack easy to use and capable of placing cup objects, including: an integrated bended form of two vertical rods providing with symmetrical, vertically separated aligned oblique projections, wherein the oblique projections are inclined to the two vertical rods with oblique angles, a space is formed between upper and lower oblique projections, the space may contain embedded cup objects, and the oblique projection may be used to jam the cup cover of the cup object such that the effect that the cup object is positioned, undetached, and thus multiple cup objects may be positioned in alignment and easy to access is achieved.
US08931648B1	Horizontal frame storage system A horizontal frame support assembly allows a user to raise a frame with an irregular shape from a surface. The horizontal frame support assembly comprises a hub section mechanically coupled to a plurality of arms where each arm is attached to a frame support. Each frame support is configured to receive a portion of the frame with the irregular shape and has sufficient height to lift the frame from the surface.
US08931638B2	System for packaging a coiled product A system for packaging a product stored in a coil having an interior surface that defines a bore, the system including a container having a base and a wall extending upward from the base, the wall defining a space for receiving the coil; a pad supported on the base of the container, the pad including an outer portion that underlies the coil and a plurality of tabs extending inward from the outer portion, wherein the tabs on the pad are circumferentially spaced and define pad notches therebetween; a drum core having a first end and a second end, the drum core being insertable within the bore of the coil, the first end of the drum core having a plurality of tabs extending axially outward therefrom, the plurality of tabs being circumferentially spaced from each other to define notches therebetween, wherein upon insertion, the tabs on the first end of the drum core are received within pad notches and the tabs on the pad extend radially inward into the notches defined by the tabs on the drum core.
US08931637B2	Medical lumen access device assembly including medical lumen access device holder and method of use A medical lumen access device assembly includes a medical lumen access device holder including an elongate tube defining a lumen extending from a proximal opening of the elongate tube to a distal opening of the elongate tube. A check valve is positioned over an opening of the elongate tube and includes a valve member having a biased closed position wherein an internal volume defined by the lumen is fluidly blocked from an exterior of the elongate tube at the opening and an open position defining a fluid path from the exterior to the internal volume through the opening. The medical lumen access device assembly also includes a medical lumen access device disposed at least partially within the lumen and having a proximal segment extending beyond the distal opening. At least a portion of the medical lumen access device includes a hydrophilic coating.
US08931634B2	Drinking straw for dispensing substances with one-way valve A drinking straw that can be used to dispense a substance such as vitamins, pharmaceuticals, or diet supplements that is stored inside of the straw body. The straw includes a one-way liquid flow valve at one end of straw that prevents drawn liquid and any of the dissolved materials from returning to the initial liquid source that is drawn through the straw when the straw is not in use. The straw may include a one-way valve or crimp for acting as a one-way valve.
US08931627B2	Bottle pushing mechanism for tunnel type sterilizing dryer A bottle pushing mechanism for a tunnel type sterilizing dryer, includes a bottle pushing block (2) and at least one barb (5) cooperated with meshes of a transmitting mesh belt (1). The barb (5) is connected with the bottle pushing block (2). The bottle pushing block (2) could move along with the transmitting mesh belt (1) by the barb (5). The bottle pushing mechanism has a simple and compact structure, convenient installation, high reliability, good transmitting effect and no pollution.
US08931624B2	Transport system for accommodating and transporting flexible substrates This invention relates to a transport foil/film as well as a transport system for holding and transport of at least one thin flexible substrate and a corresponding method and a use of a flexible transport foil/film for holding and for transport of at least one thin, flexible substrate, the substrates being able to be fixed or being fixed at least temporarily on the transport foil/film and the transport foil/film being drivable by driving means for transport of the substrates.
US08931619B2	Egg transport device for a packaging device for eggs The present invention relates to an egg transport device for a packaging device for eggs, comprising a distribution conveyor which extends in a direction of transport from a feed outer end to a discharge outer end and which, as seen in the direction of transport, is bounded on either side by guides extending at least substantially in the direction of transport, which egg transport device is adapted to deliver eggs over at least two discharge tracks of a discharge conveyor (12) which are distributed in a width direction extending at right angles to the direction of transport, wherein the feed conveyor comprises at least over a part of its length at least two distribution belts (17) extending parallel to each other and drivable independently of each other by drive devices, and distributing sections (9) lying in the line thereof, and sensors (7,10) are further provided which during use detect the delivery of an egg to a distributing section (9).
US08931617B2	Device and method for removing objects from a moving transport device A device and a method for removing objects from a moving transport device having objects standing in a row thereon, including a removing device for pushing and thus removing selected objects at a right angle or any other angle with respect to the direction of travel of the transport device. The removing device is formed by a position-controlled linear actuator.
US08931612B2	Device for operating a parking lock The invention relates to a device for operating a parking lock of an automatic transmission in motor vehicles, with pawl which interacts with a ratchet wheel, which pawl is impinged upon by a spring energy accumulator (24) and for disengaging the parking lock can be hydraulically impinged upon against the preload force of the spring energy accumulator (24) by a hydraulic transmission control with corresponding control valves, wherein the control valves are controllable in accordance with operating parameters of the motor vehicle and a electromagnetically operable locking element (28), which in the controlled state in defined operating conditions additionally holds the pawl in the disengaged position. According to the invention, a purely hydraulically acting self locking valve (40) is integrated in the hydraulic transmission control (10), which locking valve maintains the controlled system pressure when the parking lock operation (14) is pressurized or when the parking lock is disengaged.
US08931607B2	Centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber A centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber (CPVA) for absorbing torsional vibration created by operation of an engine includes a plurality of pendulums moveable with respect to a rotatable shaft. The pendulums are connected to the rotatable shaft by a plurality of pins that extend through apertures in the pendulum. The pendulums each move along a path defined by various drive line or powertrain parameters and characteristics. The path is implemented by contouring an active section of the apertures that engage the pins.
US08931605B2	Fluid pressure damper A fluid pressure damper is provided with a damper main body composed of an outer tube and an inner tube, a bottom member for sealing a bottom side opening of the damper main body, a suspension spring and a damper. The damper includes a cylinder storing a working fluid inside. The cylinder is inserted into the inner tube and fixed to the bottom member by being sandwiched between a head member fixed to a joint member coupled to the inner tube and the bottom member. The joint member includes a stopper member with the inner periphery of which the head member is threadably engaged, and a pin member which couples the stopper member to the inner periphery of the inner tube. The suspension spring is supported by the stopper member.
US08931604B2	Damper assembly with monotube and dynamic compression valve and vehicle having same The damper assembly has a damper housing at least partially defining an interior chamber. A free piston is positioned in the damper housing to separate the interior chamber into a gas-filled chamber and a fluid-filled chamber. A piston assembly is configured to move within the fluid-filled chamber and separates the fluid-filled chamber into an extension chamber and a compression chamber. A valve assembly separates the compression chamber into a primary chamber adjacent the piston assembly and a secondary chamber adjacent the free piston. The valve assembly is configured to restrict flow from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber to cause a pressure drop during compression by the piston assembly. The free piston is configured to slide within the damper housing in response to fluid displacement caused by movement of the piston rod in the fluid-filled chamber.
US08931599B2	Damping end-stop of electric braking apparatus An electric braking apparatus is provided and includes an electromechanical actuator (EMA) configured to apply an axial load on a brake stack and a damping end-stop. The damping end-stop is configured to transmit torque into the EMA and includes an end cap, a screw disposed such that a longitudinal axis about which the screw is rotatable extends through the end cap, a nut threadably engaged with the screw and movable with the end cap relative to the screw with screw rotation and a spring element anchored on the end cap to resist the screw rotation beyond a predefined position.
US08931594B2	Prop for a three-dimensional framework, connecting assembly for a railing device, and method for attaching a railing device to a prop The invention relates to a prop (32.1, 32.3) for a three-dimensional framework, particularly a scaffold (20), comprising a fastening mechanism (38) for attaching a railing device (28) to the prop (32.1, 32.3). The invention also relates to a connecting assembly for a railing device (28), comprising at least one prop (32.1, 32.3) for a three-dimensional framework, especially a scaffold (20), and a railing device (28) which can be attached to the prop (32.1, 32.3) with the help of a fastening mechanism (38). Also disclosed is a method for attaching a railing device (28) to a prop (32.1, 32.3) for a three-dimensional framework, especially a scaffold (20), with the help of a fastening mechanism (38). The fastening mechanism (38) encompasses a locking element which can be swiveled about a swivel pin. In the locked position, the locking surface of the locking element lies across from a bearing surface (43) of a support element that is mounted on the prop (32.1, 32.3). Furthermore, in the locked position and in the operational position of the prop (32.1, 32.3), the locking surface of the locking element is disposed at a vertical distance above the bearing surface of the support element, and/or in the operational position of the prop (32.1, 32.3), the swivel pin is placed at a vertical distance above the locking surface that is in the locking position, preferably also at a vertical distance above the bearing surface of the support element.
US08931591B2	Simplified modal attenuator A modal attenuator may include an attenuator body having a lead-in segment and a lead-out segment joined by a connection segment, a perforated screen disposed within the attenuator body and spaced apart from the attenuator body to form an annular space, and a plurality of rings disposed between the perforated screen and the attenuator body. When fluid flows through the modal attenuator, sound waves pass through the perforated screen and are reflected back by the plurality of rings to disrupt other sound waves, thereby reducing fluid noise in the modal attenuator.
US08931589B2	Damper arrangement and method for designing same A damper arrangement (10) has a first Helmholtz damper (11) connected in series to a second Helmholtz damper (12). The resonance frequency of the first Helmholtz damper (11) and the resonance frequency of the second Helmholtz damper (12) are shifted from one another in an amount producing a synergic damping effect.
US08931588B2	Acoustic panel An acoustic panel includes a first cellular layer with cells having a first axis, a second cellular layer with cells having a second axis, and a perforated septum layer separating the first layer and the second layer. The cells of both layers have an end distal to the septum layer and an end which meets the septum layer, and the maximum diameter of the cells of the first layer is less than the maximum diameter of the cells of the second layer.
US08931580B2	Method for using dynamic target region for well path/drill center optimization Method for determining one or more optimal well trajectories and a drill center location for hydrocarbon production. A well path and drill center optimization problem (55) is solved in which one constraint is that a well trajectory must intersect a finite size target region (61) in each formation of interest, or in different parts of the same formation. The finite target size provides flexibility for the optimization problem to arrive at a more advantageous solution. Typical well path optimization constraints are also applied, such as anti-collision constraints and surface site constraints (62).
US08931578B2	Robotic tunneling system A tunneling system is disclosed that includes a surface power-controller, umbilical tether, robotic tender, and robotic tunneling device. This system allows the robotic tunneling device to efficiently create new tunnels using the power and fluids provided from the surface through the robotic drilling tender, as well as a way to efficiently manage cuttings below surface. The system is designed to operate not only when the well is not producing, but also on a continuous basis while the well is producing.
US08931571B2	Fire sprinkler extension and head adaptor The present invention is embodied in a sprinkler head adaptor assembly including a sprinkler head adaptor having a generally cylindrical shape and a female threaded interior wall in a central aperture for receiving a male threaded sprinkler head. The sprinkler head adaptor includes an exterior surface that includes an exposed portion. The assembly includes a pipe extension formed from an injection moldable material with a length suitable for spanning a distance from a pipe system to sprinkler location that is formed integrally with the sprinkler head adaptor, wherein the exposed portion of sprinkler head adaptor is sized and shaped for engagement with a wrench. A metal ring maybe formed in the central aperture.
US08931568B2	Shunt tube connections for wellscreen assembly A well screen assembly has a base pipe and one or more screen sections attached to the outer surface of the base pipe. The assembly also has one or more shunt tubes attached to the base pipe via top and bottom rings. The shunt tubes can be attached to the screen sections via B-rings and may be transport tubes or packing tubes. Connections are used for securing a jumper tube to adjoining shunt tubes of adjoining screen sections of the wellscreen assembly, which may be used in open or cased holes. At a well site, the joints of the wellscreens have timed threads so that the various shunt tubes can be aligned with one another along the assembly as the joints are made up. The connections of the present disclosure allow operators to install a jumper tubes between shunt tubes at the joint without needing to tighten fasteners or assembly components.
US08931565B2	Delayed opening wellbore tubular port closure A wellbore tubular port closure system includes a mechanism to delay the opening of the port the port closure has been actuated to open. A port opening delay mechanism configured to act after actuation of the pressure responsive mechanism to delay full movement of the port-closure to the port-open position until after a selected time has lapsed.
US08931564B2	Method and apparatus to transport subterranean oil to the surface A method to extract oil for a pool of oil in the ground utilizes an interconnected series of rotating helical blades extending from the surface of the ground through a canted bore to the pool of oil. The blades can be staggered and interconnected with a gear arrangement that moves oil from pool to pool and up to the surface of the ground.
US08931560B2	Downhole swivel apparatus and method What is provided is a method and apparatus which can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve of the swivel.
US08931559B2	Downhole isolation and depressurization tool A depressurization tool is described for use downhole in depressurizing an isolated zone. A decompression chamber containing a compressible fluid volume is described. The opening of the chamber is sealed with a closure that is configured to open upon application of a pressure differential across the opening. When used downhole within an isolated and nonpermeable wellbore zone, excessive ambient pressure will cause the closure to open and allow the chamber to fill with fluid at increased pressure, depressurizing the wellbore zone. The tool is useful in wellbore completion systems that include sliding sleeves.
US08931558B1	Flow line cleanout device A flow line cleanout device for a coiled tubing head of a coiled tubing string is comprised of a hydraulic vane motor assembly having a rotor configured for attachment to and rotation of a work tool such as a fluid ejecting nozzle to be inserted into a flow line. Seals around the device seal the flow line so that fluid pressure behind the coiled tubing head force fluid through the hydraulic vane motor assembly to rotate the rotor and the attached nozzle in response to pressure changes created by check valves. Jets of fluid from the rotating nozzle serve to wash and remove blockages in the flow line and facilitate the insertion and advancement of the coiled tubing string.
US08931552B2	Cables for downhole use A cable and tubing suspends an electrically powered tool in a borehole and provides the tool with electrical power. The cable is disposed in the tubing, and the cable incorporates a conducting member which carries the majority of the tensile stress on the cable without the cable being secured along its length to the inside of the tubing. The cable may be capable of supplying high voltage electrical power, in which case the cable comprises a conducting member having a steel core, an outer cladding of copper, and at least one insulating layer surrounding the outer cladding of copper. The copper makes up between 20% and 40% of the total metal content of the cable, the cable being able to support at least its own weight.
US08931547B2	Vehicle air conditioning system A vehicle air conditioning system includes an electric powered refrigerant compressing device, an evaporator, an electric heater, an air temperature determining component, a cabin interior temperature controlling component, an upper limit electric power setting component, and an electric power distribution controller. The evaporator receives refrigerant from the compressing device. The heater is downstream of the evaporator in an air passageway. The determining component determines a first air temperature upstream of the evaporator and a second air temperature between the evaporator and the heater. The controlling component sets a vehicle interior discharge air temperature at a position downstream of the heater to a target temperature. The power setting component sets an upper limit for power supplied to the compressing device and the heater. The power distribution controller distributes the upper limit electric power to the compressing device and the heater based on a ratio of upstream and downstream temperature differences.
US08931543B2	Die casting cooled pistons The invention relates to a die casting piston (20) and a respective support (2). The piston has a wall (21) in which channels for a coolant flow are obtained: this improves the thermal exchange between the piston and the coolant, leading to greater cooling efficiency.
US08931537B2	Insulated window assembly A main support frame is formed from sections of a plastic extrusion and has opposite side portions with peripheral recesses receiving an inner sash unit and outer sash unit each having a frame formed from sections of a plastic extrusion and supporting an insulated glass window unit. Hinges support the dual sash units for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, and gear connected telescopic link members connect the main frame to the sash frames for simultaneous movement. A lock system includes a handle on the inner sash unit for moving straps with studs on the sash frames through a connector mechanism mounted on the main frame for simultaneously locking and releasing both sash units and for releasing only the inner sash unit. A screen and/or mini-blind may be supported between the sash units, and the window system with dual sash units may be constructed in various forms.
US08931533B2	Tire and method of producing the same An object of the invention is to provide a tire and a method of producing the tire, in which tire breakage of a groove fence in vulcanization molding and generation of cracks at a groove bottom can be suppressed, noise is relatively low and uneven wear is less likely to occur. At least one of a groove wall 71 surface of the circumferential groove 222 and a side wall 43 surface of a stepped land portion 41 is provided with a groove fence 51 which are formed in the extending direction of the circumferential groove at a predetermined intervals therebetween such that the groove fence protrudes in the groove widthwise direction of the circumferential groove. The groove fence 51 is characterized in that: it has a thin wall portion 53 having a shape in which a portion 61 thereof on the side of the groove bottom of the circumferential groove has been notched in a section orthogonal to the circumferential groove 22; and an angle formed by a notched face 53a of the thin wall portion 53 with respect to the at least one of the wall surfaces 71 provided with the groove fence 51 is set at 70° or smaller.
US08931532B2	Rain tyre A tire includes a tread band provided with a tread pattern including a first and a second portion of tread pattern, repeated just the same along the circumferential extent of the tire, forming respectively a short pitch module and a long pitch module of the tread pattern, wherein the modules include a respective first transverse groove in which, starting from an axially outer first end thereof toward an opposed axially inner second end thereof, an initial section and a section of enlarged cross-section are formed, the latter being blind, at least on its axially inner side, when in the footprint area. The initial section and the section of enlarged cross-section have, respectively, a first width and a second width, and the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a short pitch module is greater than the ratio between the second width and the first width of a first transverse groove belonging to a long pitch module.
US08931528B2	Stock feeder for woodworking equipment A stock feeder for woodworking equipment includes a base, a cross clamp, a horizontal bar unit, a vertical bar unit, a feeding unit, and an electrical unit. The electrical unit has an electrical unit main body and a variable-frequency drive. The electrical unit main body has a first housing, a plurality of heat dissipation grooves provided on the outer periphery of the first housing, and a power fan which is independently mounted on a top portion of the first housing and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves. The variable-frequency drive has a second housing, a variable-frequency circuit sealed in the second housing, and a control panel exposed outside the second housing. The second housing has an outer surface provided with a plurality of heat dissipation slots corresponding in position to and in communication with the heat dissipation grooves of the electrical unit main body.
US08931524B2	Fluid transferer, fluid filling apparatus and fluid transfer method A fluid transferer, including a volume changing part; a reciprocating member configured to reciprocate to expand a volume of the volume changing part to draw a fluid from an upstream side of a transfer direction and compress the volume thereof to transfer the drawn fluid to a downstream side thereof with pressure; and a drive controller configured to control reciprocation of the reciprocating member such that a time for compressing the volume of the volume changing part is longer than a time for expanding the volume thereof.
US08931523B2	Tank venting device for a fuel tank of a vehicle, and method for venting a fuel tank The invention relates to a tank venting system for a fuel tank (12) of a vehicle, having a vent line (14) for discharge of gaseous hydrocarbons from the fuel tank (12) during refueling thereof. Gaseous hydrocarbons originating from the fuel tank (12) can be introduced in a filler pipe (20) of the fuel tank (12) via a recirculation line (24). A control device (34) controls a proportional valve (32) and changes in this way a pass-through cross section of the recirculation line (24). In this way, a load of an activated charcoal filter (16) which is coupled with the vent line (14) can be minimized. The control device (34) can especially determine a pressure in the fuel tank (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of venting a fuel tank (12) during refueling thereof.
US08931521B2	Bent thermoplastic pipe A method for producing a bent pipe from thermoplastic material with end cross-sections, central points of which have in relation to one another a positional tolerance on the basis of LN xy/JAR xy/FAR xy in relation to one another. A straight pipe element is introduced into a tool and a portion of the straight pipe element is heated that is located in the bending region to a temperature which lies above a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material by a first temperature value. The straight pipe element is bent about the heated bending region of the tool by a freely selectable bending angle, which has a spatial alignment in an XYZ system of coordinates that is fixed with respect to the pipe. The pipe is then cooled below the glass transition temperature by a second temperature value.
US08931520B2	Pipe with integrated process monitoring The present invention provides a pipe featuring an inner core; an outer pipe wall; and measurement instrumentation configured or arranged between the inner core and outer pipe wall, and also configured to respond to one or more process variables related to media flowing in the pipe and to provide a signal containing information about the one or more process variables. The pipe may include a pipe liner configured inside the outer pipe wall, where the measurement instrumentation in configured on the inside of the pipe liner.
US08931519B2	Pin valve assembly A pin valve assembly and a method of controlling the flow of fluids comprising a pin block housing pin valves, a fluid plate with a fluid channel for fluidically communicating with the pin valves, and a fitting block housing fittings for fluidic communication with the fluid plate and for fluidic communication with fluidic components. The fluid flow through the channels of the fluid plate are controlled by the fluidic components and the pin valves.
US08931517B2	Solenoid valve The present invention provides a solenoid valve able to control flow amount as desired without receiving influence of change in fluid pressure. In the present invention, in a control valve for opening and closing a first poppet valve 103 and a second poppet valve 104 by a solenoid portion, a first pressure receiving area S1 which is a seating area of the first poppet valve 103, a second pressure receiving area S2 which is a seating area of the second poppet valve 104, a third pressure receiving area S3 which is a pressure receiving area of a first pressure sensing portion 145 and a fourth pressure receiving area S4 which is a pressure receiving area of a second pressure sensing portion 155 are made approximately equal to each other. Thereby unbalanced forces received from fluid flowing in and out when each poppet valve is actuated are all canceled.
US08931513B1	Water supply shut-off system A water supply shut-off system is provided that includes a water line, a main shut-off valve, and a valve located downstream from the main shut-off valve that has an open position that allows water to flow through the valve, and a closed position that prevents water flow through the valve. A switch is in electrical communication with the valve through a wired connection. Actuation of the switch causes the valve to open and close. The switch is not in communication with the main shut-off valve. A wall outlet for obtaining electricity is also included and has female receivers. A ground fault interrupter is plugged into the wall outlet and is removably attached to the wall outlet to be capable of being unplugged. A wire is connected to the switch for electricity to flow from the wall outlet to the switch.
US08931511B2	Valve device and failure detector of hydraulic circuit A valve device is provided with a contraction-type high polymer gel actuator which laminates slab-like negative plates and mesh-like positive plates alternately and interleaves high polymer gel between each negative plate and each positive plate, and with a first and a second valve mechanisms driven by the gel actuator. The direction of deformation of expansion and contraction of the high polymer gel actuator is the same as the driving direction of the first valve mechanism and perpendicular to the driving direction of the second valve mechanism. The valve device is composed in such a way as to switch opening and closing of a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage simultaneously by means of deformation of expansion and contraction by controlling voltage applied to the high polymer gel actuator. This allows to compose a valve device that can open and close plural oil passages at an identical timing.
US08931505B2	Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods An infrastructure monitoring system and method include multiple communications devices. At least one communications device is coupled to an element of the infrastructure.
US08931501B2	Devices and methods for flow control in microfluidic structures An apparatus for controlling flow in a fluid flow path can include a chamber containing an expandable material, the expandable material being configured to expand out of the chamber into a portion of the fluid flow path so as to at least partially block the fluid flow path. The apparatus also can include at least one structure providing flow communication between the chamber and the fluid flow path. The at least one structure can be configured to pass the expandable material from the chamber to the portion of the fluid flow path during expansion so as to control a rate at which the expandable material expands into the portion of the fluid flow path.
US08931500B2	Two handle centerset faucet A centerset faucet includes an upper support receiving a waterway including first and second valve interfaces. A lower base is coupled to the upper support, wherein a reentrant edge of the lower base is formed over a bottom lip of the upper support to secure the base thereto.
US08931495B1	Systems and methods utilizing baffle boxes for washing-out concrete pouring equipment Systems and methods for recovering particulate matter washed from piece of construction equipment with water. Waste materials washed from the construction equipment are collected in a bin. The liquid in the bin is allowed to drain into a receptacle having a sloped bottom for conveying the liquid to a sump. The liquid in the sump is pumped to a first baffle box extending into a first settlement tank to remove a portion of the particulate matter in the liquid. The liquid cascades from the first settlement tank to a second baffle box extending into a second settlement tank to remove another portion of the particulate matter. The liquid is stored after removal of the portions of the particulate matter for recycling in a tank.
US08931490B2	Systems and methods for nanomagnetic actuation of molecular cell signaling The present invention relates to signaling mechanisms that transduce magnetic inputs into physiological cellular outputs. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for non-invasively controlling cellular signaling functions and behaviors by harnessing receptor-mediated and intracellular molecular-mediated signal transduction using nanomagnetic cellular switches.
US08931488B2	Mouth guard with breathing and drinking aperture A mouth guard includes a pair of spaced-apart molar receiving members with an inner wall extending therebetween. The inner wall is configured for insertion between a user's lips and teeth. An outer wall is configured to confront an exterior surface of the user's lips. A conduit extends between the inner and outer walls and includes a passage formed therethrough. The passage extends through the inner wall between the molar receiving members and extends through the outer wall whereby a user may breathe or drink through the passage.
US08931486B2	Intra-oral appliance for treatment of sleep disorders An intra-oral dental appliance for treatment of sleep disorders including snoring, sleep apnea and nocturnal bruxism. The appliance includes an upper member conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition; a lower member conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition; and a connecting assembly for adjustably coupling the upper and lower members together. The connecting assembly includes a first element mounted on the upper member, the first element having a cavity therein; a second element mounted on the lower member; and a connector having a first end captured within the cavity and a second end adjustably connectable to the second element. The connecting assembly maintains the lower member in a protruded position relative to the upper member to maintain the patency of the user's pharnygeal airway while permitting anterior and lateral movement of the lower member relative to the upper member in the protruded position.
US08931479B2	Dry-powder inhaler An inhaler for delivering dry-powder medicament to a patient from an open blister pocket of a blister pack. The blister pack has a plurality of blister pockets spaced apart in a length direction of the pack and each containing a measured dose of the medicament. The inhaler includes a housing for enclosing used and unused portions of the blister pack together with a medicament dispensing mechanism for opening the blister pockets of the blister pack. The inhaler also includes a manifold through which air can be drawn in use of the inhaler, the manifold including an air inlet for receiving external air, at least one medicament aperture for communicating with an opened pocket of the blister pack to enable entrainment of the medicament by the air drawn through the manifold, and an air outlet for delivery of the entrained medicament to the patient.
US08931478B2	Patient interface assembly for respiratory therapy A patient interface assembly includes a housing that defines an inlet port and an outlet port. A jet pump receives pressurized gas flow from the inlet port and delivers the gas flow to the outlet port. A nebulizer is fluidly coupled to the outlet port and positioned to introduce medication into the gas flow and deliver medicated gas flow to a patient.
US08931477B2	Adjustable oral airway devices, and adjustable oral airway kits Some embodiments include oral airway assemblies that can include a body having an opening extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body with the body having upper and lower portions in one cross section. A flange can be included that extends from the first end of the body and outwardly from the opening. An upper member extending from the upper portion of the second end of the body and outwardly from the opening away from the lower portion can be provided. The assemblies can include a lower member slidably engaged with the body, with at least a portion of the lower member extending outwardly from the lower portion of the second end of the body and away from the upper portion when engaged with the body. In accordance with other embodiments a member can be provided to slidably engage with the body, and include a tab at one end, with the tab being pivotably coupled to the member.
US08931475B2	Systems and methods for control of a solar power tower using infrared thermography Systems and methods for directly monitoring energy flux of a solar receiver in a solar energy-based power generation system include measuring infrared radiation emanating from the solar receiver. Such measurement can be achieved using one or more infrared thermography detectors, such as an IR camera. Resulting thermal data obtained by the imaging can be used to determine energy flux distribution on the receiver. A user or a system controller can use the determined flux distribution to adjust heliostat aiming to achieve a desired operation condition. For example, heliostats can be adjusted to achieve a uniform energy flux distribution across the external surface of the receiver and/or to maximize heat transfer to a fluid flowing through the receiver within system operating limits.
US08931473B2	Method for controlling a cooking point of a gas oven and device In the case of a method for operating a cooking point with a gas burner of a gas hob in which a pan detection is provided for switching off the gas burner when the pan is removed, the pan detection can detect the re-placement of a removed pan onto the cooking point. It then brings about a further operation of the gas burner by igniting the gas burner. When the gas burner is ignited after re-placement of the pan, a power level originally set for the gas burner is only achieved to the full extent with a time delay.
US08931465B1	Crossbow An improved crossbow is provided having a guard that is integrated into the barrel or stock on each side of the stock which runs parallel to the track or area that the arrow sits in for a length of at least where the string is at rest to where the string is held or secured in the ready or firing position while also having a loaded arrow safety actuator system integrated internally within a crossbow so as to be unexposed to the elements associated with normal outside weather hunting conditions. The loaded arrow safety actuator system incorporates a trigger safety and an arrow retention device for retaining an arrow within a crossbow and alerting a user that the arrow is loaded within the track of a crossbow by allowing the trigger safety to move from a ‘safe’ position to a ‘fire’ position.
US08931457B2	Multiplexing drive circuit for an AC ignition system with current mode control and fault tolerance detection A multiplexing drive circuit for an AC ignition system having a common leg that includes two switches coupled in series, and one or more dedicated legs, wherein each leg includes two switches coupled in series. The multiplexing drive circuit also includes a transformer for each of the one or more dedicated legs, each transformer having a primary winding coupled between one of the one or more dedicated legs and the common leg, and wherein each transformer has a secondary winding coupled in parallel to a spark plug, and a pulse-width modulated (PWM) switch controller configured to operate the common leg and dedicated leg switches to control characteristics of the spark discharge for the spark plug. Wherein the switch controller is capable of real time diagnostic checks by monitoring the time at which a spark discharge event takes place.
US08931453B1	Crankcase top deck for an internal combustion engine A top deck area of a crankcase is provided. The top deck area includes an exhaust elbow extending from a side surface towards a top surface of the top deck area. The top deck area also includes a plate. The plate is configured to define a first chamber and a second chamber within the top deck area. The first chamber is configured to at least partially enclose the exhaust elbow. The second chamber is configured to provide a passage for a fluid flow such that the plate is disposed to isolate the second chamber from the exhaust elbow.
US08931451B2	Camshaft adjuster A camshaft adjuster (1) having a control device (4), wherein by means of the control device (4) a selection can be made between an OPA and-or a CTA mode, and the camshaft adjuster (1) has a third hydraulic medium duct CC which positions the camshaft adjuster (1) in a central position.
US08931443B2	Variable displacement solenoid control Methods are provided for improved control of valve activation/deactivation mechanisms. One example method comprises, adjusting an electromechanical actuator to actuate cylinder valve deactivation/activation mechanisms. The actuator is operated at multiple levels based on engine operating conditions.
US08931441B2	Engine assembly An engine cylinder head is provided. The engine cylinder head includes a portion of a first combustion chamber, an upper coolant core and a lower coolant core directing heat from the first combustion chamber and including a first coolant passage and a second coolant passage, the first coolant passage and the second coolant passage laying along a lateral axis, at least a portion of the first coolant passage separated from the second coolant passage via first and second walls.
US08931434B2	Collapsible bird feeder A bird feeder includes a seed reservoir formed as two or more telescopic components, which are reducible in size when not in use and which may be telescopically expanded by the owner thereof when in use to define a full-length seed reservoir. The bottom end of the reservoir is received in a base having a conically-shaped seed spreader situated therein, and the upper section of the reservoir is mounted to the underside of a hemispherically-shaped, anti-squirrel dome.
US08931433B2	Plasma processing apparatus The present invention aims at providing a plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma processing on a planar substrate body to be processed, the apparatus being capable of generating the plasma with good uniformity and efficiently using the plasma, and having a high productivity. That is, the plasma processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a vacuum chamber; one or plural antenna supporters (plasma generator supporters) projecting into the internal space of the vacuum chamber; radio-frequency antennas (plasma generators) attached to each antenna supporter; and a pair of substrate body holders provided across the antenna supporter in the vacuum chamber, for holding a planar substrate body to be processed.
US08931429B2	Impingement part cooling This disclosure relates to a thermal spray coating system including a table that is configured to support a component. A spray torch is configured to direct a thermal spray at a component surface. A cooling device is arranged adjacent to spray torch and configured to be in close proximity to the component surface. The cooling device includes a manifold that is connected to an air supply. The manifold has a face with multiple impingement holes less than one-eighth inch (3.1 mm) in diameter that are configured to direct cooling air on the component surface. In one example, the diameter of the impingement holes is approximately 0.059 inch (1.5 mm) and provide cooling air at a velocity of at least 400 ft per second (122 meters per second). The face is arranged within one inch (25 mm) of the component surface, in one example. Accordingly, the above cooling device uses less air and yields more consistent results in thermal coating of the component.

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