US07646324B2
A pipeline type analog-digital converter includes a first to an N-th (N is an integer of not less than 2) stages (101 to 10N) brought into cascade connection and converting an analog signal input from a preceding stage to a digital signal of a predetermined bit and outputting the digital signal. Each of the first to the (N−1)-th stages (101 to 10N−1) includes an analog-digital converter circuit including comparators comparing an analog signal with reference potential being determined in advance and mutually different in parallel. The first to the (N−1)-th stages are in redundant configuration with the comparators of the stage including an auxiliary comparator.
US07646321B2
Provided is a digital/analog converter including a voltage dividing unit that includes a plurality of voltage dividing elements and divides a reference voltage by voltage division; a first decoder that selects a plurality of voltages among the voltages divided by the voltage dividing unit; a first voltage output unit that is connected to nodes among adjacent voltage dividing elements of the voltage dividing unit and the first decoder, and outputs a plurality of voltages selected by the first decoder; a second decoder that selects any one of the plurality of voltages output from the first voltage output unit; and a second voltage output unit that is connected to the first voltage output unit and the second decoder and outputs the voltage selected by the second decoder.
US07646316B2
A compound portable computing device comprising two or more separate portable devices coupled over a wireless link is described. A first portable computing device contains a keypad with keys dedicated to use with a function of the devices. A circuit of the first portable computing device reconfigures the first keypad to operate as a first portion of a standard QWERTY keyboard or other type of keyboard for text entry. A second keyboard portion comprising keys permanently configured to provide complementary keys to the first keyboard portion is separably linked to the first portable computing device, so that the first and second keyboard portions function as a full QWERTY keyboard.
US07646314B2
The invention relates to displacement encoder for a movable shaft, comprising a sleeve (2) which is intended to be fixed in rotation to the shaft (3) and an encoding element (4) which is made from magnetizable polymer and which is solidly connected to the sleeve, said encoding element being equipped with an encoding zone (6) having at least one polarized mark. The aforementioned encoding zone of the encoding element is covered with a protective layer (10) which is made from a polymer having a surface abrasion resistance greater than that of the magnetizable polymer. The invention also relates to a device comprising one such encoder and to a production method thereof.
US07646306B2
ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A HIDDEN RECEIVER-SENDER DELIMITER FOR PNEUMATICS AND SIMILARS, especially a constructive arrangement allowing the use of a transponder (device to send and receive radio frequency signals) in aggressive means, be them chemical, mechanical or others, with no losses which may cause damage to said transponder; the conventional transponder (T) for emission and reception of radio frequency signals (RF) composed by a chip (1) and a coil reel (2); the transponder (T), with its new features, may be used, with no prejudice to its features, in aggressive chemical or mechanical means; the transponder (T) receives two protections: the first one by covering the transponder set (T) with a plastic film (F); the second protection is the introduction of said transponder (T), already with the first protection, inside a capsule (3) with special features, made of transparent material to electromagnetic waves and appropriate to resist against different mechanical efforts, be them twisting, flexion, traction or even mechanical vibrations, being the employed material preferably a plastic provided not only with transparence to electromagnetic waves, but also relative flexibility.
US07646304B2
A method for efficiently producing a plurality of EAS or RFID tags or inlays that form a label ready for use. The process utilizes a first web of RFID chip straps or capacitor straps that are releasably secured to a liner using only a low tack adhesive and utilizes a second web of coils or antennas which are secured to a second liner. After indexing these two webs, selective heat and pressure are applied to the chips straps or to the capacitor straps to transfer them and electrically couple them to a corresponding coil or antenna. Where both chip straps and capacitor straps are applied to a common antenna, a third web of the additional strap is used in the process.
US07646297B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed providing the automatic, self configuration of a communication device to adjust to the user's environmental circumstances. Method includes creating a set of mode templates corresponding to a plurality of potential environmental circumstances and may be stored in a database in the computer readable memory of the communication device. At predetermined intervals, a suite of environmental sensors integral to the communication device may periodically sample the user's environment. The user's environmental circumstances may be derived by an analysis module based on the output of the suite of environmental sensors. The derived set of environmental circumstances may then be compared to the mode templates to determine a matching mode template. A change to a plurality of communication device operational settings may then be made based at least partially on the matching mode template.
US07646291B2
A light control system may include a signal coder (e.g., a flasher module), one or more motor vehicle light sources, and a signal decoder. The light control system may be a part of a motor vehicle taillight system. The signal coder may provide a selected signal. The selected signal may be a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch. The selected signal may be a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch. The signal decoder may be coupled to the signal coder. The signal decoder may assess the selected signal from the signal coder to determine a selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources. The motor vehicle light sources may be coupled to the signal decoder. The motor vehicle light sources may provide the selected lighting output.
US07646287B2
An antitheft apparatus for a vehicle has an inertia sensor, which is also used for an anti-lock braking system. An electronic control unit receives output signals from the inertia sensor and determines a possible vehicle theft when a detected vehicle condition (for example, vehicle acceleration) is larger than a threshold value.
US07646278B2
The present invention relates to a high voltage transformer with high magnetic leakage and dual high voltage output, comprising a base and a core set, wherein the base contains a hollow support into which a first core of the core set pierces, and primary coils are wound on both sides of the hollow support, while a plurality of isolation channels is installed for winding first and second secondary coils on external sides of primary coils. First and second slots are opened between the primary coils and the first and second secondary coils respectively, and both slots cut into an internal through hole. When a second core of the core set is placed at one end of the hollow support, extensions at both ends of the second core go through both sides of the first core, together with first and second protrusive parts between the two extensions that are installed within the first and second slots and combined with the first core to form multiple magnetic paths.
US07646268B1
An electro-mechanical harmonic load pull tuner uses three variable and adjustable shunt air capacitors and three variable and adjustable series phase shifters and creates independently controllable impedances at three harmonic frequencies in the frequency range between 30 and 250 MHz. Independent harmonic tuning is possible because the combination of adjustable shunt capacitors and series phase shifters allows generating more than 1019 impedance states at each frequency covering the entire Smith chart; appropriate impedance-search Error Function-based optimization algorithms allow fast harmonic tuning for impedance tuning and matching the output of RF transistors and amplifiers at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Stepper motors, drivers and control software are used to automate, calibrate and use the harmonic tuner in an automated harmonic load pull measuring setup.
US07646267B1
A segmented, electro-mechanical, remotely controlled programmable impedance tuner for the frequency range between 10 and 200 MHz uses a cascade of three continuously variable mechanical capacitors interconnected by a set of two low loss flexible or semi-rigid cables; the electrical length of the interconnecting cables between the capacitors determines the frequency at which tuning coverage of the entire area of the Smith chart is optimum; for maximum impedance coverage the length is to be chosen such as to generate a transmission phase shift of 60 degrees at the center frequency between each capacitor stage. Remote tuning is possible by changing the value of the capacitors using electrical stepper motors. The tuner is calibrated using a vector network analyzer and the data are saved in the memory of the control computer, which then allows tuning to any user defined impedance within the tuning range. Reflection factor values between 0 and higher than 0.9 can be obtained using this tuner.
US07646264B2
An agile frequency converter provides IF-RF level exchange and notch filtering. System noise and spurious levels generated by channel frequency conversion is reduced in applications requiring broadband combining of frequency converters to form multichannel composite signal. A pair of varactor banks is connected in an arrangement whereby varactor pairs are connected in parallel and capacitor pairs are connected in anti-parallel. Tuning is achieved by circuitry for tuning first and second varactors.
US07646250B2
A signal converter includes a signal converting unit and a compensation unit. The signal converting unit generates intermediate differential signals at intermediate nodes in response to a single-ended signal. The compensation unit generates compensated differential signals at output nodes by minimizing phase and amplitude mismatch errors between the intermediate differential signals. The compensation unit includes a pair of transistors and a pair of capacitors configured in symmetry between the intermediate and output nodes. The signal converter of the present invention may be used to particular advantage in an RF receiver.
US07646249B2
A cross-differential amplifier is provided. The cross-differential amplifier includes an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal. A first and second switch, such as transistors, are connected to the inductor at a second terminal. A first and second amplifier are connected at their supply terminals to the first and second switch. The first and second switches are operated to commutate the inductor between the amplifiers so as to provide an amplified signal while limiting the ripple voltage on the inductor and thus limiting the maximum voltage imposed across the amplifiers and switches.
US07646242B2
A disclosed operational amplifier circuit with a multi-stage amplifier configuration provides fast-response and high withstand-voltage characteristics without using high withstand-voltage transistors as output transistors in its amplifying stages. The output voltage range of a differential amplifier circuit in a first stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of a bipolar diode. The output voltage range of an amplifier circuit in a second stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of another bipolar diode. A constant voltage circuit and an apparatus including such an operational amplifier circuit are also disclosed.
US07646236B2
A two-step tuning process for resistors and capacitors in an integrated circuit is described. In the first step of the tuning process, an on-chip adjustable resistor is tuned based on an external resistor to obtain a tuned resistor. The value of the tuned resistor is accurate to within a target percentage determined by the external resistor and the design of the adjustable resistor. In the second step, an adjustable capacitor is tuned based on the tuned resistor and an accurate clock to obtain a tuned capacitor having an accurate value. The adjustable capacitor may be tuned such that an RC time constant for the tuned resistor and the tune capacitor is accurate to within a target percentage determined by the accurate clock and the design of the adjustable capacitor. The resistors and capacitors of other circuits on the integrated circuit may be adjusted based on the tuned resistor and the tuned capacitor, respectively.
US07646230B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a circuit adapted to cause an actuation of an output device according to a control output. The control output can be generated comprising a control signal, the control signal extracted from a sequence of clock pulses. The sequence of clock pulses can comprise the control signal.
US07646225B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for accurately detecting a mains phase. The apparatus is constructed with a zero-crossing detector, a digital phase detector, a digital loop filter, and a digital controlled oscillator (DCO) of a direct digital synthesized (DDS) manner. The present apparatus employs an all-digital loop architecture and a high sampling clock to recover a signal with a phase orthogonal with the mains signal and a frequency the same as the mains signal. And jitters in the recovered signal are less than 10 us. The present apparatus is capable of implementing signal tracking of a zero frequency error and a zero phase in a wide range, and can provide a detection result of excellent performance for the power line carrier communication, mains frequency detection, etc.
US07646221B2
A buffer circuit permitting an input signal to pass and prohibiting the input signal from passing corresponding to an output control signal, including an output switching device, a control portion having a first switching circuit controlling the output switching device into conductive state and a second switching circuit controlling the output switching device into non-conductive state, and controlling the output switching device into the conductive state or non-conductive state corresponding to the input signal and the output control signal, wherein a connecting point between the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit is coupled to the output switching device, and a changing portion connected to the second switching circuit in series and limiting the drive capacity of the output switching device when the output control signal is in an output prohibition state of prohibiting the input signal from passing.
US07646219B2
An integrated circuit (200) includes a translator circuit (210) for translating from a lower logic-level voltage range signal (101(a), 101(b)) to a higher logic-level voltage range signal (141(a), 141(b)). The translator (210) includes a differential input stage (110) including a first (Q39) and a second input transistor (Q38) coupled to receive at least a first input signal (101(a), 101(b)) that defines the lower voltage range signal. A voltage follower 120 includes first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40). An output of the first and second input transistors (Q39, Q38) is coupled to inputs of the first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40). A dynamic gain boosting switching circuit (130) is coupled to receive outputs from the first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40) and includes a first and a second control node (131, 132). The switching circuit (130) include a first positive feedback loop including a first internal feedback transistor (MN1) that reinforces a signal level at the first control node (131) and a second positive feedback loop including a second internal feedback transistor (MN2) that reinforces a signal level at the second control node 132. An output stage (140) has at least one input coupled to receive at least one output signal from the switching circuit (130) and provide at least one translated output supplying the higher logic-level voltage range signal.
US07646218B2
An architecture of hierarchical interconnect scheme for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A first layer of routing network lines is used to provide connections amongst sets of block connectors where block connectors are used to provide connectability between logical cells and accessibility to the hierarchical routing network. A second layer of routing network lines provides connectability between different first layers of routing network lines. Additional layers of routing network lines are implemented to provide connectability between different prior layers of routing network lines. An additional routing layer is added when the number of cells is increased as the prior cell count in the array increases while the length of the routing lines and the number of routing lines also increases. Switching networks are used to provide connectability among same and different layers of routing network lines, each switching network composed primarily of program controlled passgates and, when needed, drivers.
US07646212B2
A memory system includes a memory controller, a transmission bus, a power divider, a first memory chip, and a second memory chip. The transmission bus is coupled from the memory controller to a first node of the power divider for transferring signals. The first node of the power divider is coupled to a second node of the power divider via a first line, and the first node is also coupled to a third node of the power divider via a second line. The first memory chip is coupled to the second node via a first branch bus and the second memory chip is coupled to the third node via a second branch bus. Accordingly, reflected wave due to an impedance mismatching can be reduced to enhance the signal integrity.
US07646207B2
A method for measuring a property of interconnections is provided. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of interconnection test patterns are provided. A pad to which the plurality of interconnection test patterns are parallelly connected is formed. At least one resistor is formed between at least one of the plurality of interconnection test patterns and the pad. The property of the plurality of interconnection test patterns is measured by applying a current, a voltage and/or a mechanical stress to the pad.
US07646205B2
The invention provides for a method of using a network analyzer and a test controller for measuring S-parameters of a device, which can assume a plurality of states, and which can switch very fast from one state to another. The test controller sends a trigger to the analyzer, which starts a frequency sweep when it receives this trigger. The frequency sweep, having substantially the same start and stop frequency, is provided to the device. The analyzer then executes a measurement of at least one S-parameter of the device, stores the S-parameter data from the measurement and provides the test controller with a trigger. The test controller then updates the device to the next state in a predetermined sequence of states when it receives the trigger from the analyzer. These steps are repeated until all states in the predetermined sequence of states have been measured. In addition, the invention provides for a system for measuring at least one S-parameter of a microwave device, which system comprises a test controller a network analyzer and the microwave device itself.
US07646201B2
An airborne electromagnetic survey system for conducting geological mapping is disclosed. A transmitter closed loop structure is used in the system and is designed for connection to a towing airborne vehicle. The transmitter loop structure comprises a plurality of interconnected loop segments, and transmitting means are fitted to at least one of the loop segments for generating and transmitting an earthbound primary electromagnetic field effective for geological surveying. Sensing means are fitted to the loop segments for receiving and sensing a vertical component of a secondary resulting electromagnetic field which arises from an interaction of the primary electromagnetic field with ground bodies that are traversed by the sensing means, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field. Helical sensing means are positioned in close proximity to the transmitting means to receive and sense a horizontal electromagnetic field contained in the secondary resulting field, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field.
US07646197B2
To perform execution scheduling of function blocks so as to control the total required power of the function blocks within a supplyable power budget value, and thereby realize stable operations at low power consumption. Function block identifiers are allotted to all the function blocks, and to a RAM area that a power consumption control device can read and write, a list to store identifiers and task priority, power mode value showing power states, and power mode time showing the holding time of power states can be linked. A single or plural link lists for controlling the schedules of tasks operating on the function blocks, a link list for controlling the function block in execution currently in high power mode, a link list for controlling the function block in stop currently in stop mode, and a link list for controlling the function block in execution currently in low power mode are allotted, and thereby the power source and the operation clock are controlled by the power consumption control device.
US07646196B2
Provided is a current sensor capable of detecting an induced magnetic field by a current to be detected with higher precision. The first and second modules are provided on facing surfaces of integrated substrates, respectively, with spacers in between. Each of the first and second modules includes an element substrate, and an MR element layer. On each of the MR elements layers, provided is an MR element having a stacked structure including a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to the induced magnetic field and which exhibits an anisotropic field in a direction different from that of the magnetization of the pinned layer. The stacked structures of the MR elements are provided in a same layer level.
US07646194B2
A resolver of a variable reluctance type includes a resolver stator portion of a substantially annular shape centered about a central axis, and a resolver rotor portion which is attached to a shaft of a motor rotor portion arranged inwardly of the resolver stator portion. The resolver is operable to increase accuracy for detecting a rotational angle when a size of gap g between a rotor core and a resolver stator portion at a predetermined point at an outer circumferential edge of the rotor core is set by using a maximum value for the gap g (gmax), a minimum value for the gap g (gmin), angle θ defined by a predetermined point and a reference point, axial double angle n, and the coefficient.
US07646193B2
A device inspection apparatus that is capable of judging the functions of operating control buttons on a cellular phone or like device automatically and easily. The device inspection apparatus comprises an adapter unit 2 on which a cellular phone 1 is mounted; a camera 4 for picking up the image of an LCD panel 3, which serves as a display section for the cellular phone 1; a plunger unit 7, which has a plurality of releases 6 for pressing a key button 5 on the cellular phone 1; a computer 8 for controlling the operation of the plunger unit 7 and exercising control; and a monitor 9 for displaying an LCD panel image and an image based on a signal from the computer 8. A still picture, motion picture, or audio output, which is acquired when a release 6 presses a key button 5, is compared against a predetermined expected image or sound to judge the functionality of the cellular phone 1.
US07646187B2
This patent specification describes a power adapter which includes a first amplifier configured to amplify a voltage difference between a voltage proportional to an output voltage of a switching regulator and a first reference voltage, a current detector configured to detect a current proportional to an output current of the switching regulator, a second amplifier configured to amplify an output signal from the current detector, a first converter configured to convert an output voltage of the first amplifier to a first current signal, a second converter configured to convert an output voltage of the second amplifier to a second current signal, an oscillator configured to oscillate with rectangular pulses and a controller configured to modulate an oscillation signal of the oscillator in accordance with the first and second current signals output from the first and second converters.
US07646186B2
A holdover circuit is configured with a holdover capacitor, preferably an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, to provide uninterruptible operation for an electrical load operable over a limited range of input voltage during brief power interruptions. The holdover circuit includes a switching regulator configured with two active switches that are controlled with complementary duty cycles to charge and discharge the holdover capacitor at a voltage higher than the voltage of the load. The controller for the switching regulator may be configured to regulate the voltage of the holdover capacitor at a voltage proportional to the load voltage or at a constant voltage. The controller for the switching regulator is configured to operate in different modes during normal powered operation and during holdover.
US07646182B2
A first booster circuit and a second booster circuit include input capacitors, reactors, diodes, switch elements, and output capacitors, and are arranged to be symmetric to each other on a positive side and a negative side. The reactors are magnetically coupled to each other. With such configuration, the switch elements are on/off controlled simultaneously based on terminal voltages of the input capacitors and the output capacitors.
US07646167B2
A system for updating battery software includes a programmable battery unit that includes an internal access point. The programmable battery unit includes a battery control unit that controls the overall functionality of the programmable battery unit. A programmable storage medium may be included on the battery control unit. The storage medium has stored therein battery software operable to control certain features of the programmable battery unit. An input port may be connected with the battery control unit. An update device that includes a second storage medium having stored therein updated battery software for the programmable battery unit. A connector may be included for connecting the update device to the input port of the programmable battery unit. A software routine on the update device is operable to automatically transfer the updated battery software from the update device to the first storage medium of the programmable battery unit thereby reprogramming the programmable battery unit.
US07646164B2
The invention relates to a method of adjusting motor parameters in a variable speed drive intended for controlling a synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets M. The method comprises a step of determining the deviations ΔID and ΔIQ between references and measurements of the flux current and motor torque current, a step of calculating a correction value ΔRS of the stator resistance, a correction value ΔL of the inductance and a correction value ΔKE of the flux constant of the motor, on the basis of the integral terms of the deviations ΔID and ΔIQ, a step of adjusting the values of the parameters of the motor model on the basis of ΔRS, ΔL and ΔKE, a step of formulating the control voltages UD and UQ to be applied to the motor M by using the said adjusted values of the motor parameters.
US07646163B2
An exemplary device for controlling rotation speed of a computer fan includes an identifying device and a control circuit. The identifying device is configured for identifying the type of the computer fan. The control circuit configured for controlling rotation speed of the computer fan includes an electric switch, an integrated circuit, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The electric switch has a first terminal coupled to the identifying device to receive an identifying signal, a second terminal coupled to a super I/O chip to receive a PWM signal. The integrated circuit is configured to convert the PWM signal to an analog voltage signal. The first output terminal is configured to output the PWM signal to a PWM control pin of a fan header. The second output terminal is configured to output the analog voltage signal to a power pin of the fan header.
US07646159B2
An electrically commutated motor comprises a plurality of stator phases and a rotor. Further, sensors for detecting the control deviation of the rotor in relation to the stator phases are provided. A phase control unit controls the stator phase rotary field depending on the detected control deviation. The phase control unit comprises a single-phase controller for a single-phase mode of operation, and a multiple-phase controller for a multiple-phase mode of operation. Further, a control deviation evaluation element is provided which evaluates the magnitude of the control deviation, and selects, depending on the evaluation result, the single-phase mode of operation or the multiple-phase mode of operation.
US07646153B2
The present invention has an object to provide a switching regulator power supply apparatus that realizes a plurality of light emitting amount outputs without increasing a total number of structural components thereof. A switching regulator power supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a switching type power converting circuit; a current detecting circuit for producing a feedback signal in response to a load current; and an SWR control circuit for driving the power converting circuit. In the switching regulator power supply apparatus, the SWR control circuit is provided with a control signal input terminal and a reference voltage circuit capable of outputting a plurality of reference voltages based upon a control signal inputted to the control signal input terminal.
US07646152B2
A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.
US07646142B2
A Field Emission Device (FED) and its method of manufacture includes: forming a substrate; forming a cathode having a cathode aperture on an upper surface of the substrate; forming a material layer having a first through hole with a smaller diameter than that of the cathode aperture on an upper surface of the cathode; forming a first insulator having a first cavity on an upper surface of the material layer; forming a gate electrode having a second through hole on an upper surface of the first insulator; and forming an emitter in a central portion of the cathode aperture.
US07646139B2
A head plate assembly (1) for an actuator, has a cover (2), a lead-through (3), at least one connecting pin (4) led through the lead-through (3), and a seal (5) obturating the lead-through of the connecting pin. The head plate assembly (1) is pre-assembled without the actuator.
US07646138B2
A thickness shear mode (TSM) resonator is described, comprising a diamond layer. The diamond layer is preferably a high quality diamond layer with at least 90% sp3 bonding or diamond bonding. A method for manufacturing such a resonator is also described. The thickness shear mode resonator according to embodiments described herein may advantageously be used in biosensor application and in electrochemistry applications.
US07646135B1
A module includes a first piezoelectric element and first electronic device. The first piezoelectric provides physical support for said first electronic device. One embodiment includes a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is mounted on the first piezoelectric element. The first electronic device is mounted on the first insulating layer for providing an electronic support function to the first piezoelectric element. In one embodiment the first electronic device includes a rectifier. One embodiment includes multiple contacts to the piezoelectric element each with its own rectifier. Another embodiment includes a stack of piezoelectric elements.
US07646131B2
According to the invention, an improved copper filling in the slots (4) of a permanently-stimulated synchronous motor (2) may be achieved, whereby such a motor is disclosed, comprising a stator (1), with parallel-edged slots (4), provided with a winding system of flat wires (5), whereby the flat wires (5) each enclose a tooth (3) and are embodied as a tooth coil (6). The flat wires (5) are wound edgewise such that the narrower side of the flat wire (5) faces the tooth (3) and each tooth coil (6) comprises at least two layers of flat wires (5).
US07646124B2
A rotor for a brushless permanent magnet generator/motor comprises a retention slot extending into a rotor flange for receiving a root of a permanent magnet. The retention slot comprises a base extending axially into the rotor flange, a pair of side walls extending radially from the base, and a pair of lugs projecting from the side wall to engage the root to provide radial and tangential retention of the permanent magnet. In other embodiments, the permanent magnet is further restrained in the axial direction by a spring pre-loaded axial retention ring.
US07646121B2
A stepping motor includes a rotor including a cylindrical permanent magnet, ring-shaped first and second yoke units that are arranged so as to be mutually stacked along an axis of the rotor, electrical connection members of resin material that include external connection terminals and are respectively secured to the first and second yoke units, and a pair of lid members. Each of the first and second yoke units includes a ring-shaped air-core coil, an outer yoke that accommodates therein the air-core coil and includes magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and an inner yoke that includes a plurality of magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and is combined with the outer yoke. Winding ends of the air-core coil are electrically connected to the external connection terminals.
US07646112B2
The current sharing using thermal feedback, in accordance with various embodiments, includes controlling an amount of current output from each of a plurality of power modules based on the thermal characteristics of each respective power module.
US07646100B2
The first pad electrode layer is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate with the first insulating film between them. Then, the second insulating film with the first via hole partially exposing the first pad electrode layer is formed over the first pad electrode layer. The plug is formed in the first via hole in the next process. The second pad electrode layer connected to the plug is disposed on the second insulating film. Next, the second via hole reaching to the first pad electrode layer from the backside of the semiconductor substrate is formed. The penetrating electrode and the second wiring layer connected to the first pad electrode layer at the bottom part of the second via hole are disposed. Furthermore, the protecting layer and the conductive terminal are formed. Finally, the semiconductor substrate is diced into the semiconductor chips.
US07646096B2
A semiconductor device having good production stability and excellent in a contact property between an antireflection film on an Al contained metal film and a conductive plug. The device includes a substrate, an insulating interlayer, and a multi-layer structure. The insulating interlayer is formed in the upper portion of the substrate. The structure is provided on the insulating interlayer. A Ti film, a first TiN film, an AlCu film, a Ti film, a second TiN film, and an etching adjustment film are sequentially formed in the structure. The device includes an insulating interlayer and a conductive plug. The insulating interlayer is provided on the insulating interlayer and the structure. The conductive plug penetrates the insulating interlayer and the etching adjustment film, and an end surface of the conductive plug is located in the second TiN film. The conductive plug includes a Ti film, a TiN film, and a W film.
US07646090B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor module having: a semiconductor device (10) having a contact device (11) for making electrical contact with a connection device (17; 20) via a rewiring device (15, 15′, 15″); and a carrier device (12, 13, 14) for mechanically coupling the semiconductor device (10) to a connection device (17), the carrier device (12, 13, 14) having a gradient between a first modulus of elasticity at the semiconductor device (10) and a second, higher modulus of elasticity at the connection device (17; 20). The present invention likewise provides a method for producing a semiconductor module.
US07646089B2
A semiconductor package including a substrate with a semiconductor device mounted on the substrate and a resin member sealing the substrate and semiconductor device. The resin member includes a first surface and a second surface located on the other side of the first surface and a plurality of leads electrically connected with the semiconductor device. The leads project from the resin member and extend to the second surface side; wherein the second surface of the resin member includes a first area having a first concave portion and a second area having a second concave portion which is different from the first area, and the second concave portion is deeper than the first concave portion.
US07646088B2
[Problem] To provide an adhesive sheet which is used for a light-emitting diode device, and which is free from cracks and peeling off of the adhered portions. [Means for Solving the Problem] An adhesive sheet for a light-emitting diode device, which comprises a thermoplastic polymer containing epoxy groups and a compound containing functional groups which are addition reactive with the epoxy groups or a polymerization catalyst which can effect a ring opening polymerization of the epoxy groups, and in which said thermoplastic polymer is cross-linked so that its flowability is restrained.
US07646086B2
A semiconductor package according to the present invention includes a substrate; first and second semiconductor chips mounted on a first surface of the substrate; and a heat-radiation sheet. The heat-radiation sheet includes a heat-transferable conductive layer and first and second insulating layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the heat-transferable conductive layer, respectively. The heat-radiation sheet includes a first portion arranged between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip; and a second portion extending at least a side of the first portion. The second portion is connected to the substrate. The second insulating layer of the second portion is formed to expose a part of the heat-transferable conductive layer.
US07646079B2
In the semiconductor device of the present invention, an active region is formed in an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and is surrounded by a trench filled with an oxide. A through-hole electrode electrically connected to the active region extends from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a lower surface thereof. A bottom end of the through-hole electrode juts out of an insulating film covering the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. Accordingly, a jutting portion of the through-hole electrode is embedded in the bonding material when the semiconductor device is mounted on a mounting board, and thus the connection reliability therebetween is improved.
US07646073B2
A ferroelectric capacitor includes: a base substrate; a buffer layer formed above the base substrate; a lower electrode formed above the buffer layer; a ferroelectric layer formed above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed above the ferroelectric layer, wherein the buffer layer includes titanium (Ti) and cobalt (Co) as metal elements, and a metal element ratio x is 0.05≦x<1, when Ti:Co=1−x:x.
US07646065B2
A semiconductor device includes: an isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate; an active region surrounded by the isolation region in the semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the active region; and a gate electrode formed across the boundary between the active region and the isolation region adjacent to the active region. The gate electrode includes a first portion which is located above the active region with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween and is entirely made of a silicide in a thickness direction and a second portion which is located above the isolation region and is made of a silicon region and the silicide region covering the silicon region.
US07646064B1
A low thermal pathway is provided from the top surface of a silicon substrate to the bottom surface of the silicon substrate by first forming aluminum plugs in the bottom surface of the silicon substrate that contact the silicon substrate and extend up towards the top surface, and then heating the aluminum plugs to a temperature for a period of time sufficient to cause spikes to grow from the sides of the aluminum plugs.
US07646061B2
A power semiconductor device with charge compensation structure and a method for producing the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power semiconductor device has in a semiconductor body a drift path between a body zone and a substrate region. The drift path is divided into drift zones of a first conduction type. A field stop zone is provided having the first conduction type, which is arranged on the substrate region, wherein the net dopant concentration of the field stop zone is lower than that of the substrate region and higher than that of the drift zones.
US07646049B2
An image sensor includes a photo diode formed over a semiconductor substrate. At least one IMD layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric medium fills a through-hole formed in the IMD layer over the photo diode. The dielectric medium may be made with materials with a higher refractive index than the materials forming the IMD layer.
US07646031B2
A light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply.
US07646020B2
When bonding a workpiece to a substrate, processed parts of the substrate and the workpiece are observed and behavior such as the production of voids and the flowing of resin is observed. An apparatus for observing an assembled state of components includes: a stage on which a substrate is set; a head mechanism that bonds, by applying heat and pressure, an observation workpiece made of a transparent material to the substrate via resin supplied between the substrate and the observation workpiece; a light source that irradiates an observed part of the substrate and the observation workpiece mounted on the stage with light; and a camera that takes, from the observation workpiece side, an image of the observed part when the observation workpiece is bonded to the substrate set on the stage.
US07646019B2
In view of the problem that a reduced thickness of an EL film causes a short circuit between an anode and a cathode and malfunction of a transistor, the invention provides a display device that has a light emitting element including an electrode and an electroluminescent layer, a wire electrically connected to the electrode of the light emitting element, a transistor provided with an active layer including a source, a drain and a channel forming region, and a power supply line electrically connected to one of the source and the drain of the transistor, wherein the wire is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor, and the width of a part of the electrode in the vicinity of a portion where the electrode is electrically connected to the wire is smaller than that of the electrode in the other portion.
US07646017B2
Improved thin film transistor array panels are provided. In one embodiment, a panel includes a plurality of gate lines, data lines, and a plurality of switching elements connected to the gate lines and the data lines. An interlayer insulating layer is formed between the gate lines and the data lines. A passivation layer covering the gate lines, the data lines, and the switching elements is also provided having a plurality of first contact holes exposing portions of the data lines, wherein the switching elements and the pixel electrodes are connected through the first contact holes. A plurality of contact assistants are formed on the passivation layer and are connected to the data lines through a plurality of second contact holes in the passivation layer. A plurality of auxiliary lines are connected to the data lines through a plurality of third contact holes in the interlayer insulating layer.
US07646010B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element capable of reducing malfunction due to oxidation and crystallization of a compound. According to one aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting element has a first electrode and a second electrode, a first layer and a second layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first layer contains an anthracene derivative and a substance that shows electron acceptability to the anthracene derivative, wherein the second layer contains a light emitting substance. According to one aspect of a light-emitting device of the present invention, any one of the above light-emitting elements is used as a pixel or a light source.
US07646009B2
In the nitride semiconductor device of the present invention, an active layer 12 is sandwiched between a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 11 and an n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13. The active layer 12 has, at least, a barrier layer 2a having an n-type impurity; a well layer 1a made of a nitride semiconductor that includes In; and a barrier layer 2c that has a p-type impurity, or that has been grown without being doped. An appropriate injection of carriers into the active layer 12 becomes possible by arranging the barrier layer 2c nearest to the p-type layer side.
US07645996B2
A microscale planar device for detecting particles under high pressure with high sensitivity. The device may have an anode and cathode with an insulator situated between them. The insulator may have a number of holes, cavities or channels between the anode and cathode. There may be conductive rings at the perimeters of openings of the channels on the anode side of the insulator. These rings may be a part of the anode. An ion may be attracted into one of the channels where it interacts with a gas to result in an avalanche breakdown. The breakdown may be detected by instrumentation connected to the anode and cathode. The lateral and/or longitudinal dimensions of the channels may be such that the device may operate as a detector with ambient air as a gas under its pressure of about one atmosphere.
US07645986B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometer that uses a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for performing mass spectrometry on the basis of the difference in flight time based on mass of desired ions, and that is suitable for improving the sensitivity and analysis precision of the mass spectrometer. A gate electrode is located at a stage before an acceleration region that is located before an emitter for emitting ions. This gate electrode is capable of applying the voltage that is set on a mass-number region basis, and is also capable of separating desired ions to be measured on the basis of the mass number by switching the gate electrode at high speed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the resolution.
US07645981B2
An image pickup device mounting structure includes an image pickup device, a reinforcing plate, and a flexible circuit board having at least one electrical component mounted thereon, wherein the reinforcing plate; the image pickup device and a part of the flexible circuit board are superimposed on each other, the reinforcing plate includes at least one cutout portion; and the electrical component is positioned on the part of the flexible circuit board and within the cutout portion.
US07645975B2
A spatial information detecting device for accurately detecting information of a target space is provided. This device has photoelectric converters for receiving a reflection light from the space, in which a flashing light is being irradiated, a charge storage portion formed in each of the photoelectric converters by applying a control voltage to electrodes on each of the photoelectric converters, a controller for controlling the number of electrodes, to which the control voltage is applied, such that an area of the charge storage portion changes based on a flash cycle of the flashing light, and an amplitude-image generator for generating an amplitude image having pixel values, each of which is provided by a difference between electric charges collected in a lighting period of the flashing light by a charge storage portion and the electric charges collected in a non-lighting period of the flashing light by another charge storage portion.
US07645969B2
A method, device, and projectile having a device for guiding or piloting projectiles or missiles (self-propelled or non-self-propelled), to deflect, in a direction Y, a hypervelocity projectile operating in a gas, such as a shell, a bullet, or a missile, having a nose, generally in the shape of a cone, with a more or less pointed tip, by generating a first high-voltage discharge able to produce a plasma over a first limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, maintaining the plasma, and generating another low-voltage discharge able to supply the plasma with energy over a second limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, the first and the second sectors being different and may overlap.
US07645963B2
A heating element includes an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. At least the electrically conductive layer is based on a hybrid sol-gel precursor including an organosilane compound.
US07645962B2
This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat has a flexible base to which is attached at least one conductive element laid out in a grid pattern. A novel terminal that electrically connects the mat to a power source has an inner core to provide an electrical load path and an outer casing to provide a mechanical load path, resulting in a superior mat design.
US07645960B2
A welder for performing a welding process which includes a wire feeder and a code reader. The code reader is designed to obtain information from the welding wire based on a plurality of different cross-sectional sizes and/or different cross-sectional shapes on the outer surface of the welding wire. The information from the code reader is used to monitor at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process and/or to control at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process.
US07645958B2
In order to obtain an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus that can flow discharge current pulses through the machining gap uniformly and efficiently, and can realize reduction of the amount of electrode wear in machining in the alternate current pulse system, in an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus (2) for applying electric-discharge-machining pulse voltage to a machining gap between a machining electrode (8) and an object (9) to be machined, wherein a circuit (22) composed of a parallel connection of a rectifying element (24) and a resistive element (23) is inserted in series along a wiring path extending from an electric-discharge pulse generating unit (6) to the machining gap, and the rectifying element (23) is so connected as to cause machining pulse currents to flow in an intended direction during the electric discharge generation.
US07645955B2
The present invention discloses a metallic linkage-type keying device, which is installed to a casing, such as the casing of a camera, a mobile phone or a video camera. The metallic linkage-type keying device of the present invention comprises: a metallic linkage, having at least two joining portions; and at least one key, having at least two assembling portions. The key is installed to the metallic linkage via fixing two assembling portions to two joining portions. The metallic linkage-type keying device provided by the present invention can prevent ESD from attacking the interior of the casing via key gaps and has the advantages of compactness and low cost.
US07645954B2
The present invention provides a transparent conductor comprising a successive lamination of a support, a conductive particle layer containing a conductive particle and a first binder, and a conductive film layer containing a bead and a second binder; wherein a surface of the conductive film layer opposite from the conductive particle layer is rough.
US07645952B2
A mechanical switch includes a pair of conducting contacts, metal located on and between the conducting contacts, a heater, and an electro-mechanical actuator. The heater is operable to apply heat that melts the metal. The electro-mechanical actuator is capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts.
US07645947B2
Various embodiments of an electrical connector assembly that includes a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion. The outlet end portion is held in a knock out hole of an electric box and the inlet end portion is provided with an adjacent opening for receiving a wire conductor retainer in the form of a flat spring configured to be readily connected to an external portion of a connector body for ease of manufacture and assembly. An electric conductor can be unidirectionally inserted in the inlet end portion and secured thereto so as to prohibit any unintentional separation from the connector body, all without the need of any tools.
US07645946B2
Two symmetrical pieces form an escutcheon that seals the gap between a pipe or conduit and the surface through which it penetrates and supports the pipe or conduit. The device is surface mounted with threaded mechanical fasteners which can be adjusted to vary the compression of the sealing gaskets. The escutcheon can be installed without requiring any manipulation of the pipe or conduit. The escutcheon can be removed and reinstalled repeatedly without any degradation in function.
US07645943B2
A configurable printed circuit board can be used with a bussed electrical center in a vehicle and has a dielectric body. The dielectric body defines an array of plated through-holes that are constructed to receive a terminal of an electrical adaptor. A conductive trace is also adhered to a surface of the dielectric body and is routed through some of the plated through-holes for carrying current between them. An aperture is defined through a portion of some of the plated through-holes and the respective conductive traces to electrically isolate one side of the conductive trace from another side; and thus the printed circuit board can accommodate more than one electrical device in a single section.
US07645941B2
A shielded flexible cable having a plurality of shielded electronic circuits in close proximity to one another such that signals transmitted on one of said plurality of shielded electronic circuits do not substantially interfere with signals transmitted on the other of said plurality of electronic circuits comprising a polyimide support member supporting a plurality of etched copper traces on a first side of said polyimide support member and a copper layer on a second side of said polyimide support member; said polyimide support member flexible along at least one axis; said plurality of etched copper traces and said copper layer substantially as flexible as said polyimide support member; a silver based material, including, for example, silver ink or silver film, surrounding a portion of each of said plurality of copper traces along substantially the entire length of each of said plurality of copper traces; said silver based material in electrical communication with (i) said copper layer via discontinuities in said polyimide support member, and (ii) a grounded terminal; an electrically insulative material in substantial proximity to each of said plurality of copper traces so as to electrically insulate each of said plurality of copper traces from (i) the other said plurality of copper traces, and (ii) said silver based material; said electrically insulative material physically located between said silver based material and each of said plurality of copper traces; a first dielectric layer covering substantially the entire exposed surface of said silver based material; and a second dielectric layer covering substantially the entire exposed surface of said copper layer.
US07645923B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS32001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS32001, to the plants of soybean RJS32001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS32001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS32001 with another soybean plant, using RJS32001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07645918B2
The present invention relates to a method for the transformation of plastid genomes of plant species, in particular Asteraceae plant species, comprising the steps of providing a transformation vector carrying a DNA sequence of interest; subjecting a plant material, which comprises plastids, to a transformation treatment in order to allow the plastids to receive the transformation vector; placing the thus treated plant material for a period of time into contact with a culture medium without selection agent; subsequently placing the plant material into contact with a culture medium comprising a selection agent; and refreshing the culture medium comprising a selection agent to allow plant material comprising plastids that have acquired the DNA of interest to grow into transformants.
US07645908B2
A method for the chemoselective hydrogenation of α, β unsaturated carbonyl compounds is disclosed, in which compounds of the formula R4R3C═CR2—C(O)R1, wherein R1—R4 are as defined herein, are reacted with a hybrid donor to form a compound of formula R4R3CH—CH(R2)—C(O)R1, in which R1—R4 are as above. That method permits the selective hydrogenation of α, β unsaturated aldehydes and ketones without the use of metal catalysts.
US07645905B2
Crystalline form IV of the compound of formula (I): characterised by its powder X-ray diffraction diagram. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in the treatment of melatoninergic disorders.
US07645899B1
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel thermosetting resin compositions which do not require solvent to provide a system having suitable viscosity for convenient handling. Invention compositions have the benefit of undergoing rapid cure. The resulting thermosets are stable to elevated temperatures, are highly flexible, have low moisture uptake and are consequently useful in a variety of applications, e.g., in adhesive applications since they display good adhesion to both the substrate and the device attached thereto.
US07645897B2
A process for producing a high-performance catalyst for use in a reaction for acrylic acid production from propane or propylene through air oxidation, is provided. A process for producing a metal oxide catalyst having the following composition formula, the process comprising the following steps (1) and (2): MoViAjBkCxOy Composition formula (wherein A is Te or Sb; B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, and Ti; C is Si or Ge; i and j each are 0.01-1.5 and j/i is from 0.3 to 1.0; k is 0.001-3.0; x is 0.002-0.1; and y is a number determined by the oxidized states of the other elements), Step (1): a step in which an aqueous liquid containing Mo, V, metal A and metal B is evaporated to dryness and the solid matter obtained is calcined at a high temperature to thereby obtain a metal oxide; and Step (2): a step in which in an atmosphere containing substantially no water, a compound containing metallic element C is adhered to the metal oxide obtained in step (1) to form an oxide of metal C on the surface of the metal oxide.
US07645888B2
A novel process of the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium starting from a compound of Formula (II).
US07645880B2
The invention relates to a novel process for preparing N-methylnaltrexone bromide, comprising at least the steps consisting in: (i) reacting N-methylnaltrexone methyl sulfate in aqueous solution with an alkaline agent chosen from the group constituted by sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, cesium carbonate, strontium carbonate and mixtures thereof, for a pH of the aqueous reaction medium of between 7 and 10, and then in (ii) reacting the product thus obtained with hydrobromic acid, which is added for a pH of the aqueous reaction medium of between 0.5 and 5, in order thus to obtain the N-methylnaltrexone bromide.
US07645872B2
The invention provides a novel method of labeling oligonucleotides, with reporter moieties, including but not limited to, quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, digoxigenin, peptides and proteins. In addition, this invention provides a method of detecting hybridization of oligonucleotides. This invention also provides novel azo quenchers having the general formula shown below. The invention further provides compositions comprising labeled oligonucleotides and solid supports. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.
US07645863B2
Methods for the purification of the macrolide moxidectin result in higher purity levels than can often otherwise be obtained. The crystalline moxidectin is then used in a wide variety of pharmaceutical and veterinary applications, including the prevention, treatment and control of parasites in plants, animals and humans.
US07645861B2
The present invention concerns compositions of matter, for example, but not limited to, modified antibodies, in which one or more biologically active peptides are incorporated into a loop region of a non-terminal domain of an immunoglobulin Fc domain.
US07645860B2
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer via carbohydrate moieties of Factor VIII, and methods of preparing same.
US07645855B2
A process for preparing high-functionality highly branched polyureas which comprises reacting one or more carbonates with one or more amines having at least two primary and/or secondary amino groups, at least one amine having at least three primary and/or secondary amino groups.
US07645850B2
Compositions including poly(block-phophonato-esters) or poly(block-phosphonato-carbonate) and a process for making them from oligomeric phosphonates and/or polyphosphonates and polyester and/or polycarbonates are disclosed. The compositions provide tough flame retardant materials and coatings.
US07645849B2
A cleaning blade member comprising a polyurethane formed by using a polyol consisting essentially of a polycarbonatediol, a polyisocyanate, and a crosslinking agent containing a short chain diol and a triol, the polyurethane having a tensile strength at 60° C. of 200 kg/cm2 or higher, and a tensile strength retention ΔT, represented by the following equation, of 40% or more: ΔT(%)=T60/T10×100 where T10 denotes a tensile strength at 10° C., and T60 denotes the tensile strength at 60° C.
US07645848B2
Process for preparation of SiOC-linked, linear polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers
The invention therefore relates to a process for preparation of SiOC-linked, linear (AB)d polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers of the general formula [(R2SiO)x(CnH2nO)y]d, in which R are monovalent C1-C18, preferably C1-C4, hydrocarbon radicals, n is a number from 2 to 4, preferably 2 or 3, x ≧5, y ≧10, d ≧3, via reaction of aminosiloxanes having primary amino groups with polyoxyalkylenediols, which comprises concomitant use of one or more tertiary amines as catalyst.
US07645846B2
There is provided a process for the preparation of a polymerizable composition comprising a cross-linker and a polymerizable monomer of formula (I) comprising (i) contacting a compound of formula (II) with an acid such as an imobilized acid; and (ii) neutralizing product of (i) such that a crosslinker is formed.
US07645838B2
A modified polyphenylene ether resin is provided which is a product of the reaction of 100 parts by weight of (A) a polyphenylene ether having a main chain structure of the following formula (1): (wherein R1 and R4 each independently represents hydrogen, a primary or secondary lower alkyl, a phenyl, an aminoalkyl or a hydrocarbonoxy, and R2 and R3 each independently represents hydrogen, a primary or secondary lower alkyl or a phenyl), with 0.01 to 10.0 parts by weight of (B) a modifier selected from conjugated non-aromatic diene compounds, dienophilic compounds having one dienophile group and precursors of the diene or dienophilic compounds, wherein the number of rearrangement structures each represented by the following formula (2): (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 have the same meanings as defined above in the formula (1)) is less than 0.01 per 100 phenylene ether units of the formula (1).
US07645836B2
A reactive extrusion process for producing an ionomer is disclosed. The process comprising adding a polymer containing a carboxyl functionality to an extruder, then homogenously melting the polymer in a melting zone of the extruder. A first melt seal zone of the extruder is formed to separate the melting zone from an injection zone where an aqueous solution of metallic ions are added to the molten polymer. The first melt seal zone is formed by increasing the pressure in the melt seal zone to a pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the water at any point in the injection zone and the reaction zone. The aqueous solution of metallic ions is then mixed with the polymer containing the carboxyl functionality in a reaction zone of the extruder under conditions such that the metallic ions are substantially reacted with the carboxyl functionality. A pressure build-up zone is formed in the extruder, wherein the pressure build-up zone is located no earlier than at the end of the reaction zone wherein the pressure build-up zone is formed by increasing the pressure to a level such that the aqueous solution of metallic ions remains in the liquid phase for a time sufficient to allow for the desired reaction between the metallic ions and the carboxyl functionality of the polymer.
US07645833B2
Novel crosslinkable compositions based on elastomers, at least one of which has carboxyl and/or carboxylate groups, are provided, these crosslinkable compositions containing special unsaturated organic salts of metal ions and a crosslinking system which acts as a free radical donor. Crosslinked elastomers which have excellent physical properties are obtainable therefrom. The novel crosslinkable compositions have a wide range of uses.
US07645829B2
Disclosed herein is an adhesive composition comprising: a random propylene polymer component having a heat of fusion of between 1 and 70 J/g and an mm triad tacticity index of at least 75%; and a functionalized polymer component comprising a C2-C20 olefin comprising at least 0.1 wt % of a functional group; wherein the adhesive composition has a T-Peel adhesion on a polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m (1 lb/in) and a T-Peel adhesion on a non-polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m Pa (1 lb/in) and where the polarity of the polar substrate is at least 0.10 units higher than the polarity of the non-polar substrate. Methods to produce the adhesive and articles comprising the adhesive are also disclosed.
US07645818B2
The invention is related to the preparation of an ionic polymer composite material comprising a protein and carbohydrate-containing vegetable material component that serves as a reinforcement agent for the composite. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the vegetable seed component is selected from the group of soy spent flakes, defatted soy flour, or soy protein concentrate with ionic polymers and the ionic polymer is carboxylated poly(styrene-butadiene). The composites have a significantly higher elastic modulus when compared with base polymer.
US07645811B2
A lamellar crystalline organic polymer containing acidic groups and/or ammonium salt thereof, such as ammonium salt of polymuconic acid, is mixed with a substance containing a metal ion such as alkali metal ion, to prepare a metal ion-containing polymer having a structure in which the metal ion is intercalated between the layers of the lamellar crystalline organic polymer having acidic groups. Subsequently, metal ion exchange reaction is conducted if necessary. Thereafter, the metal ion is reduced to produce fine metal particles. Thus, a crystalline organic polymer in which fine metal particles are dispersed in a crystalline organic polymer is obtained.
US07645808B2
A process for the preparation of propylene and ethylene comprises subjecting a gaseous mixture of a dilution gas and a paraffinic feedstock boiling in the gas oil range and having an iso paraffin to normal paraffin ratio of between 2 and 5 to a thermal conversion step.
US07645805B2
The invention relates to a novel class of gelling agents, to a process of preparing said agents, to the use of said agents to prepare gels, and to the gels thus obtained. A gelling agent or thickener according to the invention comprises a core which is functionalized with three amino acid derived groups by means of an amide or urea linkage. It may be used to gelate or thicken numerous solvents.
US07645801B2
The present invention comprises packaged enemas for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), having substantially pure 5-ASA as the active ingredient, with a liquid carrier medium having a material avoidance of bowel irritant substances, such as anti-oxidants for the 5-ASA active ingredient, including such sulfites as potassium metabisulfite, for example, and contained within a sealed and substantially oxygen-free barrier package, which may preferably be formed of a foil/polymer laminate, and which package contains or otherwise includes an oxygen scavenger, such as a an oxygen scavenging sachet.
US07645800B2
The present invention relates to the formulation and delivery of prostaglandin analogs to treat epithelial-related condition. In some embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used to stimulate hair growth. In some embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used to restore hair color to depigmented hair.
US07645799B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the variables A, L, Z, R3, and ring B are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US07645794B2
A nutritional supplement comprising at least a therapeutically effective amount of ethyl pyruvate and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one α-hydroxy branched-chain amino acid metabolite is provided by the present invention. The ingredients of the present nutritional supplement substantially simultaneously act to induce a anabolically-favorable state for muscle by substantially simultaneously maintaining blood and muscle physiological pH levels as well as increasing cellular concentrations of branched-chain amino acids. Both a composition and a method are provided by the present disclosure.
US07645791B2
Novel salicylic anilides are chemical uncouplers useful e.g. for the treatment of obesity.
US07645787B2
The present invention provides pyrazole-O-glycoside derivatives represented by the following formulae, used as a diabetic medicine.
US07645784B2
Compounds of formula I, wherein R1, m, R2, R3, p, n, R5 and R9 are as defined as in the specification, salts, solvates or solvated salts thereof, processes for their preparation, intermediates used in the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical formulations containing said compounds and the use of said compounds in therapy.
US07645776B2
The invention is concerned with novel substituted piperidine derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and X are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds inhibit L-CPT1 and can be used as medicaments.
US07645772B2
Compounds useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, are disclosed.
US07645768B2
The present invention relates to production of polyketides and other natural products and to libraries of compounds and individual novel compounds. One important area is the isolation and potential use of novel FKBP-ligand analogues and host cells that produce these compounds. The invention is particularly concerned with methods for the efficient transformation of strains that produce FKBP analogues and recombinant cells in which cloned genes or gene cassettes are expressed to generate novel compounds such as polyketide (especially rapamycin) FKBP-ligand analogues, and to processes for their preparation, and to means employed therein (e.g. nucleic acids, vectors, gene cassettes and genetically modified strains).
US07645764B2
Compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using the compounds for treatment of p38 MAP kinase-mediated diseases, and methods of using the compounds for treatment of Raf kinase-mediated diseases.
US07645760B2
A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein the symbols have meaning as defined, which are antagonists of CCR-1 and which find use pharmaceutically for treatment of diseases and conditions in which CCR-1 is implicated, e.g. inflammatory diseases.
US07645755B2
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein A, X, R2 and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. Methods of treating autoimmune diseases; and diseases with an inflammatory component; treating metastasis from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, hairy cell leukemia and non-small lung carcinoma; and treating pain, including skeletal pain caused by tumor metastasis or osteoarthritis, or visceral, inflammatory, and neurogenic pain; as well as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other diseases in which bone resorption mediates morbidity including arthritis, prosthesis failure, osteolytic sarcoma, myeloma, and tumor metastasis to bone with the compounds of Formula I, are also provided.
US07645753B2
This invention is concerned with compounds of the formula wherein A, B1, B2, R1, R2 and G are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, to a process for their preparation and to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of SST receptors subtype 5.
US07645752B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: which are modulators of the 5-hydroxtryptamine-6 and 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A receptors and which are inhibitors of norepinephrine reuptake. The compounds of the invention, and pharmaceutical composition thereof, are useful in the treatment of disorders related to or associated with the 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 and 5-hydroxtryptamine-2A receptors or with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.
US07645747B2
The invention is related to phosphorus substituted therapeutic agents, compositions containing such phosphorus substituted agents, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such phosphorus substituted agents, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such agents.
US07645746B1
The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reducing malodor impression. The composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight of the composition, of perfume. Optionally, but preferably, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition of, water-soluble cyclodextrin, from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the composition, of water-soluble metallic salt, from about 0% to about 3%, by weight of the composition, of solubilizing aid. The composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric and contains less than about 5%, by weight of the composition of low molecular weight monohydric alcohols.
US07645743B2
Methods and compositions for immediately immunizing an individual against any molecule or compound. The present invention comprises an immunity linker with at least two sites; (1) at least one first binding site that binds to an immune response component in an individual that has been pre-immunized with a universal immunogen, and (2) at least one second binding site that binds specifically to a desired compound or molecule, the target.
US07645738B2
The invention relates to cyclic depsipeptides, especially 18-membered cyclohexadepsipeptides of general formula (I) and the salts thereof, wherein R1 represents nitrobenzyl or R′R″N-benzyl—wherein R′ and R″ independently represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C4-alkyl, formyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, or hydroxy-C1-C2-alkyl-sulfonyl-C1-C2-alkyl, or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, R′ and R″ form an optionally substituted monocyclic or polycyclic, optionally bridged and/or spirocyclic, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle containing between one and three other heteroatoms from the group of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, or R′ and R″ together form C3-C5-alkylene monocarbonyl or an optionally substituted diacyl radical of a C4-C6-dicarboxylic acid—and R2, R3 and R4 independently represent C1-C4-alkyl. The invention also relates to the optical isomers and racemates of said cyclic depsipeptides, to a method for the production thereof, and to the use of the same for controlling endoparasites.
US07645736B2
Methods for the treatment of a disease of the eye of a patient comprising injecting into the vitreous body of the eye a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an αvβ3 and/or αvβ5 inhibitor sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis and inhibit neovascularization in the treated eye. The αvβ3 and/or αvβ5 inhibitor being a compound of formula II: as defined herein or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
US07645730B2
Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.
US07645729B2
The present invention relates to a colored particles and to detergent compositions containing them that can be used to impart a hueing effect to fabrics contacted with these colored particles in aqueous solution. The invention enables the effective hueing while alleviating problems of staining or spotting by combining in the color particle, hueing agent, preferably pigment, binding agent and suspending agent.
US07645714B2
Provided are SiO2—Al2O3-based or Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2-based crystallized glass that solves the cause of cracking and fracture in forming it into large-size shaped articles, that has homogeneous inner quality and that may be produced stably at high efficiency; and a method for producing it. The crystallized glass contains components of SiO2 and Al2O3, wherein the crystal precipitation peak temperature width obtained in differential thermal analysis of amorphous glass, a precursor thereof, is at least 22° C. Preferably, the total amount of the TiO2 component and the ZrO2 component in the crystallized glass is within a range of from 3.0 to less than 4.3%. FIG. 1 is referred to.
US07645710B2
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to “implant” metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material.
US07645699B2
The present invention provides a method of forming a diffusion barrier layer comprising a TaSiN layer. The method includes depositing a TaN layer into a via hole which penetrates an insulation layer exposing a first metal line layer, and transforming the TaN layer into a TaSiN layer using a radio frequency (RF) power and a (remote) plasma using SiH4 gas. Transforming the TaN layer into a TaSiN layer may include: loading a structure including the TaN layer into a plasma reaction chamber; injecting SiH4 gas into the plasma reaction chamber; and forming the TaSiN layer by reacting Si— or Si atom-containing species with the TaN layer.
US07645688B2
A method of growing a non-polar m-plane nitride semiconductor. A (11-23) plane sapphire substrate is prepared, and a non-polar (10-10) nitride semiconductor is grown on the sapphire substrate. The present invention can also be applied to a method for manufacturing other m-plane hexagonal semiconductors.
US07645687B2
An embodiment of fabrication of a variable work function gates in a FUSI device is described. The embodiment uses a work function doping implant to dope the polysilicon to achieve a desired work function. Selective epitaxy growth (SEG) is used to form silicon over the source/drain regions. The doped poly-Si gate is fully silicided to form fully silicided gates that have a desired work function. We provide a substrate having a NMOS region and a PMOS region. We form a gate dielectric layer and a gate layer over said substrate. We perform a (gate Vt) gate layer implant process to implant impurities such as P+, As+, B+, BF2+, N+, Sb+, In+, C+, Si+, Ge+ or Ar+ into the gate layer gate in the NMOS gate regions and said PMOS gate regions. We form a cap layer over said gate layer. We pattern said cap layer, said gate layer and said gate dielectric layer to form a NMOS gate and a PMOS gate. Spacers are formed and S/D regions are formed. A metal is deposited over said substrate surface. We anneal said metal layer to form fully silicided NMOS gate and fully silicided PMOS gate.
US07645671B2
Semiconductor memory devices having recessed access devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming the recessed access device includes forming a device recess in a substrate material that extends to a first depth in the substrate that includes a gate oxide layer in the recess. The device recess may be extended to a second depth that is greater that the first depth to form an extended portion of the device recess. A field oxide layer may be provided within an interior of the device recess that extends inwardly into the interior of the device recess and into the substrate. Active regions may be formed in the substrate that abut the field oxide layer, and a gate material may be deposited into the device recess.
US07645667B2
System and method for self-aligned etching. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for performing self-aligned source etching process. The method includes a step for providing a substrate material. The method also includes a step for forming a layer of etchable oxide material overlying at least a portion of the substrate material. The layer of etchable oxide material can characterized by a first thickness. The layer of etchable oxide material includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The second portion is positioned between the first portion and the third portion. The method additionally includes a step for forming a plurality of structures overlying the layer of etchable oxide material. The plurality of structures includes a first structure and a second structure.
US07645665B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device has the steps of: (a) implanting boron (B) ions into a semiconductor substrate; (b) implanting fluorine (F) or nitrogen (N) ions into the semiconductor device; (c) after the steps (a) and (b) are performed, executing first annealing with a heating time of 100 msec or shorter relative to a region of the semiconductor substrate into which ions were implanted; and (d) after the step (c) is performed, executing second annealing with a heating time longer than the heating time of the first annealing, relative to the region of the semiconductor substrate into which ions were implanted. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided which can dope boron (B) shallowly and at a high concentration.
US07645662B2
A transistor includes a channel region with a first portion and a second portion. A length of the first portion is smaller than a length of the second portion. The first portion has a higher threshold voltage than the second portion. The lower threshold voltage of the second portion allows for an increased ON current. Despite the increase attained in the ON current, the higher threshold voltage of the first portion maintains or lowers a relatively low OFF current for the transistor.
US07645661B2
A semiconductor device manufactured by forming a plurality of first trenches in each of which a trench gate is formed, in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type; implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into a part beneath each of the first trenches to form a first column region; and implanting an impurity of the second conductivity type into a part beneath a base region formed between the first trenches to form a second column region. The first and second column regions are formed with an impurity concentration such that a total depletion charge in the regions is substantially equal to a depletion charge in the epitaxial layer.
US07645659B2
Provided are a power semiconductor device using a silicon substrate as a FS layer and a method of manufacturing the same. A semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type is prepared. An epitaxial layer is grown on one surface of the semiconductor substrate. Here, the epitaxial layer is doped at a concentration lower than that of the semiconductor substrate and is intended to be used as a drift region. A base region of a second conductivity type is formed in a predetermined region of the epitaxial layer. An emitter region of the first conductivity type is formed in a predetermined region of the base region. A gate electrode with a gate insulating layer is formed on the base region between the emitter region and the drift region of the epitaxial layer. A rear surface of the semiconductor substrate is ground to reduce the thickness of the semiconductor substrate, thereby setting an FS region of the first conductivity type. A collector region of the second conductivity type is formed on the ground surface of the semiconductor substrate of the FS region, thereby forming an FS-IGBT.
US07645652B2
A CMOS image sensor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The CMOS image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a photodiode region and a transistor region defined therein; a gate electrode formed above the transistor region of the semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating layer interposed therebetween; a first impurity region formed of the first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate below the gate electrode and having a higher concentration of first conductivity type ions than the semiconductor substrate; and a second impurity region formed of a second conductivity type in the photodiode region of the semiconductor substrate.
US07645646B2
In the manufacture of an electronic device such as an active matrix display, a vertical amorphous PIN photodiode or similar thin-film diode (D) is advantageously integrated with a polysilicon TFT (TFT1, TFT2) in a manner that permits a good degree of optimization of the respective TFT and diode properties while being compatible with the complex pixel context of the display. High temperature processes for making the active semiconductor film (10) of the TFT more crystalline than an active semiconductor film (40) of the diode and for forming the source and drain doped regions (s1,s2, d1,d2) of the TFT are carried out before depositing the active semiconductor film (40) of the diode. Thereafter, the lateral extent of the diode is defined by etching while protecting with an etch-stop film (30) an interconnection film (20) that can provide a doped bottom electrode region (41) of the diode as well as one of the doped regions (s2, g1) of the TFT.
US07645642B2
A method of joining a thermoplastic material to a thermoset material, and a resultant thermoplastic-thermoset composite formed from such method are provided. At least one of the thermoplastic material and the thermoset material includes particles that melt when the thermoplastic material and the thermoset material are heated during the joining operation. The particles further produce a solid bond between the materials after the particles have solidified in the course of cooling after the joining operation.
US07645640B2
A system for manufacturing an integrated circuit package system is provided. A dual-type leadframe having first and second rows of leads is formed. A first row of bumps is formed on an integrated circuit chip. Solder paste is placed on the first row of leads, and the first row of bumps is pressed into the solder paste on the first row of leads. The solder paste is reflow soldered to form solder and connect the integrated circuit chip to the first row of leads, and the integrated circuit chip, the first row of bumps, the solder, and the leadframe are encapsulated.
US07645637B2
The invention is based on the discovery that certain self-filleting die attach adhesives are useful in semiconductor die assemblies containing thin die. As used herein, the term “self-filleting” refers to any adhesive that when dispensed and then subjected to suitable cure conditions, will flow and fill up the area between two die or between a die and a substrate while not forming a bulky fillet that can overflow onto the top of the die. In addition, the invention is useful for tight tolerance semiconductor die assemblies, since the fillet from the die-attach adhesives employed in the methods of the invention does not cover bond fingers, thereby causing wire bond yield loss.
US07645634B2
Stacked CSP (chip scale package) modules include a molded first (“top”) chip scale package having a molding side and a substrate side, and a second (“bottom”) package affixed to the substrate side of the top chip scale package, the second package being electrically connected to the first package by wire bonding between the first and second package substrates.
US07645610B2
The present invention is directed to methods for readily generating hepatocyte precursor cell lines that retain hepatocyte-specific functions after extensive in vitro culturing. The methods comprise isolating and culturing hepatocyte precursor cell lines under permissive culture conditions that suppress asymmetric cell kinetics and allow exponential growth of the precursor cells, followed by transferring the hepatocyte precursor cell lines to non-permissive culture conditions that allow expression of asymmetric cell kinetics and induce expression of hepatocyte-specific characteristics.
US07645603B2
An isolated cell having a nucleic acid construct encoding a recombinant Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunit protein resistant to cardiac glycosides, e.g., ouabain, is disclosed. Selected amino acid substitutions in the normal human Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunit confers resistance to cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycoside resistant Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunits may be useful as selection markers in gene therapy and research applications.
US07645602B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improving the productivity of recombinant vitamin K dependent protein expression in host cells.
US07645601B2
Isolated PGE synthase, provided from encoding nucleic acid. Methods of production and use. Assays for modulators, especially inhibitors, of PGE synthase activity.
US07645593B2
The present invention relates a method for the enumeration of mammalian cell micronuclei, while distinguishing micronuclei from the chromatin of dead and dying cells. The method utilizes differential staining of chromatin from dead and dying cells, to distinguish the chromatin from micronuclei and nuclei that can be detected based upon fluorescent emission and light scatter following exposure to an excitatory light source. Counting of micronuclei events relative to the number of nuclei can be used to assess the DNA-damaging potential of a chemical agent, the DNA-damaging potential of a physical agent, the effects of an agent which can modify endogenously-induced DNA damage, and the effects of an agent which can modify exogenously-induced DNA damage. Kits for practicing the invention are also disclosed.
US07645589B2
Microphthalmia (Mi) while present in melanocytes, a cells and osteoclast, is not normally present in other cells. We have found that Mi is present in the nucleus of melanoma cells. Melanoma can be diagnosed by contacting a malignant cell with a probe for Mi. If the probe identities Mi in the nucleus of the cell, the cell is a melanoma.
US07645585B2
A method for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, Cocaine (crystalline tropane alkaloid), methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method comprises attaching antigens to a surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to the antigens in the array to form immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, to form an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source. Further, an assay, such as a test for illegal drug use, can be coupled to a test for identity such that the results of the assay can be positively correlated to the subject's identity.
US07645584B2
Novel, sensitive and specific markers for diagnostics and monitoring of liver injuries, including, but not limited to ischemic liver damage, are provided. This includes identification several enzymes of arginine/urea/nitric oxide cycle, sulfuration enzymes and spectrin breakdown related products, among others.
US07645571B2
Target-specific hybrid capture (TSHC) provides a nucleic acid detection method that is not only rapid and sensitive, but is also highly specific and capable of discriminating highly homologous nucleic acid target sequences. The method produces DNA/RNA hybrids which can be detected by a variety of methods.
US07645566B2
A sulfide phosphor paste composition comprising a sulfur-containing dispersant, and a fluorescent film prepared therefrom, are provided. The sulfur-containing dispersant has a dual head structure containing both a carboxyl group and a thiol group or a structure containing a thiol or thiophene group as a head group. An oligomeric sulfur-containing dispersant is also provided. Adsorption of the dispersant on the surface of the sulfide phosphor prevents aggregation of the phosphor particles, and thereby improves the dispersibility of the sulfide phosphor paste composition, the homogeneity of the phosphor in the paste composition, and the density of a film produced from the paste composition. Fluorescent films and display devices produced from the phosphor paste composition exhibit improved luminescent properties and excellent processability.
US07645561B1
A photosensitive film excellent in workability and making it possible, in a normal pressure laminating process, to laminate photosensitive films on the surface of substrate having a metallic surface with a reduced number of air voids generated and in a high product yield, said film comprising a support film (A), a photosensitive resin composition-containing photosensitive resin layer (B) formed on said support (A) and a protecting film (C) further stuck on said layer (B), wherein the number of fish eyes having a diameter of at least 80 μm included in the protecting film (C) does not exceed 5 fish eyes/m2.
US07645560B1
An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material and an infrared absorbent dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder; wherein the infrared absorber absorbs infrared light of a wavelength in a range from about 730 nm to about 1500 nm; and wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of infrared radiation and light of a second wavelength and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.
US07645554B2
An electrophotographic recording medium including a substrate and formed on the substrate at least one image receiving layer has a thermoplastic resin, the image receiving layer containing at least one kind of unsaturated fatty acid or an unsaturated fatty acid derivative having a melting point of from about 40° C. to about 120° C.
US07645553B2
An image forming method, which comprises: forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a latent image supporting member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member with a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image or an electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner and a carrier to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member onto a surface of a transfer receiving material; and fixing the toner image transferred onto the transfer receiving material under pressure, wherein the toner comprises a block copolymer having a crystalline polyester block and a non-crystalline polyester block, and wherein a maximum pressure applied when the image is fixed is 1 MPa or greater but not greater than 10 MPa.
US07645545B2
A colorant-containing curable composition containing a tetraazaporphyrin compound represented by formula (1), wherein rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 each independently represent a benzene ring or a pyridine ring, at least one of the rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 represents a pyridine ring, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group provided that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time, m represents an integer of 1 to 8, and n is an integer of 1 to 4.
US07645541B2
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery comprising electrode leads mounted in a sealed fashion in a battery case while the electrode leads partially protrude from the battery case and resin films disposed between the battery case and the electrode leads wherein the electrode leads are provided at predetermined areas of the surfaces thereof, to which the resin films are applied, with irregular parts, by which the adhesive strength between the electrode leads and the resin films is increased. The adhesive strength between the electrode leads and the resin films is large, and the movement path of moisture or electrolyte, through which the moisture contained in the air or the electrolyte contained in the secondary battery may move, is extended. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of minimizing the reduction in service life of the secondary battery due to introduction of the moisture into the secondary battery and leakage of the electrolyte from the secondary battery. The secondary battery is very useful as a unit cell for medium- or large-sized battery systems, such as hybrid electric vehicles.
US07645532B2
A solid-oxide fuel cell system wherein a reformate combustor is disposed in the reformate flow path between a hydrocarbon reformer and a fuel cell stack. At system start-up, reformate is partially burned within the combustor by admitting combustion air, and the partially-burned reformate is passed through the anode chambers of the stack to warm the anodes. In addition, reformate is passed through a cathode-air heat exchanger to warm combustion air entering the cathode chambers of the stack. The combustor may continue to be supplied with a low level of air during steady-state operation of the SOFC, thereby providing a moist environment within the anode chambers to prevent coking of the anodes and providing additional heat to the reformate. The combustor decouples the reformer from the stack thermodynamically, permitting the reformer and the stack each to run in its own optimal temperature range.
US07645531B2
A fuel cell power plant (19, 19a) has a plurality of fuel cells (70, 70a, 70c) arranged in a stack (20, 20c), each fuel cell having porous, at least partially hydrophilic water transport plates (75, 81) with fuel (74) and oxidant (82) reactant gas channels, there being water channels (78, 85, 78a, 85a, 78c, 85c) exchanging water with the water transport plates. On shut down, water is retained in the water channels and water transport plates by means of either a micro vacuum pump (46), one or two valves (89, 90, 118, 120), a check valve (95, 99), capillary force in the water channels to prevent water from entering the reactant channels which, if frozen, could block flow of reactant gas upon startup.
US07645506B2
A radiation protection material for the screening of X- and/or gamma-rays is made from a film-like multi-layer composite material, in which radiation absorbing particles are dispersed. The composite material comprises at least one support layer and a radiation absorbing layer, whereby the radiation absorbing layer comprises a hardening polymeric preparation, which can flow in the working state and with an effective lead content of ≦15%.
US07645492B2
A plasma coating system includes at least one coating station with a first side and a second side defining a pathway with at least one bend. The coating station also includes a first plasma arc that provides a plasma jet directed towards a substrate. The first plasma arc is positioned on either the first side or the second side of the bend.
US07645490B2
A coated glass mat comprises a glass mat substrate having non-woven glass fibers and a coating which essentially uniformly penetrates the glass mat substrate to desired fractional thickness of the coated glass mat. The coating imparts a tensile strength to the coated glass mat which on average is at least 1.33 times greater than the tensile strength of the glass mat substrate without the coating. In example embodiments, penetration of the coating into the glass mat substrate preferably extends to a depth of from twenty five percent of a thickness of the coated glass mat to seventy five percent of the thickness of the coated glass mat. Moreover, a non-coated thickness of the coated glass mat is sufficiently thick for bonding purposes with, e.g., a gypsum slurry or other core materials such as thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics. The coating has a porosity in a range of from 1.3 CFM to 5.0 CFM, e.g., the coating comprises a coating blend which provides the coated glass mat with a porosity sufficient to allow water vapor to escape from a gypsum slurry when heated. The coating is preferably a coating blend comprised of water, latex binder, inorganic pigment, and inorganic binder.
US07645482B2
Systems and methods for synthesizing long carbon nanotubes and using the nanotube as an electrical conductor. A substrate is provided with one or more metal underlayer platforms that allow the nanotube to grow freely suspended from the substrate. A modified gas-flow injector is used to reduce the gas flow turbulence during nanotube growth. Nanotube electrodes are formed by growing arrays of aligned nanotubes between two metal underlayer platforms.
US07645477B2
An apparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring a part including a part support, a sprayer, a part measurer including a digital camera and a display device, all of which are positioned adjacent to the part support. The sprayer applies a coating to a section of the part while the part measurer continuously measures at least two dimensions of the section. The digital camera takes at least one picture of the entire section of the part while the part is being coated and enables a user to accurately determine the cross section of the part to the optimum finished part configuration and size and also detect defects, blemishes or coating irregularities formed on the section. The apparatus and method of the present invention significantly reduces the margin of error related to the application of coatings to parts, the number of defective parts and increases the overall efficiency.
US07645474B1
A method and system for purifying polymers to use with medical devices, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described.
US07645465B2
A process for preparing a processed ginseng extract with enhanced pharmacological effects due to subsequent treatment is disclosed. The subsequent treatment includes an acid-treatment of ginseng and a bio-converting treatment, such as a lactic acid bacterial fermenting and an intestinal bacterial fermenting process.
US07645459B2
Oral dosage forms of a bisphosphonate comprised of a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bisphosphonate, a chelating agent, and, means for effecting delayed release of the bisphosphonate and the chelating agent in the lower gastrointestinal tract provide delivery of the pharmaceutical composition to the lower gastrointestinal tract of the mammal subject and pharmaceutically effective absorption of the bisphosphonate with or without food or beverages. The present invention substantially alleviates the interaction between bisphosphonates and food or beverages, which interaction results in the bisphosphonate active ingredient not being available for absorption. The resulting oral dosage form may thus be taken with or without food. Further, the present invention effects delivery of the bisphosphonate and the chelating agent to the lower GI tract, substantially alleviating the upper GI irritation associated with bisphosphonate therapies. These benefits simplify previously complex treatment regimens and can lead to increased patient compliance with bisphosphonate therapies.
US07645453B2
This invention relates to a method of monitoring cancer development by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase protein wherein increased abundance is an indication of the severity of cancer. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of detecting cancer malignancy by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase antibodies in a sample wherein low levels of such antibodies indicates the malignancy of cancer. Also provided is a method of suppressing tumor growth by inducing the anti-ENO1 immune response.
US07645447B2
Methods of treating a retinal degenerative disorder.
US07645432B1
An exhaust treatment system and method for removing particulates and/or gases from exhaust gases and for cooling exhaust gases. The exhaust treatment system may include a venturi nozzle for injecting a mixture of water and air into the exhaust gases to cause particulate matter and/or certain gases present in the exhaust gases to adhere to water droplets in the mixture. The exhaust treatment system may further include a receptacle positioned in proximity to the exhaust outlet and adapted for collecting water and particulate matter exiting the exhaust outlet, a filter adapted to receive water from the receptacle and remove particulate matter from the water, and/or a heat transfer device adapted to receive water from the filter and remove heat from the water.
US07645425B2
A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent includes one or more protease inhibitors.
US07645420B2
An automated flushing system removes stagnant water and the micro-organisms it contains from dental unit waterlines when a dental chair is not in use. The system prevents the exponential replication of micro-organisms in dental waterlines and can be used to increase the contact time of disinfectants with adherent biofilms in waterlines.
US07645399B2
An electrical component including an electrically conductive composition including a pyrrolized carbon-based material coated with a conductive polymer is disclosed.
US07645396B2
In a thermal recording medium including a basic chromogenic dye, a developer and a sensitizer, a composition for a thermal recording medium which composition contains 50 ppm to 5.0 mass % of 1-(3-methylphenoxy)-2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethane and/or 1,2-bis(4-methylphenoxy)ethane in 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane is used as said sensitizer, whereby the 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane compound is remarkably improved in milling property in the preparation of the above sensitizer, and a thermal recording medium is provided without impairing the colorability, etc., such as thermal colorability.
US07645393B2
A process is described for treating metal surfaces with roughening compositions that use poly(ethyleneamino propionitrile) polymer as an additive in the composition to improve adhesion of polymeric materials to the metal surfaces and to improve peel strength for thermal stability. The polymer of the invention may be added to compositions containing for example, cupric chloride and hydrochloric acid and is also usable in compositions containing an oxidizer/acid/azole mixture. Other additives, such as adiponitrile may also be beneficially added to compositions of the invention.
US07645391B2
A device for disinfecting water by ultraviolet radiation. The device includes two discharged lamps that are connected by electrical wires. A first electrical circuit is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the discharge lamps and controls a warm-up phase of the discharge lamps. A second electrical circuit is disposed remotely from the discharge lamps and functions to control an operational phase of the discharge lamps.
US07645376B2
A process for jointly carrying out selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated compounds into mono unsaturated compounds contained in gasolines, and for transforming light sulphur-containing compounds into heavier compounds by reaction with unsaturated compounds, said process employing a supported catalyst comprising at least one metal from group VIB and at least one non-noble metal from group VIII used in the sulphurized form deposited on a support and having a specific composition and comprising bringing the feed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 220° C. at a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 1 h−1 to 10 h−1 and at a pressure in the range of 0.5 to 5 MPa.
US07645373B2
The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
US07645370B2
The present invention is a plated resin molded article and process of producing the plated resin molded article, wherein metal plating is carried out on the surface of a thermoplastic resin molded article and either of requirements (1), (2) and (3) described below is included: (1) the thermoplastic resin molded article contains a thermoplastic resin and a water-soluble substance, a step of carrying out the removal of fat from the resin molded article and a step of electroless plating are provided in combination, and a step of etching by an acid containing a heavy metal is not included; (2) the thermoplastic resin molded article contains a polyamide-based resin and a styrene-based resin, a step of carrying out the removal of fat from the resin molded article and a step of electroless plating are provided in combination, and a step of etching by an acid containing a heavy metal is not included; or (3) a step of contact-treating the thermoplastic resin molded article with an acid or base not containing a heavy metal as the pre-treatment of the metal plating step is included.
US07645368B2
According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus for providing an orientation independent electroosmotic pump. In some embodiments, the method includes an anode and a cathode at different electrical potentials, the anode and cathode are each sealed in an ion-exchange membrane and at least partially immersed in an electrolyte contained in a reservoir of an electroosmotic pump, collecting gases generated by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolyte within a space defined by the ion-exchange membranes that seal the anode and cathode, recombining the collected gases to produce a liquid using a catalyst, the catalyst being located outside of the reservoir, and introducing the produced liquid into the fluid reservoir through an osmotic membrane.
US07645359B2
A method for making a fibrous structure including a plurality of synthetic fibers disposed in a predetermined pattern and a plurality of cellulosic fibers generally randomly distributed throughout at least one layer of the fibrous structure. The method includes depositing an aqueous slurry including synthetic fibers and an aqueous slurry including cellulosic fibers onto a fluid-permeable forming member having a pattern of channels. The slurries are dewatered to form a fibrous web, wherein the at least some of the cellulosic fibers are randomly distributed throughout at least a portion of the fibrous web and a plurality of synthetic fibers are at least partially non-randomly distributed in the channels. A fluid pressure differential is applied to the fibrous web disposed on the forming member, thereby molding the fibrous web such that the fibrous web includes a first plurality of micro-regions corresponding to a plurality of fluid-permeable areas of the forming member and a second plurality of micro-regions corresponding to a plurality of fluid-impermeable areas of the forming member.
US07645358B2
This invention relates to a biological process for deinking of office waste paper, and more particularly the present invention relates to a biological process for deinking of xerographic and inkjet printed paper using a gram-negative coccoid bacterium deposited at the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 043, India having Accession No. NIO/DI/32 and being deposited at the Agricultural Research Cultural Collection, and International Depository, having Accession Number NRRL B-30638.
US07645357B2
A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece includes a reactor chamber and a workpiece support within the chamber, the chamber having a ceiling facing the workpiece support, a capacitively coupled plasma source power applicator comprising a source power electrode at one of: (a) the ceiling (b) the workpiece support, and plural VHF power generators of different fixed frequencies coupled to the capacitively coupled source power applicator, and a controller for independently controlling the power output levels of the plural VHF generators so as to control an effective VHF frequency applied to the source power electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor further includes a plasma bias power applicator that includes a bias power electrode in the workpiece support and one or more RF bias power generators of different frequencies coupled to the plasma bias power applicator.
US07645339B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for depositing silicon-containing materials on a substrate. In one example, a method for selectively and epitaxially depositing a silicon-containing material is provided which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and a non-crystalline surface within a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane, and depositing an epitaxial layer on the crystalline surface. In another example, a method for blanket depositing a silicon-containing material is provide which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and feature surfaces within a process chamber and exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane and a carbon source to deposit a silicon carbide blanket layer across the crystalline surface and the feature surfaces. Generally, the silicon carbide blanket layer contains a silicon carbide epitaxial layer selectively deposited on the crystalline surface.
US07645322B2
A method of removing siloxanes from a gas that contains siloxanes and water, the method comprising: (a) expanding the gas to cool the gas and freeze at least some of the water in the gas; and (b) removing the siloxanes and frozen water from the expanded and cooled gas. The method may also include compressing the gas prior to expanding it. The step of expanding the gas may include expanding it through a turbine. The method may also include using an energy input mechanism to drive one or both of the compressor or turbine. The ice and siloxanes may be removed from the gas with a cyclonic separator.
US07645321B2
A method for the production of ore comprising a proportion of fines, additives and green agglomerates optionally containing a binder, provided with an outer coating consisting of a combustible containing fine-grained carbon, such as coke. According to the method, the ore is mixed with the additives and the optionally available binder. The mixture is pelletized and the green agglomerates thus formed are coated with the combustible, whereby the combustible is introduced into an agglomeration drum. In order to enable continual production of homogeneous-quality green agglomerates, the mixture is pelletized in the agglomeration drum and the combustible is added in an area of the longitudinal extension of the agglomeration drum where the size of the green agglomerates formed in the agglomeration drum is sufficient for further processing.
US07645319B2
The invention relates to a method for renovating a combined system consisting of a blast furnace supplied with an oxidant fluid received at least partly from an air/gas separation unit (ASU). The method consists in injecting, before renovation, at least 50% of the flow rate of the blower feeding the blast furnace into an ASU to produce oxygen whose purity is greater than 90% by volume of O2 which feeds the blast furnace, in controlling the blower airflow rate and the pressure of the air derived therefrom by a regulator which measures the flow rate and/or pressure at the input and/or output of a cleaning stage which is mounted upstream of the separation unit to control the flow rate and pressure of the air derived from the blower. The fluid feeding the blast furnace consists of pure oxygen or diluted by air produced by the cryogenic separation unit.
US07645318B2
In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a shape-static polymer template with a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; (b)) incorporating one or more nanoparticle precursor moieties with the shape-static polymer template; and either (c) oxidizing the precursor moieties to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle; or (c) adding an ion with an opposite charge polarity to the at least one nanoparticle precursor moieties to effect formation of a composite nanoparticle.
US07645317B2
The present invention relates to a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains a graphite powder and a carbon black, and in which a mixing ratio of the graphite powder to the carbon black is in the range of 25 to 85 parts by weight to 75 to 15 parts by weight; and a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains, as a main component, a carbon black having a dibutyl phthalate absorption of 60 mL/100 g or less and a nitrogen absorption specific surface area of 50 m2/g or less.The mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is less in the dust generation and segregation of the carbon supply component. Additionally, when the mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is used, a green compact and a sintered body excellent in the mechanical property can be produced.
US07645312B2
A pleated filter element includes a composite depth filter medium formed into a plurality of pleats. The composite depth filter medium includes a plurality of depth filter media layers. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers includes adsorber particulate matter. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers may have a thickness less than about 1300 microns. The plurality of depth filter media layers may have at least 50% by weight of adsorber particulate matter.
US07645310B2
A filter element, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The element generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration, and an axial seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Methods of assembly and use are provided.
US07645309B2
A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner includes a first filtering chamber filtering foreign objects using a cyclone airflow, a separation plate defining a top surface of the first filtering chamber, a filter having a diameter that is reduced as it goes downward in response to airflow rate variation in the first filtering chamber, and a blocking member provided under the filter to prevent the foreign objects filtered in the first filtering chamber from flying.
US07645308B2
Osmium, when combined with boron alone, or in combination with rhenium, ruthenium or iron, produces compounds that are ultra-hard and incompressible. These osmium diboride compounds are useful as a substitute to for other super or ultra-hard materials that are used in cutting tools and as abrasives. The osmium diboride compounds have the formula OsxM1-xB2 where M is rhenium, ruthenium or iron and x is from 0.01 to 1, except when x is not 1 and M is rhenium, x is from 0.01 to 0.3.
US07645307B2
A method and apparatus for use in controlling the reaction temperature of a fuel processor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor reactor, the reactor including a water gas shift reaction section; a temperature sensor disposed within the reaction section; a coolant flow line through the reaction section; and an automated control system. The automated control system controls the reaction temperature by determining a first component for a setting adjustment for the actuator from the measured temperature and a setpoint for the measured temperature; determining a second component for the setting adjustment from a hydrogen production rate for the fuel processor; and determining the setting adjustment from the first and second components.
US07645302B2
The present invention provides a laundry treatment composition comprising a transition metal compound.
US07645300B2
Disclosed is an injector which comprises an injector housing having a longitudinal axis and an injection probe disposed along the longitudinal axis. The injector further comprises an intraocular lens disposed in the housing. The intraocular lens comprises first and second interconnected viewing elements, and the optical axes of the first and second viewing elements are substantially aligned. The optical axes are substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The injector further comprises a lens carrier which engages one of the viewing elements. The viewing elements are moveable in response to longitudinal movement of the lens carrier relative to the injector housing. The longitudinal movement causes both (i) the optical axes to be displaced relative to each other and (ii) the viewing elements to be disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of the injector housing.
US07645295B2
A method for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent spinal vertebrae utilizing first and second plates having openings at remote ends for receiving bone screws to fix the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of a bone graft-receiving site. The first and second plates have male and female parts having interlocking elements cooperable with one another enabling movement of the plates and the adjacent vertebrae to one another to progressively compress the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae and prevent movement of the first and second plates and adjacent vertebrae away from one another.
US07645294B2
A spinal fixation system comprising at least two bone anchors, a rod connecting the bone anchors and a connecting plate extending from a proximal surface of at least one of the bone anchors. A method of fixing vertebrae relative to each other comprising the steps of: implanting bone anchors in two adjacent vertebrae, each bone anchor having a rod receiving portion; placing a rod in the rod receiving portions, thereby connecting the bone anchors; threadably engaging set screws in the rod receiving portions of at least a portion of the bone anchors, thereby fixing the rod to the bone anchors; mating one end of a connecting plate to a proximal bearing surface of at least a portion of the bone anchors; and engaging a cap with at least a portion of the set screws, thereby fixing the connecting plate to the bone anchors.
US07645281B2
A method of implanting a vertebral implant in a void between a pair of vertebral endplates comprises positioning the vertebral implant between the vertebral endplates and coupling an implantation tool to the vertebral implant. The method further comprises actuating the implantation tool to generate alternating motion relative to the vertebral endplates. The alternating motion has a speed and creates a displacement of the vertebral implant. The method further comprises seating the vertebral implant into a profile formed in at least one of the vertebral endplates and decoupling the implantation tool from the vertebral implant. The vertebral implant remains implanted in the at least one vertebral endplate.
US07645277B2
The invention provides a medical device that includes a housing, a tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing, a first arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode, a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm, at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, and a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings. According to the invention, at least one of the first arm or the second arm is translationally moveable, and at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. The invention also provides a corresponding method for treating blood vessels or other tissues of the body.
US07645273B2
A carrier catheter (20) for the introduction and positioning or changing of one or more guidewires (GW1, GW2, GW3) or interventional devices in a vessel V in the body of a subject. The catheter (20) includes an elongated, thin flexible body (22) having a primary lumen (24) and ancillary lumens (26, 28). Each lumen has an opening at the proximal end and an opening (30, 32, 34) at the distal end to permit a guidewire or device to extend through and exit the lumen. The openings at the distal ends of the lumens are positioned so that the respective guidewires or interventional devices can exit the lumens at different locations along the distal end of the catheter. One introduction of the device allows the deployment of any combination of multiple guidewires and interventional devices. The catheter can be used for a rapid replacement of an indwelling catheter or rapid replacement of a dedicated guidewire.
US07645270B2
The take-off needle comprises a main hollow lance having a distal end adapted to perform a pricking operation, said hollow lance being connected to two pipes each provided with a spigot for it to be connected to a tube, said needle further comprising a body for holding the main hollow lance, said holding body defining two internal cylindrical surfaces forming said pipes, the main hollow lance comprising, at its proximal end, a sleeve having an internal channel of which the distal end is connected to the proximal end of the main hollow lance, and of which the proximal end opens into the holding body, said sleeve comprising at its proximal end two crescent-shaped surfaces inclined towards the interior of the internal channel and towards the distal end of the sleeve, each of said crescent-shaped surfaces being disposed so as to extend in line with one of the internal cylindrical surfaces of the holding body.
US07645267B2
A prefilled medical syringe includes a syringe barrel. A syringe plunger is disposed in the barrel and displaceable by means of a plunger rod. An end plug closes off a cannula side of the syringe barrel. The plug is provided with a through-channel closed off by a membrane. A finger support is disposed at the end of the syringe barrel opposite the end plug and provided with a through-opening for the plunger rod. A thread system cooperates with the plunger rod and the finger support. The thread system includes a thread sleeve detachably connected with the finger support. The thread sleeve is provided with an inner thread that cooperates with an outer thread on the plunger rod.
US07645258B2
A wireless communication system from an IV medication infusion pump to a hospital information management system (HIMS) is disclosed. The system includes an IV pump having pump operation circuitry for monitoring pre-selected characteristics of pump operation indicative of IV administration of medication to a patient. A transmitter or transceiver is connected to the pump operation circuitry for receiving a wireless pump signal representing instructional data to the IV pump and for transmitting a wireless pump signal representing the pre-selected pump operation characteristics. The wireless pump transmitter or transceiver communicates with a hospital information management system (HIMS). The HIMS includes a receiver or transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving the pump signal representing the pump operation characteristics and also includes a computer processor capable of storing and displaying the pump operation characteristics that are represented by the received wireless pump signal. In one embodiment, a data collection terminal is incorporated into the system. The data collection terminal includes a transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving the pump signal representing the pump operation characteristics and the HIMS signal representing instructional data to the IV pump.
US07645252B2
A dressing having a flexible sleeve shaped to accommodate a substantially cylindrical body or plant portion, the sleeve having a lining which is substantially non-adherent to the body or plant part being bandaged and having a peripheral securement means which attaches two peripheral portions to each other without those portions being circumferentially adhered to the sleeve portion.
US07645249B2
The present invention relates to a medical apparatus for spinal therapy, which is a bed-type apparatus equipped with a treatment head and performs message and acupressure while moving along the length of the spine, and more particularly to a fixing structure of a treatment head in the medical apparatus, which wears out slowly and allows the treatment head to move in a vertical direction. The medical apparatus for spinal therapy having the fixing structure of a treatment head is advantageous over known apparatuses in that it can give various types of stimulation to human body parts and incurs lower maintenance expenses.
US07645232B2
A retractor has a proximal portion comprising a first side portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second side portion having a second longitudinal edge. The first and second portions being movable relative to each other such that the first and second longitudinal edges can be positioned in close proximity to each other or spaced apart by a selected distance. A distal portion is coupled with the proximal portion. The distal portion has an outer surface and an inner surface partially defining a passage. The distal portion is capable of having a configuration when inserted within the patient wherein the cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location.
US07645222B2
A pressure roller (3; 7) for devices for processing continuous web materials is described, comprising a lateral surface (3S; 7S), including a regulating system (29, 50) to impose an adjustable crown of the lateral surface (3S; 7S) of the roller deforming said lateral surface.
US07645220B2
A perineometer for home or clinical use assesses the strength of pelvic floor muscles and provides audible and visual biofeedback signals as training aids during pelvic exercises. Impedance signals proportional to vaginal contraction pressure forces are developed by a transducer sleeve that is mounted on a vaginal probe. A battery-powered RF transmitter module contained within the probe transmits wireless impedance signals to a hand-held receiver equipped with an audio-visual display monitor. The probe reacts the pelvic contraction forces and thus provides a direct tactile feedback signal that is used in combination with audible and visual feedback signals for improving the endurance and strength of pelvic floor muscles.
US07645211B1
An electronic agility training system, including an array of multilayer, flexible footfall portions, a microprocessor operationally connected footfall portions, a user interface connected to the microprocessor, a pressure sensor positioned in each respective footfall portion and connected to the microprocessor, and a light source positioned in each respective footfall portion and operationally connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to receive user information and to sequentially light respective footfall portions in one of a plurality of predetermined patterns and speeds. Actuation of the pressure sensor positioned in a lit footfall portion generates a first signal to the microprocessor, while actuation of the pressure sensor positioned in an unlit footfall portion generates a second signal. Likewise, a null activation of the pressure sensor positioned in a lit footfall portion generates a second signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor counts the respective first and second signal received and generates a score based thereupon.
US07645206B2
An electrically-variable transmission is provided with first and second motor/generators and three planetary gear sets. The planetary gear sets have continuous interconnections, and selective connections via a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms, that provide three forward electrically-variable modes. Preferably, the planetary gear sets are characterized by effective gear ratios such that a substantially equal maximum torque is required from each of the motor/generators during the three forward electrically-variable modes for a given torque on the input member. This allows the first and second motor/generators to be substantially equal in size.
US07645199B2
A golf putter head adapted for attachment to a club shaft is provided with a face member having a strike face and a cylindrical back cavity, and a body member configured to fit and rotate within the back cavity is disclosed. Selective rotation of the body member within the back cavity sets a loft of the putter head. The weighting of the putter is adjusted by securing a weight member to the body member. A golf putter head having an increased moments of inertia is also disclosed. The putter head includes a face member, a body member, and a weight member. Placement of the weight member is such that the moments of inertia are increased and the putter head is stable.
US07645198B2
A golf swing training device is configured to prevent lateral movement of a golfer's hips such as during the backswing, downswing and/or follow-through portions of the golfer's swing. In addition, the golf swing training device is configured to prevent reverse rotation of the golfer's hips such as during the backswing portion. The training device may comprise a seat assembly and a horizontal arm assembly. The seat assembly is configured to be mounted to the golfer's hips and defines opposing lateral seat sides. The horizontal arm assembly is coupled to the seat assembly and is configured to be pivotable about a seat pivot axis located adjacent one of the seat sides. The horizontal arm assembly is configured to prevent reverse pivoting of the seat assembly such that reverse rotation of the golfer's hips is prevented.
US07645188B1
An air diffuser for distributing air into a room from a supply duct of an air distribution system having: a frame member, wherein the frame member includes an inner surface, and an outer surface; an attachment member, wherein the attachment member is associated with the frame member, and further wherein the attachment member is configured for associating the air diffuser with a supply duct; and a diffusing member, wherein the diffusing member comprises a substantially hemispherical dome having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of apertures, and wherein the substantially hemispherical dome emanates away from the outer surface of the frame member.
US07645187B2
An air-conditioning duct is provided inside a car console box that has an ornamental portion. The duct has an air passage for conducting conditioned air from an air conditioner to the passenger compartment. The air passage is defined by a first wall portion formed by the ornamental portion, a second wall portion opposed to the first wall portion, a third wall portion located between the first and the second wall portions, and a fourth wall portion located between the first and the second wall portions. The fourth wall portion is opposed to the third wall portion. Each wall portion has an inner surface exposed to the interior of the air passage. A pair of boundary lines are defined on the inner surface of the first wall portion at boundaries between the first wall portion and the third and fourth wall portions. A dew condensation suppression portion is provided on the inner surface of the first wall portion between the pair of the boundary lines. A space is defined between the dew condensation suppression portion and each boundary line. When the thickness of the dew condensation suppression portion on the first wall portion is expressed by T (mm), and the sum of the widths of the spaces is expressed by D (mm), the thickness T and the sum D of the widths satisfy the following expression (1). T≧D+2 mm(D>0 mm) (1)
US07645184B2
An apparatus for the repair and resurfacing of compact discs using a motorized, abrasive surface.
US07645180B2
A method for abrasive material removal that includes the steps of establishing an optimum force profile relating to the force or contact pressure applied by a processing tool on a workpiece. The actual force generated during the metal removal operation is monitored and compared to the optimum force profile. Based on the comparison of the actual force with the optimum force profile machine parameters are adjusted such that the actual force generated follows the established optimum force profile.
US07645176B2
An organic electro-luminescence display (OELD) includes first and second substrates facing each other and having a display region and a non-display region, a first stacking layer in the display region, the first stacking layer including an array layer disposed on the first substrate and having a thin film transistor, a connection pattern connected with the array layer, and an emitting diode disposed on the second substrate and connected with the connection pattern, and a second stacking layer between the first and second substrates and in the non-display region, the second stacking layer corresponding to the first stacking layer.
US07645174B2
A propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a first electric machine coupled to a first drive shaft configured to provide propulsion to the marine vessel, and a second electric machine coupled to a second drive shaft configured to provide propulsion to the marine vessel, in a first mode of propulsion system operation, the first electric machine is configured as a generator to supply power to the second electric machine. The second electric machine is configured as a motor to drive the second drive shaft. A method of operating the propulsion system and a vessel including the propulsion system are also described.
US07645168B2
The invention relates to a distribution module for converting between symmetric and non-symmetric data transmission paths. Said distribution module comprises a housing in which a transformer is arranged for adjusting impedance, first contacts for connecting at least one non-symmetric data cable, and second contacts for connecting at least one symmetric data cable. The first and second contacts are disposed on opposite faces of the housing. The second contacts are embodied as at least one RJ45 plug-in connector.
US07645150B1
The card edge connector is provided. An electrical connecting unit has a slot used for connecting component to insert into, the electrical connecting unit has at least one pivot unit, a retaining device hinges to the pivot unit, and corresponding to the connecting component along the pivot rotation area, the retaining device has an exerting area, and the exerting area has at least a handle unit. The card edge connector, the retaining device has at least one tool operating slot and at least one handle unit, when the connecting component is ejected, the space on the mother board is too small to exerting the force on to said handle unit, an auxiliary tool makes the tool operating slot eject the connecting component, if the space on the mother board is big enough to exerting the force on to the handle unit, then the handle unit ejects the connecting component.
US07645147B2
An electrical connector made up of an array of metallic contacts that act as conductive carriers, each attached to a flexible insulating sheet in one of an array of openings provided in the flexible sheet. The metallic contacts have portions disposed on opposite sides of the flexible insulating sheet that form a contact channel region that retains a rim portion surrounding an opening. The electrical connector provides a flexible carrier for the contacts to conform to irregular mating surfaces of components to be joined. For a given contact height, the electrical connector further provides a minimum electrical path length for components connected by the contacts board. In one aspect, the metallic contacts including at least one side containing elastic portions are formed from sheets of conductive material. In one aspect, circular shaped contacts are singulated after opposing conductive sheets are joined in regions within the openings of the flexible insulating sheet.
US07645134B2
There is provided a tool roll with a cylindrical base and a first ribbon having an inner face, an outer face, and first and second major sides located therebetween. The outer face of the first ribbon includes a plurality of depressions or holes formed therein and the first ribbon is wound in helical coils around the base roll such that the inner face is proximate the base roll. The plurality of depressions or holes in the outer face of the first ribbon form a plurality of discrete mold cavities with each of the discrete mold cavities including a mold opening at the outer face of the first ribbon.
US07645127B2
A peristaltic pump comprising a pump housing, a compressible pump tube positioned between rotatable occluding members and a pump tube track in the housing, where there is an opening in the pump tube track between a first occluding member and a second occluding member such that when the second occluding member has exited occlusion of the pump tube at the opening, a third occluding member completes occlusion of the pump tube thus capturing a compensating volume of fluid between the first and third occluding members, and when the second occluding member reenters occlusion at the end of the opening, it displaces the compensating volume towards the outlet of the pump tube, thus maintaining fluid velocity in the outlet stream.
US07645124B2
A method and apparatus are provided for estimating and/or precluding stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, through use of a virtual transducer, which precludes the need for having sensors located adjacent to a driven element of the system, or adjacent contact surfaces at which the stick-slip relative motion may occur. Parameters measurable at a drive mechanism are utilized for controlling a system in a manner which precludes stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, of the driven element. Relative motion between contacting surfaces in the driven element, prone to stick-slip behavior, is controlled such that, after sufficient force is applied by the drive element to overcome static friction forces between the contacting surfaces and break them free from one another, relative motion between the surfaces is maintained at a high enough relative speed that the surfaces are precluded from statically contacting one another, so that stick-slip behavior is precluded.
US07645122B1
A turbine airfoil used in a gas turbine engine, the airfoil including an internal cooling air circuit that includes two nested and parallel serpentine flow circuits that both flow in the airfoil aft direction. The first and second legs of the two nested serpentine circuits are separated by ribs so that the cooling air flows do not mix. The last leg of the two nested serpentine circuits is separated by a rib which includes a plurality of cross-over holes so that the flows can mix. The aft-most serpentine flow circuit of the two nested circuits includes a last leg that is connected to cooling slots spaced along the trailing edge of the airfoil such that cooling air from the last leg flows out the ducts. The forward-most serpentine circuit of the two nested circuits includes a blade tip channel extending along the blade tip and connecting the first leg with the second leg, the blade tip channel including a plurality of blade tip cooling holes. A leading edge cooling supply channel is connected to at least one impingement cavity by leading edge impingement holes to provide cooling to the leading edge region. The leading edge cooling supply channel is separated from the forward-most serpentine flow circuit by a rib such that the flows do not mix.
US07645121B2
A fan rotor arrangement comprises a fan rotor (24) and a plurality of fan blades (26). Each fan blade (26) comprises a root portion (36) and an aerofoil portion (38). Each aerofoil portion (38) has a leading edge (44), a trailing edge (46) and a tip (48). Concave pressure surface (50) and convex suction surface (52) extend from the leading edge (44) to the trailing edge (46) of each aerofoil portion (38). An annular wall (54) surrounds the fan rotor (24) and fan blades (26) and an inner surface (56) of the annular wall (54) has a circumferentially extending groove (58). The circumferentially extending groove (58) is arranged axially, or chordally, between the leading edges (44) and the trailing edges (46) at the tips (48) of the aerofoil portions (38) of the fan blades (26). The circumferentially extending groove (58) extends axially by at least half a wavelength of an unsteady pressure wave to provide a geometrically tuned cavity and additionally pressure loss to suppress axially upstream propagating unsteady pressure waves. This reduces vibrations of the fan blade (26).
US07645114B2
Described herein is a transport tank trailer having a tank that can be used to more completely and effectively transport, store, load and unload a viscous product, such as a viscous liquid product, or liquid with solid(s) in suspension. Materials for transport, storing, loading and unloading include both food-grade and non-food grade products. Exemplary products include chocolate, paint, wastes, and asphalt. The tank system involves: a) agitation means (e.g., vibration devices) to force viscous product to flow during unloading; b) a heat-traced closed loop venting and unloading system resulting in the elimination of opening of the manhole on the tanker, which results in the release of heat; c) use of enhanced insulating materials to reduce product solidification during product discharge; and d) reduction of thermal bridges to increase product heat retention. The invention also involves an inventive cargo tank shape that promotes viscous product discharge during unloading of the tank. The viscous product trailer can further comprise a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing. The system can provide heat vented air and heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain tank, and consequently product, temperature.
US07645107B2
A push nut including a base plate formed with a bolt passing hole at a center of the base plate and four engaging pieces. Pairs of engaging pieces extend respectively from a pair of opposing sides of the base plate, base portions of the four engaging pieces are folded back to have a U-shape, and tip end portions of the engaging pieces extend to a surrounding of the bolt passing hole. The tip end portions of the four engaging pieces surround a periphery of the bolt passing hole. The four engaging pieces incline toward an insertion direction of a bolt and elastically abut against an outer circumference of the bolt, which is inserted into the bolt passing hole.
US07645106B2
A thrust screw (14) for applying force against an object. The thrust screw (14) comprising a housing having a ball (12) secured therein. The ball (12) having a flat planar surface (16) which contacts the objects for applying force against the object.
US07645105B2
A fastener is provided for projection resistance welding to a panel. The fastener includes a base having a fastening element, such as a threaded stud or a nut integral therewith. Multiple projections formed integral with the base extend therefrom to engage with the panel to be welded to the panel by electric resistance welding. A groove is provided in the base facing the panel and is filled with a heat activated expandable sealer material. Upon heating of the base during the electric resistance welding, or in an oven, the sealer expands to fill and seal any gap between the base and the panel.
US07645102B2
The invention provides a drill head for deep hole machining capable of raising circularity and straightness of a hole and improving precision of hole machining. In the drill head for deep hole machining constituted by fixing a cutting blade to a tip surface of a head body and fixing guide pads to a periphery of a tip of the head body, the length Lm of a margin, which is formed at a tip side of a periphery of the cutting blade in a drill rotating direction, in an axis direction is made substantially the same as the length Lp of the guide pads in the axis direction, and a top end and rear end of the margin are substantially aligned with a top end and rear end of the guide pads, respectively, in a circumference direction.
US07645101B2
A power driver may include a housing, a tool chuck and a power take off mechanism. The tool chuck may have an input shaft mounted for rotation on the housing. The input shaft may support threaded chuck jaws. A chuck actuating shaft may be mounted for rotation on the input shaft. The chuck actuating shaft may be screw coupled to the threaded chuck jaws. The power take off mechanism may be connected to the tool chuck. The power take off mechanism may be adjustable into a DRILL DRIVE MODE to rotationally drive the input shaft and the chuck actuating shaft together as a unit, and a CHUCK MODE to rotationally drive the chuck actuating shaft relative to the input shaft. The power take off mechanism may be internal of the housing. The power take off mechanism in the CHUCK MODE may rotationally fix the input shaft to the housing.
US07645090B2
A method for at least slowing a vehicle moving along a surface, the method comprising: providing first and second panels rotatably disposed on the surface and capable of extending above the surface, wherein each of the first and second panels rotate in a different and opposite direction; providing at least one center panel disposed between the first and second panels, the center panel being capable of being deployed into a position extended from the surface; detecting at least one of a vehicle speed, vehicle type, and vehicle weight; and controlling one or more of the first, second, and center panels based on the detecting.
US07645084B1
A fabric mesh ball attached to a toy member in the shape of an animal such as a duck, fish or frog so as the toy member serves as a grasping handle for the mesh ball and furthermore serves as a squirt toy in that a hollow body portion of the toy member includes a squirt opening preferably positioned near the mouth of the particular animal.
US07645083B2
The instant invention is a mechanical pencil. The pencil includes a body having a cavity and a lead holding mechanism located in the cavity. The lead holding mechanism includes a pair of arms joined together by a bridge. Each arm terminates with a pair of fingers. The fingers close together when the lead holding mechanism is recessed into the cavity. The fingers open when the lead holding mechanism is advanced out of the cavity.
US07645074B2
A shielding plate for controlling the entry of oil between an inner ring and an outer ring is provided in the vicinity of an opening between the inner ring and the outer ring which lies a side where oil enters. In addition, a fluid accommodating plate for accommodating therein oil is provided in the vicinity of an opening between the outer ring and the inner ring which lies on a side where oil exits.
US07645071B2
A device temperature measurement circuit, an integrated circuit (IC) including a device temperature measurement circuit, a method of characterizing device temperature and a method of monitoring temperature. The circuit includes a constant current source and a clamping device. The clamping device selectively shunts current from the constant current source or allows the current to flow through a PN junction, which may be the body to source/drain junction of a field effect transistor (FET). Voltage measurements are taken directly from the PN junction. Junction temperature is determined from measured junction voltage.
US07645070B2
An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover, and an internal computer, is provided. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices, and a heat sink, clamped together. A control algorithm manipulates the current supplied to thermoelectric coolers such that the dynamic thermal performance of a block can be controlled so that pre-defined thermal profiles of sample temperature can be executed. The sample temperature is calculated instead of measured using a design specific model and equations. The control software includes calibration diagnostics which permit variation in the performance of thermoelectric coolers from instrument to instrument to be compensated for such that all instruments perform identically. The block/heat sink assembly can be changed to another of the same or different design. The assembly carries the necessary information required to characterize its own performance in an on-board memory device, allowing the assembly to be interchangeable among instruments while retaining its precision operating characteristics.
US07645063B2
A backlight unit, in which an incident surface of a light-guiding plate is formed in a shape of a curve, or a curve-shaped structure is formed in a housing to improve the light efficiency. The backlight unit includes a light source emitting light; a housing surrounding the light source; a light-guiding plate guiding the light emitted from the light source to an LCD panel, wherein the light-guiding plate has an incident surface formed in a shape of a curve; and a reflective sheet formed under the light-guiding plate.
US07645060B2
The present invention relates to a support for a motor vehicle light unit that enables the light unit to be mounted displaceably on an equipment module. The support includes a guide for guiding the light unit along a predetermined path relative to the equipment module.
US07645056B1
An optical irradiation device incorporating a plurality of LEDs arranged in one or more clusters or arrays. A heat pipe is provided to conduct heat away from the LEDs allowing the LEDs to be driven to produce more radiation than would be possible without the heat pipe.
US07645054B2
An illuminating unit comprising a luminous means (5) and an optical element (1) that has a radiation entrance surface (2) facing the luminous means (5) and a radiation exit surface (3) averted from the luminous means (5). The optical element (1) has at least one holographic element (4) that is designed as a beam shaping element for the radiation (7) emitted from the luminous means (5).
US07645052B2
An LED ceiling tile combination is described which includes a ceiling having at least one LED fixture integrated therewith. The LED fixture can include least one LED, and a support structure for the at least one LED strip.
US07645051B2
A lighted chair rail comprises a frame secured to a wall and a horizontal facia mounted on the frame and positioned in a spaced apart relationship to the wall. Light bulbs supported on the frame direct light through a lens mounted on the horizontal facia onto the wall. The horizontal facia may also include decorative items.
US07645048B2
The planar lighting device includes a light source having at least one LED chip for emitting blue light through a light emission face, a transparent light guide plate having at least one light entrance plane through which light emitted by the light source is admitted and a light exit plane through which the light admitted through the at least one light entrance plane is emitted as planar light, and a fluorescent member disposed between the light emission face and each of the at least one light entrance plane and having a fluorescent substance coated area for emitting white light by converting the blue light from the light source into the white light and blue light passing areas through which the blue light from the light source is allowed to pass as the blue light.
US07645047B2
An emergency lighting system comprising a housing further comprising a flat cover, wherein the flat cover automatically opens during an emergency condition; a light source located inside the housing further comprising a rechargeable battery and a wide angle LED light bulb, wherein the light source remains off under a normal condition and the light source automatically turns on in response to an emergency condition, and wherein the light source is removable.
US07645044B2
The present invention relates to a side mirror for an automobile, and more particularly, to a side mirror for an automobile in which an assembled structure is modified such that even in case of an excessive pressing the side mirror to fall in a driver's view, in comparing with pressing a mirror for adjusting to fall in a driver' view as a conventional method, the assembled state is not return to a disassembled state. In accordance with the present invention, an assembly work is easily preformed and further a assemble state is not easily return to a disassemble state by an external force.
US07645038B2
A spitting device for an inkjet head includes an array type inkjet head on which nozzle units are formed, and a platen which is disposed opposite to the nozzle units of the inkjet head. The platen includes ink outlets and printing medium guide ribs formed thereon, and supports a back surface of a printing medium. The platen includes a first platen unit and a second platen unit which is movably connected to the first platen unit and on which second printing medium guide ribs are formed. The spitting device can prevent the printing medium guide ribs from being contaminated by ink ejected from the nozzle units and allows the printing medium to be more stably fed during high-speed printing.
US07645036B2
An ink-jet recording ink set, containing at least one recording liquid containing a colorant and a polymerizable compound and an ink spread suppressing liquid containing at least one surfactant and substantially no colorant, wherein all of the following conditions (A), (B) and (C) are satisfied, and an ink-jet recording method using the same:(A) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid is smaller than that of at least one recording liquid contained in the ink-jet recording ink set;(B) at least one of the surfactants contained in the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: γs(0)−γs(saturated)>1 mN/m; and (C) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: γs<(γs(0)+γs(saturated)max)/2.
US07645035B2
The present invention provides an ink set which includes a combination of a recording liquid including a resin-coated colorant, and a treatment liquid including a particle which has a reactivity with the resin-coated colorant. The ink set can obtain a high quality image free from feathering and color bleeding, can obtain a high quality image even when used for printing on a plain paper sheet, can obtain a print excellent in wear resistance, can obtain a high image density without causing a deep permeation of a recording liquid in the paper sheet, can perform a favorable double-sided printing with a low image density when the image is viewed from an opposite face of an image print face, can be free from an image stain attributable to drying failure of the recording liquid, and can provide the print with a proper glossiness.
US07645031B2
The liquid ejection head includes: a liquid ejection unit which includes nozzles ejecting liquid, pressure chambers connected with the nozzles and filled with the liquid, and piezoelectric elements pressurizing the liquid in the pressure chambers; a frame substrate which has a hole section passing through the frame substrate and is disposed on a side of the liquid ejection unit reverse to a side on which the nozzles are arranged, the hole section being defined with a lateral wall and corresponding to a common liquid chamber accumulating the liquid to be supplied to the pressure chambers; a cover plate which is arranged on a side of the frame substrate reverse to a side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit; and through electrodes which pass through the lateral wall of the frame substrate and are exposed on the side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit and the side adjacent to the cover plate, wherein the piezoelectric elements are applied with drive signals via the through electrodes.
US07645029B2
Provided is an inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement including side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture, and an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. The arrangement also includes at least one heater element having two opposite sides parallel to a plane of the ejection aperture and configured such that a gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of said sides. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged in the chamber so that the electrodes are non-coincident and have an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a center thereof.
US07645018B2
A method and an apparatus of adjusting a discharge quantity of a liquid droplet with accuracy. When a plunger moves forward and stops sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of a tube, a discharge quantity of the liquid droplet discharged from a discharge port communicating with the tube is adjusted. A moving speed of the plunger is adjusted such that the liquid droplet discharged from the discharge port becomes constant at every discharge. The apparatus for discharging a liquid material, has a tube, a plunger sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of the tube, a discharge port communicating with the tube and discharging the liquid material so as to be scattered, and a control means controlling an operation of the plunger. The control means controls a moving speed of the plunger moving forward from start of deceleration to stop.
US07645017B2
The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection ports which eject droplets of liquid; a light emitting device which emits a determination light beam intersecting with flight paths of the droplets ejected from at least two of the ejection ports to be examined; a light receiving device which receives the determination light beam having passed through the flight paths of the droplets and outputs a determination signal corresponding to an amount of received light; an ejection port selection device which selects the at least two of the ejection ports to be examined so that the at least two of the ejection ports are disposed on a line parallel to an optical axis of the determination light beam, and that a distance between the at least two of the ejection ports along the optical axis of the determination light beam is smaller than a prescribed specific distance; an ejection control device which performs ejection driving to eject the droplets at substantially same time from the at least two ejection ports selected by the ejection port selection device; and an ejection state judgment device which judges droplet ejection state of the at least two ejection ports according to the determination signal outputted by the light receiving device when the droplets ejected due to the ejection driving performed by the ejection control device pass through the determination light beam.
US07645016B2
A liquid ejection method includes: (A) moving nozzles relative to a medium, (B) ejecting liquid from the nozzles while the nozzles are moving relative to the medium, (C) forming a first pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at either one of a timing delayed from a certain reference timing by a predetermined interval and a timing preceding the certain reference timing by a predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a certain direction with respect to the medium, and (D) when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at the timing delayed by the predetermined interval, forming a second pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at a timing delayed from the certain reference timing by an interval equal to the predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a direction opposite to the certain direction with respect to the medium, and when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at the timing preceding by the predetermined interval, forming the second pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at a timing preceding the certain reference timing by an interval equal to the predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in the direction opposite to the certain direction with respect to the medium.
US07645007B2
In this ink jet printer, on the basis of voltage of a nozzle plate 27 at the time that a print head 24 is driven and in a state in which a predetermined potential difference has been generated between the nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52, a nozzle inspection is performed so as to confirm whether or not ink is in practice being ejected from each nozzle 23, so that ink can be sequentially ejected to an inspection area 52 from each nozzle. According to the nozzle inspection voltage change is detected in the nozzle plate 27 by a voltage detection circuit 54 provided on an encoder board 64 on a carriage 22. Since both the nozzle plate 27 and the voltage detection circuit 54 are installed on the carriage 22, and the distance between the two of them is shorter, they are less likely be affected by noise. In addition, there is no need to prepare a new board on which the voltage detection circuit 54 needs to be mounted.
US07645005B2
The invention provides for a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a number of modular printhead controller PCBs each configured to control a respective modular printhead integrated circuit, and modular supports defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. Each PCB has electrical connecting strips which operatively overlie the respective recessed portions. The assembly also includes at least one connecting member for operatively connecting respective PCBs to each other, each connecting member having a series of parallel spaced conducting strips, said member shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via said conducting strips.
US07645002B2
A piece of furniture with a furniture body and a first and at least one second drawer, displaceable relative to the furniture body, the front panel of the first drawer essentially completely covering the front panel or front wall of the second drawer in the closed position for both drawers, characterized in that the first and the at least one second drawer comprise an opening device for displacing the drawers from a closed position to an open position and a switch element is provided between both opening devices which couples both opening devices in a first switch position and uncouples the same in a second switch position.
US07644999B2
An idler assembly is disclosed for a shovel having a flexible track assembly. In an embodiment, the idler assembly comprises an idler gear operatively associated with the track assembly; a sleeve; a shaft, sets of splines on the shaft and on the sleeve sized for engagement, and connectors at ends of the shaft; at least one bearing block forming a bore therethrough; at least one bushing liner disposed within at least one bearing block; and at least one retaining device for constraining the shaft from withdrawal from the bearing block. A method for retrofitting a shovel with an existing idler assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises positioning at least one bushing liner within a bore of at least one bearing block; attaching an idler shaft and an idler gear together; and positioning the idler shaft within the at least one bushing liner.
US07644997B2
A fill-up device of a master cylinder is included in a hydraulic brake system for an automotive vehicle and generates a hydraulic pressure corresponding to an operation of a brake operating member. A coupled switching valve is switched by being mechanically coupled with movement of a piston relative to a housing. The coupled switching valve is in a first state where a fill-up chamber is in communication with a reservoir via a relief valve until the piston is advanced by a predetermined distance from a rearmost position, and switched to a second state where the fill-up chamber is in direct communication with the reservoir via the communication passage without the relief valve disposed therebetween when the piston is advanced by a distance larger than the predetermined distance. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the fill-up chamber rapidly decreases, and the hydraulic pressure in pressure chambers rapidly increase.
US07644990B2
A personal support apparatus for supporting the head and body of a person sleeping in a seated position includes a generally U-shaped collar member for contacting the wearer's neck from the back, with the collar being made from a soft resilient material that retains its shape, and first and second side arm support members permanently or reversibly and adjustably attached to the collar, with the side arm support members being made from a soft malleable material that reversibly conforms to the contours of the passenger's body and/or the vehicle seat or other surface, the first and second side arm support members being characterized by a first level of firmness, and the collar member being characterized by a second level of firmness that is greater than the first level of firmness.
US07644988B2
A highchair assembly includes a seat supported by a plurality of legs with an upstanding back wall and opposite first and second side walls. An access device is mounted to one of the side walls. The access device has an upper end located generally at the one side wall and the lower end for placement on a support surface. A child can enter and exit the highchair through use of the access device.
US07644981B2
A portable two-frame collapsible chair comprised of an inner and outer frame with the frames hingably joined for rotating between a first position for carrying and a second position for sitting. The chair includes a flexible seat member connected to both frames. The chair further includes a flexible backrest hingably connected to the outer frame with optional armrests hingably attached. The frames can be folded into substantially the same plane when in the first position for carrying. The position for carrying includes a variety of configurations including a backpack configuration, wherein the user uses shoulder straps to carry the chair, and a roller bag configuration wherein the chair has wheels and a pull handle.
US07644980B2
The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a movable roof section which can be deployed into a ventilation position by means of a deploy and/or displacement mechanism and/or then displaced above or below the vehicle roof or an at least temporarily stationary roof section for at least partially releasing a roof opening in the vehicle roof. The deploy and/or displacement mechanism comprises at least one vertical gate (9) which has at least one guide web (10), disposed perpendicular to the gate (9) and having slide tracks (15, 16) that are at least partially encircled by a slide element of a slide (8) that can be displaced along a guide rail. The gate (9) is produced from metal and the guide web (10) at least partially from plastic. In order to provide a simple and stable gate (9) having good sliding properties, the gate (9) comprises a plurality of spaced-apart openings (11) for anchoring the plastic (14) of the guide webs (10).
US07644978B2
A cross member passes a longitudinal member. The cross member is connected, on its outer end, to a side sill assembly and includes a connecting portion that divides the cross member into a remote cross member portion from the outer end of the cross member, and the other cross member portion. A reinforcement element extends through the connecting portion into the remote cross member portion and terminates in at its inner end spaced by a gap from a top wall of the longitudinal member, and it extends into the other cross member portion and terminates in at its outer end in the neighborhood of the side sill assembly. It is connected to an upper inner wall of the remote cross member portion, but spaced from an upper inner wall of the other cross member portion.
US07644977B2
A post pressurizing material treatment for bodies moving through fluid includes a series of compartments joined to the rear surface of the body. Each compartment is sealed by a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front wall and is open at a rear end thereof. Each compartment retains at least one V-shaped base having diverging walls opening into the rear end of each compartment. Post pressurizing material is secured in a spaced between the walls of the V-shaped base for trapping fluid flow and accumulating forward pressure between the walls of the V-shaped base so as to reduce drag and propel the body forward.
US07644975B2
A mounting arrangement for securing a cladding to a vehicle body includes a vehicle body defining at least one aperture and a cladding having a body portion and at least one integral attachment structure extending from the body portion. The attachment structure includes a retaining portion received through the at least one aperture for securing the body portion to the vehicle body and a plurality of spaced apart ribs connecting the retaining portion to the body portion.
US07644973B2
An anti-chucking device (14) for a tailgate assembly (12) for a vehicle (10), includes a bracket member (36) and a striker member (38). The striker member (38) engages the bracket member (36) and prevents the tailgate assembly (12) from moving in a lateral direction on the vehicle (10) when the tailgate assembly (12) is moved to an open position and a closed position. The bracket member (36) includes a first pair of tabs (50) and a second pair of tabs (52). The first pair of tabs (50) extends from the second pair of tabs (52) by a predetermined angle. The first pair of tabs (50) defines a first slot (60), and the second pair of tabs (52) defines a second slot (62). The striker member (38) pivots between the first slot (60) and the second slot (62), with the tailgate assembly (12) moving between open and closed positions.
US07644971B1
This invention relates to an expandable motor home. The motor home of this invention has a lower body portion having a first floor, a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The motor home also has an upper body portion having a movable upper segment and a lower segment that is connected to the lower body portion. The lower segment has a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The upper segment has a front wall, a back wall, a pair of opposite side walls, and a roof. The upper segment is movable relative to the lower segment such that the upper segment has a raised and lowered position relative to the lower body portion. The motor home may have extendable rooms in the upper segment and lower segment defining separate living areas.
US07644963B2
A hooking device includes a hook for clasping a latching device, a spring mounted to the hook for providing a restoration force to the hook, and a base securing the hook and the spring thereon. The hook includes a main portion, a catch portion, and a pair of shaft portions extending from the other end along opposite direction. The spring includes two winding portions, two first arms extending from ends of the winding portions, the first arms acting on the hook; and two second arms extending from the other ends of the winding portions. The base includes a base plate defining an opening, two supporting plates accommodating the shaft portions, two bearing plates extending from the base plate, the second arms acting on the bearing plate, and an elastic arm extending from the base plate pushing on the other end of the main portion of the hook.
US07644962B2
A universal attachment flange to connect equipment utilized to perform a task to various connection arrangements. A universal attachment flange is provided with a plurality of hole patterns to permit a bolted attachment of the flange to other devices that present varying patterns of bolt receiving holes. The universal attachment flange is capable of connection to a variety of four (4) hole patterns and at least one three (3) hole pattern. In one form the universal attachment flange includes a through hole threaded to receive a connection fitting.
US07644960B2
A clamp for coupling mating radially projecting flanges, each flange having a tapered outer face. The clamp includes at least a pair of component halves. Each half includes a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile having a base portion and two opposing side limbs projecting from the base portion defining a recess intermediate the side limbs for receiving the mating flanges and a bolt and a lug for fastening the component halves together. Each side limb has a contact face for abutting a tapered face of a flange and a non-contact face. The base portion has a non-contact face. The contact faces of the side limbs are remote from the non-contact face of the base portion.
US07644956B2
A sleeve assembly (2) for supporting flexible duct (4) includes a frame (6) with first and second frame sections (10a, b). The frame sections are secured together by fastener subassemblies (8). The sleeve assembly accommodates flexible duct in various angular and straight configurations. The frame can comprise various suitable materials and skeletal or solid-exterior construction. The sleeve assembly is adapted for various installations in air distribution systems of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.
US07644953B2
A marker pole for embedding in a support medium for drawing attention to potentially hazardous subsurface structures within the support medium includes a generally elongate pole body molded from a generally brightly colored plastic material with a penetrating end formed with a tapered tip for insertion into the support medium, the taper being greater than forty-five degrees from a centerline longitudinal axis of the; and a metal impact cap fitted over the distal end, the impact cap including a generally cylindrical body having an access opening on one end thereof and a substantially planar surface opposing the access opening, the planar surface being in substantial contact with the upper surface of the pole body for enhanced force transmission between the impact cap and the pole body during insertion of the pole into the support medium using an impact producing tool.
US07644949B2
A module assembly for an airbag device for protecting occupants of motor vehicles includes a carrier for the assembly, an inflatable airbag packet, a flexible protective envelope, and a fixing mechanism. The airbag packet is fixed to the carrier. The airbag packet is accommodated in the flexible protective envelope. The protective enveloped can be closed off in a gastight manner. The fixing mechanism fixes the airbag packet to the carrier. The fixing mechanism includes a holding element. The holding element, which includes a securing mechanism provided on the carrier to fix the airbag packet to the carrier, extends along an edge of the airbag packet. The securing mechanism is formed integrally on the carrier and is resiliently pivotable with respect to a lateral section of the carrier. Alternatively, the securing mechanism is fixed on the carrier as a separate assembly.
US07644944B2
A multiple gear transmission for a bicycle with an input shaft and an output shaft supported in a transmission housing, whereby the input shaft is embodied to receive pedal cranks and both ends of the input shaft protrude from the transmission housing. One of the ends of the output shaft protrudes from the transmission housing and the output shaft is embodied at this end to receive a drive sprocket. At least one intermediate shaft is supported in the transmission housing parallel between the input shaft and the output shaft. Respectively, at least two gear wheels are arranged on the input shaft, the at least one intermediate shaft and the output shaft. The gear wheels arranged on at least two of the shafts can be connected in a torque-proof manner to the respective shaft via clutch mechanism. All the gear wheels are permanently meshed with another gear wheel.
US07644937B2
A child carrier attachable to a shopping cart having a basket mounted to a frame supported by a plurality of caster wheels for contacting a ground surface. The child carrier comprises a support member having at least one stabilizing wheel connected thereto for contacting the ground surface. The support member has a bottom member, with a seat disposed on the support member; and an attachment fixture is connected to the support member for connecting the support member to the cart.
US07644935B2
A spring carrier for mounting a spring strut to a vehicle body includes a vibration damper having a cylinder and a piston rod which is axially guided in the cylinder, first and second spring collars, and a spring located between the spring collars. An actuator includes a nut and a threaded spindle surrounding the piston rod, the actuator being driven to change the relative axial position of the spring collars. A guide tube extends coaxially between the piston rod and the threaded spindle, the threaded spindle being supported radially against the guide tube by a bearing.
US07644933B2
A suspension system adaptable for cross-flow operation includes a plurality of gas springs, a transfer passage in communication between the gas springs, and a transfer valve for selectively permitting gas flow along the transfer passage. A control system selectively actuates the transfer valve. A method of operation is also described.
US07644925B2
A method and apparatus for playing a trick-taking card game for two or more players that includes two decks of playing cards: a numbered character card deck and a modifier card deck. Each player's goal is to play a card, or combinations of cards, that is/are higher in numerical rank value than their opponents' cards in order to win the trick in each round of play. Players can improve their chance of winning the round by playing, in their turn and in conjunction with one character card, one or more modifying cards that they possess in their hand to increase the numerical rank value of their played character card or decrease the numerical rank value of the other players' cards. Tricks are collected for points in multiple hands comprising a game. The player with the greatest number of points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
US07644917B2
An apparatus for handling sheet-like products having: a truck glidable on rails, a supporting structure for an assembly for gripping a sheet, the supporting structure performing a translational motion on the truck through a lateral translational motion with respect to the direction of advancement of the truck, a grip assembly for a sheet, which is rotatably coupled to the supporting structure by way of rotation elements adapted to move it from a first raised grip configuration to a second substantially horizontal configuration, and a worktable arranged above the rails and provided with through openings that can be crossed downward from above by the grip assembly during the rotary motion from the first raised configuration to the second substantially horizontal configuration.
US07644907B2
A drum assembly for accommodating a well access line. The drum of the assembly may include a core coupled to flanges at either side thereof. The core may be configured to accommodate the well access line thereabout. Additionally, the core may be configured with an inner portion for coupling to the flanges at an arcuate junction therebetween as well as a collar about the inner portion for directly accommodating the well access line in a stable manner.
US07644905B2
A method and apparatus including an easily installed spiral support useful laying a cable. The spiral support is composed of a counterclockwise spiral portion and a clockwise spiral portion, both of which are connected to each other with a reverse portion therebetween. The spiral support is installed on a messenger wire in such a way that the reverse portion is fitted on the messenger wire; the spiral support is rotated counterclockwise or clockwise; and these steps are repeated.
US07644900B2
A portable hanger for hanging a purse from a table has a base adapted to rest upon and frictionally engage the table. A plurality of links are pivotally linked to each other in series to form a chain having a first link and a last link. A pivot pin pivotally connects the base and the first link of the plurality of links. The plurality of links are adapted for pivot between a stored configuration in which the plurality of links are positioned generally adjacent the perimeter of the base, and an operative configuration in which the plurality of links form a hook adapted for hanging the purse.
US07644899B2
A saw horse comprises a pair of frames each assembled from a plurality of wooden struts joined by metal formings of sheet stock. Fabric hinges join the frames at their upper ends. The metal formings are positioned and closed around the beams with piercings engaging the fabric hinges. Spreader struts are also hinged by a fabric strap that permits the spreader struts to lay in horizontal positions when the frames are pulled into an A-shape, and to be oriented in side-by-side vertical positions when the frames are folded together.
US07644895B2
A clamping device for electronic products includes a combining member and a clamping base that is made of elastic steel sheet having its outer periphery coated with a layer of soft rubber and its central portion bored with a combining hole. Thus, after the clamping base is combined with an electronic product by the combining member, the electronic product can be hung on a user's girdle by turning over the elastic steel sheet of the clamping base, and an earphone line can be wound on the steel sheet in a space between the clamping base and the electronic product, having great practicability and convenience in use.
US07644893B2
A pedal system particularly tailored to a Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight control system includes a double gradient linkage assembly. The double gradient linkage assembly includes a damper system and a spring system that improves yaw axis (azimuth) control of the aircraft. Control is only required when a change in the yaw axis state is demanded. Since only minimal displacement inputs to such a FBW flight control system is required, the travel of the pedals are exceeding compact, such that pilot workload is significantly reduced through the reduction in the frequency and magnitude of aircraft control inputs.
US07644888B2
A high-speed transport aircraft. In one embodiment, the aircraft includes a fuselage, delta wings, and integrated engine nacelles. The fuselage is configured to carry a payload and has a forward portion and an aft portion. The aft portion defines a generally constant-width planform and includes first, second, third, and fourth passenger seat sections, with each of the seat sections having at least two passenger seats positioned abreast at least generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage. In one aspect of this embodiment, the wings extend from the fuselage adjacent to the aft portion, and the fuselage further includes first and second rows of windows above the wings. The first row of windows are positioned in the fuselage directly adjacent the first seat section and the second row of windows are positioned in the fuselage directly adjacent the fourth seat section.
US07644886B2
The invention of the present application provides a reel, which can improve the dimensional accuracy of a hub, having a configuration in which a reinforcing tubular member is disposed on the hub by insert molding. A resin layer extends from one end portion side of the hub at which a first flange is integrally formed in a height direction of the hub. The resin layer is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member in the reel. The reel is provided with a resin hub having an outer peripheral surface on which a recording tape T is wound, the first flange is integrally formed at one end portion of the hub, a second flange is welded at the other end portion of the hub, and a reinforcing tubular member is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the hub by insert molding.
US07644882B2
A breaker having a first end and a second opposed end and a plurality of breaker drums arranged side by side in a row extending between said ends, the drums being arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to one another, at least two neighboring drums adjacent to the first end being arranged to continuously rotate in the same direction to define feeder drums for feeding material toward the second end, each breaker drum having radially projecting breaker teeth which co-operate with opposed breaker teeth on the adjacent drum to grip oversized material therebetween to cause breakage thereof, to permit passage of undersized material therebetween and to move unbroken oversized material toward said second end.
US07644872B2
A powder port blow-off system for a plasma spray process includes a faceplate that includes a bore therein that is co-radially aligned with a nozzle of a plasma spray gun, which emits a plasma plume. A plurality of powder feed ports are arranged circumferentially around the nozzle for injecting a flow of powder particles toward the plasma plume. A plurality of powder port blow-offs are arranged circumferentially around the nozzle in order to direct blow-off gas across the powder feed ports. The powder port blow-offs are directed across the plasma plume to create a vortex for carrying away powder particles unconsumed by the plasma plume.
US07644871B2
Methods and apparatus to improve flux spray atomization and/or splash control are described. In one embodiment, a flux nozzle includes a plurality of injection holes to deposit flux fluid through an exit hole of an air cap onto a substrate (such as a printed circuit board). The flux fluid may atomize prior to deposition onto the substrate as relatively smaller broken down flux droplets that may aid reduced spray splash. Other embodiments are also described.
US07644860B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first recording medium, a password input unit, a password judging unit, and a condition judging unit. The first recording medium is capable of recording programs and data. The password input unit requests a user to input a password. The password judging unit judges whether a password inputted to the password input unit and a password stored in advance coincide with each other. The condition judging unit judges, when the apparatus is started, whether a condition set in advance is satisfied. When the condition set in advance is satisfied, the information processing apparatus sets a self-erasing program in the first recording medium. The first recording medium self-erases programs and data recorded in the first recording medium according to the self-erasing program.
US07644851B2
Clincher holders hold a pair of clinchers for bending the legs of a staple driven by a driver, and have slanting guide faces for guiding the tips of the legs of the staple toward the clinchers. In a stapling table for receiving sheets of paper, an opening is made. The clincher holders are movable inside the opening. Drop-preventing portions for preventing the sheets of paper from dropping inside the opening in stapling are projected from opening edges of the opening toward the inside of the opening.
US07644849B2
An effort-saving stapler includes a shell, a magazine, a hammer, an elastic element, a block, a trigger and an extensive element. The magazine is disposed in the shell for supporting and feeding nails. The hammer is disposed in the shell for hammering the nails, one at a time. The elastic element is disposed in the shell for biasing the hammer. The block is disposed in the shell. The trigger is movably and pivotally connected to the shell and engaged with the block at an engagement point. The extensive element includes a first end connected to the hammer and a second end telescopically connected to the trigger. When the trigger is operated, the hammer is lifted by the extensive element and the engagement point is moved towards the hammer.
US07644847B2
A backpack frame comprises side rails defining a first profile. The first profile has a flat first base segment lying on a first reference plane, and a first concave segment leading from the first base segment to an upper end of the frame, with the first concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the first reference plane at a first location between the first base segment and the upper end of the frame. An intermediate structure interconnects the side rails. The intermediate structure defines a second profile having a second flat base segment lying on a second reference plane parallel to the first reference plane, and a second concave segment leading from the second base segment to the upper end of the frame, with the second concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the second reference plane at a second location between the second base segment and the upper end of the frame. The first and second locations are offset from one another.
US07644846B2
Apparatus for restricting movement of a lawn implement shaft, for use in a lawn implement support system in cooperation with a vertically upstanding support member for horizontal support of shafted lawn implements during storage or transportation thereof including a support post for supporting a first end of a shafted lawn implement in conjunction with the vertically upstanding support member for supporting a second end of the shafted lawn implement. Further the apparatus includes a shaft support hook mounted to the support post, and projecting outwardly therefrom for a predetermined distance, the support hook being curved generally vertically and at a predetermined angle away from a first generally vertical plane defined by the support post, with a distal end of the shaft support hook being curved back toward a second vertical plane defined by the support post and perpendicular to the first vertical plane to define a shaft support region intermediate the hook and the support post. The present apparatus also includes a compression pin adjustably mounted to the support post adjacent the support hook for sliding movement therealong, the compression pin including a shaft abutment surface; and a device for fixing the compression pin at a predetermined position along the support post for restrictive contact with the lawn implement shaft.
US07644844B1
A clothes hanger is provided having a first fixed arm and a second retractable arm to allow for easy placement of clothing thereon. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07644833B2
A can end member for a beverage container is disclosed. The end member has a curl at least substantially defining a perimeter of the can end, a chuck wall extending downwardly and radially inwardly from the curl, and a central panel wall centered about a longitudinal axis. The central panel wall has a product side and a public side. The public side has a means for opening a frangible panel segment. The end member also has a fold joining the chuck wall with the central panel wall. The fold has an opening. A fluid is located adjacent the opening.
US07644832B1
A removable serving lid is provided that sealingly covers the opening of a pet food can. A sealing sidewall extending downward form a flexible lid cover circumscribes the upper opening of a pet food can, and thereby forms an air-tight seal. The flexible material is designed to apply and remove easily, even when cold such as to accommodate refrigeration of any un-dispensed contents of a pet food can. A gripping flange extending laterally outward from the perimeter of the sidewall provides a gripping surface to facilitate removal of the sealed lid. Finally, an adjustable scoop is perpendicularly disposed through the flexible lid cover through a scoop aperture that seals against the handle of the scoop, maintaining a sealed environment even as the sloop is vertically adjusted into the contents of the food can.
US07644821B2
Sealed delivery unit 10 (shown in exploded format in FIG. 1A) contains medication 10M, and is formed by a generally flat member 10F pressed into selective engagement with an opposed shaped member 10S. Pumping chamber 12P, enclosed between the members generates a rupturing pressure in response to an external force applied by the user (indicated by arrow F shown in FIG. 1B). Enclosed Medication chamber 12M contains the medication to be delivered. Tunnel conduit 14 provides fluid communication between the chambers for rupturing the medication chamber in response to the rupturing pressure. Perimeter seal 16 extends around the pumping chamber and the medication chamber and the tunnel conduit. The perimeter seal is secure enough to withstand the internal rupturing pressure generated during delivery. Delivery port 18 with pull-away closure 18C (see FIG. 1C) delivers the medication out of medication chamber 12M. Rupture site 18S is proximate the delivery port. Rupture flap 18F produced by the rupturing at the rupture site, is connected to the pull-away closure. The flap projects outward permitting the user to grasp the pull-away the closure and open the delivery port for delivery of the medication.
US07644819B2
An apparatus comprising a base defining a recess shaped to accommodate a bottom of a tank, a pair of side walls extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from the base. Each side wall defines an indentation on the inner surface thereof shaped to conform to an outer surface of the tank when the bottom of the tank in the recess. One of the end walls defines a notch shaped to accommodate a neck of a bottle lying on a side thereof between the side walls. The apparatus may be used to transport one of the tank and the bottle at a time.
US07644809B2
A spring member for disc-brake calipers is interposed between a lateral edge of at least one pad and reaction surfaces of the caliper so as to act resiliently on the pad. The spring member comprises a ‘U’-shaped portion suitable for forming a connection with a protuberance of the reaction surfaces, a first resilient portion suitable for acting on the pad in a tangential direction, and a second resilient portion suitable for acting on the pad in a radial direction. The first and second resilient portions constitute a single body projecting from a first connection end of the first resilient portion that is connected to the ‘U’-shaped portion, so that, when the at least one pad is in a mounted configuration, it is acted on resiliently by the spring member both in a radial direction and in a tangential direction.
US07644806B2
Low lift truck, with a load part, which has a load carrying means and is coupled with a drive part via a lift cylinder arrangement and a bar linkage for load wheels of the load carrying means, a steered drive wheel, which forms with a drive motor a drive unit, which is rotatably bearing mounted around a vertical axis by the frame of the drive part, a drawbar, pivotable in the drive part around a horizontal and a vertical axis, which is in a driving connection with the drive unit, an hydraulic power pack for the hydraulic lift cylinder arrangement, and a battery casing, connected with the load part, whereby the drive motor is a wheel hub motor and the battery casing (34) is disposed above the drive unit.
US07644803B2
A silencing device disposed to the outside of a fan 2 that discharges air from the interior of a device 1 to the outside. The silencing device includes a reflection plate 6 provided substantially normal to the rotation axis 2a of the fan 2, and a right-angled parallelepiped shaped duct 4 that guides air from the fan 2 to the outside of the device 1. The reflection plate 6 is disposed at the other end of the duct 4, an air discharge slit 7 is formed in at least one of the four sides of the reflection plate 6, and the distance from the fan 2 to the reflection plate 6 satisfies the relationship L=(λ/2)×n. n is a natural number, and λ is the wavelength of the maximum component from among the wavelength components that constitutes the sound generated by the fan 2.
US07644798B2
A safety arrangement for detecting the position of an occupant (4) of a seat (1) which is provided with a safety belt (9) which is mounted on a retractor (10) includes a sensor (11) which measures the length of belt withdrawn from the retractor The sensor is associated with a processor unit (8) which is associated with a seat position sensor (7). By determining the position of the seat and by determining the minimum length of belt paid-out from the retractor (10) after the seat belt has been buckled in position, and by determining how additional belt has been paid-out at any incident, the position of the seat occupant (4) relative to an air-bag (19) can be determined. If the seat occupant is very close to the air-bag, the nature of deployment of the air-bag can be moderated by the central processor unit (8).
US07644796B2
A motorcycle frame is provided such that the spacing between a main frame and a side plate can be easily adjusted, and joint surfaces, at which the side plates and engine hangers abut the main frame, can be easily formed. Each side plate is provided with upper and lower plate-side bosses used for adjusting the spacing between itself and a main frame. A surface of an upper first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the upper plate-side boss, and surfaces of upper second bosses of the main frame, which abut on an upper engine hanger, are provided on the same plane. In addition, a surface of a lower first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the lower plate-side boss, and surfaces of lower second bosses of the main frame, which abut on a lower engine hanger, are provided on the same plane.
US07644789B2
A mechanism of a four-wheel drive vehicle for enabling an engine and a transmission to be arranged compactly by using an empty space within a body frame of the vehicle. The transmission includes a power take-off part for driving the front wheels of the vehicle, and a rear reduction gear mechanism for driving the rear wheels of the vehicle. The transmission and the engine are mounted on a swing arm which is supported on the body frame of the vehicle so as to be able to swing in an up and down direction.
US07644785B2
Methods and apparatuses associated with a rotary driven well drilling rig. One method includes providing a rig having: an erectable mast; a head drive unit for rotatably driving drill pipes into a surface; a pumping unit to deliver a fluid through a drill pipe secured to the head drive, the fluid being forced out a bottom end of the drill pipe and up to the surface along the outside of the drill pipe during a borehole drilling operation; and a deck unit pivotally mounted on a turret attached to a set of tracks. This method embodiment includes, while the rig is in a first location, performing a first borehole drilling operation to form a first borehole at a second location; and performing a second borehole drilling operation to form a second borehole at a third location while the rig remains in the first location.
US07644777B2
A fire-fighting monitor includes a housing, a nozzle coupler, and a pivot joint coupler comprising an internal passageway and a pivot member. The pivot member is pivotally mounted to the housing at the outlet of the housing. The nozzle coupler is mounted to the pivot joint coupler wherein the internal passageway of the pivot joint coupler is in communication with the internal passageways of the housing and the nozzle coupler, wherein the weight at the nozzle coupler generates a gravitational moment about the pivot axis. In addition, the nozzle coupler has a central axis defining a reference line, which is offset from the first pivot axis wherein a reaction force generated by fluid flowing through the nozzle coupler generates a moment about the first pivot axis in a direction opposed from said gravitational moment.
US07644772B2
Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a housing having a longitudinal bore and a seat disposed within the bore. The seat has a first position when the apparatus is in the run-in position and a second position when the apparatus is in the set position. The seat comprises an arcuate member comprising a plurality of slits defining a plurality of segment members having a gap there-between. Each of the gaps are variable such that movement of segment members inwardly causes the gaps to be narrowed or closed off completely when a plug element is disposed into the bore and landed on the arcuate member to move the arcuate member from the first position to the second position, causing restriction of fluid flow through the bore and the well conduit.
US07644755B2
A connector is made up downhole and can connect electrical signal or power circuits. The male component features one or more circumferential bands on the exterior and the female component features like bands on its interior. The bands are preferably covered with removable sleeves until the connection is made up. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves push each other out of the way as the connection is made up. The bands are preferably cylindrically shaped on their respective supporting connection half to make easy and reliable contact when the connection halves are advanced together without need for rotation to get the desired contact. Seals surround the connected contacts after makeup to keep out well fluids.
US07644752B2
A regulating heat exchange and cooling method and system for monitoring and controlling the temperatures of walls subjected to high temperatures. The system is used to cool the inner wall of a thermal system having a double wall, the inner wall being subjected to temperatures equal to or greater than the physical capacity thereof. The system includes a network of tubes which is independent of the thermal system to be cooled. The tubes contain pressurized cooling water which circulates therethrough. The tubes have nozzles which spray and project water in the form of solid cones against the inner wall, the nozzles being controlled by adjustable-flow valves. The network of tubes forms an integral part of the outer wall of the thermal system to be cooled and the system also includes elements for maintaining the water projection area defined by the inner and outer walls in a vacuum condition.
US07644750B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing a powertrain component enclosure member, including the steps of: (A) positioning at least one insert into a mold, wherein the insert is provided with a coating to prevent bonding between the insert and the casting material; and (B) casting a wall of the powertrain component enclosure member in the mold around the insert such that a major portion of the insert is substantially non-bonded with the casting material to provide a proper interfacial boundary with the casting material for damping.
US07644747B2
A rectangular substrate dividing apparatus, which can divide a rectangular substrate in a smaller space, accommodate devices, formed as individual pieces by the division, into device cases, and pick up the devices reliably and efficiently from a protective tape affixed to the back of the rectangular substrate, is provided. This apparatus separates a rectangular substrate, to whose back a protective tape is affixed and on which a plurality of devices are partitioned by a lattice of scheduled-separation lines, along the scheduled-separation lines to divide the rectangular substrate into the individual devices, and accommodates the devices in device cases. In a cutting-responsible region, the rectangular substrate is carried out of cassettes, cut by a cutter, and then cleaned by a cleaner. In a tape peeling-responsible region, the devices are picked up with the protective tape being peeled off. In a device accommodation-responsible region, the picked-up individual devices are accommodated into device cases.
US07644744B2
A lid sealing machine includes a casing attached to a housing, a sealing device disposed in the casing, a container holder for supporting and moving containers into and out of the casing, a supply reel, a take up reel and a roller rotatably attached onto the housing for supporting a film material and for transmitting the film material from the supply reel around the roller and to the take up reel, and for moving the film material between the sealing device and the container holder, and for allowing the film material to be forced to seal the containers by the sealing device. A detecting device may be used for detecting a rotating movement of the roller and a movement of the film material relative to the housing.
US07644741B2
A glass filler defines a main body having a lower surface. An inlet and outlet are each defined in the lower surface of the main body. An outlet chamber is defined in the main body and contains an outlet valve, which includes an outlet valve housing defining a castellated edge. The outlet valve includes a cylindrical sleeve that defines an inner surface that is crenellated and configured to receive an implement that can be inserted and used by the operator to rotate the cylindrical sleeve in a manner that controls the amount of liquid exiting the outlet of the glass filler.
US07644733B2
A duct (10) for transporting a two phase mixture has a length portion of circular cross-section (12) leading, via a transition zone (14) in which the duct cross-section changes from circular to lobed, to a zone in which its cross-section exhibits at least one lobe (16) extending helically around and along the duct. The duct has a cross-sectional area which is substantially constant, or which progressively increases, over the transition zone. The transition from circular to lobed cross-section is alternatively smooth and continuous, and the transition zone occupies a duct length in which the or each lobe becomes relocated by at least one position.
US07644732B2
A flapper valve assembly attaches to a fluid device, such as a heat exchanger and has a fluid port in communication with the fluid device to provide by-pass flow in cold flow or pressure spike conditions. The flapper valve assembly includes a shim plate and a face plate that together define a slot therebetween. A spring flapper slides into the slot and is retained therein and intermittently blocks flow through the fluid port to provide the by-pass flow when required.
US07644727B2
A hydraulic fluid reservoir and hydraulic pump combination has at least one hydraulic fluid port and includes a container with a hollow body having a top and a conduit having a bottom within the container and a top above the bottom. The conduit has an opening adjacent to the bottom of the conduit. The opening is spaced apart below the top of the container. A closure member is releasably, sealingly connected to the top of the conduit. Hydraulic fluid can be added to the container via the conduit up to the level of the opening of the conduit. Addition of further hydraulic fluid fills the conduit to the top thereof and the conduit overflows if additional hydraulic fluid is added after the top of the conduit is reached by the fluid. Preferably the container has a main interior chamber and a smaller chamber which is adjacent to one of the side walls of the container. The smaller chamber is has a bottom opening near the bottom of the smaller chamber which communicates with the main interior chamber. Hydraulic fluid enters the smaller chamber through the opening and reaches the level of hydraulic fluid in the main interior chamber. Bubbles in the hydraulic fluid within the main interior chamber are isolated from the smaller chamber and accordingly do not impair the reading of the hydraulic fluid level by a photo detector.
US07644722B2
An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuatation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure. To facilitate the infusion process, an automatic flow control device may be included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder. Subsequent to a period of time in which to make a pressure measurement, preferred embodiments of the urine valve automatically return to a bladder draining position.
US07644721B2
A mechanism that is comprised of two or more four-bar linkages is shown. Each linkage shares a common link with each adjacent linkage and the movement of said two or more linkages is synchronized by mechanical means such that said mechanism may move between a collapsed and an extended state. Said mechanical means may be in the form of additional links or geared connections.
US07644719B2
An improved walker leg tip having a felt nap is provided. The walker leg tip has an arcuate shaped shell with the shell having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has an aperture at least partially therethrough, the aperture dimensioned to accept an end portion of the walker leg. The felt nap covers at least part of the bottom portion of the arcuate shaped shell. In some instances, the arcuate shaped shell is spherically shaped and can be made from a polymer, vulcanized rubber and the like. Optionally, a sleeve can extend from the top portion of the shell, the sleeve having a sleeve aperture that is in alignment with the aperture of the top portion and dimensioned to fit at least partially over an end portion of a walker leg. A removable insert can also be included, the insert having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit at least partially into the aperture of the top portion and an inner diameter dimensioned to fit at least partially onto the end portion of the walker leg.
US07644713B2
The apparatus provides for the determination of the instantaneous phase in the respiratory cycle, subject's average respiration rate and the provision of ventilatory assistance. A microprocessor (16) receives an airflow signal from a pressure transducer (18) coupled to a port (17) at a mask (11). The microprocessor (16) controls a servo (19), that in turn controls the fan motor (20) and thus the pressure of air delivered by the blower (10). The blower (10) is coupled to a subject's mask (ii) by a conduit (12). The invention seeks to address the following goals: while the subject is awake and making substantial efforts the delivered assistance should be closely matched in phase with the subject's efforts; the machine should automatically adjust the degree of assistance to maintain at least a specified minimum ventilation without relying on the integrity of the subject's chemoreflexes; and it should continue to work correctly in the presence of large leaks.
US07644711B2
A device for arresting spark and ash issuing from, and precisely controlling the ventilation of and temperature inside, a heat source-containing vessel such as a cooking grill, stove, oven, cooker, fireplace, heater, or firebox. The device comprises a spark arrestor assembly including a base plate, a cover plate, and a spark arrestor. The base plate defines an opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor are slidably mated in two channels formed in the base plate around the opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor may be adjusted to extend across or only partway across the opening as selected by a user of the device. Tabs are provided on the cover plate and spark arrestor for easy adjustment thereof. Tabs in the base plate are positioned to define a range of slidable motion of the cover plate and spark arrestor. The spark arrestor assembly engages a fire-containing or heat source-containing vessel over an opening defined by the vessel so that the vessel opening cooperates with the spark arrestor assembly opening.
US07644703B2
A straddle type motorcycle includes a frame, an engine mounted on the frame and having a substantially vertical cylinder assembly and an intake air passage extended backward from a rear surface of the cylinder assembly, a fuel tank disposed above the cylinder assembly, and a fuel supply device. The fuel supply device includes a fuel pump disposed at a rear portion of the fuel tank, the fuel pump being overlapped with the cylinder assembly in a longitudinal direction of the motorcycle in a side view of the motorcycle, a fuel injector installed on the intake air passage, and a fuel hose connecting the fuel injector with the fuel pump.
US07644695B2
A rotary machine which can be either a pump or an internal combustion engine has a housing enclosing a plurality of rotor spindles lying on the surface of an imaginary cone for driving an output shaft positioned at the vertex of the imaginary cone. The spindles have a beveled gear on one end and engaging an output shaft and a conical bearing on the other end. Angled eccentric rotors are mounted to each spindle shaped to maintain tangential sliding contact with two adjacent rotors to form a compression or combustion chamber. A spherical version of a compressor or an engine uses a plurality of rotary pistons each of which is eccentrically mounted and forms a spherical segment. Each rotary piston is mounted for tangential sliding contact with at least two other rotary pistons to form a displacement chamber therebetween. The rotary pistons use a generally “tear drop” shape. A rotary pump has a housing having a manifold for distributing intake and exhaust air. The pump has a plurality of lobe shafts, each having an eccentrically mounted rotor attached thereto mounted in the housing to form a compression chamber in the middle of the rotor when the rotors are all in contact with each other during rotation.
US07644691B2
A device (1) for varying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100) is provided. A device (1) is proposed, with a means for limiting the angle of rotation, this being optimized in terms of the magnitude of the transmittable forces. A further aspect of the invention relates to making the mounting of the device (1) more flexible to the effect that the same components can be used in devices (1) with different relative angle-of-rotation ranges.
US07644690B2
An arrangement structure of an electrically-driven actuator is used in a variable valve operating mechanism capable of adjusting an operation of a valve of an engine. A part of the electrically driven actuator exposed to the outside of the engine is arranged at a position shifted in a car width direction with respect to an exothermic body provided at a periphery of the engine.
US07644689B2
A variable valve operating device that makes it possible to reduce the loss in driving force transmission from a camshaft to a valve during a valve lift is provided. The rotary motion of a drive cam is transmitted to a swing member via intermediate rollers. A coupling member couples the intermediate rollers, to a swing fulcrum that is fastened to a control shaft. The swing fulcrum is positioned eccentrically to the center of the control shaft. Further, when the control shaft is positioned at a predetermined rotation position, the swing fulcrum is positioned so that the control shaft is placed between the swing fulcrum and the intermediate rollers. Preferably, the swing fulcrum, the control shaft, and the intermediate rollers are aligned.
US07644682B2
An elevated feeder or framework holds the round bales of feedstock off the ground while providing a convenient height for the livestock to feed from. The bale feeder is made by rigidly connecting tubular elements, of the same or different diameters together, at any angle, without the use of special fasteners. The elevated feeder holds the bales with the flat ends in a position that is the most convenient for the livestock to consume the feedstock. The elevated feeder keeps the feedstock bales off the ground by supporting the feedstock on an adjustable, flexible mesh bale support, with openings to permit rain and water to drain away from the feedstock. The mesh bale support length is adjusted by moving the mesh support clamping bars closer to or farther away from the ends of the mesh raises or lowers the bale to accommodate the feeding height of the livestock being fed.
US07644679B2
The invention relates to a plant for the treatment, in particular the cataphoretic dip coating of objects, in particular of vehicle chassis, comprising at least one transport car (5) which runs the objects (4) through the plant and introduces and retrieves the above to and from several treatment containers. The transport car (5) comprises a chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), which travels along the trajectory of the objects (4), at least one pivot arm (50, 51), connected to the chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), a mounting (61) joined to the pivot arm (50, 51), for at least one object. The translational displacement and the pivoting displacement of the at least one pivot arm (50, 51) and the mounting (61) are effected by independent drive devices. In order to reduce the energy required for the pivoting of the pivot arms (50, 51), at least one energy store (42) is provided, which buffers the energy released on dropping the object as elastic energy and from which the buffered energy can be recovered to support the upwards motion of the object.
US07644674B1
An outrigger and hull provides outriggers mounted with hinges to plates that enable pivotal or rotatable movement of each outrigger between storage and operating positions. Locking members secure the outriggers from substantial movement when in the operating position.
US07644660B1
A pad printing system comprises, in one aspect, a flexible pad (100) with a front surface (125). One or more applicator heads (120, 130) applies one or more substances, including inks, paints, coatings, decals, water, varnish, solvents, catalysts, adhesives, and the like, to the front surface of the pad. The various substances can be applied in layers in any order. During or after application of the substance, applicator heads (140, 145) optionally apply treatments, such as radiative energy, gas, humidity, and the like, to the substance being applied. All components of the system are under the control of a controller (150) that derives information about the image to be printed from an image source (155). After an image and any overlying or underlying coatings are applied, the surface of the pad is urged into contact with a receiving object 200, whereupon the image and coatings are transferred from the pad to the receiving object. The pad is flat during application of substances to the pad. It is optionally bulged prior to transfer of the substances to the receiving surface.
US07644659B2
A cleaning device for surfaces of cylinders of a printing machine is provided, having at least one nozzle 23 with a nozzle opening 4 for a jet of cleaning fluid 13, a distribution line 22 for cleaning fluids, in which the nozzle 23 is inserted, as well as a cleaning element 20 for lifting contaminants, dissolved by the cleaning fluids, off the surface of the cylinder. The nozzle 23 is embodied as a separate component and detachably inserted in the distribution line 22. The nozzle 23 is made from a soft-elastic material. The nozzle 23 is provided with a deflector surface 6 arranged downstream from the nozzle opening 4 for deflecting and fanning a jet 13 exiting the nozzle opening 4, as well as a base 1 for inserting it into a distribution line 22, and a channel 11, which extends, on the one side, to a base opening 3 and, on the other side, to the nozzle opening 4. Furthermore, the invention relates to a nozzle for insertion in such a cleaning device.
US07644658B2
A blanket fastening assembly for securing an image transfer blanket to an intermediate transfer member drum of an electrostatic printer comprising a resilient biasing arrangement adapted to be connected to an end of the blanket to act in use so as to resiliently tension the blanket, with at least one end portion of the blanket being held in use by a resilient biasing clamping member which is adapted to move during the operational life of the drum so as to accommodate stretching of the blanket whilst maintaining tension in the blanket.
US07644657B1
A deformable pad (100) for pad printing has an initially flat side (105) and an opposite bulged side (110). An ink image (610) is applied to the flat side of the pad using an inkjet head (605) or other ink image source. The pad is then distorted using a ram (600) or hydrostatic or pneumatic source applied to a chamber (1300) so that the initially bulged side is flattened and the initially flat side bulges. After distortion, the now bulged side with the ink image is pressed against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image to the surface. An alternative embodiment starts by deforming a pad to produce a flat surface, inking the surface with an image, then allowing the pad to relax, rendering the previously flat, image-bearing surface newly bulged. The newly-bulged surface is then temporarily urged against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image.
US07644655B1
A commercial tomato strainer attachment includes a hopper having open top and bottom ends and a downwardly converging wall. The bottom end has a cylindrical shape and a smaller diameter than the top end. A bottom support member is coupled to the hopper bottom end and has a cavity vertically aligned therebeneath. A drive shaft extends through the cavity and has a helical blade traveling along a major length thereof that is partially seated within the bottom support member. The blade radius decreases from a proximal to a distal end thereof. A universal coupling is mounted to the support member exterior surface. The proximal drive shaft end and the coupling are attachable to a commercial mixer. The hollow chamber is coupled to the bottom support member, houses a major length of the blade and the drive shaft, and has a distal end for discharging tomatoes therefrom.
US07644654B2
A continuous flow pasteurization apparatus for a liquid product includes a pasteurization area divided into plural pasteurization zones, each with a connection for heating and/or cooling the product, so that if production stops, it is possible to hold the temperature below the pasteurizing temperature. Upon restarting, the product is reheated to a temperature close to the pasteurizing temperature. The apparatus provides for the control and monitoring of pasteurization units (PU's).
US07644651B2
Method and control arrangement for terminating an accidental switch on of a deep fryer apparatus when it is not filled with oil, the apparatus comprises a vessel having closed bottom and sides, and a horizontally formed electric heating element for direct contact with the oil within the vessel. At one or more points of the inner space of the vessel the temperature is measured, by which the accidental switch on state of the apparatus is detected and terminated at the same time in such a way that a derivative of the temperature measured at the one or more determined points is defined. The heating power is automatically cut off to terminate switched on state when the value of the derivative exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US07644642B2
A top clamp for steering systems used in cycles, such as motorcycles, is provided. The top clamp may be adapted to allow a hand guard crossbar to couple directly thereto. The top clamp may also have a steering damper mount plate adjustably coupled thereto to enable the movement of the handlebars from a forward position to a rearward position without causing the steering damper to move from axial alignment with the axial center of a steering tube.
US07644641B2
A rotor and a seat mounted on a first shell is disposed between an annular first shell and an annular second shell both constituting a damper case, thereby forming a rotary damper device. A damper lever on which the rotor is mounted is hooked on a fixing pin fixed to a body. Viscous fluid such as highly viscous oil is charged into a damper chamber formed between the rotor and the seat, and a viscous resistance is applied to the rotor and the seat. In a state in which a rotation center of the rotary damper device is deviated from a rotation center of the shaft which is rotated by the operating lever, the damper case is fixed to a flange portion of the shaft, the rotor and the seat are allowed to rotate relatively to each other by an inclining operation of the operating lever, and a resistance force from the rotary damper device is applied to the operating lever.
US07644639B2
A transmission is provided having a dual clutch, to achieve torque flow through a countershaft gearing arrangement. The countershaft gearing arrangement includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets having gears that are selectively connectable to a plurality of countershafts. At least one transfer gear set transfers torque from the counter shafts to an output shaft. The output shaft is connected to a final drive unit that has a final drive unit output shaft that is transverse to an input member connected at one end to a torque converter and at the other end to the dual clutch.
US07644638B2
An automatic transmission has a clutch mechanism, an oil pump, and a valve body that encloses a clutch hydraulic pressure control mechanism. The valve body is arranged axially adjacent to the clutch mechanism. The oil pump is offset from an input shaft of the transmission and arranged so as to overlap the valve body and/or the clutch mechanism when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the automatic transmission. This automatic transmission improves the control response of the clutch of the transmission while avoiding an increase in the size of the transmission.
US07644637B2
An apparatus for the transfer of samples from an analytical instrument has a sealable transfer capsule and a means for connecting the transfer capsule to a vacuum instrument, such as a FIB, through an interface connected to the instrument. The capsule has a door that can be opened to insert a sample holder, such as a TEM sample holder, into the instrument, and then closed when the sample holder holding an excised sample is retracted back into the transfer capsule. The instrument interface contains means for sealing the instrument before the transfer capsule holding a sample is disconnected, and for purging the transfer capsule with an inert gas. The sample may thus be transported in the sealed transfer capsule without exposure to the ambient atmosphere. The sample may be transported to and connected to a glove box also purged with an inert gas for examination or further operations.
US07644635B2
The invention relates to a position sensor which is intended, in particular, for detecting a steering column torsion. The invention consists of: a first magnetic rotor structure (10) comprising a plurality of radially-oriented magnets; a second stator structure comprising two rings (23, 24) which extend into axially-oriented overlapping teeth (25, 26); and a third fixed collector structure (30) comprising two flux-closing parts which define at least one air gap in which at least one magneto-sensitive element is placed. The invention is characterized in that the flux-closing parts and the stator rings (23, 24) define therebetween a constant collection surface that is independent of the relative radial position of the two structures.
US07644632B2
A meter for reproducibly and accurately measuring the delivery or flow rate of known fluids in chromatography and other pressure driven pumping systems, comprising a sense tube of known effective radius and length, coupled to a temperature measuring device, and enclosed in such a way as to allow the temperature of the tube and fluid to be measured, and optionally regulated. The invention is also useful for determining the viscosity of an unknown fluid or combination of fluids.
US07644630B2
The invention relates to a test bench that reproduces the performance of a gearbox. The invention consists of: at least one gearshift module (2) comprising a linear motor (12) and a ball joint (14) that can be used to convert a linear motion of the motor (12) into a rotational motion of a gearshift shaft (5) and a force sensor (17) that can be used to measure the force applied to the gearshift shaft (5). In particular embodiments of the invention, the test bench also comprises a vertical linear selection module or a horizontal selection module. The modules employed can be used to simulate forces as a function of the shift and selection position in a manner that is representative of a gearbox.
US07644627B2
An ultrasonic load measurement transducer is mated with a thread-forming fastener to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.
US07644624B2
An artificial sensor comprises at least one substrate, and a plurality of flow sensors disposed on the at least one substrate for providing a plurality of spatial-temporally varying signals representing a hydrodynamic stimulus. The plurality of flow sensors are spatially distributed on the at least one substrate. A processor is coupled to the plurality of flow sensors for receiving the signals and determining spatial-temporal information from the received signals.
US07644621B2
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly defines closed channels and includes a conductive layer. A conductive membrane extends from the substrate assembly and is spaced from the conductive layer. The conductive membrane defines a plurality of apertures. A cap extends from the substrate assembly to cover the membrane.
US07644617B2
An enclosed test stand may be enclosed by at least two reverberant boundary surfaces. Two of said at least two reverberant boundary surfaces may abut against each other to form an edge. A first linear array of microphones may be configured to detect acoustical signals of a sound field. The linear array of microphones may be arranged along the edge. An evaluating unit may be coupled to the linear array of microphones. The evaluating unit may be configured to locate sound sources of the sound field.
US07644613B2
A thermal flow sensor is equipped with a self-test unit that monitors the device and generates a fault signal in the presence of a malfunction. The self-test unit can e.g. monitor the integrity of a membrane carrying the heater and temperature sensors, or it can monitor various operational parameters of the device, thereby increasing the safety of the device.
US07644612B2
The disclosure relates to a thermal mass flow meter for determining a material flow through a vessel. The mass flow meter has at least two measuring elements immersed into a vessel with a flowing medium, with one of the measuring elements being heated. It is proposed that the heated measuring element is arranged in front of the unheated measuring element in the flow direction of the medium for at least part of the time, and for part of the time the unheated measuring element is arranged in front of the heated measuring element.
US07644610B2
Apparatus and method for downhole formation fluid sampling include conveying a carrier into a well borehole that traverses a subterranean formation of interest, the carrier having a port and placing the port in fluid communication with the subterranean formation of interest. The method includes urging a fluid into the port using a fluid control device, the fluid containing a formation fluid and a contaminant, generating a first signal indicative of a first fluid characteristic of the fluid using a first test device in communication with the fluid, and generating a second signal indicative of a second fluid characteristic of the fluid using a second test device in communication with the fluid. The first signal and the second signal are processed using a processing device to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid, and a control signal is generated when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value, the control signal actuating the fluid control device to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to a fluid sampling chamber carried by the carrier.
US07644609B2
Some embodiments include a housing including a dielectric portion, a particulate matter (“PM”) sensor fixed inside the housing such that the exhaust streaming through an exhaust system passes near and in electrical isolation from the PM sensor, the PM sensor including a terminal couplable to a PM sensing circuit to produce a PM sensor indication associated with sensed PM and a fastener coupled to the housing and mountable to the exhaust system to dispose the housing into the exhaust system such that exhaust streaming through the exhaust system passes outside the dielectric portion of the housing.
US07644606B2
Photoacoustic spectroscopy system and technique for remote sensing of explosives and toxic chemicals
A user-friendly photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) system and process (technique) provides an open-field PAS instrument, unit and device to remotely sense explosives, chemicals and biological agents. The PAS system and process can include: a pulsed tunable laser, such as a CO2 laser, a reflector, such as a parabolic reflector, an acoustic reverberant resonator in which a microphone is installed, and a data acquisition and analysis system.
US07644605B2
Displacement occurring by external force between a first member (a case, for example) and a second member (an LCD holder, for example) facing the first member is applied to a detection body (an external force detector), and a loading history of the external force (fracture surfaces) is detected by deformation of the detection body occurring when the force exceeds an allowable limit. Provided are a body section and a force receiving section (a head, arms) projected from the body section. The body section is provided between the first member and the second member facing the first member and is supported by either first or second members. The force receiving section deforms when external force acting in the direction crossing a gap between the first and second members or in the direction along the gap exceeds the allowable limit.
US07644600B1
The invention relates to a vacuum-assisted method and a device for forming an essentially flat blank (12) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body (14), especially for performing the method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, that has a supporting structure (16) forming a mold chamber (18) that holds the blank (12) during increasing deformation into the thin-walled, shell-body (14), a device (20) allocated to the supporting structure (16) for clamping the blank (12) about its circumference (22) to the supporting structure (16), that seals the reverse face (24) of the blank (12) facing towards the mold chamber (18) against the front face (26) of the blank (12) facing away from the mold chamber (18), and a device (28) allocated to the mold chamber (18) that also communicates with the mold chamber (18) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber (18), and at least one forming tool (50) applied to the front face (26) of the blank (12) is/are allocated to the supporting structure (16), and the use of same.
US07644598B2
A vacuum valve for use with a blow mold in an I.S. machine. When the blow molds close around a parison, vacuum is applied to the wall of the blow mold. At some time following the application of the vacuum, final blow will occur blowing the parison into a bottle. This vacuum will be applied until the parison has been blown into a bottle. During the period during which vacuum is applied but final blow has not started, vacuum is reduced by operating a needle valve in the vacuum line.
US07644593B2
CO2 refrigeration circuit (2) for circulating a refrigerant in a predetermined flow direction, comprising in flow direction a heat-rejecting heat exchanger (4), a receiver (10) having a liquid portion (12) and a flash gas portion (14), and subsequent to the receiver (10) a medium temperature loop (20) and a low temperature loop (24), wherein the medium and low temperature loops (24) each comprise in flow direction an expansion device (26, 28), an evaporator (30, 32) and a compressor (46, 38), the refrigeration circuit (2) further comprising a liquid line (16) connecting the liquid portion (12) of the receiver (10) with at least one of the medium and low temperature loops (20, 24) and having an internal heat exchanger (54), and a flash gas line (50) connecting the flash gas portion (14) of the receiver (10) via the internal heat exchanger (54) with the inlet of the low temperature compressor (46), wherein the internal heat exchanger (54) transfers in use heat from the liquid flowing through the liquid line (16) to the flash gas flowing through the flash gas line (50).
US07644585B2
A multi-stage turbocharging system recovers exhaust energy that is conventionally lost in bypassing exhaust flow from one stage to another in a multi-stage turbocharging system. The exhaust energy is preserved through converting a portion of the exhaust energy of the bypassed flow from pressure to kinetic energy (velocity) by passing the bypassed flow through a VGT vane outlet or other variable geometry valve/nozzle, and then not allowing the accelerated flow to dissipate energy before reaching the subsequent stage's turbine wheel, where the accelerated flow may then be converted to a mechanical rotational force by the lower pressure turbine's wheel.
US07644584B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes compressing intake air using a compressor, supplying the compressed intake air to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, operating the at least one combustion chamber to output exhaust gas, and directing the exhaust gas to an inlet of a turbine configured to drive the compressor. The method also includes directing the exhaust gas from an outlet of the turbine to an exhaust system, bypassing at least a portion of the compressed intake air around the at least one combustion chamber, and adjusting a geometry of the turbine from a first configuration to a second configuration. The turbine is in the second configuration when the at least the portion of the compressed intake air is bypassed around the at least one combustion chamber.
US07644581B2
A stirling engine includes a flow path which communicates a working space of the stirling engine and a crankcase of the stirling engine. An output of the stirling engine is controlled so that the output lowers when a pressure inside the working space is higher than a pressure in the crankcase, with a transfer of a fluid in the working space to the crankcase via the flow path thereby causing a decrease in the pressure of the working space.
US07644578B2
A vehicle exhaust aftertreatment system for controlling emissions from an engine includes, in serial order: an exhaust outlet from the engine, an exhaust catalyst assembly that is in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet and includes a first NOx component coupled with a downstream oxidation catalyst, and a second NOx adsorber that is downstream from and in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst of the exhaust catalyst assembly.
US07644573B2
A system capable of both increasing warm day output and maintaining compressor operating margin across the ambient and load range of a gas turbine combined cycle installation. The proposed solution takes advantage of the fact that both goals can be satisfied by manipulation of compressor inlet air temperature. Specifically, the system is designed to heat inlet air as may be required to maintain safe compressor operating margin at low ambient air temperatures or when burning dilute fuels. In the alternative, the system is designed to cool inlet air on warm days.
US07644566B2
A curtain for directing severed crop movement in a cutting header in an agricultural harvester. The curtain optimizes crop movement between a cutterbar to a crop conveying auger for lateral movement of the crop material from outboard ends of the cutting header toward an interior discharge zone for formation of a windrow. The curtain also reduces the tendency for clogging that occurs when crop approaches conveying augers on both sides of an axial centerline by directing all crop material toward the trailing side of the rotating auger and by preventing airflow generated by the auger from disrupting crop approaching the auger. Crop smoothing by the curtain also reduces disturbances to the crop material during movement within the header which reduces seed loss in seed-bearing specialty crops.
US07644565B2
A device for mounting an edge trimmer to a lawnmower, comprising a front clamp mounted to the lawnmower, and a rear clamp mounted to the lawnmower, wherein the front and rear clamps receive and support a shaft of the edge trimmer, and are adjustable to different angles with respect to a first axis substantially parallel to a surface on which the lawnmower rests.
US07644564B2
A modular pruning machine used in agriculture, viticulture, fruit growing, tree growing or for brush clearing has at least one cutter bar. The cutter bar has cutting modules affixed thereto. Each of the cutting modules has a rotary cutting tool and a three-phase asynchronous electric motor such that the three-phase asynchronous electric motor individually rotatably drives the rotary cutting tool.
US07644560B2
A new method and system for establishing, and optionally maintaining, a desired atmosphere for perishable or atmosphere-sensitive goods during their storage and/or transportation. In one embodiment, a conveyor is used to move a pallet with goods from station to station. A mechanical arm at a sheeting station lifts goods from a pallet while one or more sheets are placed between the goods and the pallet. A bottom plate with fingers having hollow tubes holds the pallet while the pallet is being wrapped and enclosed. A portable manifold may also be connected to the hollow tubes and a controller samples and adjusts atmosphere inside the pallet via the portable manifold.
US07644555B2
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07644553B2
The invention relates to a novel covering, especially a floor covering or similar, based on panels (9, 9′) made of wood or a derived timber product, especially (décor) laminated panels of wood or derived timber products, with a carrier on the underside and a wear layer on the visible side. Said panels are adhesively supported, can be arranged laterally and adjacently, and are provided with laterally, optionally mutually latchable or clickable positive locking elements such as grooves (92) and tongues (91). The covering is characterised in that the groove(s) (92) and/or the tongues (91) of individual panels (9, 9′) or individual surface areas thereof (921 925; 911 915) is/are provided with a filling, and a coating (95) with an extrusion (96) or similar made adhesive properties during the lateral adjacent assembly of the panels (9, 9′) which is carried out by means of the groove(s) (92) and tongue(s) thereof, and/or made out of an adhesive activator which initiates or activates adhesive properties. The invention also relates to the panels used for the covering and production thereof.
US07644547B2
An exterior sill assembly preferably for a window has a preferably extruded body, and attachable facial and preferably end caps for covering open ends of a cavity defined by the body. The body has a substantially vertical flange for mounting to a structure preferably below a window frame. A sill projects outward from the flange to a distal portion and preferably a support plate spaced below the sill and projecting outward from the flange to a distal segment. Attachment features are carried between the facial, the distal portion and the distal segment for releasable engagement of the facial to the body. Fasteners disposed in-part in the cavity extend through the flange for engagement into the structure. Preferably, the fasteners are used in conjunction with respective members for distributing stress loads across the flange.
US07644531B2
An apparatus and method for aligning and aiming a firearm include a firearm alignment device. In an embodiment, the firearm alignment device includes a reflective surface. The reflective surface provides an image. The firearm alignment device also includes an opening in the reflective surface. A barrel of a firearm is disposable in the opening. In addition, the firearm alignment device includes a removeable band. The removeable band is horizontally disposed on the reflective surface.
US07644527B2
An accordion sign assembly includes a sign holder and an accordion sign. The sign holder has an elongate shape and an upper surface. The accordion sign includes a plurality of sections for displaying indicia, the sections defining a top edge, a bottom edge, and being interconnected at a plurality of pleats. The accordion sign also includes a plurality of tabs connected to the bottom edge of the plurality of sections at a plurality of fold lines that are substantially orthogonal to the plurality of sections. The plurality of tabs are folded relative to the plurality of sections to extend substantially orthogonally from the plurality of sections. A plurality of fasteners secures the plurality of tabs to the sign holder.
US07644526B2
An extension tool is provided for stretching a sheet-shaped material over its entirety with minimal adjusting portions and uniform tension. Four corner members are disposed along with four frame members for forming a rectangular frame. Four rods are disposed so as to pass through the four frame members and allow the sides and corners to move towards and away from each other for adjusting the size of the frame. One set of corner members are located on the diagonals and are provided with a moving mechanism for moving the rods along the sides of the rectangle. The extension tool for tensioning the material further comprises a transmission mechanism for converting the movement of a rod in a first side of the rectangle between first corner pairs into a reversing and approaching movement of a second rod in a second side of the frame between second corner pairs.
US07644525B2
Steam iron comprising a sole (1) in thermal communication with a heating body (5) equipped with a steam chamber (53), the steam chamber (53) communicating with a reservoir (7) by means of a supply circuit comprising a flow control valve (10) whose degree of opening is controlled by a thermally deformable element (16) in thermal communication with the heating body (5), characterized in that the opening of the control valve (10) is braked, beginning at an intermediate temperature, by a stabilizing element (18) that exerts a force that opposes the force generated by the thermally deformable element (16).
US07644518B2
The present invention relates to a shoe sole including a cushioning element. The shoe sole can include a heel cup or heel rim having a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of heel of a foot. Further, the heel part can include a plurality of side walls arranged below the heel cup or rim and at least one tension element that interconnects at least one side wall to another side wall or to the heel cup or rim. The heel cup or rim, the plurality of side walls, and the at least one tension element can be integrally formed as a single piece.
US07644514B2
A clothes dryer which comprises a housing, a rotatable drum for receiving the clothes and a bearing for rotatably receiving the drum in the housing. In order to protect the bearing from overheating, a cooling air device for cooling the bearing is provided.
US07644510B2
The Layout Framing Tape provides a quick, actuate, cost effective means of laying out standard and non standard construction framing projects not previously incorporated in prior art. The user can utilize symbols, text, shapes, and a standard/metric ruler to locate these members. The Layout Framing Tape provides a simplified, modified and improved method for locating these building members.By using the appropriate location, the user can eliminate workmanship errors and locate but not limited to suds, runners and various size doors. Additionally, the Framing Layout Tape can be used to locate non standard members using the 48″ (1220 mm) ruler as a guide. It is intended to leave the Framing Layout tape in place via an adhesive backing. However, the potions of the tape not covered by a building member may be removed as the trade's person as they see fit to do.
US07644509B2
A structure and process for producing an even cut for window covering horizontal slat sets includes a cutting sleeve attached at opposite ends of the slats of a window covering horizontal slat set to be cut which gather in selective ones of the slates together for cutting in a way which minimizes collective bowing and ripping of the finished surface immediately adjacent the cut ends of the slats. The cutting sleeves can be spaced to hold groupings of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more slats. Embodiments of the cutting sleeves can have two main opposite walls or eliminate one wall in favor of a comb topography which can load from the side.
US07644506B2
Present invention provides an edge level that can be used for measuring angles or levelness on all X, Y and Z axis simultaneously and in hands-free type operation, due to the use of Velcro or external clamps used together with the features introduced herein. A removable pod, containing the Z-axis bubble, provides the flexibility of insertion to the pod seat for measuring Z-axis angle and can be stored or put aside when not in use.
US07644495B2
Electrical interfaces formed into a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are formed from non-metals, such as carbon, graphite, that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from metals such as stainless steel, nickel, copper, silver, that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from a combination of non-metal, plated, or in combination with, metal powders. The micron conductor fibers preferably are of nickel plated carbon fiber, stainless steel fiber, copper fiber, silver fiber, or the like.
US07644492B2
A holding jig is made into cylindrical body that has a conductor insertion aperture, and a conductor end portion is inserted into the conductor insertion aperture in a loosely-fitted state and held. The holding jig is moved along an arc that has a radius L that is centered around a projecting root portion of the conductor end portion to a vicinity of a coil end to bend and form the conductor end portion into a desired lead around shape.
US07644478B2
The present invention provides an embalming weighted positioning device for maintaining and/or restoring a cadaver in a substantially normal lifelike appearance before, during, and after the embalming process, comprised of a flexible, conformable adherent container that allows for the nesting of two or more containers. The container can have a fill spout with a removable cover for filling or emptying the container with particulates and/or air before, during or after the embalming process. Also provided is a method for maintaining and/or restoring the body parts of a cadaver to a substantially normal lifelike appearance by controlling body fluid deposition in the body of a cadaver, and by positioning the body parts of a cadaver before, during and/or after the embalming process, by placing at least one container on top of, under or next to a body part of the cadaver.
US07644475B2
There is provided an improved cable tie made of integrally molded thermoplastic material that includes a head, a strap that has a near end, a tail end, and an elongated body portion between the near end and the tail end. The strap includes a gripping surface formed on the upper surface of the tail end. The head is attached to the near end. The head has an opening extending there through that is slightly larger than the strap for receiving the tail end of the strap. A locking means is positioned within the head and extends into the opening and is formed to engage the gripping surface to prevent the strap from loosening once the strap is tightened. A blade is located within the head such that blade may be moved so as to cut the excess portion of said tail end once the strap is tightened. The blade extends through a portion of the wall of the head. The remaining end of the strap is recessed within the slot so that the end, if sharp, is not exposed.
US07644464B2
A caulk tool has a finishing head at one end of a handheld main body, and a cutting mechanism located near the other end. The finishing head can include a bristle structure used for smoothing out caulk and sealants. The cutting mechanism may include a push button blade for cutting tips of caulk and sealant tubes to a desired length and angle.
US07644461B2
This invention relates to a foam integrated innerspring mattress and method of manufacture wherein a flexible polyurethane foam is adhered onto the top and bottom of individually wrapped pocket innersprings, and additional polyurethane foam is molded onto the sides of the mattress.
US07644455B2
An adjustable bed frame includes a frame having a first retractable device in a horizontal direction for securing a first supporting unit. The first supporting unit includes a second retractable device for securing a first mattress. Second supporting units are provided at respective sides of the frame. Each second supporting unit has a third retractable device therein for securing a second mattress. The first mattress is connected with a soft pad. The second mattress is connected with a soft pad. The first supporting unit can be pulled outward in a horizontal direction. Both the first mattress and the second mattress can be lifted upward, and the soft pads can be turned for different purposes.
US07644454B2
The subject of the invention is a mechanical lifting system with seat which enable the disabled people with paralysis or paresis of lower limps to stand up from the wheelchair and without excessive energy expenditure take upright position in standing frame and came back to the wheelchair. This mechanical lifting system can be used in a kind of walking frame, static standing frame or mobile standing frame and is very useful in rehabilitation of disabled people.
US07644451B1
An apparatus for selectively moving a toilet seat between a first and second position comprising: a base, a first pedal having a first end for receiving a downward force thereon pivotally connected to the base, a first means connected between the toilet seat and an end of the first pedal opposite the first end for moving the toilet seat from a first position to a second position, a second pedal having a first end for receiving a downward force thereon and pivotally connected at an edge opposite the first end to the first pedal, a second means connected between the second pedal and an upper end of the first moving means for moving at least one of the toilet seat from the second position to the first position and the second pedal away from the first pedal. Upon applying the downward force to the first end of the first pedal, the first pedal pivots and causes the first moving means to move the toilet seat from the first position to the second position and causes the second moving means to move the second pedal away from the first pedal. Upon applying the downward force on the first end of the second pedal, the second moving means causes the toilet seat to be moved from the second position to the first position.
US07647641B2
The invention relates to an access control method controlling access to a broadcast digital dataflow previously scrambled.The method according to the invention includes the following steps: On transmission: generating an entitlement control message R-ECMc for recording the content of the flow as a function of a key KRc and at least one criterion CRR defining a right to the record, generating an entitlement control message P-ECMc controlling access to play back the content of the recorded flow as a function of a key KPc and at least one criterion CRP defining a right to play back, and on reception: analysing the messages P-ECMc and P-ECMc, authorizing the recording and playback if the criteria CRR and CRP are verified.
US07647639B2
Methods of detecting executable code which has been altered are provided. Upon an initial loading of an executable code a calculation is performed to generate a score associated with the executable code, the initial score is retained. Subsequently, one or more additional calculations are performed on the executable code to generate subsequent scores. Any subsequent score not matching the initial score indicates the executable code has been varied in some way. If variations have occurred, determinations are made to assess whether the variations correspond to valid conditions, especially valid conditions of a vendor supplying the executable code. If variations do not correspond to valid conditions, the executable code is then partially or completely disabled and optionally unloaded from the operating system within which it resides. Moreover, the vendor may be notified, or other events triggered. Calculations may be performed on the executable code randomly, periodically or other.
US07647633B2
Protection systems and methods provide for protecting one or more personal computers (“PCs”) and/or other intermittently or persistently network accessible devices or processes from undesirable or otherwise malicious operations of Java™ applets, ActiveX™ controls, JavaScript™ scripts, Visual Basic scripts, add-ins, downloaded/uploaded programs or other “Downloadables” or “mobile code” in whole or part. A protection engine embodiment provides, within a server, firewall or other suitable “re-communicator,” for monitoring information received by the communicator, determining whether received information does or is likely to include executable code, and if so, causes mobile protection code (MPC) to be transferred to and rendered operable within a destination device of the received information, more suitably by forming a protection agent including the MPC, protection policies and a detected-Downloadable. An MPC embodiment further provides, within a Downloadable-destination, for initiating the Downloadable, enabling malicious Downloadable operation attempts to be received by the MPC, and causing (predetermined) corresponding operations to be executed in response to the attempts, more suitably in conjunction with protection policies.
US07647632B1
A system can be configured using configuration objects that have the ability to refer to one another. In one embodiment, the present invention includes such a system having a plurality of objects used to configure the system, each object having a uniform resource identifier (URI), and an object reference table to enable the plurality of objects to reference each other without using URIs.
US07647627B2
Provided is a method for intercepting a message between a requesting web service and a source web service, validating the message, logging the result of the validations, and adding a security profile to the message. The method may also include examining the message to determine whether a security profile is embedded therein. If the message is valid, access to the message by the requesting web service is permitted. If the message is not valid, access to the message by the requesting web service is prevented.
US07647621B2
A system, method and computer program product are provided for policy management. In use, a plurality of rules for applying policies to a computer are identified. Further, information associated with the computer is also identified. Such rules and information are then utilized for applying the policies to the computer.
US07647606B1
The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.
US07647604B2
Methods and apparatus for media source identification and time shifted media consumption measurements are disclosed. A disclosed method identifies a media source by generating first signature information based on media presented via a media delivery device and comparing the first signature information to second signature information. The second signature information is derived from a library of signature information local to the media delivery device. The disclosed method generates a collection of matching signature information based on the comparison of the first and second signature information, and identifies a source of the media presented via the media delivery device based on the collection of matching signature information.
US07647603B2
A disc cartridge includes a cartridge main body 2, a rotation wheel 4 rotatably accommodated in the cartridge main body 2, a pair of shutter plates 5a, 5b interposed between a lower shell 7 and the rotation wheel 4 for releasing a first opening 24 of a lower shell 7 and a second opening 44 of the rotation wheel 4 in association with the rotation of the rotation wheel 4 when the first opening 24 coincides with the second opening 44, and a locking member 72 for prohibiting the rotation of the rotation wheel 4. The locking member 72 includes a locking portion 76 engaged with an engaging recessed portion 85 of the rotation wheel 4 for locking the rotation wheel 4 at a position where the shutter plates 5a, 5b close the first opening 24 and a first and second unlocking pieces 77, 78 for releasing the state that the locking portion 76 is engaged with the engaging recessed portion 85. The first unlocking piece 77 is faced to an insertion guide groove 25b on the front surface of the cartridge main body 2, and the second unlocking piece 78 is faced to a guide groove 15 formed to a side surface of the cartridge main body 2 in the inserting direction thereof. The rotation wheel 4 unlocked by depressing any of the first and second unlocking pieces 77, 78. With this arrangement, an unlocking mechanism of a rerecording and/or replaying device can be simplified.
US07647593B2
A CPU 111m segments the jobs from each of the volume rendering processing on hand, prioritize processing sequence for each job, transmits one job which has reached the processing order to the computers (21 to 2k) on the accepting side and other computers equivalent to the self computer simultaneously, and executes the job for self processing. Then, after if receiving the processing result from the computer which has completed the processing of the transmitted job the earliest, the CPU 111m issues a halt command of the job to other computers on the accepting side. At this time, if any job to be requested on hand remains uncompleted, a series of processing procedures starting with the simultaneous communication is repeated.
US07647587B2
Systems, methods, and structures are discussed that enhance type reconstruction for programs. Whereas previous methods insufficiently provide the set of types necessary for program analysis, the embodiments of the present invention can accept any verifiable bytecode programs and produce a set of types needed for program analysis. The embodiments of the present invention provide a technique called subtype completion that transforms a subtyping system by extending its type hierarchy to a lattice. However, such transformation inserts only a minimal amount of elements so as to enhance the computation of reconstructed types.
US07647584B2
A system for the testing of a software component API includes the generation of a wrapper component. The wrapper component is generated by determining the interface of the software component and by mirroring that interface in the public interface of the wrapper. The wrapper methods delegate to the software component API. Test code is included within the wrapper component to permit capture and playback of interaction with the software component API. Test case software accesses the software component API through the wrapper. The wrapper both generates trace data based on the interaction between the test case and the software component and delegates to the software component API.
US07647582B2
An application domain manager enables a host application to create, initialize, customize, and otherwise manage an isolation construct within the application.
US07647576B2
The present invention relates to a net/wiring selection method for selecting, from among nets/wirings wired on the basis of layout information, a net/wiring whose layout is to be changed with priority in order to improve a delay. To enable efficient elimination of a critical path, the method is arranged to include a wiring capacitance lower limit computation step for computing wiring capacitance lower limits on the basis of layout information; an inter-wiring capacitance computation step for computing, as an inter-wiring capacitance, a difference between a real wiring capacitance and the wiring capacitance lower limit; a parallel wiring length extraction step for extracting a parallel wiring length existing between adjacent wirings of the respective wirings; and a selection step for selecting a net/wiring whose layout is to be changed, on the basis of the inter-wiring capacitance, the parallel wiring length, and a slack value.
US07647571B1
The state nodes in a sequential digital circuit are identified by identifying the minimal combinatorial feedback loops that are present in the digital circuit. Each minimal combinatorial feedback loop has at least one driver node, and one driver node from each minimal combinatorial feedback loop is assigned to be the state node for the loop.
US07647566B2
A method for creating new vias in an integrated circuit chip. The method automatically creates a plurality of new vias around an original via for electrically connecting two metal layers to each other in circuit layout data of the integrated circuit chip. The new vias also electrically connect the two metal layers to each other. According to the new vias, the probability of certainly electrically connecting the two metal layers of the integrated circuit chip to each other can be increased when the integrated circuit chip is being manufactured.
US07647560B2
Methods and systems for providing dynamic emoticons during chat sessions across game consoles are disclosed. A dynamic emoticon may include haptic, visual, and/or auditory components. Each component may have an associated intensity level, e.g., based on a pressure with which a user of the game console presses a controller button or actuates a control input. The emoticon's auditory component may include or identify a sound effects filter or a known audio file; the emoticon's visual component may include or identify a visual effects filter or a known video or graphic file; the emoticon's haptic component may cause vibration of or force feedback on the controller. Emoticons may be sent from one voice chat participant's game console to another voice chat participant's game console across a network such as the Internet.
US07647556B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for searching for a video clip. The method for searching for the video clip in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of a) displaying a predetermined number of video clips on a screen of a video play apparatus which plays a video file, b) selecting a specific video clip among the displayed video clips by a user, and c) dividing frames constructing the selected video clip according to a predetermined division reference, and displaying the video clip constructed of the divided frame.
US07647553B2
A View Template allows a template author to create an attractive HTML view template, and flow an arbitrary HTML content document into a series of containers defined in the view template. A content document author creates a standard HTML markup language document that can be displayed in a browser in the bottom-less page model. A view template author designs an HTML view template document that changes how that content document is displayed in the browser or printed. The HTML content document is “flowed” into areas defined by the HTML view template document. The HTML view template document describes where to flow the HTML content document onto the display or printer. There is an object model (OM) that supports the series of containers holding the content document. Each container in the series has a layout that defines the size, location, and ordering for the content document to flow through while in that container. The order of containers that the content document flows through is kept in a view chain. The view chain also maintains a break table with information about the content document at each of the container boundaries.
US07647536B2
A method and apparatus for repairing cache memories/arrays is described herein. A cache includes a plurality of lines and logically viewable in columns. A repair cache coupled to the cache includes a repair bit mapped to each logically viewable column. A repair module determines a bad bit to be repaired within a column based on any individual or combination of factors, such as the number of errors per line of the cache, the number of errors correctable per line of the cache due to error correction code (ECC), the failure rate of bits, or other considerations. The bad bit is transparently repaired by the repair bit mapped to the column including the bad bit, upon an access to a cache line including the bad bit.
US07647535B2
A circuit including a first stage register that operates in response to a first clock having a period TCYCLE, a programmable delay circuit that introduces a programmable delay to the first clock, thereby creating a second clock, a second stage register that operates in response to the second clock, combinational logic coupled between the first register output and the second register input, and a third register having an input coupled to the second register output. The programmable delay is selected: (1) to have a positive value if the signal delay between the first and second registers exceeds TCYCLE, and (2) such that the signal delay between the second and third registers is less than TCYCLE minus the programmable delay. Additional delayed clocks generated in response to the second clock signal can be used to operate additional second stage registers, thereby staggering the outputs of these second stage registers within TCYCLE.
US07647530B2
Network state information and network topology information associated with a network is retrieved and transformed using a meta-language. The transformed data is compared against known network fault patterns to identify a matching network fault signature. The matching network fault signature is used to diagnose potential cause(s) of network problems that resulted in the matched signature.
US07647522B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates re-locating a web application associated with a network service utilizing a portion of serialized data. The network service can be any collection of resources that are maintained by a party (e.g., third-party, off-site, etc.) and accessible by an identified user over a network (e.g., WAN, Internet, etc.). A receiver component can receive a request for initiating and execution of a process that is maintained by the network service. A servicing component can analyze representations of multiple processes within the network service and determines whether to enable initiation and execution of the process based at least in part upon the analysis.
US07647513B2
Method and apparatus for improving responsiveness of a power management system in a computing device
A computer system has multiple performance states. The computer system periodically determines utilization information for the computer system and adjusts the performance state according to the utilization information. If a performance increase is required, the computer system always goes to the maximum performance state. If a performance decrease is required, the computer system steps the performance state down to a next lower performance state.
US07647509B2
A processing system may include a first processing unit for a first partition and a second processing unit for a second partition. To support power management, an interrupt handler in the processing system may receive a standby command from an operating system. In response to receiving the standby command, the interrupt handler may cause the first processing unit to transition into a reduced power mode. After the second partition detects a wake event, the second partition may cause the first processing unit to transition out of the reduced power mode. In an example embodiment, the interrupt handler executes within the first partition, and the first processing unit transitions into the reduced power mode by entering an idle loop within the interrupt handler. The first partition may determine from within the idle loop whether the first partition has been released from the low power state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07647506B2
In an integrated-circuit chip having intercommunicating modular functional units of electrical circuits, wired transmission of sensitive information signals between the functional units of the electrical circuits involves generating a reference signal and coding the sensitive information signals, after being emitted by a generating functional unit in the chip, with the reference signal to disguise the sensitive information represented by the sensitive information signals. The coded sensitive information signals are decoded with the reference signal before the sensitive information signals are received by a processing functional unit in the chip. At least one signal of the reference signal and the decoded sensitive information signals are monitored, and a hacker attack is identified in response to a determination that the decoded sensitive information signal is other than a plausible signal.
US07647505B2
The current society can be referred to as a card society, since people can use various types of cards for a variety of applications. However, card users must always carry a number of cards depending upon the application, and must use different cards according to the purpose, which can bother such users. A memory of an IC chip of an IC card includes a fingerprint information area to verify the identity of a card owner, a personal information area in which personal information of the card owner is classified and recorded with different security levels set up, a company information area in which each company writes information of the company using an “encryption key” unique to the company, and a public organization information area in which each public organization writes information of the public organization using an “encryption key” unique to the public organization.
US07647501B2
An apparatus for communicating, including a communicating unit that enables the apparatus to communicate with a communications counterparty via the communicating unit. The communicating unit includes a unit for providing an individual certificate that is a digital certificate being provided with information identifying the apparatus for communicating in order to receive an authentication by the communications counterparty when communicating, and a unit for communicating when having been authenticated with the individual certificate by the communications counterparty. The apparatus further includes at least one storage area for storing the individual certificate and a common certificate that is a digital certificate not being provided with apparatus identifying information, in a replacement component as a minimum unit enabled for replacement.
US07647495B2
For protecting a computer from manipulation of register contents, copies of registers to be protected (6; PC) are created in separate redundancy registers (10a-10c). At each instruction execution, the content of the register to be protected is compared with the copy thereof. The instruction is only executed if there is a match of register contents. If there is a mismatch of register contents, this is interpreted as an indication that the content of the register to be protected has been manipulated, and error handling is performed.
US07647494B2
Under the present invention, when a request for a certificate is made, a set of (mapping) rules are used to identify an appropriate directory and any other information sources, and to retrieve information for the certificate therefrom. The directory name is then transformed using the set of rules for use in the certificate. Thereafter, a template for the certificate is developed using the set of rules. The template and the request are then communicated to the PKI, which will generate and return the certificate. Upon receipt, the present invention can verify that the certificate actually includes the transformed name.
US07647492B2
The invention is directed towards routing a packet using both IPSec and common routing protocols within dynamic network topologies in a VPN. The routing of IPSec packets employs Open System Interconnection (OSI) layer three information. In one embodiment, a tree mechanism is used for looking up layer three information that may be associated with a protected subnetwork. When a packet is identified as being associated with a protected subnetwork, the packet may be encrypted and encapsulated, including the original destination and source IP address header information within another packet employing the IP Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) protocol. New source and destination IP addresses are provided for the new packet using IP addresses associated with an entry gateway and an exit gateway to the VPN. The new packet may then be routed through the VPN using traditional routing protocols.
US07647473B2
An instruction processing method for checking an arrangement of basic instructions in a very long instruction word (VLIW) instruction, suitable for language processing systems, an assembler and a compiler, used for processors which execute variable length VLIW instructions designed based on variable length VLIW architecture.
US07647471B2
A method for processing using a shared file that includes creating a plurality of mmaps between a shared file and a plurality of address spaces, wherein each of the plurality of mmaps maps at least a portion of the shared file to one of the plurality of address spaces, and wherein each of the plurality of address spaces is associated with one of a plurality of processors, transferring, in parallel, data between the shared file and the address spaces using the plurality of mmaps associated with the plurality of address spaces, processing the data in parallel by the plurality of processors to obtain a result, wherein the plurality of processors access data from the plurality of address spaces, and storing the result in the shared memory.
US07647450B2
Performance of a storage subsystem is monitored at a proper level in a computer system having host computers, the storage subsystems, and a management computer. Each storage subsystem has physical disks and a disk controller to control input/output of the data to/from the physical disks. The disk controller provides storage areas of the physical disks as one or more logical volumes to the host computer. The management computer makes each of the logical volumes correspond to one of a plurality of groups, sets monitoring conditions of the logical volumes every group, monitors performance information of the logical volumes in accordance with the set monitoring conditions, and if a correspondence between the logical volume and the group is changed, changes the monitoring conditions set to at least one of the plurality of groups.
US07647445B2
A processor bus has several data processing units, each connected to a line system which acts as a bus having bus segments connected in a separable manner through connection units. Functional units arranged on the bus carry out the information thereof. The functional units may carry out exchanges independently of each other. Conversely, functional units in different groups may carry out information exchanges simultaneously. The connection units define combinatory connections of the signal lines, with physical connections between the connection units provided by the bus segments. The connection units can carry out information exchanges with as many connected functional units as desired. The information path from a functional unit to selected functional units can be multiplexed or switched by toggling simultaneous connections to several functional units or by bridging non-participating functional units.
US07647440B2
A computer motherboard detects the form factor type of the chassis in which it is installed to permit tailoring functionality accordingly.
US07647435B2
A communications bus for a digital device includes a credit-based flow control mechanism, in which a sending component maintains a local record of its credits. Credits are returned to the sender by pulsing a single-bit credit return line. A separate mechanism provides a count of available credits from the receiver, the separate mechanism not necessarily being current. The local record is compared to the count of credits from the separate mechanism over a pre-determined time interval, failure of the two values to agree at any time during the interval indicating a probable credit discrepancy. A credit discrepancy is confirmed, preferably by suspending certain bus activity for a sufficiently long period to account for any delay in propagating credit value changes, and re-comparing the values. Preferably, the bus communicates between internal components of an integrated circuit chip.
US07647429B2
Data for a multicast service is provided by a radio communication system by performing header compression and employing a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity that exists for every specific MBMS service to be provided for a cell with users therein. The particular network component (e.g., in a SRNC or a CRNC) that includes one PDCP layer for each specific MBMS service depends upon certain characteristics of the terminals (UE) located within a cell that wish to receive the specific MBMS service. The terminal receives via a common transport channel and restores (i.e., decompresses) the header-compressed data of the MBMS service that was transmitted after header compression at the CRNC, while the terminal receives via a dedicated transport channel and restores (i.e., decompresses) the header-compressed data of the MBMS service that was transmitted after header compression at the SRNC.
US07647419B2
A system and method are provided for generating client-side virtual radio stations. The method comprises: receiving server-supplied radio stations at an network-connected radio service client; establishing radio filter characteristics; analyzing the server-supplied radio stations using the filter characteristics; generating a client-side virtual radio station service; supplying the virtual radio station service from a virtual radio station; and, presenting the virtual radio station services on a client-side user interface. The radio filter characteristics may be established using automatic, semi-automatic, or manual selection mechanisms. For example, characteristics may be selected automatically, as learned from an analysis of a user's past and present behavior. The radio filter characteristics may include criteria such as musical genre, song title, artist information, or server source, to name just a few.
US07647417B1
A novel system and method is provided for improving object cacheability in an ICAP-configured network cache. Unlike prior implementations, the present invention does not require the network cache to invalidate every data object in its object store in response to receiving an updated ISTag value from an ICAP server. Rather, the network cache invalidates data objects on an object-by-object basis after receiving the updated ISTag value. Specifically, the network cache invalidates a data object if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the network cache has received an updated ISTag value, (2) the data object is requested by a client and (3) the requested data object requires transformation by the ICAP server. When each of these conditions is satisfied, the data object is invalidated and replaced with its transformed version. Because not every client-requested data object necessarily requires ICAP transformation after an updated ISTag value is received, the network cache may invalidate fewer data objects than in prior implementations.
US07647415B1
System and method for providing a binary encoding protocol as an alternative to markup language protocols for Web services. Embodiments may provide a Web services stack with a single API that supports a binary encoding protocol in addition to a markup language protocol. Embodiments may dynamically and transparently switch between the markup language protocol and the binary encoding protocol, for example for communications between servers and clients in a Web services network environment. An exemplary markup language is XML. An exemplary binary encoding protocol that may be used is WS-Fast, which may use Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) and a mapping from XML Schema to ASN.1 for on-the-wire binary messages. Some embodiments may be implemented as a Java Web services stack that implements WS-Fast as an alternative to XML, while still supporting XML and providing one API to both protocols.
US07647411B1
A network appliance controls access to network resources by identifying network paths passing through the network appliance to a protected network, drawings conclusions about the type of communications traveling along those paths, and then controlling, i.e. limiting, access to the protected network's resources for transmitting communications on a path-by-path basis. Recipient controlled mechanisms are used to control access to the recipient's network's resources, namely, restricting bandwidth, controlling allocation of SMTP or other connections, and packet level traffic shaping techniques including controlling of parameters of TCP and/or IP communications, such as TCP receive window size and Maximum Segment Size, or otherwise decreasing the amount of network traffic per unit of time passing through the network appliance. This limits the amount of network resources that may be used by incoming communications. Multiple network appliances may communicate with one another to operate in concert to protect a greater portion of network resources.
US07647410B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques of processing data packets in a computer network. The computer network includes a multiport network device and a computer executing a software application. The multiport network device is configured to receive data packets to be transmitted using the computer network and the network device stores one or more authorized network descriptors. The software application generates data packets to be transmitted to the computer network through the network device. The software application registers the network rights descriptor with the network device and inserts the network rights descriptor in each generated data packet. The network device is configured to discard the data packet if the network rights descriptor in the data packet does not match an authorized network rights descriptor and to process the data packet if the network rights descriptor in the data packet matches an authorized network rights descriptor.
US07647405B2
The present invention provides a method of preventing harmful variability and oscillation in weight based, dynamic load balancing environments. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods to effectively determine the magnitude of weight changes in dynamic load balancing environments based on the workload magnitude and server farm capacity. This method depends on the development of new multi-system characteristics such as a relative workload metric to characterize the workload of the system relative to the collective capacity of all of the systems to handle the workload.
US07647402B2
Protecting data files from being stolen or compromised in a data processing operation having stored data in a plurality of data files by receiving user requests for access to data files, determining whether said requests are unauthorized intrusions into the requested data files and, responsive to a determination that a request is an unauthorized intrusion, changing the identification of the requested data files by renaming the files. Preferably, the rename should be one which does not identify the contents of the file, i.e. the rename disguises the file contents. Then, it is also desirable that the renamed file be moved to a new “hidden” directory. In such a case, the renamed file is also assigned a covert name which indicates a covert location in the new directory. Then, there is provided a log referencing each renamed file to the covert name of the respective file so as to indicate the covert location of said file in said new directory.
US07647380B2
A system and method for providing email using a flexible routing technique based on MX records. The method includes the steps of creating an MX record for a user, the MX record identifying a storage location for the user within the system; and routing mail within the enterprise email system using the information contained in the MX record. A system may include an inbound mail transfer agent coupled to an external network and an internal network; user email data storage having an address within the internal network; a user location database server containing a unique user token identifying a storage location for user email data in the user email data storage; and an internal DNS server including MX records for storage domains on the internal network.
US07647376B1
A method of the present invention generally comprises receiving an electronic mail message and determining whether the electronic message is an unsolicited message. If the message is an unsolicited message, it is examined to identify a network address relating to the message and an authority hosting the network address. A report is then generated containing the identified network address and the hosting authority.
US07647371B2
In a data processing system, a document transmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a computer system including a data management unit for storing and managing data and a data storage unit for performing a process of causing to store the data transmitted from the document transmission apparatus in the data management unit, and an information processing terminal to be used by a user are connected through a network. In this system, the data storage unit comprises a storage destination acquisition unit adapted to acquire storage destination information of the data stored by the data management unit, from the data management unit, and a notification unit adapted to transmit, to the information processing terminal, a notification to which the storage destination information acquired by the storage destination acquisition unit has been added. Thus, it is possible to reduce a load on the network and improve security.
US07647366B2
Apparatus for generating a random number includes a sampler that samples a noise signal to obtain a noise signal sample, and a provider that provides at least three noise signal threshold values selected such that a first probability of the noise signal sample being between the first and second threshold values, and a second probability of the noise signal sample being between the second and third threshold values are different from each other by less than a predetermined differential value or are identical. An outputter outputs the random number such that when the noise signal sample is between the first and second threshold values, a first digit of a random number is occupied by a first logical state, whereas a second digit is occupied with a different logical state, so that a random number which is at least 2 bits wide results from one noise signal sample.
US07647362B1
Mechanisms for saving and accessing versions of files using indexed content, rather than a system version identifier. Thus, a user may identify a version of a file by its content, rather than using a less descriptive system-assigned version identifier. Accordingly, the user is provided with a more intuitive and therefore efficient mechanism for identifying and accessing different versions of files.
US07647360B2
Described is method and system for protecting file on volume based CDP and restoring data consistency between files and database managed by database application. One of the benefits of an implementation of the inventive concept is that administrator can protect a specific file by inserting a marker, which is stored on a journal volume after the close operation for a file. The data consistency between files and database is achieved even if the restore point is specified using a file attribute. One implementation includes host and storage subsystem. The storage subsystem may include multiple volumes for separately storing database tables and data files. The storage subsystem also includes a volume based CDP protecting the content of the storage volumes. The storage subsystem further includes an inventive consistency manager, which manages data consistency between the file volume(s) and the database volume(s). The consistency manager operates when storage system administrator issues command to restore sets of the volumes to a predetermined state, which was existent at specific time point.
US07647359B1
Techniques for file system translation are provided. Access to a file of a first file system having a first format invokes a simultaneous access to a second file system in a second format. In an embodiment, a translation file system simultaneously maintains data on both a first file system and a second file system when accesses are made to the translation file system, the first file system, or the second file system.
US07647352B2
An online delivery platform and/or method of works of authorship is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes automatically creating index data referencing segment data of a native markup language file using a dynamic index algorithm. In addition, the method includes storing the index data and the native markup language file in a digital content module of the online delivery platform and accessing at least one of the segment data when a query data generated by a user of the digital content module matches with any one of the index data. The method may also include generating a master index to streamline multiple index data when multiple native markup language files are processed. The method may further include generating a compilation markup language file using a style-sheet based on at least one format analysis of multiple segment data of the compilation markup language file.
US07647349B2
A system for enriching document content using enrichment themes includes a directed search service and an import-export service. The directed search service allows users to author documents while querying information providers using the directed searches that are inserted as part of the authored documents. The import-export service enables meta-document exchanges between systems that provide document enrichment by binding imported meta-documents to identical or similar information providers.
US07647345B2
A method of processing information items, the method comprises the steps of: for an information item comprising primarily text information: analysing text information of the information item to detect a set of constituent information elements relating to that information item; detecting for each of the constituent information elements a respective degree of relative significance based on the frequency and/or nature of occurrence of the constituent information elements with respect to that information item; selecting a subset of at least two most significant constituent information elements; and generating a pseudo-image representative of the information item, the representative pseudo-image comprising the selected subset of constituent information elements arranged in a predetermined image layout such that: the most significant constituent information element of the subset is represented with most prominence and at a first predetermined region within the representative pseudo-image; and the one or more other constituent information element(s) of the subset are represented at other predetermined regions of the representative pseudo-image in dependence on the corresponding degree of relative significance of those element(s).
US07647342B2
A system and corresponding methods are provided for enabling the automatic generation of a slate using metadata. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a request to provide a user with a list of video media assets so the user can select a video media asset to generate a slate; providing the user with the list of video media assets and receiving a selected video media asset from the user; acquiring metadata associated with the selected video media asset, creating a preview of the slate by generating fields that are associated with the acquired metadata, generating the slate in response to the user's approval of the previewed slate; transmitting the slate to a video server; and editing the slate into the selected video media asset so the slate and the video media asset can be viewed in conjunction with each other, thereby providing the user (via the slate) with information about the video media asset such as the video media asset's name, duration, database location, etc.
US07647339B2
There is described a host website and method for digitally labeling websites or subscribers with digital labels which represent characteristics and qualities of the website. The digital labels are stored on host websites, each of which is directed to a specific subject or activity. The host website can also provide digital labels for storage in other host websites. The host website is provided with artificial intelligence capabilities.
US07647335B1
A system is disclosed for distributed generation and storage of relational data which can be represented as a network or sub-network. The system includes a plurality of distributed computing nodes (e.g., general purpose computers) configured with software for generating and storing relational data from input individual records. The system further includes a decentralized management subsystem for distribution of input records to the distributed computing nodes for processing (i.e., generation and storage of the relational data) and for providing access to the relational data to a user. The management subsystem includes a) a network management system process providing for dispatching input records to the nodes, b) an optimization process for optimizing the dispatch of input records to the nodes, c) an indexing process for indexing of records dispatched to the nodes and relational data generated at the nodes; and d) a query management process for responding to user queries and providing transparent access to the relational data.
US07647333B2
By dividing data entries among multiple data collections, a data collection comprising a data entry associated with a requested percentile can be determined with reference to the number of data entries within each collection. Initially, the range of values corresponding to the identified data collection can be presented as the value of the requested percentile. Should further detail be required, the value for a requested percentile can be refined by averaging the range, linearly, or otherwise, extrapolating estimated values for the data entries within the identified data collection, or sorting the actual entries according to their values. A relational database can maintain the data entries, each comprising values along one or more dimensions, and an OLAP engine component can maintain a counting of the data entries within the defined data collections.
US07647330B2
A human resource networking system, which is a novel method establishing a business system for locating, identifying, promoting and assisting in the employing of career project workers in the non-career workforce, includes a Relational Database comprising an Inductive Credit Matrix containing People Elements, Places Elements, Projects Elements, and Things Elements derived from People Information, Places Information, Project Elements, and Things Elements; a plurality of Credit Constructs each of which is formed by associating two or more of the People Elements, the Places Elements, the Projects Elements, and the Things Elements and stored in the Inductive Credit Matrix of the Relational Database; and a Display Device for outputting Credit Bytes generated by combining the Credit Constructs upon query.
US07647328B2
A method and apparatus for use in a computer system comprising at least two software applications sharing context in accordance with a Clinical Context Object Workgroup (CCOW) standard, wherein a context change may be requested by a user of at least one of the at least two software applications. In response to the user requesting a change from a first context to a second context, at least one business rule is applied to at least a portion of the first context and/or to at least a portion of the second context to obtain at least one result from the application of the business rule. In response to the at least one result, at least one act is performed selected from the group consisting of: denying the request to change from the first context to the second context; requesting the user to provide information relating to the requested change; and requesting the user to affirm information relating to the requested change.
US07647323B2
Web-site performance analysis system and method of providing a web-site performance analysis service
A method of providing a web-site performance analysis service is disclosed that gathers data relative to visits to web-pages that are associated with a web-site. Traversals are identified that correspond to each visit to the web-pages. Each identified traversal has an identification of either an incoming link from which each visit originated or an outgoing link to which each visit terminated. A time duration is measured that corresponds to each visit. A chart of a statistical distribution of pages-per-visit of the identified traversals is formed. The identified traversals and time duration corresponding to each visit is stored in a memory. The stored data from the memory is transferred to a database. Performance measures are produced that correspond to each visit to the web-pages based on the stored data in the database. A web-site performance analysis system that implements this method also is disclosed.
US07647320B2
A system and method is provided for the management of a patient's medical records by a central data repository under the direction of the patient and enabled by an entity managing records on behalf of the patient. Medical records from a plurality of the patient's healthcare providers, including past and present healthcare providers, are maintained in this central repository in a way that provides a centralized, comprehensive, and accessible medical history of the patient, as well as a comprehensive organizational structure across all records. An embodiment has the patient directed central repository as the hub in a hub-and-spoke arrangement, where each spoke goes to one of the patient's healthcare providers, both past and present. The patient's medical records are collected from all the patient's healthcare providers, then classified, stored, and organized for use by the patient, healthcare providers, and any other authorized individuals. The records in the repository can be sorted and/or selected in several different ways and displayed to the patient or to his designated medical care providers, and to certain patient designated third parties.
US07647319B2
This invention has as its object to attain strong security and to implement network solutions with high convenience and simplicity with low cost upon providing Web services. To this end, an information processing apparatus according to this invention has the following arrangement. That is, an information processing apparatus (1400) which includes a plurality of Web services (110 and the like) and a plurality of authentication/authorization services (107 and the like), is characterized by having an XML script unit (104) which holds an XML script (106) that describes association between information pertaining to respective Web services and information pertaining to the authentication/authorization services that execute authentication processing upon providing the respective Web services, and an arbitration service (103) which determines information pertaining to the authentication/authorization service described in association with the Web service requested by the user, and in that when the user is authenticated using the determined authentication/authorization service, the Web service requested by the user is provided.
US07647316B2
In an embodiment of the present invention, keywords may be dynamically optimized. This may include techniques for reducing the number of keywords assigned to a particular web page (and selecting which keywords to eliminate). This may also include techniques for reordering keywords, introducing new keywords, and/or changing the attributes of keywords (e.g., size, font, color, spacing, etc.) assigned to a particular web page. Any of these techniques may be dynamically implemented by basing the optimization on one or more metrics and data collected from user interactions with the webpage.
US07647314B2
System and method for the determination of the relevance of a content item to a query through the use of a machine learned relevance function that incorporates click-through features of the content items. A method for selecting a relevance function to determine a relevance of a query-content item pair comprises generating training set having one or more query-URL pairs labeled for relevance based on their click-through features. The labeled query-URL pairs are used to determine the relevance function by minimizing a loss function that accounts for click-through features of the content item. The computed relevance function is then applied to the click-through features of unlabeled content items to assign relevance scores thereto. An inverted click-through index of query-score pairs is formed and combined with the content index to improve relevance of search results.
US07647308B2
A method, system, and computer program product for detecting hidden files and folders that may be installed by or as part of a rootkit provides the capability to identify the method that is used to hide the files and folders, will continue working even if the operating system is modified, and is suitable for real-time detection of hidden files and folders. A method for detecting a rootkit comprises the steps of generating a plurality of query input/output request packets, each query input/output request packet requesting information relating to a file system directory folder, transmitting a generated query input/output request packet to each file system driver object, receiving a result including the requested information relating to a file system directory folder from each file system driver object, and determining differences among each result, to determine information relating to a file system directory folder that is removed by at least one file system driver object.
US07647304B2
An adaptive picker for selecting data in disparate information systems is provided. The adaptive picker may be implemented by an application to pick items from one or more data stores, which are associated with other applications. The adaptive picker determines items provided by the data store that are available for picking and the types of data associated with the items. The adaptive picker receives key information provided by a user through the first application and searches for the available items based on the key information. The adaptive picker also filters the items to identify a desired item. The adaptive picker can determine the filtering capabilities associated with the data stores and automatically adapt to these filtering capabilities. The adaptive picker can retrieve a desired item with a key information search that matches the key information with a unique identifier associated with desired item. The key information search enables a user to pick an item without browsing. If the search returns multiple items, the adaptive picker can provide a disambiguation menu for selecting the desired. The search results can also be filtered by context determined by the adaptive filter. The context may include any parameter, such as the identity of a user, the time of day, an application the user is working within, an organizational discipline of the user, or the like.
US07647303B2
A document processing apparatus which is capable of retrieving an object to be searched quickly and accurately. A target document is divided into a plurality of text blocks according to each of a plurality of search engines. An index of the target document based on a character string included in each of the text blocks is created according to each of the search engines.
US07647298B2
A data access architecture may includes a mapping architecture for mapping data as may be used by an application to data as persisted in a database. Such a mapping architecture uses two types of “mapping views”—one for translating queries and the other for translating updates. A mechanism is provided that automatically generates query and update views from high-level mapping specifications. A validation may be performed to ensure that a mapping specification, when used in conjunction with a mapping architecture, allows data to “roundtrip” from the application to the database, without loss of data.
US07647292B2
A document delivery server is connected to a user terminal through a network. The document delivery server includes a transmission/reception portion, memory portions that store original document information and public additional information respectively, storage control portions that store and read out the original document information and public additional information together with the memory portions, and a browse information separation/composition portion that transmits the original document information and public additional information to the user terminal through the transmission/reception portion. The terminal includes a transmission/reception portion, a memory portion that stores personal additional information, a storage control portion that stores and reads out the personal additional information together with the memory portion, and a browse information separation/composition portion that composites the original document information and public additional information sent from the transmission/reception portion and the personal additional information read out from the memory portion.
US07647288B2
A method for displaying information related to a chaotic event. A mathematical optimization algorithm is used to select an optimal decision set for a user. The mathematical optimization algorithm takes as input a decision template, chaotic event information regarding a chaotic event, and a user profile. The optimal decision set is displayed for the user.
US07647287B1
A first total number of nodes in a first node set directly linked to a first node can be computed. A second total number of nodes in a second node set directly linked to a second node can be computed. A shared total number of nodes in a union of the first node set and the second node set can be computed. A mutual information metric can then be computed from the first total, the second total, and the shared total. A decision as to whether a new connection should be added between the first node and the second node, which were not previously directly connected, can be determined from the value of mutual information metric.
US07647279B2
A method for making transactions secure based upon a card-type medium (2) comprising a number (4) and a remote database (5) connected to a telecommunications network. A unique and non-reproducible identifier (3) in the form of a bubble code is physically affixed to the card (2) comprising a number (4) contained either on a magnetic strip, of a bar code, or in an electronic label. One representation of this identifier (6) and or (7) is stored in the remote database (5) at the same number (4) as that present on the medium. This identifier (3) constitutes an unforgeable link between the magnetic strip (1) and the database (5). When a call is made to the remote database by means of the number recorded on the card, a link authentication is performed by comparing the representation of the identifier stored in said database and the actual identifier.
US07647268B1
A system and method for implementing a recurrent bidding process is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for implementing a recurrent bidding process to dispose of a portfolio of consumer debts may comprise the steps of: offering the portfolio of consumer debts in an initial bidding among a plurality of potential buyers to identify a first buyer and a second buyer, wherein the first buyer is the highest bidder in the initial bidding and is allocated a first portion of the portfolio, and wherein the second buyer is the next highest bidder in the initial bidding and is allocated a second portion of the portfolio; maintaining the allocation of the portfolio of consumer debts between the first buyer and the second buyer for a first time period; designating a portion of the portfolio as an at-risk volume for a second time period; offering the at-risk volume in a second bidding between the first buyer and the second buyer, wherein the highest bidder in the second bidding is allocated the at-risk volume; and maintaining the resulting allocation of the portfolio of consumer debts between the first buyer and the second buyer for the second time period.
US07647263B2
A computerized data processing system for performing risk analysis of a portfolio, the system including a modeling and calibration unit configured to describe risk factors as random variables, the random variables being related to each other by a correlation matrix; an input unit configured to enter or choose calibration data and to obtain, by using the modeling and calibration unit, values for parameters that describe the degree of freedom for sub-vectors and to obtain values for the correlation matrix for the random variables, to enter or choose at least one risk mapping function, and to enter portfolio data of a portfolio to be analyzed; a simulation unit configured to simulate realization of the risk factors by using the correlation matrix; and an output unit configured to generate output data resulting from the simulation unit in a form of at least one of a risk measure or a price.
US07647260B2
The present invention provides a system and related method that enables a user to use one or more appropriate ROI tools according to the needs of the users. Specifically, the user provides data related to the organizations and technical expenditures, and this information is used to determine an applicable set of ROI tools. The inputted data is then provided to the applicable ROI tools for automatically examining a company's financial data, and using this evaluation to assess the desirability of technology expenditures.
US07647256B2
Techniques are provided for establishing and managing a distributed credential store. An identity service aggregates identity information from one or more identity stores and maintains the information as a remote credential store. Initially, the remote credential store, or portions thereof, is transmitted to a principal service as an initial configuration of a local credential store. A principal interacts with the principal service for defining or modifying a policy that identifies portions of the remote credential store which are to be synchronized with the local credential store. In some embodiments, the principal interacts with the principal service for defining a local policy that identifies portions of the local credential store which are not synchronized with the remote credential store. The interactions between the credential stores are trusted and secured.
US07647253B1
A method for using an internet accessible computer system to conduct business to business operations among a plurality of buyer companies and a plurality of seller companies. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of registering each of the plurality of seller companies with an internet accessible computer system, wherein each of the plurality of seller companies sells goods to a corresponding one of the plurality of buyer companies, and the corresponding one buyer company makes payment for the goods sold by that seller company; and registering each of the plurality of buyer companies with the internet accessible computer system, wherein the registration of each of the plurality of buyer companies depends on the registration of its corresponding seller company.
US07647252B2
Methods and systems are provided for providing an alternative payment platform, including method and systems for providing a platform for presenting an alternate offer to a user who is engaged with a primary offer and receiving an indication of the user's engagement with the alternate offer, wherein the user's engagement with the alternate offer serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with the primary offer. Such methods and systems may further include methods and systems for selecting one or more alternate offers engagement with which serves as an alternative form of payment for an item associated with a primary offer, presenting the selected alternate payment offers to a user, receiving an indication of engagement with at least one of the alternate offers, receiving payment in exchange for presenting the accepted offer and providing payment to the offeror of the primary offer.
US07647249B2
A system and method in which a buyer registers for a buyer's shipping account and uses the shipping account to pay shipping costs associated with purchases made over the Internet. When a buyer purchases merchandise over the Internet from either a retailer's website or from an individual through an online auction, the buyer is capable of controlling the shipping process by logging on to their buyer's shipping account. Among other things, the buyer can use their shipping account to select the desired type of shipping service (overnight air or ground) and populate a shipping label with shipping information such as delivery address, return address, and preferred delivery time windows. Once the shipping label has been populated and verified, the shipping label is electronically transferred to the seller for use in shipping the package. The system and methods of the present invention allow the buyer greater control over the shipping process. In many cases, the present invention will also help buyers/receivers control costs by eliminating the shipper's shipping and handling fee.
US07647241B1
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computerized method for determining customer service impact. The method includes receiving item orders having a requested completion date. The method also includes scheduling a scheduled completion date for each item order. The method also includes selecting at least one item order, each item order having a scheduled completion date. The method also includes comparing the scheduled completion date with the requested completion date for each selected item order. The method also includes deriving a customer service measurement for each selected item order based on the comparing step. The method can include the optional step of reporting and/or displaying customer service measurement data. In general, in another aspect, the invention relates to a system for determining customer service impact that performs the method steps just described.
US07647239B2
Methods and computer systems provide for the determination of employer liabilities and resulting contributions to pension plans by utilizing a smoothed discount rate in place of an assumed long-term discount rate. A compounded expected cumulative return on market value over a period of time that is based on the assumed long-term discount rate is found. A compounded actual return on market value over the chosen look-back period is also found. An adjusted expected rate of return over a future period of time remaining in an assumed period of time is then found based on the compounded expected return and the compounded actual return. The smoothed discount rate to be used in place of the assumed long-term discount rate is then based on the adjusted expected return.
US07647231B2
The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.
US07647227B1
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for building a speech application. The method comprises reading data from a table; creating a data construct that models the structure of the table, in terms of fields contained therein; providing a user interface (UI) to display the structure of the table to a user; receiving a selection of data fields from the user; and automatically generating code for a voice browser (VB) based on the selection.
US07647212B2
A constraint solver is encapsulated in a service adapted to participate in a negotiation. In operation, the system constructs a graph in its memory for negotiating a set of actions to be performed by selected ones of a plurality of participants. Each node of the graph defines a negotiation context that has associated therewith a constraint store with at least a set of domain constraints stored therein that limit during the negotiation a set of semantic constraints of the service on variables of the constraint solver.
US07647206B2
A system and method for monitoring a structure for damage is provided. The method includes stimulating a sensor in a sensor array to generate a plurality of waves. The sensor array includes one or more quadrants, wherein each quadrant includes one or more sensors. Sensor data from all sensors are acquired in each quadrant in parallel. The sensor data wave characteristics is processed for analysis. The processed sensor data wave characteristics are compared with threshold values to determine the presence of damage to the structure. If the presence of damage is determined, a corrective system is notified for corrective action.
US07647203B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for gauging video processing. In use, results are identified with respect to a first analysis for testing a performance of video processing of a processor, a second analysis for testing a functionality of the video processing of the processor, and a third analysis for testing a quality of the video processing of the processor. To this end, the video processing of the processor may be gauged based on the results.
US07647199B2
A position determination method for a set of new points to be surveyed, using a geodetic device and reference points whose positions in an absolute coordinate system are known. The position determination is effected by referencing the new points relative to a set of reference points and measurement of the reference points and of the new points in a relative coordinate system for referencing by the geodetic device—relative measured quantities being registered. Furthermore, the new points and the reference points are updated by successive addition in each case of the measured new points and reference points to the set of new points and set of reference points, respectively, and updating the position determination of the new points taking into account all of the respective actual reference points is effected if a specified minimum coefficient of determination for the referencing is ensured by the actual set of reference points.
US07647185B2
A method for combining measurements from two or more independent measurement channels, particularly physiological measurements such as heart rate. Independent measurements of heart rate, for instance by ECG and pulse oximetry, can be combined to derive an improved measurement eliminating artefacts on one channel. A model of the process generating the physiological parameter, e.g., the heart rate, is constructed and is run independently for each channel to generate predictions of the parameter. The measured values are compared with the predicted values and the differences are used as an indication of the confidence in the measurement. The measurements from the two channels are ombined using weights calculated from the respective differences.
US07647184B2
Processes and systems for the high throughput directed evolution of peptides and proteins, particularly those that act in complex biological settings, are provided. The proteins and peptides include, but are not limited to, intracellular proteins, messenger/signaling/hormone proteins and viral proteins. Also provided is a rational method for generating protein variants and also a method for titering viruses.
US07647183B2
A microseismic method of monitoring fracturing operation or other microseismic events in hydrocarbon wells is described using the steps of obtaining multi-component signal recordings from a single monitoring well in the vicinity of a facture or event; and rotating observed signals such that they become independent of at least one component of the moment tensor representing the source mechanism and performing an inversion of the rotated signals to determine the remaining components.
US07647173B2
The invention relates to a data server (40) used in a system (10) for supplying complementary data, so-called augmentation data, for satellite navigation signals. The inventive server (40) is especially adapted to be used with elements that are compatible with those used in EGNOS technology (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). Said system (10) for supplying augmentation data for the satellite navigation signals comprises at least one calculator (20) for the determination of said augmentation data, said augmentation data being determined from data transmitted by at least one receiving station (S01. . . SON) receiving navigation information sent by means of at least one satellite. Said server (40) comprises a first inlet (401) for receiving the augmentation data transmitted by the calculator (20), a first outlet (402) for transmitting the augmentation data towards at least one user (U01. . . UOK), and a second outlet (403) for re-emitting the augmentation data towards the calculator (20) with a delay that is pre-determined in relation to the reception at the first inlet (401).
US07647170B2
A navigation apparatus for a vehicle displays, based on map information, a map image for vicinity of a present position of the vehicle and a guidance route in superimposition in a display device. An end point relative to a moving arrow is defined as being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the route; a start point is defined as being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the route. The navigation apparatus is further configured to superimpose, on the displayed route, the moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, such that the arrowhead moves from the start point to the end point along the route when a distance to a nearest guidance point is smaller than a predetermined distance.
US07647165B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving vehicle tracking and remote control. A wireless telecommunications system infrastructure receives a unique vehicle identifier via a shared-communications channel from a vehicle being tracked, as well as location information for that vehicle. The location information is derived from Global Positioning System signals or from the address of the local infrastructure currently in contact with the vehicle, or both. The same shared-communications channel is used to convey control messages to the vehicle, wherein the messages are mapped into control signals that can disable the vehicle's engine or control some other system that is part of the vehicle.
US07647142B2
A system is provided for regulating the speed of a rail vehicle traveling along a track. The track has a pair of rails. The system includes a temperature sensor positioned on an external surface of the rail vehicle. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of one of the rails. The system further includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller receives data of the measured temperature, and regulates the speed of the rail vehicle based upon the measured temperature data. A method and computer readable media are also provided for regulating the speed of a rail vehicle traveling along a track.
US07647137B2
One embodiment of the application provides a method of forecasting utility demand of a utility consuming entity for a future time period. The method includes: selecting a utility demand matrix from a set of utility demand matrixes as a function of a future date, wherein the set of utility demand matrixes are classified by type-of-day, and representing a relation of past utility demand of the entity to time-in-day interval and outdoor temperature in the vicinity of the entity during the type-of-day; identifying a utility demand element from the utility demand matrix as a function of a future time-in-day and a known factor (e.g., future outdoor temperature) thereof; and generating a utility demand forecast of the entity for the future time period as a function of the identified utility demand element.
US07647131B1
A system that facilitates determination of a sampling rate to utilize in connection with sampling data in an industrial environment comprises a receiver component that receives data from an I/O port of a controller. An analysis component automatically and dynamically determines a rate at which data associated with the I/O port is to be sampled based at least in part upon the received data. The system can further comprise a sampling component that samples data at the rate determined by the analysis component.
US07647130B2
Predicting a completion time for the manufacturing of an ordered configuration of a product based on actual completion times and self adjusting prediction completion times. An order is received to manufacture a particular configuration of a product. Multiple activities are identified that need to be finished in order to complete the manufacturing of the configuration. A completion time that the configuration will be manufactured is predicted based on actual completion times and self-adjusting predicted completion times for the activities.
US07647126B2
A process control system element for use in a process plant includes a process module, which represents a logical unit in the process plant, integrated with an expert module capable of detecting and/or mitigating abnormal situations associated with the logical unit. The process module may include a plurality of process objects, each process object representing a corresponding physical entity in the process plant. At least some of the process objects may include simulation capabilities to simulate the corresponding physical entities. The expert module may be adapted to detect at least one abnormal situation associated with the logical unit, and may be communicatively coupled to the process module to receive data from the process module during operation of the process module. Because the expert module is integrated with the process module, a user can more easily configure the expert module to detect and/or mitigate abnormal situations associated with the logical unit.
US07647125B2
A time-based controller provides control for a controlled system including a plant having an integration response. The time-based controller includes a comparator that detects a polarity change in a comparison of a sensed signal from the plant and a reference signal while a control signal is in a first state, time calculation logic that, responsive to detection of the change in the comparison, determines a time at which to change a state of a control signal supplied to the plant, and a modulator that, at the determined time, changes the state of the control signal supplied to the plant from the first state to a second state.
US07647122B2
A needle driver is described that can be used to drive a plurality of surgical needles into or proximate to tissue of a living body. The needle driver assists the surgeon in perforating the tissue, creating the tracts at a desired depth, and creating multiple tracts simultaneously. The needle driver is configured to hold the needles securely when creating the tracts, and is also configured to disengage from the needles after the tracts have been created.
US07647117B2
Techniques for collection and management of data relating to neurostimulation therapy involve selection of questions for the user to answer based on the context of the therapy delivered by the neurostimulation device at the time the questions are presented. In this manner, appropriate data may be collected for specific contexts. The techniques may involve storage of answers to the questions with information indicative of the contexts. Information indicative of the contexts may include information relating to the types of neurostimulation therapy requests made by the patient, stimulation settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy, and data and time information. The techniques may be implemented by neurostimulation therapy interface device such as a patient programmer that controls operation of an implanted neurostimulation device.
