x Device for handling livestock using vibration and noise as a stimulation on external portions of the body By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 08:00:00 EDT A battery operated hand held device for use in handling or controlling livestock, particularly cattle, swine, sheep and horses. This invention provides a novel alternative to conventional electric livestock prods, which deliver an electric shock to the animal. While operating on the principle of external stimulus to invoke a flight response, this invention relies on vibration and/or sound rather than painful electric shock. This unique mode of action satisfies the needs in the livestock industry for low stress handling equipment and techniques with the welfare of the animal as a priority. Full Article
x Extendable electronic immobilization staff By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EDT An extendable electronic discharge staff will consist of a central sliding member translating within a tubular body member to be positioned by the means of a spring-loaded ball detent. When the central sliding member is positioned, it will be locked in place by the means of a locking nut at the distal end of the tubular body member. A forward adjustable handgrip will be located and locked into position along the length of the tubular body member to accommodate the size and comfort of the person using the device. By rotating the rear hand grip, the device will be turned on or off, and by sliding the rear handgrip forward or backward a high or low voltage will be delivered to the distal contact end of the central sliding member. On an alternate embodiment having three contact positions, the default center position delivers low voltage while both forward and backward outer positions deliver high voltage. This action gives the operator two different voltage capabilities along with a visible snapping arc to indicate the potential of the device. A sealed cylindrical housing fixed to the rear of the tubular body member will house a removable battery pack and electronic control module. The device is capable of giving a momentary delivery, a prolonged delivery, or several prolonged deliveries and has been designed not to stun an individual unless necessary, giving the unruly individual several warnings in advance. Full Article
x System and method for exchanging a battery of a hearing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system that allows an easy and quick exchange of small batteries of hearing devices as well as a method for exchanging a battery of a hearing device that combines the installation of a new battery into the hearing device with the deinstallation of the battery to be replaced from the hearing device in a single action using a single mechanism. The inventive battery exchange system comprises a carrier module 1, which features a hearing device receiving means shaped to receive a part of a hearing device 4 and a battery passage that traverses the carrier module 1, a battery dispensing module 2 adapted to accommodate at least one battery 7 and a battery ejection means 3 adapted to eject a battery 7 from the battery dispensing module 2 into the battery passage of the carrier module 1. Full Article
x Automated pharmacy admixture system (APAS) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a preferred embodiment, an Automated Pharmacy Admixture System (APAS) may include a manipulator system to transport medical containers such as bags, vials, or syringes in a compounding chamber regulated to a pressure below atmospheric pressure. In a preferred implementation, the manipulator system is configured to grasp and convey syringes, IV bags, and vials of varying shapes and sizes from a storage system in an adjacent chamber regulated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Various embodiments may include a controller adapted to actuate the manipulator system to bring a fill port of an IV bag, vial, or syringe into register with a filling port at a fluid transfer station in the chamber. A preferred implementation includes a sanitization system that can substantially sanitize a bung on a fill port of a vial or IV bag in preparation for transport to the fluid transfer station. Full Article
x Axe By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST An axe comprising a blade (3) provided with a cutting edge (6) at one end, and a handle (2), and in which the center of gravity of the axe is located at a distance from the cutting edge (6) of the axe and lies in a center-of-gravity plane (C) of the axe located at a distance from a blade plane (B) of the axe parallel with both the center-of-gravity plane (C) and a normal working motion plane (W) of the axe, and in which the cutting edge (6) of the blade and the center of gravity of the axe are arranged to cooperate when the blade (3) hits wood and the cutting edge (6) of the blade partly penetrates into the wood such that at least some of the impact force of the blade (3) is converted into a rotational motion and a motion of the blade (3) in a curvilinear trajectory, the blade (3) is attached to the handle (2) so that the handle (2) is uncircled by the blade (3). Full Article
x Extension table assembly for power tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An extension table assembly for a power tool having a working surface for supporting a piece of material to be modified, and a working area where the power tool can modify a piece of material. The extension table assembly comprising a frame portion, at least one arm portion, a drive system, and a measurement system. Full Article
x Double helix conductor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrical system having an underlying structure resembling the double helix most commonly associated with DNA may be used to produce useful electromagnetic fields for various application. Full Article
x Lead equipped with means for blocking the extensible cord By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT An extensible cord lead comprising a casing (11) containing a winding wheel (13) equipped with housings (15) intercepted by a pushbutton (16) to allow the partial or total blocking of the cord, the pushbutton (16) being equipped with a forward position blocking device consisting of a cursor (20) which slides or rotates in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the pushbutton (16) in which it is inserted, said cursor (20) being activated by a thumb-turn (21) located on the head of the pushbutton (16), said cursor (20) being able to move from a blocked position to free sliding of the pushbutton, entering and exiting transversally to the sliding axis of the pushbutton (16), in a housing (22) in the box-like casing (11) of the winding device. Full Article
x Method of recycling exhaust emissions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST An emissions recycling system is used on a vehicle towing an agricultural implement to enrich the fertility of the soil. The system includes an exhaust collector for collecting exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine of the towing vehicle and an exhaust distribution system for injecting at least a portion of the exhaust emissions collected by the exhaust collector into the ground worked by the ground working tools of the agricultural implement. Fertility of the soil is enriched by bioactivity within the soil's micro flora which consumes the greenhouse gas and emissions. Full Article
x Electro-catalytic honeycomb for exhaust emissions control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electro-catalytic honeycomb for controlling exhaust emissions, which adopts to purify a lean-burn exhaust, comprises a honeycomb structural body, a solid-oxide layer and a cathode layer. The honeycomb structural body includes an anode, a plurality of gas channels, and a shell. The anode is formed as a backbone, the gas channels are formed inside the backbone for passing the exhaust, and the shell covers an outer surface of the anode. The solid-oxide layer is adhered to an inner surface of the anode and connects the shell so as to encapsulate the anode. The cathode layer is adhered to a tube wall of the solid-oxide layer and has an oxidizing environment. The anode has a reducing environment. The reducing and the oxidizing environment facilitate an electromotive force to occur between the anode and the cathode layer to promote a decomposition of nitrogen oxides of the exhaust into nitrogen and oxygen. Full Article
x Method and apparatus for measuring oxidation-reduction potential By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip. Full Article
x Method for producing a transparent and conductive metal oxide layer by highly ionized pulsed magnetron sputtering By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing a transparent and conductive metal oxide layer on a substrate, includes atomizing at least one component of the metal oxide layer by highly ionized, high power pulsed magnetron sputtering to condense on the substrate. The pulses of the magnetron have a peak power density of more than 1.5 kW/cm2, the pulses of the magnetron have a duration of ≦200 μs, and the average increase in current density during ignition of the plasma within an interval, which is ≦0.025 ms, is at least 106 A/(ms cm2). Full Article
x Tongue pulled spreader and grader with auxiliary electric motor for lowering or raising wheels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A tongue pulled spreader and grader system having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and cross beams to define a frame portion, a plurality of moveable or fixed blades extending between the sidewalls, each blade positionable along the length of each sidewall and fixed in position at a predetermined angle; a tongue for mounting the frame to the rear of a vehicle; a pair of wheels positioned on an axle on either side of the sidewalls; means for manually or hydraulically extending the wheels to a down position to make contact with a surface in order to transport the spreader and grader and for retracting the wheels to an up position so that the spreader and grader can undertake the grading process. The spreader and grader can attach to and be operated by ATVs, SUVs, light trucks, lawn tractors, sub compact tractors, side by side ATVs and fork trucks. Full Article
x Steering control system for a towed axle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A trailer includes a chassis having a hitch, an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis, an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit has an input for receiving a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle and a variable output for engaging the actuator. The processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission gear of the tractor vehicle. Full Article
x Apparatus and methods for facilitating the removal of existing turf and installing new turf By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A turf cutter device, an infill extractor/collector device, and a turf wind-up device are used to facilitate the cost-effective removal of an infilled synthetic turf and the subsequent installation of a new turf at the same site, with minimal subsurface disruption. An infill extractor/collector device mounted on a motorized vehicle moves a relatively narrow strip of filled artificial turf from the surface, in front of the vehicle, and directs the strip to an infill removal station. The infill removal station inverts the strip and redirects the strip back toward the front of the vehicle, after agitating the strip to extract the infill. After redirecting the strip toward the front of the vehicle, the vehicle drives over the unfilled strip. Meanwhile, the extractor/collector device moves the extracted infill rearwardly to a bag located in a trailer. The turf cutter device is used prior to infill extraction, while the turf wind up device may be used before or after infill extraction, depending on whether infill extraction takes place at the field or at a remote site, respectively. Full Article
x Apparatus for infill extraction and collection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for extracting and collecting particulate infill from an infilled artificial turf field. A vehicle has a first forward end and a second rearward end. An infill extractor is located at the first end of the vehicle and adapted to extract infill from a strip of infilled athletic turf. Extracted infill falls into a bottom section of the infill extractor. An infill mover is secured to the vehicle and adapted to move the extracted infill from the bottom section of the infill extractor toward the second end of the vehicle. An infill collector is connected to the second end of the vehicle and operable to cooperate with the infill mover to collect the moved infill. The infill collector includes a frame that is laterally movable relative to the vehicle from an operative “in use” position to a stowed position. Full Article
x 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
x Oxide-based semiconductor non-linear element having gate electrode electrically connected to source or drain electrode By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT A non-linear element (e.g., a diode) with small reverse saturation current is provided. A non-linear element includes a first electrode provided over a substrate, an oxide semiconductor film provided on and in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode provided on and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film covering the first electrode, the oxide semiconductor film, and the second electrode, and a third electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film and adjacent to a side surface of the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween or a third electrode provided in contact with the gate insulating film and surrounding the second electrode. The third electrode is connected to the first electrode or the second electrode. Full Article
x Oxide semiconductor film and semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics and a display device including the semiconductor device as a switching element. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a needle crystal group provided on at least one surface side of the oxide semiconductor layer grows in a c-axis direction perpendicular to the surface and includes an a-b plane parallel to the surface, and a portion except for the needle crystal group is an amorphous region or a region in which amorphousness and microcrystals are mixed. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics can be formed. Full Article
x Display device including at least six transistors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST By applying an AC pulse to a gate of a transistor which easily deteriorates, a shift in threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. However, in a case where amorphous silicon is used for a semiconductor layer of a transistor, the occurrence of a shift in threshold voltage naturally becomes a problem for a transistor which constitutes a part of circuit that generates an AC pulse. A shift in threshold voltage of a transistor which easily deteriorates and a shift in threshold voltage of a turned-on transistor are suppressed by signal input to a gate electrode of the transistor which easily deteriorates through the turned-on transistor. In other words, a structure for applying an AC pulse to a gate electrode of a transistor which easily deteriorates through a transistor to a gate electrode of which a high potential (VDD) is applied, is included. Full Article
x Reconfigurable fixed suspension semi-trailer, flatbed or chassis By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reconfigurable fixed position suspension and support structure attached to the trailer body using a locking device consisting of pins, bolts and/or other fastening devices. The support structure has a removable locking device that when attached to the support structure locks the support structure and suspension into a fixed position relative to the trailer body. When the trailer is not in operation, the locking device can be removed allowing the suspension group to be reconfigured, and each suspension to be repositioned relative to the trailer body. The removable locking device is then reattached to the suspension support structure locking the support structure and suspension into a new fixed position relative to the trailer body. Full Article
x Multiple axle equalizing rubber suspension By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A suspension system for a vehicle includes a frame mounting bracket for mounting to the vehicle. The suspension includes front and rear rubber torsion axle assemblies. Front and rear lever assemblies are respectively pivotally attached to the vehicle at front and rear lever pivot points. Outer housings of the rubber torsion axle assemblies are each respectively rigidly mounted to the front and rear lever assemblies. A rigid control arm is pivotally connected at one end to the front lever assembly at a front control arm pivot point and its other end is pivotally connected to the rear lever assembly at a rear control arm pivot point. When the suspension assembly encounters a force causing the front lever assembly to rotate in one direction about the front lever pivot point the rigid control arm causes the rear lever assembly to rotate about the rear lever pivot in an opposite direction. Full Article
x One trip casing or liner directional drilling with expansion and cementing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tubular string is advanced with a bottom hole assembly as the hole is drilled and reamed in a desired direction with the aid of directional drilling equipment adjacent the bit. When the advanced tubular forms the desired lap to the existing tubular, the assembly can be configured to cement the tubular and expansion can then be accomplished to fill the annular space and enhance the cement bonding. The expansion equipment can create a bottom bell on the expanded tubular and expand the top end into a bell of the existing tubular so that a monobore is created as the process is repeated with each added string. Numerous variations are contemplated for each single trip including but not limited to the direction of expansion, whether cementing or expansion occurs first, reforming folded tubing in the hole as well as the nature of the expansion tool and pressure control when drilling. Full Article
x Drilling fluid that when mixed with a cement composition enhances physical properties of the cement composition By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to an embodiment, a drilling fluid comprises: water and a set accelerator, wherein the drilling fluid has a 10 minute gel strength of less than 20 lb*ft/100 sq ft, wherein the drilling fluid has a density in the range of about 9 to about 14 pounds per gallon, wherein the drilling fluid remains pourable for at least 5 days, and wherein when at least one part of the drilling fluid mixes with three parts of a cement composition consisting of water and cement, the drilling fluid cement composition mixture develops a compressive strength of at least 1,200 psi. According to another embodiment, a method of using the drilling fluid comprises the steps of: introducing the drilling fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is capable of mixing with a cement composition. Full Article
x Method and system for monitoring a well for unwanted formation fluid influx By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of monitoring a well for unwanted formation fluid influx is disclosed. Measurements of well outflow are acquired during a period in which drilling operations are performed for the well. Occurrences of stagnant flow events during the period are determined. An outflow signature is generated from the well outflow measurements for each stagnant flow event. The outflow signatures are displayed sequentially in time of occurrence. Each outflow signature is analyzed for an anomaly. Full Article
x Tools for use in subterranean boreholes having expandable members and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. A latching member disposed in the tubular body may selectively retain the at least one member in the retracted position. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus include securing at least one member of the expandable apparatus in a retracted position by engaging an inner wall of a tubular body with at least one latch member disposed in at least one aperture formed in a latch sleeve. Full Article
x Tools for use in subterranean boreholes having expandable members and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Components of the expandable apparatus may include at least one surface for removing debris proximate to the tubular body. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to enable the expandable apparatus to increase a diameter of a subterranean borehole by greater than twenty percent. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to restrict fluid flow to nozzle assemblies. The expandable apparatus may include a protect sleeve having a push sleeve disposed therein. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may include removing debris with a surface of the expandable apparatus. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may also include selectively flowing fluid to nozzle assemblies. Full Article
x Chamber and extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A chamber used in an extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus that generates extreme ultraviolet light by irradiating a target material with a laser beam may include a chamber receptacle, a heat shield that is disposed within the chamber receptacle between a predetermined region where the target material turns into plasma and the chamber receptacle and that is configured to absorb heat produced at the predetermined region when the target material turns into plasma, and a support portion configured to attach the heat shield to the chamber receptacle, and further, the support portion may include an absorbing portion configured to absorb stress produced in the heat shield deforming due to the heat, by expanding/contracting in response to the thermal deformation of the heat shield. Full Article
x External cavity laser source By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tunable laser source that includes multiple gain elements and uses a spatial light modulator in an external cavity to produce spectrally tunable output is claimed. Several designs of the external cavity are described, targeting different performance characteristics and different manufacturing costs for the device. Compared to existing devices, the tunable laser source produces high output power, wide tuning range, fast tuning rate, and high spectral resolution. Full Article
x Detection apparatus configured to detect soft X-ray radiation and detection system configured to detect soft X-ray radiation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detection apparatus configured to detect soft X-ray radiation, includes a conversion unit and a circuit unit disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The conversion unit has a plurality of conversion elements that convert the soft X-ray radiation incident on the semiconductor substrate into electric charge. The circuit unit has an amplifier transistor that amplifies and outputs a signal supplied from the conversion unit. A shielding unit is disposed above the circuit unit. The shielding unit blocks the soft X-ray radiation incident on the circuit unit. Preferably, the soft X-ray shielding coefficient of a material that forms the shielding unit is higher than the soft X-ray shielding coefficient of each of aluminum and copper. Alternatively, a material that forms the shielding unit has an atomic number higher than or equal to 70. Full Article
x System and method for cogeneration from mixed oil and inert solids, furnace and fuel nozzle for the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST This invention provides a system and method for efficiently and completely combusting oil in mixture with particulate solids. A furnace (kiln) having a feed nozzle with a lead screw drives the mixture from a feed hopper. This nozzle includes forced-air jets/ports at its tip providing makeup air and allowing atomization of the mixture. The nozzle thereby directs the mixture into a rotating combustion chamber that is tilted downwardly from the front toward a solid waste outlet port at the rear. Uncombusted fuel and air backflow to an upper, secondary chamber near the primary chamber front, and are completely combusted at a high temperature. Gasses exit a flue that can include a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger can be operatively connected to a heating device or other mechanism that converts the heat into usable energy. The nozzle can include a cone with axially tilted air ports about its perimeter. Full Article
x Adapting of an oxy-combustion plant to energy availability and to the amount of CO2 to be trapped By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A carbon fuel combustion process, employing an air gas separation unit, a combustion unit operating either with air or with an oxidizer leaner in nitrogen than air, coming from the air gas separation unit, and a unit for compressing and/or purifying the CO2 coming from the combustion flue gas, wherein the power consumed by the air gas separation unit and/or the flow of oxygen produced by the air gas separation unit and/or the capture of the CO2 coming from the combustion flue gas are variable over time is presented. Full Article
x Elevated fixed-grate apparatus for use with multi-fuel furnaces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combustion device in the form of an elevated fixed-grate that includes arcuately shaped solid refractory brick with ribs placed thereunder so as to allow horizontal air flow for fuel combustion. The brick are arranged atop one another in a stacked concentric configuration that forms a central fuel passageway and allows cascading of a fuel pile throughout the combustion stages. The device provides the benefit of proper de-ashing online while distributing the underfire air radially around the fuel pile. The elevated design of the bricks allows the air to be evenly distributed throughout the fuel pile and further allows the isolation of overfire and underfire air. Segregating overfire and underfire air in an evenly distributed manner allows the burner to combust a wide range of fuel moisture contents without modifying the mechanical components of the burner. Full Article
x Oxygen enrichment of premix air-gas burners By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A premix burner arrangement for safely oxygen-enriching a premix air-fuel combustion system is disclosed. In the disclosed burner arrangement, a first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first gas stream. The first gas stream is a self-reactive or self-flammable premixture comprising air and a combustible gas. At least one second conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first gas stream. The second gas stream includes oxygen. The premix burner arrangement is configured to combust or react the first stream at a temperature at least 1000° F. greater than the temperature of the second stream. A method and combustion system including the premix burner arrangement are also disclosed. Full Article
x Photovoltaic device including flexible substrate or inflexible substrate and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device includes: a substrate; a first electrode placed on the substrate; a second electrode which is placed opposite to the first electrode and which light is incident on; a first unit cell being placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and including an intrinsic semiconductor layer including crystalline silicon grains making the surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer toward the second electrode textured; and a second unit cell placed between the first unit cell and the second electrode. Full Article
x Flexible solar cell photovoltaic assembly prepared with flexible substrate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention is directed to a flexible solar cell photovoltaic module with high light transmittance based on modified substrate, which belongs to the field of thin-film solar cell technology. The objective of the present invention to provide a technical solution for a transparent flexible solar cell module and its fabrication method. Technical features include using a stainless steel template to mold a modified polyimide PI substrate (the PI substrate). The PI substrate has light-passing through-holes, including draining holes and convergence holes, through and distributed on the PI substrate, a conductive film layer, and various stacked photoelectric conversion film layers. The creativeness of the present invention is obvious, such as reducing the short circuit and current leakage due to crystallization of the photoelectric layer interface caused by a subsequent process of laser etching the conductive film layer, reducing the composition on the surface of the solar cell, reducing steps of the fabrication process, and lowering the production cost. Further, the present invention significantly increases the conversion efficiency and load capacity of the solar cell and the quality-cost ratio. The transparent flexible solar cell photovoltaic module also has a broad range of applications. Full Article
x Layered compound-metal particle composite and production method therefor, and suspension, film and flexible solar cell using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A layered compound-metal particle composite 3 is obtained by the addition, to an organically modified layered compound 1 formed by the intercalation of organic ions between layers of a layered compound, of both an aqueous colloidal metal solution 2 in which metal particles are dispersed as a metal colloid in water, and a nonaqueous solvent which is a poor solvent for the metal colloid and has an excellent ability to swell the organically modified layered compound 1. Full Article
x Forming graded index lens in an all atmospheric pressure printing process to form photovoltaic panels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A PV panel uses an array of small silicon sphere diodes (10-300 microns in diameter) connected in parallel. The spheres are embedded in an uncured aluminum-containing layer, and the aluminum-containing layer is heated to anneal the aluminum-containing layer as well as p-dope the bottom surface of the spheres. A phosphorus-containing layer is deposited over the spheres to dope the top surface n-type, forming a pn junction. The phosphorus layer is then removed. A conductor is deposited to contact the top surface. Alternatively, the spheres are deposited with a p-type core and an n-type outer shell. After deposition, the top surface is etched to expose the core. A first conductor layer contacts the bottom surface, and a second conductor layer contacts the exposed core. A liquid lens material is deposited over the rounded top surface of the spheres and cured to provide conformal lenses designed to increase the PV panel efficiency. Full Article
x Photovoltaic device including flexible substrate or inflexible substrate and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A photovoltaic device including a substrate; a first electrode placed on the substrate; a second electrode which is placed opposite to the first electrode and which light is incident on; a first unit cell being placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and including an intrinsic semiconductor layer including crystalline silicon grains making the surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer toward the second electrode textured; and a second unit cell placed between the first unit cell and the second electrode. Full Article
x Wire winding-off auxiliary device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST To provide a wire unwinding auxiliary device capable of, compared to a conventional device, effectively preventing an unwound wire material from getting twisted, entangled or flawed. A wire unwinding auxiliary device used for guiding an unwound wire material when unwinding the wire material which is wound in a coiled shape. The device comprises a plurality of rotation members 1a-1e on which the unwound wire material is set to run therethrough, and a non-rotation member 2 provided adjacent to at least a rotation member 1a through which the wire material passes first in the plurality of rotation members 1a-1e, thereby a running path of the wire material is stabilized between the non-rotation member 2 and the rotation member 1a. Full Article
x Systems and methods for frequency synthesis to improve coexistence By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A frequency synthesizer for a WLAN transceiver is disclosed that may be used to generate 5.4 GHz and 2.4 GHz signals. The frequency synthesizer may be configured to minimize VCO pulling by using VCO operating frequencies that are not integer multiples of the RF bands. Further, the frequency synthesizer may be configured to minimize interference with other frequency bands used by existing wireless systems. Full Article
x Multiplexed configurable sigma delta modulators for noise shaping in a 25-percent duty cycle digital transmitter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A modulator generates a baseband digital signal from an information-bearing digital signal. The baseband signal has time-varying phase and amplitude defined by a sequence of complex data words, each having an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. A noise-shaping modulator generates a noise-shaped digital signal from the baseband digital signal such that quantization noise in the noise-shaping modulator is attenuated by a spectral null of its noise transfer function. The spectral null is selected by a noise-shaping parameter corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of output frequencies. A signal converter generates an analog signal conveying the information of the information-bearing digital signal on an analog carrier signal having the selected output frequency. Full Article
x Device and method for direct mixing of pulse density modulation (PDM) signals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A device for mixing multiple (N) pulse density modulated (PDM) bit streams of a bit rate, the device comprises an input logic, an error accumulation circuit, an error correction circuit and an adder of more than N bits; wherein the device is arranged to output an output PDM bit stream that represents a mixture of the multiple input PDM bit streams; wherein the output PDM bit stream comprises a plurality of output PDM bits, wherein a certain output PDM bit of a plurality of output PDM bits that form the output PDM bit stream is generated during a certain clock cycle; wherein the input logic is arranged to select, during each fraction of the certain clock cycle, a current bit of a selected PDM bit stream, wherein different PDM bit streams are selected during different fragments of the certain clock cycle; wherein the error accumulation circuit is arranged to store intermediate values during a first fraction till a penultimate fraction of the certain clock signal and to store a last value during a last fraction of the certain clock signal. Full Article
x Switch unit with arc-extinguishing units By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A switch suitable for DC applications includes: two fixed conductive contacts with first contact areas; a movable conductive bridge with two second contact areas for being connected to the two first contact areas in the on-status and for being disconnected from the two the first contact areas in the off-status; and two arc-extinguishing units configured to extinguish electric arcs occurring between the first and second contact areas after disconnecting the second contact areas from the first contact areas. First conductive arc-guiding elements extend from each first contact area into the corresponding arc-extinguishing unit and at least one second conductive arc-guiding element extends into the arc-extinguishing units suitably shaped to guide the electric arcs from each of the second contact areas of the movable bridge into the arc-extinguishing units. Full Article
x Flexible shunt for vacuum circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flexible shunt for a vacuum circuit breaker can have a reduced straight length and improved flexibility even with an increased thickness within a predetermined accommodation space of a main circuit part. The flexible shunt comprises a pair of conductive plates, each including a clamp connecting portion configured as a flat conductive member, the clamp connecting portion being connected the clamp, a terminal side connecting portion configured as a flat conductive member, the terminal side connecting portion being connected to the terminal side, and a flexible curved portion configured to connect the clamp connecting portion to the terminal side connecting portion, the flexible curved portion being formed to be projected outwardly. Full Article
x Arc extinguishing apparatus for ring main unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An arc extinguishing apparatus for a ring main unit includes: a housing; a plurality of fixed contactor assemblies fixed to be protruded toward the center in the housing and formed by inserting a permanent magnet for arc extinguishing by a magnetic force between a pair of main circuit fixed contacts; a plurality of earthing fixed contactors fixed to be protruded toward the center in the housing and installed to be spaced apart from the fixed contactor assemblies at a predetermined angle; a 3-phases common rotational shaft installed to be rotatable at the center of the housing; and a rotatable movable contactor assembly having a plurality of puffer guide plate sections having openings with a narrow opening width to accelerate the velocity of flow of insulating gas to extinguish arc by blowing it, and rotatable to a circuit closing position, an earthing position, and a circuit opening position. Full Article
x Assembly for the preparation of a medical device having a coating comprising hydrogen peroxide By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an assembly for the preparation of a medical device having a porous coating comprising hydrogen peroxide. Particularly interesting medical devices are catheters (such as urinary catheters), endoscopes, laryngoscopes, tubes for feeding, tubes for drainage, guide wires, condoms, urisheaths, barrier coatings e.g. for gloves, stents and other implants, extra corporeal blood conduits, membranes e.g. for dialysis, blood filters, devices for circulatory assistance, dressings for wound care, and ostomy bags. The coating is in particular a hydrophilic coating formed from cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone. In one embodiment, the assembly holds a dry catheter element in one compartment of a package and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in another compartment. The solution may also comprise stabilizers, e.g. chelators, and osmolality increasing agents. The catheter for insertion in the urethra is useful for the treatment, alleviation or prophylaxis of microbial infections such as urinary tract infections (UTI). Full Article
x Wall-mounted expandable toilet tissue roll storage means By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A toilet tissue roll holder is provided having a telescoping structure that is attachable to a wall surface for providing replacement toilet tissue to a dispenser and shrouding unused rolls prior to deployment. The device includes a lowermost housing having a base surface, rounded sidewalls, an interior volume, and an open front. The lowermost housing connects to a first upstanding sidewall thereabove, which in turn supports a plurality of telescoping sidewalls that form individual toilet tissue roll containers extending upward. A viewing window is provided through at least one of the device sidewalls above the lowermost housing to allow an administrator to visualize whether a minimum number of reserve toilet paper rolls are still available. The structure is expanded and contracted depending on the number of rolls therein, while the lowermost housing and first upstanding sidewall provide the base structure that is secured to a support wall. Full Article
x Packing box used for accommodation of plate bodies By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a packing box for accommodation of plate bodies, which comprises a backplane, and a side plate vertically arranged at the periphery of the backplane, the plate body including a main body, and a PCB plate connected through a flexible sheet to the edge of the main body, a positioning member being further arranged in the space enclosed by the backplane and the side plate for preventing the PCB plate from moving relative to the main body. The positioning member of the present invention can prevent the PCB plate from moving relative to the main body of the plate body, playing a role in protecting the circuit on the flexible sheet and having low costs. Full Article
x Packaging box with test strips and gripper assembly thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packaging box with test strips is provided for a gripper to grip the test strips, and the gripper has a gripping section and a conductive terminal in the gripping section, and the packaging box includes a main body and a test strip. The main body has an embedded groove including a port with a shape corresponding to the shape of the gripping section, and the port is provided for inserting the gripping section. The test strip has a conductive area defined on a surface of the test strip, and the test strip is contained in the embedded groove, wherein the gripping section is coupled to the port, and the conductive terminal is electrically coupled to the conductive area. With the packaging box, the test strips can be taken out conveniently and quickly. Full Article