ar Tuner and transformer formed by printed circuit board thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT A tuner and a transformer formed by printed circuit board thereof are provided. The transformer includes a first winding and a second winding. In which, the first winding forms a first inductor and the second winding forms a second inductor. The transformer is formed by the first and the second inductors, wherein the first winding and the second winding are formed by conducting wires of a printed circuit board. Full Article
ar Memory cell based array of tuning circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT A method applied in a tuning circuit comprising a plurality of turning cells is disclosed. the method comprises: laying out a array of tuning cells in a matrix configuration, the matrix comprising a first dimension and a second dimension; assigning a first index associated with the first dimension and a second index associated with the second dimension to each tuning cell; controlling each tuning cell using a word line and a bit line; and summing up outputs from all tuning cells to form a combined output. The tuning cell provides a first circuit value or a second circuit value according to the logical value of the bit line, and the difference between the first circuit value and the second circuit value is determined such that a turning resolution of the tuning circuit is determined. Full Article
ar Variable frequency tag By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST An antenna assembly is operative for receiving interrogating radiation at a variable frequency tag and generating a corresponding received signal, and for receiving a signature signal and radiating corresponding response radiation. A logic unit is operative for receiving the received signal and outputting the signature signal in response, the signature signal including a signature code for use in identifying the tag. A voltage controlled oscillator is operative for controlling a rate at which the signature code is output; and a power supply is operative for providing an electrical potential difference for energizing the tag. The voltage controlled oscillator is operable to output the signature code at a rate which is governed by the magnitude of the received signal. Full Article
ar Oscillating apparatus, receiving apparatus, and oscillation control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT In an oscillating apparatus, a detection unit detects a frequency offset between an input signal and a reference signal. A code generation unit specifies a relationship among a code having a predetermined number of bits, the frequency offset, and a voltage to be applied to a voltage-controlled oscillator by a DAC, in accordance with a frequency offset detection state of the detection unit. The code generation unit also generates a frequency offset correction code having a predetermined number of bits in accordance with the specified relationship. The DAC applies the voltage to the voltage-controlled oscillator, in accordance with the relationship described above and the code generated by the code generation unit. The voltage controlled oscillator outputs an oscillator signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage applied by the DAC. Full Article
ar Stopper structure for rotary operation member, electronic device, and channel stopper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A stopper structure includes a wall defining an opening. A rotary electronic component has a rotational shaft extending through the opening. A channel stopper has a tubular body and an engagement projection. The tubular body is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The engagement projection extends from an end of the tubular body in an axial direction and a radial direction with respect to the rotational shaft. A rotary operation member is detachably mounted onto the rotational shaft and the tubular body and is inhibited from rotating relative thereto. The rotary operation member has an axial hole in which at least portions of the rotational shaft and the tubular body fit. A limiting portion provided on the wall is engageable with the engagement projection for limiting a range of rotation of the rotational shaft. Full Article
ar Tuner module and a receiving apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a tuner module and a receiving apparatus capable of providing great degrees of variation and freedom to a layout in a main board, improving a degree of freedom of design, and achieving low cost. A tuner module includes a tuner module board on which a tuner functional unit is formed, a main board on which the tuner module board is surface-mounted, and a shield casing including at least one antenna connector, arranged to cover the surface-mounted tuner module board, and fixed to the main board. In the shield casing, a length of a longest long-side is a length equal to or less than ¼ of a wavelength of a highest received frequency in the air. Full Article
ar Mechanically controlled variable capacitors for impedance tuners By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An improved grounding technique for mechanically adjustable rotary capacitors uses a directly grounded bronze sliding contact to effectively and continuously ground the rotating comb-like blades of the capacitor. RF measurements of the continuity and repeatability of the capacitance settings prove the suitability of the modified capacitors for using in pre-calibrated multi-capacitor MHz range impedance tuners. Full Article
ar Method and apparatus for use in digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for use in a digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device is described. A Digitally Tuned Capacitor DTC is described which facilitates digitally controlling capacitance applied between a first and second terminal. In some embodiments, the first terminal comprises an RF+ terminal and the second terminal comprises an RF− terminal. In accordance with some embodiments, the DTCs comprise a plurality of sub-circuits ordered in significance from least significant bit (LSB) to most significant bit (MSB) sub-circuits, wherein the plurality of significant bit sub-circuits are coupled together in parallel, and wherein each sub-circuit has a first node coupled to the first RF terminal, and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal. The DTCs further include an input means for receiving a digital control word, wherein the digital control word comprises bits that are similarly ordered in significance from an LSB to an MSB. Full Article
ar Printing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT A printing apparatus, having at least two platens, at least one print head, at least one print head drive unit to drive the print head in a main scanning direction, at least two platen drive units to drive the platens in an auxiliary direction, at least one ink cartridge, at least two operation input units to be operated by an operator to instruct the printing apparatus to activate a first printing process and a second printing process respectively, and a cooperation controller system to control the print head, the print head drive unit, the first platen drive unit, and the second platen drive unit to behave in cooperation with one another so that the second printing process is started one of after and during the first printing process when an instruction to start the second printing process is entered whilst the first printing process is in progress, is provided. Full Article
ar Aqueous ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit and ink jet recording apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides an aqueous ink comprising a polymer having hydroxyl groups and a pigment, which can provide images excellent in scratch resistance and highlighter resistance and can inhibit the seeping out phenomenon of the polymer and the deterioration of storage stability and ejection characteristics even when it is stored for a long period of time. The aqueous ink comprises a polymer having hydroxyl groups and a pigment, wherein a proportion of a content of a polymer that is not adsorbed on the pigment out of the polymer having hydroxyl groups to the content of the pigment in the ink is 2.0 mass % or more, and a content (mass %) of the polymer that is not adsorbed on the pigment out of the polymer having hydroxyl groups is 0.20 mass % or less based on the total mass of the ink. Full Article
ar Recording apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT A recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes a U-turn conveying path and a redirecting conveying path. The U-turn conveying path reverses the front and back of the recording medium and conveys the recording medium to a conveying roller. The redirecting conveying path reverses a conveying direction of the recording medium, fed from the front side of a main body of the apparatus, at an upstream side of the conveying roller in the conveying direction, and conveys the recording medium to the conveying roller. Then, a first recording medium is conveyed along the U-turn conveying path, and a second recording medium is conveyed along the redirecting conveying path. Full Article
ar Optical beam scanning apparatus and digital writing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT An optical beam scanning apparatus is disclosed, including: a laser source that emits an optical beam, a deflection part that deflects the optical beam, a light receiving part that receives a returning light of the optical beam which is deflected toward the laser source by the deflection part, a signal generation part that generates a synchronization detection signal, and an optical source drive part that conducts a lighting control of the laser source. The light receiving part is arranged in vicinity to the laser source. The signal generation part detects a timing at which the light receiving part receives the returning light, by an output signal from the light receiving part to generate the synchronization detection signal. The optical source drive part conducts the lighting control of the laser source in response to the synchronization detection signal as a reference. Full Article
ar Print apparatus and control method for the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT One of mark sensors is automatically selected in accordance with specifications of a thermal sheet. A cutting position on the thermal sheet is decided on the basis of an output of the selected one mark sensor. Full Article
ar Inkjet recording apparatus and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST An inkjet recording apparatus to print onto a surface of a recording medium includes an endless rotation conveyance member with a plurality of through-holes; a suction unit to suction the recording medium on the surface of the endless rotation conveyance member; an ink discharge head including ink discharge nozzles; a blank discharge ink receiver to receive ink through the through-holes; a control unit to make the ink discharge nozzles discharge ink at a predetermined timing; and a fixed plate along an inner surface of the endless rotation conveyance member, the fixed plate including an opening formed in a position corresponding to the ink discharge nozzles and a through-hole. The blank discharge ink receiver is disposed corresponding to the opening of the fixed plate and in close contact with the fixed plate so that an inside space of the blank discharge receiver becomes a substantially closed space. Full Article
ar Data processing apparatus, data processing system, method for controlling data processing apparatus, method for adding data converting function, program and medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST A data processing apparatus is monitoring the first port of itself and the second port of itself. If the data processing apparatus receives data via the second port, it conducts a specific process to the data regardless of a data format of the data so as to convert the data into the data format that can be processed regardless of a data format of the data and sends converted data to the first port. Full Article
ar Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus including same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST A sheet feeder for transporting a sheet unreeled from a roll includes a feed roller to unreel the sheet from the roll, a registration roller to transport the sheet unreeled by the feed roller to the image forming unit, a pressure roller pressing against the registration roller, forming a registration nip together with the registration roller, a movable sheet guide to guide the sheet to the registration roller, disposed between the feed roller and the registration roller in a sheet conveyance path, a support member to movably support the movable sheet guide relative to an apparatus body in which the sheet feeder is disposed, and a bias member to bias the sheet guide toward the sheet. The movable sheet guide wraps more of the sheet around the registration roller as a degree of tension of the sheet increases by moving against a bias force exerted by the bias member. Full Article
ar Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST Currency bills are received, transported, and imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each currency bill can be reproduced. Each of the currency bills includes a denomination, a serial number, and a set of secondary identifiers. One of the currency bills is determined to be a suspect bill. The suspect bill serial number is attempted to be extracted from the image data associated with the suspect bill. In response to failing to extract a complete serial number of the suspect bill, a serial number field in a suspect report is populated with a serial number snippet image. Full Article
ar Light emitting diode driving apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT A light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus is provided, which includes a power conversion circuit for receiving and converting an input power so as to generate a DC voltage to simultaneously drive a plurality of LED strings arranged in parallel; and a plurality of current regulation chips each having a single regulation channel and respectively corresponding to the LED strings, wherein an ith current regulation chip is only used for regulating a current flowing through an ith LED string, where i is a positive integer. Full Article
ar Printing system and host apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT A host apparatus used in a printing system includes the host apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives print data and authentication information from the host apparatus so as to perform authentication operation referring to the authentication information. The host apparatus includes: an authentication information obtaining unit configured to obtain login authentication information from an operating system of the host apparatus as the authentication information, wherein the login authentication information obtained from the operating system is one entered when a user logs in to the host apparatus or to a network domain; and an authentication information sending unit configured to send the login authentication information to the image forming apparatus as the authentication information. Full Article
ar Computerized chart recorder By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT A computerized chart recorder is revealed, comprises a signal conversion unit, an operation control unit, a printing control unit, and a database. A signal conversion unit receives measurement signals of a measurement instrument, and converts the measurement signals to signal conversion data. A operation control unit receives the signal conversion data required for printing, produces corresponding chart data, and prints the curve of signal variations, which can be also displayed on a human-machine interface unit. Whether to store the data or to print can be determined. Besides, the data can be also transmitted to a printing control unit. When the printing control unit is activated, it can receive the chart data and the quality assurance data, and control a printing unit to emulate the chart recorder for executing chart recording. In addition, the quality assurance data can be printed as well for complying with the requirements of the quality-assurance operations. Full Article
ar Earthquake detection and alarming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an earthquake detection and alarming apparatus, comprising: a transparent object (46) having a concave surface on the top thereof; a rollable object (34) placed on the concave surface; an apiary of light projectors (30) placed above the concave surface; an apiary of light receivers (38) correspondingly to the apiary of light projectors, the apiary of light receivers being placed below the concave surface; and circuitry for determining: (a) vibrating frequency and amplitude of the rollable object with reference to the concave surface from sensing of the receivers (38); and (b) deducing therefrom the arrival of primary waves. Full Article
ar Apparatus and method for operating a flattener in an ink-based printing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method that operates a flattener in an ink-based printing apparatus. The printing apparatus can include a media path configured to transport media sheets. The printing apparatus can include a marking module configured to jet ink drops to generate images on the media sheets. The printing apparatus can include a flattener configured to flatten the ink jet drops of the images on the media sheets in a flattener nip. The printing apparatus can include a release agent distributer configured to distribute release agent on a first rotational flattener member. The printing apparatus can include a controller configured to control the printing apparatus to reduce an inter-copy gap distance between a first media sheet and a second media sheet to prevent a first rotational flattener member from contacting a second rotational flattener member between the first media sheet and the second media sheet. Full Article
ar Image pickup apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a photographing section that can photograph a subject from a plurality of viewpoints with parallax, and can photograph a 2D moving image of the subject obtained by photographing from at least one of the viewpoints and a 3D image of the subject obtained by photographing from the plurality of the viewpoints; a recording section that records the 2D moving image and the 3D image; a subject situation determination section that determines a timing suitable for photographing the 3D image while photographing the 2D moving image; and a photographing control section that controls the photographing section so as to photograph the 3D image when the subject situation determination section determines that the timing is suitable for photographing the 3D image. Full Article
ar Guide tube, guide tube apparatus, and endoscope system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT A guide tube having a tube; a ciliary portion including many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and a vibration portion provided on the tube for vibrating the ciliary portion so as to move the tube in the longitudinal direction. Full Article
ar Drying apparatus and printing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention provides an apparatus including: a rotatable belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface partially coming into contact with a sheet; a plurality of rollers being arranged in a direction of movement of the sheet and including a first roller and a second roller adjacent to each other, the plurality of rollers being pressed against the outer surface and the moving sheet being nipped between the plurality of rollers and the outer surface; a blowing mechanism configured to blow hot air from between the first roller and the second roller toward the sheet; and a heating unit including a heater and a contact surface coming into contact with the inner surface, the heating unit being configured to be able to set the contact surface thereof to have a predetermined non-uniform temperature distribution. Full Article
ar Container data center with earthquake protection function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT A container data center includes a container, a plurality of power supplies, an electric switch system, a plurality of normally closed switches, an alarm device, and a controller. The electric switch system is received in the container. The plurality of normally closed switches are connected between the power supplies and the electric switch system. Each normally closed switch is connected with a corresponding one of the power supplies in series. The controller is connected to the normally closed switches and the alarm device, configured for receiving earthquake information containing an earthquake intensity, and configured for controlling the alarm device to activate alarms and controlling some of the normally closed switches or all the normally closed switches to open when the earthquake intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined earthquake intensity. Full Article
ar Composite drum for solid ink marking system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT A print drum subassembly suitable for ink jet printing applications includes a composite print drum including an outer shell having a wall thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 15 mm and a thermal conductivity greater than about 200 W/m-K disposed around a hollow core having wall thickness in a range of about 4 mm to about 30 mm and a thermal conductivity less than about 10 W/m-K. A radiant heater is arranged within the hollow core and is configured to heat the outer shell without substantially heating the hollow core. Full Article
ar Marking head and marking device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT An inner peripheral surface of a tube-shaped inner casing has a regular hexagonal shape when viewed from the axial direction, a plurality of pins are arranged in the inner casing so as to take a posture parallel to the axial direction of the inner casing, and in this arrangement, a plurality of rows of the pins arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the pins, the adjacent pins of the adjacent rows are offset from each other in the row direction of the pins, and each pin contacts the pins adjacent thereto. Full Article
ar Viscous non-contact jetting method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT This invention concerns a method and apparatus for dispensing minute quantities of highly viscous material from a jetting needle when an expelling mechanism is activated using a nozzle plate with a jetting chamber having a top formed by a diaphragm and a bottom in fluid communication with a jetting needle. Fluid enters the chamber from an inlet channel and is jetted from the chamber by deforming the diaphragm to block the channel and expel a drop of fluid from the needle. A diaphragm driven metering chamber and/or reservoir chamber can optionally be used provide fluid to the jetting chamber. Full Article
ar Marking device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A marking head of a marking device comprises: at least one marking pin; a heater that heats the marking pin; a support base that supports a first marking tape and a second marking tape in such a manner that the first marking tape and the second marking tape line up in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the marketing pin; a driving device that is capable of moving the support base to a first position at which the first marking tape faces the marking pin, and a second position at which the second marking tape faces the marking pin; and extrusion devices that extrude the marking pin out toward the marking tape facing the marking pin in order to press the marking tape facing the marking pin against a tire and print on the tire. Full Article
ar Front/back discrimination device for time card, time recorder provided with same, front/back discrimination method for the time card, and program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A time recorder includes a first sensor that detects the side edge of a time card having a cut-out formed at at least one corner of the bottom, a second sensor that detects the bottom of the time card, and a card feeding unit that feeds the time card. When the time card is fed by this card feeding unit, a pulse counter of the card feeding unit counts the number of pulses of predetermined pulse signals after the first sensor detects the time card and until the second sensor detects the time card. Next, the front and back faces of the time card are determined based on the number of pulses that is a counting result. Hence, the front and back faces can be determined by the first sensor and the second sensor only. Full Article
ar Welding metal having excellent low-temperature toughness and drop-weight characteristics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a welding metal in which the chemical component composition thereof is appropriately controlled; an A value that is specified by a predetermined relational expression satisfies the requirement of being 3.8% to 9.0%; an X value that is specified by a predetermined relational expression satisfies the requirement of being 0.5% or greater; the area percentage of carbide particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 0.20 μm or greater in the welding metal is 4.0% or less; and the number of carbide particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 1.0 μm or greater is 1000 particles/mm2 or less. This welding metal, which can exhibit not only high strength but also good low-temperature toughness and good drop-weight characteristics, is useful as a material for a pressure vessel in a nuclear power plant. Full Article
ar Sliding part made of Pb-free Cu-Bi based sintered alloy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Sliding parts are made of Pb-free Cu—Bi based sintered material. The side in contact with a shaft is machined to a predetermined roughness. A number of Bi phases are present on the finished surface. Stable performance of Bi is to be exhibited. Machined sintered material covers a portion of the Bi phases. The ratio of the exposed surface area of the Bi phases is 0.5% or more relative to the area of the finished surface. Full Article
ar Forging heat resistant steel, manufacturing method thereof, forged parts and manufacturing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A forging heat resistant steel of an embodiment contains in percent by mass C: 0.05-0.2, Si: 0.01-0.1, Mn: 0.01-0.15, Ni: 0.05-1, Cr: 8 or more and less than 10, Mo: 0.05-1, V: 0.05-0.3, Co: 1-5, W: 1-2.2, N: 0.01 or more and less than 0.015, Nb: 0.01-0.15, B: 0.003-0.03, and a remainder comprising Fe and unavoidable impurities. Full Article
ar Sintered bearing for motor-powered fuel injection pumps By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a bearing for motor-powered fuel injection pumps, made from Cu—Ni-based sintered alloy, which is able to be obtained at a low cost, having excellent corrosion and abrasion resistances. The bearing contains 10 to 20% by mass of Ni, 5 to 13% by mass of Sn, 0.1 to 0.8% by mass of P, 1 to 6% by mass of C, and a remainder containing Cu and inevitable impurities, and is formed with a Ni—Sn—Cu—P phase containing at least 30% by mass of Sn in a grain boundary, and has a 8 to 18% porosity. The Ni—Sn—Cu—P phase contains 30 to 49% by mass of Ni, 10 to 30% by mass of Cu, 0.5 to 1.5% by mass of P, and a remainder containing Sn and inevitable impurities. Full Article
ar Bake hardening steel with excellent surface properties and resistance to secondary work embrittlement, and preparation method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a bake hardening steel having a crystalline grain size of ASTM No. 9 or more and a method for preparing the bake hardening steel by controlling the winding, rolling and cooling conditions. The bake hardening steel includes: C:0.0016˜0.0025%, Si:0.02% or less, P:0.01˜0.05%, S:0.01% or less, sol.Al:0.08˜0.12%, N:0.0025% or less, Ti:0.003% or less, Nb:0.003˜0.011%, Mo:0.01˜0.1%, B:0.0005˜0.0015% or less, balance Fe and other inevitable impurities, wherein % is weight %, and Mn and P satisfy the relation of −30(° C.)≧803P−24.4Mn−58. Full Article
ar Magnesium alloys containing rare earths By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Magnesium alloys containing: Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight Nd: 0-4.0% by weight Gd: 0-5.5% by weight Dy: 0-5.5% by weight Er: 0-5.5% by weight Zr: 0.05-1.0% by weight Zn+Mn: Full Article
ar Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles, and method for producing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles are produced by subjecting a mixed slurry to wet dispersion using a dispersion medium at a temperature in the range of 5 to 55° C., the mixed slurry being formed by blending water, cyanuric acid, and at least one component selected from zinc oxide and basic zinc carbonate such that the cyanuric acid concentration is 0.1 to 10.0 mass % with respect to water. Full Article
ar Oxide sintered compact for producing transparent conductive film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a sputtering target suitable for producing an amorphous transparent conductive film which can be formed without heating a substrate and without feeding water during the sputtering; which is easily crystallized by low-temperature annealing; and which has low resistivity after the crystallization. An oxide sintered compact containing an indium oxide as a main component, while containing tin as a first additive element, and one or more elements selected from germanium, nickel, manganese, and aluminum as a second additive element, with the content of tin which is the first additive element being 2-15 atom % relative to the total content of indium and tin, and the total content of the second additive element being 0.1-2 atom % relative to the total content of indium, tin and the second additive element. Full Article
ar Lens holder apparatus and system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for safely retaining an eye implant lens for transport and access for inspection and use in which a holding apparatus has a chamber for holding a lens. In one embodiment the chamber has a pin on which a lens can be placed and a ramp leading to the pin so that a gripping member can slide up the ramp into proper placement to grip the lens and remove it. The gripper can be configured so that after removing the lens from the holding apparatus, it can be used to implant the lens. Also, a system including the apparatus and a bottle assembly that will hold the apparatus in the bottle. A method for holding an eye implant lens in which a lens is placed in the apparatus which can then be placed in a bottle assembly. Full Article
ar Blowout preventer lifting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A blowout preventer (BOP) lifting apparatus has a reinforced frame and a gate for securing a BOP stack. The frame has a central U-shaped recess for securing a collared portion of the BOP stack. The gate pivotally swings between a closed position on the frame and an open position for installation and removal of the lifting apparatus from the BOP stack. An actuator has a first end connected to a top surface of the frame and a second end connected to the gate for actuating the opening and closing of the gate to the frame. When the gate is in the closed position, three locking pins are inserted into three vertical pinning holes located on the frame, which are aligned with three pinning holes located on the gate. The apparatus may be lifted via cables or other lifting mechanisms attached via lifting eyelets located on each corner of the frame. Full Article
ar Combination support stand and carrying handle for portable electronic devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combination support stand and carrying handle apparatus for use with an associated tablet device having a generally rectangular conformation with opposite front and back substantially planar surfaces. The apparatus includes a mounting member, a handle member, and a support stand for holding the associated tablet device on surfaces at selected angles for convenience of use of the tablet device. The carrying handle is grippable by the hand of an associated user. The support stand apparatus and carrying handle apparatus may be provided individually without the other. Full Article
ar Cargo strap with handle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cargo strap with carrying handle and mechanism for securing the cargo strap around a load. A first end of the cargo strap is preferably removably anchored to the strap securing mechanism by a clevis pin that permits rapid and easy disconnection of the first end of the cargo strap from the strap securing mechanism. The second end of the cargo strap is retained within the strap securing mechanism and prevented from removal therefrom by a stop proximate the second end of the cargo strap. The stop is preferably constructed as a loop formed in the second end of the cargo strap and sewn to the strap with a strap flap portion intermediate the second end of the cargo strap and the strap securing mechanism. The strap securing mechanism preferably has either a ratchet style mechanism with a reel or a modified cam buckle mechanism. Full Article
ar Closure apparatus and method of using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for closing opened packaging includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a strap attached to the base, and two complementary handle sections attached to the base. The handle sections extend upwardly from the upper surface of the base, and together form a grippable handle. A space exists between the handle sections to receive the strap therethrough. The handle sections can be releasably attached to each other. Full Article
ar Apparatus and method for lifting a skimmer well lid and for cleaning and lifting a skimmer basket By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multipurpose tool and method usable to remove debris and/or other retentate from a skimmer basket or a filter associated with a swimming pool, and/or to remove the skimmer well lid and the skimmer basket and/or filter from a skimmer well. The tool comprises two elongate members pivotally connected, each elongate member having a protrusion connected thereto at one end and a handle at the other. Each elongate member can have a scooping element connected thereto. The protrusions can point away from each other and can be adapted to move away from each other in response to the handles being moved towards each other. Full Article
ar Chucking apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, A chucking apparatus includes an arm that is configured to hold a test tube, an opening/closing mechanism that opens/closes the arm, a motor that drives the opening/closing mechanism, and a supplying unit configured to supply electric power to the motor at two different supply voltages. Full Article
ar Assembling apparatus and production system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To enable positioning a robot arm and a workpiece with high accuracy while reducing vibrations of a camera. According to the claimed invention for this purpose, a robot station 100 includes a pedestal 103 to which robot arms 101 and 102 are fixed, a camera 106 which images an area including a working area 209 of the pedestal 103, and a booth 104 to which the camera 106 is fixed. The pedestal 103 is fixed to a floor surface, and the booth 104 is fixed to the floor surface without contacting the pedestal 103. The booth 104 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a short side parallel to a workpiece conveying direction T and a long side perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T in a plan view. In the booth 104, the length of the long side y of the booth 104 is set to not less than the sum of a maximum length by which the robot arms 101 and 102 protrude from the pedestal 103 in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T and the length in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T of the pedestal 103 in a plan view. Full Article
ar Trash spearing tools with retractable spearing pins By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A trash spearing tool and method are provided. The tool includes a spearing pin, a trigger assembly, an inner tube, and an outer tube. The trigger assembly is movable between a normal position and an activated position. The outer tube is slidable between a storage position and a use position. The spearing pin is operatively coupled to the trigger assembly in such manner that, when the outer tube is in the use position and the trigger assembly is in the normal position, the spearing pin is normally biased to an extended position in which a portion of the spearing pin extends from the outer tube and, when the outer tube is in the storage position and the trigger assembly is in either the normal position or use position, the spearing pin to in a retracted position in which the spearing pin does not extend from the outer tube. Full Article
ar Apparatus and method for collecting and disposing waste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods for pet waste disposal include using a portable waste collection receptacle disposed on a handle. A heat source is mounted together with the waste collection receptacle, capable of incinerating waste disposed in the waste collection receptacle. Full Article
ar Orientation controller, mechanical arm, gripper and components thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A jointed mechanism including a segment coupled to a joint; and an elongated component coupled to the segment, where applying a pulling force to the elongated component rotates the segment around the joint, elastically deforming the elongated component; wherein the elastic deformation generates an elongated component elastic force sufficient to rotate the segment, in an opposite direction, in absence of the pulling force. Full Article