sa Process and apparatus for making improved samosa-pastry and patisserie products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved method of making a baked pastry, particularly, a shell or wrap for a samosa from a pastry dough in a convection baking oven having a convection atmosphere, the method comprising baking the dough in the oven at a baking temperature for a baking period of time, the improvement having the convection atmosphere with a sufficiently moist atmosphere for the duration of the baking time to prevent the pastry from becoming dry. Full Article
sa Spring whip defensive mechanism having means to permit disassembly thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Aug 1987 08:00:00 EDT A knock down spring whip assembly including a hollow housing which serves as a handgrip, and also stores a spring subassembly formed of lengths of helically wound springs of sequentially increasingly larger diameter size to move between a telescoped position within the housing and an extended whipping position projecting from one end of the housing with the springs wedgingly engaging each other in an end to end arrangement. A removable closure unit is provided for plugging the other end of the housing to define a storage compartment. The closure unit includes an integral magnet for retaining the spring subassembly in the telescoped position, where the closure unit can be replaced with other types of closure units. The housing includes a tapered end and an annular constriction for providing both a wedging engagement of the projecting springs as well as a positive locking action. Weighted ball bearings can be included within one of the springs for spiral rotation therethrough to provide an additional striking force. The striking spring can be replaced by a solid rod for an increased striking force. Preferably, the tip portion at the striking end is also removable to permit the spring whip assembly to be disassembled into its component parts. Full Article
sa Spring whip defensive mechanism having means to permit disassembly thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 1991 08:00:00 EDT A knock down spring whip assembly including a hollow housing which serves as a handgrip, and also stores a spring subassembly formed of lengths of helically wound springs of sequentially increasingly larger diameter size to move between a telescoped position within the housing and an extended whipping position projecting from one end of the housing with the springs wedgingly engaging each other in an end to end arrangement. A removable closure unit is provided for plugging the other end of the housing to define a storage compartment. The closure unit includes an integral magnet for retaining the spring subassembly in the telescoped position, where the closure unit can be replaced with other types of closure units. The housing includes a tapered end and an annular constriction for providing both a wedging engagement of the projecting springs as well as a positive locking action. Weighted ball bearings can be included within one of the springs for spiral rotation therethrough to provide an additional striking force. The striking spring can be replaced by a solid rod for an increased striking force. Preferably, the tip portion at the striking end is also removable to permit the spring whip assembly to be disassembled into its component parts. Full Article
sa Apparatus and process for encapsulating capsules or other solid dosage forms within capsules By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides an apparatus and process for making softgel capsules having incorporated therein other solid dosage forms selected from the group consisting of pellets, smaller capsules, smaller tablets, sustained release solid dosage forms, immediate release solid dosage forms, extended release solid dosage forms and zero order release solid dosage forms, said apparatus comprising: (a) two spreader boxes; (b) two casting drums; (c) a pair of rotary dies having means for suction; (d) a liquid fill system; (e) a wedge for heating gelatine ribbons and feeding said fill; and (f) two lateral dispensing devices said lateral dispensing devices including hoppers having said solid dosage forms, channelguides for transporting said solid dosage forms and a grasping claw for dispensing said solid dosage form into the softgel pocket formed in the rotary dies. Full Article
sa Flower vending machine and method of use of the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Flower vending machine and method of use of the same, with the object of preventing fogging of a display space comprised within said machine, said display space being accessible by means of at least one hatch covered by a transparent sheet to which is directed a flow of air to preventing fogging of the interior of the display space. In the method of use of said machine the cooling system is stopped, the flow of air is introduced and an air extractor external to the display space is activated. All this prevents the fogging of the display space, thereby guaranteeing excellent visibility of the flowers as well as their optimum preservation. Full Article
sa Fire pit that occupies a small space when disassembled By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fire pit includes a circular bottom plate and a circular, centrally-apertured log-supporting plate. A plurality of legs secured about the periphery of the log-supporting plate maintain the bottom and log-supporting plates in vertically spaced, parallel relation to one another. Each leg has a hollow uppermost end. A plurality of arcuate grates is mounted about the periphery of the log-supporting plate and a vertically-oriented post is secured to each of the grates, mid-length thereof. Each of the posts has a lowermost end slideably received within the hollow uppermost end of its associated leg to releasably connect each grate to the log-supporting plate. Arcuate openings positioned radially outwardly of the central opening enhance the flow of oxygen into the areas where combustion occurs. The log-supporting plate is inverted and the grates are stacked atop it when the fire pit is in its storage configuration. Full Article
sa Sanitized vending machine and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding one or more product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense a cup to a predetermined position. The dispensing cycles occur in a predetermined sequence so as to enable the dispensed product items to be received in a previously dispensed cup. The dispensing mechanisms respectively include rotatable first and second driven gears drivingly interfaced to rotate during respective product and cup dispensing cycles. The actuation mechanism includes a handle and a rotatable drive gear drivingly interfaced with the first driven gear. When the handle is turned by a user through an actuation cycle the driven gears rotate the respective mechanisms through respective product and cup dispensing cycles. Full Article
sa Power saw having a dust cleaning system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A table saw includes a base assembly having a base structure and side walls, a table top assembly top surface, and an undercarriage assembly including a motor. The undercarriage assembly is configured to adjust the vertical and angular position of a blade relative to the table top assembly, and includes an undercarriage frame and cover together defining a narrow housing configured and sized to enclose substantially all of an installed blade under the top surface. The housing has an upper pivot for adjusting the angular position of the blade and is configured to have the motor slidably mounted therein to adjust the vertical position of the blade. A removable port structure attached to a bottom portion of the undercarriage assembly has an outlet port at an outer end that is configured to be connected to a vacuum source. Full Article
sa Method and apparatus for cutting out balsa blanket parts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT Method and apparatus for cutting out balsa blanket parts comprising the following steps: providing on a surface of a conveyor (12) a row of balsa blankets (1) abutting each other end edge to end edge in butt areas at the joining stations (14.1-14.5); interjoining the balsa blankets (1) in the butt areas at the joining stations (14.1-14.5) to form a balsa blanket web; feeding the balsa blanket web in a direction of feed (F) to a cutting station (15) where the balsa blanket web is stepwise conveyed and cut through crosswise at positions to form the desired parts; providing a next row of balsa blankets on the surface of the conveyor when the rearmost end edge on the rearmost blanket of the balsa blanket web is at the last joining station (14.5), said blankets of the next row abutting each other end edge (4) to end edge (5) and the leading end edge of the foremost balsa blanket in the next row of balsa blankets abutting the rearmost end edge of the rearmost balsa blanket in the balsa blanket web; at the joining stations (14.1-14.5) interjoining the next row of the balsa blankets and joining it with the balsa blanket web in the butt areas. Full Article
sa Hand-held jigsaw By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A hand-held jigsaw includes a saw blade and control element for automating a tracking the saw blade, the hand-held jigsaw, or both along layout lines. A sensor, preferably a camera unit, detects a layout line provided on a work piece. Full Article
sa Chain saw hazard warning light By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A chain saw hazard warning light and method for using same. A pair of oppositely-directed light sources emit light beams throughout a chain shot hazard warning zone through rectilinear, slotted openings at opposite ends of a housing. The light beams turn on, if and only if, the cutting chain is rotating about the chain guide bar; alternatively, initiation of rotation of the cutting chain is delayed to permit the light beams to turn on some time prior thereto. The zone is defined by first and second pairs of planes that diverge in opposite directions from the chain guide bar, said planes being disposed at equal, acute angles (most preferably 15°) to, and on opposite sides of, a plane that includes the chain guide bar. Full Article
sa Apparatus and method for removing board edge waste strips in a ripsawing operation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A waste strip-removing apparatus for use with a ripsaw that saws an incoming board into one or more usable boards and removes the opposite side edges, which become two waste strips that must be removed and transported to a different destination from that to which the usable board(s) is (are) transported. The apparatus includes two air-blasting units each having one or more air nozzles assigned to each waste strip. The air-blasting units are positioned with respect to a lateral direction by a positioning mechanism so that air directed from the nozzles impinges on the waste strips and moves them laterally away from the usable board(s). The positioning mechanism can include a linear motor having two forcers movable along a platen and respectively attached to air-blasting units. Full Article
sa Modular table system for table saws By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A table tool includes a table which carries a power tool. The table includes table base and a table top. The table top includes a central table top portion fixed to the table base. The central table top portion of the table top includes a left perimeter, a right perimeter, and a rear perimeter. A first table top extension is configured to be selectively coupled to the table on the left perimeter, and the right perimeter of the central table top portion with the first table top extension slideable relative to the central table top portion. A second table top extension is configured to be selectively coupled to the left perimeter, the right perimeter, and the rear perimeter of the central table top portion with the second table top extension fixed relative to the central table top portion. Full Article
sa Method for mechanically scraping boards, apparatus for same, and products made therewith By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods are described for mechanically scraping surfaces of boards, such as flooring boards, to impart random-looking scraped profiles therein. An apparatus for mechanically scraping boards to form the scraped board products also is described. A board, such as a flooring board, having a random-looking scraped appearance that includes overlapping multiple scrape patterns is described. Boards, such as flooring boards, having a simulated rustic or distressed appearance made with the methods and apparatus also are described. Full Article
sa Disassembling method of mandrel used for manufacturing composite material structure and disassembling apparatus of mandrel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a technique which can disassemble a mandrel having a substantially cylindrical shape and being dividable into a plurality of segments, easily and efficiently. The disassembling method comprises, in the mandrel adhesively attached with a composite material structure on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a rotation step of rotating the pair of support rings along with the mandrel to position a segment which is a detached target to an uppermost portion; and a segment detaching step of detaching the segment which is the detached target positioned at the uppermost portion, from the pair of support rings; wherein in the segment detaching step, the segment which is the detached target is moved in a vertically downward direction to a position inside of the mandrel, between the pair of support rings, and is carried out from between the pair of support rings. Full Article
sa Sheet conveyance unit and image forming apparatus including same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sheet conveyance unit for transporting a sheet unreeled from a roll of paper includes a roll holder including a pair of supporters to support both axial end portions of the roll, movable in an axial direction of the roll, a pair of first conveyance rollers, a pair of second conveyance rollers, a tensioner to tension the sheet, disposed between the first conveyance rollers and the second conveyance rollers, and a tension adjustment unit. The tensioner includes a contact plate to press against the sheet, extending over an entire width of the sheet and pivotably supported on a casing of the sheet conveyance unit. The tension adjustment unit changes the tension of the sheet by adjusting a force to press the contact plate against the sheet and includes a first adjuster to change the tension of the sheet in conjunction with the interval between the supporters. Full Article
sa Agricultural devices, systems, and methods for determining soil and seed characteristics and analyzing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Agricultural seed planting systems are provided. In some aspects, the system includes a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, and a sensor in communication with the processing unit and adapted to sense a characteristic associated with seed planting. The sensor may generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic and the processing unit may receive the signal. In some aspects, the sensed characteristic may be either a soil characteristic or a seed characteristic. Information associated with the sensed characteristic can be saved in memory for future use and to assist with more effective planting in the future. Full Article
sa Sputtering target and process for producing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sputtering target with low generation of particles in which oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, intermetallic compounds, carbonitrides, and other substances without ductility exist in a matrix phase made of a highly ductile substance at a volume ratio of 1 to 50%, wherein a highly ductile and conductive metal coating layer is formed on an outermost surface of the target. Provided are a sputtering target capable of improving the target surface in which numerous substances without ductility exist and preventing or inhibiting the generation of nodules and particles during sputtering, and a method of producing such a sputtering target. Full Article
sa Structures for improving current carrying capability of interconnects and methods of fabricating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The interconnect structures provide highly reliable copper interconnect structures for improving current carrying capabilities (e.g., current spreading). The structure includes an under bump metallurgy formed in a trench. The under bump metallurgy includes at least: an adhesion layer; a plated barrier layer; and a plated conductive metal layer provided between the adhesion layer and the plated barrier layer. The structure further includes a solder bump formed on the under bump metallurgy. Full Article
sa Liquid sample measuring device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present liquid sample measuring device comprises a device body on which a biosensor is detachably mounted, a liquid biological sample being dispensed in drops on the biosensor; a measuring section that measures bioinformation from the liquid biological sample; a motion measuring section that measures motion information of the device body; a motion assessment section that assesses the degree of motion of the device body on the basis of the motion information of the device body measured by the motion measuring section; and a measurement controller that adjusts the measurement time for measuring the bioinformation on the basis of the assessment result of the motion assessment section. Full Article
sa Device and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a device that decreases deformation during manufacturing of the device, provides a firm joint without use of an adhesive, and allows chemical modification of a channel during manufacturing of the device. The device includes two joined substrates, and a concavity is formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the two substrates so as to make a channel, where the two substrates are joined together by a covalent bond via a crosslinking agent (A), and the crosslinking agent (A) is exposed on an inner wall surface of the channel. Full Article
sa Working electrode, method for fabricating the same and dye-sensitized solar cell containing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a method for fabricating a working electrode. The method comprises the following steps: providing a photoelectrode, which comprises a conductive substrate with a semiconductor material; providing a dye solution, which comprises a dye dissolved in a solvent; and applying a voltage for conducting an electrophoresis to adsorb said dye onto a surface of said semiconductor material. The method of present invention makes the dye adsorbed fast to a surface of a semiconductor material by electrophoresis, and therefore, significantly reduces the time for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell. Full Article
sa Metal material with a bismuth film attached and method for producing same, surface treatment liquid used in said method, and cationic electrodeposition coated metal material and method for producing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A metal material is provided with a bismuth coating which enables the subsequent coating to be accomplished at a high throwing power, and has excellent corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and is able to be produced with reduced damage to the environment. The metal material has a surface and a bismuth-containing layer deposited on at least a part of the surface of the metal material, wherein the percentage of bismuth atoms in the number of atoms in the surface layer of the metal material with a bismuth coating is at least 10%. Full Article
sa Biological sample measuring device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A biological sample measuring device including a mounting portion to which a biological sample measuring sensor is mounted, a voltage application section that applies voltage to a counter electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor mounted to the mounting portion, amplifiers that are selectively connected to a working electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor, and a determination section that is connected to these amplifiers. The determination section has a threshold determination section that determines a voltage value obtained by voltage conversion of the current value of the working electrode, a same determination section that selectively connects the amplifiers to the working electrode depending on the determination of the threshold determination section, and identifies the sample deposited on the biological sample measuring sensor from the output of the selected amplifier, and an output section that outputs a measurement value corresponding to the identified sample. Full Article
sa Turf aerators and tine assemblies for same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST In one embodiment, a turf aerator includes a frame having wheels, a variable displacement pump, an engine for driving at least one of the wheels and driving the pump, a tine assembly supported by the frame and being movable between lowered and raised configurations, and a swash-plate-adjustment linkage extending from the tine assembly to the pump. The tine assembly includes: a base; a hydraulic motor in hydraulic communication with the pump; rotatable cranks powered by the hydraulic motor; a downwardly-extending arm rotatably coupled to each crank; a tine extending downwardly from each downwardly-extending arm; springs operatively anchored to the base; and a guide arm extending between each downwardly-extending arm and a respective spring. The swash-plate-adjustment linkage automatically adjusts the pump with movement of the tine assembly relative to the frame to provide output to the hydraulic motor substantially only when the tine assembly is at the lowered configuration. Full Article
sa Method and system for calculating and displaying work tool orientation and machine using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A machine includes a plurality of ground engaging elements and an operator control station supported on a frame. A work tool is pivotably attached to the frame using a lift arm assembly and a tilt linkage. At least one device measures a quantity associated with at least one of the lift arm assembly, the tilt linkage, and the work tool. An electronic controller, in communication with an operator display and the at least one device. The electronic controller is configured to store an operator selected orientation of the work tool, calculate a current orientation of the work tool based on the quantity, and calculate a deviation of the current orientation from the operator selected orientation. A visual representation of the deviation is displayed on the operator display. Full Article
sa Device for improved clean up of holes, and method of using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cleanup device having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board. Full Article
sa Passive load and active velocity based flow compensation for a hydraulic tractor hitch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hitch on a vehicle is raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator controlled by an electrically operated valve. A control system receives a command that indicates a designated velocity and uses the command to operate the valve. Based on a reference external force exerted on the hitch, the control system is configured with relationships for converting a plurality of command values to corresponding electric current levels for operating the valve. The control system compensates for effects due to differences between the actual force acting on the hitch and the reference external force. Velocity feedback adjusts the electric current level applied to the valve. The passive load force control provides a predictor of the hitch load force to eliminate overshoot/undershoot of hitch motion. During hitch motion, the velocity feedback also compensates for effects due to load and hitch geometry changes that occur. Full Article
sa TFT array substrate, manufacturing method of the same and display device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to embodiments of the invention, a TFT array substrate, a manufacturing method of the TFT array substrate and a display device are provided. The method comprises: depositing a metal film on a substrate, and forming a gate electrode and a gate line; forming a gate insulating layer and a passivation layer on the substrate; depositing a transparent conductive layer, a first source/drain metal layer and a first ohmic contact layer, and forming a drain electrode, a pixel electrode, a data line, and a first ohmic contact layer pattern provided on the drain electrode; and depositing a semiconductor layer, a second ohmic contact layer and a second source/drain metal layer, and forming a source electrode, a second ohmic contact layer pattern provided below the source electrode, and a semiconductor channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode. Full Article
sa Organic light emitting display device and method for fabricating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An organic light emitting display device includes a light shield layer formed on a substrate and a buffer layer formed on an entire surface of the substrate, an oxide semiconductor layer and first electrode formed on the buffer layer, a gate insulation film and gate electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor layer while being deposited to expose both edges of the oxide semiconductor layer, an interlayer insulation film formed to expose both the exposed edges of the oxide semiconductor layer and the first electrode, source and drain electrodes connected with one edge and the other edge of the oxide semiconductor layer, respectively, and a protective film formed to cover the source and drain electrodes while exposing a region of the first electrode so as to define a luminescent region and a non-luminescent region. Full Article
sa ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Display device and electronic device including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A display device includes a pixel portion including a plurality of pixels each including a first transistor, a second transistor, and a light-emitting element, in which a gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to a scan line, one of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a signal line, and the other of them is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor; one of a source and a drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to a power supply line and the other of them is electrically connected to the light-emitting element, and the first transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer. A period when the display device displays a still image includes a period in which output of a signal to all the scan lines in the pixel portion is stopped. Full Article
sa Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT An object is to manufacture a semiconductor device with high reliability by providing the semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor with stable electric characteristics. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a gallium oxide film is used for a gate insulating layer and made in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer. Further, gallium oxide films are provided so as to sandwich the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby reliability is increased. Furthermore, the gate insulating layer may have a stacked structure of a gallium oxide film and a hafnium oxide film. Full Article
sa Transistor including an oxide semiconductor and display device using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT The band tail state and defects in the band gap are reduced as much as possible, whereby optical absorption of energy which is in the vicinity of the band gap or less than or equal to the band gap is reduced. In that case, not by merely optimizing conditions of manufacturing an oxide semiconductor film, but by making an oxide semiconductor to be a substantially intrinsic semiconductor or extremely close to an intrinsic semiconductor, defects on which irradiation light acts are reduced and the effect of light irradiation is reduced essentially. That is, even in the case where light with a wavelength of 350 nm is delivered at 1×1013 photons/cm2·sec, a channel region of a transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor, in which the absolute value of the amount of the variation in the threshold voltage is less than or equal to 0.65 V. Full Article
sa Light emitting device and lighting system with the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A light emitting device including a light emitting structure having a first conduction type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conduction type semiconductor layer, a transparent conductive layer disposed on the light emitting structure, a metal filter having an irregular pattern disposed between the light emitting structure and the transparent conductive layer, and openings disposed between the irregular patterns in the metal filter. Full Article
sa Semiconductor devices with heterojunction barrier regions and methods of fabricating same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer including an n-type drift region therein, a contact forming a junction, such as a Schottky junction, with the drift region, and a p-type junction barrier region on the silicon carbide layer. The p-type junction barrier region includes a p-type polysilicon region forming a P-N heterojunction with the drift region, and the p-type junction barrier region is electrically connected to the contact. Related methods are also disclosed. Full Article
sa Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT An object is to provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor film, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability. A stack of first and second material films is formed by forming the first material film (a film having a hexagonal crystal structure) having a thickness of 1 nm to 10 nm over an insulating surface and forming the second material film having a hexagonal crystal structure (a crystalline oxide semiconductor film) using the first material film as a nucleus. As the first material film, a material film having a wurtzite crystal structure (e.g., gallium nitride or aluminum nitride) or a material film having a corundum crystal structure (α-Al2O3, α-Ga2O3, In2O3, Ti2O3, V2O3, Cr2O3, or α-Fe2O3) is used. Full Article
sa Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a trench in an active region and the trench may include a notched portion of the active region. The methods may also include forming an embedded stressor in the trench. The embedded stressor may include a lower semiconductor layer and an upper semiconductor layer, which has a width narrower than a width of the lower semiconductor layer. A side of the upper semiconductor layer may not be aligned with a side of the lower semiconductor layer and an uppermost surface of the upper semiconductor layer may be higher than an uppermost surface of the active region. Full Article
sa Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT It is an object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor whose electric characteristics are stable. An insulating layer which covers an oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor contains a boron element or an aluminum element. The insulating layer containing a boron element or an aluminum element is formed by a sputtering method using a silicon target or a silicon oxide target containing a boron element or an aluminum element. Alternatively, an insulating layer containing an antimony (Sb) element or a phosphorus (P) element instead of a boron element covers the oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor. Full Article
sa Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST To provide a semiconductor device which has transistor characteristics with little variation and includes an oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor device includes an insulating film over a conductive film and an oxide semiconductor film over the insulating film. The oxide semiconductor film includes a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer, and a third oxide semiconductor layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer. The energy level of a bottom of a conduction band of the second oxide semiconductor layer is lower than those of the first and third oxide semiconductor layers. An end portion of the second oxide semiconductor layer is positioned on an inner side than an end portion of the first oxide semiconductor layer. Full Article
sa Semiconductor device and manufacturing method the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 08:00:00 EST An object is to manufacture and provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor in which a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region serves as an oxide semiconductor film, heat treatment for reducing impurities such as moisture (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed after an oxide insulating film serving as a protective film is formed in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer. Then, the impurities such as moisture, which exist not only in a source electrode layer, in a drain electrode layer, in a gate insulating layer, and in the oxide semiconductor layer but also at interfaces between the oxide semiconductor film and upper and lower films which are in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, are reduced. Full Article
sa Releasable binding systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A releasable water ski binding system includes a trigger mechanism that causes releasable bindings to release a boot from a ski. The trigger mechanism senses a displacement of a portion of a body of a skier past a point of criticality and causes the releasable bindings to release the boot from the ski. Full Article
sa Foam-in-place interior panels having integrated airbag doors including multi-shot injection molded airbag chute-door assemblies for motor vehicles and methods for making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided herein. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. A multi-shot injection molded airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A molded-in lip feature extends from the flange section and contacts the outer surface to form a seal between the flange section and the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate. Full Article
sa Ice skate blade guard with safety feature By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice skate blade guard comprises a device for limiting/preventing falls and injury on the ice when skate blade guards are inadvertently left on when the skater enters the ice. At least one longitudinally-extending bar, blade, or other member provided on the bottom of the guard is sufficiently narrow, sharp, and/or with sharp or biting side edge(s) to bite-into the ice, upon incipient sideways movement, due to the member(s) being biased against the ice and/or due to weight of the wearer. The member(s) prevent sideways slipping, but allow forward movement. The slip-prevention member(s) may be movable in/on the guard and biased downward relative to the main body. In some versions, the slip-prevention blade(s) are fixed to the guard, rigidly and non-movably protruding from the bottom of the guard. Full Article
sa Reverse circulation apparatus and methods of using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one aspect, an apparatus for drilling a wellbore into an earth formation is disclosed, which apparatus, according to one embodiment, may include a drill string configured to be conveyed into a wellbore, wherein an annulus is formed between the drill string and a wellbore wall, a first flow device configured to circulate a first fluid from an annulus to a bore of the drill string, and a second flow device positioned downhole of the first flow device, the second flow device configured to circulate a second fluid from the bore of the drill string to the annulus. Full Article
sa Active compensation for mud telemetry modulator and turbine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An arrangement having a piston configured to move along an axial pathway a rotating seal configured to seal an inside environment from an outside environment, the rotating seal configured to be acted upon by a pressure exerted from the piston, a differential pressure sensor measuring a pressure difference between a first fluid from the outside environment and a second fluid on the inside environment, a motor connected to the piston, the motor configured to actuate the piston to a position along an axial pathway and an electronic feedback control system connected to the motor, the electronic feedback system configured to interface with the differential pressure sensor and maintain a pressure generated by the piston onto the rotating seal to a desired pressure. Full Article
sa Universal drilling and completion system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs. Full Article
sa Nozzles including secondary passages, drill assemblies including same and associated methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Nozzles for drilling tools, such as rotary-type drag bits and roller cone bits, a drilling tool and drilling assembly comprising nozzles, and methods of conveying drilling fluid through a nozzle for use in drilling subterranean formations are provided. A nozzle may include a substantially cylindrical nozzle body having an axis and an inlet port with a primary passage extending therethrough, and at least one secondary passage that diverges from the primary passage at an exit port. Full Article
sa Airflow-organization testing method for a clean room and system using the same method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An airflow-organization testing method for a clean room and a system using the same method are disclosed. The airflow-organization testing method for a clean room uses a thermal imaging device to detect a sample gas-flow formed by a sample gas in the clean room, and the sample gas has a temperature difference from ambient air. The airflow-organization testing system for a clean room includes a sample gas supplier and a thermal imaging device, and the thermal imaging device can continuously detect a spatial position of the sample gas and display it on a display, thereby improving detection precision and expanding detection range. Full Article
sa Image sensors having variable voltage-current characteristics and methods of operating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT Image sensors and methods of operating the same. An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a photo sensor, the voltage-current characteristics of which vary according to energy of incident light, and that generates a sense current determined by the energy of the incident light; a reset unit that is activated to generate a reference current, according to a reset signal for resetting at least one of the plurality of pixels; and a conversion unit that converts the sense current and the reference current into a sense voltage and a reference voltage, respectively. Full Article
sa Gasifier having a slag breaker and method of operating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A gasifier comprises an internal chamber, a slag collection region, a slag passageway, a slag breaker, and an actuator. The internal chamber comprises a main combustion region that is configured and adapted to gasify fuel. The slag collection region is located beneath the main combustion region. The slag passageway operatively connects the main combustion region to the slag collection region. The slag breaker comprises a face that is movable relative to the internal chamber. The face is configured and adapted to move within the slag passageway in a manner such that the face contacts and mechanically breaks solidified slag into chunks of solidified slag that then fall into the slag collection region. The actuator is connected to the slag breaker and is configured and adapted to move the face of the slag breaker. Full Article