ac 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
ac Articulated cutting head and conveyor mount for sod harvesting machines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An articulated cutting head and conveyor mount for sod harvesting machines. The invention provides a linkage design that can provide many benefits including: allowing the operator to see the cutting operation, enabling the high lifting of the cutting head for service and maneuvering, managing the vertical bending load of the ground reference roller, providing high transverse stiffness, maintaining the position of the conveyor relative to the cutting head. The linkage design can include fewer parts than previous designs while still being robust and durable. As such, cutting heads employing the linkage design of the present invention can produce higher quality slabs with less service and maintenance than when using current designs. Full Article
ac Systems and methods for treating a ground surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Some embodiments of a ground surface treatment system can include a flexible roller system having one or more of rollers arranged in a side-by-side position and include a flexible axle member extending through each row of rollers. Full Article
ac Agricultural apparatus for sensing and providing feedback of soil property changes in real time By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural system includes an agricultural row unit movable on a field between a first soil condition and a second soil condition, the first soil condition having a different soil hardness than the second soil condition. A down-pressure actuator applies an initial first pressure associated with the first soil condition. A soil-hardness sensing device is positioned at a distance D forward of the row unit and outputs a soil-hardness change signal when detecting a change from the first soil condition to the second soil condition. At least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the down-pressure actuator to change, in response to receiving the soil-hardness change signal, the initial first pressure to a different second pressure when the row unit encounters the second soil condition. Full Article
ac Swing control apparatus and method of construction machinery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A swing control apparatus and a swing control method for a construction machine are provided. The swing control apparatus includes a start position estimation unit, a stop target position calculation unit, and a swing motor position control unit. Even if an operator releases a lever or commands a stop at different times, an upper swing structure of the construction machine (for example, excavator) can be stopped within a predetermined range, and thus the inconvenience caused by an additional driving operation, which is required as the stop position differs according to the time point where the stop command starts, can be solved. Full Article
ac 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
ac Electrically operated turf stacking system for sod harvesting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention extends to a stacking mechanism having electrical actuators for stacking slabs of sod on a sod harvesting machine. The electrical actuators allow the stacking head to be driven in three axes. The stacking mechanism also includes position feedback sensors for reporting the position of the stacking head to enable precision when operating the stacking head at a fast rate. The stacking mechanism of the present invention also provides temporary pallet support wings to enable the continued stacking of slabs of sod on one pallet even while another pallet is being dropped from the sod harvesting machine. Full Article
ac 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
ac 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
ac Control system for a machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A control system for a machine is disclosed. The system includes a ripper sensor associated with a ripper of the machine configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the ripper. The system includes a steering command sensor associated with a steering control module of the machine. The steering command sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a steering command of the machine. The system further includes a controller configured to receive the signals indicative of the position of the ripper and the steering command of the machine. The controller is configured to execute an action based on the engaged state of the ripper and the steering command of the machine. Full Article
ac 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
ac Light emitting device package By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A light emitting device package is provided comprising a light emitting device including at least one light emitting diode and a body including a first lead frame on which the light emitting device is mounted and a second lead frame spaced apart from the first lead frame, wherein at least one of the first and second lead frames is extending to a bending region in a first direction by a predetermined length on the basis of an outer surface of the body and is bent in a second direction intersecting the first direction. Full Article
ac OLED display having organic and inorganic encapsulation layers, and manufacturing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display a includes: a substrate; an organic light emitting element on the substrate and including a first electrode, a light emission layer, and a second electrode; and an encapsulation layer on the substrate while covering the organic light emitting element. The encapsulation layer includes an organic layer and an inorganic layer. A mixed area, where organic materials forming the organic layer and inorganic materials forming the inorganic layer co-exist along a plane direction of the encapsulation layer, is formed at the boundary between the organic layer and the inorganic layer. Full Article
ac Film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface, dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, process for producing semiconductor device, and flip chip type semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element flip chip-connected to an adherend, the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface containing an inorganic filler in an amount within a range of 70% by weight to 95% by weight based on the whole of the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface. Full Article
ac 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
ac 3DIC packages with heat dissipation structures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A package includes a first die and a second die underlying the first die and in a same first die stack as the first die. The second die includes a first portion overlapped by the first die, and a second portion not overlapped by the first die. A first Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is over and contacting a top surface of the first die. A heat dissipating lid has a first bottom surface contacting the first TIM. A second TIM is over and contacting the second portion of the second die. A heat dissipating ring is over and contacting the second TIM. Full Article
ac Semiconductor device, semiconductor wafer and manufacturing method of semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device includes wiring layers formed over a semiconductor wafer, a via-layer between the wiring layers, conductive films in the wiring layers, and a via-plug in the via-layer connecting the conductive films of the wiring layers above and below, a scribe region at an outer periphery of a chip region along an edge of the semiconductor substrate and including a pad region in the vicinity of the edge, the pad region overlapping the conductive films of the plurality of wiring layers in the plan view, the plurality of wiring layers including first second wiring layers, the conductive film of the first wiring layer includes a first conductive pattern formed over an entire surface of said pad region in a plan view, and the conductive film of the second wiring layer includes a second conductive pattern formed in a part of the pad region in a plan view. Full Article
ac Compact device package By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments related to a compact device package are disclosed herein. In some arrangements, a flexible substrate can be coupled to a carrier having walls angled relative to one another. The substrate can be shaped to include two bends. First and second integrated device dies can be mounted on opposite sides of the substrate between the two bends in various arrangements. Full Article
ac 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
ac Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor substrate, a first interconnect layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode formed in the first interconnect layer, a gate insulating film formed over the gate electrode, a second interconnect layer formed over the gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer formed in the second interconnect layer, and a via formed in the second interconnect layer and connected to the oxide semiconductor layer. The gate electrode, the gate insulating film and the oxide semiconductor layer overlap in a plan view. Full Article
ac 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
ac Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer and excellent electrical characteristics is provided. Further, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which plural kinds of thin film transistors of different structures are formed over one substrate to form plural kinds of circuits and in which the number of steps is not greatly increased is provided. After a metal thin film is formed over an insulating surface, an oxide semiconductor layer is formed thereover. Then, oxidation treatment such as heat treatment is performed to oxidize the metal thin film partly or entirely. Further, structures of thin film transistors are different between a circuit in which emphasis is placed on the speed of operation, such as a logic circuit, and a matrix circuit. Full Article
ac Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor film having an impurity region to which at least an n-type or p-type impurity is added and a wiring are provided. The wiring includes a diffusion prevention film containing a conductive metal oxide, and a low resistance conductive film over the diffusion prevention film. In a contact portion between the wiring and the semiconductor film, the diffusion prevention film and the impurity region are in contact with each other. The diffusion prevention film is framed in such a manner that a conductive film is exposed to plasma generated from a mixed gas of an oxidizing gas and a halogen-based gas to form an oxide of a metal material contained in the conductive film, the conductive film in which the oxide of the metal material is formed is exposed to an atmosphere containing water to be fluidized, and the fluidized conductive film is solidified. Full Article
ac Flow underfill for microelectronic packages By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST A microelectronic assembly includes a first component with first conductive elements; a second component with second conductive elements; a bond metal; and an underfill layer. The posts have a height above the respective surface from which the posts project. A bond metal can be disposed between respective pairs of conductive elements, each pair including at least one of the posts and at least one of the first or second conductive elements confronting the at least one post. The bond metal can contact edges of the posts along at least one half the height of the posts. An underfill layer contacts and bonds the first and second surfaces of the first and second components. A residue of the underfill layer may be present at at least one interfacial surfaces between at least some of the posts and the bond metal or may be present within the bond metal. Full Article
ac Select devices including a semiconductive stack having a semiconductive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST Methods, devices, and systems are provided for a select device that can include a semiconductive stack of at least one semiconductive material formed on a first electrode, where the semiconductive stack can have a thickness of about 700 angstroms (Å) or less. Each of the at least one semiconductive material can have an associated band gap of about 4 electron volts (eV) or less and a second electrode can be formed on the semiconductive stack. Full Article
ac 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
ac Phase change memory cell with self-aligned vertical heater and low resistivity interface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST A low resistivity interface material is provided between a self-aligned vertical heater element and a contact region of a selection device. A phase change chalcogenide material is deposited directly on the vertical heater element. In an embodiment, the vertical heater element in L-shaped, having a curved vertical wall along the wordline direction and a horizontal base. In an embodiment, the low resistivity interface material is deposited into a trench with a negative profile using a PVD technique. An upper surface of the low resistivity interface material may have a tapered bird-beak extension. Full Article
ac Semiconductor thin film, semiconductor thin film manufacturing method and semiconductor element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:00:00 EST An amorphous oxide thin film containing amorphous oxide is exposed to an oxygen plasma generated by exciting an oxygen-containing gas in high frequency. The oxygen plasma is preferably generated under the condition that applied frequency is 1 kHz or more and 300 MHz or less and pressure is 5 Pa or more. The amorphous oxide thin film is preferably exposed by a sputtering method, ion-plating method, vacuum deposition method, sol-gel method or fine particle application method. Full Article
ac 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
ac Accessory cart By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In the specification and drawings an accessory cart is described and shown with a base, a housing element that is connected to the base and extends upward from the base, and a platform, which is connected to the housing element with the height of the platform being automatically adjustable. Full Article
ac 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
ac Lightweight folding motorized chair with mechanical traction steering and braking By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lightweight folding motorized chair with mechanical traction steering and braking. A folding frame supports the traction wheels and the drive system with hinged frame members configured to mechanically fold the control levers, wheels and periphery components into a substantially flat configuration for easy storage in small spaces. A mix of weight saving choices including: structural materials; mechanical traction control system; lithium ion battery; and overall lightweight design keeps the folding motorized chair at a size and weight that a person can lift into the trunk of a car. Full Article
ac Rolling cutter placement on PDC bits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutting tool cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; and a plurality of rotatable cutting elements mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, wherein the plurality of rotatable cutting elements are mounted on the at least one blade in a nose and/or shoulder region of the cutting tool at a side rake angle ranging from about 10 to about 30 degrees or −10 to about −30 degrees. Full Article
ac Dust collecting attachment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT It is an object of the invention to provide a technique that contributes to rationalization of dust collection, in a dust collecting attachment for use on a power tool. Dust collecting attachments 250, 350 are used on a power tool 201 having a tool body 203, a tool bit 209 which can be coupled to a front end region of the tool body 203, and an auxiliary handle 208 attached to the tool body 203. The dust collecting attachments 250, 350 include dust collecting members 251, 351, respectively, which can be attached to the auxiliary handle 208 in such a manner as to surround the front end region of the tool body 203 around a longitudinal axis of the front end region in order to collect dust generated during operation by the power tool 201, and a connecting hose 273 for connecting the dust collecting members 251, 351 to a dust collector. Full Article
ac 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
ac Structure for gunpowder charge in combined fracturing perforation device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention provides a structure for gunpowder charge for charging gunpowders of different rates in combined fracturing perforation devices. The structure for gunpowder charge is convenient to mount and transport. In one embodiment, said structure for gunpowder charge comprises an inner gunpowder box located between adjacent perforating charges in the charge frame of a perforation device, and an outer gunpowder box attached to the outer wall of the charge frame, wherein said outer gunpowder box comprises one or two box units (2 or 4) with at least one claw at the inner side of said box unit, said claw can be locked into a groove or installation hole of the charge frame, and wherein said inner gunpowder box and said outer gunpowder box are charged with gunpowders of different burning rates. Full Article
ac Apparatus and method for automated drilling of a borehole in a subsurface formation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and method for automated drilling of a borehole in a subsurface formation. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting at least one control variable. A drilling performance objective having a value that is influenced by drilling of the borehole using the at least one control variable is defined. A first interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a first value. A second interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a second value. A third interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a third value. The third value is selected based on a comparison of the values of the drilling performance objective while drilling the first interval and second interval to a predetermined optimal value of the drilling performance objective. Full Article
ac Polycrystalline diamond compact including a polycrystalline diamond table containing aluminum carbide therein and applications therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) comprising a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table including at least a portion having aluminum carbide disposed interstitially between bonded-together diamond grains thereof, and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate, and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of bonded-together diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD table further includes aluminum carbide disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. Full Article
ac Vibrational tool with rotating engagement surfaces and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vibrational tool and method is disclosed, which may be utilized to assist in lowering a drill string into a wellbore. In one embodiment, a reciprocating member and a symmetrical rotating member are mounted within a vibrational tool housing. The reciprocating member is urged in one embodiment by a spring assembly toward the rotating member whereby engagement surfaces on the reciprocating member and rotating member encounter each other. As the rotating member rotates, variable surfaces on the engagement surface cause the reciprocating member to reciprocate as the variable surfaces follow or cam with respect to each other during rotation. The resistance to rotation by engagement surfaces and spring assembly, and mass of the rotating member, result in vibrational forces, when drilling fluid flows through the vibration tool housing. Full Article
ac Spacer fluid additive By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A spacer fluid comprises a fluid and a viscosity agent. The viscosity agent is a mixture of at least two polyvinylalcohol compositions. A first polyvinylalcohol composition comprises polyvinylalcohols having a first degree of hydrolysis and a second polyvinylalcohol composition comprises polyvinylalcohols having a second degree of hydrolysis. The first and second degrees of hydrolysis are substantially different such that the rheology of the spacer fluid is stable during temperatures changes. Full Article
ac Eye tracking system and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tracking system for tracking an eye including a light source projecting light toward a display surface in a sequential pattern, one or more reflectors associated with an optical device, where the one or more reflectors reflect the pulses of light from the display source, one or more photo detectors, where the photo detectors detect reflected pulses of light from the light source, and a system that measures pulse timing relative to horizontal and vertical pattern to compute a gaze angle of the eye. Full Article
ac Optical-interface patterning for radiation detector crystals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radiation detector is disclosed that includes a scintillation crystal and a plurality of photodetectors positioned to detect low-energy scintillation photons generated within the scintillation crystal. The scintillation crystals are processed using subsurface laser engraving to generate point-like defects within the crystal to alter the path of the scintillation photons. In one embodiment, the defects define a plurality of boundaries within a monolithic crystal to delineate individual detector elements. In another embodiment, the defects define a depth-of-interaction boundary that varies longitudinally to vary the amount of light shared by neighboring portions of the crystal. In another embodiment the defects are evenly distributed to reduce the lateral spread of light from a scintillation event. Two or more of these different aspects may be combined in a single scintillation crystal. Additionally, or alternatively, similar SSLE defects may be produced in other light-guiding elements of the radiation detector. Full Article
ac Surface contamination monitoring system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surface contamination monitoring system/method configured to correct the detected the radioactive net count rate (NCR) value of a whole-body surface contamination monitoring device based on monitored subject height and thickness is disclosed. The system includes a height detection means for determining the height of a monitored subject and a thickness detection means for determining the thickness of at least a portion of the monitored subject. The net count rate (NCR) is corrected based on the determined height and thickness of the monitored subject as applied to site calibration factor data and self-shielding factor data to produce a corrected net count rate (CNR). If the corrected net count rate (CNR) registers above a preset alarm threshold, the monitored subject is considered contaminated and an appropriate alarm is registered. Full Article
ac Blanking apparatus, drawing apparatus, and method of manufacturing article By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a blanking apparatus comprising a plurality of blankers configured to respectively blank a plurality of beams with respect to a target position on an object, and a driving device configured to drive the plurality of blankers, wherein the driving device includes a change device configured to change relation between a combination of beams of the plurality of beams, and a target dose. Full Article
ac Cassette for containing accumulative fluorescent sheet By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a cassette having: a flexible accommodating body that accommodates an accumulative fluorescent sheet in a light shielded state; an entrance/exit portion that is provided at one end portion of the flexible accommodating body, and through which the accumulative fluorescent sheet can be inserted and removed into and from the flexible accommodating body due to mounting to a radiographic image reading device; and opening/closing means for opening the flexible accommodating body such that a push-out member, that pushes the accumulative fluorescent sheet out toward the entrance/exit portion, can be inserted, or closing the flexible accommodating body in a light shielded state. Full Article
ac Method of mechanically controlling the amount of energy to reach a patient undergoing intraoperative electron radiation therapy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus for performing electron radiation therapy on a breast cancer patient preferably includes an intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, an intraoperative electron radiation therapy collimator tube connected to the intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, and a plurality of filters made of a material having substantially the same density as human breast tissue for placement between the machine and the patient to change the energy of a monoenergetic beam after the beam has left the machine, allowing a filter to be chosen to reduce the energy traveling through the tube to a desired amount of energy to treat the patient. A method of controlling the amount of energy to reach a breast cancer patient undergoing electron radiation therapy includes selecting a filter made of a material having substantially the same density as human tissue and placing the filter between an intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine and a breast cancer patient to change the energy of a monoenergetic beam after it has left the machine, the filter being chosen to reduce the energy traveling from the machine to a desired amount of energy to treat the patient. Full Article
ac Thermal-conduction element for improving the manufacture of a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package;an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22);an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts,the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel. Full Article
ac Contactless coupling and method for use with an electrical appliance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A coupling and various methods of use of the coupling. In one embodiment a coupling is provided for use with an appliance operated by a power supply, which coupling allows mounting/dismounting of the appliance without electrical isolation from the supply, said coupling comprising: a) a mounting member having a first encapsulated transformer element and suitable controls connectable to the power supply, said member being suitable for fixing to a structure; and b) a holder member engageable with said mounting member and suitable for holding or for connecting thereto an appliance, said holder member including a second encapsulated transformer element able to conduct power to an appliance. Full Article
ac Removable surface-wave networks for in-situ material health monitoring By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for measuring properties of a surface under test with surface waves includes a surface wave network including a dielectric substrate, a reactive grid of a plurality of metallic patches on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, a plurality of electronic nodes on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, and a ground plane on a second surface of the dielectric substrate permeable to RF fields of the surface waves, and a controller configured for causing a respective one of the electronic nodes to transmit at least one surface wave and configured for collecting data for signals received by at least one other of the plurality of electronic nodes. Full Article
ac Thermally activated magnetic and resistive aging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Examples of the present invention include apparatus and methods for monitoring aging of an item. A solid-state structure is located within, adjacent to, or otherwise proximate the item, the solid-state structure including nanostructures. The electrical resistance and/or magnetization of the solid-state structure is determined to determine the degree of aging of the item. In representative examples, the solid-state structure includes nanostructures of a metal, such as a ferromagnetic metal, within a non-magnetic matrix, such as a semimetal, semiconductor, or insulator. Full Article