re Gas circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A gas circuit breaker includes movable and fixed electrode parts arranged to face each other in an engaging/separating manner in a container filled with an insulating gas, an operating mechanism attached to a partition of the container and configured to output an operating force to the movable electrode part, an operating rod attached to the movable electrode part, a first link rotatably attached to the operating rod, a lever rotatably attached to the first link, a support bearing fixed to the partition of the container via an insulating spacer, a second link rotatably attached to the lever and also rotatably attached to the support bearing, a seal bearing connected through the partition of the container, a seal rod rotatably attached to the center of the lever and slidably supported to the seal bearing, and a third link rotatably attached to the seal rod and also attached to the operating mechanism. Full Article
re Arc chamber for a circuit breaker and circuit breaker having an arc chamber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An arc chamber for a circuit breaker has first and second mounting bodies. The mounting bodies are disposed at the ends of an electrically insulating insulation section of the arc chamber. The insulation section is formed of at least two shell-shaped partial sections. The partial sections are curved concavely relative to a longitudinal axis of the arc chamber. A gap is formed between the edges of the bodies of the partial sections. Full Article
re Direct overmolding By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a curable composition comprising an epoxy resin and a filler composition, a cured product obtained by curing said curable composition as well as the use of the cured products as electrically insulating construction material for electrical or electronic components. Full Article
re High current vacuum interrupter with sectional electrode and multi heat pipes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electrode assembly for a circuit breaker is provided. The electrode assembly includes a conductive assembly and a heat transfer assembly. The conductive assembly includes a stem portion and a contact portion. The heat transfer assembly includes a number of elongated bodies, a first heat transfer surface, and a second heat transfer surface. The first heat transfer surface is disposed on the conductive assembly. Each heat transfer assembly body includes a second heat transfer surface. Each heat transfer assembly body is coupled to the conductive assembly with the first heat transfer surface coupled to a number of second heat transfer surfaces. Full Article
re Arc chamber for bi-directional DC By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A circuit breaker including a pair of separable contacts and an arc chamber is provided. The separable contacts include a fixed contact having an upper surface. The arc chamber includes magnetic members disposed on either side of the separable contacts. The magnetic members have a lower surface below the fixed contact upper surface. Full Article
re Gas circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas circuit breaker is provided, avoiding change in the position of a cover member and without weakening of the blow of gas to the arc in an arc discharge cavity even when a surface of the cover member in contact with the arc discharge cavity is damaged. The gas circuit breaker includes a contact ring, a holder attached to the contact ring, and extending to a path of arc-extinguishing gas that extinguishes an arc, and an electrically insulative cover member attached to the holder. Full Article
re 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
re Gas-insulated circuit breaker with nominal contact shielding arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas-insulated type circuit breaker including a housing defining a gas volume for a dielectric insulation gas; a first arcing contact member and a second arcing contact member, wherein the first arcing contact member and the second arcing contact member are movable relative to each other along an axis; a first nominal contact member and a second nominal contact member, wherein the first nominal contact member and the second nominal contact member are movable relative to each other along the axis; and a first nominal contact shielding arrangement including an inner shield member and an outer shield member, wherein the inner shield member and the outer shield member are arranged coaxially about the axis. The first nominal contact member is arranged co-axially between the inner shield member and the outer shield member, and is movable relative to the inner shield member and to the outer shield member. Full Article
re Gas circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure relates to a gas circuit breaker switch (5) which can be integrated inside a switching device insulated in a dielectric gas, said switch (5) comprising an arc chute (1) inside which a fixed contact (3) and a moving contact (4) are arranged. The integration of the contacts (3, 4) inside at least one casing (19, 20) corresponding to the arc chute (1) allows reducing distances between phases, in addition to preventing any incident in one phase from affecting the remaining phases, and finally more compact electrical equipment is obtained. The switch (5) also comprises at least one generation means (6) for generating at least one gas, at least one blowout/intake means (7) for at least one extinguishing gas and at least one generation means (2) for generating a magnetic field, such that the electric arc generated between the contacts (3, 4) of the switch (5) can be extinguished by combining said means (6, 7, 2). Full Article
re Gas blast circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A circuit breaker includes a first contact and a second contact. An electric arc zone is disposed between the contacts. A feed channel opens into the electric arc zone, connecting the electric arc zone to a hot gas reservoir volume. The hot gas reservoir volume, in turn, is connected to a compression volume. An outflow opening is disposed in a wall of the compression volume. The outflow opening is permanently open, at least in a contacting state of the contacts. Full Article
re Arc runners suitable for DC molded case circuit breakers and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Circuit breakers include an arc chamber and an arc chute comprising a plurality of arc plates in the arc chamber. The circuit breakers also include a line conductor assembly with at least one arc runner attached to a line conductor in the arc chamber. The arc runner can extend below but adjacent to a bottom arc plate to thereby guide a respective arc into the arc chute. Full Article
re Air circuit breaker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An arc guider configured to provide an arc movement path, one side thereof forming a fixation projection and a center thereof forming a groove in a longitudinal direction, a fixation element sequentially including a main contact, an arc contact being spaced apart from the main contact and an insertion groove accommodating the arc guider and a plurality of projection fixing units being formed on both sides of the insertion groove and being curved toward the accommodated arc guider through an outer force so that the fixation projection does not escape wherein triangle V shaped groove marks by the outer force are formed in the plurality of the projection fixing units. Full Article
re Packaging system for portable electronic devices with removable faceplates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A removable faceplate for a portable electronic device is provided. The faceplate permits a user to change the physical appearance of a surface of the device while retaining access to the mechanisms for controlling the function of the device. Preferably, the removable faceplate and electronic device are configured with a means for association and dissociation that can be activated without the use of a tool and the means is not visible when the faceplate is attached. Additionally, an improved packaging system is provided to enable a vendor or manufacturer to package faceplates with the devices that they will cover and to allow substitution of faceplates in the packaging without disturbing the packaging of the electronic device itself. Further, there is a method for distribution of the packaging system. Full Article
re Resealable and refillable wipes dispenser By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Containers and dispensers for wiping substrates, and wet wiping substrates in particular, have been provided with lids, the containers have been susceptible to leakage, or difficulties in dispensing the contents. Provided is a refillable container for storing and dispensing wiping substrates. A refill cartridge containing wiping substrates having a peelable seal disposed on a first surface and a second surface for forming a seal with the container lid is provided. Full Article
re Structure of inflatable packaging device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packaging device includes first and second thermoplastic films superposed with each other, wherein predetermined portions of the thermoplastic films are bonded creating a plurality of fluid containers, a plurality of check valves each connected to a corresponding fluid container, a fluid passage in a first direction connected to the check valves, and a second border between an inflated section including the plurality of fluid containers and an uninflated section, wherein the first and second thermoplastic films are folded and two side edges of the films are bonded and a first portion of a first border connecting the inflated section to a second section is folded and an overlapped portion of the first portion is bonded leaving a remaining portion of the first border unbonded wherein the uninflated section forms a loop, and wherein the uninflated section forming the loop is folded into the inflated section to form a lining. Full Article
re Free standing dispenser apparatus for rolled sheet material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus is provided for dispensing a roll of sheet material in severable portions therefrom. The apparatus comprises a housing having a rim portion longitudinally offset from a base portion by a sidewall portion extending therebetween. The base and sidewall portions define a compartment for holding the roll of sheet material, and the sidewall portion includes a longitudinally extended dispensing slot formed therethrough communicating with the compartment. The sidewall portion forms about the dispensing slot at least one tapered edge. A lid is detachably coupled to the rim portion of the housing to enclose the compartment, and includes a bottom surface portion. A pivot structure is formed on at least one of the base and bottom surface portions to pivotally engage an axial end of the roll of sheet material for angular displacement thereon. Full Article
re 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
re Housing shell for portable electrical devices and method for the production thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A housing shell for electrical measuring, controlling and communication devices, in particular the lower housing part of a cellphone, has very great flexural and torsional rigidity in spite of an extremely small wall thickness if it is formed as a part created by a forming operation from the planar blank of a thermoplastically impregnated long-fibered multi-layered mat. Fine-membered functional elements of likewise thermoplastic material are then molded onto the housing shell in an injection mold. Full Article
re Styrene resin composition, and molded article thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic component packaging sheet formed of a styrene resin composition includes: (A) 29-65 mass parts of a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer; (B) 51-15 mass parts of a polystyrene resin; and (C) 20-9 mass parts of an impact resistant polystyrene resin. Components (A)-(C) each have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a specified range. Full Article
re Packet of cigarettes, and method of producing a packet of cigarettes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A packet (1) of cigarettes having: an inner package (2) defined by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (29) of wrapping material having at least one tear line (32) defining a tear-off top portion (31); an inner container (4) housing the inner package (2) and having an extraction opening (10) for access to the tear-off top portion (31); an outer container (5) housing the inner container (4) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container (4) to slide, with respect to the outer container (5), between a closed position, in which the inner container (4) is inserted inside the outer container (5), and an open position, in which the inner container (4) is extracted partly from the outer container (5); and a tear-off lid (45) connected to the inner container (4) by at least one tear line (48), and covering at least part of the extraction opening (10). Full Article
re Credit-card-sized carrier of both standard and micro form-factor flash-memory cards By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier is about the same size as a thick credit card and fits into a wallet. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier has bays that accept flash-memory cards. Larger bays on one side receive SD cards and a Memory Stick Duo card, while micro bays on another side of the carrier receive microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro cards. A carrier spine sandwiched between top and bottom covers has openings forming the bays. Spring-clip tabs on spring-clip fingers fit into notches on the side of the flash-memory cards to secure the flash-memory cards into the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier to prevent loss. The spring-clip fingers are movable parts of the carrier spine that are deformed during insertion of the flash-memory cards. Both micro and standard flash-memory cards can be carried in the same multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier that can be placed in plastic sleeves for credit cards in a person's wallet. Full Article
re Postal mailer for stress-sensitive articles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Protective mailer capable of being processed by postal processing equipment without causing damage to the article held by the mailer. The pocket holding the article inside the mailer is offset relative to one edge, when folded, by a distance sufficient to prevent damage when the mailer is oriented and processed. The mailer may include a resizing flap that, when unfolded and deployed, changes the dimensions of the mailer so that the mailer is processed by the postal processing equipment as a non-letter or flat mailpiece. Full Article
re Infection prevention system with IV pole flush and swab caddy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bed-side system for preventing infection that uses a flush and swab caddy attached to an IV pole or other bed-side equipment. By providing convenient and secure storage for pre-filled syringes, alcohol swabs, and other medical supplies, it can improve individual patient care. In an embodiment, the caddy attaches to the IV pole and comprises a locking compartment for pre-filled syringes and an open tray for alcohol swabs and other medical supplies. The syringes may be filled with saline, heparin, or another solution. Full Article
re Methods of treating cancer of the central nervous system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of treating a cancer of the central nervous system in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which reduces blood glutamate levels and enhances brain to blood glutamate efflux to thereby treat the cancer of the central nervous system in the subject. Full Article
re Reversible folio for tablet computer with reversible connection for keyboard and reading configuration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reversible folio for a tablet computer has a tablet shell with a cavity removably receiving the tablet computer. A keyboard is pivotally and removably coupled to the tablet shell. A channel is pivotally coupled to an edge of the keyboard. An interior of the channel removably receives the proximal edge of the tablet shell, and has a profile mating with a profile of the tablet shell. The channel and proximal edge have first and second symmetrical magnet arrays, respectively. The proximal edge of the tablet shell physically mates with the channel of the keyboard, and the second magnet array of the tablet shell magnetically mates with the first magnet array of the channel, in both a first orientation and an opposite second orientation. Full Article
re Containers and components thereof for use in the medical industry and methods to manufacture the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Containers and components thereof for use in the medical industry and methods to manufacture the same are described. An example tab for use with a medical container includes opposing sheets sealed to define an open ended chamber into which a port is to be at least partially positioned. The port is to enable access to the medical container. The tab includes a tear seal defined by each of the opposing sheets and a first guide positioned on a first side of each of the tear seals. The tab includes a second guide positioned on a second side of each of the tear seals, wherein the first and second guides are to enable a tear to propagate substantially between the guides and adjacent the tear seals. Full Article
re Container having transparent optical element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A container (10) for consumer goods comprises a first panel (16) having a pattern (22) applied to an area (20) of the external surface thereof; and a second panel (26) comprising a transparent optical element. The first panel (16) and the second panel (26) are moveable relative to each other between a first position, in which the transparent optical element in the second panel (26) does not overlie the pattern (22) on the first panel (16), and a second position, in which the transparent optical element in the second panel (26) at least partially overlies the pattern (22) on the first panel (16), whereby an altered image of the pattern is visible through the transparent optical element. Full Article
re 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
re Children's tray with placement indicator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A children's tray with a placement indicator includes a tray and a groove/spot formed in the tray to indicate where an eating item (including food, utensils, or dishware) is to be placed. The tray can be mounted, removably or fixedly, to a variety of child support structures, including high chairs, booster seats and bouncers and includes a wall around the periphery intended to prevent items from falling off of the tray. The groove/spot formed in the tray may be formed from of a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the material used to form the tray. The groove/spot formed in the tray may be formed from of a material having a different color than the material used to form the tray. Full Article
re Propofol formulations with non-reactive container closures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT A container storing an anesthetic is disclosed. The container is sealed by a closure and stores a liquid anesthetic solution. The anesthetic is from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the liquid anesthetic solution. The container is made of a material that is inert to the anesthetic and the closure is made of siliconized rubber or a metal. A concentration of the anesthetic in a liquid anesthetic solution stored in the container following a predetermined time period is at least 93% of a concentration of the anesthetic in a liquid anesthetic solution before the liquid anesthetic solution is stored in the container. Full Article
re Booklet with ultra removable adhesive label By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST An ultra removable booklet with label for application to media is described. The booklet with label includes a release liner, an ultra removable adhesive layer, a paper stock layer, a booklet, an adhesive layer, and a clear plastic cover layer. The clear plastic cover layer has the adhesive layer applied to a bottom surface thereof and the bottom surface is positioned over the booklet. The booklet is positioned over the paper stock. The ultra removable adhesive layer is attached to the lower surface of the paper stock. The release liner is applied to the ultra removable adhesive layer. A process for forming an ultra removable booklet with label for application to media is also described. Full Article
re Reusable notecard and methods of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST Embodiments of the invention are directed to reusable notecard. In one embodiment, the reusable notecard is comprised of a trifold panel having a left panel, a center panel and a right panel and a reclosable closing mechanism, connected to the trifold panel, to releasably secure the left panel to the right panel when folded over one another. In one embodiment, the adjustable left panel is comprised of a plurality of left panel fold lines and the right panel is comprised of a plurality of right panel fold lines, the plurality of left panel fold lines and the plurality of right panel fold lines for adapting to dimensions of contents inside the notecard. In one embodiment, the trifold panel is made of a material allowing for non-permanent markings. Full Article
re Report cover By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST A cover (10) is disclosed for holding objects such as papers and reports. The cover (10) is formed of a member (20) having a front cover (22), a spine (24) and a back cover (26). A first portion (32) and a second portion (38) are folded over to encapsulate a prong fastener (12). The second portion (38) is then fastened to the back cover (26) with adhesive tape (58). The first and second portions (32, 38) can be part of a fastener assembly (70) having a third portion (72) that is secured to the inner surface (62) of the back cover (26). In a modification, a flap (128) can be hinged to the side of the back cover (126). Full Article
re Communications device including radio frequency (RF) signal blocking layer for near-field communication (NFC) device and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device. Full Article
re System and method for tactile currency identification By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tactile orientation indicator is positioned along the periphery of a bill, and a tactile denomination indicator is positioned elsewhere along the periphery of the bill. The user of the bill may then use their tactile senses to feel along the edges of the bill to orient the bill to a pre-determined orientation based on the location of the orientation indicator. The user then feels along the periphery of the bill to locate the denomination indicator. Using a predetermined system associating the location of the denomination indicator with a particular bill denomination, the user may then identify the denomination of the bill even if blind or otherwise visually impaired. Full Article
re Motion greeting cards By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object. This movement may be up-and-down or “bouncing” motion, spinning or rotational motion, side-to-side motion or any other reciprocating motion. Full Article
re Method for creating a single continuous web from which to fabricate mailpieces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing a continuous web of printed material for use in creating mailpieces. The continuous web has a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets are comprising envelope sheets and rectangular content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. Sheets for forming business return envelopes may be printed in series with the content pages and envelope sheets. BREs may include individualized return addresses. A control code may be printed on one or more of the sheets for a given mailpiece, providing information for controlling assembly of the mailpiece. Two sets of sheets may be printed across the width of the web by printing content pages onto the continuous web such that two end-to-end content pages are printed across the width of the web. Positioning of mail content pages and envelope sheets for a given mailpiece may be optimized based on respective processing times determined for the system. Full Article
re Method for binding a bundle of loose leaves or the like and end leaf applied thereby By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT Method for binding a bundle of loose leaves or the like in a cover. The method includes the step of providing an end leaf that includes a fixing strip on a side edge, with the fixing strip partly fixed to the end leaf and provided with a strip of glue on a part of the fixing strip which is not fixed to the end leaf. On the side of the fixing strip turned away from the end leaf, said strip of glue being provided with a removable foil. Another step is binding a free edge of the bundle of loose leaves together with the end leaf. Further steps include removing the foil, and providing the bound edge of the bundle of leaves and the end leaf in the back of the cover and fixing thereof in the cover only by the strip of glue. Full Article
re Response form security device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A response form security device is provided for use with a generally planar response form having an answer area bearing answer blanks upon which a respondent makes marks to indicate a plurality of responses. The security device includes a sleeve adapted and constructed to slidably receive and cover the response form. An access window is formed in the sleeve, and permits visual access by the respondent to a number of fewer than all of the answer areas of the response form. The length of the sleeve and the configuration of the answer window are chosen so as to prevent anyone other than the user from seeing a number of marks on the answer area sufficient to observe a repeatable pattern of marks. Full Article
re Recessed adhesive binding systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Recessed adhesive binding systems. One system can include a plurality of sheets arranged in a stack, each of the plurality of sheets having a front surface, a rear surface, and an exposed edge. At least one of the front surface and the rear surface of each of the plurality sheets can include at least one recessed adhesive positioned adjacent the exposed edge to form an at least partially exposed recessed adhesive, which can be selectively activated. The rear surface of a first sheet in the plurality of sheets can be positioned adjacent the front surface of a second sheet in the plurality of sheets, or vice versa, and the exposed edges of the plurality of sheets can be staggered, such that the exposed edge of the second sheet extends further outwardly from the stack than the exposed edge of the first sheet in the stack. Full Article
re Printable book binding structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A book binding structure which includes at least one adhesive binder strip and a pair of supporting sheets for supporting the binder strip during a binder strip printing process. Opposite ends of the binder strip are supported on separate support sheets, which are coupled together only by way of the binder strip to allow independent movement of the ends of the binder strip. The sheets are arranged to support the binder strip as is passes along the paper path of a conventional printer. Full Article
re Dynamic cancellation of passive intermodulation interference By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication node (10) dynamically estimates passive intermodulation (PIM) interference coupled into the node's receive path from the transmission of a composite signal through the node's transmit path. The node (10) then cancels the estimated PIM interference in the receive path. In some embodiments, the node dynamically estimates the PIM interference as a function of the composite signal that models PIM interference generation and coupling in the node (10) according to one or more coefficients (30). The coefficients (30) may be determined by transmitting a test signal (34) during a test stage, when the node (10) is not scheduled to receive any signal. Later, when the composite signal (18) is transmitted, the node (10) uses the coefficients (10) to dynamically estimate and cancel the resulting PIM interference. Full Article
re Electrosurgical apparatus with real-time RF tissue energy control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A radio-frequency (RF) amplifier having a direct response to an arbitrary signal source to output one or more electrosurgical waveforms within an energy activation request, is disclosed. The RF amplifier includes a phase compensator coupled to an RF arbitrary source, the phase compensator configured to generate a reference signal as a function of an arbitrary RF signal from the RF arbitrary source and a phase control signal; at least one error correction amplifier coupled to the phase compensator, the at least one error correction amplifier configured to output a control signal at least as a function of the reference signal; and at least one power component coupled to the at least one error correction amplifier and to a high voltage power source configured to supply high voltage direct current thereto, the at least one power component configured to operate in response to the control signal to generate at least one component of the at least one electrosurgical waveform. Full Article
re Method and circuit arrangement for controlling current in motors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and circuit arrangement for controlling the motor current in an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, by a chopper method is provided. In the method/circuit arrangement, the motor is operated with a coil current that follows a target coil current substantially more accurately at least at the zero crossing of the coil current. The method/circuit arrangement provides a good symmetry of the sinusoidal wave shape of the coil current with respect to the zero crossing of the coil current. The method is achieved in particular by the active control of the coil current both in the direction of a predefined target coil current and opposite the direction of the predefined target coil current with respect to upper or lower desired current values and a lowering or increasing of the upper or lower desired current values. Full Article
re Linearization circuit and related techniques By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Circuits and techniques to linearize the operation of an RF power amplifier are described. A linearizer circuit may include a non-amplification signal path which includes a delay line and an amplification signal path which includes at least one amplifier stage. In some embodiments, the amplification signal path may include an odd number of amplification stages. The linearizer may be used to precondition an input signal of an RF power amplifier in a manner that improves the overall linearity of operation. Full Article
re Differential circuit compensated with self-heating effect of active device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A differential circuit with a function to compensate unevenness observed in the differential gain thereof is disclosed. The differential circuit provides a low-pass filter in one of the paired transistors not receiving the input signal in addition to another low-pass filter that provides an average of output signals as a reference level of the differential circuit. The cut-off frequency of the filter is preferably set to be equal to the transition frequency at which the self-heating effect explicitly influences the trans-conductance of the transistor. Full Article
re Operational transconductance amplifier with increased current sinking capability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An amplifier circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. A current sinking transistor includes a first conduction terminal coupled to the output terminal and a second conduction terminal coupled to a reference supply node. A voltage sensing circuit has a first input coupled to the input terminal and a second input coupled to the output terminal. An output of the voltage sensing circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the current sinking transistor. The voltage sensing circuit functions to sense a rise in the voltage at the output terminal which exceeds the voltage at the input terminal, and respond thereto by activating the current sinking transistor. Full Article
re System and method for pre-charging a current mirror By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for pre-charging a current minor includes a controller configured to provide a first current and an additional current to a current minor to rapidly charge a capacitance associated with the current minor based on a reference voltage or control signals. A power amplifier module includes at least one current minor and a controller. A capacitor is coupled to the current minor. The controller provides a bias current in an amount proportional to an input to a voltage-to-current converter. The controller receives a control signal that directs the controller to apply one of a pre-charge voltage and a nominal voltage to the voltage-to-current converter. Full Article
re Input receiver circuit having single-to-differential amplifier, and semiconductor device including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An input receiver circuit including a single-to-differential amplifier and a semiconductor device including the input receiver circuit are disclosed. The input receiver circuit includes a first stage amplifier unit and a second stage amplifier unit. The first stage amplifier unit amplifies a single input signal in a single-to-differential mode to generate a differential output signal, without using a reference voltage. The second stage amplifier unit amplifies the differential output signal in a differential-to-single mode to generate a single output signal. Full Article
re Transmit-receive front end By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a transmit-receive (TR) front end. The TR front end includes a low-noise amplifier (LNA); a power amplifier (PA); a transformer, coupled to the PA, for increasing a voltage swing and a power transmission of the PA; and a TR switch, coupled between the transformer and the LNA. The LNA is single ended and there is no transformer between the LNA and the TR switch. Full Article