最新美国发明专利第2015-03-10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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US08975365B2	Cage-shaped cyclopentanoic dianhydride, method for production thereof, and polyimide A cage 1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid (1,3:2,4)-dianhydride compound represented by formula [1], and a polyimide obtained by condensing the compound with a diamine. With the compound, it is possible to provide a polyimide which shows no absorption in the ultraviolet region and is highly transparent to light, has high insulating properties, has improved heat resistance and processability, and has excellent solubility in organic solvents. (In formula [1], R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-10 alkyl.)
US08975364B2	Polyamide resin This is to provide a polyamide resin which can sufficiently ensure all of a relative viscosity ηr (high degree of polymerization), moldable temperature range estimated from a temperature difference (Td−Tm), heat resistance estimated from a melting point Tm, melt moldability estimated from a temperature difference (Tm−Tc), and low water absorbability as compared with the conventional polyoxamide resin.This is a polyamide resin comprising a dicarboxylic acid-derived unit and a diamine-derived unit being bonded, wherein the above-mentioned dicarboxylic acid contains oxalic acid (Compound A), and the above-mentioned diamine contains 1,6-hexanediamine (Compound B) and 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine (Compound C).
US08975362B2	Graft copolymer as a gas hydrate inhibitor Graft copolymers based on a polyamide which was reacted with maleic anhydride and which has at least one vinylically unsaturated side chain are proposed, this grafted side chain containing at least one representative selected from a) N-vinylcaprolactam and/or b) N-vinylpyrrolidone. Inter alia, natural but also synthetic polyamides are provided as preferred polyamide components. Such graft copolymers, but also generally polyamide-based graft copolymers composed of at least one side chain containing ethylenically unsaturated compounds, are in general suitable in construction chemistry applications but also in the development, exploitation and completion of underground mineral oil and natural gas deposits and in deep wells and moreover in the extraction and the transport of oil or gas and here in particular as a gas hydrate inhibitor.
US08975361B2	Process for the production of water and solvent-free polymers The present invention relates to water and solvent-free polymers, in particular water and solvent-free synthetic rubber products like styrene butadiene rubber products and butadiene rubber products as well as a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a device suitable to accomplish said process.
US08975355B2	Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene A novel UHMW polyethylene material, which is displaying excellent abrasion resistance amongst other properties, is devised.
US08975353B2	Solid titanium catalyst component, olefin polymerization catalyst, and process for producing olefin polymer The present invention provides a process for producing an α-olefin polymer comprising polymerizing or copolymerizing (a) C3 or higher α-olefin(s) in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising solid titanium catalyst component (I) containing titanium, magnesium, halogen, and a compound with a specific structure having two or more ether linkages and organometallic catalyst component (II) with high catalytic activity. In this process, particularly even in (co)polymerizing (a) higher olefin(s), demineralization is unnecessary. A 4-methyl-1-pentene-based polymer obtained by polymerization using the catalyst of the present invention is excellent in tacticity, transparency, heat resistance, and releasability, and the polymer is particularly suitable for a release film.
US08975350B2	Polymerizable composition, resin moldings and manufacturing process therefor, and laminates The invention pertains to a polymerizable composition comprising a cycloolefin monomer, a coupling agent (A) that has a cycloolefin structure, a coupling agent (B) that includes at least one compound represented by a formula (1) (provided that the coupling agent (B) excludes the coupling agent (A)), a filler, and a metathesis polymerization catalyst, a weight ratio (coupling agent (A)/coupling agent (B)) of the coupling agent (A) to the coupling agent (B) being 0.1 to 1.5, (X)n-m-M-(Y)m (1) wherein M is a silicon atom, a titanium atom, an aluminum atom, or a zirconium atom, X is a hydrolyzable group, Y is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 50 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted with a substituent that includes an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, a halogen atom, or a silicon atom, provided that at least one Y is a group having a solubility parameter value (SP value) of 7.5 to 10, m is an integer from 1 to 3, and n is a valence of M. A resin formed article that exhibits excellent heat resistance and impact resistance can be obtained by utilizing the polymerizable composition.
US08975348B2	Non-aqueous composition comprising partially fluorinated methacrylic polymers A solvent-based non-aqueous fluorinated methacrylate polymer comprising repeating units in any sequence from (1) at least one fluorinated methacrylate, and (2) at least one non-fluorinated alkyl acrylate and (3) at least one non-fluorinated hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, provided that a) the repeating unit of fluorinated methacrylate is present in a range of about 40%-80% by weight of total monomers added, b) the repeating unit of non-fluorinated alkyl acrylate is present in a range of about 10%-35% by weight of total monomers added, and c) the repeating unit of non-fluorinated hydroxyalkyl methacrylate is present in a range of about 5%-25% by weight of total monomers added, and d) the total of all repeating units is 100% by weight.
US08975342B2	Blends of grafted copolymer and polyamide Compositions are described that are blends of a grafted copolymer and a polyamide. Methods of making the blended compositions are also described. The grafted copolymers are the reaction product of (1) a first compound having both an aziridinyl group and a polymeric group with (2) a second polymeric material having an acidic group. Blending the grafted copolymer with the polyamide can be used, for example, to increase the cohesive strength of the grafted copolymer.
US08975340B2	Synthesis of sequestration resins for water treatment in light water reactors An organic synthesis of materials to achieve removal of low molecular weight ionic species, such as transition metal ions including cobalt, iron, nickel, and zinc, from aqueous solutions. The synthesis includes the steps of providing a cation exchange resin, functionalizing the cation exchange resin using a chloride intermediate to form a sulfonyl chloride resin, and reacting a multi-amine based ligand with the sulfonyl chloride resin to form a sequestration resin. The synthesis further includes the steps of cooling the sequestration resin, and washing and drying the sequestration resin.
US08975339B2	Surface treatment method for water-absorbent resin Provided is a surface treatment method for a water-absorbent resin having excellent production efficiency, absorption capacity against pressure, fluid permeability or the like. Provided is a method for the surface treatment of a water-absorbent resin which comprises a) a step for mixing 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of an acid group-containing radically polymerizable compound and 5 to 20 parts by weight of water, relative to 100 parts by weight of a water-absorbent resin; and b) a step for polymerizing the acid group-containing radically polymerizable compound, wherein neutralization ratio of the acid group-containing radically polymerizable compound is 0 to 60% by mol, and is lower than neutralization ratio of the water-absorbent resin.
US08975337B2	Moulding compound for mouldings with high weather resistance A molding compound comprises a copolymer (I)a), produced by polymerization of 90-100% by weight methylmethacrylate, styrene and malic acid anhydride, and optionally 0-10% by weight additional monomers which can be copolymerized with methylmethacrylate, a (co)polymer (II)b), produced by polymerization of 80-100% by weight methylmethacrylate and optionally 0-20% by weight additional monomers which can be copolymerized with methylmethacrylate, and has a solution viscosity in chloroform at 25° C. (ISO 1628 Part 6) of 50 to 55 ml/g, as well as c) optional conventional additives, auxiliary agents and/or fillers. The molding compound is characterized in that the copolymer (I) has a solution viscosity in chloroform at 25° C. (ISO 1628 Part) of 55 ml/g or less. Also disclosed are moldings produced by thermoplastic processing of the molding compound and their uses.
US08975335B2	Process for the production of high air flow polyether foams and the foams produced by this process This invention relates to novel polyol blends, a process for preparing foams with very low resistance to air flow from certain polyol blends and to the resultant foams. The polyol blends comprise one or more monofunctional polyethers having a hydroxyl number of less than 28; one or more polyether polyols having a hydroxyl number of 20 to 240 and containing at least 50% of copolymerized oxyethylene; one or more polyether polyols having a hydroxyl number of 47 to 300 and containing from 5 to 40% of copolymerized oxyethylene; and optionally, one or more polyether polyols having a hydroxyl number of 10 to 45. This process of the invention comprises reacting one or more polyisocyanates, with an isocyanate-reactive component which comprises a specific polyol blend, in the presence of at least one catalyst, at least one surfactant and at least one blowing agent.
US08975334B2	Crosslinkable propylene-based copolymers, methods for preparing the same, and articles made therefrom Provided are crosslinkable propylene-based copolymers, methods for making the same, elastomeric compositions including the same, and articles made therefrom, e.g., films and fibers. Exemplary elastomeric compositions are composed of at least one propylene-based polymer comprising propylene derived units and one or more dienes, the propylene-based polymer having a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g; about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % vinyl siloxane; and about 0.1 wt % to about 1.0 wt % peroxide. The elastomeric compositions can be extruded and crosslinked at a temperature of at least about 50° C. and a relative humidity of at least about 90% to provide a crosslinked elastomeric composition. The crosslinked elastomeric compositions are particularly useful for making fibers and films.
US08975329B2	Poly(phenylene ether) articles and compositions A composition useful for the injection molding of fluid engineering parts includes specific amounts of a high molecular weight poly(phenylene ether), a polystyrene, and glass fibers. The composition provides improved hydrostability and reduces or eliminates the butadiene monomer that is present in comparative compositions containing rubber-modified polystyrene. Fluid engineering articles prepared from the composition are described.
US08975327B2	Controlling morphology of block copolymers A method for controlling morphology of a silicone organic block copolymer includes adding an MQ resin to the silicone organic block copolymer and annealing. The method is useful for forming thin films, which are useful in electronic device fabrication. The method is also useful for forming adhesives, release coatings, and reversible elastomers.
US08975325B2	Heat stabilized moulding composition Non-fibrous-reinforced thermoplastic molding compositions comprising a metal powder as a heat stabilizer are provided. The metal powder has a weight average particle size (dm) of at most 1 mm and the metal in the metal powder is selected from the group consisting of elementary metals from Group VB, VIB, VIIB and VIIIB of the Periodic Table, and mixtures thereof. A thermoplastic polyamide is also provided with an Mw of at most 50,000 g/mol, or a blend of at least two thermoplastic polymers with Tmelt or Tg differing by at least 20° C., or a second thermostabilizer. The invention also relates to the use of these compositions in high temperature applications.
US08975322B2	Calcium carbonate filler for resin, process for producing the same, and resin composition containing the filler A calcium carbonate filler for a resin, in which the content rate of particles having a particle diameter of 0.26 μm or less is 30% or less in a number particle size distribution diameter measured (Mac-VIEW manufactured by Mountech) from an electron micrograph, and which satisfies the following expressions (a) to (c) is provided. Dms5/Dmv5≦3 (a) 1≦Sw≦8 (m2/g) (b) Mo≦300 (ppm) (c) wherein Dms5: A 5% diameter (μm) accumulated from a small particle side in a volume particle size distribution by a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device (MASTERSIZER2000 manufactured by Malvern); Dmv5: A 5% diameter (μm) accumulated from a small particle side in a number particle size distribution in a particle diameter (Mac-VIEW manufactured by Mountech) measured with an electron microscope; Sw: A BET specific surface area (Macsorb manufactured by Mountech) (m2/g); Mo: A water amount (ppm) by the Karl Fischer method at 200 to 300° C. The calcium carbonate filler for a resin of the present invention contains less fine powders, has a particle size which has been adjusted to a specific particle size, and contains less volatile components such as water etc. and, even when it is incorporated into a resin having a high processing temperature at a high concentration, problems such as foaming etc. are solved.
US08975316B2	Modified fillers and elastomeric composites comprising same Modified fillers are described which have adsorbed and/or attached chemical groups, such as a triazole and/or pyrazole thereon. Other modified fillers are also described. Elastomeric compositions containing the modified filler are further described, as well as methods to improve hysteresis and/or abrasion resistance in elastomeric compositions using the modified fillers of the present invention.
US08975315B2	Stabilizer composition for halogen-containing polymers The present invention relates to a stabilizer composition for halogen-containing polymers and polymer mixtures, comprising at least one metal salt of isocyanuric acid, isothiocyanuric acid or a derivative thereof, to a process for the preparation thereof, the thus produced stabilizer compositions, polymer compositions comprising the stabilizer compositions, and to methods of using the stabilizer compositions.
US08975314B2	Triazine derivative and ultraviolet absorber There is provided a new triazine-based compound which is useful as an ultraviolet absorber having excellent light resistance, heat resistance and ultraviolet ray shielding effect. A compound represented by the following general formula (1), in the general formula (1), L1 represents a divalent to decavalent aromatic ring residue or a divalent to decavalent heterocycle residue, n1 represents an integer of 2 to 10, X1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R1a, R1b, R1c and R1d each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent and may be bonded to each other to form a ring.
US08975311B2	Radiation curable composite coating composition useful to form protective coatings A protective coating that comprises a free radically polymerizable component with an atypically high content of tri- or higher functional ingredients is disclosed. Diluents such as oligomeric resins in combination with other resins and particulate materials may also be employed in the composition.
US08975309B2	Vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogels, vinyl alcohol co-polymers, and methods and products thereof A cryogel-forming vinyl alcohol co-polymer is operable to form a cryogel, i.e., a hydrogel formed by crytropic gelation, in an aqueous solution at a concentration of less than about 10% by weight, in the absence of a chemical cross-linking agent and in the absence of an emulsifier. In one embodiment, a vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel comprises at least about 75% by weight water and a vinyl alcohol co-polymer, wherein the vinyl alcohol co-polymer is operable to form a cryogel in an aqueous solution at a concentration of less than about 10% by weight, in the absence of a chemical cross-linking agent and in the absence of an emulsifier. In another embodiment, a vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel comprises at least about 75% by weight water and a vinyl alcohol co-polymer comprising a saponified product of a vinyl acetate co-polymer formed from at least about 80% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer, and (i) at least about 3% by weight of acrylamide monomer or a mixture of acrylamide monomer and acrylic acid monomer, or (ii) at least about 5% by weight acrylic acid monomer. The vinyl acetate co-polymer, vinyl alcohol co-polymer and vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogel may be formed according to particular methods, and the vinyl alcohol co-polymer cryogels may be used in various applications including biomedical implants and thin films and for delivery of therapeutic or cosmetic agents.
US08975308B2	UV-curable coating compositions with self-healing capabilities, coating films, and methods of producing coating films The present invention is directed to a coating composition including a (meth)acrylate binder resin, a UV initiator, an organic solvent, and silica particles surface-treated with a (meth)acrylate compound, a coating film including a cured product of the coating composition, and a method of producing the coating film. The present invention makes it possible to provide a coating material having high transmittance and a low level of haze, and excellent scratch resistance and self-healing capabilities.
US08975305B2	Rigid renewable polyester compositions having a high impact strength and tensile elongation A thermoplastic composition that contains a rigid renewable polyester and a polymeric toughening additive is provided. The toughening additive can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the renewable polyester. An increase in the deformation force and elongational strain causes debonding to occur in the renewable polyester matrix at those areas located adjacent to the discrete domains. This can result in the formation of a plurality of voids adjacent to the discrete domains that can help to dissipate energy under load and increase impact strength. To even further increase the ability of the composition to dissipate energy in this manner, an interphase modifier may be employed that reduces the degree of friction between the toughening additive and renewable polyester and thus enhances the degree and uniformity of debonding.
US08975303B2	Synthesis gas methanation process and apparatus In a synthesis gas methanation process, at least one first fraction of synthesis gas to treat is fed, together with steam, to a shift reactor where a shift reaction occurs; the gas flow produced in the shift reactor is then fed to a first methanation reactor where a methanation reaction occurs and then to further second methanation reactors in series, where further methanation reactions, performed with the addition of fresh synthesis gas which has not been subjected to the shift reaction.
US08975302B2	Polymer particles, nucleic acid polymer particles and methods of making and using the same The disclosure relates to methods of making polymer particles, said methods including the steps of: making an aqueous gel reaction mixture; forming an emulsion having dispersed aqueous phase micelles of gel reaction mixture in a continuous phase; adding an initiator oil comprising at least one polymerization initiator to the continuous phase; and performing a polymerization reaction in the micelles. Further, the initiator oil is present in a volume % relative to a volume of the aqueous gel reaction mixture of between about 1 vol % to about 20 vol %. The disclosure also relates to methods of making nucleic acid polymer particles having the same method steps and wherein the aqueous gel reaction mixture includes a nucleic acid fragment, such as a primer.
US08975300B2	Ketone compounds and compositions for cholesterol management and related uses The present invention relates to novel ketone compounds, compositions comprising ketone compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemias, dysproteinemias, and glucose metabolism disorders comprising administering a composition comprising a ketone compound. The compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are also useful for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease, Syndrome X, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-related disorders, septicemia, thrombotic disorders, obesity, pancreatitis, hypertension, renal disease, cancer, inflammation, and impotence. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.
US08975298B2	Therapeutic agent for pain The present invention relates to an agent for prevention, treatment or inhibition of symptom progression of a pain and/or for control of an analgesic comprising (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid, a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, in which an amount per dose is from 1 mg to 5000 mg (preferably from 10 mg to 5000 mg). By administering (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid, a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof in an amount per dose within the range as described above, a pain, in particular, a neurogenic pain associated with a disease such as cancer pain, postherpetic pain, diabetic pain, HIV-associated neurogenic pain, calculus-induced pain, neuralgia, orofacial pain or hyperalgesia can be remarkably relieved. Moreover, undesirable effects on the living body relating to the use of an analgesic can be relieved.
US08975293B2	Epigenetic co-repressors of the gamma-globin gene and methods of using same This disclosure describes methods of screening for compounds that disrupt the interaction between DNMT1 and the gamma-globin promoter or between LSD-1 and the gamma-globin promoter. This disclosure describes methods of screening for compounds that de-repress the gamma-globin gene.
US08975288B2	F2 derivatives as antibacterial agents A compound or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, as well as a pharmaceutical, composition containing that compound or salt dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method of using that compound or salt in an antibacterial treatment. A contemplated compound corresponds in structure to structural Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of that compound, wherein V is O or NR9, Y is halogen, OR10, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl or NHR10, Z is NR2—X—R1 or CH2—R8, n is 1-6, X is H, S(O)2, C(O), C(O)NR7, C(NH)NR7 or C(O)O, and R1, R2, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are defined within.
US08975286B2	Ether benzotriazole derivatives The present invention is directed to ether benzotriazole derivatives which are potentiators of metabotropic glutamate receptors, particularly the mGluR2 receptor, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which metabotropic glutamate receptors are involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which metabotropic glutamate receptors are involved.
US08975283B2	Pharmacologically active compounds containing sulfur Disclosed herein is a method for the production of disulfide compounds of the formula I PAC-SA—SB—R* (I) wherein PAC-SA is a residue of a pharmaceutically active drug a metabolite thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that is covalently bonded via the sulfur atom, SA of a reduced sulfhydryl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl or sulfonamide group to the sulfur atom SB of an oxidized sulfhydryl group of a pharmacologically acceptable sulfhydryl compound in the absence of an acid. Preferably the pharmaceutically active drug is a proton pump inhibitor and the sulfhydryl compound is N-acetyl cysteine. The disulfide compounds according to the invention can be prepared either in vitro or in vivo and are stable in the acidic conditions of the stomach. Pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of the formula I and a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of gastrointestinal disorders using compounds of the formula I are also described.
US08975282B2	Substituted pyrazolone compounds and methods of use The present invention provides novel substituted pyrazolone compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in modulating the protein tyrosine kinase activity, and in modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of hyperproliferative disorders in mammals, especially humans.
US08975281B2	Neosaxitoxin combination formulations for prolonged local anesthesia Since each of the site I sodium channel blockers have a unique activity and cannot be used to extrapolate the same effective dosage for another site I sodium channel blocker, studies were conducted to identify dosages of neosaxitoxin (“NeoSTX”) and bupivacaine, alone or in combination with epinephrine, to provide two to three days of pain relief in humans. Bupivacaine-NeoSTX combinations produce more reliable blockade and longer duration blockade compared to NeoSTX alone. The three-way combination of NeoSTX-bupivacaine-epinephrine produces more prolonged local anesthesia than the two-way combination of NeoSTX-bupivacaine. Addition of epinephrine to this NeoSTX-bupivacaine combination dramatically prolongs the duration of complete blockade to a mechanical stimulus. These results led to development of specific combination dosage formulations.
US08975280B2	Deoxynojirimycin and D-arabinitol analogs and methods of using A compound of Formula I are provided: wherein R is: R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; W1-4 are independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted haloalkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted alkanoyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted aroyl groups, or substituted or unsubstituted haloalkanoyl groups; X1-5 are independently selected from H, NO2, N3, and NH2; Y is absent or is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-alkyl group, other than carbonyl; Z is selected from a bond or NH, provided that when Z is a bond, Y is absent, and provided that when Z is NH, Y is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-alkyl group, other than carbonyl. Also provided are D-arabinitol compounds, methods for preparing such compounds and compositions of such compounds, and methods of using such compounds.
US08975279B2	Amine salts of laquinimod The subject invention provides a Laquinimod amine salt, which is laquinimod meglumine, laquinimod choline hydroxide, laquinimod L-lysine or laquinimod monoethanolamine.
US08975268B2	Neosaxitoxin combination formulations for prolonged local anesthesia Since each of the site I sodium channel blockers have a unique activity and cannot be used to extrapolate the same effective dosage for another site I sodium channel blocker, studies were conducted to identify dosages of neosaxitoxin (“NeoSTX”) and bupivacaine, alone or in combination with epinephrine, to provide two to three days of pain relief in humans. Bupivacaine-NeoSTX combinations produce more reliable blockade and longer duration blockade compared to NeoSTX alone. The three-way combination of NeoSTX-bupivacaine-epinephrine produces more prolonged local anesthesia than the two-way combination of NeoSTX-bupivacaine. Addition of epinephrine to this NeoSTX-bupivacaine combination dramatically prolongs the duration of complete blockade to a mechanical stimulus. These results led to development of specific combination dosage formulations.
US08975259B2	Compositions and methods for inhibiting G protein signaling Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with G protein βγ subunit activity.
US08975254B2	Androgen receptor modulating compounds The present disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present disclosure also relates to compositions and methods of treating comprising compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08975252B2	Morpholine derivative The present invention provides a morpholine derivative of the formula [I]; wherein R1 is a substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclo group, a cycloalkyl group or an alkyl group; R2 is a substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclo group, an optionally substituted alkylcarbonyl group, an optionally substituted arylcarbonyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclo-substituted carbonyl group or a cycloalkylcarbonyl group; T is a methylene group or a carbonyl group; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are the same or different and a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted carbamoyl group or an optionally substituted alkyl group; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are useful as a renin inhibitor.
US08975249B2	Heterocyclic compounds and uses thereof The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08975238B2	Compositions comprising S-adenosylmethionine and a gallic acid ester Provided herein are compositions and formulations comprising S-adenosyl-L-methionine (“SAM-e” or “SAMe”) and one or more gallic acid esters. Also provided herein are methods for improving the delivery of SAMe. Compositions and formulations provided herein increase SAMe plasma concentrations and area under the curve (AUC) values. Also provided herein are methods of treating a disease or disorder in a subject by administering compositions or formulations comprising exogenous SAMe and one or more gallic acid esters.
US08975224B2	Peptides and methods of using same We describe peptides and their uses for the treatment of autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
US08975217B2	Methods for treating a well with a cross-linked water-soluble polymer-complexed metal cation network and an aromatic compound capable of forming a chelating agent to uncross-link the polymer Methods are provided for treating a portion of a well. The method according to this aspect comprises the steps of: (A) forming a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid comprising: (i) water; (ii) a water-soluble polymer; (iii) a complexed metal cation that: (a) has a valence state of at least three; and (b) is capable of cross-linking the water-soluble polymer; and (iv) an aromatic compound that is capable of dissolving, melting, or chemically decomposing, dissociating, or reacting, to form a chelating agent, wherein the chelating agent comprising vicinal substituents containing donor heteroatoms, and wherein the chelating agent is capable of chelating the metal cation; and (B) introducing the treatment fluid into the well.
US08975209B2	Solid support-polymethylaluminoxane complex, method for producing same, olefin polymerization catalyst, and method for producing polyolefin Disclosed is a solid support-polymethylaluminoxane complex exhibiting a higher polymerization activity than a conventional substance and being homogeneous. Also disclosed is a method for producing an olefin-based polymer having a favorable quality using the complex and a transition metal compound. The complex comprises a coating layer containing polymethylaluminoxane and trimethylaluminum on the surface of a solid support. The coating layer comprises a solid polymethylaluminoxane composition in which (i) the content of aluminum is in a range of 36 to 41 mass % and (ii) the molar fraction of methyl groups derived from a trimethylaluminum moiety to the total number of moles of methyl groups is 12 mol % or less. Also disclosed is an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising the complex and a transition metal compound represented by general formula (III): MR5R6R7R8 as catalyst components, and a method for producing a polyolefin comprising polymerizing an olefin using the catalyst.
US08975208B2	Desulfurizing adsorbent, preparing process and use thereof The present invention provides an adsorbent for removing sulfur from cracking gasoline or diesel fuel. The adsorbent has excellent abrasion-resistance and desulfurization activity. The adsorbent comprises from about 5 to about 35 wt % of alumina, from about 3 to about 30 wt % of silica, from about 10 to about 80 wt % of at least one oxide of metal selected from Groups IIB and VB, from about 3 to about 30 wt % of at least one metal accelerant selected from Groups VIIB and VIII, and from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % of at least one oxide of metal selected from Groups IA and IIA, based on the total weight of the adsorbent.
US08975206B2	Catalyst composition for selective catalytic reduction of exhaust gases A catalyst composition comprising a vanadate represented by the formula XVO4/S, wherein XVO4 stands for a Bi-, Sb-, Ga- and/or Al-vanadate optionally in mixture with one or more rare earth metal-vanadates, or in mixture with one or more transition metal-vanadates, or in mixture with one or more transition metal-vanadates and one or more rare earth metal-vanadates, and S is a support comprising TiO2, optionally in combination with a dopant and a process for the preparation of such catalyst compositions.
US08975200B2	Hydrogenation catalysts with cobalt-modified supports The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support that comprises cobalt.
US08975196B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and manufacturing apparatus of semiconductor device According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, supplying a first liquid including a terpene to a surface of the substrate, supplying a second liquid including a silicon-containing compound to the surface of the substrate, and converting the silicon-containing compound to a silicon oxide compound.
US08975195B2	Methods for optical proximity correction in the design and fabrication of integrated circuits A method of manufacturing an optical lithography mask includes providing a patterned layout design comprising a plurality of polygons, correcting the patterned layout design using optical proximity correction (OPC) by adjusting widths and lengths of one or more of the plurality of polygons, to generate a corrected patterned layout design, converting the corrected patterned layout design into a mask writer-compatible format, to generate a mask writer-compatible layout design comprising the plurality of polygons, and biasing each polygon in the plurality of polygons with a bias that accounts for large-scale density values of the patterned layout design, to generate a biased, mask writer-compatible layout design.
US08975193B2	Method of making a microfluidic device A microfabricated device is fabricated by depositing a first metal layer on a substrate to provide a first electrode of an electrostatic actuator, depositing a first structural polymer layer over the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer over said first structural polymer layer to form a second electrode of the electrostatic actuator, depositing an insulating layer over said first structural polymer layer, planarizing the insulating layer, etching the first structural polymer layer through the insulating layer and the second metal layer to undercut the second metal layer, providing additional pre-formed structural polymer layers, at least one of which has been previously patterned, and finally bonding the additional structural layers in the form of a stack over the planarized second insulating layer to one or more microfluidic channels. The technique can also be used to make cross over channels in devices without electrostatic actuators, in which case the metal layers can be omitted.
US08975192B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A method is provided for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a heat-resistant resin film with flip-chip connection structure using a solder bump or a gold bump and an epoxy resin compound laminated thereon, in which adhesiveness is improved particularly after exposure to high temperature and high humidity environments for a long period of time, thereby enhancing the reliability of the semiconductor device. The method, in accordance with the present invention, for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a heat-resistant resin film formed on a semiconductor element and an epoxy resin compound layer laminated thereon, comprises the steps of carrying out a plasma treatment on a surface of the heat-resistant resin film on which the epoxy resin compound layer is laminated using a nitrogen atom-containing gas containing at least one of nitrogen, ammonia, and hydrazine.
US08975191B2	Plasma etching method There is provided a plasma etching method including a first process of etching an intermediate layer, which contains silicon and nitrogen and is positioned below a resist mask formed on a surface of a substrate, to cause a silicon layer positioned below the intermediate layer to be exposed through the resist mask and the intermediate layer, a second process of subsequently supplying a chlorine gas to the substrate to cause a reaction product to attach onto sidewalls of opening portions of the resist mask and the intermediate layer, and a third process of etching a portion of the silicon layer corresponding to the opening portion of the intermediate layer using a process gas containing sulfur and fluorine to form a recess in the silicon layer.
US08975185B2	Forming charge trap separation in a flash memory semiconductor device During formation of a charge trap separation in a semiconductor device, a polymer deposition is formed in a reactor using a first chemistry. In a following step, a second chemistry can be used to etch the polymer deposition in the reactor. The same or similar second chemistry can be used in a second etching step to expose a first oxide layer in each of the cells of the semiconductor device and to form a flat upper surface. This additional etch step can also be performed by the reactor, thereby reducing the number of machines required in the formation process.
US08975184B2	Methods of improving tungsten contact resistance in small critical dimension features Methods of filling features with low-resistivity tungsten layers having good fill without use of a nucleation layer are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods involve an optional treatment process prior to chemical vapor deposition of tungsten in the presence of a high partial pressure of hydrogen. According to various embodiments, the treatment process can involve a soaking step or a plasma treatment step. The resulting tungsten layer reduces overall contact resistance in advanced tungsten technology due to elimination of the conventional tungsten nucleation layer.
US08975183B2	Process for forming semiconductor structure A method for forming a semiconductor structure. A semiconductor substrate including a plurality of dies mounted thereon is provided. The substrate includes a first portion proximate to the dies and a second portion distal to the dies. In some embodiments, the first portion may include front side metallization. The second portion of the substrate is thinned and a plurality of conductive through substrate vias (TSVs) is formed in the second portion of the substrate after the thinning operation. Prior to thinning, the second portion may not contain metallization. In one embodiment, the substrate may be a silicon interposer. Further back side metallization may be formed to electrically connect the TSVs to other packaging substrates or printed circuit boards.
US08975180B2	Formation of a masking layer on a dielectric region to facilitate formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions separated by the dielectric region A masking layer is formed on a dielectric region of an electronic device so that, during subsequent formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions of the electronic device that are separated by the dielectric region, the masking layer inhibits formation of capping layer material on or in the dielectric region. The capping layer can be formed selectively on the electrically conductive regions or non-selectively; in either case, capping layer material formed over the dielectric region can subsequently be removed, thus ensuring that capping layer material is formed only on the electrically conductive regions. Silane-based materials, can be used to form the masking layer. The capping layer can be formed of an conductive material, a semiconductor material, or an insulative material, and can be formed using any appropriate process, including conventional deposition processes such as electroless deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
US08975178B2	Method of manufacturing a memory device using fine patterning techniques According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a device, includes forming a first core including a line portion extending between first and second regions and having a first width and a fringe having a dimension larger than the first width, forming a mask on the fringe and on a first sidewall on the first core, removing the first core so that a remaining portion having a dimension larger than the first width is formed below the mask, forming a second sidewall on a pattern corresponding the first sidewall and the remaining portion, the second sidewall having a second width less than the first width and facing a first interval less than the first width in the first region and facing a second interval larger than the first interval in the second region.
US08975172B2	Solar cell element and method for manufacturing solar cell element [Object] To provide a method for manufacturing a solar cell element including a semiconductor substrate that includes a high-concentration dopant layer located near the surface of the semiconductor substrate and a low-concentration dopant layer located more inside the semiconductor substrate than the high-concentration dopant layer.[Solving Means] A method includes heating a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type in a first atmosphere which contains a dopant having a second conductivity type and which has a first dopant concentration; heating in a second atmosphere the semiconductor substrate heated in the first atmosphere, the second atmosphere having a second dopant concentration less than the first dopant concentration; and heating in a third atmosphere the semiconductor substrate heated in the second atmosphere, the third atmosphere having a third dopant concentration greater than the second dopant concentration.
US08975169B2	Method of manufacture of an optoelectronic device and an optoelectronic device manufactured using the method A method of manufacture of an optoelectronic device includes the steps of: providing or forming a body of crystalline silicon containing substitutional carbon atoms, and irradiating said body of crystalline silicon with protons (H+) to create radiative defect centers in a photoactive region of the device, wherein at least some of said defect centers are G-center complexes having the form Cs—SiI—Cs, where Cs is a substitutional carbon atom and S¾ is an interstitial silicon atom. An optoelectronic device (FIG. 3) manufactured using the method is described.
US08975166B2	Method and apparatus for atomic hydrogen surface treatment during GaN epitaxy Methods and apparatus for generating and delivering atomic hydrogen to the growth front during the deposition of a III-V film are provided. The apparatus adapts HWCVD technology to a system wherein the Group III precursor and the Group V precursor are delivered to the surface in isolated processing environments within the system. Multiple HWCVD units may be incorporated so that the atomic hydrogen parameters may be varied in a combinatorial manner for the development of III-V films.
US08975165B2	III-V semiconductor structures with diminished pit defects and methods for forming the same Embodiments relate to semiconductor structures and methods of forming them. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to fabricate semiconductor structures of III-V materials, such as InGaN. An In-III-V semiconductor layer is grown with an Indium concentration above a saturation regime by adjusting growth conditions such as a temperature of a growth surface to create a super-saturation regime wherein the In-III-V semiconductor layer will grow with a diminished density of V-pits relative to the saturation regime.
US08975162B2	Wafer dicing from wafer backside Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. For example, a method includes applying a protection tape to a wafer front side, the wafer having a dicing tape attached to the wafer backside. The dicing tape is removed from the wafer backside to expose a die attach film disposed between the wafer backside and the dicing tape. Alternatively, if no die attach film is initially disposed between the wafer backside and the dicing tape, a die attach film is applied to the wafer backside at this operation. A water soluble mask is applied to the wafer backside. Laser scribing is performed on the wafer backside to cut through the mask, the die attach film and the wafer, including all layers included within the front side and backside of the wafer. A plasma etch is performed to treat or clean surfaces of the wafer exposed by the laser scribing. A wafer backside cleaning is performed and a second dicing tape is applied to the wafer backside. The protection tape is the removed from the wafer front side.
US08975161B2	Dicing/die bonding integral film, dicing/die bonding integral film manufacturing method, and semiconductor chip manufacturing method A dicing/die bonding integral film of the present invention includes a base film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which is formed on the base film and to which a wafer ring for blade dicing is bonded, and a bonding layer formed on the adhesive layer and having a central portion to which a semiconductor wafer to be diced is bonded, wherein a planar shape of the bonding layer is circular, an area of the bonding layer is greater than an area of the semiconductor wafer and smaller than an area of each of the base film and the adhesive layer, and a diameter of the bonding layer is greater than a diameter of the semiconductor wafer and less than an inner diameter of the wafer ring, and a difference in diameter between the bonding layer and the semiconductor wafer is greater than 20 mm and less than 35 mm.
US08975160B2	Manufacturing method for semiconductor device According to one embodiment, a first adhesive layer is formed on one major surface of a first substrate. The first substrate and a second substrate are adhered using a second adhesive layer that has thermosetting properties and covers the first adhesive layer, wherein a bonding strength between the second substrate is greater than a bonding strength between the second substrate and the first adhesive layer. The other major surface of the first substrate is polished, and the first substrate is thinned. A physical force is then applied to peripheral parts of the second adhesive layer, and a circular notched part is formed along the outer perimeter of the second adhesive layer to separate the first substrate and the second substrate at the interface between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer.
US08975152B2	Methods of reducing substrate dislocation during gapfill processing Methods of reducing dislocation in a semiconductor substrate between asymmetrical trenches are described. The methods may include etching a plurality of trenches on a semiconductor substrate and may include two adjacent trenches of unequal width separated by an unetched portion of the substrate. The methods may include forming a layer of dielectric material on the substrate. The dielectric material may form a layer in the trenches located adjacent to each other of substantially equivalent height on both sides of the unetched portion of the substrate separating the two trenches. The methods may include densifying the layer of dielectric material so that the densified dielectric within the two trenches of unequal width exerts a substantially similar stress on the unetched portion of the substrate that separates them.
US08975150B2	Semiconductor device manufacturing method A transparent board is positioned on a support board provided with a positioning mark, and a release material is provided. A semiconductor element is then positioned so that the electrode element faces upward, and the support board is then removed. An insulating resin is then formed on the release material so as to cover the semiconductor element; and a via, a wiring layer, an insulation layer, an external terminal, and a solder resist are then formed. The transparent board is then peeled from the semiconductor device through the use of the release material. A chip can thereby be mounted with high precision, there is no need to provide a positioning mark during mounting of the chip on the substrate in the manufacturing process, and the substrate can easily be removed. As a result, a semiconductor device having high density and a thin profile can be manufactured at low cost.
US08975147B2	Enhanced work function layer supporting growth of rutile phase titanium oxide This disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor stack and associated device, such as a capacitor and DRAM cell. In particular, a bottom electrode has a material selected for lattice matching characteristics. This material may be created from a relatively inexpensive metal oxide which is processed to adopt a conductive, but difficult-to-produce oxide state, with specific crystalline form; to provide one example, specific materials are disclosed that are compatible with the growth of rutile phase titanium dioxide (TiO2) for use as a dielectric, thereby leading to predictable and reproducible higher dielectric constant and lower effective oxide thickness and, thus, greater part density at lower cost.
US08975140B2	Semiconductor device having passing gate and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes passing gates. In the semiconductor device, a passing gate formed in a device isolation film is vertically positioned at a deeper and lower level than an operation gate formed in an active region defined by the device isolation film such that the passing gate does not overlap with a junction region. A step difference is formed in a storage node junction region, and thus a contact area between a storage node contact and the storage node junction region is increased, resulting in the improvement of operational characteristics of the semiconductor device.
US08975135B2	Analog floating-gate capacitor with improved data retention in a silicided integrated circuit An analog floating-gate electrode in an integrated circuit, and method of fabricating the same, in which trapped charge can be stored for long durations. The analog floating-gate electrode is formed in a polycrystalline silicon gate level, and includes portions serving as a transistor gate electrode, a plate of a metal-to-poly storage capacitor, and a plate of poly-to-active tunneling capacitors. A silicide-block film comprised of a layer of silicon dioxide underlying a top layer of silicon nitride blocks the formation of silicide cladding on the electrode, while other polysilicon structures in the integrated circuit, such as polysilicon-to-metal capacitors, are silicide-clad. Following silicidation, a capacitor dielectric is deposited over the remaining polysilicon structures, followed by formation of an upper metal plate.
US08975128B2	Electronic devices and systems, and methods for making and using the same Some structures and methods to reduce power consumption in devices can be implemented largely by reusing existing bulk CMOS process flows and manufacturing technology, allowing the semiconductor industry as well as the broader electronics industry to avoid a costly and risky switch to alternative technologies. Some of the structures and methods relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced sVT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors. Additional structures, configurations, and methods presented herein can be used alone or in conjunction with the DDC to yield additional and different benefits.
US08975127B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same In an LCD driver, in a high voltage resistant MISFET, end portions of a gate electrode run onto electric field relaxing insulation regions. Wires to become source wires or drain wires are formed on an interlayer insulation film of the first layer over the high voltage resistant MISFET. At this moment, when a distance from an interface between a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation film to an upper portion of the gate electrode is defined as “a”, and a distance from the upper portion of the gate electrode to an upper portion of the interlayer insulation film on which the wires are formed is defined as “b”, a relation of a>b is established. In such a high voltage resistant MISFET structured in this manner, the wires are arranged so as not to be overlapped planarly with the gate electrode of the high voltage resistant MISFET.
US08975124B2	Thin film transistor, array substrate and preparation method thereof One or more embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a thin film transistor, an array substrate and a method for preparing the same. The thin film transistor comprises a base substrate, and a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a passivation layer prepared on the base substrate in this order. The active layer is formed of microcrystalline silicon, and the active layer comprises an active layer lower portion and an active layer upper portion, and the active layer lower portion is microcrystalline silicon obtained by using hydrogen plasma to treat at least two layers of amorphous silicon thin film prepared in a layer-by-layer manner.
US08975116B2	Electronic assembly including an embedded electronic component An electronic unit is produced including at least one electronic component at least partially embedded in an insulating material. A film assembly is provided with at least one conductive layer and a carrier layer. The conductive layer includes openings in the form of holes for receiving bumps, which are connected to contact surfaces of the at least one electronic component. The at least one component is placed on the film assembly such that the bumps engage with the openings of the conductive layer. The at least one component is partially embedded from the side opposite of the bumps into a dielectric layer. The carrier layer of the film assembly is removed such that the surface of the bumps is exposed. A metallization layer is then deposited on the side of the remaining conductive layer having the exposed bumps and so as to produce conductor tracks that overlap with the bumps.
US08975115B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same An insulating layer which releases a large amount of oxygen is used as an insulating layer in contact with a channel region of an oxide semiconductor layer, and an insulating layer which releases a small amount of oxygen is used as an insulating layer in contact with a source region and a drain region of the oxide semiconductor layer. By releasing oxygen from the insulating layer which releases a large amount of oxygen, oxygen deficiency in the channel region and an interface state density between the insulating layer and the channel region can be reduced, so that a highly reliable semiconductor device having small variation in electrical characteristics can be manufactured. The source region and the drain region are provided in contact with the insulating layer which releases a small amount of oxygen, thereby suppressing the increase of the resistance of the source region and the drain region.
US08975111B2	Wafer level die integration and method therefor A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a wafer for supporting the semiconductor device. An insulation layer is disposed over a top surface of the wafer. The method includes forming a first interconnect structure over the top surface of the wafer with temperatures in excess of 200° C., forming a metal pillar over the wafer in electrical contact with the first interconnect structure, connecting a semiconductor component to the first interconnect structure, and forming encapsulant over the semiconductor component. The encapsulant is etched to expose a portion of the metal pillar. A buffer layer is optionally formed over the encapsulant. The method includes forming a second interconnect structure over the encapsulant in electrical contact with the metal pillar with temperatures below 200° C., and removing a portion of a backside of the wafer opposite the top surface of the wafer.
US08975107B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a membrane over a substrate by forming a plurality of features using local oxidation regions In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes oxidizing a substrate to form local oxide regions that extend above a top surface of the substrate. A membrane layer is formed over the local oxide regions and the top surface of the substrate. A portion of the substrate under the membrane layer is removed. The local oxide regions under the membrane layer is removed.
US08975105B2	Hermetically sealed wafer packages Hermetically sealed semiconductor wafer packages that include a first bond ring on a first wafer facing a complementary surface of a second bond ring on a second wafer. The package includes first and second standoffs of a first material, having a first thickness, formed on a surface of the first bond ring. The package also includes a eutectic alloy (does not have to be eutectic, typically it will be an alloy not specific to the eutectic ratio of the elements) formed from a second material and the first material to create a hermetic seal between the first and second wafer, the eutectic alloy formed by heating the first and second wafers to a temperature above a reflow temperature of the second material and below a reflow temperature of the first material, wherein the eutectic alloy fills a volume between the first and second standoffs and the first and second bond rings, and wherein the standoffs maintain a prespecified distance between the first bond ring and the second bond ring.
US08975104B2	Low temperature ceramic Microelectromechanical structures A method of providing microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) that are compatible with silicon CMOS electronics is provided. The method providing for processes and manufacturing sequences limiting the maximum exposure of an integrated circuit upon which the MEMS is manufactured to below 350° C., and potentially to below 250° C., thereby allowing direct manufacturing of the MEMS devices onto electronics, such as Si CMOS circuits. The method further providing for the provisioning of MEMS devices with multiple non-conductive structural layers such as silicon carbide separated with small lateral gaps. Such silicon carbide structures offering enhanced material properties, increased environmental and chemical resilience while also allowing novel designs to be implemented taking advantage of the non-conductive material of the structural layer. The use of silicon carbide being beneficial within the formation of MEMS elements such as motors, gears, rotors, translation drives, etc where increased hardness reduces wear of such elements during operation.
US08975102B2	Method for producing an optoelectronic device with wireless contacting A method for producing an optoelectronic device is provided, in which a luminescent diode chip (10) is mounted on a base surface (8) on the first terminal area (1) of a carrier (3). An electrically insulating layer (4) is applied to side faces (17) of the luminescent diode chip (10). An electrically conductive layer (5), which leads from a second terminal contact (12) of the luminescent diode chip (10) over the electrically insulating layer (4) to a second terminal area (2) on the carrier (3), is subsequently applied. A photoresist layer (7) is applied to the electrically conductive layer (5), which photoresist layer (7) is exposed by application of an electrical voltage to the luminescent diode chip (10) so that the luminescent diode chip (10) emits radiation (23). After development of the photoresist layer (7), a portion of the electrically conductive layer (5) arranged on the radiation exit surface (9) is removed by means of an etching process, in which the photoresist layer (7) serves as a mask.
US08975101B2	Element connecting board, producing method thereof, and light emitting diode device An element-connecting board is a lead frame for allowing a light emitting diode element to be connected to one side thereof in a thickness direction. The element-connecting board includes the lead frame which is provided with a plurality of leads disposed with spaces from each other and a first insulating resin portion which is light reflective and fills the spaces.
US08975096B2	Jig, manufacturing method thereof, and flip chip bonding method for chips of ultrasound probe using jig A jig includes a wafer including an accommodation groove configured to accommodate a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) when flip chip bonding is performed, and a separation groove formed in a bottom surface of the accommodation groove, the separation groove having a bottom surface that is spaced apart from thin films of the cMUT that face the bottom surface of the separation groove when the cMUT is seated on portions of the bottom surface of the accommodation groove.
US08975095B2	Integrated nanowire/nanosheet nanogap and nanopore for DNA and RNA sequencing A technique is provided for base recognition in an integrated device is provided. A target molecule is driven into a nanopore of the integrated device. The integrated device includes a nanowire separated into a left nanowire part and a right nanowire part to form a nanogap in between, a source pad connected to the right nanowire part, a drain pad connected to the left nanowire part, and the nanopore. The source pad, the drain pad, the right nanowire part, the left nanowire part, and the nanogap together form a transistor. The nanogap is part of the nanopore. A transistor current is measured while a single base of the target molecule is in the nanogap of the nanopore, and the single base affects the transistor current. An identity of the single base is determined according to a change in the transistor current.
US08975092B2	Method and system for controlling chip warpage during bonding A semiconductor assembly includes a first substrate and a chip. The chip is coupled to and spaced apart from the substrate. Further, the chip has a first surface facing the substrate. The chip also has a warpage profile indicating stress imparted on the chip following a reflow operation. The assembly includes a back layer disposed on the chip on a second surface substantially opposite from the first surface. The back layer has a non-uniform thickness. Additionally, the thickness of the back layer on each of a plurality of elements of the chip is based on the warpage profile.
US08975085B2	Extraction system An extraction system for distributing a test product in an extraction fluid, the system including a flow cell and a pump The flow cell has walls defining an internal passageway having an extraction region for holding the test product and also an upstream end and a downstream end between which the extraction region extends. The internal cross-sectional area of the upstream end is larger than the internal cross-sectional area of the downstream end the and extraction region tapers from the upstream end to the downstream end. The pump has an inlet in fluid communication with the downstream end and an outlet in fluid communication with the upstream end. The pump re-circulates extraction fluid from the downstream end back to the upstream end so as to progressively erode the test product and distribute the test product in the extraction fluid.
US08975082B2	Metal abstraction peptide (MAP) tag and associated methods Compositions comprising a tripeptide having the sequence XC1C2; wherein X is any amino acid such that XC1C2 is capable of binding a metal in a square planar orientation or square pyramidal orientation or both; and wherein C1 and C2 are the same or different; and wherein C1 and C2 individually are chosen from a cysteine and a cysteine-like nonnatural amino acid, as well as metal-XC1C2 complexes and methods for forming such complexes.
US08975074B2	Bone semi-permeable device Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08975072B2	Human erythroid progenitor cell line comprising HPV E6/E7 operably linked to an inducible promoter and method for producing human enucleated red blood cells Provided are: a method for producing an immortalized human erythroid progenitor cell line, enabling efficient and stable production of enucleated red blood cells; and a method for producing human enucleated red blood cells from a human erythroid progenitor cell line obtained by the aforementioned production method. An expression cassette capable of inducing expression of HPV-E6/E7 genes in the presence of DOX was introduced into the genomic DNA of blood stem cells. Then, the blood stem cells were cultured in the presence of DOX and a blood growth factor. Thereby, immortalized cell lines of human erythroid progenitor cells were established. Further, it was revealed that culturing the cell lines under a condition where the expression of the HPV-E6/E7 genes was not induced enabled differentiation induction into enucleated red blood cells at a high ratio.
US08975068B2	Isolated stem cell comprising a Xic flanking region transgene Disclosed herein are methods for controlling stem cell differentiation through the introduction of transgenes having Xic, Tsix, Xite, or Xic flanking region sequences to block differentiation and the removal of the transgenes to allow differentiation. Also disclosed are small RNA molecules and methods for using the small RNA molecules to control stem cell differentiation. Also disclosed are stem cells genetically modified by the introduction of Xic, Tsix, XUe, or Xic flanking region sequences.
US08975063B2	Compositions and methods for producing benzylisoquinoline alkaloids The present invention relates to host cells that produce compounds that are characterized as benzylisoquinolines, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof. The host cells comprise one, two or more heterologous coding sequences wherein each of the heterologous coding sequences encodes an enzyme involved in the metabolic pathway of a benzylisoquinoline, or its precursors or intermediates from a starting compound. The invention also relates to methods of producing the benzylisoquinoline, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof by culturing the host cells under culture conditions that promote expression of the enzymes that produce the benzylisoquinoline or precursors or intermediates thereof.
US08975062B2	Polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding same The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08975059B2	Polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding same The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08975047B2	Process for making isooctenes from dry 1-butanol The present invention relates to a process for making isooctenes using dry 1-butanol derived from fermentation broth. The isooctenes so produced are useful for the production of fuel additives.
US08975045B2	Mutant RpsA gene and method for producing L-amino acid A method for efficiently producing an L-amino acid utilizing a bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae from a fatty acid or an alcohol such as glycerol as a raw material is provided. A bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae which is able to produce L-amino acid and harbors an RpsA protein which has a mutation such that the native aspartic acid residue at position 210 is replaced with another amino acid residue is used. This bacterium is cultured in a medium containing a carbon source selected from a fatty acid and an alcohol, and the produced L-amino acid is collected from the medium.
US08975042B2	Fluorescent and colored proteins and methods for using them The field of this invention relates to methods for combining genetic elements such that the activity of one of the elements provides a means for identifying, enriching, selecting for, or enhancing the activity of a second element. The invention also includes specific elements and combinations of elements.
US08975040B2	Methods and vectors for generating asialylated immunoglobulins The properties of an Fc-containing protein, for example, an antibody, are controlled by altering the sialylation of the oligosaccharides in the Fc region by transfecting the cell line expressing the Fc-containing protein with a vector sequence encoding a sialidase. The modified Fc-containing proteins have therapeutic utility in diseases or conditions in which it is desirable to control the affinity for one or more of the FcγRI, FcγRIIA, and FcγRIIIA receptors, ADCC activity, macrophage or monocyte activation, serum half-life, and avidity.
US08975039B2	Automatic sample staining method Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.
US08975038B2	Method for determining presence of carcinomic cells with 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (carboxyphenyl) porphine Presented is a method of determining the presence of carcinomic cells in a sample by contacting a sample of cells with a solution of TCPP to permit binding of the TCPP to components of the abnormal dysplastic or carcinomic cells, if any are present; detecting TCPP fluorescence in the sample, the presence of TCPP fluorescence being indicative that the sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells.
US08975036B2	Methods for improved diagnosis of dysplasias The present invention relates to a method for improved diagnosis of dysplasias based on simultaneous detection of INK4a gene products and at least one marker for cell proliferation. Particularly the present invention provides a method for discriminating dysplastic cells over-expressing INK4a gene products from cells over-expressing INK4a gene products without being dysplastic by detection of a marker suitable for characterizing the proliferation properties of the respective cell. The characterization of the proliferation properties may comprise the detection of a marker or a set of markers characteristic for active cell proliferation and/or a marker or a set of markers characteristic for retarded or ceased cell proliferation. The method presented herein thus enables for a specific diagnosis of dysplasias in histological and cytological specimens.
US08975035B2	Method of analyzing cells A method, optical apparatus and system for illuminating particles and for detecting emissions from illuminated particles in a flow cytometer. One configuration includes an objective lens coaxially aligned with the flow of particles being analyzed for collecting emissions at a detector.
US08975032B2	Test kit for plasma or serum antibody titer against periodontal disease-causing bacteria The object of the present invention is to provide: a test kit for an antibody titer or an antibody against a periodontal disease-causing bacterium in a blood sample, which enables the testing on a periodontal disease in patients having a wide scope of immunotypes with high accuracy and can be treated by an automated device at a high speed; a periodontal disease-causing bacterium antigen protein which can be suitably used in the kit; a method for testing an antibody titer or the presence of an antibody in a blood sample using the kit; and a kit for typing strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis. The present invention discloses: a test kit comprising a set of polypeptides respectively having the acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 9, 15, 19, 31, 41, 43, 63, 65 and 67; a modified polypeptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 67; and a method for determining an antibody titer or the presence of an antibody against a periodontal disease-causing bacterium in a blood sample separated from a human body, comprising bringing the blood sample into contact with the above-mentioned set of polypeptides.
US08975026B2	Method for generating aptamers with improved off-rates The present disclosure describes the identification and use of aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than those obtained using previously described methods. Specifically, the present disclosure describes methods for the identification and use of aptamers to one or more targets within a histological or cytological sample, which have slow rates of dissociation. The aptamers may be used to assess localization, relative density, and presence or absence of one or more targets in cytological and histological samples. Targets may be selected that are specific and diagnostic of a given disease state for which the sample was collected. The aptamers may also be used to introduce target specific signal moieties. In addition to target identification, the aptamers may be used to amplify signal generation through a variety of methods.
US08975025B2	Method and system for nucleic acid detection using electroconductive or electrochemically active labels A method for electrochemically or electrically detecting nucleic acids, utilizes electrochemically active or electrically conductive reporter materials. An electric voltage is applied and electric signals are measured to the electrodes that are suitable for detecting or quantifying the nucleic acid(s) in a sample. This technique is suitable for point-of-use applications, e.g. detecting bioanalytes in remote locations. A microchip, device, kit used adapted to be used for this method is also disclosed.
US08975022B2	Genetic polymorphisms associated with psoriasis, methdos of detection and uses thereof The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with psoriasis and related pathologies. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, including groups of nucleic acid molecules that may be used as a signature marker set, such as a haplotype, a diplotype, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.
US08975019B2	Deducing exon connectivity by RNA-templated DNA ligation/sequencing A technology is described that is capable of generating high-throughput sequencing (HTS) read length DNA products to accurately and reliably provide exon connectivity information for alternatively spliced isoforms. The method is not limited by the initial size of the isoform as the technology removes the template oligonucleotide sequence and a newly formed full length ligated product provides an HTS-compatible read length sequence that comprises information that corresponds to the consecutive order of the exons in the original template oligonucleotide.
US08975017B2	Process for concentrating nucleic acid molecules A process concentrates nucleic acid molecules to be detected of a sample on a surface, with capture molecules that specifically bind the nucleic acid molecules. A support material has a capture probe that can specifically be linked to the nucleic acid molecules to be detected to give complexes. The support material and the nucleic acid molecules of the sample are incubated to form the complexes. The complexes are moved to the surface. At least one portion of the complexes becomes bound to the capture molecules via the capture probe.
US08975015B2	Antimicrobial compounds The compounds disclosed herein are isoxazole derivatives that are useful as antimicrobial compounds, particularly as anti-bacterial compounds. The disclosed methods comprise incubating at least two different substrates in the presence of at least one oxygenase to provide the disclosed compounds, or to prepare and identify compounds that have antimicrobial activity.
US08975014B2	Fluorescence detection of poison oak oil The invention herein disclosed provides for compositions, methods for synthesizing said compositions, and methods for using said compositions, wherein the compositions and methods may be used to bind to and/or deactivate a poison oak oil, such as urushiol. The compositions and methods can be used to treat and/or reduce an inflammatory reaction and/or hypersensitivity to natural compounds found in poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, mango, lac tree, and cashew nut.
US08975008B2	Method of removing negative acting photoresists Polymerized negative acting photoresists are removed from substrates at relatively low temperatures and fast stripping times using aqueous based alkaline solutions.
US08975007B2	Method of forming polymer nanofiber metal-nanoparticle composite pattern A method of forming a polymer nanofiber-metal nanoparticle composite pattern includes forming on a substrate a polymer nanofiber layer comprising polymer nanofibers made from polymers including a heteroaryl group; selectively exposing to UV-ozone a part of the polymer nanofiber layer through an aperture of a mask; selectively removing a part of the polymer nanofiber layer which was not exposed to UV-ozone from the polymer nanofiber layer to form a polymer nanofiber layer pattern; depositing a metal precursor on the polymer nanofiber layer pattern; and reducing the metal precursor into a metal.
US08975004B2	Electrically conductive polymer resin and method for making same Disclosed are polymer resins, including polymer resin sheets, having good electroconductivity and a method for manufacturing the same. The polymer resins exhibit flexibility and show electroconductivity on their surface as well as along their thickness, and thus can be used as electromagnetic wave-shielding materials having impact- and vibration-absorbing properties as well as conductivity.
US08975003B2	Photosensitive negative resin composition The invention provides a photosensitive negative resin composition containing (a) an epoxy-group-containing compound, (b) a first onium salt containing a cation portion structure represented by (b1) and an anion portion structure represented by (b2), and (c) a second onium salt containing a cation portion structure represented by (c1) and an anion portion structure represented by (c2).
US08975000B2	Method of producing polymerized toner, method of producing binder resin for toner, and toner The method of producing polymerized toner, the method including: dispersing a polymerizable monomer composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant in an aqueous medium; and polymerizing the polymerizable monomer in the aqueous medium with a polymerization initiator to produce toner particles, and is characterized in that a polymerization initiator which has a specific structure and the hydrogen bond dissociation energies of which satisfy specific relationships is used as the polymerization initiator.
US08974995B2	Carrier resins with improved relative humidity sensitivity The disclosure describes acrylate carrier resins, optionally, with a C/O of at least about 4, comprising a heterocycle comprising sulfur, exhibiting high charge and improved RH sensitivity, carrier compositions comprising the acrylate-coated carriers and developers comprising a toner and the acrylate-coated carrier.
US08974991B2	Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method of producing phthalocyanine crystal, method of producing electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, electrophotographic apparatus, and phthalocyanine crystal Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support, in which the photosensitive layer includes a phthalocyanine crystal containing a compound satisfying the following formulae (A) and (B) in itself: 8.9≦δP≦10.7 (A) and −3.2≦L≦−1.5 (B) (in the formula (A), δP represents a polar term of Hansen Solubility Parameters, and in the formula (B), L represents an energy level (eV) of an LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) obtained as a result of structural optimization calculation based on density functional calculation B3LYP/6-31G).
US08974986B2	Method for producing metal-supported carbon, method for producing crystals consisting of fullerene molecules and fullerene nanowhisker/nanofiber nanotubes, and apparatus for producing the same A method for producing metal-supported carbon includes supporting metal microparticles on the surface of carbon black, by a liquid-phase reduction method, in a thin film fluid formed between processing surfaces arranged to be opposite to each other so as to be able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other.
US08974985B2	Fuel cell unit box and fuel cell A stack hinge is formed by stacking a plurality of plate hinge parts each having the same shape. Each of the plate hinge parts has a tab having a pin through hole for engagement with a joint pin and a joint portion joined to a panel of a unit box. The plate hinge parts are stacked by aligning the pin through holes and fixed together to assemble the plate hinge parts into a single hinge member.
US08974984B2	Power generation system using an alkaline fuel cell and fuel gas for alkaline fuel cells used in the system A power generation system includes an alkaline fuel cell provided with an electrolyte membrane which is an anion exchange membrane and a pair of electrodes (an anode and a cathode) arranged on the both sides of the electrolyte membrane. The alkaline fuel cell can generate an electric power by supplying a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas to the anode side and the cathode side, respectively. The power generation system uses a hydrogen gas containing a basic compound such as ammonia as the fuel gas to be supplied to the anode side.
US08974980B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell is provided with a membrane electrode assembly provided with a frame, both of which are sandwiched between two separators. The fuel cell is configured such that reactive gas is circulated between the frame and the separators. The frame and both separators each have manifold holes, the rims of the manifold holes of frame extend into the manifold holes in the separators, and protrusions cover the inner peripheral surfaces of the manifold holes in at least one of the separators. This structure makes possible the easy and accurate position and integration of the separators and the frame, and fuel cell miniaturization can be achieved because space to position the protrusions is not needed.
US08974970B2	Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery Provided is a lithium transition metal oxide having an α-NaFeO2 layered crystal structure, as a cathode active material for lithium secondary battery, wherein the transition metal includes a blend of Ni and Mn, an average oxidation number of the transition metals except lithium is +3 or higher, and the lithium transition metal oxide satisfies Equations 1 and 2: 1.0
US08974967B2	Nanotube-based nanomaterial membrane As consistent with various embodiments, an electronic device includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In certain embodiments, a coating, such as an inorganic coating, is formed on a surface of carbon nanotube. The nanotube film supports the device and facilitates electrical conduction therein. The coated nanotube is amenable to implementation with devices such as thin film batteries, a battery separator, thin film solar cells and high-energy Lithium ion batteries.
US08974965B2	Electrodes for a lead acid battery and the use thereof The object of the present invention is to improve the short-term discharge power after the thermal cycles, as the object of the improvement of the characteristics of the lead acid battery. An electrode for a lead acid battery comprising an electrode active material layer comprising a lead containing material, a porous carbon material and a binder, and a current collector, wherein when a weight of lead atom is A and a weight of porous carbon material is B, B/(A+B)×100 satisfies 1.0 to 90%; and said binder is a crystalline polymer having a melting temperature of 40° C. or less or amorphous polymer, is used.
US08974962B2	Anode active material and secondary battery comprising the same Disclosed are an anode active material for secondary batteries, capable of intercalating and deintercalating ions, the anode active material including a core including a crystalline carbon-based material, and a composite coating layer including one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon, and a hydrophilic material, wherein the composite coating layer includes a matrix comprising one component selected from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of low crystalline carbon and amorphous carbon, and a hydrophilic material, and a filler including the other component, incorporated in the matrix, and a secondary battery including the anode active material.
US08974960B2	Binder-free sulfur—carbon nanotube composite cathodes for rechargeable lithium—sulfur batteries and methods of making the same The present disclosure includes a sulfur-carbon nanotube composite comprising a sheet of carbon nanotubes and sulfur nucleated upon the carbon nanotubes, and methods for synthesizing the same. In some embodiments, the sulfur-carbon composite may further be binder-free and include a sheet of carbon nanotubes, rendering a binder and a current collector unnecessary. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, a cathode comprising the sulfur-carbon nanotube composite is disclosed. In additional embodiments of the present disclosure, batteries may include the cathodes described herein. Those batteries may achieve high rate capabilities.
US08974958B2	Electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and binder for electrode An electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of an embodiment includes: a current collector; and an active material layer including an active material and a binder, formed on the current collector, wherein the binder includes at least an olefin based polymer and a fatty acid, and the fatty acid has a melting point of 25° C. or less and a boiling point of 100° C. or more.
US08974957B2	Cathode active material providing improved efficiency and energy density of electrode Provided is a cathode active material having a composition represented by the following Formula I: LiFe(P1-XO4) (I) wherein a molar fraction (1−x) of phosphorus (P) is in the range of 0.910 to 0.999, to allow operational efficiency of the cathode active material to be leveled to a lower operational efficiency of an anode active material and improve energy density of the cathode active material. Furthermore, a cathode active material, wherein a molar fraction (1−x) of phosphorus (P) is lower than 1, contains both Fe2+ and Fe3+, thus advantageously preventing structural deformation, improving ionic conductivity, exhibiting superior rate properties and inhibiting IR drop upon charge/discharge, thereby imparting high energy density to batteries.
US08974956B2	Secondary battery and method for manufacturing electrode assembly thereof A secondary battery includes at least one positive electrode plate folded on the basis of a first fold line, and at least one negative electrode plate folded on the basis of a second fold line and stacked to face the at least one positive electrode plate with the second fold line coinciding with the first fold line.
US08974955B2	Method for manufacturing battery cell and battery cell manufactured using the same Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a battery cell including an electrode assembly and electrolyte provided in a battery case composed of a laminate sheet having a resin layer and a metal layer, which includes; (a) thermally fusing and sealing the periphery of the case except for an end part thereof while the electrode assembly is mounted in the case; (b) introducing the electrolyte through the unsealed end part then sealing the same by thermal fusion; (c) charging and discharging the battery cell to activate the same; (d) puncturing the unsealed part inside the end part to form a through-hole communicating with the inside of the case; and (e) pulling top and bottom faces of the battery case in the opposite direction to each other at the unsealed part to open the same while applying vacuum pressure, to thereby remove the gas generated during activation as well as excess electrolyte.
US08974949B2	Electrical insulator shaped to conform to power source electrodes One example includes a plurality of substantially planar electrodes disposed in a stack, in alignment, the stack being at least partially disk-shaped with a first major face opposing a second major face, with an edge extending between the first major face and the second major face, a pocket, with a covered portion of the stack disposed in the pocket, the pocket shaped to conform to the stack with a first portion of the pocket covering a first segment of the first major face, a second portion covering a second segment of the second major face opposite the first segment, and an edge portion covering the edge of the stack, wherein a remaining portion of the stack extends out of the pocket and a film disposed over the remaining portion of the stack, substantially covering the remaining portion.
US08974948B2	Low cost, high power, high energy density, solid-state, bipolar metal hydride batteries A solid state battery including at least one multilayered battery cell comprising: 1) a layer of negative electrode material; 2) a layer of positive electrode material; and 3) a layer of perovskite-type oxide material disposed between the layer of positive electrode material and the layer of negative electrode material, where said layer of perovskite-type oxide material is electrically insulating and capable of readily conducting or transporting protons.
US08974944B2	Electrode assembly and rechargeable battery using the same An electrode assembly comprises a first electrode including a first electrode current collector and a first electrode active material layer, a second electrode including a second electrode current collector and a second electrode active material layer, a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrode absorbing member in contact with the first electrode.
US08974940B1	Electrode configured for turbulence An energy storage system includes a cell having a flow chamber for receiving electrolyte, and an electrode positioned in the cell. The electrode includes a base plate having a generally planar portion and a plurality of partially cutout portions partially cut out from the generally planar portion to define a plurality of openings in the base plate. Each cutout portion is attached to the generally planar portion and has a projecting part that extends away from the generally planar portion. Furthermore, the openings and the cutout portions are configured to enhance mixing of the electrolyte when the electrolyte is received in the flow chamber.
US08974939B2	Fluid-surfaced electrode An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface, which may employ a surface energy effect to maintain a position of the fluid surface and/or to modulate flow within the fluid. Fluid-directing structures may also modulate flow or retain fluid in a predetermined pattern. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.
US08974937B2	Center pin for electrochemical device Disclosed is the structure of a center pin inserted into the winding center of a winding-type electrode assembly of an electrochemical device, which has a case containing the winding-type electrode assembly. The center pin can be manufactured through a simple process and can secure the safety of an electrochemical device when physical impact (e.g. squeezing, shock) is applied from the outside or when the internal temperature rises. The center pin is manufactured by winding a planar substrate, which has at least two protrusions formed in an embossing type or which has at least two scores formed in a predetermined shape, into a tubular shape.
US08974934B2	Battery module A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a battery cell and a heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the battery cell. The battery module further includes a cooling manifold having a tubular wall, a first fluid port, and a ring shaped member. The tubular wall defines an interior region and having first and second end portions. The first fluid port extends outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular wall and fluidly communicates with the interior region of the tubular wall. The ring shaped member is disposed on an outer surface of the first fluid port a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the tubular wall.
US08974933B2	Method and apparatus for preventing electrolysis on battery contacts in a dual-contact battery system A dual-contact battery pack comprises a housing, a plurality of battery cells located within the housing, a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts coupled to the housing and to the plurality of battery cells. The dual-contact battery further comprises a first control circuit coupled between the plurality of battery cells and the first set of contacts and a second control circuit coupled between the plurality of battery cells and the second set of contacts. The first and second sets of contacts enable the dual-contact battery pack to selectively switch from a first state which prevents current from flowing from the plurality of battery cells to the respective first and second set of contacts to a second state in which current flows from the plurality of battery cells to the respective first and second set of contacts in response to the respective first and second control circuits.
US08974932B2	Battery powered surgical tool with guide wire A battery pack for a use with a powered surgical tool. The battery pack may include a housing with an outer wall and opposing first and second ends. The housing may include an elongated shape that extends between the first and second ends. A first member may extend across the first end of the housing and include a first aperture, and a second end member may extend across the second end of the housing and may include a second aperture. A passage may extend through the housing with a first end that aligns with the first aperture and a second end that aligns with the second aperture. The housing may be sized for a plurality of storage locations positioned between the first and second members and around the passage, and each of the storage locations may be configured to store a power cell.
US08974930B2	Battery module A battery module includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of holders. The plurality of cells are parallelly arranged in a row at intervals. The plurality of cells have explosion-proof valves which are provided therein and which are capable of opening upon an increase in an inner pressure in the plurality of cells. The plurality of holders are arranged among the cells so as to hold the cells. The holders have holder pieces which are integrally formed therein and which cover at least part of the explosion-valves so as to prevent emissions from the explosion-proof valves from being released in all directions.
US08974929B2	Heating system for a battery module and method of heating the battery module A heating system and a method for heating a battery module are provided. The method includes determining if the temperature signal indicates that the temperature level is less than a threshold temperature level. If the temperature level is less than the threshold temperature level, then the method further includes generating a first control signal to induce the switch to have the first operational position to at least partially discharge the first and second battery cell groups through a resistor to generate heat energy in the resistor. The method further includes generating a second control signal to turn on a fan to distribute the heat energy in the battery module to increase a temperature level of the battery module.
US08974928B2	Heating system for a battery module and method of heating the battery module A heating system and a method for heating a battery module are provided. The method includes generating a first signal indicative of a first voltage level being output by a first battery cell group, and generating a second signal indicative of a second voltage level being output by a second battery cell group. The method includes generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature level of at least one of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group. If the temperature level is less than a threshold temperature level, and the first battery cell group is not electrically balanced with the second battery cell group then the method includes selecting one of the first and second battery cell groups to be at least partially discharged through a resistor to generate heat energy in the resistor.
US08974924B2	Oleophobic coating on sapphire A component comprises a substrate having an alumina base layer, a transition layer, and a surface coating. The transition layer comprises alumina and silica, and the surface coating preferentially bonds to the silica as compared to the alumina.
US08974921B2	Condensed-cyclic compound and organic light-emitting diode comprising the same A condensed-cyclic compound and an organic light-emitting diode including the same.
US08974920B2	Application of triphenylene derivatives in organic electroluminescent devices Triphenylene derivatives having a structure of formula (1) are provided. Ar represents an aromatic compound, n is 1 to 3, and each of R and R1 to R13 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, cyano, trifluoromethyl, amino, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkenyl, C1-C20 heterocycloalkyl, C1-C20 heterocycloalkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl. The compound of the present invention may function as a host emitter or dopant in the emitter layer of OLED device. An OLED device is also herein provided.
US08974919B2	Anthracene derivative and an organic electronic device using the same The present invention relates to a novel anthracene derivative and an organic electronic device using the same. The anthracene derivative can act as a hole injecting, hole transporting, electron injecting and transporting, or light emitting material in an organic light emitting device and an organic electronic device. In particular, the anthracene derivative can act as a light emitting host. The organic electronic device according to the present invention has excellent characteristics in views of efficiency, the driving voltage, and the stability.
US08974918B2	Display device and electronic device It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device without using an oxide light-transmitting conductive film which is necessary in a conventional method. In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device having a display device using a new electrode material. It is a summary of the present invention to form an electrode of a pixel or a pixel portion with a light-transmitting conductive film containing a hole-transporting organic compound and a metal oxide which shows an electron accepting property with respect to the hole-transporting organic compound. The hole-transporting organic compound and the metal oxide which shows an electron accepting property with respect to the hole-transporting organic compound are composed to have resistivity of less than or equal to 1×106 Ω·cm, thereby being able to serve as an electrode of a pixel. It is not necessary to form a transparent electrode using a particular premium grade material; therefore, the manufacture cost of an electronic device typified by a flat panel display can be reduced.
US08974916B2	Devices obtained by solid state bonding method A method for solid state bonding of a plurality of metallic layers and devices made by that method are disclosed. First and second metallic layers are solid state bonded utilizing a protective coating on the non-bonded surfaces that engage the pressure applying appliance to prevent the surfaces from adhering to the pressure applying appliance and to protect the surfaces from imprinting during the bonding process. The invention can be used to fabricate micro-channel devices with smooth outer surfaces and eliminate mold release compounds utilized in conventional bonding procedures.
US08974914B2	Metal-ceramic substrate and method for manufacturing such a substrate A metal-ceramic substrate for electrical circuits or modules includes at least one first outer metal layer forming one first surface side of the metal-ceramic substrate and at least one second outer metal layer forming one second surface side of the metal-ceramic substrate. The outer metal layers are bonded respectively by two-dimensional bonding with the surface sides of a plate-like substrate body.
US08974909B2	Random copolymers of propylene Random copolymers of propylene with ethylene, and optionally other olefins, comprising from 3.5% to 6.5% by weight of ethylene and having a melt flow rate (MFR) according to ISO 1133 (230° C., 2.16 Kg) of less than 10 g/10 min and a melting temperature (Tm), determined by DSC, satisfying the relation: 45° C.≦Tm+C≦150° C. wherein C is the quantity (by weight) of ethylene in the copolymer. The random copolymers of the invention are specifically suited for cast film and/or sheet applications.
US08974908B2	Label film for deep-draw processes The invention relates to the use of a multilayered, opaque, biaxially oriented polyolefin film of a vacuole-containing base layer and at least one inner cover layer comprising at least 30-95% by weight of a copolymer and/or terpolymer I having a seal initiation temperature I of 70-105° C. and 5 to 70% by weight of an incompatible polyethylene, each of the specifications in percent by weight being based on the weight of the inner cover layer and the inner cover layer having a seal initiation temperature II of 80 to 110° C.
US08974907B2	Method for reinforcing a glass of touch panel and reinforcement structure thereof The present invention provides a method for reinforcing a glass of a touch panel and a reinforcement structure thereof. The method provides at least one protective film and at least one glass substrate. One side of the glass substrate is adhered to one side of the protective film. The glass substrate adhered with the protective film is dipped in an adhesive reservoir. The glass substrate adhered with the protective film is taken out of the adhesive reservoir. After the adhesive is hardened, a reinforcement layer is formed on the other side and the periphery of the glass substrate. The present invention makes the surface of the glass to be more flat with an increased strength.
US08974905B2	Structural adhesive and bonding application thereof A structural adhesive composition that is suitable for high-strength bonding of metals and aerospace structural materials. In one embodiment, the structural adhesive composition based on a two-part system, which is curable at or below 200° F. (93° C.). The two-part system is composed of a resinous part (A) and a catalyst part (B), which may be stored separately at room temperature until they are ready to be used. The resinous part (A) includes at least two different multifunctional epoxy resins with different functionality selected from difunctional, trifunctional, and tetrafunctional epoxy resins, certain toughening components, and inorganic filler particles as a rheology/thixotrophy modifying component. The toughening components include core-shell rubber particles with different particle sizes and at least one of an elastomeric polymer and a polyethersulfone polymer. The catalyst part (B) includes an aliphatic or cyclic amine compound as a curing agent and inorganic filler as a rheology/thixotropy modifying component. The weight ratio of part (A) to part (B) is within the range of 3:2 to 10:2. In another embodiment, the structural adhesive composition is based on a one-part system which includes the components of the resinous part (A) in the two-part system mixed with a latent amine curing agent. The one-part system may further include an imidazole and/or an aliphatic amine. The one-part system is curable within the temperature range of 140-300° F. (60-150° C.). The paste adhesive disclosed herein has film-like properties and is particularly useful in rapid-assembly aerospace structure bonding applications.
US08974904B2	Aligned carbon nanotubes for dry adhesives and methods for producing same A nanocomposite dry adhesive. The nanocomposite dry adhesive includes a substrate; and an array of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes or vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the substrate, wherein the nanocomposite dry adhesive utilizes the array of single-walled carbon nanotubes or multi-walled carbon nanotubes as synthesized, the as synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes being substantially free of randomly entangled nanotube segments on top of the vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes, the as synthesized multi-walled carbon nanotubes having randomly entangled nanotube segments on top of the vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes; wherein the dry adhesive has a normal adhesion strength of at least about 5 N·cm−2, and a shear adhesion strength of at least about 13 N·cm−2. Methods of making a nanocomposite dry adhesive are also described.
US08974901B2	Multilayer thin film for ceramic electronic component and method of manufacturing the same There are provided a multilayer thin film for a ceramic electronic component and a method of manufacturing the same. The multilayer thin film includes a substrate; and a ceramic layer and a metal layer alternately formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the substrate, wherein at least one of the ceramic layer and the metal layer has a height corresponding to a thickness of at least one of a plurality of particles arranged on a plane. With the multilayer thin film for a ceramic electronic component, the number of layers increases and a distance between electrodes decreases, whereby capacitance may increase.
US08974898B2	Coated substrate having enhanced scratch and mar resistance Disclosed herein is a substrate comprising a coating composition of silica nano-particles having enhanced mar and scratch resistance. In particular, the invention relates to a coating composition that contains silica nano-particle dispersion for use in automotive coating applications.
US08974896B2	Coated article with dark color An article is coated with a coating having a dark color. In a preferred embodiment, the coating comprises a nickel or polymer basecoat layer, a first metal oxycarbide color layer comprised of 15 atomic percent carbon, 25 to 30 atomic percent oxygen, and 55 to 60 percent atomic percent refractory metal, a second metal oxycarbide color layer comprised of 10 atomic percent carbon, 50 to 60 atomic percent oxygen, and 30 to 40 atomic percent refractory metal, and a top layer of refractory metal oxides.
US08974895B2	Inkjet ink, ink storage container, inkjet recording device, and recorded matter An inkjet ink that contains at least water; a water-soluble organic solvent; a pigment; and a copolymer or a salt thereof. The copolymer or the salt thereof has at least a structural unit represented by Formula 1, a structural unit represented by Formula 2, and a structural unit represented by Formula 3 or 4.
US08974887B2	Low-fold napkin A folded paper napkin includes paper sheet panels interconnected by fold lines. The folded paper napkin is for dispensing from a paper napkin dispenser having a dispenser opening. A grasping tab is presented to the user at the dispenser opening to retrieve the paper napkin therefrom whether the paper napkin is positioned frontwards or backwards in the dispenser.
US08974878B2	Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. Such films do not exhibit excessive ink drying times. These films exhibit high maximum optical densities and have low haze values. These films are useful for medical imaging.
US08974877B2	Paper for inkjet recording The present invention concerns a print medium for inkjet printing and a method of producing such a print medium. In particular, the present invention is directed to a print medium comprising a base layer having a first side and a reverse side, an absorptive layer being in contact with the first side of the base layer, and a topcoat being in contact with the absorptive layer.
US08974872B2	Method of manufacture of multilayer film A process for producing a multilayer film which, even when bent, is less apt to decrease in barrier property or electrical conductivity. The process comprises forming a barrier film and a transparent conductive film on a resin film to produce a multilayer film. The barrier film is formed by a plasma enhanced CVD method which uses electric discharge between rolls. The transparent conductive film is preferably formed by physical vapor deposition. The resin film preferably is a polyester resin film or a polyolefin resin film.
US08974871B2	Ultra-violet curing machine A curing machine to cure a UV-curable adhesive adhering on a workpiece, the workpiece having a slot thereon and a hole on a sidewall of the slot. The hole receives the UV-curable adhesive, the curing machine can include a curing mechanism. The curing mechanism can include a base plate holding a curing assembly and the curing assembly can include a holding member, at least one UV lamp being coupled to the holding member. Axis of the at least one UV lamp can intersect with the holding member at an angle of less than 90 degrees. A workpiece being positioned on the base plate, the UV lamp can irradiate directly an inside or an outside of a sidewall through the hole in the sidewall of the slot.
US08974869B2	Method for improving plating on non-conductive substrates A method of treating a laser-activated thermoplastic substrate having a metal compound dispersed therein is described. The substrate is contacted with an aqueous composition comprising: (i) a thiol functional organic compound; (ii) an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant; and (iii) xanthan gum. By use of the treatment composition, when the substrate is subsequently laser-activated and plated by electroless plating, extraneous plating of the substrate is substantially eliminated.
US08974868B2	Post deposition plasma cleaning system and method A method for processing a substrate includes disposing the substrate in a deposition chamber configured to perform a deposition process and depositing a film on the substrate using the deposition process. The substrate having the film thereon is then transferred from the deposition chamber into a treatment chamber and a plasma cleaning process is performed on the substrate in the treatment chamber. Further processing of the substrate is performed after the plasma cleaning process.
US08974867B2	Method for making strip shaped graphene layer A method for making a strip shaped graphene layer includes the following steps. First, a carbon nanotube structure on a surface of a metal substrate is provided. The carbon nanotube structure includes at least one drawn carbon nanotube film. The at least one drawn carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube segments, each of the number of carbon nanotube segments being substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by a strip-shaped gap. Second, carbon ions are implanted into the metal substrate through the strip-shaped gaps. Third, the metal substrate is annealed to obtain the strip shaped graphene layer.
US08974864B2	Method of manufacturing a coated substrate having solar properties A method of coating a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; depositing an infrared reflecting layer over at least a portion of a substrate; depositing a primer layer over at least a portion of the infrared reflective layer; depositing a dielectric layer over at least a portion of the primer layer; and forming an absorbing layer. The absorbing layer includes an alloy and/or mixture of (a) a metal having an index of refraction at 500 nm less than or equal to 1.0 and (b) a material having a ΔG°f of greater than or equal to −100 at 1000° K. The metal can be silver and the material can be tin.
US08974863B2	Method for producing fiber-reinforced composite material, and heat-resistant mold material and heat-resistant structural material using the fiber-reinforced composite material A method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite material having high mechanical properties and high heat resistance, and allowing the use of a gypsum die in primary curing, wherein a fiber-reinforced prepreg, obtained by impregnating reinforcing fibers with an epoxy resin composition comprising a triphenylmethane-type epoxy resin, N,N,N′,N′-tetraglycidyldiaminodiphenylmethane (B) and diaminodiphenylsulfone (C), is subjected to primary curing at 110-130° C., and then to secondary curing at a temperature which is at least as high as the primary curing temperature.
US08974861B2	Alkaline coating composition for autodeposition Embodiments of the present disclosure include processes for autodepositing a coating on a metal surface, a method of producing a coating on a non-stainless steel metal substrate surface, and an alkaline coating composition, where the process for autodepositing a coating on a metal substrate surface includes immersing at least a portion of the metal substrate surface in a coating composition that includes a latex and an amount of base sufficient to raise the pH of the composition to an alkaline pH, where the coating autodeposits on the metal substrate surface, as metal ions from the metal substrate surface interact with the alkaline coating composition.
US08974859B2	Micro-channel coating deposition system and method for using the same Methods of pressure coating a target surface of an article comprising one or more grooves formed in an outer surface of an article include fluidly connecting a pressure masker comprising a pressurized masking fluid to one or more coolant supply holes on a first side of the article. The one or more coolant supply holes in fluidic communication with the one or more grooves. Passing the pressurized masking fluid through the one or more grooves from the first side to a second side comprising the target surface at a pressure less than the coating pressure of the coating material, and, coating the target surface with the coating material to allow the coating material to bridge over the one or more grooves and form one or more micro-channels. The pressurized masking fluid passing through the one or more grooves prevents the coating material from permanently altering a cross sectional area of the one or more grooves along its length.
US08974858B2	Method of depositing organic material An apparatus for depositing an organic material and a depositing method thereof, wherein a deposition process is performed with respect to a second substrate while transfer and alignment processes are performed with respect to a first substrate in a chamber, so that loss of an organic material wasted in the transfer and alignment processes can be reduced, thereby maximizing material efficiency and minimizing a processing tack time. The apparatus includes a chamber having an interior divided into a first substrate deposition area and a second substrate deposition area, an organic material deposition source transferred to within ones of the first and second substrate deposition areas to spray particles of an organic material onto respective ones of first and second substrates and a first transferring unit to rotate the organic material deposition source in a first direction from one of the first and second substrate deposition areas to an other of the first and second substrate deposition areas.
US08974853B2	Tire dressing paste composition A tire dressing composition is provided that includes at least one silicone fluid having a viscosity of between 40 and 500,000 centiStokes at room temperature. An amine functionalized silicone fluid having a viscosity of between 40 and 500,000 centiStokes at room temperature is also present. A thickener is present to yield a coating from the composition has limited sag, low tack upon coating formation, and desirable durability properties. An organic solvent is present in which the at least one silicone fluid and the amine functionalized silicone fluid are soluble or suspended. A process is provided for dressing a tire having a previous silicone coating thereon, the process including applying the tire dressing composition and allowing a solvent to evaporate from the composition to form a tire dressing coating. The coating producing an initial gloss of great than 200 units. A gloss of greater than 110 units is maintained for at least four weeks subsequent to the application under normal vehicle operation conditions.
US08974847B2	Food with depression [Object] To provide a food product that exhibits excellent solubility, such as solid milk.[Means] The above purpose is achieved by a food product having a top surface (4) including a flat area (2); a bottom surface (8) including a flat area (6) parallel to the flat area (2) on the top surface; and a recess (10) formed on the top surface (4) and a recess (12) formed on the bottom surface (8), wherein when the food product has both the recess (10) formed on the top surface (4) and the recess (12) formed on the bottom surface (8), the total of the largest depth du (14) of the recess (10) on the top surface and the largest depth dd (16) of the recess (12) on the bottom surface is 30% or larger of the thickness w (18) of the food product.
US08974846B2	Beverage preparation machines and methods for operating beverage preparation machines A method of operating a beverage preparation machine, the beverage preparation machine being of the type comprising a brewer comprising: a reservoir containing water; a delivery head for receiving in use a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients; a pump for pumping water from said reservoir to said delivery head; a primary heater for heating the water contained in said reservoir; a secondary heater in between the reservoir and the delivery head; a controller for controlling energization of the primary heater and the secondary heater; and wherein the controller operates to prevent energization of the primary heater simultaneous with energization of the secondary heater. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed and methods and apparatus utilizing first and second brewers.
US08974841B2	Chinese medicinal compositions useful as anti-fatigue, anti-aging and gonadotrophic agent and processes for preparation thereof Chinese medicinal compositions useful as anti-fatigue, anti-aging and gonadotrophic agent and processes for preparation thereof, active ingredients of which being prepared from Fructus lycii, Panax quinquefolium and Radices polygoni multiflor. The present compositions are prepared by micronization of starting materials in their entirety.
US08974838B2	Composition and method for fertility therapy using nutritional supplements A new composition and method are described for male fertility therapy. In one particular embodiment, the composition comprises Lepidium meyenii, carnitine and Coenzyme Q10. When it is administered to males as fertility therapy following the recommended therapeutic regimen, enhanced sperm count, sperm quality, and sperm motility results.
US08974835B2	Gastric ulcer therapeutic agent A gastric ulcer therapeutic agent comprising as an active ingredient a composite hydroxide of a hydrotalcite and an aluminum hydroxide compound, which composite hydroxide is represented by the formula (1), Mg1-xAlx(OH)2+x-ny(An-)y(H2O)m (1), wherein An-represents an anion, n represents a valence of the anion in the range of 1 to 4, x is in the range of 0.34
US08974833B2	Combination of an oxidant and a photoactivator for the healing of wounds There is provided a wound healing composition which comprises at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In addition, a method of topically treating wounds using at least one oxidant and at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant followed by illumination of said photosensitizer is disclosed.
US08974831B2	Process for preparing carrier particles for dry powders for inhalation Carrier particles in which at least 60% of the surface is coated with magnesium stearate are useful for preparing dry powder formulations for inhalation.
US08974826B2	Nanoparticle film delivery systems A therapeutic or bioeffecting film delivery system which includes nanoparticles having actives bound to or associated with the nanoparticles and which when administered allow the active to perform a therapeutic or bioeffecting function.
US08974823B2	Solid compositions of low-solubility drugs and poloxamers Solid compositions of low-solubility drugs and poloxamers that provide concentration enhancement when administered to an aqueous environment of use are disclosed.
US08974822B2	Oral formulations of bipolar trans carotenoids The subject invention relates to a variety of formulations of bipolar trans carotenoids including pharmaceutical compositions for oral delivery of a bipolar trans carotenoid comprising i) a bipolar trans carotenoid, ii) a cyclodextrin, and iii) a coating. The invention also relates to preparation of such formulations and their uses.
US08974819B2	Sustained-release chitosan capsules comprising chitosan and phytic acid The present invention relates to a chitosan capsule in which a soluble active ingredient is encapsulated in a matrix containing chitosan and phytic acid; a cross-linking method and materials capable of being used in preparing the capsule; and pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic compositions comprising the capsule. The chitosan capsule according to the present invention is prepared via ionic gelation of chitosan as a biodegradable polymer with phytic acid capable of rapidly and effectively forming a cross-linking reaction with the chitosan polymer. The capsule of the present invention shows high encapsulation efficiency for a soluble active ingredient and protects the soluble active ingredient from being damaged in a digestive tract, resulting in improving an in vivo delivery efficiency of a physiologically active material. Further, since the capsule of the present invention has a pH-dependent sustained-release mechanism which can minimize the release of a soluble active ingredient in the stomach and gradually release in the intestine, it is possible to regulate sustained-release of a soluble active ingredient.
US08974818B2	Custom-formulated phospholipid microbubbles and methods and uses thereof A phospholipid microbubble comprising a shell which comprises a plurality of polyunsaturated fatty acid (“PUFA”)-containing phospholipids, and a core of inert gas surrounded by the shell comprising the plurality of PUFA-containing phospholipids. The present invention also provides methods of delivering a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of PUFA to an area of disease or injury in a subject. The present invention also provides methods of preventing or treating a disease in a subject using a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of the aforementioned phospholipid microbubbles.
US08974817B2	Transdermally absorbable preparation Disclosed is a novel transdermally absorbable preparation which enables the efficient, stable and long-term administration of a drug to a living body. More specifically, the transdermally absorbable preparation comprises: a laminate comprising an outer film, a drug-containing layer and a support layer laminated in this order from the side to be contacted with the skin; and a fixing means for fixing the laminate on the skin. In the transdermally absorbable preparation, the outer film is a drug-permeable polymer film that can control the release of the drug into the skin and is provided as a surface of the laminate which is to be contact with the skin.
US08974809B2	Medical devices having a filter insert for controlled diffusion An implantable or insertable medical device is provided which includes as components: (a) a substrate component comprising a depression that is at least partially filled with a therapeutic agent-containing material that comprises a first therapeutic agent, and (b) a pre-formed filter insert disposed in the depression such that it regulates transport of chemical species between the depression and the exterior of the device upon implantation or insertion of the device in vivo.
US08974808B2	Elastic implantable composites and implants comprising same Described herein are implantable composites, kits comprising the composites, implant devices comprising the composites, and methods of making and using same, including point of use methods.
US08974806B2	Method for producing aqueous active substance compositions of active substances that are hardly soluble in water The present invention relates to a process for preparing aqueous active compound compositions of active compounds which are poorly soluble in water, in particular of active compounds for the protection of crops and materials. Moreover, the invention relates to the active compound compositions obtainable by the process and to their use for controlling harmful organisms in plants and in the protection of materials.The process comprises the following steps: a) provision of an aqueous suspension of solid active compound particles of at least one active compound having a solubility in water of not more than 5 g/l at 25° C./1013 mbar, comprising, for stabilizing the active compound particles, at least one surfactant, where the active compound particles in the suspension have a mean particle size, determined by dynamic light scattering, of not more than 1200 nm, b) emulsion polymerization of a first monomer composition M1 in the aqueous suspension of the active compound, where the monomer composition M1 comprises at least 95% by weight, based on its total weight, of at least one neutral, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer M1.1 having a solubility in water of not more than 30 g/l at 25° C./1013 mbar, giving an aqueous dispersion of polymer/active compound particles, and c) emulsion polymerization of a second monomer composition M2 in an aqueous dispersion of the polymer/active compound particles obtained in step b), where the monomer composition M2 comprises at least 60% by weight, based on its total weight, of at least one neutral, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer M2.1 having a solubility in water of not more than 30 g/l at 25° C./1013 mbar.
US08974798B2	Anti-bacterial vaccine compositions with a mutated yleA gene Gram negative bacterial virulence genes are identified, thereby allowing the identification of novel anti-bacterial agents that target these virulence genes and their products, and the provision of novel gram negative bacterial mutants useful in vaccines.
US08974797B2	Virus-like particles as vaccines for paramyxovirus The invention provides expression vectors and virus-like particles (VLPs) containing Newcastle Disease Virus Sequences in combination with sequences encoding proteins of interest. The vectors are useful in, for example, generating virus-like particles (VLPs) that contain proteins of interest. In one embodiment, the expressed VLPs elicit an immune response by an animal host against the protein. The invention's VLPs are useful as, for example, vaccines.
US08974795B2	Controlled release formulation based on hematin anhydride crystals for the induction of an innate immune reaction The present invention relates to a new process for producing a doped synthetic monodispersed hematin anhydride (HA) crystals useful as a slow release vehicle and immune modulator. As the preparation comprises embedded in the crystals one or more antigens and/or one or more biologically active entities, the preparation can be useful in numerous medical indications such as vaccine or any therapy where it is desired that a biologically active entity maintains its activity over time due to its slow-release. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a substantially pure iron(III) protoporphyrin-IX, in solution in an alkaline solution substantially free of oxygen (ii) adjusting the pH of the solution to an acidic pH of between about 4.0, by slowly adding a medium strong organic acid, (iii) during step b) above, adding one or more antigens and/or one or entities having a biological activity, at a pH of about 5.0.
US08974783B2	Methods of treating pain using an IL-31Ra or OSMR-b antagonist Use of antagonists to IL-31Ra and OSMRb are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include soluble receptors, antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08974782B2	Treatment of stroke comprising anti-MAG antibodies The present invention relates to a dosing regimen for use in the treatment of stroke. More particularly, the invention relates to the administration of two doses of anti-MAG antibodies for the treatment of ischemic and/or haemorrhagic stroke.
US08974776B2	Biodegradable peptide releasing polymers Novel biodegradable compositions are disclosed. The biodegradable compositions include at least one hydroxyl-terminated component and at least one bioactive peptide in a linear chain. The compositions may be utilized as medical devices including drug delivery devices, tissue adhesives and/or sealants.
US08974775B2	Silicone ionomer composition There is provided herein a functionalized ionic silicone composition comprising a silicone of the formula (I): M1aM2bM3cD1dD2eD3fT1gT2hT3iQj (I) which contains a monovalent radical bearing ion-pairs and having the formula (II): -A-Ix−Mny+; where A is a spacing group having at least 2 spacing atoms selected from a divalent hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy group, where I is an ionic group such as sulfonate —SO3−, carboxylate —COO−, phosphonate —PO32− group and phosphate —OPO32−, where M is hydrogen or a cation independently selected from alkali metals, alkali earth metals, transition metals, metals, quaternary ammonium and phosphonium groups; or, zwitterions having the formula (III): —R′—NR″2+—R′″—I (III) where I is defined as above, and where the subscript a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j are zero or positive subject to the following limitations: 2≦a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+i+j≦6000, b+e+h>0 and c+f+i>0.
US08974771B2	Apparatus and method for aerosol delivery to the lungs or other locations of the body This disclosure relates to an apparatus useful for the delivery of aerosols, such as those containing drugs, to the lungs or other locations in the body. The disclosure also relates to methods of administering an aerosol to the lungs or other locations in the body of a patient.
US08974769B2	Magnetic nanocomposite with multi-biofunctional groups and method for fabricating the same The present invention proposes a magnetic nanocomposite with multi-biofunctional groups, which comprises a core and a shell wrapping the core, wherein the core contains magnetic nanoparticles, and wherein the shell is made of a conductive polymer with multi-biofunctional groups where a medicine, an antibody or a fluorescent label can be attached.
US08974762B2	Silica particle manufacturing process Methods of forming a silica-containing products are disclosed. One method comprises: (a) providing a silica containing precursor (SCP) contained in solution that has a pH less than or equal to a pH of 7; (b) optionally doping the SCP with one or more metal species; (d) adding an effective amount of salt to the solution so that the conductivity of the solution is greater than or equal to 4 mS; (e) optionally filtering and drying the SCP; and (f) optionally reacting the dried product from step e with a functional group. Another method comprises: (a) providing a silica containing precursor (SCP) contained in solution that has a pH greater than 7; (b) adjusting the pH of the solution to less than or equal to 7; (c) optionally doping the SCP with one or more metal species; (d) adjusting the pH of the solution to greater than 7; and (e) adding an effective amount of salt to the solution so that the conductivity of the solution is greater than or equal to 4 mS; (f) optionally filtering and drying the SCP. The SCP is then added to a hygroscopic solid such that the resulting product comprises a metal oxide-doped or metal sulfide-doped silica-containing product deposited on a substrate selected from hydrated alkaline earth oxide, lanthanide oxide, and combinations thereof.
US08974761B2	Methods for producing silane Methods and systems for producing silane that use electrolysis to regenerate reactive components therein are disclosed. The methods and systems may be substantially closed-loop with respect to halogen, an alkali or alkaline earth metal and/or hydrogen.
US08974760B2	Hydrogen chloride gas ejecting nozzle, reaction apparatus for producing trichlorosilane and method for producing trichlorosilane There is provided a hydrogen chrolide gas ejecting nozzle 1 used in a reaction apparatus for producing trichlorosilane in which metal silicon powder is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas to generate trichlorosilane. The member is provided with a shaft portion extending in the longitudinal direction and a head portion that is provided on an end of the shaft portion and extends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion. A supply hole extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the shaft portion, a plurality of ejection holes are formed in the head portion, and each of the ejection holes is communicatively connected to the supply hole and opened on the outer surface of the head portion toward a direction intersecting the direction to which the supply hole extends.
US08974759B2	Processes for selectively reducing the concentration of hydrogen cyanide in syngas This invention pertains to processes for selectively oxidizing hydrogen cyanide contained in syngas using permanganate anion as an oxidant contained in an aqueous solution that is contacted with the syngas under certain conditions of temperature, pressure and duration of contact.
US08974758B2	Methods of purifying COS Disclosed is a process to purify COS and remove H2S without hydrolyzing or trapping the desired COS product.
US08974756B2	Process to enhance mixing of dry sorbents and flue gas for air pollution control The disclosure provides an improved means of controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired boiler applications. Specifically, the disclosure comprises a static mixing device placed in the flue gas stream. The static mixing device can enhance dispersion of injected sorbents in the flue gas, resulting in improved mercury capture at a lower sorbent injection rate.
US08974755B2	Method for separating nickel from material with low nickel content The invention relates to a method for separating nickel and other valuable metals particularly from material having low nickel content, which contains iron and magnesium in addition to nickel and other valuable metals. The material having low nickel content is subjected to pulping and atmospheric leaching in acidic and oxidizing conditions, in which the majority of the metals in the material dissolve and the iron is partially precipitated. The precipitated iron is separated from the solution, after which nickel and the other dissolved valuable metals are precipitated as sulphides.
US08974744B2	Bottle for disinfecting toothbrush A flexible bottle for containing a disinfecting liquid that can be used to disinfect a toothbrush. The bottle has a large reservoir for contain the disinfecting liquid and a small, secondary reservoir that is located proximate to the top of the bottle and which can be filled by squeezing the flexible bottle to force a quantity of the disinfecting liquid into the small, secondary reservoir. There is a cap that is designed to accept a toothbrush for entry into the container and which may have a slot formed therein or flexible flaps. The bottle can, therefore, be filled with disinfecting liquid and a toothbrush introduced into the small reservoir for disinfecting the toothbrush. The disinfecting liquid can then be discarded from the small reservoir and the secondary reservoir refilled as needed by the user.
US08974741B2	Device for treating gases using surface plasma A device for treating gases using surface plasma, including: at least one dielectric substrate having two opposite main surfaces, at least one first electrode, and at least one second electrode being respectively deposited on the two opposite main surfaces of the substrate, the first and second electrodes being connected to the two terminals of an electric power supply source; at least one catalytic support independent from the dielectric substrate and from the electrodes, and integrating a catalyst.
US08974738B2	System and method for exhaust gas after treatment A hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction (HC-SCR) catalyst is regenerated using a nitrogen-based reductant agent. The HC-SCR catalyst is in communication with a power system such as an internal combustion engine and receives exhaust gasses from the internal combustion engine. Sulfur in the exhaust gasses may deactivate the HC-SCR catalyst by sulfur oxides forming thereon. To remove the sulfur oxides, a nitrogen-based reductant agent is introduced to the exhaust gasses. The nitrogen-based reductant agent decomposes to nitrogen oxides and hydrogen. The hydrogen reacts with the sulfur oxides to form hydrogen sulfides thereby removing the sulfur oxides from the HC-SCR catalyst.
US08974736B2	Volatile article and method of use A dispenser for a volatile material may be a cover that may be selectively attached to a base to form an internal cavity between them. A method is described for providing a visual indication when an item, such as the cover, needs to be replaced. The cover has a first initial size condition. The volatile material is permitted to evaporate from the cover into the air. The cover is permitted to shrink to a second size condition to provide a visual indication that the cover needs to be replaced.
US08974732B2	Method for measuring the area of a sample disposed within an analysis chamber A method for determining the area of an analysis chamber covered by a biologic fluid sample quiescently residing within the chamber is provided. The chamber has a first panel with an interior surface, and a second panel with an interior surface, both of which panels are transparent. The method includes the steps of: a) illuminating the sample residing within the analysis chamber at one or more wavelengths operable to highlight interfaces between the sample and air, and to highlight a constituent within the sample; b) imaging the sample along the one or more wavelengths, and producing image signals representative of the interaction of the one or more wavelengths with the sample; c) determining a location of at least one interface between the sample and air, using the image signals; d) determining a location of one or more constituents within the sample relative to the at least one sample-air interface using the image signals; and e) determining an area of the chamber containing the sample, using the location of the one or more constituents and the at least one sample-air interface.
US08974730B2	Process for creating acellular viable donor soft tissue A process for creating acellular donor soft tissue by removing contaminants such as cells by extraction using a fluid at supercritical temperature and pressures while preserving the integrity of the soft tissue. The soft tissue is maintained in contact with the fluid in a pressure vessel at supercritical temperature and pressures for a period of time and then the pressure vessel is rapidly depressurized.
US08974728B2	Hot-dip cast aluminum alloy containing Al-Zn-Si-Mg-RE-Ti-Ni and preparation method thereof The invention relates to hot-dip cast aluminum alloy for anticorrosion treatment on engineering parts resistant to marine climate and a preparation method thereof, wherein said cast aluminum alloy contains Al, Zn, Si, Mg, RE, Ti, Ni and nanometer oxide particle reinforcing agent, said nanometer oxide particle reinforcing agent is selected from one or two of TiO2 and CeO2, the mass percentage of the components is as follows: Zn: 35-58%, Si: 0.3-4.0%, Mg: 0.1-5.0%, RE: 0.02-1.0%, Ti: 0.01-0.5%, Ni: 0.1-3.0%, and the total content of the nanometer oxide particle reinforcing agent: 0.01-1.0%; and the balance consists of Al and unavoidable impurities. The coating using cast aluminum alloy prepared by the invention has sufficient corrosion resistance and scour resistance in marine climate.
US08974726B2	Polycrystalline aluminum nitride material and method of production thereof Methods of preparing polycrystalline aluminum nitride materials that have high density, high purity, and favorable surface morphology are disclosed. The methods generally comprises pressing aluminum nitride powders to form a slug, sintering the slug to form a sintered, polycrystalline aluminum nitride boule, and optionally shaping the boule and/or polishing at least a portion of the boule to provide a finished substrate. The sintered, polycrystalline aluminum nitride materials beneficially are prepared without the use of any sintering aid or binder, and the formed materials exhibit excellent density, AlN purity, and surface morphology.
US08974725B2	Friction material tooling A method for producing a brake assembly (22) including friction material (24) molded to a backplate (26) using an improved receptacle plate (20) is provided. The backplate (26) includes openings (30) each having an opening diameter (Do). The receptacle plate (20) includes pins (28) extending transversely from a receiving surface (34). The method includes aligning the openings (30) of the backplate (26) with the pins (28) of the receptacle plate (20). Each pin (28) has a pin diameter (Dp) less than the opening diameter (Do) of the aligned opening (30). The friction material (24) is molded to the backplate (26) by heating the friction material (24) and the receptacle plate (20), and forcing the friction material (24) through the openings (30) of the backplate (26). The pins (28) extend into a center portion (32) of the friction material (24) and improve the degree of curing of the friction material (24).
US08974721B2	Control of fired shape by piece orientation A method of making ceramic bodies includes systematically orienting the bodies during firing relative to a temperature gradient in a kiln. The systematic orientation of the bodies relative to the temperature gradient can allow for an average deviation of a measured shape of the ceramic bodies from a predetermined target contour shape to be less than what they would be if the bodies were oriented randomly relative to the temperature gradient.
US08974720B2	Method for producing ceramic laminate The present invention provides a method for producing a ceramic laminate capable of preventing coming-off of materials and warpage of the ceramic laminate by a heat treatment at a relatively-low temperature, and a ceramic laminate produced by the production method. Disclosed is a method for producing a ceramic laminate having a layer structure in which two or more layers are laminated, including: a step of producing a laminate including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer containing a solid electrolyte and the second layer containing at least composite particles obtained by covering an electrode active material with the solid electrolyte; and a step of performing a heat treatment on the laminate including the first and second layers at a temperature of 500° C. or more and less than 700° C.
US08974719B2	Composite materials formed with anchored nanostructures A method of forming nano-structure composite materials that have a binder material and a nanostructure fiber material is described. A precursor material may be formed using a mixture of at least one metal powder and anchored nanostructure materials. The metal powder mixture may be (a) Ni powder and (b) NiAl powder. The anchored nanostructure materials may comprise (i) NiAl powder as a support material and (ii) carbon nanotubes attached to nanoparticles adjacent to a surface of the support material. The process of forming nano-structure composite materials typically involves sintering the mixture under vacuum in a die. When Ni and NiAl are used in the metal powder mixture Ni3Al may form as the binder material after sintering. The mixture is sintered until it consolidates to form the nano-structure composite material.
US08974718B2	Method for producing structure and method for producing liquid discharge head A method for producing a structure includes, in this order, providing a substrate composed of a first resin layer and a second resin layer laminated in this order, the first resin layer being made of a positive photosensitive resin having positive photosensitivity to light having a wavelength of 280 nm or more, and the second resin layer containing an anthracene compound, partially exposing the second resin layer to light having a wavelength of 300 nm or more, radiating light having a wavelength of 280 nm or more to the first resin layer through the exposed portions of the second resin layer using the unexposed portions of the second resin layer as a mask, thereby exposing the first resin layer to light, and removing the exposed portions of the first resin layer to form a structure.
US08974714B2	Process for the preparation of superhydrophobic film Process for the preparation of a superhydrophobic film comprising the steps of applying a hydrophobic polymer in the liquid phase on a surface so as to form a layer of hydrophobic polymer, applying on said layer of hydrophobic polymer a membrane having a porosity of between 105 and 6×108 pores/cm2 in which the pores have a diameter smaller than or equal to 3 μm, subjecting said layer of hydrophobic polymer to a thermal treatment so as to form a superhydrophobic film, and removing said membrane.
US08974712B2	Method of manufacturing radome A method of manufacturing a radome, which is provided on a detection side of a radar for detecting an obstacle in a vicinity of a vehicle, includes a first forming step of forming a transparent member that includes a recess on one surface thereof; an first installing step of installing a bright member, which has a shape corresponding to a space in the recess and of which a contact surface coming into contact with an inner surface of the recess has brilliance, in the recess; and a second installing step of installing a base member that covers the one surface and integrally holds the transparent member and the bright member.
US08974710B2	Pellet mill having improved construction The present invention provides a pellet mill (20) for preparing pellets from a pelletizable material supplied to the pellet mill (20), comprising a frame (22), a main axle (28) rotatably mounted in said frame (22) and having a first end (30) and an opposite second end (32), an annular die (42) being supported by said second end (32) and having an inner surface (44) for receiving a portion of said pelletizable material (106) supplied to said pellet mill (20), an outer surface (46), and a plurality of radial channels (48) extending from said inner surface (44) to said outer surface (46) for preparing pellets from said portion of said pelletizable material (106), a roller holder (54) supported by said frame (22), a number of roller axles (64), each of said number of roller axles being moveably mounted in said roller holder (54), said roller axles may move in said roller holder (54) in the event of an overload to prevent damage to the pellet mill, a number of rollers (80), each of said number of rollers being rotatable around a corresponding one of said number of roller axles (64), each of said number of rollers (80) being adapted to press said portion of pelletizable material (106) against said inner surface (44) for rolling, in response to rotation of said annular die (42), along said inner surface (44) of said annular die (42) for forcing said portion of said pelletizable material (106) from said inner surface (44) to said outer surface (46) through at least one of said plurality of radial channels (48) for preparing said pellets, and a number of actuators (114), each of said number of actuators (114) being operatively connected to a corresponding one of said number of roller axles (64) and being adapted to prevent movement of said corresponding one of said number of roller axles (64) relative to said die holder (54) for maintaining a distance between a corresponding one of said number of rollers (80) and said inner surface (44) of said annular die (42).
US08974709B2	Ceramic encapsulation with controlled layering by use of prehydrolyzed functionalized silanes This invention relates to a method for forming hollow silica-based particles suitable for containing one or more active ingredients or for containing other smaller particles which may include one or more active ingredients. In the method, an emulsion is prepared including a continuous phase that is polar or non-polar, and a dispersed phase comprising droplets including (i) a polar active ingredient when the continuous phase is non-polar or (ii) a non-polar active ingredient when the continuous phase is polar; and a prehydrolyzed silica precursor is added to the emulsion such that the silica precursor can be emulsion templated on the droplets to form hollow silica-based particles.
US08974707B2	Planar or tubular sputtering target and method for the production thereof Planar or tubular sputtering targets made of a silver base alloy and at least one further alloy component selected from indium, tin, antimony, and bismuth accounting jointly for a weight fraction of 0.01 to 5.0% by weight are known. However, moving on to ever larger targets, spark discharges are evident and often lead to losses especially in the production of large and high-resolution displays having comparatively small pixels. For producing a sputtering target with a large surface area on the basis of a silver alloy of this type, which has a surface area of more than 0.3 m2 as a planar sputtering target and has a length of at least 1.0 m as a tubular sputtering target, and in which the danger of spark discharges is reduced and thus a sputtering process with comparatively high power density is made feasible, the invention proposes that the silver base alloy has a crystalline structure with a mean grain size of less than 120 μm, an oxygen content of less than 50 wt.-ppm, a content of the impurity elements, aluminum, lithium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, barium, and chromium, each of less than 0.5 wt.-ppm, and a metallic purity of at least 99.99% by weight.
US08974705B2	Sinterable silver flake adhesive for use in electronics A conductive composition comprises (i) micro- or submicro-sized silver flake having a tap density of 4.6 g/cc or higher and (ii) a solvent that dissolves any fatty acid lubricant or surfactant present on the surface of the silver. In one embodiment, (iii) a small amount of peroxide is present. No organic resin is present in the composition.
US08974699B2	Method for producing synthesis gases The invention relates to a cyclic process for producing synthesis gas comprising: a first step of oxidation of an oxidizable oxygen-carrying solid; a second purge step; a third combustion step with production of CO2; a fourth step of production of synthesis gas; a fifth purge step.
US08974698B2	Production method of sialon-based oxynitride phosphor, and sialon-based oxynitride phosphor A method for producing an α-sialon-based oxynitride phosphor includes a mixed powder blended such that the product is represented by the formula: MxSi12−(m+n)Al(m+n)OnN16−n:Lny (wherein M is at least one metal selected from Li, Ca, Mg, Y and a lanthanide metal excluding La and Ce, Ln is at least one lanthanide metal selected from Eu, Dy, Er, Tb and Yb), the mixed powder containing an amorphous silicon nitride powder having an loose bulk density of 0.16 to 0.22 g/cm3, and is fired at 1,400 to 2,000° C. in a nitrogen-containing inert gas atmosphere.
US08974695B2	Phosphors of rare earth and transition metal doped Ca1+xSr1-xGayIn2-ySzSe3-zF2; manufacturing and applications Energy down conversion phosphors represented by the chemical formula Ca1+xSr1−xGayIn2−ySzSe3−zF2 where (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦2, 0≦z≦3) doped with rare earth and/or transition metal elements is disclosed. Dopant impurities may be one or more species such as Eu, Ce, Mn, Ru, and/or mixtures thereof present as activators. The molar fractions x, y and z, the dopant species and the dopant concentration may be varied to tune the peak emission wavelength and/or the width of the emission peak.
US08974694B2	Liquid-crystal composition A cholesteric liquid-crystal composition is described, which contains a liquid-crystal component and a chiral agent, and has a selective reflection wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 800 nm at 25° C.
US08974686B2	Bonding composition for mineral wool based on reducing saccharide and hydrogenated saccharide, and insulating products obtained A bonding composition for insulation products based on mineral wool, notably of glass or of rock, includes at least one reducing saccharide, at least one hydrogenated saccharide, and at least one polyfunctional crosslinking agent.
US08974684B2	Synchronous embedded radio frequency pulsing for plasma etching Methods for etching a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching a substrate may include generating a plasma by providing only a first RF signal having a first frequency and a first duty cycle; applying only a second RF signal to bias the plasma towards the substrate, wherein the second RF signal has the first frequency and a second duty cycle different than the first duty cycle; adjusting a phase variance between the first and second RF signals to control an ion energy distribution in the plasma; and etching the substrate with the plasma.
US08974676B2	Treatment stages for selenium removal Methods and apparatus relate to treating fluid to at least reduce selenium content within the fluid. The treating includes conditioning stages to alter a composition of the fluid prior to removal of the selenium content from the fluid. The composition of the fluid after the conditioning stages facilitates the removal of the selenium content or at least limits detrimental impact to selenium removal efficiency.
US08974674B2	Method for producing ammonium tungstate aqueous solution A method for producing an ammonium tungstate aqueous solution includes the steps of: adding sulfuric acid to a solution containing tungstate ions; bringing the solution having the sulfuric acid added therein, into contact with an anion exchange resin; and bringing the anion exchange resin into contact with an aqueous solution containing ammonium ions.
US08974673B2	Method of regeneration an organic extraction solution that has been used in a liquid-liquid extraction process The invention relates to a method and apparatus for restoring the extractive potential of organic hydroxyoxime-based extraction solution used in the recovery of metals by liquid-liquid extraction. The method is two-stage, in which an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine or some hydroxylamine compound is used in the reaction stage, and the removal of the undesirable compounds generated in the reaction occurs in the second stage by adsorption purification. The reaction stage and the adsorptive stage are carried out in a mixing tank.
US08974672B2	Self-contained irrigation polishing system A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
US08974671B2	Process for the treatment of the aqueous stream coming from the fischer-tropsch reaction by means of ion exchange resins Process for the treatment of the aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction comprising: feeding the aqueous stream containing the organic by products of the reaction to a distillation or stripping column; separation from the column of an aqueous stream enriched in alcohols having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and other possible volatile compounds; feeding the aqueous stream containing the organic acids leaving the bottom of the distillation column to an ion exchange step wherein said aqueous stream is put in contact with an anionic exchange resin bed and the production of two outgoing aqueous streams: an aqueous stream (i) enriched in organic acids having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; a purified aqueous stream (ii) with a low content of organic acids.
US08974670B1	Method for enhanced aerobic activity and bio-mat control for onsite wastewater disposal systems The present invention provides an aeration lateral system designed to be site specific for new septic disposal areas or retro fitting to existing septic disposal areas to break up the biological clogging sludge mat at the interface of the wastewater and imported sand or native soil fill under or adjacent to disposal areas of a typical septic system. The lateral system provides uniform or other site specific distribution of fluids about the bio-mat of a wastewater disposal area, with lateral spacing and hole spacing varying based on the type of disposal area being utilized. The lateral system can also be utilized to provide continuous low volume air supply system to a wastewater disposal area or peat filter module. The air lateral installation includes methods to minimize airflow disturbance of the soil and methods to prevent air leakage.
US08974669B2	Thermally enhanced integrated wastewater treatment system Novel methods and systems for efficient and economic treatment of wastewater, and other fluidized and solid organic wastes, comprise heating the aerobic digestion process with waste heat given off by the generation of power fueled by the biogas by-product of a co-located anaerobic digestion process. Other power generation processes may be utilized for supplying supplemental waste heat.
US08974668B2	Hollow fiber membrane element and methods of making same A membrane element consisting of a hollow fiber stack (HF stack) comprising a plurality of substantially equally spaced hollow fibers (HFs) comprising multiple alternate rows of HFs comprising first ends extending through and between contact structures comprising solid thermoset material, each HF consisting of a hydrophilic semipermeable membrane defining an elongated lumen, each HF comprising a portion that extends from one contact structure to an opposed contact structure, wherein the HFs in alternate rows are aligned with the spaces in adjacent rows, forming a hexagonal pattern comprising repeating adjacent and/overlapping hexagons, wherein each hexagon comprises a central hollow fiber (central HF) surrounded by six immediately adjacent HFs defining a hexagonal perimeter comprising six sides, the six immediately adjacent HFs being substantially equally spaced from one another and substantially equally spaced from the central hollow fiber, wherein the spacing is adapted to maintain a Reynolds' number of about 3000 or more, and wherein the hydrophilic semipermeable membrane is adapted to achieve salt rejection of 98.5% or more and exhibits a surface tension of 35 dynes/cm or more.
US08974663B2	Systems and methods for collecting and distributing gray water A collection valve for use in a water reclamation system is provided. The collection valve comprises (i) a drain pipe connectable to a drain line in which gray water flows, the drain pipe comprising an inlet pipe, a medial pipe, and an outlet pipe; the medial pipe having a first opening rotatable from a first position to a second position; (ii) a valve plug pipe, surrounding the medial pipe, having an second opening; and (iii) an actuator assembly for rotating the medial pipe between the first and second positions. Rotating the medial pipe to the first position causes the first opening to be in alignment with the second opening causing gray water to drain into a tank. Rotating the medial pipe to the second position misaligns the first and second opening causing fluid passing through the medial pipe or drain to a sewer or septic tank.
US08974660B2	Method for upgrading hydrocarbon compounds and a hydrocarbon compound distillation separation apparatus There is provided a method for upgrading hydrocarbon compounds, in which hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in a Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction are fractionally distillated, and the fractionally distillated hydrocarbon compounds are hydrotreated to produce liquid fuel products. The method includes fractionally distilling heavy hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction as a liquid into a first middle distillate and a wax fraction, and fractionally distilling light hydrocarbon compounds synthesized in the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction as a gas into a second middle distillate and a light gas fraction.
US08974652B2	Programmable fluidic processors Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for programmable fluidic processors. In one embodiment, the invention involves manipulating droplets across a reaction surface of the processor substantially contact-free of any surfaces. The reaction surface and the electrodes of the processor may include a coating repelling the droplets. Further, the present invention provides for a suitable suspending medium for repelling droplets away from fixed surfaces.
US08974649B2	Combinatorial RF bias method for PVD In some embodiments of the present invention, a shield is provided wherein the shield comprises a ceramic insulation material. The ceramic insulation material fills the space between the shield and the substrate surface and maintains a gap of less than about 2 mm and advantageously, less than about 1 mm. The shield may further be connected to ground through a low-pass filter operable to prevent the loss of high frequency RF power through the shield to ground but allow the dissipation of charge from the shield to ground through a low frequency or DC signal. In some embodiments, the ceramic insulating material further comprises a removable ceramic insert. The ceramic insert may be used to select the size of the aperture. The ceramic insert further comprises a slot operable to isolate the bottom lip of the ceramic insert from the upper portion for a PVD deposition.
US08974648B2	Reactive sputtering method and reactive sputtering apparatus The present invention provides a reactive sputtering method and a reactive sputtering apparatus which suppress a film quality change caused by a temperature variation in continuous substrate processing. An embodiment of the present invention performs reactive sputtering while adjusting a flow rate of reactive gas according to the temperature of a constituent member facing a sputtering space. Specifically, a temperature sensor is provided on a shield and the flow rate is adjusted according to the temperature. Thereby, even when a degassing amount of a film adhering to the shield changes, a partial pressure of reactive gas can be set to a predetermined value. For a resistance change layer constituting a ReRAM, a perovskite material such as PrCaMn03 (PCMO), LaSrMnO3 (LSMO), and GdBaCoxOy (GBCO), a two-element type transition metal oxide material which has a composition shifted from a stoichiometric one, such as nickel oxide (NiO), vanadium oxide (V2O5), and the like are used.
US08974644B2	Production of carbon nanostructures from functionalized fullerenes Electromagnetic irradiation of functionalized fullerenes in an oxygen-free environment induces conversion of the functionalized fullerenes to carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, carbon onions, diamonds and/or carbon schwarzites. The carbon nanotubes can be multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Advantageously, the subject invention can be used for in-situ synthesis of carbon nanostructures within a matrix to form a carbon nanostructure composite, where positioning of the carbon nanostructures is controlled by the manner of dispersion of the functionalized fullerenes in the matrix. Carbon nanotube comprising features, such as electrical connects, can be formed on a surface by irradiating a portion of a functionalized fullerene coating with a laser beam.
US08974642B2	Trihalosilane refining method A trihalosilane refining device and a trihalosilane refining method are provided. The trihalosilane refining device can be useful in obtaining high-purity trihalosilane from a feed containing a trihalosilane while consuming a small amount of energy.
US08974638B2	Device for retaining doctor blades A device for retaining doctor blades a bottom plate and a top plate, said plates being pivotally connected together by means of a pivot bearing and the doctor blade is fixed to the top plate. An expandable tube is arranged respectively on both sides of the pivot bearing between the bottom plate and the top plate, said pivot bearing consisting of a radially supported bearing shaft and a receiving element for the bearing shaft. The bearing shaft is fixed either to the bottom plate or the top plate and the receiving element is fixed to either the top plate or the bottom plate.
US08974637B2	Process for the production of paper and board The present invention relates to a process for the production of paper and board which comprises: (a) introducing one or more fillers, one or more anionic polysaccharides and one or more cationic agents into a mixing zone to form a filler composition; (b) introducing by means of a pump the filler composition into an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibers; and (c) dewatering the obtained suspension. The present invention also relates to a process for the production of a filler composition which comprises: (a) introducing one or more fillers, one or more anionic polysaccharides and one or more cationic agents into a mixing zone to form a filler composition; (b) introducing by means of a pump the filler composition into a storage tank.
US08974636B2	Composition containing a multivalent cationic metal and amine-containing anti-static agent and methods of making and using A fluff pulp or other pulp, comprises a multivalent cationic metal ion selected from the group consisting of Al+3, B+3, Mn+2, Cu+2, Cu+3, Zn+2, Sn+2, Sn+4, water-soluble salt thereof, or combination thereof; an amine-containing anti-static agent; and pulp. Methods of making and using the pulp, as well as articles therefrom, are provided.
US08974635B2	Paper product having unique physical properties A web product is described. The web product has a machine direction and a cross-machine direction orthogonal thereto. The web product has at least one ply having a first plurality of low density regions having a first area in the machine and cross-machine directions and a second plurality of low density regions having a second area in the machine and cross-machine directions. The first and second areas are different. The web product has a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g and a Wet Burst, WB, value greater than 400g.
US08974631B2	Device for fluid treating plate-like articles A device for fluid treatment of a plate-like article includes a rotary head for holding and rotating a plate-like article around a substantially vertical rotation axis drive elements to suspend and drive the rotary head without contact, the elements to suspend and drive the rotary head being arranged radially around the rotary head a substantially cylindrical sidewall, which is substantially concentric to the rotation axis, wherein the cylindrical sidewall is arranged between the rotary head and the drive elements and is introduced in the gap between the rotary head and the drive elements elevating members for lifting and lowering the rotary head and the wall relative to each other.
US08974629B2	High density plasma reactor A high density RF plasma source uses a special antenna configuration to launch waves at frequencies such as 13.56 MHz. The tunability of this antenna allows one to adapt actively the coupling of the RF energy into an evolutive plasma as found in plasma processing in semiconductor manufacturing. The plasma source can be used for plasma etching, deposition, sputtering systems, space propulsion, plasma based sterilization, and plasma abatement systems. Also, the plasma source can be used with one or several process chambers, which comprise an array of magnets and RF coils too. These elements can be used for plasma confinement or active plasma control (plasma rotation) thanks to a feedback control approach, and for in situ NMR monitoring or analysis such as moisture monitoring inside a process chamber, before or after the plasma process, or for in situ NMR inspection of wafers or others work pieces.
US08974628B2	Plasma treatment device and optical monitor device An optical monitor device of the present microwave plasma etching device has: a monitor head located in a position more radially inward than the edge of a semiconductor wafer W mounted on a susceptor, more radially outward than a coaxial pipe, and above a cover plate; an optical waveguide for monitoring provided vertically below the monitor head, and longitudinally traversing the cooling plate, a dielectric plate, and a dielectric window; and a monitor main body optically connected to the monitor head via an optical fiber.
US08974624B2	Label applicator including a plurality of air flow generators A label applicator that includes an applicator housing having a flow chamber and a suction side. The suction side has one or more openings that allow air to pass therethrough. The label applicator also includes first and second air flow generators that are fluidly coupled with the flow chamber. The first and second air flow generators are configured to generate first and second air flows, respectively, through the flow chamber. The label applicator also includes a valve mechanism that is positioned in the flow chamber to direct the first and second air flows through the flow chamber of the applicator housing. The valve mechanism includes a diverter valve and an electric actuator. The actuator is configured to move the diverter valve within the flow chamber to different positions during a label application operation.
US08974620B2	Touch screen shield A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.
US08974619B1	Method of making a decorated extruded profile A method of making a decorated extruded profile. An exemplary method includes the steps of extruding the profile, decorating at least one surface of the profile, coating the decorated surface of the profile, embossing the decorated surface of the profile, and cutting the profile into a plurality of profile members having a predetermined length.
US08974618B1	Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure on an outer surface of an inner mold line layup mandrel. The systems and methods include receiving a plurality of ply kits, assembling the plurality of ply kits to form a skin segment that defines a portion of the skin, and affixing the skin segment to the outer surface of the layup mandrel. The assembling includes transferring a respective ply kit of the plurality of ply kits to a non-planar transfer tool, compacting the respective ply kit on the non-planar transfer tool, and repeating the transferring and the compacting for each ply kit in the plurality of ply kits to form the skin segment.
US08974617B2	Method for transferring a graphene sheet to metal contact bumps of a substrate for use in semiconductor device package A method is provided for transferring a graphene sheet to metal contact bumps of a substrate that is to be used in a semiconductor device package, i.e. a stack of substrates connected by said contact bumps, e.g., copper contact bumps for which graphene forms a protective layer. An imprinter device can be used comprising an imprinter substrate, said substrate being provided with cavities, whereof each cavity is provided with a rim portion. The imprinter substrate is aligned with the substrate comprising the bumps and lowered onto said substrate so that each bump becomes enclosed by a cavity, until the rim portion of the cavities cuts through the graphene sheet, leaving graphene layer portions on top of each of bumps when the imprinter is removed. The graphene sheet is preferably attached to the substrate by imprinting it into a passivation layer surrounding the bumps.
US08974612B2	High-strength low-alloy steel excellent in high-pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement resistance characteristics and method for producing the same An object of the present invention is to provide at a low cost a low-alloy steel having a high strength and excellent high-pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement resistance characteristics under a high-pressure hydrogen environment. The invention is a high-strength low-alloy steel having high-pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement resistance characteristics, which has a composition comprising C: 0.10 to 0.20% by mass, Si: 0.10 to 0.40% by mass, Mn: 0.50 to 1.20% by mass, Ni: 0.75 to 1.75% by mass, Cr: 0.20 to 0.80% by mass, Cu: 0.10 to 0.50% by mass, Mo: 0.10 to 1.00% by mass, V: 0.01 to 0.10% by mass, B: 0.0005 to 0.005% by mass and N: 0.01% by mass or less, and further comprising one or two of Nb: 0.01 to 0.10% by mass and Ti: 0.005 to 0.050% by mass, with the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities.
US08974608B2	Powder magnetic core and the method of manufacturing the same A powder magnetic core with improved high frequency magnetic characteristics and reduced eddy current loss is manufactured by a manufacturing method including the steps of (a) providing coated soft magnetic particles which are particles composed of soft magnetic material which each have been coated with an insulating coating, and insulator particles; (b) forming a magnetic layer by press molding the coated soft magnetic particles in a mold assembly; (c) forming an insulator layer on the magnetic layer by press molding the insulator particles in the mold assembly; and (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) to fabricate a laminate of alternating magnetic layers and insulator layers and provide the powder magnetic core.
US08974607B2	Cleaning apparatus for heat exchange tubes of air cooled heat exchangers An apparatus, operable with a source of cleaning fluid under pressure, for cleaning external surfaces of heat exchange tubes of an air cooled heat exchanger which tubes are situated in generally horizontal rows vertically separated from each other, thus defining a generally horizontal zone between each two adjacent rows, including a. a spray mat having: i. top and bottom fluid impermeable sheets sealed at their mutual peripheral edges defining at least one chamber with a fluid inlet into said chamber for receiving a flow of the cleaning fluid under pressure, and ii. a plurality of laterally spaced apertures and coupled spray nozzles in the top and bottom sheets which are in fluid communication with the chamber, and b. a positioning mechanism for moving the spray mat transversely into and out of one of the zones between two adjacent rows of the heat exchange tubes.
US08974600B2	Deposit protection cover and plasma processing apparatus A deposit protection cover and a plasma processing apparatus provide a simple solution to deposits adhered to a portion originally considered to be unreachable by plasma without increasing manufacturing cost. The deposit protection cover is detachably installed within a processing chamber for processing a substrate by generating plasma therein so as to cover a preset portion of the processing chamber. The cover includes an aluminum plate having a surface on which an anodic oxidation process is performed. Further, the anodic oxidation process is performed by using an electrode part protruded from a cover main body, an exposed area of an aluminum base surface is reduced by removing the electrode part after the anodic oxidation process is performed, and a cut surface formed after removing the electrode part is positioned at a region that is not directly exposed to the plasma within the processing chamber.
US08974593B2	Particle packed cement-SCM blends Cement-SCM blends employ particle packing principles to increase particle packing density and reduce interstitial spacing between the cement and SCM particles. Particle packing reduces the amount of water required to obtain a cement paste having a desired flow, lowers the water-cementitious material ratio (w/cm), and increases early and long-term strengths. This may be accomplished by providing a hydraulic cement fraction having a narrow PSD and at least one SCM fraction having a mean particle size that differs from the mean particle size of the narrow PSD cement by a multiple of 3.0 or more to yield a cement-SCM blend having a particle packing density of at least 57.0%.
US08974591B2	Heat-resistant structural wood adhesive compositions involving pMDI, polyol and aromatic polyols This invention describes an adhesive composition that forms the basis of a heat-resistant, fire resistant, and water resistant polyurethane adhesive suitable for applications in the manufacture of wood products, and the method of making the adhesive. The wood finger-jointed studs produced using an adhesive derived from this invention can meet or exceed the fire rating of a period of 60 minutes according to ASTM E 119 and ASTM D 7374. The heat resistance of the adhesive is a result of incorporating thermally stable aromatic polyol molecules into the polymeric structures of the wood adhesive system, which is composed of the reaction products of a poly(methylene diphenyl diisocyanate), at least one of a polyether polyol and a polyester polyol; and the aromatic polyol that is a hydroxyl phenol in a preferred embodiment. Furthermore, this novel wood adhesive system possesses high water-resistance, making it suitable for the manufacture of highly durable engineered wood products. It is fast moisture-curable at ambient temperatures. It is also formaldehyde-free.
US08974584B2	Gas scrubber having an integrated heat exchanger A gas scrubber, equipped with heat exchanger surfaces constructed of thermoplates, suitable for cooling and cleaning a hot gas by avoiding an excessive thermal load of the washing liquid.
US08974576B2	CO2 capture processes using rotary wheel configurations The disclosure relates to a continuous or semi-continuous, cyclic, countercurrent sorption-desorption method for enhanced control, separation, and/or purification of CO2 gas from one or more sources of a mixture of gases through integrated use of solid monolithic sorbents having a sorption selectivity for the CO2 gas, wherein liquid phase water is added to increase the heat capacity of the mixed gas source(s) in order to achieve a thermal wave moving through the thickness of the sorbent material faster than the CO2 sorption wave.
US08974569B2	Multi-flow filtration system Disclosed is multi-flow filter cartridge assembly that includes an elongated housing that has axially opposed proximal and distal ends and defines an interior cavity and first, second and third flow paths which extend from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end. The cartridge assembly also includes first, second and third filter elements. The first filter element is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the first flow path from a first inlet port to a first outlet port. The second filter element is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the second flow path from a second inlet port to a second outlet port. Lastly, the third filter element is also disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and conditions fluid that traverses the third flow path from a third inlet port to a third outlet port. The first flow path is isolated from the second and third flow paths and the second flow path is isolated from the third flow path.
US08974567B2	Rotating coalescer with keyed drive A gas-liquid rotating coalescer includes first and second sets of one or more detent surfaces on a rotary drive member and a driven annular rotating coalescing filter element which engagingly interact in interlocking mating keyed relation to effect rotation of the coalescing filter element by the rotary drive member. Designated operation of the coalescer requires that the coalescing filter element include the second set of detent surfaces. A coalescing filter element missing the second set of detent surfaces will not effect the noted designated operation.
US08974566B2	Vacuum cleaner filter bag having a side fold A vacuum cleaner filter bag is provided. The vacuum cleaner filter bag includes at least one side fold formed by two fold legs, and the vacuum cleaner filter bag is designed as a tubular bag, wherein, in a turned-in state, the at least one side fold has at least three edges, wherein two of the edges are formed by a respective weld seam, and wherein the side fold can be turned out with the edges formed by a weld seam.
US08974565B2	Air filtration and air purification apparatus An air filtration and air purification apparatus comprising: a first air channel; a second air channel; a divider that separates the first air channel from the second air channel; a first filter located in first air channel; a first filter located in the second air channel; a first air blower configured to pull air from the ambient environment generally into the first air channel, moving said air through the first filter, and returning said air into the ambient environment, creating generally a first air stream; a second air blower configured to pull air from the ambient environment generally into the second air channel, moving said air through the second filter and returning said air into the ambient environment, creating generally a second air stream; a control system that controls the activation and deactivation of the first and second air blower.
US08974561B2	Manufacturing method of glass substrate for magnetic disk, magnetic disk, and magnetic recording / reproducing device A manufacturing method of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk is provided whereby nano pits and/or nano scratches cannot be easily produced in polishing a principal face of a glass substrate using a slurry containing zirconium oxide as an abrasive. The manufacturing method of a glass substrate for a magnetic disk includes, for instance, a polishing step of polishing a principal face of a glass substrate using a slurry containing, as an abrasive, zirconium oxide abrasive grains having monoclinic crystalline structures (M) and tetragonal crystalline structures (T).
US08974560B2	Coated abrasive aggregates and products containg same Abrasive aggregates and fixed abrasive articles comprising formaldehyde-free polymer binder and a plurality of abrasive grains are provided that are particularly suitable for machining operations, in which abrasion is carried out to remove material and improve surface quality. Certain embodiments combine an abrasive grain, which can be in the form of microparticles, and a formaldehyde-free polymer binder, which can be in the form of a polymer resin and cross-linking agent. Optionally, the abrasive aggregate can contain a secondary cross-linking agent, or a functional filler, such as a grinding aid.
US08974559B2	PDC made with low melting point catalyst PDC is made using a solvent catalyst that has a melting point below that of the cobalt which is used to cement the tungsten carbide supporting substrate. The lower melting temperature allows control of the amount of catalyst that remains in the interstices after HPHT sintering since the process can be done without melting the cobalt in the substrate which would flow into and completely fill the pore volume of the diamond mass.
US08974556B2	Hydrogen generator Disclosed is a hydrogen generator that prevents the reformate water from bypassing the evaporator in a hydrogen generator, and the occurrence of sudden temperature changes within an evaporation flow path. The hydrogen generator comprises: an evaporator that produces a mixed gas by mixing a raw material gas containing methane with water vapor; a reformer that changes the mixed gas into a hydrogen-containing gas through a steam reforming reaction; and a combustor that supplies heat to the evaporator and the reformer. The evaporator comprises: an inner cylinder; an outer cylinder enclosing the inner cylinder; and a middle cylinder that is inserted between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and that defines a helical flow path between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, through which water supplied from the outside flows.
US08974555B2	Method and apparatus for treating a syngas Treating a synthesis gas includes generating a plasma jet from a non-transferred arc torch having a main axis, the jet having a propagation axis substantially collinear with the torch main axis. The plasma torch is mounted on a feed enclosure. The syngas is received at an inlet port of the feed enclosure, downstream from the plasma torch and feeding the syngas so the flow encounters the plasma jet to mix the syngas and plasma jet in a distribution chamber. The mixture is propagated in a reactor downstream from the feed enclosure to convert the syngas into an outlet gas. The reactor is in communication in its upstream portion with the feed enclosure through a flared segment, and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the propagation axis of the plasma jet. The outlet gas is extracted via an outlet port and particles are captured by a submerged conveyor.
US08974554B2	Fluidized-bed gasification method and facility therefor Provided are a fluidized-bed combustion furnace 1, a separator 8 for separation into bed material 11 and an exhaust gas, a fluidized-bed gasification furnace 40 into which the bed material 11 is introduced through a downcomer 46 and into which raw material is introduced, a circulation passage for circulating char and the bed material 11 to the combustion furnace 1, a dispersion section 43 extending along a width of a bed-material-introduction-side wall 41 of the gasification furnace 40 to receive the bed material 11 from the downcomer, fluidizing-gas introduction means 47 for blowing fluidizing gas into the dispersion section 43 to fluidize the bed material 11 in the section 43, and a supply section 48 for supplying the bed material 11 in the dispersion section 43 to the fluidized-bed gasification furnace 40 substantially evenly throughout the width on the bed-material-introduction side.
US08974553B2	Miscible diesel fuel ethanol composition The invention relates to a fuel composition comprising diesel fuel, a fusel oil distillate and ethanol, and to a method of its preparation by splash blending.
US08974550B2	Manufacturing method of negative electrode plate for non-aqueous secondary battery and manufacturing method of non-aqueous secondary battery A method of manufacturing a negative electrode plate for a non-aqueous secondary battery is disclosed, in which it is possible to assess whether or not a binder is localized in an electrode surface without lowering the productivity of the negative electrode plate. The method includes coating an electrode mixture containing at least a negative electrode active material and a binder to a current collector and drying the coated electrode mixture. The method includes an inspection step of measuring a reflectance of a coating surface of the negative electrode plate to thereby determine the quality of the negative electrode plate. If the reflectance of the coating surface of the negative electrode plate falls within a range of 15 to 35% when an incident angle and a light receiving angle each fall within the range of 80° to 90°, the negative electrode plate is determined to be excellent.
US08974549B2	Manufacturing method for film-covered electrical device In a vacuum container (2), a bag-shaped laminate film (12) containing a battery element (11) and having an opening (12a) is pinched at positions corresponding to two principal surfaces (11a) of the battery element (11), the battery element (11) having a positive layer and a negative layer stacked via a separator. Pressure in the vacuum container (2) is reduced. An electrolytic solution (20) is poured from an electrolytic-solution supply line (4) into the bag-shaped laminate film (12) through the opening (12a) with pressure in the vacuum container (2) kept reduced until the entire battery element (11) is immersed in the electrolytic solution (20). The reduced pressure in the vacuum container (2) is increased to make the battery element (11) absorb the electrolytic solution (20) by means of the difference in pressure.
US08974544B2	Method and system for providing remote configuration of missing mobile devices An approach is provided for remotely configuring a mobile device designated as missing. A request to remotely configure the mobile device is received. In response to the request, at least one setting parameter specifying at least one action to be performed by the mobile device is retrieved. A control message specifying the at least one setting parameter is generated. It is determined whether the mobile device is network inaccessible. The control message is queued for transmission over a data channel to the mobile device when the mobile device is determined to be network inaccessible.
US08974543B2	Automatic prosthesis for above-knee amputees A above knee prosthesis (P) applied to femoral connection (100) of an amputee that comprises a upper hinge (1) connected to femoral connection of the patient, an articulation axis (2) with the function of reproducing the knee movements, a tibia-calf muscle unit (3) pivotally connected to the femoral•segment and a damper (5) that reproduces some functions of the calf muscle and ensures to the prosthesis to brake and to allow the sequential swing and stance phases typical of the gait. The damper comprises a cylinder (5c) wherein a piston (10) and a stem (9) act connected to each other and adapted to carry out a damping reaction of said damper responsive to the forces loaded on the prosthesis. In particular, a force transducer is provided in the damper arranged, in particular, in the stem with a microprocessor that receives a force signal from the transducer and operates means for adjusting the reaction of the damper responsive to the detected force signal.
US08974542B2	Biodegradable elastomeric patch for treating cardiac or cardiovascular conditions Provided herein is a biodegradable elastomeric patch that can be implanted on a heart or other portions of the cardiovascular system to repair tissue deficiencies or tissue damage. The biodegradable elastomeric patch may be engineered to have mechanical properties similar to that of soft tissue and to provide mechanical support to the damaged tissue. The biodegradable elastomeric patch also may comprise therapeutic agents to aid in the healing process. Methods also are provided for using a biodegradable elastomeric patch for treating patients suffering from tissue damage or tissue deficiencies in the cardiac or cardiovascular system.
US08974535B2	Method of forming patient-specific implant Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a patient-specific surgical implant based on mold system. The apparatus comprises a forming tool and a mold that may be generated using imaging and processing techniques and rapid prototyping methods. The mold apparatus includes at least two non-adjacent surface features for securing an implant forming material (such as a titanium mesh) during the forming process, enabling the implant forming material to be stretched beyond its elastic and thus permanently deformed with the correct patient-specific curvature. The implant may include one or more anatomic surface features for guidance and registration when transferring the implant to a patient.
US08974534B2	Spinal fusion device A spinal fusion device is disclosed. The spinal fusion device includes a first endplate configured for fitting within a disc space and engaging with a first vertebra and a second endplate configured for fitting within the disc space and engaging with a second vertebra. The two endplates are separated by a single spacer that is positioned between the first endplate and the second endplate and maintains a pre-determined distance between the first endplate and the second endplate. The spacer contains an anterior end, a posterior end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side, a first surface that engages with the first endplate, a second surface that engages with the second endplate. Also disclosed are methods and instruments for implanting the spinal fusion device.
US08974533B2	Prosthetic disc for intervertebral insertion A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces, upper and lower plates, and peripheral restraining structure on at least one of the upper plate, the lower plate and the core. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and an inner curved surface which slides over the curved surface of the core. The peripheral restraining structure serves to hold the core against a curved surface of at least one of the plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core.
US08974532B2	Intervertebral disc prosthesis The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis preferably comprising at least three pieces including an upper plate (1), a lower plate (2) and a mobile core (3) at least in relation to the lower plate (2), co-operation means (23, 33) allowing to limit or eliminate the movements of the core (3) in relation to the lower plate (2), in translation and in rotation, respectively, about an axis substantially parallel to the lower plate (2) and about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lower plate (2), at least one part of the surface of at least one plate being concave and complementary with a convex surface (30) of the core (3), with which it is in contact, wherein the tip (31) of the convex surface (30) of the core (3) is off center, in at least one direction, in relation to the center (32) of this convex surface (30).
US08974529B2	Artificial disc An artificial disc includes an upper joint (3) and a lower joint (7) which fit each other in a corresponding upper and lower relationship, and a removable fixed connection structure for fixedly connecting the upper joint (3) and the lower joint (7).
US08974528B2	Spine replacement system for the treatment of spine instability and degenerative disc disease Apparatuses and methods for single disc arthroplasty and multi-segmental spine replacement recreating the anterior and middle columns of the subaxial spine complete with adjacent motion segments are disclosed. The surgical implant assembly includes a first cage adapted to be rigidly attached to a first vertebra, a second cage adapted to be rigidly attached to a second vertebra, and a spinal disc replacement prosthesis positioned between the first and second cages. The spinal disc replacement prosthesis preferably includes a resilient plastic or elastomeric body having two or more adjustably fluid-filled compartments therein, the fluid-filled compartments each being adjustably fluid filled by a respective port defined in the prosthesis body.
US08974527B2	Bronchoscopic repair of air leaks in a lung Systems and devices for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion device is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The occluding device may be a one-way valve. The occluding device may also comprise strut members and anchors that penetrate an airway wall.
US08974526B2	Multizonal lens with extended depth of focus An intraocular lens for providing enhanced vision includes an optic having a clear aperture having an outer diameter. The optic has opposing first and second surfaces disposed about an optical axis, the first surface including a cross-sectional profile. The optic further includes central and outer zones that fill the entire clear aperture of the optic. The central zone is disposed about the optical axis having an outer diameter, the profile in the vicinity of the central zone having a constant radius of curvature or a radius of curvature that increases with increasing radius from the optical axis.
US08974524B2	Stented transcatheter prosthetic heart valve delivery system and method A percutaneous stented valve delivery device including an inner shaft, a sheath, and a delivery capsule. The sheath slidably receives the inner shaft. A capsule proximal zone is attached to the sheath. A capsule distal zone is configured to transition between normal and flared states. A diameter of the distal zone is greater in the flared state, and the capsule includes a shape memory component that naturally assumes the normal state. The device is operable to perform a reversible partial deployment procedure in which a portion of the prosthesis is exposed distal the capsule and allowed to radially expand. Subsequently, with distal advancement of the capsule, the distal zone transitions to the flared state and imparts a collapsing force onto the prosthesis, causing the prosthesis to radially collapse and become recaptured within the delivery capsule. The capsule can include a laser cut tube encapsulated by a polymer.
US08974520B2	Method for producing a bioactive surface on the balloon of a balloon catheter The invention relates to a method for producing a bioactive surface on the balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1). According to said method, the surface of the balloon (3) is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active substance (8) and the section of the surface of the balloon (3) wetted with the first solution of an active substance (8) is then wetted with a second, saturated solution of the active substance (28). The invention further relates to a balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1) the surface of which is at least partially coated with an active substance (11), the coating (11) being homogeneous and brittle in the entire coated region.
US08974519B2	Therapeutic agent delivery system, device and method for localized application of therapeutic substances to a biological conduit The invention provides a system, device and method for localized application of therapeutic substances within a biological conduit. In various embodiments, a dissolvable bag or bolus of at least one therapeutic agent is introduced and pressed and/or sealed against the wall of conduit. In other embodiments, dissolvable barbs formed from at least one therapeutic agent are ejected from a catheter by fluid pressure, embedding in the wall of conduit.
US08974517B2	Thermoelastic and superelastic NI-TI-W alloy A radiopaque nitinol stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element including tungsten. The added tungsten in specified amounts improve the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. Furthermore, the nitinol stent has improved radiopacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.
US08974515B2	Stent with flexible hinges A helical stent includes at least one helical winding. Each helical winding includes a plurality of alternating long struts and short struts, ends of at least some of the long struts being joined to an end of an adjacent short strut by a flexible hinge arrangement, the struts being substantially rigid. The stent also includes at least one interconnection member connecting a hinge arrangement on one turn of the at least one winding with a hinge arrangement on an adjacent turn of the at least one winding. Fewer than all hinge arrangements on the at least one helical winding are connected to other hinge arrangements by an interconnection member.
US08974513B2	Medical implant detachment systems and methods An implant assembly comprises an elongated pusher member, and an implantable device (e.g., a vaso-occlusive device) mounted to the distal end of the pusher member. The implant assembly further comprises an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed, and a return electrode carried by the distal end of the pusher member (e.g., a coil disposed about the pusher member) in proximity to, but electrically isolated from, the severable joint. The implant assembly further comprises a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member in electrical communication with the severable joint.
US08974512B2	Devices and methods for the treatment of vascular defects Devices and methods for treating vascular defects, such as, for example, balloon-type aneurysms, are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an insertion portion and an expandable implant. The expandable implant is configured to be deployed in an aneurysm and is coupled to the insertion portion. The expandable implant has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The expandable implant is movable between a first configuration in which the first portion and the second portion are substantially linearly aligned and a second configuration in which the second portion at least partially overlaps the first portion.
US08974509B2	Pass-through restraint electrolytic implant delivery systems Medical devices and methods for delivery or implantation of prostheses within hollow body organs and vessels or other luminal anatomy are disclosed. The subject technologies may be used in the treatment of atherosclerosis in stenting procedures or be used in variety of other procedures. The systems may employ a self expanding stent restrained by one or more members released by an electrolytically erodable latch. Such release means do not connect directly to the implant, though one or more portions may contact it.
US08974508B2	Expandable fixation assemblies Expandable fixation assemblies, expandable cranial fixation assemblies, and expandable intervertebral implant assemblies are provided for securing structures to bone and for securing bones and/or bone segments with respect to each other. An expansion member can be moved through at least a portion of an expandable fixation body, thereby causing expansion of the expandable fixation body, such that bone engagement features of the expandable fixation body engage surrounding structure, such as bone.
US08974507B2	Bone screw system with connecting portion A bone screw system includes a bone screw and a connecting device for coupling the bone screw to an elongate rod-shaped member. The bone screw has proximal and bone-engaging portions disposed at opposing ends relative to a long axis of the screw. The proximal portion includes a proximal locking feature that extends away from the long axis in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the long axis. The connecting device includes first and second coupling portions at opposing ends relative to the long axis when the coupling device is assembled to the bone screw. The first coupling portion defines an opening for receiving the proximal portion of the bone screw. The second coupling portion is configured to receive the rod-shaped member. The connecting device also includes a restraining feature that frictionally resists rotational motion of the connecting device relative to the bone screw.
US08974504B2	Dynamic bone fracture plates A bone fracture plate assembly including female and male plate portions. The female plate portion has a post, a female dovetail, and an extending arm with a group of ratchet teeth. The male plate portion has two upstanding posts, a male dovetail for coupling to the female dovetail so that the plate portions move linearly with respect to each other, a slot for the arm, and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring, coupled to the posts of the plate portions, dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween. The spring has a pair of elongated ears, each defining a slot to allow for relative movement of the plate portions. The ratchet teeth are engaged by the pawl to retain the plate portions together, and the spring mounts on the posts of the plate portions such that the spring biases the plate portions together.
US08974500B2	Adjustable rod assembly An adjustable rod for spinal corrective surgery is provided that includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each having rod portions couplable to one or more bone connecting elements and expansion portions slidably moveable with respect to one another. A plurality of holes in each expansion portion are alignable with one another to choose the length of the adjustable rod and a locking element is inserted through a pair of aligned holes to couple the first and second elongate members and secure or fix the length of the expandable rod.
US08974496B2	Interspinous implant, tools and methods of implanting Devices, tools and methods for minimally invasive implantation and distraction between spinous processes for treatment of spinous disorders. An interspinous implant device for distracting at least one pair of adjacent spinous processes includes a main body including a shaft having a longitudinal axis; and first and second arms extending transversely from the main body, wherein at least one of the first and second arms is slidably mounted with respect to the shaft. The arms are configured and dimensioned to extend laterally from both sides of the spinous processes when implanted therebetween and to be inserted between the spinous processes laterally from a single side thereof. The arms are variably positionable between a closed configuration, to facilitate insertion of the arms between the adjacent spinous processes, and an open configuration, in which the arms are separated from one another.
US08974494B2	Surgical devices The present disclosure relates to a surgical device including a shaft having an outer member and an inner member slidably received within the outer member, a handle coupled to the shaft, and a combination of a cannulated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a plug including a top portion configured for engagement with the proximal end of the body and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, a first portion disposed on the bottom portion of the plug, a second portion disposed on the bottom portion of the plug, and a spring located between the first and second portions for providing movement to the inner member coupled to the inner member. A method of tissue repair is also disclosed.
US08974487B2	Aneurysm occlusion device A device to treat an aneurysm can include a plurality of soft and compressible fill members. A flow conduit can carry the fill members in a liquid flow. A flexible, expandable, and liquid-permeable net or mesh enclosure can be inserted into and to fit within the aneurysm. The net or mesh enclosure can receive and retain the plurality of fill members while openings in the net or mesh enclosure allow enough liquid flow through the net or mesh enclosure to transport the fill members into the net or mesh enclosure. A resulting accumulation of the plurality of fill members within the net or mesh enclosure causes the net or mesh enclosure to expand and to come into contact with and generally conform with an interior wall of the aneurysm. This can substantially occlude the aneurysm and retain the net or mesh enclosure within the aneurysm.
US08974486B2	Device and method for maintaining unobstructed nasal passageways after nasal surgery Methods and devices for maintaining nasal passages open after nasal surgery are provided. The post-operative device includes a first tubular member with a first proximal end and a first distal end, and a second tubular member with a second proximal end and a second distal end, where the first proximal end is connected to the second proximal end with a bridging member. The method includes inserting the post-operative device into the nasal passages and before, during or after inserting the device into the nasal passages, adjusting the medical device to accommodate the nasal passages by manipulating a flexible member of the medical device.
US08974485B2	Guidewire and method for surgical procedures A surgical guide wire or K-wire and method of use are provided. The K-wire, or guide wire, has opposite end portions and a shank portion in between. One end portion has a deformable end portion that, once outside of a confining guide passage, can be deformed to present a projected forward facing area that is larger than the transverse cross section of the K-wire, or guide wire, while in the passage. The increased area will provide increased resistance to additional forward axial movement into the surgical site.
US08974484B2	Removable lung reduction devices, systems, and methods An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by recollapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.
US08974481B2	Instrument for producing a skin opening for minimally invasive surgery For producing a skin opening for minimally invasive surgery an instrument is employed, comprising a grip (10) and a puncture awl (16). The puncture awl (16) is provided on the distal end of a grip (10), which distal end forms a stop surface (12), which limits the penetration depth of the puncture awl (16).
US08974478B2	Ultrasonic surgical system having a fluid cooled blade and related cooling methods therefor The present disclosure is directed to a fluid cooled ultrasonic surgical instrument and related systems and methods of use therefor. In some embodiments, the disclosed ultrasonic surgical instrument is adapted for used within an insufflated cavity or pneumoperitoneum of a patient. The instrument includes a housing having an elongate shaft, a waveguide disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of the housing, and a coolant pump disposed within the housing and configured to move coolant from the coolant inlet port to the waveguide. During use, insufflation gas from within the pneumoperitoneum is drawn into the instrument shaft by the coolant pump, and blown over the waveguide to provide cooling. The delivery of ultrasonic energy and activation of the pump may be controlled by a processor in response to user input and waveguide temperature.
US08974472B2	Method for removing kidney stones A method for removing a kidney stone from a ureter may involve: advancing a distal end of an elongate, flexible kidney stone removal device into the ureter to a location near the kidney stone; advancing an expandable stone retention member out of an inner shaft of the device; visualizing at least part of the stone retention member with a camera disposed coaxially within the stone retention member; trapping the kidney stone in the stone retention member; surrounding at least a portion of the stone retention member and the trapped kidney stone with a wall protection member on the distal end of the kidney stone removal device; and removing the kidney stone removal device from the ureter while the stone retention member and the kidney stone are at least partially surrounded by the wall protection member.
US08974468B2	Hip surgery systems and methods Orthopedic systems and methods are provided for use in preparing joints for implants. Specifically, hip preparation systems and methods are disclosed which can include a surgical orientation device. The hip preparation systems and methods can be used, for example, to orient the hip during the procedure, determine the orientation of an anatomical plane or planes, and orient a prosthetic component or components.
US08974464B2	Expansion member for insertion into a body tissue space An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US08974463B2	Non-invasive adjustable distraction system A spinal distraction system includes a distraction rod having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for affixation to a subject's spine at a first location, the distraction rod having a second end containing a recess having a threaded portion disposed therein. The system further includes an adjustable portion configured for affixation relative to the subject's spine at a second location remote from the first location, the adjustable portion comprising a housing containing a magnetic assembly, the magnetic assembly affixed at one end thereof to a lead screw, the lead screw operatively coupled to the threaded portion. A locking pin may secure the lead screw to the magnetic assembly. An o-ring gland disposed on the end of the housing may form a dynamic seal with the distraction rod.
US08974461B2	Devices and methods for inter-vertebral orthopedic device placement Devices and methods for implantation of an orthopedic device between skeletal segments using limited surgical dissection. The implanted devices are used to adjust and maintain the spatial relationship(s) of adjacent bones. Depending on the implant design, the motion between the skeletal segments may be increased, limited, modified, or completely immobilized.
US08974460B2	Device for controlled adjustment of a surgical positioning unit The invention concerns a device for adjusting the position of a screw (13) that is able to move a part of a surgical instrument, said device (4) comprising: —a stem (41) comprising a tip (42) suited to the head (130) of the screw (13), —an actuated system (45) for driving said stem (41) in rotation, —communication means to communicate with a control unit (21), such that the control unit (21) transmits to the actuated system (45) the number of turns to apply to the stem (41) to reach the target position of the screw (13). The invention also concerns a surgical system for alignment of surgical guide means (14, 15), comprising: —a positioning unit comprising a fixed part (11) and a mobile part (12) supporting the surgical guide means (14, 15), the position of said mobile part (12) being adjustable with respect to the fixed part (11) by screws (13), —a referencing unit for detecting the position of the positioning unit with respect to a target position of the surgical guide means, —a control unit (21) for computing the target position of screws (13), —said device (4) for adjusting the positions of the screws (13).
US08974459B1	Natural alignment knee instruments A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.
US08974458B2	Arthroplasty instruments and associated method A reamer for use in performing arthroplasty includes a first cutting structure having an inner concave surface that defines a first cavity and terminates in a generally circular leading edge. The inner concave surface includes a first cutting feature that is spaced apart from the leading edge. An elongate member extends from the first cutting structure into the first cavity toward the leading edge that includes a second cutting feature. A second cutting structure is secured to the elongate member and positioned within the first cavity. The second cutting structure extends outwardly from the elongate member toward the inner concave surface and includes a third cutting feature.
US08974452B2	Reinforced high strength microwave antenna High-strength microwave antenna assemblies and methods of use are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Proximal and distal radiating portions of the antenna assembly are separated by a junction member. A reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member to increase structural rigidity.
US08974443B2	Systems and methods for treating dermatological imperfections Provided are dermatological medical devices and methods comprising a distal end for positioning at a region proximal a target therapeutic region of tissue, an output port at the distal end, an energy source that generates optical energy, which is output from the output port to the target therapeutic region of tissue, and a control device that controls the optical energy at the target therapeutic region of tissue for increasing a temperature of the target therapeutic region of tissue for a period of time to a temperature that is less than an injurying temperature and induces an expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) at the target therapeutic region of tissue.
US08974439B2	Infusion pump system and methods Some embodiments an infusion pump system can provide a suggested bolus dosage based on particular parameters (e.g., the user's recent blood glucose characteristics, food intake data, an amount of insulin already delivered to the user which has not yet acted on the user, or other factors). In some circumstances, the infusion pump system can receive information indicative of the user's blood glucose level and suggest an insulin bolus dosage that is at least partially dependent upon the recent rate of change in the user's blood glucose level. Such a feature can be helpful to a user when the infusion pump is operated in conjunction with a glucose monitoring device because the suggested bolus dosage can be at least partially based on recent data indicative of the user's blood glucose level.
US08974438B2	Compact catheter assembly Packaging including a coiled and optionally prelubricated catheter, its distal end insertable into the urethra, a slidable hygienic sheath, a proximal catheter end for voiding urine from the distal end through the assembly to the proximal end. Mutually rotatable elements providing for withdrawal of the catheter from its coiled state to an extended state, and retraction of the catheter back to its coiled state. Methods of extending the catheter, inserting it into the urethra, and voiding urine through the catheter, without requiring complete removal from the catheter packaging. A kit including automatic extrusion of the catheter's distal end upon package opening, and a water pouch for hydrophilic lubrication, and sanitary wipes for reducing the likelihood of infection. A catheter within a flexible and optionally coiled tube, a slidable hygienic sheath covering a catheter's distal end that can move along the length of the catheter during insertion.
US08974437B2	Coupling for medical fluids A coupling apparatus includes a first component having a first non-mechanical valve, a second component having a second non-mechanical valve, and a third component having a first end for coupling with the first valve and a second end for coupling with the second valve. The third component has an elongated bore such that when the first end is coupled to the first valve and the second end is coupled to the second valve, a passageway is defined therethrough. The coupling apparatus includes a breakaway portion disposed between the third component and the second component and the first and second valves automatically close when the second and third components are separated from one another.
US08974433B2	Pressure-regulating vials and containers In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
US08974431B2	Fastening member having bonded reinforcing layer A fastening member having a reinforced region is disclosed. The fastening member may have a first layer formed of a nonwoven and a second layer at its reinforced region formed of either a polymeric film or another nonwoven, bonded to the first layer by a plurality of bond sites arranged in a pattern. The polymer(s) forming the fibers of the first layer and the polymer(s) forming the film or fibers of the second layer may be of like chemistry to enhance thermal bonding between the layers at the bond sites. The fastening member may be imparted with enhanced appearance and tear resistance attributes and may be suitable for use as a fastening member of a wearable article such as a disposable diaper.
US08974427B2	Tracheostomy support apparatus A tracheostomy support apparatus incorporates a folded sheet of fabric into a pocket formed at one end of the folded sheet. The support apparatus includes a cradle on an outer surface for holding tubes, hoses, and medical equipment connected between a tracheostomy and adjacent equipment, such as a ventilator. The support apparatus cushions and supports the hoses and tubes associated with a tracheostomy but also absorbs fluids emanating from the tracheostomy.
US08974425B2	Male member A male member (1) includes a tubular member (10) and a cover (20) covering at least a tip (11) of the tubular member. A lateral hole (14) that communicates with a flow path (13) is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member. The cover includes an outer peripheral wall (21) that can be deformed elastically by compression and a head part (23) that is provided at one end of the outer peripheral wall. The head part includes an interior cavity (24) into which the tubular member is inserted, and a slit (25) is formed in an innermost part (24a) of the interior cavity. In a state where the outer peripheral wall is not deformed by compression, an inner peripheral surface of the interior cavity contacts closely with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member so as to block the lateral hole, and the tip of the tubular member and the innermost part of the interior cavity are spaced apart from each other. Thereby, it is possible to reduce an amount of a liquid substance adhering to outer surfaces of the cover and a female member after separation from the female member.
US08974423B2	Resettable drug delivery device A resetting mechanism for a reusable drug delivery device. The device comprises a spindle and a spindle guide engaging the spindle. During a resetting step of the resetting mechanism, the spindle rotates while the spindle guide does not rotate.
US08974415B2	Flow stop insert apparatus and methods An embodiment is directed to pressure plate for attachment to an infusion pump, where the pressure plate includes a tubing support surface at least partially surrounded by a raised perimeter support. The pressure plate includes a plurality of guide structures extending from the raised perimeter support that define a passageway for an infusion pump tube. Additionally an attachable flow stop assembly is included that includes an attachable occlusion arch and an attachable flow stop arm. The attachable occlusion arch includes a plurality of tab structures that couple to the raised perimeter support. The occlusion arch further includes an aperture configured to surround an infusion pump tube threaded therethrough. The attachable flow stop arm is operatively coupled to the raised perimeter support adjacent the attachable occlusion arch in a spring-biased fashion such that the aperture in the occlusion arch may be selectively occluded by the flow stop arm.
US08974412B2	Method of controlling a surgical system based on a load on the cutting tip of a handpiece A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
US08974411B2	Conical diffuser tip A catheter assembly is provided having a conical diffuser tip for use in rapid infusion procedures. The conical diffuser tip provides a flared opening whereby the velocity of an infusant is decreased as the infusant travels through the catheter tip and exits into the vascular system of a patient. This decrease in velocity proportionately reduces the backpressure and/or recoil force of the catheter assembly thereby permitting the use of higher infusion rates. The catheter tip is introduced into the vasculature of a patient via a splittable introducer needle.
US08974410B2	Apparatus and methods to communicate fluids and/or support intraosseous devices Fluid communication devices and supporting structures may be provided for use with intraosseous devices. Apparatus and methods may also be provided to communicate fluids with an intraosseous device.
US08974408B2	Robotic catheter system A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device. An instrument driver is in communication with the controller and has a guide instrument interface including a plurality of guide instrument drive elements responsive to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. An elongate guide instrument has a base, distal end, and a working lumen, wherein the guide instrument base is operatively coupled to the guide instrument interface. The guide instrument includes a plurality of guide instrument control elements operatively coupled to respective guide drive elements and secured to the distal end of the guide instrument. The guide instrument control elements are axially moveable relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the guide instrument distal end may be controlled by the master input device.
US08974404B2	Message device having rotary motion and two directional linear motion A massage device includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a drive motor, a gear assembly, a one-way bearing, a drive gear wheel, at least one massage member, and a linear motion device. The massage member can perform a massage through rotary motion and linear motion, and can massage by repeatedly moving forwards and backwards with respect to the user or at fixed positions. Furthermore, the gear wheels of the gear assembly are vertically disposed in the inner housing, while the drive motor is arranged in an oblique manner. Therefore, the inner housing doesn't need a large space to accommodate the gear assembly, and, consequently, the outer housing is also reduced in width.
US08974402B2	Sensor prosthetic for improved balance control A feedback device for measuring balance related information, and for producing a stimulation of the skin that encodes that information in a way that is useful to the wearer of the device. At least one sensor detects balance information and transmits at least one balance information signal to a signal processing subsystem. The signal processing subsystem converts the received balance information signal into at least one stimulation control signal. The signal processing subsystem then transmits the stimulation control signal to at least one stimulator, which provides stimulation to a wearer of the device reflecting the stimulation control signal received from the signal processing subsystem.
US08974401B2	Helical clip and method of using the same The invention relates to a retaining clip for retaining at least one medical line in a shortened lateral position and/or to a supportive surface. In one embodiment, the device includes an elongated, tapered helical wire structure defining a hook shaped leading edge, a loading channel, an inner lumen and a handle on the trailing end. The hooked shaped leading edge, inner lumen and channel are configured to accept the largest diameter of medical wires the device is destined to be used with. Sections of the medical wire may be captured in the hook portion, and multiple rotations of the structure by the handle, moves the medical wire(s) into the channel and the inner lumen to be retained.
US08974400B2	Instrument for applying therapeutic cells, with distal portion for processing therapeutic cells A tissue harvesting and processing apparatus comprises a body and a distally extending needle. The needle includes an aperture configured to receive tissue. A tissue cutting member is movable relative to the needle to sever a specimen from tissue protruding through the aperture. The tissue cutting member is further operable to mince the severed tissue specimen. The minced tissue may be mixed with a medical fluid component contained in a reservoir. A plunger may expel the medical fluid mixture from the needle. An applier tip may be coupled with the needle to facilitate administration of the medical fluid mixture at a target site in a patient. The needle may comprise a cannula with a needle adapter, which be removed from the cannula to allow the applier tip to be coupled with the cannula. The tissue cutting member may comprise a perforated disc or tube with inwardly projecting blades.
US08974399B2	System and method for sampling device for bodily fluids There is provided a device for sampling bodily fluids. Some embodiments have a handle, a lumen, and a diverter valve. The distal end of the handle is adapted to connect with a sampling device and is in fluid communication with the lumen. There is a vacuum connection on the proximal end of the handle that is also in fluid communication with the lumen. A suction valve may desirably be located in the lumen to control the application of vacuum from the vacuum connection to the sampling device. The diverter valve directs the flow through the lumen such that a sample from the patient goes into a sputum trap when the trap is connected. The device may further have a saline port in fluid communication with the lumen, located distal to the suction valve, for rinsing the tube and diluting secretions.
US08974396B1	Mobile plethysmographic device A mobile plethysmographic device for detecting a premature atrial contraction event is disclosed herein. The mobile plethysmographic device generates a pleth waveform, which is automatically screened by algorithms that measure the waveform to correlate, detect and store aberrations related to heart anomalies. A premature atrial contraction event for a patient is determined based on an identification of a time interval of the pleth waveform that is below the threshold minimum time interval followed immediately by a time interval that is above the threshold maximum time interval.
US08974391B2	Device for therapeutic treatment A device for therapeutic treatment includes an acoustic transducer designed to emit power waves to treat a target, and an imaging probe designed to emit waves for providing an image representation of the target and its environment before, during and after the emission of the power waves issuing from the transducer. The probe and the transducer are integrally connected to one another other. The device also includes a display for displaying images taken by the probe, namely images at rest, taken before and/or after emission of the power waves, and interference images, taken during the emission of the power waves. The device additionally comprises a detector for detecting a change of structure of the interference images that is indicative of the efficacy of the power waves.
US08974381B1	Cervical retractor An anterior cervical retractor comprises a first medial-lateral retractor body having a base arm and a moving arm and a pair of retractor blades. The retractor blades may be side loading or top loading. The cervical retractor comprises a second cranial-caudal retractor body having a pair of moving arms and a pair of retractor blades. The retractor blades may have an adjustable angulation. The retractor blades may also be fixed to the spine and provide distraction upon operation of the second retractor body. The blades of the first retractor body and/or the second retractor body may be coupled to light elements that illuminate the operative corridor between the blades.
US08974376B2	Introducing device system with bending control An introducing device system includes: an insertion portion; a bending portion which is provided at the insertion portion; an operation portion through which an input operation is performed for bending the bending portion; a pulling member connected to the bending portion and pulled in accordance with the operation through the operation portion; a detection section that detects a moving state of the pulling member; a driving unit that rotationally drives; a driving force transmitting unit including an inner circumferential surface configured to be able to contact an outer circumferential surface of the driving unit, and an outer circumference on which the pulling member is wound, the driving force transmitting unit being reduced in diameter in accordance with pulling of the pulling member; and a driving unit control section controls the driving unit when the moving state detected by the detection section is different from a state determined in advance.
US08974365B2	Treatment of thalamocortical dysrhythmia A method for treating conditions associated with thalamocortical dysrhythmia. The method includes applying transcranial low voltage electrical stimulation (TLVES) therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy to a patient in need thereof, and administering to the patient a dissociative anesthetic during the TLVES therapy or the TMS therapy. A number of conditions including tinnitus, depression and pain can be treated with TLVES or TMS in combination with the dissociative anesthetic, such as an NMADR inhibitor, including ketamine.
US08974364B1	Dosimetrically customizable brachytherapy carriers and methods thereof in the treatment of tumors Brachytherapy radioisotope carrier systems and methodology for providing real-time customized brachytherapy treatment to subjects with tumors difficult to control using conventional radiation therapy techniques. The invention generally relates to devices, methods and kits for providing customized radionuclide treatments, to help cure, slow progression or regrowth, or ameliorate the symptoms associated with tumors.
US08974361B2	Centrifuge with compressor cooling The present invention relates to a centrifuge and a method for cooling a centrifuge. The centrifuge according to the invention includes a cooling device which is improved in that its required installation space is reduced such that the centrifuge can be of a more compact design with the centrifugation capacity remaining unchanged, or the centrifugation capacity can be increased with the installation space remaining unchanged. Further, the number of components can be reduced and thus cost and assembly time can be saved.
US08974355B2	Board exercise device A board exercise device that includes a pair of planar boards having a top surfacing with a perimeter and an outer edge, the built-in attachment bars are coupled to the perimeter of the pair of planar boards and include an attachment aperture and a stem portion and one or more banded exercise devices coupled to the built-in attachment bars and allow a user to grasp the one or more banded exercise devices and perform an exercise. The board exercise device also includes a pair of handles coupled to a top of the outer edge of the pair of planar boards that are grasped by the user to transport the board exercise device when the board exercise device is in a folded position and a slide board placed over the top surfacing of the pair of planar boards.
US08974353B2	Stair exerciser apparatus The present invention relates to a stair exercise device for simulating stair climbing, the device having a plurality of steps which are activated by the weight of a person walking up them. A stationary platform at the base of the stair exercise device sends a signal to a controller to bring the exercise device to a controlled stop when an operator steps onto the platform. The steps of the exercise device stop in a predetermined location when the exercise device comes to a controlled stop, ensuring proper step location to allow the operator to easily enter and exit the exercise device. Steps have a step platform of a different color than the risers between steps to aid in foot placement.
US08974352B2	Stride maker elliptical exercise apparatus The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet where the pedal stride length is determined by the movements of an operator. Crank arms are positioned on the framework forward the operator at a height comparable to the pedals. Compound guides are used to achieve elliptical curve pedal paths.
US08974345B2	Double swap kickdown shift control A method of performing a double swap kickdown shift in a transmission having a main box and a compounder. The compounder is shifted during the hold speed phase of the downshift. The target ratio for the downshift is overshot by an overshoot RPM.
US08974344B2	Mounting system for a planatary gear train in a gas turbine engine A mounting system for a planetary gear train in a gas turbine engine comprises a support strut, a deflection flange and a deflection limiter. The support strut extends between a stationary engine case and a rotating engine shaft that provides input to the planetary gear train in the gas turbine engine. The deflection flange extends from a rotating output component of the planetary gear train. The deflection limiter is connected to the support strut and engages the deflection flange when the gear train becomes radially displaced.
US08974343B2	Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles An automatic transmission planetary gear train for a vehicle may include a first shaft receiving a torque of an engine, a second shaft disposed substantially in parallel with the first shaft, a first planetary gear set disposed on the first shaft and including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear as rotation elements, a second planetary gear set disposed on the second shaft and including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear as rotation elements, a third planetary gear set disposed on the second shaft and including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear as rotation elements, three transfer gears forming the externally-meshed gears, and frictional elements selectively interconnecting the rotation elements of the first, second, and third planetary gear sets or selectively connecting a rotation element to a transmission housing.
US08974340B2	Hybrid mechanism and hybrid mode thereof A hybrid mechanism is provided, including: an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a clutch, a hybrid unit, a differential, and a battery. The clutch, the second motor and the engine are sequentially coupled to one end of the hybrid unit, and the first motor and the battery are coupled to the other end of the hybrid mechanism. The battery provides supplying currents to the first motor or the second motor or receives range-extend currents from the second motor. The hybrid unit includes a first sun gear, a second sun gear, at least one planetary gear coupled to the first and second sun gears, and a planet carrier coupled to the at least one planetary gear. The hybrid mechanism has four modes. The hybrid unit harmonizes the first driving force from the first motor and the engine and the second driving force from the second motor and outputs a harmonized driving force to the differential.
US08974339B2	Vehicle power transmission device A vehicle power transmission device has a torque converter including an input-side rotating member, an output-side rotating member, a stator and a case including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a bulkhead, and the first chamber and the second chamber being oil-tightly isolated from each other by an oil seal. The vehicle power transmission device is disposed with a thrust bearing between the input-side rotating member and the stator, which is disposed to partially or entirely overlap with the oil seal and a one way clutch disposed between the stator and a non-rotating member which supports the stator. A portion of the one way clutch protrudes toward the second chamber, the input-side rotating member having an annular projecting portion, and the annular projecting portion houses the thrust bearing and the portion of the one way clutch.
US08974335B2	Silent chain In a silent chain, frictional losses and noise are reduced, and power transmitting efficiency is improved, by making the inner profile of each guide plate sufficiently high in relation to a link plate tooth of a link plate overlapped by each said guide plate that engagement between a sprocket tooth and said link plate tooth takes place before engagement of the last mentioned sprocket tooth with said guide plate, even when the chain moves laterally. The tensile hardness of the guide plates is sufficiently low in relation to the bending rigidity of the connecting pins of the chain to prevent substantial warping of the guide plates as a result of tension acting on the chain. The back surfaces of the guide plates are configured to avoid contact with a sliding contact surface of a chain guide on which a back surfaces of the link plates of said chain can slide.
US08974331B2	Bicycle derailleur A bicycle derailleur includes a base member, a movable member, a motor unit, a linkage and a saver mechanism. The linkage includes a first link that includes a first linking member and a second linking member. The first linking member is pivotally connected to the movable member. The second linking member is pivotally connected to the base member, and is attached to the first linking member. The saver mechanism includes an output member movably operated by the motor unit, a drive link movably mounted on the first link between a drive transmitting position that connects a drive force of the motor to the first link and a non-drive transmitting position that disconnect the drive force of the motor from the first link, and a biasing element biasing the drive link into engagement with the output member to maintain the drive link in the drive transmitting position.
US08974330B2	Sport ball casing and methods of manufacturing the casing A spherical sport ball may include a casing that includes first and second substantially hemispherical panel components. Each substantially hemispherical panel component may be a unitary structure having a central panel and a plurality of polygonal peripheral panels adjacent to the central panel. In addition, the first substantially hemispherical panel component may be joined with the second substantially hemispherical panel component at a non-linear, circumferential seam between peripheral panels of the first hemispherical panel component and peripheral panels of the second hemispherical panel component.
US08974329B2	Game ball A method of making a game ball having a carcass comprising a foamed intermediate layer and a plurality of raised seams made from an outer layer is disclosed. The foamed intermediate layer may be formed from two sheets of foamed material. The sheets are shaped to have leaves that can be folded into the shape of a hemisphere with no gaps between adjacent leaves. The sheets are placed around a bladder, an outer layer is placed around the sheets, and the combination is heat molded. The seams are not made from strips of seam material placed on the outer layer of the carcass.
US08974327B2	Hunting arrowhead having fixed and expandable blades An arrowhead having a combination of fixed and expandable blades is provided. The new arrowhead has three mechanically expandable blades and six fixed blades. An expandable blade is snug fitted in between two fixed blades, eliminating the need for a mechanism to hold the expandable blade during the flight. In one embodiment of the present arrowhead, the expandable blades pivotally open from the front end of the arrowhead. And in the second embodiment of the present arrowhead, the expandable blades pivotally open from the rear end of the arrowhead.
US08974322B1	Shaped golf tee A golf tee has a head contoured to balance a golf ball thereon, a point for insertion into a ground surface, and a stem joining the head to the point, the stem providing an enlarged medial portion relative to a proximal portion near the head and a distal portion near the point. The stem has a continuous curvature between the head and the point and joins the head to the point such that the point inserts into the ground surface at an angle that facilities ejection of the tee from the ground surface when the curvature is placed outward relative to a direction of a ball strike force.
US08974321B2	Golf tee setting apparatus An apparatus comprises an elongated body comprising a top end, a bottom end, a chamber extending away from the bottom end, a hole extending through the bottom end into the chamber, and a door to expose the chamber and an interior of the hole. The chamber retains a golf tee with the door in a closed position. The hole enables only a bottom portion of the golf tee to extend beyond the bottom end. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a depth of the chamber to position the golf tee to protrude a desired length out of the hole during placement of the golf tee into a tee ground. A retention mechanism urges the door into the closed position and enables the door to open with an upward movement of the apparatus after the golf tee has been placed into the tee ground.
US08974319B2	Golf ball material and golf ball using the same An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which travels a great distance on the driver shots and stops quickly on the green on the approach shots. The present invention is directed to a golf ball material having a shear loss modulus G″ of 2.11×107 Pa or less, and a ratio (E″/G″) of a tensile loss modulus E″ to the shear loss modulus G″ of 1.78 or more, when measuring the shear loss modulus G″ in a shear mode and the tensile loss modulus E″ in a tensile mode at conditions of a temperature of 0° C., oscillation frequency of 10 Hz using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.
US08974317B1	Multiple-material iron The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head formed from multiple materials that increase torsional stiffness of the club and aid in sound performance. In particular, the iron-type golf club head includes a rear flange and a composite component bonded to an external surface of the rear flange. The composite component may cover an entire surface of the rear flange, and may also extend upwards to make contact with a top portion of the club head and thus close off a rear cavity of the club head. The iron-type golf club head may further comprise a face support structure extending from the rear flange, to which the face plate may be affixed via welding or brazing.
US08974313B2	Method and apparatus for determining an angle of attack from multiple ball hitting A method and apparatus for determining an angle of attack of a golf swing based on multiple ball hitting is disclosed. Multiple golf balls of different known constructions are hit by a golfer. Club head speed and backspin data associated with each of the hit golf balls is measured. Based on a correlation between an angle of attack and measured data associated with the golf balls of different known constructions, an angle of attack of a golf swing can be determined. Different sets of golf balls of known constructions can be provided based on characteristics of a golfer. A kit including at least three golf balls of different known constructions and a database containing the correlation between data associated with the at least three golf balls and an angle of attack is also disclosed.
US08974310B2	Intermediate shaft of vehicle steering apparatus An intermediate shaft of a vehicle steering apparatus can prevent foreign matter, for example, moisture, dust or oil, from being introduced into the intermediate shaft even from a process of transporting the intermediate shaft to assemble it to a vehicle, and even when the intermediate shaft is assembled to the vehicle and the vehicle is driven. As a result, it is possible to prevent a component of the intermediate shaft from being deformed or damaged.
US08974306B2	Casino game download system and method of use Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for multi-tiered gaming data download. The system includes a gaming device for local play of a game. The gaming device includes a communication interface receiving and transmitting data to download a game for play at the gaming device. The system also includes a plurality of download servers communicating with the gaming device to provide game data for download to and play at the gaming device. The system further includes a middle tier server acting as a hub to communicate with the plurality of download servers to provide game data from one or more of the plurality of download servers. The middle tier server allocates download server resources and schedules a download of game data from one or more download servers to the gaming device based on resource constraints at the plurality of download servers and availability for download at the gaming device.
US08974303B2	Ad-hoc user and device engagement platform A local engagement system is described herein that leverages devices people commonly carry with them to dynamically engage them based on their locations and/or activities. One goal of the above referenced system is to leverage the power of the various devices present while providing the audience with a chance to better engage and participate with each other. A side benefit is additional opportunities to market products and services in new and exciting ways. The system includes a presentation component at the event or venue that links to existing systems, a web interface, and optional individual client applications for the devices. Thus, the local engagement system provides a highly engaging experience to people that might otherwise be idle and provides an enhanced opportunity for advertisers or educators to reach the people and give them something entertaining to do.
US08974297B2	Reconfigurable gaming displays and gaming terminals with reconfigurable display devices Gaming terminals, gaming machines, gaming systems, and methods of reconfiguring a display device are presented herein. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed, which includes an input device configured to receive a wager to play the wagering game, a cabinet, and a display device operatively mounted to the cabinet. The display device has an electronic graphical display screen that is operable to dynamically display information related to the wagering game. The display screen is configured to physically change shape and/or size.
US08974294B2	Collective enabling elements for enriched game play environment (single and/or multiplayer) for casino applications Methods and systems for gaming are provided. A transpiring of a collective element in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game is determined where the collective element is shared by two or more players of the entertainment portion of the hybrid, and where the hybrid game includes a gambling game portion and the entertainment game portion. A wager is triggered in the gambling game portion of the hybrid game based on the transpiring of the collective element in the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game. A real world credit gambling game result is distributed in the gambling game portion of the hybrid game between the two or more players. The distribution may be made on the basis of various parameters of the use of the shared collective element by the players. In addition, an allocation of an amount of a real world credit for the wager may also be based on various parameters of the players use of the shared collective element.
US08974292B2	Short time interval betting system A betting system for handling betting events, comprising means for determining natural probability values assigned to the events based on a statistical method; and transformation means for applying a transformation function to the natural probability values to get transformed probability values; and means for providing the transformed probability values to betting clients of the betting system. The betting system may provide real-time betting events in comparable short time intervals.
US08974288B2	Gaming device having a designated activator symbol therein and methods thereof Embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot machine gaming device providing players additional opportunities to obtain awards in a game. In one embodiment, a game comprises: a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a first plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reel, the first plurality of symbols comprising at least one predetermined activator symbol; a second plurality of symbols activated by the activator symbol, the second plurality of symbols replacing a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols comprising a plurality of replicator symbols, wherein each replicator symbol includes at least two of the same symbols at one of the symbol positions; at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and an award associated with the predetermined winning symbol combination.
US08974287B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select symbols for display in respective first display position areas, and a shutter device disposed in front of the selected symbols and arranged to controllably conceal or reveal at least one of the symbols. The system also comprises a display device disposed in front of the shutter device and arranged to display icons at respective second display position areas. Each second display position area is disposed in alignment with a first display position area, and the display device is controllable so as to modify the degree of transparency of an icon. When the shutter device is controlled so as to reveal a selected symbol and an icon associated with the revealed symbol is modified so as to increase the degree of transparency of the icon, the revealed symbol is viewable through the associated icon.
US08974285B2	Advantage bingo bonus One or more instances of a bonus game (e.g., Class II games such as Bingo games) may be provided to players of another wagering game (e.g., a Class III game such as a slot game, a poker game, etc.). Some implementations of the invention allow players to exchange indicia of credit (e.g., money, game credits, or player loyalty points) for bonus opportunities. For example, players may be able to purchase one or more Bingo cards for Bingo bonus games. Some implementations award bonus opportunities to players based on wager levels, game results, a player's level in a player loyalty program and/or other criteria.
US08974281B2	Elimination games for gaming machines The present disclosure provides a gaming machine including an elimination game. The elimination game may be played on a stand-alone gaming machine or on a group of linked gaming machines. The elimination game is played by plurality of entities, each comprising one or more virtual players or real players. During the elimination game, the entities play one or more games that are provided as part of the elimination game. For example, video slot or poker games may be used for the game play in the elimination game. One or more elimination tests are applied to the entities using results from the game play. When conditions used in the elimination tests are met for one of the entities, that entity is removed from the elimination game before reaching the finish of the elimination game. The last remaining entity that avoids elimination and reaches the finish of the elimination receives an award.
US08974270B2	CMP pad dresser having leveled tips and associated methods CMP pad dressers having leveled tips and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a CMP pad dresser can include a matrix layer and a monolayer of a plurality of superabrasive particles embedded in the matrix layer, where each superabrasive particle in the monolayer protrudes from the matrix layer. The difference in the protrusion distance between the highest protruding tip and the next highest protruding tip of the monolayer of superabrasive particles is less than or equal to about 20 microns, and the difference in protrusion distance between the highest 1% of the protruding tips of the monolayer of superabrasive particles are within about 80 microns or less.
US08974266B2	Novelty system utilizing translucent putty and an internal illumination module A novelty system having an internally illuminated amorphous putty that both stretches and bounces. An illumination module is provided that contains a battery and at least one light source that produces light when powered. A volume of putty material is provided in an amount sufficient enough to completely envelop the illumination module. The putty material is translucent so that the light from the light source can be seen through the putty material when the illumination module is enveloped within the putty material. The translucent putty material is created by reacting silicon polymers with boric acid and stearic acid. The reacted polymers are mixed with calcium carbonate, a whitener, and a colorant to obtain a color tinted level of translucency. The illumination module is activated by changes in acceleration caused by impact.
US08974264B2	Figurine launcher A figurine launcher is described. The figurine launcher includes at least two shell components. The shell components are hingedly attached with one another to move between an open position and a closed position. An open mechanism is attached with at least one of the shell components and is adapted to allow a user to selectively separate the shell components when in the closed position. A launch positioning mechanism is attached with at least one of the shell components. The launch positioning mechanism is adapted to engage with a figurine and conceal the figurine within the housing when the shell components are in a closed position. Alternatively, when the shell components are in an open position, the launch positioning mechanism is adapted to move the figurine into a launch position. When in the launch position, the user can compress the shell components to force the figurine from the launcher.
US08974262B2	Inflatable walking apparatus An apparatus for providing enhanced traction for an inflatable device is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inflatable gear assembly attachable to the inflatable device. The inflatable gear assembly defines an outside diameter that is greater than the largest cross-sectional distance of the inflatable device. The inflatable gear assembly and the inflatable device may be configured as totally integrated, partially integrated, or totally separated air chambers.
US08974261B2	Adjustable double bladed water paddle A water paddle comprising a first shaft having and a second shaft, a first cog collar located on an exterior surface of first shaft and having a first set of teeth extending radially from a mating end of first cog collar, a second cog collar located on an exterior surface of second shaft and having a second set of teeth extending radially from a mating end of second cog collar, second set of teeth mateable with first set of teeth to prevent rotational movement between shafts, a ferrule extending from a free end of second shaft, a snap button-alignment tab assembly comprising a bushing, a wavy washer, and a snap button base located within ferrule and a snap button skirt connected to free end of ferrule and an alignment tab fixed within first paddle shaft downstream of a set of corresponding holes of first paddle.
US08974258B2	Crimp terminal, connection structural body and connector A crimp terminal includes barrel pieces respectively on both of two sides in a width direction thereof. The barrel pieces are included in a pressure-bonding section for pressure-bonding an exposed part of an electric wire conductor of an insulated wire. The insulated wire includes the electric wire conductor and an insulating cover for covering an outer circumference of the electric wire conductor, and the exposed part is a part of the electric wire conductor which is exposed from a tip of the cover by a predetermined length. The barrel pieces have a length in a longitudinal direction which is longer than the length of the exposed part of the electric wire conductor. The pressure-bonding section pressure-bonds, by the barrel pieces, a continuous part from a tip of the electric wire conductor to a position rear to the tip of the cover.
US08974254B2	Grounding connector Embodiments of the present disclosure include a connector. The connector may include a connection body and an engagement structure. The connection body may include a first support member, a second support member, a base from which the first support member and the second support member extend, wherein the base includes a beveled portion for connecting the connection body to the structure, and a slot defined between the first support member and the second support member and configured to receive a ground line. The engagement structure may be configured to engage the first support member and the second support member and move relative to the base along the first support member and the second support member.
US08974253B2	Contact module for a receptacle assembly A contact module includes an overmolded leadframe with frame members separated by corresponding gaps and a removable insert coupled to a corresponding receptacle signal contacts. The removable insert has a main wall, end walls extending from the main wall and forming a receiving space therebetween, and a finger extending from the main wall in the receiving space. First and second channels are formed between the finger and the corresponding end walls that receive the contacts. The finger and end walls hold the lateral positions of the contacts during the overmolding process. The receiving space is filled with dielectric material during overmolding and the removable insert leaves a window in the corresponding frame member that exposes the corresponding receptacle signal contacts.
US08974251B2	Electrical connector assembly and method of manufacturing the same An electrical connector assembly comprises: a metallic housing having a receiving space extending along a longitudinal and two openings respectively formed on top and bottom surfaces thereof and communicated with the receiving space; a pair of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) received into the receiving space and arranged in a back-to-back manner. Each of the FPC defines a protuberant portion extending into the corresponding opening. And each of the protuberant portion has a plurality of contacts formed on one side thereof and communicated with an exterior. A pair of supporting pieces are received into the receiving space and attached to another side of the protuberant portion. And a spacer is received into the receiving space and sandwiched between the pair of flexible printed circuit boards and supporting pieces.
US08974250B2	Coupling terminal structure and electrical connector using the same The present invention discloses a coupling terminal structure and electrical connector using the same. The coupling terminal structure comprises: at least a pair of first terminal and second terminal, wherein the first terminal includes a first contact portion, a first neck portion and a first extension portion, the second terminal includes a second contact portion, a second neck portion and a second extension portion. The first contact portion is disposed aside to the second contact portion at a first distance, while the first extension portion is disposed aside to the second extension portion at a second distance. The first distance is greater than the second distance, thereby forming an electromagnetic coupling effect between the first extension portion and the second extension portion to provide better shielding and decrease interference between and within terminals.
US08974248B2	Universal serial bus connector A universal serial bus connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, an insulating cover, a terminal module and a shielding shell surrounding the insulating housing, the insulating cover and the terminal module. The insulating housing includes a first base body which defines a first holding groove and a second base body which defines a second holding groove. The first terminals and the second terminals are disposed to the first base body. The insulating cover has a main body received in the first holding groove. The terminal module includes an insulating base and a plurality of third terminals integrally molded to the insulating base. The insulating base has a tongue portion received in the second holding groove, and a second supporting portion. A rear surface of the second supporting portion is flush with a rear surface of the first base body.
US08974244B2	Connector A harness-side connector (30) to be connected to a board connector (10) whose metal fixtures (20) are fixed to the upper surface of a board (P) by soldering include a female housing (31) connected to an end of a wiring harness and fittable into a receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) and a holder (50) formed separately from the female housing (31). The holder (50) includes lock arms (57A, 57B) which are resiliently engaged with the female housing (31) to lock the holder (5) in a state mounted on the female housing (31) and a locking portion (61) which is engaged with the lower surface of the board (P) when the female housing (31) is fitted into the receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) after the holder (50) is mounted on the female housing (31).
US08974242B2	Posable strain relief for a cable A posable strain relief for use with a cable which can he bent into a particular shape by the user, and which retains that shape, thus allowing modification to suit a specific environment or use.
US08974238B2	Flip-covered portable memory storage device A portable memory storage device with a miniaturized memory storage assembly package with electrical contacts that further includes a casing, the casing holding the memory package and having a first end portion, a cover, the cover being rotatable about the first end portion of the casing, and at least a plug for engaging the cover and the casing and being fitted about the first end portion of the casing. When the cover is rotated about the first end portion of the casing to selectively cover or expose the electrical contacts, the plug rotates about the first end portion with the cover. Further, the first end portion includes a groove on an interior side surface, and when the cover is at a first locked state, a projection of the plug abuts against a side of the groove. The electrical contacts can be formed in accordance with the USB Specification.
US08974237B2	Electrical plug connector having a metallic plug part with a deformable tolerance compensation part An electrical plug connector with an insulating body that holds at least one metallic plug part that comprises at least one solder connection element that can be soldered to a circuit board, and at least one plug connection element for a matching plug part, both of which are connected with each other via a central piece of the plug connection element. The solder connection element may be connected via a tolerance compensation part with the central piece of the plug part, or directly with the plug connection element, in such a way that, relative to the position of the solder connection element—with the solder connection element soldered to the circuit board—the position of the plug connection element can be changed in any direction, parallel to the plane of the circuit board. In addition, the invention relates to a plug connector assembly.
US08974234B2	Rotary connector In a rotary connector where a moving body turning with the rotation and revolution of a planetary gear and a flat cable including an inverted portion at a middle portion thereof are received in an annular space defined between an outer cylindrical body of a stationary-side housing and an inner cylindrical body of a movable-side housing, regulating walls, which extend in a circumferential direction with an opening interposed therebetween, are erected on a moving body formed of a resin molded product and the inverted portion passes through the opening so that the movement of the flat cable in a radial direction is regulated. Further, a plurality of protrusions, which protrude toward the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical body, are repeatedly formed in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the regulating walls.
US08974231B2	Method and system for quantitative assessment of letter identification latency A method and system are presented to address quantitative assessment of letter identification latency of a subject, where the method comprises the steps of: (1) presenting at least one scene to a subject on a display, the scene comprising a plurality of letters and a background; (2) moving the plurality of letters relative to the scene, the movement being tracked by the subject via at least one input device; (3) receiving feedback from the subject via the input device; (4) quantitatively refining the received feedback; (5) modulating the movement of plurality of letters relative to accuracy of the received feedback; (6) calculating a critical threshold parameter; and (7) recording a critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium.
US08974229B2	Virtually designing a post and core restoration using a digital 3D shape A method of virtually designing a post and core restoration for attachment in a damaged tooth of a patient, where the tooth includes a bore for receiving the post of the post and core, the method includes obtaining a first 3D scan includes at least a part of the damaged tooth; providing a digital 3D shape adapted to fit the bore of the damaged tooth; virtually matching the first 3D scan of the tooth and the digital 3D shape, where the matching includes matching a surface region in the first 3D scan of the tooth with a corresponding surface region of the digital 3D shape, such that at least part digital 3D shape is represented relative to the first 3D scan of the tooth; and virtually designing the post and core restoration based on the representation of the digital 3D shape relative to the first 3D scan of the tooth.
US08974228B2	Method of assessing periodontal tissue A method of assessing the quality of periodontal tissue using a dental device having a flat laminar body with a visual indicator thereon. The visual indicator includes a color zone having a color. The method includes positioning the flat laminar body of the dental device under the periodontal tissue in a gap existing between a tooth and a portion of the periodontal tissue covering a neck portion of the tooth; observing the periodontal tissue underneath which the body has been positioned; and determining to what the degree the color of the color zone is apparent through the periodontal tissue.
US08974227B2	Dental component, a dental fixture and a dental implant The present invention employs a dental component that includes at least one first indexing element and at least one second indexing element having an apical end located apically of the apical end of said first indexing element, wherein the second indexing element is designed to present a play with mating features of a dental fixture.
US08974226B2	Method and apparatus for operating a furnace The present invention relates to a method for operating combustion process in a furnace whereby a primary fuel and a secondary fuel are burnt, to an apparatus for injecting liquid oxygen into the furnace and also to the corresponding furnace. The method comprises at least the following steps: the primary fuel and a primary oxidizer are injected into the furnace to create a primary combustion zone, liquid oxygen is injected in as secondary oxidizer such that the secondary fuel combusts with the secondary oxidizer thereby creating a distinct secondary combustion zone. The invention makes it possible for a secondary fuel having a significantly lower calorific value than the primary fuel to be burnt completely in the furnace, such that a product to be produced in the furnace has an improved quality.
US08974223B2	Injection foaming mold, method of producing foamed plastic product, and foamed plastic product Provided is an injection foaming mold capable of preventing, when formed resin molding is performed by a partial core back, degradation of an outer appearance and component precision, and occurrence of swelling when a portion that is not subjected to the core back is taken out of a die. The injection foaming mold includes at least: a fixed core that avoids moving; and a movable core that performs the core back. The injection foaming mold further includes a capacity change shape portion, which is formed in a region in which a capacity in the die is changed smoothly and continuously from the fixed core side to the movable core side, the capacity change shape portion being formed at a boundary between the fixed core and the movable core.
US08974222B2	Nozzle-locating insulator having spring-noncontact sections interposed between spring-contact sections A nozzle-locating insulator (300), comprising: a body assembly (302), having: a spring-facing surface (304) including: spring-contact sections (306); and spring-noncontact sections (308) interposed between the spring-contact sections (306).
US08974221B2	Molding machines and methods of molding resin products In one aspect of the present teachings, a molding machine includes an injection device and a mold. The injection device can inject molten resin. The mold is directly supported by the injection device and defines a cavity for receiving the molten resin injected by the injection device.
US08974219B2	Cementitious surface finishing tool system A modular tool for imparting profile characteristics into fluent cementitious material. The tool has an elongated base forming a permanently fixed blade, and at least one handle. The blade is configured to act as a dovetail to which any of several modular blades may frictionally fit in removable fashion. The fixed blade forms a deflector disposed to deflect removed cementitious material away from the handles. Other blades may fit by peg and socket engagement. The tool may have detachable rollers enabling the tool to advance at a controlled elevation along a wall being formed and shaped. A slide block may be arranged to engage the rollers so as to adjust their position on the tool. The tool may have integral bubble levels.
US08974212B2	Systems for manufacturing composite parts with female tools Methods and systems for manufacturing fiber-reinforced resin parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part includes positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, and covering the fibers with a sealing layer. The method further includes pressing a portion of the covered fibers against an interior transition region (e.g., an internal radius) of the mold surface. While the portion of covered fibers is pressed against the interior transition region, air is removed from between the sealing layer and the mold surface to draw at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.
US08974210B2	Pelletizing device A pelletizing device comprising a rotary drivable at least partly cylindrical die, wherein the cylindrical part comprises a multitude of radial openings for making of pellets and at least one roller rotatable around a stationary shaft, for pressing of material to be pelletized through the radial openings in the die, wherein the roller is mounted to the corresponding stationary shaft by means of at least one roller bearing and wherein the pelletizing device comprises an oil circulation system for lubricating each of the roller bearings of each of the rollers with oil.
US08974209B2	Underwater cutting and pelletizing apparatus An underwater cutting and pelletizing apparatus includes: a cutting device that cuts, with a cutter in a water chamber, molten resin, extruded from a die, into pellets; a separation device that separates, from carrier water, pellets sent from the water chamber of the cutting device to downstream with carrier water; a tank that is disposed below the separation device and stores carrier water discharged from the separation device; and a circulation path formed so as to circulate carrier water between the tank and the water chamber, wherein a hydroelectric power generator is provided on a return side of the circulation path formed on a downstream side of the water chamber, and generates electricity from the energy of the carrier water flowing downward in this path. According to such a configuration, the underwater cutting and pelletizing apparatus is made so as to achieve energy savings by recovering and reusing potential energy accompanying carrier water pumped up to a higher location.
US08974208B2	Mould for vulcanizing a tire, installation and method for regulating the temperature of the mould A mold for vulcanizing a blank tire has an overall shape that is annular about an axis of revolution and includes a configuration for channelling a heat-transfer liquid in a substantially circular path about the axis. The channelling configuration includes an annular wall around the axis, separating at least two chambers in which the heat-transfer liquid circulates. Furthermore, a downstream end (respectively an upstream end) of one of the chambers has substantially the same angular position with respect to the substantially circular path as the downstream (respectively upstream) end of the other of the chambers. The mold is additionally configured for circulating the liquid in opposite directions in the two chambers.
US08974206B2	Metering pump with special-shaped cavity A metering pump with a special-shaped cavity comprising a housing, a rotor and two cover plates. The housing is a cylinder with a special-shaped surface inner cavity formed by combining two circular arc surfaces with two non-circular arc surfaces and a planar surface, an inlet and an outlet. The rotor comprises a rotor body and two pairs of combined sliding plates. The housing is matched with the cover plates for constituting a sealed cavity. When the rotor rotates, the non-circular arc surface of the special-shaped surface inner cavity can enable the two pairs of the combined sliding plates to slide in a cross manner so as to suck in fluid from the inlet and press out the fluid from the outlet. When the rotor rotates one cycle, four standard volumes are formed in a cavity body and the equal quantity of the fluid flows by the cavity body.
US08974204B2	Scroll compressor In a scroll compressor, a sealing portion of a discharge cover placed between a suction spacer and a discharge space is formed to be spaced apart in an axial direction from a fixed scroll, whereby the discharge cover is in contact with a fixture in an axial direction only on a single circumference, facilitating fabrication and assembling of the discharge cover. Also, after assembly, when the discharge cover is pressurized toward the fixed scroll by a discharge pressure of a refrigerant discharged to the discharge space, the discharge cover does not transfer pressurization force to the fixed scroll, thus reducing a frictional loss between the fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll.
US08974201B2	Rotating compressor valve As described in detail below, the disclosed embodiments include a rotating compressor valve having stationary front and rear plates (e.g., guards) and a rotating plate configured to rotate relative to the stationary front and rear plates. The stationary front and rear plates and the rotating plate all include a plurality of slots which, when aligned, allow a process fluid (e.g., natural gas) to flow through the rotating compressor valve. In certain embodiments, the slots of the rotating plate include an arc radius that is smaller than an arc radius of the slots of the stationary front and rear plates.
US08974200B2	Device for creating fluid flow An apparatus and method are disclosed for inducing fluid flow. A fluid flow apparatus includes a directional membrane, a directional flow mechanism, and an oscillation module. The directional membrane allows a fluid to pass through the directional membrane in a first direction and resists fluid passing through the directional membrane in a second direction, the first direction substantially opposite the second direction. The directional flow mechanism allows a fluid to flow in a third direction and resists fluid flow in a fourth direction, the third direction substantially opposite the fourth direction. The oscillation module induces an oscillation in the directional membrane, wherein the oscillation of the directional membrane induces a flow of the fluid through the directional membrane in the first direction.
US08974191B2	Air compressor An air compressor includes a motor, an air compression mechanism driven by the motor, a rotation shaft rotatable integrally with a rotor of the motor, a fan rotatable integrally with the rotation shaft, a plurality of air tanks for reserving compressed air generated by the air compression mechanism, and a control unit for controlling the motor. The plurality of air tanks are juxtaposed with each other and arrayed in an array direction. The plurality of air tanks includes an endmost air tank and an adjacent air tank adjacent to the endmost air tank. The control unit is disposed adjacent to and opposite to the adjacent air tank relative to the endmost air tank. The control unit is disposed adjacent to and in confrontation with an outer circumference of the fan.
US08974189B2	Blade for a helicopter anti-torque device A blade (1) for a tail anti-torque device of a helicopter, said device comprising a ducted rotor (13). The blade (1) has an assembly of sections, a leading edge (2) and a trailing edge (3); a stacking line (4) of the profiles extending at a distance lying in the range 25% to 50% of the chord (C). The stacking line (4) presents a shape that is curved having successively from the root (5) to the end (6) of the blade a back sweep, a forward sweep, and a last back sweep; and a chord (C) that becomes larger going towards the end (6) of the blade (1) over at least the end profile (1a).
US08974187B2	Rotor blade and flow engine comprising a rotor blade A rotor blade for a flow machine, in particular a steam turbine, includes an insertion root with a first finger and two second fingers which are arranged on either side of the first finger in axial direction. The first finger and the second fingers have a shoulder in axial direction on axial sides facing one another such that the fingers have a radially outer first portion and a radially inner second portion whose axial extension is shorter than that of the outer, first portion. In relation to a total axial width between axial sides of the two second fingers which face away from one another, the radial height of the first, radially outer portion is in the range of 0.39 to 0.45, particularly 0.40 to 0.44, and the radial height of the second, radially inner portion is between 0.40 and 0.46, particularly between 0.41 and 0.45.
US08974184B2	Turbomachinery having self-articulating blades, shutter valve, partial-admission shutters, and/or variable pitch inlet nozzles An axial-flow turbine assembly that includes one or more features for enhancing the efficiency of the turbine's operation. In one embodiment, the turbine assembly includes a turbine rotor having blades that adjust their pitch angle in direct response to working fluid pressure on the blades themselves or other part(s) of the rotor. In other embodiments, the turbine assembly is deployable in an application, such as an oscillating water column system, in which the flow of working fluid varies over time, for example, as pressure driving the flow changes. In a first of these embodiments, the turbine assembly includes a valve that allows the pressure to build so that the flow is optimized for the turbine's operating parameters. In a second of these embodiments, one or more variable-admission nozzle and shutter assemblies are provided to control the flow through the turbine to optimize the flow relative to the turbine's operating parameters.
US08974180B2	System and method for estimating operating temperature of turbo machinery A method for estimating an operating temperature of component in turbo machinery includes providing body detachably affixed to component, operating machinery, stopping operation of machinery, and removing body. The method includes obtaining concentration profile by determining final concentration of at least one species in first material and in second material, and determining a transient concentration of at least one species between first material and second material. The method includes determining an operating temperature by correlating concentration profile to corresponding operating temperature for system. A system including body is also provided. Body includes at least one species, a first material having a starting first concentration of the species, a second material arranged to permit migration of the species from first material to second material. Species migrates from first material to second material during operation of turbo machinery allowing body to estimate temperature during operation.
US08974178B2	Fuel system centrifugal boost pump volute A disclosed centrifugal boost pump volute includes normal to flow cross sectional surfaces distributed over the length of the passage. The volute includes a volute proper, an exit bend and a diffuser fluidly interconnecting the volute proper to the exit bend. The cross sectional surfaces are defined as dimensions set out in one set of data, which includes Tables N-1 and N-2 for the volute proper and Table N-3 for the volute exit bend, where N is the same value.
US08974176B2	Compressor and method of assembling the same Provided is a compressor that is capable of, with a simple configuration, facilitating the insertion operation of a compressor bundle by reliably preventing tilting thereof during insertion into a chamber; and that also makes it possible to reduce a roller size without increasing the contact pressure of rollers for sliding the compressor bundle. A small tilt sensor that detects a relative angle difference θ of the compressor bundle with respect to the bundle casing is provided at at least one location in the compressor bundle to be inserted into the chamber inside the bundle casing. In addition, the weight of the compressor bundle during the insertion into the chamber is supported by rollers provided at a bottom portion near the front end of the compressor bundle by making the rollers come in contact with an inner circumferential wall surface of the chamber.
US08974174B2	Axial flow gas turbine An axial flow gas turbine (35) has a rotor with alternating rows of air-cooled blades (40) and rotor heat shields, and a stator with alternating rows of air-cooled vanes (41) and stator heat shields (47) mounted on inner rings (46A) reduction in cooling air mass flow and an improved cooling and effective thermal protection of critical parts within the turbine stages of the turbine is achieved by adapting the stator heat shields (47) and outer vane platforms (38) within a turbine stage (TS) to one another such that air (37) leaking through the joints between the outer vane platforms (38) and the adjacent stator heat shields (47) into the hot gas path (42) is directed onto the blade crown (32) of the blades (40).
US08974168B2	Multi-tier automatic warehouse An automated storage/retrieval system has two pairs of multi-tier racks that are arranged in series. An elevator is disposed between the two pairs of multi-tier racks. The elevator enables a load to be delivered to and received from the two pairs of multi-tier racks. The automated storage/retrieval system having such a tandem structure not only can provide the same storage capacity as that of a conventional configuration in which two pairs of multi-tier racks are arranged in parallel, but also can be applied to a building with a limited height since the system does not need to have an extended height. Since only one elevator is needed, the number of units is less than that of a conventional system, reducing manufacturing cost and an installation space for the system.
US08974159B1	Vehicle load securing apparatus A vehicle load securing apparatus comprising a frame including opposite side walls and an end wall extending between the side walls, with the frame having open sides positioned in opposition to each other. A spool is rotatably mounted on the frame and includes a rotating shaft, and a length of an elongate member at least partially wrapped about the spool with a hook mounted thereon. A ratcheting structure may control rotation of the spool with engaged position in which the ratcheting structure resists rotation of the spool in an unwind direction and a disengaged position in which the ratcheting structure permits rotation of the spool in the unwind direction. The shaft may have a first end portion extending through one of the side walls of the frame, and a section of the first end portion having a substantially hexagonal cross-sectional shape for engagement by a tool.
US08974158B1	Laced strapping system for securing loads in open vehicle beds Some embodiments include a novel laced strapping system that provides a plurality of attachment points by which a tie-down lace can adjust the fit of a cargo mesh webbing to secure loads of items in an open bed of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle is a pick-up truck with a cargo bed. In some embodiments, the mesh webbing comprises a first truck bed mesh, a second truck bed mesh, and the plurality of attachment points. In some embodiments, tie-down lace interconnects the attachment points to secure together the first mesh and the second mesh.
US08974157B2	Trunk, cargo area, and truck bed storage press An adjustable cargo storage press for organizing and securing cargo items stored in a cargo storage area of an automobile. The adjustable cargo storage press is disposed within or integrated with a cargo area of an automotive vehicle such as a trunk, bed or bed liner of a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. The press prevents movement of cargo items and potential damage to the cargo items during transport. The press also maintains the position of the cargo items for easy removal from the cargo storage area. The press includes one or more hinged walls that lock in a vertical position and move towards each other along guide tracks. The one or more hinged walls compress the cargo items between the hinged walls, and fold flat when not in use so as not to limit cargo storage capacity of the cargo storage area.
US08974156B2	Cutting insert A cutting insert with a substantially triangular or square basic form is particularly suited for face milling at high feed rates. It has convex cutting edges, which are each made up of a circular arc and at least one straight portion. Each cutting edge has, adjoining a cutting corner, a straight face cutting edge that merges with a main cutting edge, having 1 to 3 straight portions, a circular portion with a radius of at most 80% of the radius Ri of the inscribed circle. The cutting edges have an all-round cutting edge chamfer with a chamfer angle α. This chamfer angle α has along the cutting corners a value in the range from −10° to −20° and changes continuously along sub-portions of the face cutting edge and main cutting edge and along the circular portion to a constant value in the range from 0° to −10°.
US08974154B2	Cutting insert and shim for milling cutters A cutting tool includes a polygonal cutter body and an end cutting insert for chipforming machining mounted in a serrated seat disposed at an axial end of the cutter body. A bottom surface of the insert has a plurality of parallel serrations meshing with corresponding serrations of the seat. The serrations extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis for resisting axially rearward cutting forces applied to the insert. The seat is formed directly by the cutter body, or by a shim disposed beneath the insert. The shim is provided with a downward lip to transfer axial forces to the cutter body. The insert can be square or triangular, wherein the serrations are in the form of a plurality of sets of parallel serrations disposed adjacent respective cutting edges.
US08974153B2	Tamping device with synchronizing device and method for same A tamping device for soil compaction having an upper mass with a drive and a lower mass that can be moved relative to the upper mass with a soil contacting element. In order to cause a working movement of the soil contacting element, a vibration generating device is provided. In addition to the vibration generating device, a manipulating device, for example in the form of a damping body, is provided in an operatively connected manner between the upper mass and the lower mass. The damping properties of the damping body can be modifiable.
US08974152B2	Polymer grouting method for constructing vertical supporting system A polymer grouting method for constructing a vertical supporting system, includes following steps of: (1) structuring an integrated polymer water-blocking panel; (2) constructing a polymer coping of a polymer vertical supporting system; (3) constructing polymer anchors on the integrated polymer water-blocking panel; (4) processing constructing connection of the polymer anchors; and (5) excavating vertically by layer in turn, wherein step (3) and step (4) is repeated until a construction of the polymer vertical supporting system reaches a projected depth, and then the construction of the polymer vertical supporting system is completed. The polymer vertical supporting system constructed according to the present invention has advantages, such as convenience, lightness, high tenacity, economy, and lasting long. The slots of foundation pits, side slopes, municipal pipelines, etc. can be excavated vertically fast by adopting the present invention.
US08974150B2	Micropile foundation matrix The disclosure describes, in part, apparatuses and methods for installing structures (e.g., foundations, footings, anchors, abutments, etc.) at work sites, such as difficult-access work sites. In some instances, a rotating drill assembly is assembled over a target location in order to excavate a radial array of batter-angled shafts associated with the target location in preparation for the installation of a radial array of micropiles. An operator utilizes the rotating drill in combination with a foundation pile schedule/decision matrix to design and install the radial array of batter-angled micropiles. This disclosure also describes techniques for designing, fabricating and installing structural caps to be coupled to the installed radial array batter angled micropiles. These structural caps are lightweight and, thus, more portable to difficult-access sites where they are coupled to the micropiles forming a foundation for structure to be installed at the difficult-access site.
US08974143B2	Offshore atoll system and related methods of use An offshore atoll system includes a continuous barrier positioned at a sea surface and configured to reduce a magnitude of incoming waves on at least one side of the continuous barrier.
US08974136B2	Connection arrangement and crossmember A connection arrangement for connecting two tube pieces of a crossmember for a vehicle has a first attachment element made of a first material, wherein the first attachment element is provided for a solid material-bonded connection to at least a first tube piece which comprises the first material. Furthermore, the first attachment element has a second attachment element which is fastened to the first attachment element, wherein the second attachment element consists essentially of a second material differing from the first material, wherein the second attachment element is provided for a solid material-bonded connection to a second tube piece which comprises the second material. Furthermore, a crossmember has such a connection arrangement.
US08974135B2	Fabric preform insert for a composite tank Y-joint A method and apparatus for forming a joint. A composite insert may be placed into a joint region for a first structure. The composite insert may comprise a structure having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion all extending from a junction; and a resin impregnated into the structure to form the composite insert. The second structure may be laid up. The composite insert may be bonded to the first structure and the second structure.
US08974132B2	Tape cartridge with platen protruding into head insertion opening A tape cartridge 11 includes a platen roller 15, when the tape cartridge 11 is mounted on a tape printer 1, a print head 22 of the tape printer 1 contacting the platen roller 15 with a print tape T and an ink ribbon R arranged therebetween such that the print head 22 can be separated from the platen roller 15; a cartridge case 16 that houses the print tape T, the ink ribbon R, and the platen roller 15; and an insertion opening 17 formed in the cartridge case 16, the print head 22 being inserted into the insertion opening 17. A contact portion 10 of the platen roller 15 that is brought into contact with the print head 22 protrudes relative to a head receiver 72 of the insertion opening 17 to which the print head 22 is exposed.
US08974129B2	Barrier device, lens barrel, and imaging apparatus including same There is provided a barrier device including a main barrier blade and a sub barrier blade. In the operation range of the main barrier blade and the sub barrier blade, a portion of the contacting surface provided on the sub barrier blade that contacts on the main barrier blade is located within the operation range of the contacting surface provided on the main barrier blade that contacts on the sub barrier blade.
US08974127B2	Optical connector connected between electronic device and optical fiber An optical connector includes a substrate, a photoelectric element, and a base. The substrate includes a bearing surface. The photoelectric element includes a base, at least one light emitter, and at least one light receiver. The base is positioned on the bearing surface and includes an installing surface substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface. The light emitters and the light receivers are positioned on the installing surface. The optical element includes at least two first lenses and at least two second lenses aligned with the first lenses. The light emitters and the light receivers are aligned with the first lenses.
US08974119B2	Asymmetric split bearing with geometrically contoured work surface An asymmetric split bearing with a geometrically contoured work surface is provided that has an upper segment and lower segment and a plurality of spaced, recesses in the sidewall of the bearing segment, which are joined together by means of bearing surfaces or lands. The asymmetric split bearing allows for a greater range of applications, such as reciprocating engine crankshafts, which require split bearings for support. The number of bearing surfaces on each segment can be optimized for load conditions and to minimize friction. The bearing utilizes powdered metal manufacturing and is self-cleaning.
US08974115B2	Temperature measurement system and method In one or more implementations, a temperature measuring system is provided, including a temperature sensing probe having (a) a thermistor operatively connected to a first conductor and (b) a resistor operatively connected to a second conductor, and a temperature determination application stored in a memory of a computing device operatively connected to the temperature sensing probe. When executed by a processor of the computing device, the temperature determination application configures the computing device to: transmit a first instance of a signal to the first conductor, receive a temperature signal from the thermistor, the temperature signal corresponding to the first instance of the signal as output from the thermistor, transmit a second instance of the signal to the second conductor, receive a reference signal from the resistor, the reference signal corresponding to the second instance of the signal as output from the resistor, process the temperature signal and the reference signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal, and compute a temperature based on the relationship.
US08974113B1	Wearable assembly A wristwatch is disclosed as including a casing 12 having a first layer 14, a second layer 16 and a base member 18. The first and second layers are spaced apart from each other and are substantially transparent. The base member is spaced apart from the second layer and comprises a dial or a watch movement. At least one movable member 22 is movable relative to the first and second layers between a first position in which an end 24 of the movable member contacts the first layer, and a second position in which the end of the movable member is out of contact with the first layer. At least part of the movable member remains within a recess or a hole 20 of the second layer during movement of the movable member between the first and second positions, so that detachment of the movable member from the second layer is prevented.
US08974111B2	Method and apparatus for continuous liquid stream blending A method and apparatus for combining and mixing together a plurality of liquids to form a blend. The invention discloses reservoir supplied intermittently operated servo driven pumps, and optionally discrete liquid flow meters, and precise, encoded, fast-acting flow shut-off devices to create and define repeated time synchronized ratio defined doses of the liquids. One or more liquids, designated secondary streams, are synchronously dosed into a secondary streams injection assembly which is located generally at the suction port of the primary liquid stream dosing pump. The primary stream pump, during its synchronized intermittent operation, withdraws ratio defined primary stream and secondary stream liquids from the injection assembly. The primary stream pump serves also to propel the combined liquids ratio dosed streams into and through mixing structure on the discharge of the primary stream pump. The mixed streams are then received by a final blend tank of desired capacity where blended liquids are available for use on a continuous stream or continuous flow basis, at any flow rate up to a defined maximum. The entire blender apparatus may be started at will and stopped at the completion of any given time synchronized streams ratio dose cycle.
US08974105B2	Edge illumination of an ion-exchanged glass sheet A planar ion-exchanged glass sheet for out-of-plane light beam coupling includes a first surface, a ion-exchanged first glass region adjacent and parallel to the first surface, a core glass region adjacent and parallel to the first glass region, a ion-exchanged second glass region adjacent and parallel to the core glass region, and a second surface adjacent and parallel to the second glass region. One edge of the glass sheet has an angled end face that is inclined to the plane extends across a thickness of at least one of the glass regions. Methods of making the planar ion-exchanged glass sheet, coupling an out-of-plane light beam into a plane using the planar ion-exchanged glass sheet, and scattering the coupled light to illuminate at least select regions of an exposed surface of the glass sheet are also disclosed.
US08974104B2	Backlight module A backlight module includes a light guide plate, at least one light source, and a light-reflecting plate. The light guide plate includes a light-emitting surface, a bottom surface, a light-incident surface, and a guiding tilt surface. One end of guiding tilt surface and light-emitting surface are intersected at a first boundary, and the other end connects to a top edge of light-incident surface. The guiding tilt surface extends toward a direction of protruding the light-emitting surface. The horizontal distance between the first boundary and light-incident surface is L. The light-reflecting plate is disposed under the bottom surface. When the horizontal distance d between light-incident surface and an end of light-reflecting plate near light-incident surface is less than L, the horizontal distance between a vertical projection of the end on light-emitting surface and first boundary is not more than 0.5 mm. When d is more than L, x is at least 0.5 mm.
US08974101B2	Vehicular lamp A vehicular lamp including a lens member between a light-emitting element (22) and a light guiding plate (26) in which emitted light from the light-emitting element (22) is incident on the rear end surface (26a) and then emitted from the front end surface (26b) to the front of the lamp. The lens member (28) allows a part of the emitted light, which travels in a direction close to an optical axis (Ax), to reach the light guiding plate (26) as diffusing light that diffuses in a horizontal plane and further allows the emitted light to reach the light guiding plate (26) as parallel light along the optical axis (Ax) in a vertical plane.
US08974100B2	LED lighting unit for vehicle A lighting unit for a motorcycle for efficiently cooling heat generated from an LED apparatus. An LED lighting unit includes two plate-like members on which LED apparatus are mounted as light sources. Reflectors are disposed so as to cover the LED apparatus and configured to reflect irradiation light from the LED apparatus forwardly of the vehicle body. The two plate-like members are disposed in an opposing relationship to each other with a space provided therebetween such that mounting faces of the LED apparatus are directed to the outer sides. Cooling fins are provided on the two plate-like members in such a manner so as to extend in an opposing relationship to each other toward the space. The cooling fins are disposed such that a longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the two plate-like members. The plate-like members and the reflectors are formed separately from each other.
US08974099B2	Vehicle headlight A vehicle headlight having a plurality of semiconductor emitters for the alternative production of a low-beam light distribution and a daytime driving light distribution is provided. For producing the low-beam light distribution, a low-beam light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. For producing the daytime driving light distribution, a daytime driving light luminous surface is generated by the vehicle headlight. The low-beam light luminous surface and the daytime driving light luminous surface are essentially identical.
US08974096B2	Inclination sensor device and vehicle lamp system using the same There is provided an inclination sensor device. The inclination sensor device includes: a substrate which mounts an inclination sensor configured to calculate an inclination angle of a vehicle; a case which accommodates the substrate; a first positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a first direction that is substantially parallel to a first main surface of the substrate; and a second positioning mechanism which positions the substrate relative to the case in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the substrate.
US08974094B2	Device and method for coupling a light source to a printed circuit board in lamps A lamp includes a collar with internal and outer surfaces, where two or more connection pins extend from the internal surface of the collar. At least two connection pins have a head portion distal from the collar internal surface. The head portions include a slot. The lamp includes a light source with at least two external lead-in wires. The lead-in wires are located within respective slots and are mechanically coupled to respective surfaces of the slots in a press-fit manner which may be free of wrapping, winding, twisting, or soldering. A PCB disposed inside the lamp has two opposing surfaces and a rim between the two opposing surfaces. There are conductive surfaces disposed on at least one of the rim and one of the opposing surfaces at positions corresponding to connection pin slots. The PCB is located between connection pins with the conductive surfaces in electrical communication with the lead-in wires.
US08974093B2	Light casing with movable part A light casing has a semi-circular fixed case, a semi-circular movable case, and two lateral fastening members. Each of the lateral fastening members has a first surface, a second surface, and an orifice disposed near the center of the lateral fastening member. A semi-circular positioning slot is disposed on the periphery of the orifice on the second surface, and a nearly circular sliding slot is disposed on the periphery of the positioning slot on the second surface. The ends of the fixed case are disposed in the positioning slots, and at least one light is disposed on the fixed case. The ends of the movable case are disposed in the sliding slots. When the fixed case overlaps the movable case, the light is uncovered. When the fixed case and the movable case form a covered space, the light is covered.
US08974089B2	Light emitting device, illumination device, and vehicle headlamp An illumination device 1 which is a light emitting device capable of emitting white light, includes: a laser element 2 for emitting a blue laser beam; a light emitting section 4 for generating fluorescence by be being irradiated with the blue laser beam emitted from the laser element 2; and a parabolic mirror 5 for reflecting the fluorescence generated from the light emitting section 4, the parabolic mirror 5 being disposed on an irradiated surface side which irradiated surface is a surface of the light emitting section 4 which surface is irradiated with the blue laser beam. This allows the illumination device 1 to efficiently project the white illumination light.
US08974088B2	Light-emitting apparatus capable of moving between retracted position and light-emitting position, image pickup apparatus having the light-emitting apparatus A light-emitting apparatus which is capable of, even when an environmental temperature changes, stably reducing collision noise, vibration noise, and so on generated when the light-emitting apparatus moves from a retracted position to a light-emitting position. A movable portion has a first stopper portion coming into abutment with a first elastic member when the movable portion moves from the retracted position to the light-emitting position, and a second stopper portion coming into abutment with a second elastic member with a higher elastic coefficient than the first elastic member when the movable portion moves from the retracted position to the light-emitting position. When the movable portion moves from the retracted position to the light-emitting position, the first stopper portion comes into abutment with the first elastic member, deforming the first elastic member by a predetermined amount, and then the second stopper portion comes into abutment with the second elastic member.
US08974087B2	Luminous device and method for operating a luminous device A luminous device with a semiconductor light source and a light-transmissive converter element including a wavelength-converting phosphor sensitive to the light emitted by the semiconductor light source is disclosed. The semiconductor light source can be at least partly covered by the converter element and the converter element is movable such that the proportion of light which is wavelength-converted by the converter element is adjustable depending on the position of the converter element.
US08974085B2	Lighting unit The invention describes a lighting unit (1), comprising a plurality of lighting modules (10) and a number of connecting elements (2) with coupling means (21, 22), wherein each lighting element (10) comprises at least one planar light-emitting element (11) in an enclosure (12) and a number of counter-coupling means (J1, J2) arranged along at least one edge of the enclosure (12); and wherein neighboring lighting modules (10) are coupled together detachably by means of at least one connecting element (2) such that the light-emitting element (11) of a first lighting module (10) is electrically connected to the light-emitting element (11) of a second lighting module (10) by an interaction of at least part of the coupling means (21, 22) of the connecting element (2) and at least part of the counter-coupling means (J1, J2) of the corresponding lighting modules (10). The invention also describes a connecting element (2) and a lighting module (10) for assembling such a lighting unit (1).
US08974083B2	Low-cost multi functional heatsink for LED arrays A lighting device having a cell structure (101) of polygonal cells (105), which is a heat sink, and light sources (103) arranged to be cooled by the cell structure. The light sources are arranged in at least some of the cells, one light source in each cell. The light sources are attached to the cell structure and electrically connected with the cell structure, which in turn is arranged to provide the light sources with power.
US08974082B2	Illumination device An illumination device includes a point light source disposed on a base substrate, a package in which the point light source is sealed with a wavelength converter for converting a wavelength of light from the point light source, an optical member for controlling light from the package, a housing with an attachment face for holding the optical member and a bonding part for holding the package, and a circuit board on which the package is mounted. A space is provided between the wavelength converter and the optical member. The bonding part of the housing is directly positioned and fixed to a reference face of the package. This makes the heat generated from the LED chip released via the housing. Accordingly, a heat quantity transferred to the lens can be reduced.
US08974071B2	Lighted accessory for planter A lighted accessory for a planter includes a flexible split ring that has first and second adjustably spaceable ends that define a ring of variable diameter. The flexible split ring has a curved cross-sectional shape and is fittable on an upper edge of a planter. A light source is mounted on the annular ring providing illumination of the planter. The lighted accessory is fittable on a range of sizes of planters.
US08974065B2	Optical body, wall member, fitting, solar shading device, and building An optical body includes a substrate having a concave-convex surface, a reflecting layer formed on the concave-convex surface, and an optical layer formed on the reflecting layer to embed the concave-convex surface, wherein the reflecting layer directionally reflects light, the concave-convex surface is made up of a plurality of triangular pillars arrayed in a one-dimensional pattern, and the triangular pillar has an apex angle α and a slope angle β, the apex angle α and the slope angle β satisfying a formula (1) or (2) given below: 30≦β≦4.5α−285(70≦α≦80) (1) 30≦β≦−1.5α+195(80≦α≦100) (2).
US08974060B2	Lighting device for fundus cameras The present invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light concentrator device operatively associated with a light source comprising a plurality of LED devices. The light concentrator device is composed of a solid transparent body comprising: a first surface (51), at which a light input section (5) is defined to receive the light radiation emitted by the light source; and—a second surface (61), at which a light output section (6) is defined to transmit a light beam having a ring shape; and a plurality of protrusions (7) that protrude from said first surface, at said light input section, said protrusions acting as collimation lenses of the light radiation coming from said light source; and—a plurality of reflection surfaces (8, 9) of the light radiation received from said light input section, said protrusions and said reflection surfaces being mutually positioned so as to convey the light radiation coming from said light source along a predefined path, which extends internally to said transparent body, between said light input section and said light output section.
US08974057B2	Stabilization of contact lenses Contact lens designs are provided with improved stabilization wherein the moments of momentum are balanced.
US08974054B2	Contact lens A silicone contact lens has a radial cross-section of the inner face, the rim portion contour of which is convex between a point of inflection and the outer edge. For its manufacture, a silicone precursor is brought between a female and a male mold and is polymerized, and the polymerized contact lens is released from the mold by means of a liquid swelling same.
US08974051B2	Systems and methods for facilitating magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) image forming using digital offset lithographic printing techniques A system and method are provided for producing Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters on image receiving medium substrates using a variable digital data offset lithographic architecture which provides for varying lithographic images between cycles of a marking device. MICR inks are provided with a solid particle magnetizable pigment components in a proportion of at least 20% by weight suspended in solution in the ink composition. MICR inks are provided with a solid particle magnetizable pigment components having particle sizes in excess of one micron suspended in solution in the ink composition. The disclosed systems and methods provide for MICR characters to be formed on an image receiving medium substrate over background images applied using other inks in a single device, and/or in a single pass of the image receiving medium substrate through the device.
US08974050B2	Method of printing on a film substrate A method for printing images on a substrate with an ink jet printer includes providing a liquid ink composition. The liquid ink composition includes an organic solvent, a binder, and a colorant. Droplets of the ink jet ink composition are directed to a plastic film substrate. The droplets are allowed to dry, thereby printing a durable graphic image on the substrate.
US08974049B2	Fixer composition A fixer composition is disclosed herein. An example of the fixer composition includes from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of a co-solvent, from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of a calcium salt, from about 0.01 wt % to about 0.6 wt % of a sulfonated chelating agent, and a balance of water.
US08974045B2	Phase-change ink jetting Among other things, ink is jetted onto a substrate, the ink includes (a) a pigment and (b) a wax, and the jetted ink on the substrate is heated to fire the pigment on the substrate.
US08974041B2	Droplet selection mechanism A method and droplet selection device are provided for a continuous printer for selectively deflecting a droplet from a predetermined printing trajectory. In particular, a droplet selection device is provided for a continuous printer, comprising a droplet ejection system arranged to generate a continuous stream of droplets from a first fluid jetted out of an outlet channel; and a jet system arranged to generate a second jet for colliding the jet into the stream of droplets. The jet system comprises a deflector to selectively deflect the second jet into the continuous stream of droplets, so as to selectively deflect the droplets from a predefined printing trajectory.
US08974036B2	Ink discharge apparatus There is provided an ink discharge apparatus including a discharge head provided with a nozzle surface having a first nozzle which is formed in the nozzle surface and via which a liquid droplet of a first ink is discharged and a second nozzle which is formed in the nozzle surface and via which a liquid droplet of a second ink, having a color deeper than a color of the first ink, is discharged; a maintenance device which performs maintenance of the discharge head; and an apparatus body in which the maintenance device is arranged. The maintenance device includes a suction cap which is arranged with respect to the apparatus body, with a predetermined clearance, so the suction cap is rockable three-dimensionally; and an urging mechanism which urges a corner portion of the suction cap in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface.
US08974034B2	Ink-jet recording apparatus and method of detecting inclination of nozzle row of ink-jet head An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a head having nozzles arranged in at least one row along an arrangement direction; a conveyor mechanism; and a controller including a pattern forming portion to form a pattern for detecting inclination of the at least one nozzle row with respect to the nozzle arrangement direction, the pattern including (A) a first inclination detect pattern including parallel two lines formed by ejection respectively from: a first nozzle group located at a first section of one of the at least one nozzle low and a second nozzle group located at a second section different from the first section, when the head moves in one direction in a scanning direction, and (B) a second inclination detect pattern including parallel two lines formed by ejection respectively from: the first nozzle group; and the second nozzle group, when the head moves in another direction opposite to the one direction.
US08974033B2	Printing control apparatus and printing control method A printing control apparatus configured to execute printing using continuous sheets stored in a plurality of storage portions includes a determination unit configured to determine a continuous sheet usable by each print job in a print queue, and a decision unit configured to decide a use order of the continuous sheets stored in the plurality of storage portions based on a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein the decision unit decides the use order so that a continuous sheet with a smaller remaining amount is used preferentially.
US08974032B2	Image processing method, image processing device, recording medium and image formation device An image processing method includes: forming a density unevenness measurement test image based on image data subjected to unevenness correction processing to correct density unevenness, using a preset unevenness correction value; acquiring a pre-conversion density measurement value that is a density measurement value of each density setting value for every recording element in the density unevenness measurement test image before processing after image formation using a recording head; converting the pre-conversion density measurement value into a post-conversion density measurement value corresponding to a density measurement value after the processing, using a density measurement value conversion value derived beforehand and indicating a conversion relationship of density measurement values before and after the processing for every density setting value and to which the set unevenness correction value is applied as the density setting value; and deriving a new unevenness correction value using the post-conversion density measurement value.
US08974029B2	Ink-jet recording apparatus and printing control method An ink jet recording apparatus and printing control method are provided in which when a moving speed of a printing object is changed, a difference in writing start position is reduced and printing quality is improved. The apparatus includes an ink container, a nozzle connected to the container for ejecting ink, a charging electrode to charge the ejected ink, a deflecting electrode to deflect the charged ink, a gutter to collect ink not used for printing, a writing start timing control circuit to generate a first line clock signal, a printing width control circuit to generate a second line clock signal, and a control part. The control part controls print start timing based on the first clock signal, and when the printing object reaches the printing start timing, the control part performs a width adjustment of a character string of printing content based on the second clock signal.
US08974028B2	Method of forming ink ejection adjustment pattern, ink ejection adjustment method for inkjet head and inkjet printer An ejection adjustment pattern forming method of forming an ejection adjustment pattern on a print medium with an inkjet head, which has a plurality of nozzles, with moving the inkjet head in a predetermined scanning direction. The method forms a plurality of thickness measurement patterns respectively on a plurality of pattern forming areas defined on the print medium by causing the plurality of nozzles of the inkjet head to eject ink drops, and forms a plurality of judging patterns respectively on the plurality of pattern forming areas. The ejection conditions of the plurality of nozzles, when the plurality of thickness measurement patterns are formed, are the same among the plurality of pattern forming areas. Further, the ejection conditions of the plurality of nozzles when the first judging pattern is formed and when the second judging pattern is formed are the same among the plurality of pattern forming areas.
US08974024B2	Liquid discharge apparatus A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge section, a charge supply source, first and second signal paths, and a connection path selection section. The connection path selection section uses the first or second signal path to electrically connect a piezoelectric element and the charge supply source. The charge supply source include a number n (where n is a plurality) of capacitive elements, and a switching section configured and arranged to switch between a series state where the n capacitive elements are electrically connected in series and a parallel state where the n capacitive elements are electrically connected in parallel. In the series state, a given first point out of connection points between the n capacitive elements is connected to the first signal path, and a second point higher than the first point out of the connection points of the n capacitive elements is connected to the second signal path.
US08974023B2	Method and device for controlling inkjet printing position This application discloses a method for controlling jet printing positions, including: detecting a color code of an inputted paper by a color code sensor, and outputting a pulse signal when the color code is detected; configuring an expectation window where the pulse signal is expected to be generated; initiating jet printing after a predetermined delay period when the pulse signal is detected in the expectation window; and initiating jet printing after correction when no pulse signal is detected in the expectation window or the pulse signal is detected outside the expectation window. The method may improve the quality of jet printing.
US08974022B2	Inkjet printer and image recording method In an inkjet printer, an ejecting part for K color is previously selected as an ejecting part for outputting three values used for formation of a large dot, formation of a medium dot, and non-ejection (step S12). In the course of image recording (steps S13, S14, and S15), three values are output regarding K color, and four values used for formation of a large dot, formation of a medium dot, formation of a small dot, and non-ejection are output regarding C, M, and Y colors. Thus, even if the quality of a dot in K color is reduced at the time of outputting four values, a high-quality dot can be formed regarding K color, so that the quality of a recorded image can be improved in a case where line drawing or a character or the like is recorded.
US08974021B2	Printing apparatus and processing method thereof A printing apparatus comprising, a printhead including an element array in which a plurality of printing elements are arrayed, scanning unit configured to reciprocally scan the printhead, driving unit configured to time-divisionally drive the printing elements, conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium, and setting unit configured to set a driving order, wherein the conveyance unit performs a first conveyance operation of conveying the printing medium by a conveyance amount which is an integer multiple of a width of the group of the time-divisional driving, and a second conveyance operation of conveying the printing medium by a conveyance amount which is not an integer multiple of the width of the group, and the setting unit sets the driving order in the time-divisional driving for each scan based on the conveyance amount by the conveyance unit.
US08974017B2	Ink-jet printer for printing on cards An ink-jet printer includes a printing station for ink-jet printing on a thermoplastic card includes a printhead coupled to a reservoir containing an ink comprising: a medium of a low-boiling organic solvent, an auxiliary solvent of a high-boiling organic solvent, and a coloring component soluble in the medium. A support carriage supports the card and is drivable between a first position in which the carriage does not face the printhead and a second position in which the carriage faces the printhead. A driving motor moves the carriage between the first and second positions along a guide member interposed between the printhead and a reference member to prevent ink ejected by the printhead from reaching the reference member. A detection device mounted on the carriage detects the reference member and generates a signal used by a control unit to regulate the driving motor.
US08974009B2	Methods and apparatus for releasably supporting a vehicle wheel assembly An axle for removably retaining a wheel on a vehicle. The axle comprises a rotary-type connector at a first end thereof; a cam assembly operatively connected to the second end, the cam assembly including a cam having an axis of rotation; a lever operatively connected to a second end of the axle, said lever being rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam, between an open position in which the axle is removable from and mountable on the vehicle and a closed position in which the axle is retained on the vehicle; and a cam assembly operatively connected to the second end; and a lever stop ensuring that an angle of maximum rotation for the lever from the closed position is less than 180 degrees.
US08974007B2	Wheel for vehicle A wheel for a vehicle includes a hub, a rim, a plurality of spokes, and a disk member. The hub includes a flange portion, a plurality of spoke pedestals, and a plurality of disk member attaching portions. The flange portion outwardly spreads in a radial direction of the hub and is provided on one end portion of the hub in an axial direction of the hub. The spoke pedestals are provided at substantially regular intervals on an inner side of the flange portion and inwardly projects from the flange portion in the radial direction. The disk member attaching portions are provided at substantially regular intervals on an outer periphery of the flange portion and outwardly projects from the flange portion in the radial direction. The disk member attaching portions are provided between the spoke pedestals in a circumferential direction of the flange portion.
US08974006B2	Self-propelled civil engineering machine and in particular a road-milling machine, road recycler or road stabilizer The invention relates to a self-propelled civil engineering machine, in particular a road-milling machine, a road recycler, or a road stabilizer, having a frame carried by a set of running gear, a working unit for performing work required for the civil engineering operation, and in particular a working drum, and a drive unit carried by the frame of the machine, to drive the working drum. A power transmitter is used to transmit the driving power from the drive unit to the working unit. The drive unit of the self-propelled civil engineering machine has a first and a second drive engine, the power transmitter being so designed that the driving powers coming from the first and the second drive engines can be transmitted to the working unit together. With the design of drive according to the invention, a particularly space-saving construction is obtained for the drive and this allows the power of the drive unit to be increased without having to exceed the present width for transport of the self-propelled civil engineering machine.
US08974005B2	Child restraint harness having a chest clip device A child restraint harness includes first and second shoulder straps, a first chest clip connector held with the first shoulder strap and having an engaging part, and a second chest clip connector held with the second shoulder strap and having a catch structure. The engaging part is operable to engage and lock with the catch structure selectively at a first position to hold the first and second shoulder straps apart from each other at a first distance, and at a second position to hold the first and second shoulder straps apart from each other at a second distance greater than the first distance.
US08974001B2	Motor vehicle seat and method for transferring a seatback from the use position to a stowed position The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat, in particular to a rear seat for rear rows of seats of motor vehicles. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for shifting a first and second component relative to a base part.
US08973995B2	Device for synchronizing the tilt of a chair back and seat Device for synchronizing the tilt of a chair back and seat, of the type comprising a frame of the chair back (5), a frame of the seat (2) and a support (1) integral with the base of the chair, as well as at least one first crank (3), integral with the afore said frame of the chair back (5), and hinged (6, 7) at the rear to the frame of the seat (2) and to the support (1), and at least one second crank (4), hinged (8, 9) at the front to the frame of the seat (2) and to the support (1). The afore said first crank (3) and the second crank (4), with the frame of the seat (2), determine a articulated quadrilateral, wherein such a first crank (3) and such a second crank (4) lie substantially on skew lines.
US08973993B2	Configurable cushion set for a seat A cushion set for use with a seat having a seat back with an upper portion and a lower portion includes an upper back cushion and a lower back cushion each having a forward surface and an opposing aft surface, each forward surface including at least one back cushion forward attachment device, and each aft surface including at least one back cushion aft attachment device; and an inflatable lumbar support having an aft surface that includes at least one lumbar support attachment device. The aft surface of the upper back cushion is attachable to the upper portion of the seat back, via the at least one back cushion aft attachment device of the upper back cushion. The aft surface of the lower back cushion is attachable to the lower portion of the seat back, via the at least one back cushion aft attachment device of the lower back cushion.
US08973990B2	Chair assembly A chair component that includes a first chair member that includes a forwardly facing front surface and a rearwardly facing rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness; a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.
US08973988B2	Vehicle seat In a vehicle seat that has a seat back and a headrest attached to an upper portion of the seat back, the seat back has an upper frame member that extends in the width direction at an upper portion. The upper frame member and the headrest are structured such that a second distance is greater than a first distance. The first distance is a horizontal distance, between a front surface first portion of the headrest and a head of a head restraint measuring device (HRMD) that is attached to an H-point device seated in the seat, that has been measured by the head restraint measuring device. The second distance is a horizontal distance between the front surface first portion of the headrest and a front surface of the upper frame member that is positioned to the rear of the front surface first portion.
US08973987B2	Child safety seat A child safety seat includes a seat base having shell body, and a support leg connected with the shell body. The support leg includes a tubular segment, a support portion, a fastener connected with the tubular segment and the support portion, and a cushioning structure disposed adjacent to the fastener, wherein the cushioning structure is configured to block displacement of the fastener so that the support portion is locked in position relative to the tubular segment, and to deform or break as a result of a displacement of the fastener into the cushioning structure when a substantial force is applied that forces the tubular segment to move relative to the support portion.
US08973983B2	Underbody guard for motor vehicles An underbody guard is mountable under an underbody of a motor vehicle for extensive covering of regions at risk including at least one of an engine, a transmission unit, an axle, a differential, a gas tank, an exhaust system, or sills. The underbody guard including a recess and a dimensionally stable shaped part configured to be inserted into the recess so as to substantially close the recess. The dimensionally stable shaped part is made from materials that do not block radio signals.
US08973982B2	Motor vehicle chassis with lateral seat-cushion support reinforcement A motor vehicle chassis includes two lateral floor supports and a seat-cushion support part positioned between two lateral raisers fixed on top of the lateral floor supports and assembled with the lateral floor supports. The chassis further includes two seat-cushion support reinforcements each assembled with a lateral floor support and with a lateral raiser, each seat-cushion support reinforcement including: a substantially horizontal plate extending the seat-cushion support part laterally, assembled with the lateral raiser along a substantially vertical mating edge of the plate, and a single support leg extending downwards from the plate, assembled with the lateral floor support, and the assembly end of which is positioned vertically below the plate, some distance from a projection onto the horizontal of the mating edge.
US08973976B2	Bulldozer A bulldozer includes a cab and an engine hood. The cab has a foremost surface, and left and right front surfaces. The engine hood has an upper surface, left and right side surfaces, and flat first, second and third inclined surfaces. The first and second inclined surfaces contact the rear side of the upper surface and rear sides of the left and right side surfaces, and are inclined more obliquely to the right rear and left rear than the left and right side surfaces, respectively. The first, second and third inclined surfaces are inclined to face downward to the rear. The third inclined surface contacts the first and second inclined surfaces, and the upper surface. A window attached to the foremost surface is arranged in a vertical direction above first and second sides closest to the foremost surface out of sides constituting the first and second inclined surfaces, respectively.
US08973975B2	Structure for front portion of vehicle body A structure for the front portion of a vehicle body includes both an under load path member and a front load transmission member. The under load path member is extended toward the rear of the vehicle body from a lower bulk member to a sub-frame. The front load transmission member is provided at a position closer to the front of the vehicle body than the under load path member and closer to the rear of the vehicle body than the front end of the bottom of the lower bulk member, and transmits to the under load path member a load which is inputted from in front of the vehicle body. A gap is formed between the front load transmission member and the under load path member.
US08973972B2	Lateral rear spoiler device for a vehicle A rear spoiler device for a vehicle, such as a utility vehicle or a trailer, includes at least one adjustable air guiding element for aerodynamically guiding air and extending the contour of the lateral region of the rear of the vehicle. The guide element is adjustable between a travel position, in which it extends rearwards in a lateral region of the rear for aerodynamically guiding air and extending the contour, and a stowed position. The air guiding element is spring pre-loaded into the extended travel position and is adjusted into the stowed position by pressing the guide element from the rear side counter against the spring pre-load.
US08973971B1	Tubular door reinforcement beam A door for selectively opening and closing at least a portion of an opening in a vehicle includes an outer door panel and an inner door panel. The inner panel is attached to the outer panel thus defining a space between the inner and outer panels. The door also includes a tubular reinforcement beam disposed in the space between the inner and outer door panels. The tubular reinforcement beam is attached to the door and has varying material thicknesses. A vehicle having a vehicle body that defines an opening and a subject door configured to selectively open and close at least a portion of the opening is also disclosed.
US08973969B1	Tonneau cover system for vehicles A tonneau cover system for a cargo area of a vehicle. The system may comprise a flexible cover mounted to a main support frame. The flexible cover may include a folded portion such that the cover is operable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. In the collapsed position, the flexible cover is substantially planar, in the expanded position, the flexible cover is able to cover loads taller than the sidewalls of the vehicle cargo area.
US08973962B2	Vehicle warning lighting system An emergency light system for an emergency vehicle. The light system can have a low profile configuration for improved aesthetics and aerodynamics. Further the light system can be configured to allow for customization of the individual emergency lights and/or easy access to the individual emergency lights.
US08973961B1	Vehicle trim panel A vehicle trim panel includes a main body and a temporary cover. The main body has a finished surface and an attachment surface with a peripheral edge that encircles the main body. The peripheral edge is defined between the finished surface and the attachment surface. The attachment surface includes a plurality of attachment projections that protrude from the attachment surface. The plurality of attachment projections are dimensioned and positioned to fixedly attach the main body to a vehicle body member. The attachment surface also includes a plurality of retention hooks protruding from the attachment surface. The temporary cover covers the finished surface and includes a plurality of holes fitted to corresponding ones of the plurality of retention hooks.
US08973960B2	Rock grasping and removal apparatus A manually deployed grasping apparatus may be utilized for retrieving objects, such as rocks, concrete chunks and other debris, from vertical excavations such as potholes, boreholes, drilled shafts, etc. Unlike backhoes and other articulated arm machinery, the disclosed grasping apparatus is manually lowered into the excavation by the user. Once the apparatus is adjacent to the object to be retrieved, the opposite facing jaw members of the apparatus are placed into an open position to receive the object. Once the object has been received by the opposite facing jaw members, the jaw members are closed to capture the object. The jaw members are then manually withdrawn from the vertical excavation to retrieve the object.
US08973958B2	Gripper having a two degree of freedom underactuated mechanical finger for encompassing and pinch grasping A mechanical gripper being adapted to automatically perform a stable pinch grasp and an encompassing grasp and a method of determining a system geometry thereof. The gripper comprising at least one mechanical finger comprising. The at least one mechanical finger comprising a first phalanx and a second phalanx that are pivotally connected. When a load is applied on a stable pinch grasp region, an actuation mechanism is adapted to allow the second phalanx to translate and allow its contact surface to maintain a constant orientation in order to automatically perform a pinch grasp, when a load is applied on the first phalanx or below the stable pinch grasp region, the actuation mechanism is adapted to allow the second phalanx to pivot and automatically perform an encompassing grasp.
US08973957B2	Bumper energy absorber with sensor and configured lobes A vehicle bumper system comprises a bumper reinforcement beam and an energy absorber with top and bottom rows of similarly-shaped spaced-apart crush lobes in alternating relation for uniform impact resistance across the bumper system. The illustrated top row of crush lobes provides a high first force-deflection curve for high impact forces, and the bottom row of crush lobes provides a lower second force-deflection curve, for pedestrian reduced injury. An elongated sensor is positioned under shear walls of the top and bottom crush lobes, and is retained by tabs on the energy absorber. This positively retains the sensor in position on the bumper system, with few (or zero) separate fasteners, while facilitating quick assembly and reliable operation of the sensor tube.
US08973955B2	Device for forming brunnian links A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. The example device provides a means of creating items using Brunnian links of complex configurations. Moreover, the example kit provides a device that allows for the successful creation of unique linked items.
US08973954B2	Dual purpose dimple for HVAC circular ductwork Sealing HVAC ductwork along its joints to reduce air leakage is achieved by the combination of a gasket and mechanical locking mechanisms.
US08973953B2	Seal between pipe sections A pipe joint comprises a pin having a male screw-threaded portion and a box having a complementary screw-threaded portion. The threaded portions of the pin and box inter-engage along the greater part of the axial length of the threaded portions, the male thread extending to a male stop shoulder adjacent a complementary stop shoulder on the other portion. The pin further comprises a radial surface adjacent a corresponding radial surface on the complementary stop shoulder of the box, a curved sealing surface of the radial surface on the pin sealingly engaging a corresponding curved sealing surface on the corresponding radial surface on the complementary stop shoulder. Each of the curved sealing surfaces is so shaped to lie on an arc of a separate ellipse. The parameters of the ellipses are carefully chosen to maximize the strength and robustness of the seal.
US08973951B2	Adjustable vertical exhaust duct A vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure is provided. The vertical exhaust duct includes a first duct section, a second duct section slidably connected to the first duct section and extendable to a first height above the first duct section, and a third duct section slidably connected to the second duct section and extendable to a second height above the second duct section.
US08973950B2	Uncoupling element for shielding against structure-borne sound An uncoupling element shields against structure-borne sound, especially for the exhaust pipe of internal combustion engines in motor vehicles. The uncoupling element includes a bellows (2) made of metal and a ring-shaped damping element (4) made of a lightweight composite. The damping element has particle-filled hollow steel spheres inserted at least one end of the bellows between the bellows end and a continuing pipeline.
US08973948B2	Fuel tank for saddle-ride type vehicle A fuel tank for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a lower half body and an upper half body. The lower half body has a left lower flange part and a right lower flange part, the upper half body has a left upper flange part and a right upper flange part, and the fuel tank is constituted by welding the left lower flange part and the left upper flange part and welding the right lower flange part and the right upper flange part. Left and right fold parts and as folded downward are provided on the left and right upper flange parts.
US08973947B2	Protective plate mounting structure for a fuel tank A protective plate can be mounted to a fuel tank without using costly melt bonding and insert blow molding. A mounting recess is formed in the peripheral wall of a fuel tank (1) formed by blow molding, and a fixing element (3) for fixing a protective plate (2) to the fuel tank (1) can engage with the mounting recess. The mounting recess is open in two directions, that is, in the direction of mold removal in the blow molding and in the direction of the thickness of the protective plate which direction is generally perpendicular to the direction of the mold removal. The fixing element comprises a first clip (6) provided with elastic leg sections (62) fitted in the mounting recess in the direction of the mold removal, and also comprises a second clip (7) provided with elastic leg sections (72) penetrating through the protective plate and fitting in the first clip in the direction of the thickness of the protective plate. The protective plate is sandwiched between the first and second clips.
US08973944B2	System and method for attaching a steering column to a vehicle structure A steering column assembly comprises an upper column for supporting a steering wheel and a position lock bracket disposed about the upper column. The position lock bracket is configured to be fixed to the upper column when the position lock bracket occupies a locked mode. The position lock bracket is further configured to be selectively fixed to a rigid structure of the vehicle when operating in a fixed mode and to be instantaneously released from the vehicle structure when operating in a release mode.
US08973942B1	Active bolster with integrated vent An active bolster mounts at an interior trim surface of a passenger compartment in an automotive vehicle. A plastic-molded, expandable front wall deploys toward a passenger in the passenger compartment. A plastic-molded back wall is joined around a substantially sealed perimeter with the front wall to form an inflatable bladder. The back wall includes an inflator receptacle defined by a raised recess wall having an inflator aperture. An inflator with a gas outlet end and an electrical connector end is received in the inflator aperture with the gas outlet end inside the inflatable bladder. The recess wall has a predetermined thickness for substantially retaining shape during inflation of the bladder. The inflator receptacle includes a flexible seal disposed around an inner edge of the inflator aperture comprised of a flashing edge bearing against the inflator and having a thickness less than the predetermined thickness of the recess wall.
US08973941B2	Vehicle interior trim panel A vehicle interior trim panel includes a main portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The main portion includes a grip assist handle. The first side portion extends along a first side of the main portion. The second side portion extends along a second side of the main portion. The first side portion includes a hinged attachment section configured to attach to a first region of a vehicle body structure. The second side portion includes an attachment section configured to releasably attach to a second region of the A-pillar structure. The first side portion, the second side portion, the main portion and the grip assist handle are integrally formed as a single, one-piece, unitary, monolithic structure.
US08973934B1	Propulsion system An elliptical propulsion system for stroller assemblies. The elliptical propulsion system has a propulsion frame assembly, a propulsion assembly, and a propulsion wheel assembly. The propulsion frame assembly is removably mounted onto a stroller assembly. Further having elliptical motion means to cause propulsion wheel assembly to rotate and propel the stroller assembly when the propulsion frame assembly, propulsion assembly, and propulsion wheel assembly are in an extended configuration.
US08973932B2	Air spring cover with switch-based air volume An air spring for vehicle undercarriages, including an air spring cover and rolling piston. The air spring cover and rolling piston are connected by an air spring bellows. The air spring cover accommodates a first and second clamping ring for clamping the air spring bellows to fix the air spring bellows to the air spring cover. The rolling piston and air spring bellows have a common first air volume. The end of the rolling piston closest to the undercarriage accommodates a third clamping ring to seal the first air volume from the external environment. The air spring cover has a second air volume. The first air volume and the second air volume are sealed off from the external environment. The first air volume is spatially separated from the second air volume. A switch valve enables a first air path to link the second air volume to the first air volume.
US08973931B2	Wheel strut for vehicle suspension A vehicle suspension wheel strut, includes a first bushing; a wheel carrier journaled onto the first bushing; a first bracket at a first end of the first bushing; a second bracket at a second end of the first bushing; and identical damping elements positioned between the first bracket and wheel carrier at the first end of the first bushing and the second bracket and the wheel carrier at the second end of the first bushing.

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