US07666806B2
A glass composition that includes a base glass composition including: SiO2 from 65 to 75 weight percent, Na2O from 10 to 20 weight percent, CaO from 5 to 15 weight percent, MgO from 0 to 5 weight percent, Al2O3 from 0 to 5 weight percent, K2O from 0 to 5 weight percent and BaO 0 to 1 weight percent, and a colorant and property modifying portion including total iron from 0.25 to 0.9 weight percent, Cr2O3 from 6 PPM to 400 PPM, Er2O3 from 0.3 to 3.0 weight percent, and TiO2 from 0.1 to 0.8 weight percent, wherein the glass composition has a redox ratio ranging from 0.15 to 0.62.
US07666800B2
Methods of patterning features of semiconductor devices and methods of processing and fabricating semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of processing a semiconductor device includes forming first sidewall spacers on a first hard mask, removing the first hard mask, and forming a first material layer over the first sidewall spacers. A second hard mask is formed over the first material layer and the first sidewall spacers. Second sidewall spacers are formed on the second hard mask, and the second hard mask is removed. At least the first sidewall spacers are patterned using the second sidewall spacers as a mask.
US07666793B2
A film deposition process for depositing an amorphous metal oxide film, for example, an amorphous tantalum oxide film and a film treatment process for improving film quality of the amorphous tantalum oxide film in the state in which an amorphous state of the amorphous metal oxide film is being maintained by a high-density plasma radiation treatment based upon ion and radical reactions and which contains at least oxygen at an ion current density higher than 5 mA/cm2 are carried out, whereby a low-temperature treatment in the whole process is made possible. In addition, since the amorphous metal oxide film, which is excellent in film quality, can be deposited, the amorphous metal oxide film can be made high in reliability and can be produced inexpensively. The amorphous tantalum oxide film which is excellent in film quality can be manufactured inexpensively by a low-temperature treatment. Also, when a capacitance element having an amorphous metal oxide film and a semiconductor device are manufactured, the amorphous metal oxide film which is excellent in film quality can be deposited by a low-temperature treatment and highly-reliable capacitance element and semiconductor device can be manufactured.
US07666791B2
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for nanowire growth and harvesting. In an embodiment, methods for nanowire growth and doping are provided, including methods for epitaxial oriented nanowire growth using a combination of silicon precursors. In a further aspect of the invention, methods to improve nanowire quality through the use of sacrificial growth layers are provided. In another aspect of the invention, methods for transferring nanowires from one substrate to another substrate are provided.
US07666784B2
Methods of contact formation and memory arrays formed using such methods, which methods include providing a substrate having a contacting area; forming a plurality of line-shape structures extending in a first direction; forming a hard mask spacer beside the line-shape structure; forming an insulating material layer above the hard mask spacer; forming a contiguous trench in the insulating material layer extending in a second direction different from the first direction and exposing the contacting area; and forming a conductive line in the trench to contact the contacting area.
US07666759B2
A method and system for high-speed, precise micromachining an array of devices are disclosed wherein improved process throughput and accuracy, such as resistor trimming accuracy, are provided. The number of resistance measurements are limited by using non-measurement cuts, using non-sequential collinear cutting, using spot fan-out parallel cutting, and using a retrograde scanning technique for faster collinear cuts. Non-sequential cutting is also used to manage thermal effects and calibrated cuts are used for improved accuracy. Test voltage is controlled to avoid resistor damage.
US07666751B2
In one embodiment, high doped semiconductor channels are formed in a semiconductor region of an opposite conductivity type to increase the capacitance of the device.
US07666750B2
The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector by at least about 0.9 microns. The invention also provides a method for forming this device.
US07666748B2
A method for making a transistor within a semiconductor wafer. The method may include etching a recess at source/drain extension locations and depositing amorphous silicon within the recess to from amorphous silicon source/drain extensions. Dopants may be implanted into the amorphous silicon source/drain extensions and the semiconductor wafer may then be annealed.
US07666744B2
A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of unit cells, each comprising a vertical metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The unit cell includes a first source region formed in a first base region, a second source region formed in the first base region and separated from the first source region, and a second base region formed in the first base region and disposed between the first and second source regions. The semiconductor device further comprises a trench gate formed in a vicinity of each of the plurality of unit cells. The second base region of an unit cell is separated from the second base region of an adjacent unit cell, and the first or second source region of an unit cell is separated from the first or second source region of an adjacent unit cell.
US07666737B2
A method of forming a metal-insulator-metal capacitor has the following steps. A stack dielectric structure is formed by alternately depositing a plurality of second dielectric layers and a plurality of third dielectric layers. A wet etch selectivity of the second dielectric layer relative to said third dielectric layer is of at least 5:1. An opening is formed in the stack dielectric structure, and then a wet etch process is employed to remove relatively-large portions of the second dielectric layers and relatively-small portions of the third dielectric layers to form a plurality of lateral recesses in the second dielectric layers along sidewalls of the opening. A bottom electrode layer is formed to extend along the serrate sidewalls, a capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer.
US07666728B2
A method of manufacture of a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating film and gate electrode made of polycrystalline silicon over a semiconductor substrate; implanting ions into the semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor region as a source or drain; forming a cobalt film and a titanium nitride film over the semiconductor substrate to cover the gate electrode; carrying out annealing to cause a reaction between Co and Si and the semiconductor region to form a CoSi layer; carrying out wet cleaning to remove the titanium nitride film and unreacted cobalt film to leave the CoSi layer over the gate electrode and semiconductor region; carrying out annealing to cause a reaction between the CoSi layer and the gate electrode and semiconductor region to form a CoSi2 layer; carrying out HPM cleaning; and forming over the semiconductor substrate a silicon nitride film by low-pressure CVD to cover the gate electrode.
US07666727B2
A transistor comprising a gate electrode formed on a gate dielectric layer formed on a substrate. A pair of source/drain regions are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the laterally opposite sidewalls of the gate electrode. The gate electrode has a central portion formed on the gate dielectric layer and over the substrate region between the source and drain regions and a pair sidewall portions which overlap a portion of the source/drain regions wherein the central portion has a first work function and said pair of sidewall portions has a second work function, wherein the second work function is different than the first work function.
US07666720B2
A method of forming a current mirror device for an integrated circuit includes configuring a reference current source; forming a first field effect transistor (FET) in series with the reference current source, the first FET of a first conductivity type formed on a first portion of a substrate having a first crystal lattice orientation; and forming a second FET of the first conductivity type on a second portion of the substrate having a second crystal lattice orientation, with a gate terminal of the first FET coupled to a gate terminal of the second FET, and the gate terminals of the first and second FETs coupled to the reference current source; wherein the carrier mobility of the first FET formed on the first portion of the substrate is different than the carrier mobility of the second FET formed on the second portion of the substrate.
US07666719B2
A peeling method is provided which does not cause damage to a layer to be peeled, and the method enables not only peeling of the layer to be peeled having a small area but also peeling of the entire layer to be peeled having a large area at a high yield. Further, there are provided a semiconductor device, which is reduced in weight through adhesion of the layer to be peeled to various base materials, and a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, there are provided a semiconductor device, which is reduced in weight through adhesion of various elements, typically a TFT, to a flexible film, and a manufacturing method thereof. A metal layer or nitride layer is provided on a substrate; an oxide layer is provided contacting with the metal layer or nitride layer; then, a base insulating film and a layer to be peeled containing hydrogen are formed; and heat treatment for diffusing hydrogen is performed thereto at 410° C. or more. As a result, complete peeling can be attained in the oxide layer or at an interface thereof by using physical means.
US07666713B2
A simple method for bonding a heatsink for improving heat-radiating efficiency, comprising the steps of sticking a double-sided adhesive tape to an end portion on an adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; applying an adhesive onto the adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; bringing the end portion into contact with a corresponding portion of the other one of the heatsink or the semiconductor device; and turning at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device with the contacting portion as a rotation center to bond together the adhesion surfaces of the heatsink and the semiconductor device.
US07666712B2
A semiconductor structure comprising a substrate including a first layer comprising a first material having a first modulus of elasticity; a first structure comprising a conductor and formed within the substrate, the first structure having an upper surface; and a stress diverting structure proximate the first structure and within the first layer, the stress diverting structure providing a low mechanical stress region at the upper surface of the first structure when a physical load is applied to the first structure, wherein said low mechanical stress region comprises stress values below the stress values in areas not protected by the stress diverting structure. The stress diverting structure comprises a second material having a second modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity, the second material selectively formed over the upper surface of the first structure for diverting mechanical stress created by the physical load applied to the first structure.
US07666710B2
A method of manufacturing photo couplers is provided. At first, a receiver lead-frame array is cut from a lead-frame matrix having a transmitter lead-frame array and the receiver lead-frame array. Then, the receiver lead-frame array is overturned and placed on the lead-frame matrix to allow light-receiver elements on the receiver lead-frame array to face light-emitting elements on the transmitter lead-frame array of the lead-frame matrix. Finally, the receiver lead-frame array and the lead-frame matrix are connected.
US07666709B1
A semiconductor device has an adhesive layer depositing over a temporary carrier. A plurality of fiduciary patterns is formed over the adhesive layer. A repassivation layer is formed over semiconductor die. The repassivation layer may be a plurality of discrete regions. Alignment slots are formed in the repassivation layer. The fiducial patterns and alignment slots have slanted sidewalls. Leading with the repassivation layer, the semiconductor die is placed onto the carrier so that the alignment slots envelope and lock to the fiducial patterns. Alternatively, a die without the repassivation layer is placed between the fiducial patterns. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die while the die remain locked to the fiducial patterns. The carrier, adhesive layer, and fiducial patterns are removed after depositing the encapsulant. An interconnect structure is formed over the repassivation layer to electrically connect to contact pads on the semiconductor die.
US07666703B2
An active pixel using a transfer gate that has a polysilicon gate doped with indium. The pixel includes a photosensitive element formed in a semiconductor substrate and an n-type floating node formed in the semiconductor substrate. An n-channel transfer transistor having a transfer gate is formed between the floating node and the photosensitive element. The pixel substrate has a laterally doping gradient doped with an indium dopant.
US07666696B2
Exemplary embodiments provide MQW semiconductor devices and methods for their manufacture. The MQW semiconductor devices can be formed by growing a MQW active region over a nanoscale periodic strain array. By using the nanoscale periodic strain array, the position, size, and composition of the In-rich clusters in the MQW active region can be controlled. This control of In-rich clusters can result in tighter wavelength control, which can be important for applications, such as, for example, lasers and LEDs.
US07666694B2
An improved throughput can be presented, since an influence of the deterioration in crystallinity created in the epitaxial layer can be eliminated by a simple and easy method, and a semiconductor laser device having stabilized properties such as threshold current, slope efficiency, device life time and the like can be presented. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device according to the present invention comprises: forming partially a diffraction grating on a surface of a semiconductor substrate or on a film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and forming a multiple-layered film by forming an epitaxial layer on a surface of the diffraction grating. The operation of forming the diffraction grating includes an operation of forming the diffraction grating so that a width of the diffraction grating in a direction that is orthogonal to a cavity direction of the semiconductor laser device is presented as a width equal to or longer than a sum of a mesa width and 30 μm.
US07666689B2
A method holds wafers that contain patterned structures using a particle blasting tool. Next, the method directs particles at the patterned structures, such that the particles contact the patterned structures with a predetermined velocity and remove the patterned structures. This process of directing the particles at the wafer is controlled to stop directing the particles when substantially all of the patterned structures are removed from the wafer. This process also comprises selecting the particles to have a size equal to or less than 3 microns. For example, the particles can comprise aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, cerium, and/or a plastic. By maintaining the particle size equal to 3 microns or less, the blasting produces a substantially smooth wafer surface, thereby omitting the need for subsequent wafer polishing. Further, the wafers produced by such processing do not exhibit the highly stress lattice and fragile nature of wafers processed by wet processing.
US07666687B2
A method for combining a fluid delivery system with an analysis system for performing immunological or other chemical of biological assays. The method includes a miniature plastic fluidic cartridge containing a reaction chamber with a plurality of immobilized species, a capillary channel, and a pump structure along with an external linear actuator corresponding to the pump structure to provide force for the fluid delivery. The plastic fluidic cartridge can be configured in a variety of ways to affect the performance and complexity of the assay performed.
US07666683B1
The present invention relates to a novel method of determining the existence of a normal pregnancy which has a high likelihood of culminating in a term pregnancy, by measuring hyperglycosylated hCG in a pregnant woman and comparing the concentration of measured hyperglycosylated hCG with a predetermined value. A measurement of hyperglycosylated hCG above the predetermined value, for example, about 13 ng/ml, is evidence of a high likelihood of a normal pregnancy. A measurement below the predetermined value is evidence of an abnormal pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage). Further analysis of the patient in the event that the measurement falls below the predetermined value is made by intravaginal or abdominal ultrasound to determine whether or not the pregnancy is ectopic or will likely result in a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). This point-of-care (POC), over-the-counter (OTC) or professional laboratory application is unexpectedly rapid and highly predictive of pregnancy outcome in women exhibiting symptoms of pregnancy.
US07666677B2
Improved methods for production of stilbenoids including resveratrol, pinosylvin and their respective derivatives are provided, including producing hairy roots from plant cells and eliciting production of the stilbenes. The plant cells in an embodiment are infected by Agrobacterium to produce hairy roots, and contacted with substances which elicit production of the stilbenoid compounds.
US07666675B2
Hair follicle stem cells are isolated from mammals by isolating nestin-expressing cells. These hair follicle stem cells are a source of adult stem cells for autologous or heterologous stem cell therapy. The stem cells can be systemically implanted into the mammal or directly implanted into the organ. In addition, the stem cells may be further differentiated in vitro and then implanted systemically or directly into the mammal.
US07666674B2
Sterically stabilized cationic liposomes (SSCL) encapsulating a K type oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) including a CpG motif are disclosed. These SSCL encapuslating a K type ODN can be used to effectively deliver the ODN to a cell. A novel method is also disclosed for producing the SSCL encapsulating the K type ODN. Administration of the SSCL encapsulating a K type ODN and a chemotherapeutic agent, such as a chimeric molecule comprising a targeting molecule selected from the group consisting of an IL-13, and an anti-IL-13 receptor antibody; and an effector molecule selected from the group consisting of a Pseudomonas exotoxin, a Diphtheria toxin, and a radionuclide, can be used to dramatically reduce the growth of solid tumors.
US07666664B2
An instrument and method is provided that conveniently allows rapid amplification of nucleic acids. The instrument comprises in the following order at least one substantially flat temperature sensor element; a heat conducting substrate and a heater layer, whereby the heat conducting substrate comprises one or more channels permeable for fluid.
US07666660B2
The present invention provides a method for mixing three or more fluids inside a capillary. The present invention further provides a method for optimizing efficient mixing of two or more fluids inside a capillary, and a computer-readable medium for use by a processor to carry out this method. Additionally, the present invention provides an automated system for mixing two or more fluids inside a capillary. Also provided is a system for optimizing efficient mixing of two or more fluids inside a capillary.
US07666651B2
A polynucleotide (hpa) encoding a polypeptide having heparanase activity, vectors including same, genetically modified cells expressing heparanase, a recombinant protein having heparanase activity and antisense oligonucleotides and constructs for modulating heparanase expression.
US07666650B2
The inventors have identified amylases in fungal strains of Valsaria and found that the amylase can increase the shelf life of baked products. Particularly, the novel amylase in combination with a maltogenic amylase further improves the softness of bread crumb without having detrimental effects on elasticity.
US07666648B2
Described herein are novel gene sequences isolated from Trichoderma reesei. Two genes encoding proteins comprising a cellulose binding domain, one encoding an arabionfuranosidase and one encoding an acetylxylanesterase are described. The sequences, CIP1 and CIP2, contain a cellulose binding domain. These proteins are especially useful in the textile and detergent industry and in pulp and paper industry. cip1 cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) GACTAGTTCA TAATACAGTA GTTGAGTTCA TAGCAACTTC50 ACTCTCTAGC TGAACAAATT ATCTGCGCAA ACATGGTTCG CCGGACTGCT100 CTGCTGGCCC TTGGGGCTCT CTCAACGCTC TCTATGGCCC AAATCTCAGA150 CGACTTCGAG TCGGGCTGGG ATCAGACTAA ATGGCCCATT TCGGCACCAG200 ACTGTAACCA GGGCGGCACC GTCAGCCTCG ACACCACAGT AGCCCACAGC250 GGCAGCAACT CCATGAAGGT CGTTGGTGGC CCCAATGGCT ACTGTGGACA300 CATCTTCTTC GGCACTACCC AGGTGCCAAC TGGGGATGTA TATGTCAGAG350 CTTGGATTCG GCTTCAGACT GCTCTCGGCA GCAACCACGT CACATTCATC400 ATCATGCCAG ACACCGCTCA GGGAGGGAAG CACCTCCGAA TTGGTGGCCA450 AAGCCAAGTT CTCGACTACA ACCGCGAGTC CGACGATGCC ACTCTTCCGG500 ACCTGTCTCC CAACGGCATT GCCTCCACCG TCACTCTGCC TACCGGCGCG550 TTCCAGTGCT TCGAGTACCA CCTGGGCACT GACGGAACCA TCGAGACGTG600 GCTCAACGGC AGCCTCATCC CGGGCATGAC CGTGGGCCCT GGCGTCGACA650 ATCCAAACGA CGCTGGCTGG ACGAGGGCCA GCTATATTCC GGAGATCACC700 GGTGTCAACT TTGGCTGGGA GGCCTACAGC GGAGACGTCA ACACCGTCTG750 GTTCGACGAC ATCTCGATTG CGTCGACCCG CGTGGGATGC GGCCCCGGCA800 GCCCCGGCGG TCCTGGAAGC TCGACGACTG GGCGTAGCAG CACCTCGGGC850 CCGACGAGCA CTTCGAGGCC AAGCACCACC ATTCCGCCAC CGACTTCCAG900 GACAACGACC GCCACGGGTC CGACTCAGAC ACACTATGGC CAGTGCGGAG1000 GGATTGGTTA CAGCGGGCCT ACGGTCTGCG CGAGCGGCAC GACCTGCCAG1050 GTCCTGAACC CATACTACTC CCAGTGCTTA TAAGGGGATG AGCATGGAGT1100 GAAGTGAAGT GAAGTGGAGA GAGTTGAAGT GGCATTGCGC TCGGCTGGGT1150 AGATAAAAGT CAGCAGCTAT GAATACTCTA TGTGATGCTC ATTGGCGTGT1200 ACGTTTTAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA1250 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAG GGGGCGGCCG C1271
US07666642B2
Nucleic acid molecules from nematodes encoding fatty acid desaturase polypeptides are described. Fatty acid desaturase-like polypeptide sequences are also provided, as are vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for production of fatty acid desaturase-like nucleotides and polypeptides. Also described are screening methods for identifying inhibitors and/or activators of fatty acid desaturase-like polypeptides, as well as methods for antibody production.
US07666637B2
The invented process separates main components in lignocellulosic biomass, specifically hardwoods, softwoods into lignin and fractions of high purity sugars which are used for ethanol production. The invented process comprises of treatment stages at high temperature and high pressure with hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Residual lignin and extractives in the cellulosic solid fraction are selectively removed by chemical treatments of sodium chlorite, anhydrous acetic acid, chlorine and chlorine dioxide to enhance the purity and biological conversion of cellulose to ethanol. The pre-hydrolysate generated from the acid treatment stage, containing xylose, arabinose, galactose, glucose and the purified cellulosic fraction are enzymatically hydrolyzed and fermented to produce ethanol. Significant amount of lignin from the process is recovered as a by-product.
US07666628B2
The present invention relates to the use of a class of genes called oil body protein genes that have unique features. The discovery of these features allowed the invention of methods for the production of recombinant proteins wherein a protein of interest can be easily separated from other host cell components. The invention is further exemplified by methods for exploitation of the unique characteristics of the oil body proteins and oil body genes for expression of polypeptides of interest in many organisms, particularly plant seeds. Said polypeptides may include but are not limited to: seed storage proteins, enzymes, bioactive peptides, antibodies and the like. The invention can also be modified to recover recombinant polypeptides fused to oil body proteins from non-plant host cells. Additionally the invention provides a method of using recombinant proteins associated with seed oil bodies released during seed germination for expression of polypeptides that afford protection to seedlings from pathogens. Finally, the persistent association of oil body proteins with the oil body can be further utilized to develop a biological means to create novel immobilized enzymes useful for bioconversion of substrates.
US07666627B2
Folded recombinant catalytic fragments of multidomain serine proteases, preparation and uses thereof
The invention relates to unglycosylated folded C-terminal fragments of a multidomain serine protease of the complement cascade obtainable by expression in a bacterial host, wherein said serine protease is capable of binding a recognition molecule of the complement cascade, e.g. C1 or MBL. The invention also relates to methods and bacterial expression vectors for the preparation of said fragments, uses of said fragments for raising antibodies and screening substrates or inhibitors of said serine proteases and uses of the fragments in research and treatment of complement related disorders. The invention also relates to assay methods for assessing MASP-1 and MASP-2 levels in a sample of biological origin.The invention provides for research tools, assays and diagnostic kits useful in complement research and research and diagnosis of complement related disorders.
US07666622B2
Monomeric fusion polypeptides comprising R1-M-L-M, wherein R1 is a target ligand-binding domain, M is a multimerizing component, and L is a linker capable of allowing one M component to interact with the other M component to form a self-associating monomer, optionally comprising a second target ligand-binding domain R2. Preferred target ligands include interleukin (IL)-13, IL-1, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF-2.
US07666617B2
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for separating and detecting enzyme substrates using separation gels. For example, the apparatus and methods can be used to separate and detect kinase substrates for further analysis. The apparatus and methods can also be used to detect enzyme inhibitors, such as kinase inhibitors.
US07666616B2
The present invention relates to genetic reporters. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a modified gene encoding a luciferase for high level expression in an organism with a bias for cytosine (C) or guanine (G) in the third position of the codon.
US07666611B2
It is intended to provide a novel receptor of LPA and a method of screening a drug such as an LPA receptor antagonist using the same. Use as a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor comprising a G protein-coupled protein p2y9. More specifically, use of the G protein-coupled protein p2y9 as a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor. A method of screening an agonist or an antagonist to the LPA receptor as described above by using the receptor.
US07666605B2
The present invention provides a reagent for prognostic evaluation of carcinoma patients, comprising an anti-P-LAP antibody as an active ingredient. Also, the present invention provides a method for determination of P-LAP which is a prognostic factor in carcinoma patients comprising (a) a step of contacting carcinoma tissues obtained from carcinoma patients by surgical operation with an anti-P-LAP antibody and (b) a step of measuring the intensity of the specific antigen-antibody reaction between P-LAP present in the carcinoma tissues and anti-P-LAP antibody.
US07666601B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic and amino acid sequences of a taste cell receptor that serves as a sensor for the bitter taste of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), antibodies to such PTC taste receptor, methods of detecting such nucleic and amino acid sequences, and methods of screening for modulators of such PTC taste receptor.
US07666600B2
Compositions, methods and kits for detecting the nucleic acids of HIV-1, HIV-2, or the combination of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Particularly described are oligonucleotides that are useful as hybridization probes and amplification primers, including cross-reacting hybridization probes and cross-reacting amplification primers, for detecting very low levels of viral nucleic acids.
US07666598B2
This disclosure describes related novel methods for Recombinase-Polymerase Amplification (RPA) of a target DNA that exploit the properties of recombinase and related proteins, to invade double-stranded DNA with single stranded homologous DNA permitting sequence specific priming of DNA polymerase reactions. The disclosed methods have the advantage of not requiring thermocycling or thermophilic enzymes, thus offering easy and affordable implementation and portability relative to other amplification methods. Further disclosed are conditions to enable real-time monitoring of RPA reactions, methods to regulate RPA reactions using light and otherwise, methods to determine the nature of amplified species without a need for gel electrophoresis, methods to improve and optimize signal to noise ratios in RPA reactions, methods to optimize oligonucleotide primer function, methods to control carryover contamination, and methods to employ sequence-specific third ‘specificity’ probes. Further described are novel properties and approaches for use of probes monitored by light in dynamic recombination environments.
US07666595B2
The present invention relates to the identification and use of gene expression profiles with clinical relevance to prostate cancer. In particular, the invention provides the identity of genes whose expression, at the transcriptional and protein levels, is correlated with prostate cancer progression. Methods and kits are described for using these gene expression profiles in the study and/or diagnosis of prostate cancer diseases, in the prediction of prostate cancer progression, and in the selection and/or monitoring of treatment regimens. The invention also relates to the screening of drugs that target these genes or their protein products, in particular for the development of therapeutics for modulating prostate cancer progression.
US07666593B2
The invention provides methods and devices for detecting, enumerating or identifying target nucleic acid molecules using immobilized capture probes and single molecule sequencing techniques.
US07666591B2
The invention provides ssDNA-binding proteins from three species of archaeons, Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanobacter theromoautotrophicum, and Archaeoglobus fulgidus, as well as the ability to identify ssDNA-binding proteins from other archaeons. The proteins help render DNA more accessible to DNA polymerase and are robust reagents for a variety of biotechnical processes, including PCR. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding such proteins, vectors for transfecting host cells, host cells comprising the vectors, and methods of using the proteins.
US07666583B2
The claimed invention describes methods to diagnose or aid in the diagnosis of cancer. The claimed methods are based on the identification of biomarkers which are particularly well suited to discriminate between cancer subjects and healthy subjects. These biomarkers were identified using a unique and novel screening method described herein. The biomarkers identified herein can also be used in the prognosis and monitoring of cancer. The invention comprises the use of leptin, prolactin, OPN and IGF-II for diagnosing, prognosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer.
US07666579B1
Analog data such as text and images are stored in microscopic analog format on a disk surface capable of maintaining the information for 1000 years or more whereby simple optical magnification will result in one being able to read the information formed therein. For a disk read by backlighting, as with microfiche, a photosensitive material is overlayed on hard metal surface which in turn is formed on a transparent glass or quartz material. A laser beam is focused on certain desired portions of the photosensitive material and the exposed material and underlying hard metal layer etched off to form pits down to the transparent layer corresponding to the analog information. The resulting disk can then be used to produce archival copies and distribution copies using hot embossing or other disclosed techniques.
US07666577B2
In an exposure step, a combination of a first photomask and a second mask is used. The first mask has a real pattern corresponding to the pattern actually formed on the film to be processed, and a dummy pattern added for controlling pattern pitch in the first photomask within a prescribed range; and the second photomask has a pattern isolating a real-pattern-formed region from a dummy-pattern-formed region. In forming the pattern, after forming a film to be processed on a substrate, a first mask is formed on the film to be processed, by lithography, using the first photomask, and a second mask is formed on the film to be processed, by lithography, using the second photomask. Thereafter, the film to be processed is etched off and removed using the first and second masks as masks to form the pattern.
US07666576B2
A lithography process to pattern a plurality of fields on a substrate is disclosed. The process includes scanning a first field along a first direction using a radiation beam. Thereafter, the processes steps to a second field adjacent the first field and located behind the first field when the first and second fields are viewed along the first direction. The second field is then scanned along the first direction using the radiation beam.
US07666572B2
There is disclosed a resist top coat composition, comprising at least a polymer that has an amino group or a sulfonamide group at a polymer end and that is represented by the following general formula (1); and a patterning process comprising: at least, a step of forming a photoresist film on a substrate; a step of forming a resist top coat on the photoresist film by using the resist top coat composition; a step of exposing the substrate; and a step of developing the substrate with a developer. There can be provided a resist top coat composition that makes it possible to provide more certainly rectangular and excellent resist patterns when a top coat is formed on a photoresist film; and a patterning process using such a composition.
US07666570B2
A laser induced thermal imaging method capable of effectively laminating a donor film and an acceptor substrate using a magnetic force; and a fabricating method of an organic light-emitting diode using the same. The laser induced thermal imaging method includes arranging an acceptor substrate, in which a first magnet is formed in one surface thereof, on a substrate stage in a processing chamber; arranging on the acceptor substrate a donor film including a second magnet; laminating the donor film and the acceptor substrate using a magnetic force acting between the first and second magnets; and transferring at least one region of an imaging layer onto the acceptor substrate by scanning a laser on the donor film. The laser induced thermal imaging method improved adhesion between the donor film and the acceptor substrate improves a life span, a yield and a reliability of the organic light-emitting diode.
US07666558B2
An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes a photochromic polymer, optionally dispersed in a polymeric binder or a phase change binder, the photochromic polymer including a polymer having at least one photochromic unit grafted therein, wherein the imaging layer exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless state and a colored state in response to heat and light and wherein the imaging layer does not exhibit a transition from the colored state to colorless state when heated in the absence of light.
US07666557B2
A color filter and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. In the method of the invention, a substrate having a display area and a non-display area is provided. Thereafter, a black matrix is formed over the substrate, wherein black matrix defines the display area into a plurality of sub-pixel areas, and covers the non-display area, which forms an edge of the display area. Then, a color filter unit is formed in each sub-pixel area, and a light shielding layer is formed over the black matrix simultaneously. Accordingly, the shielding layer of the color filter provided by the present invention is capable of effectively reducing the light leakage from the edge of the display area.
US07666553B2
A fabrication method for a photomask is disclosed. Two or more metal containing layers are formed over a substrate, and a main pattern and a monitor pattern are formed over one or more of the two or more metal containing layers other than the lowermost metal containing layer. Then, the monitor pattern is measured, and the monitor pattern after being measured is removed. Then, the main pattern is formed over the lowermost metal containing layer to fabricate a photomask formed from the two or more metal containing layers.
US07666551B2
A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of this invention includes: a lithium nickel composite oxide containing lithium, nickel, and at least one metal element other than lithium and nickel; and a layer containing lithium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, and aluminum oxide, the layer being carried on the surface of the lithium nickel composite oxide. The lithium nickel composite oxide is composed such that the ratio of the nickel to the total of the nickel and the at least one metal element is 30 mol % or more. The layer is composed such that the amount of the lithium carbonate is 0.5 to 5 mol per 100 mol of the lithium nickel composite oxide. The total of aluminum atoms contained in the aluminum hydroxide and the aluminum oxide is 0.5 to 5 mol per 100 mol of the lithium nickel composite oxide.
US07666543B2
A battery including unit-cell layers stacked on one another. Each of the unit-cell layers comprises: an array of unit cells; and a frame member which holds the array of unit cells therein. At least one of the frame members is formed to have an inlet for introducing a coolant into the inside of the battery and an outlet for discharging the coolant which has flown through the inside of the battery.
US07666538B2
A fuel cell device has a small and compact structure as a whole. The fuel cell device employs a fuel cell (e.g., direct methanol fuel cell of an MEA structure) using liquid fuel. Diluted liquid fuel is prepared by diluting the liquid fuel (methanol-contained liquid in the case of DMFC) with dilution liquid, and is supplied to the fuel cell. A first pump unit stacked on the fuel cell supplies the diluted liquid fuel to the fuel cell while diluting the liquid fuel by mixing the liquid fuel and the dilution liquid together. A second pump unit stacked on the fuel cell collects liquid (water usable as dilution liquid in DMFC) produced by an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell.
US07666537B2
A technology for preventing degradation of a hydrogen permeable metal layer in a fuel cell 210 is provided. A fuel cell system 200 including a fuel cell 210 with an anode which has the hydrogen permeable metal layer comprises a fuel cell controller 230 for controlling the operation status of the fuel cell system 200, a temperature parameter acquisition section for acquiring a temperature parameter of the hydrogen permeable metal layer, and a hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section which reduces the hydrogen partial pressure in an anode channel 212 for supplying fuel gas to the anode. If a temperature of the hydrogen permeable metal layer represented by the temperature parameter deviates from a specified temperature range, the fuel cell controller 230 cause the hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section to operate for preventing degradation of the hydrogen permeable metal layer.
US07666535B2
A fuel cell system includes a control device for setting an oxygen-containing gas operating pressure target value on the cathode side using a relative pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, setting a fuel gas operating pressure target value on the anode side using an absolute pressure, and controlling a power generation current of the fuel cell using as command values the relative pressure and the absolute pressure. The control device controls operation of the entire fuel cell system.
US07666533B2
A process and device for determination of the lambda value (λactual) of reformate (10) which is to be supplied to a fuel cell stack (12), by determining the lambda value (λactual) of the no-load voltage (U0) of the voltage on at least one fuel cell element (14). Furthermore, a process and device for lambda control of a reformer, utilizes the process and device for determining the lambda value to controller an actuator of a lambda-controlled reformer (16) for reaction of at least fuel (20) and air (22) into reformate (10), the reformer being connected to a fuel cell stack (12) to supply reformate (10) form the reformer (16) to the fuel stack (12).
US07666523B2
An electrode surface coating and method for manufacturing the electrode surface coating comprising a conductive substrate; and one or more surface coatings comprising one or more of the following metals titanium, niobium, tantalum, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, or gold, or an alloy of two or more metals, or a combination of two or more alloys or metal layers thereof having an increase in the surface area of 5 times to 500 times of the corresponding surface area resulting from the basic geometric shape.
US07666516B2
A ceramic thermal barrier coating (8) for coating the surface (7) of a component (1) of a nickel-based superalloy, and an adhesive coating optionally applied thereon (6), preferably a gas turbine component, includes zirconium oxide (ZrO2) stabilized by yttrium oxide (Y2O3) and production-related impurities, as well as at least one high-temperature and oxidation resistant intermetallic compound, for example NiAl, YRh, ErIr, the volume fraction of which decreases continuously or in stages as the distance from the surface (7) of the component (1)/the adhesive coating (6) increases. Advantageously, a less steep stress gradient is produced by gradually varying the composition of the thermal barrier coating (8). This leads to an increased expansion tolerance of the thermal barrier coating (8) and thus, on the one hand, to an increased lifetime under thermal loading (no flaking) and, on the other hand, the possibility of applying thicker thermal barrier coatings (8), and therefore of using the coated components (1) at higher temperatures.
US07666515B2
An article comprising a turbine component other than an airfoil having a metal substrate and a ceramic corrosion resistant coating overlaying the metal substrate. This coating has a thickness up to about one micrometer and consists of a ceramic composition that comprises a ceramic metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia and mixtures thereof. This coating can be formed by alternative methods to have different microstructures, including a dense matrix or a strain-tolerant columnar grain structure.
US07666514B2
An anti-fouling condensation curing organopolysiloxane composition is provided comprising in admixture, (A) 100 parts by weight of a base polymer in the form of a diorganopolysiloxane having at least two silicon atom-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups in a molecule, at least 2 mol % of entire substituent groups being phenyl groups, (B) 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a silane having at least two hydrolyzable groups or a partial hydrolytic condensate thereof, and (C) 5 to 100 parts by weight of a non-reactive dialkylpolysiloxane. The composition cures at room temperature to form a coating which is non-toxic, non-detrimental to the environment, and effective for preventing aquatic organisms from depositing and growing thereon over a long term.
US07666513B2
A method of joining two silicon members, the adhesive used for the method, and the joined product, especially a silicon tower for supporting multiple silicon wafers. A flowable adhesive is prepared comprising silicon particles of size less than 100 μm and preferably less than 100 nm and a silica bridging agent, such as a spin-on glass. Nano-silicon crystallites of about 20 nm size may be formed by CVD. Larger particles may be milled from virgin polysilicon. If necessary, a retardant such as a heavy, preferably water-insoluble alcohol such as terpineol is added to slow setting of the adhesive at room temperature. The mixture is applied to the joining areas. The silicon parts are assembled and annealed at a temperature sufficient to link the silica, preferably at 900° C. to 1100° C. for nano-silicon but higher for milled silicon.
US07666509B2
A resin composition excellent in heat resistance after moisture absorption, lead-free solder reflow properties, dimensional stability and electrical characteristics for high-multilayer and high-frequency-capable printed wiring boards, which composition comprises a bisphenol A type epoxy resin (a) having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a secondary hydroxyl group amount of 0.4 meq/g or less, a novolak type epoxy resin (b) at least two epoxy groups per molecule, a cyanate ester resin (c) having at least two cyanate groups per molecule and spherical silica having an average particle diameter of 4 μm or less, wherein the equivalent ratio of cyanate groups/epoxy groups in the resin composition is in the range of 0.7 to 1.45, and a prepreg and a metal-foil-clad laminate each of which comprises the resin composition.
US07666505B2
A synthetic microsphere having a low alkali metal oxide content and methods of forming the microsphere and its components are provided. The synthetic microsphere is substantially chemically inert and thus a suitable replacement for natural cenospheres, particularly in caustic environments such as cementitious mixtures. The synthetic microsphere can be made from an agglomerate precursor that includes an aluminosilicate material, such as fly ash, a blowing agent such as sugar, carbon black, and silicon carbide, and a binding agent. The synthetic microsphere is produced when the precursor is fired at a pre-determined temperature profile so as to form either solid or hollow synthetic microspheres depending on the processing conditions and/or components used.
US07666504B2
The present invention provides a nanoporous fiber being substantially free from coarse pores and having homogeneously dispersed nanopores, unlike conventional porous fibers. A porous fiber has pores each having a diameter of 100 nm or less, in which the area ratio of pores each having a diameter of 200 nm or more to the total cross section of the fiber is 1.5% or less, and the pores are unconnected pores, or a porous fiber has pores each having a diameter of 100 nm or less, in which the area ratio of pores each having a diameter of 200 nm or more to the total cross section of the fiber is 1.5% or less, the pores are connected pores, and the fiber has a strength of 1.0 cN/dtex or more.
US07666503B2
A self-healing cable comprising a conductor and a water-swellable composition surrounding said conductor is disclosed. When the cable is damaged and water ingress reaches the water-swellable composition, the water-swellable composition expands and fills in any void, puncture or crack present, thus sealing the damage in the cable.In one embodiment, the water-swellable composition is formed from an admixture of a substantially non-water-swellable polymer and a water-swellable filler.In another embodiment, the water-swellable composition is formed from a water-swellable polymer.
US07666499B2
A process for preparing high initial modulus and high tensile strength polyamide fibers is described. The process comprises complexing the polyamide with a Lewis acid, dry-jet wet spinning the complexed fibers, drying the spun fibers for a period of time, drawing the fibers, and soaking the fibers in solvent to remove the Lewis acid. High molecular weight nylon 6,6 fibers prepared according to the described process show initial moduli of up to 30.1 GPa and tenacities of up to 2.5 GPa.
US07666497B2
A metallically decorated sheet is provided, by which the cost down in production is possible, a relatively deep drawing can be carried out without a problem upon molding, the design performances are improved, and good scratch resistance can be attained. The metallically decorated sheet includes in the following sequence: a transparent or translucent surface film layer; a first adhesive layer; a transparent or translucent holding film layer for holding a metallic layer; the metallic layer; a second adhesive layer; and a base film layer.
US07666477B2
The present invention relates to a process for coating substrates assembled from at least one polymeric part, with visible polymeric surfaces, comprising successive steps of applying and curing at least one coating on the visible surfaces of the substrate. The polymeric parts comprise a polyamide composition comprising polyamide, novolac resin, and toughener. The polyamide compositions may further comprise mineral fillers, nucleating agents, and other additives. Articles coated according to the process herein are also disclosed.
US07666473B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an optical recording medium. In the method, on the surface of a recording layer formed by spin-coating a first coating solution containing a photo-isomerizable component, a second coating solution that contains a photo-isomerizable component that can be isomerized by radiation having the same wavelength as radiation used for isomerizing the photo-isomerizable component contained in the recording layer and incapable of dissolving the recording layer is spin-coated to form an intermediate layer. Since the intermediate layer thus formed cannot be dissolved by the first coating solution, a recording layer is further laminated on this layer. Thus, it becomes possible to make the recording layer thicker and also to provide a high-density recording characteristic.
US07666470B1
A nuclear fuel and a method to produce a nuclear fuel wherein a porous uranium dioxide arrangement is provided, the arrangement is infiltrated with a precursor liquid and the arrangement is thermally treated such the porous uranium dioxide arrangement is infiltrated with a precursor liquid, followed by a thermal treating of the porous uranium dioxide arrangement with the infiltrated precursor liquid such that the precursor liquid is converted to a second phase.
US07666459B2
Disclosed herein are pet food compositions. In one embodiment, pet food compositions which are described comprise a component selected from 2-deoxy-D-glucose; 5-thio-D-glucose; 3-O-methylglucose; 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol; 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol; mannoheptulose; and mixtures thereof. In yet another embodiment, pet food compositions which are described comprise an extract of plant matter selected from avocado, alfalfa, fig, primrose, and mixtures thereof. The pet food compositions may be prepared by any of a variety of processes including, but not limited to, optional processes described herein.
US07666456B2
A method includes combining ground beef with liquid that contains carbon dioxide. The ground beef and liquid are added to a vessel. The ground beef contains relative light and heavy components. The components that are predominantly lean beef will settle to the bottom of the liquid, and components that are predominantly fat will rise to the surface of the liquid. The separated components having predominantly lean beef can be removed from the liquid as a reduced fat ground beef product. The method can be practiced with any material containing fat, including plants and animals.
US07666434B2
Described is a method of identifying an immunologically active antigen of a virus that attacks skin, as well as a method of enriching a population of lymphocytes for T lymphocytes that are specific to a virus that attacks skin. Also provided are HSV antigens and epitopes that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection that have been identified via the methods of the invention. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigens or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.
US07666428B2
The present invention relates generally to reagents useful in the immunotherapeutic or immunoprophylactic treatment of allergic diseases. More particularly, the present invention provides modified allergens exhibiting reduced IgE interactivity including reduced IgE production-stimulatory activity, while retaining T-cell antigenicity, which are useful in the immunomodulation of type I allergic disease conditions. The present invention further contemplates a method of immunomodulation of allergic diseases such as type I allergic disease conditions by the administration of modified allergens exhibiting reduced IgE interactivity while retaining T-cell antigenicity.
US07666422B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases and disorders or deficiencies of the immune system. The methods of the invention comprise administering a CD40 binding protein that potentiates the binding of CD40 to CD40 ligand.
US07666419B2
The invention is directed an anti-CCR5 antibody which comprises (i) two light chains, each light chain comprising the expression product of a plasmid designated pVK:HuPRO14O-VK (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4097), and (ii) two heavy chains, each heavy chain comprising an expression product of either a plasmid designated pVgl:HuPRO140 HG2-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4098) or a plasmic designated pVgl:HuPRO140 (mutB+D+I)-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4099) or a fragment thereof which binds to CCR5 on the surface of a human cell.
US07666415B2
The present invention relates to a bi-specific antibody or antibody fragment having at least one arm that is reactive against a targeted tissue and at least one other arm that is reactive against a targetable conjugate. The targetable conjugate encompasses a hapten to which antibodies have been prepared. In preferred embodiments, the hapten is histamine-succinyl-glycine (HSG). In more preferred embodiments, the at least one arm comprises the CDR sequences of the HSG-binding 679 antibody. The targetable conjugate is attached to one or more therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. The invention provides constructs and methods for producing the bispecific antibodies or antibody fragments, as well as methods for using them and kits comprising them.
US07666403B2
The present invention has objects to provide a mutant interferon-α protein having a higher anti-viral and anti-tumor activity and to provide an agent for susceptive diseases, which contains the mutant interferon-α protein as an effective ingredient; and solves the above objects by providing a mutant protein which has an amino acid sequence of human interferon-α subtype α8 represented by any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where the arginine residue at the 145th has been replaced with leucine, isoleucine, or valine residue; the alanine residue at the 146th has been replaced with asparagine or serine residue; and the methionine residue at the 149th has been replaced with tyrosine residue; and an agent for susceptive diseases, containing the mutant protein.
US07666391B2
The present invention provides a method of directing a moiety to breast vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate which contains a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to breast vasculature, whereby the moiety is directed to breast vasculature. In one embodiment, the homing molecule is a peptide containing the amino acid sequence PGPEGAG (SEQ ID NO: 1), or a peptidomimetic thereof.
US07666383B2
A method to produce hydrogen gas or synthesis gas is described and involves the use of a staged reactor. The present invention further relates to effectively running a process such that efficient quantities of hydrogen gas are produced, along with economically useful amounts of carbon black. A combined facility utilizing a carbon black manufacturing plant and a refinery plant are further described, as well as products made by the various methods of the present invention.
US07666382B2
Certain applicator liquids and method of making the applicator liquids are described. The applicator liquids can be used to form nanotube films or fabrics of controlled properties. An applicator liquid for preparation of a nanotube film or fabric includes a controlled concentration of nanotubes dispersed in a liquid medium containing water. The controlled concentration is sufficient to form a nanotube fabric or film of preselected density and uniformity.
US07666379B2
A process and apparatus is provided for the purification of binary halide fluid. The process and apparatus purifies the binary halide fluid by selectively removing Bronsted acid impurities and/or volatile oxygen containing impurities present in the binary halide. A regenerable adsorbent polymer is utilized to remove the Bronsted acid impurities from the binary halide fluid and a volatile oxide adsorbent having a specific adsorption capacity for the volatile oxide impurity is utilized to remove the volatile oxide from the binary halide when in gaseous form.
US07666378B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a composition comprising a Gd3+-Eu3+ white phosphor composition, methods of making the composition, and the like.
US07666375B2
A method comprising subjecting fuel to combustion while the combustion atmosphere of the fuel is oscillated periodically and alternately between rich and lean conditions, leading the exhaust gas formed to a catalytic reactor, and bringing the exhaust gas into contact with a catalyst in the catalytic reactor to conduct catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas, wherein the catalyst comprises as catalyst components: (A) an oxide catalyst component A comprising (a) ceria or (b) praseodymium oxide or (c) a mixture of oxides and/or a composite oxide of at least two elements selected from cerium, zirconium, praseodymium, neodymium, terbium, samarium, gadolinium and lanthanum; and (B) (d) a noble metal catalyst component B selected from platinum, rhodium, palladium and oxides thereof; under an oxygen concentration adjusted to the range of 0.1-1.0% at the exit of the catalytic reactor under the rich conditions.
US07666372B2
The present invention is a method of recovering valuable metals from a quantity of furnace dust consisting the following steps. A first leaching step wherein the furnace dust is leached at atmospheric pressure in a first leaching solution to produce a first leach liquor and a first leach residue, the first leaching solution consisting of an aqueous mineral acid solution. The first leach liquor is then separated from the first leach residue. A second leaching step is then performed wherein the first leach residue is atmospherically leached in a second leaching solution to form a second leach liquor and a second leach residue, the second leaching solution comprising a solution of aqueous HCl with a reductant. The second leach liquor is then separated from the second leach residue. A zinc precipitation step is then performed wherein zinc is precipitated from the second leach liquor by treating the second leach liquor with a quantity of alkali, the quantity of alkali selected to adjust the pH of the second leach liquor sufficiently to precipitate out the zinc in the form of a zinc salt in a third residue leaving a third liquor and then separating the third residue containing zinc from the third liquor.
US07666364B2
Thermal cracking in a riser cracking, closed cyclone, fluidized catalytic cracking process is reduced. A snorkel or flow conduit having an inlet just above the catalyst stripper moves stripper vapor into the closed cyclone. The system preferably operates without a stripper cap, relying on fluid dynamics to isolate stripper vapor from upper parts of the vessel containing the riser outlet. Preferably the snorkel is at least partially supported by, and ideally is inside, the primary cyclone dipleg. Reduced residence time of stripper vapor in the vessel containing the stripper and the closed cyclone system reduces thermal cracking of stripper vapor.
US07666363B2
A reagent cartridge for a assay device comprises a frame and at least one reagent container. A reagent cartridge frame comprises a plurality of sidewalls, one of the sidewalls includes at least one detent to engage with a flange on a reagent container, and another sidewall includes at least one notch to engage with a rib on the reagent container. The reagent cartridge frame permits various numbers of reagent containers to be placed in the frame at any position and in any order depending on the assay being performed. The reagent cartridge may also be used with as few as one reagent container.
US07666362B2
A well plate assembly includes a well plate with a base wall, a peripheral wall extending up from the base wall and spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the base wall. A well array is formed on the base wall at locations inwardly from the peripheral wall. A lid is mounted on the peripheral wall of the well plate. The lid and the peripheral wall have areas that are indented from the outer periphery of the base wall to facilitate manipulation by robotic stacking equipment. The well plate and the lid further include substantially registered robotic gripper plates aligned with the outer periphery of the base wall to facilitate manipulation of the assembled well plate and lid by robotic grippers.
US07666361B2
A variety of elastomeric-based microfluidic devices and methods for using and manufacturing such devices are provided. Certain of the devices have arrays of reaction sites to facilitate high throughput analyses. Some devices also include reaction sites located at the end of blind channels at which reagents have been previously deposited during manufacture. The reagents become suspended once sample is introduced into the reaction site. The devices can be utilized with a variety of heating devices and thus can be used in a variety of analyses requiring temperature control, including thermocycling applications such as nucleic acid amplification reactions, genotyping and gene expression analyses.
US07666354B2
A peroxycarboxylic acid represented by the general formula (I): (wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C10 aryl group, L represents a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C12 divalent linking group, or R1 and L may combine to form a ring) and a composition comprising said peroxycarboxylic acid are provided. Said peroxycarboxylic acid can sterilize a medical apparatus such as endoscope in a short period of time and has no unpleasant smell.
US07666352B2
An iridium-based alloy which has L12-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein and has a basic composition including, in terms of mass proportion, 0.1 to 9.0% Al, 1.0 to 45% W, and Ir as the remainder. The component system containing 0.1 to 1.5% Al has L12-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein. The component system containing 1.5 to 9.0%, excluding 1.5%, Al has L12-type and B2-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein. Part of the Ir may be replaced with an element (X) (Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, or Ru) and part of the Al and W may be replaced with an element (Z) (Ni, Ti, Nb, Zr, V, Ta, Hf, or Mo). The iridium-based alloy, which contains L12-type intermetallic compounds [1r3(Al,W) and [(Ir, X)3(Al, W, Z)] dispersedly precipitated therein, has a high melting point. The lattice constant mismatch between the L12-type intermetallic compounds, i.e., [Ir3 (Al, W)] and [(Ir, X)3(Al, W, Z)], and the matrix is small and, hence, the iridium-based alloy is excellent in high-temperature strength and structural stability.
US07666351B2
The invention offers (a) a method of producing a magnesium-alloy material, the method being capable of obtaining a magnesium-alloy material having high strength, (b) a magnesium-alloy material having excellent strength, and (c) a magnesium-alloy wire having high strength. A molten magnesium alloy is supplied to a continuous casting apparatus provided with a movable casting mold to produce a cast material. The cast material is supplied to between at least one pair of rolls to perform an area-reducing operation (a rolling operation). The rolling operation is performed such that pressure is applied to the cast material using the rolls from at least three directions in the cross section of the cast material. A magnesium-alloy material obtained through the above-described production method has a fine crystal structure and is excellent in plastic processability.
US07666350B2
The present invention provides a low-carbon resulfurized free machining steel product excellent in machinability typified by finished surface roughness even though toxic Pb or special elements such as Bi or Te are not added, and a suitable production method thereof. A steel product has a specific composition, has contents of Mn and S satisfying the following conditions: 0.40≦Mn*S≦1.2 and Mn/S≧3.0, and contains a ferrite-pearlite structure as the metallographic structure, in which the average width (μm) of sulfide inclusions in the steel product is 2.8*(log d) or more, wherein d (mm) is the diameter of the steel product, and pro-eutectoid ferrite in the metallographic structure has a hardness HV of 133 to 150 or a difference in deformation resistance at a strain of 0.3 between 200° C. and 25° C. is 110 MPa or more and 200 MPa or less, the deformation resistances being determined in a compression test at a deformation rate of 0.3 mm/min.
US07666346B2
A steel-member manufacturing facility that can suppress distortion occurring in a quenching process while preventing increase in manufacturing cost includes: a die-cutting apparatus to form a washer; a high-frequency induction heating apparatus for quenching purpose as well as a mold-constraining cooling apparatus that heat the washer as formed and thereafter cool the washer so as to quench-harden the washer; and a high-frequency induction heating apparatus for tempering purpose that heats the quench-hardened washer so as to temper the washer. The high-frequency induction heating apparatus for quenching purpose can heat the washer by induction heating to the temperature of at least Ac1 point. The mold-constraining cooling apparatus uses a mold to constrain the heated washer while using the mold as a cooling member, thereby cooling the washer to the temperature of at most Ms point.
US07666339B2
A hydrogel string that is useful as a medical device and a method for forming a hydrogel string that utilizes a delivery device in which gelation of a prepolymer is initiated to form a hydrogel, which is then extruded from the device as the hydrogel string.
US07666336B2
The invention relates to a method for producing monolithic molded elements e.g. as sorbents for chromatographic columns or capillary vessels. The aim of the invention is for said molded elements to be able to remain directly in the gel mold thereof following the production process. Said aim is achieved by the inventive method, according to which the surface of the gel mold is activated by etching, increasing the surface, or chemically modifying the surface before the gelling mold is filled with the monomer sol.
US07666334B2
A method is provided for use of a concrete composition and an associated apparatus. The method provides for mixing of the concrete material, accelerant powder and, optionally, an associated substance to enable the controlled hardening of the concrete material in a monolithic structure. The apparatus can dispose a slip-plane film to facilitate a relatively continuous process.
US07666330B2
Disclosed is a compound represented by the following formula 1: wherein, each of R1˜R13 independently represents —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —SH, —COOH, —PO3H2, —NH2, —NO2, —O(CH2CH2O)nH (wherein, n is an integer of 1˜5), C1˜C12 alkyl group, C1˜C12 aminoalkyl group, C1˜C12 hydroxyalkyl group, C1˜C12 haloalkyl group, C2˜C12 alkenyl group, C1˜C12 alkoxy group, C1˜C12 alkylamino group, C1˜C12 dialkylamino group, C6˜C18 aryl group, C6˜C18 aminoaryl group, C6˜C18 hydroxyaryl group, C6˜C18 haloaryl group, C7˜C18 benzyl group, C7˜C18 aminobenzyl group, C7˜C18 hydroxybenzyl group, C7˜C18 halobenzyl group, or nitrile group (—CN); and at least one of R4˜R13 is nitrile group (—CN). A non-aqueous electrolyte comprising: (i) a lithium salt, (ii) a solvent, and (iii) a compound represented by formula 1; and a secondary battery comprising the non-aqueous electrolyte are also disclosed. When the compound represented by formula 1 is added to a non-aqueous electrolyte, it is possible to improve the safety of a secondary battery in an overcharged state.
US07666317B2
The invention described herein contains two aspects, usable together or separately, that address the needs in the art described above, namely a first aspect that relates to the provision of a transportable water purification system that can be contained on a passenger transport vehicle, and that can use, but does not require, continuous, real-time monitoring, and a second aspect that relates to the use of UV purification of the water as it is uploaded to the passenger transport vehicle after a single pass through the UV chamber.
US07666309B1
A composition including an aqueous solution of calcium polysulfide and an amount of a precipitation preventing compound effective to reduce or eliminate precipitation of the calcium polysulfide at low concentrations. The precipitation preventing compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrosulfide, potassium hydrosulfide, sodium sulfide, and potassium sulfide. A method of reducing or preventing precipitation of calcium polysulfide added to the water in an irrigation system by first injecting the precipitation preventing compound into the water in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate precipitation of the calcium polysulfide at low concentrations. Sodium methyldithiocarbamate can be added to the calcium polysulfide/precipitation preventing compound solution without any substantial precipitation.
US07666286B2
A gas sensor includes a first space for a measurement gas from a gas-introducing hole via a first diffusion rate-determining section, a main pumping means for controlling a partial pressure of oxygen in the measurement gas introduced into the first space to have a predetermined value, a second space for the measurement gas from the first space via a second diffusion rate-determining section, and a measuring pumping means for reducing or decomposing a NOx component in the measurement gas introduced from the second space via a third diffusion rate-determining section so that oxygen produced thereby is pumped out to detect a current generated by pumping out the oxygen. A ratio (Wc/We) between a width (We) of an end of a sensor element and a width (Wc) of the gas-introducing hole is not less than 0.3 and less than 0.7.
US07666280B2
Coking drum 3, 4, especially for the manufacture of petroleum coke, which has an approximately cylindrical basic body, at least one inlet and at least two outlets, wherein there is arranged as shut-off member (11) at least at one outlet and/or at the or one inlet, a bridging pipe slide valve having two shut-off plates 27, 28.
US07666277B2
Apparatus for forming an extended nip between a mating roll and a shoe roll for treating a product web, the shoe roll having a stationary carrier and a flexible roll shell which can rotate around the carrier and which, in the region of the extended nip, is supported on a hydrodynamically lubricated running surface of a press shoe guided on the carrier, for which purpose a device for applying lubricant to the inner side of the roll shell is provided, where, in an inlet region, the press shoe has a plurality of holes which are arranged transversely with respect to the machine running direction, are connected to a lubricant supply in order to be fed with lubricant and, for this purpose, end at the running surface, and the holes comprise restrictors whose resistance is designed for a pressure drop of 5 to 15 bar.
US07666274B2
The present invention relates to a durable paper or paperboard substrate containing an effective amount of synthetic fibers and having enhanced strength in the machine direction and the cross direction, as well enhanced strength through the cross section of the sheet. The present invention further relates to methods of making and using the substrate.
US07666266B2
By subjecting a threaded joint for OCTG (oil country tubular goods) to surface conditioning with an aqueous solution of potassium tetraborate or sodium tetraborate prior to manganese phosphate chemical conversion treatment, a manganese phosphate chemical conversion coating having coarse crystal grains with an average crystal grain diameter of 10-110 micrometers is formed on the surface of the steel member which may be any steel including a high Cr steel. This manganese phosphate chemical conversion coating can hold a large amount of a liquid lubricant, and it is effective at preventing the occurrence of galling at the time of makeup of a threaded joint for OCTG.
US07666263B2
An apparatus for the rapid loading, launching and retrieval of foam pellets for tube cleaning. The apparatus uses a block configuration to allow gravity feed and rapid firing of pellets into tubes. The apparatus includes a hopper feeder attachment, which is self-adjusting during pellet jams.
US07666255B2
Compositions and methods for ink-jet printing having increased slewing decap time and reduced clogging are disclosed and described. An ink-jet ink composition can include a colorant and a liquid vehicle having a surfactant. The surfactant can have a critical micelle concentration with respect to the ink-jet ink composition. In addition, the surfactant can be present in the ink-jet ink composition at a concentration from about 0.4 to about 0.95 times the critical micelle concentration. Further, the surfactant can also have an aromatic-containing portion. Using the ink-jet inks of the present invention during printing can allow for reduced clogging and increased stewing decap time during ink-jet printing on a variety of substrates with improved reliability, faster printing, and more efficient use of the ink.
US07666241B2
Improved, low-pH aqueous polymer mixtures are provided which can be applied directly to soils or incorporated within ammoniacal nitrogen-containing fertilizers to inhibit nitrification in soils, thus enhancing plant uptake of ammonium and yields. The polymers are advantageously used as metal (e.g., Ca) salts or complexes at pH levels of up to about 2. The polymers have anionic functional groups and are highly water dispersible.
US07666229B2
An implantable articulating bone prosthesis (e.g., hip or joint prosthesis) is provided, which includes a pair of articulation components respectively defining a pair of articulation surfaces movably engageable with each other. Each of the articulation surfaces is formed from a biocompatible ceramic (e.g., doped silicon nitride ceramic) having a flexural strength greater than about 700 Mega-Pascal (MPa) and a toughness greater than about 7 Mega-Pascal root meter (MPam0.5).
US07666226B2
Spinal tissue distraction devices that include at least one guide member for guiding a distraction device to a location between layers of spinal tissue. The guide member has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is adapted for insertion between the tissue layers and defines a shape of a desired support structure. The distraction device is slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the distraction device distally along the guide member for insertion of the distraction device between the tissue layers. The distraction device substantially conforms to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the tissue layers.
US07666224B2
Devices and methods for improving the function of a valve (e.g., mitral valve) by positioning a spacing filling device outside and adjacent the heart wall such that the device applies an inward force against the heart wall acting on the valve. A substantially equal and opposite force may be provided by securing the device to the heart wall, and/or a substantially equal and opposite outward force may be applied against anatomical structure outside the heart wall. The inward force is sufficient to change the function of the valve, and may increase coaptation of the leaflets, for example. The space filling device may be implanted by a surgical approach, a transthoracic approach, or a transluminal approach, for example. The space filling portion may be delivered utilizing a delivery catheter navigated via the selected approach, and the space filling portion may be expandable between a smaller delivery configuration and a larger deployed configuration.
US07666221B2
The present invention embodies an endovascular graft having an attachment frame connection mechanism that allows placement of the main body component in vasculature in combination with limb components. Various limb component-to-main body component attachment mechanisms are provided which ensure a reliable bond while facilitating a smaller delivery profile.
US07666213B2
An apparatus for adjusting the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is adapted for substantially sealingly enclosing the portion of the patient's body within the interior space with the enclosure. Heat transfer liquid may then be circulated through the interior space of the enclosure via an inlet and an outlet for flow over the patient's body in direct liquid contact therewith to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and said heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid may be either warmer or cooler than the patient's body temperature, to either warm or cool the portion. Controlled cooling may be employed to induce therapeutic hypothermia, while controlled warming may be employed to counteract unintended hypothermia. The apparatus further comprises a portable control unit that includes a liquid delivery system, a power source, a control system and a user interface for powering and controlling the liquid delivery system.
US07666204B2
Devices, systems, methods and kits are provided for endoscopically accessing a body cavity and providing a directed pathway toward a target tissue within the cavity. The directed pathway is provided by a multi-catheter guiding system which is positioned in a desired configuration, generally directed toward the target tissue. Interventional devices may then be passed through the guiding system to the target tissue. Depending on the location of the target tissue and the desired angle of approach, the guiding system may be required to maintain one or more curves in one or more planes to properly direct the interventional devices. The multi-catheter guiding system of the present invention comprises an outer guiding catheter and a coaxially positioned inner guiding catheter, each of which independently form curvatures so that together the curves properly direct the interventional device.
US07666200B2
Disclosed herein is an endoscopic surgical assembly having improved cutting efficiency. In particular, the present invention provides an endoscopic shaver assembly configured for automated axial as well as rotational motion so as to enhance tissue resection.
US07666199B2
A method of occluding a vessel, comprises forming an incision through tissue covering the vessel to expose a portion of the vessel and looping a first suture around the vessel such that ends of the first suture extend out of the incision in combination with closing the incision with the ends of the first suture protruding through the closed incision, placing a force distribution element over the incision and tightening the first suture over the force distribution element to form a kink in the vessel.
US07666190B2
In surgery of the vitreous body in an eyeball of a human body, a burden on and time of a surgeon is suppressed from being spent, a burden on the eyeball of a patient is greatly reduced, and further, the possibility of a complication after the surgery is also lessened. A holding apparatus, which has eyelid opener portions for pulling and opening upper and lower eyelids, a lens ring for holding a surgical contact lens on the eyeball, and connecting portions for connecting the eyelid opener portions with the lens ring of the surgical contact lens so that the surgical contact lens is held on the eyeball, is set on the eyeball of the patient, which makes it unnecessary to stitch of the lens ring on the eyeball.
US07666177B2
The present invention provides a method for treating an injury of a spinal cord of a patient The method includes implanting a therapeutic substance in the spinal cord under indirect visualization. The indirect visualization may be provided by an endoscope, and the therapeutic substance may include cells. The present invention also provides a device for treating an injury of the spinal cord. The device includes skin visualization means for visualizing the spinal cord through a skin puncture, and injection means for injecting a therapeutic substance into the spinal cord.
US07666176B2
The present invention provides for the improved prevention of leakage of body exudates from a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, by providing a pair of standing leg cuffs on both sides of the absorbent core of the article. The cuffs are preferably ribbon cuffs attached to the diaper or fashioned from the top sheet of the diaper.
US07666174B2
Here is disclosed a disposable diaper, which includes a liquid-absorbent zone in a crotch region having first through fourth sections. A stiffness of the first and second sections formed from top- and backsheets is lower than a stiffness of the third and fourth sections formed from the top- and backsheets and an absorbent core. Stretchably elastic members extending in a longitudinal direction are contractibly attached to the fourth section. A liquid-absorbent zone in the crotch region is formed with a concavity (feces pocket) as the fourth section contract in the longitudinal direction under a contractile force of the elastic members.
US07666169B2
A syringe plunger includes a wall having an inner surface and one or more inwardly projecting flanges disposed on the inner surface of the wall. Preferably, the inner surface of the wall defines a retaining shoulder formed along an axial plane thereof. An injector drive member preferably includes at least one retaining member adapted to engage the retaining shoulder of the syringe plunger to allow the drive member to retract the plunger with the body of the syringe. Further, the drive member preferably includes one or more outwardly extending flange members adapted to be engaged by the inwardly projecting flanges of the syringe plunger. When the syringe body is rotated, the at least one retaining member on the drive member is retracted and disengaged from the retaining shoulder of the syringe plunger.
US07666165B2
A cannulated sensing device is disclosed and can include a housing that can have a proximal end and a distal end. A cannula can extend from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing. Further, a sensor can be attached to the distal end of the housing.
US07666164B2
A safety shield system for a needle cannula of a pen needle injector or similar device, wherein the safety shield may be retracted from a first position enclosing the needle to a second position exposing the needle for injection. The safety shield system permits retraction of the safety shield during use, but extends the shield enclosing the needle in a locked position following use. The shield system is utilized with a pen needle injector having a double ended needle cannula mounted in a hub received on the open end of the pen needle injector. The assembly is disposed of by removing the assembly and needle cannula hub and storing the assembly in the cup-shaped cap enclosing the exposed end of the needle cannula within the cap. The cap includes internal radial ribs preventing retraction of the shield prior to removing the cap preventing inadvertently piercing the cap during assembly.
US07666158B2
Embodiments are provided to reduce a foot drop condition. In an embodiment, an adjustable apparatus includes a lower leg member that can be secured to a lower leg portion of a user. The lower leg member can be adjustably and releasably coupled to a user's footwear to assist in orienting the user's foot at a desired orientation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a molded brace member that can be secured to a user's lower leg below the calf. The molded brace member can be sized and dimensioned to correspond to the associated measurements of the lower leg of a user afflicted with a foot drop condition. A lacing member can be coupled to the user's footwear and coupled to the molded brace member to orient the user's foot at a desired orientation.
US07666156B2
A knee brace, method of use thereof, and modification to an existing knee brace facilitates inducing side loads to a knee joint to align upper and lower leg portions relative to one another, thereby allowing the knee joint to function properly over its full dynamic range of motion. The knee brace, whether as manufactured or modified, acts to apply a lateral shear force to the knee joint through application of opposing lateral forces, with one lateral force being above the knee joint in one direction and the other lateral force being below the knee joint in an opposite direction. The counteracting forces act to shift femoral condyles and tibial condyles of the knee joint back into proper lateral alignment without acting directly on the patella to counteract the effects of the patella femoral syndrome.
US07666153B2
Improved automatic chest compression systems which use constricting belts, repeatedly inflating bladders, or reciprocating pistons to compress the chest. A bladder is placed between the chest and the particular mechanism used to compress the chest during CPR. The bladder maximizes the effectiveness of chest compressions.
US07666142B2
An ultrasonic Doppler diagnostic equipment comprising a spectrum measurement unit which measures a Doppler spectrum, a decision unit which determines processing conditions of an average process on the basis of power values of spectral components in the Doppler spectrum, an average process unit which performs the average process of the Doppler spectrum on the basis of the processing conditions determined by the decision unit, and a display unit which displays a Doppler spectral image on the basis of the Doppler spectrum subjected to the average process by the average process unit. According to the configuration, the ultrasonic Doppler diagnostic equipment can improve discontinuities in those spectral components of small power values which are susceptible to interference noise, in the Doppler spectral image, and it can generate image data of high resolution.
US07666141B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving a probe transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject; a receiving section for amplifying a reflected echo, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected by a tissue and received at the probe, to generate a received signal; an image processing section for generating a tomographic image of the subject based on the signal; a region setting section for setting an arbitrary range of the tomographic image as a region of interest; a motion information gathering section for getting the motion information of the subject at measuring points on the subject based on the signal; a property value calculating section for calculating the property values of target tissues of the subject, specified by the measuring points, by reference to the motion information; and a distribution plotting section, which gets the property measured values and plots a frequency distribution of the property values based on the property values of the target tissues located within the region of interest set by the setting section.
US07666138B2
An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus capable of obtaining high quality ultrasonic images with reduced effect of side lobes. The apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer array including ultrasonic transducers; a drive signal generating unit for generating drive signals for driving the ultrasonic transducers; a transmission control unit for controlling the drive signal generating unit such that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducers form at least one ultrasonic beam; a reception control unit for performing reception focusing processing on detection signals obtained based on the ultrasonic echoes to form a reception focal point thereby obtaining plural pieces of measurement data; a storage unit for storing plural different acoustic pressure intensity profiles; and an essential data calculating unit for calculating image data based on the plural pieces of measurement data and the plural different acoustic pressure intensity profiles.
US07666136B2
A retractor for use in surgery, has arms (2, 4) pivotal into a V-shaped configuration. Blades (16) are carried by the arms via mounting portions (16a) which can slide along the arms to provide adjustment in position with the blades being locked in that position simply by skewing the mounting portions on the arms.
US07666105B2
A billiard rack and method using the rack defining V-shaped ball containment area having a pair of arms each having an outer and inner side, where said arms meet at an apex and have extremities away from the apex that create an arc of approximately 60 degrees, the inner side of each arm extending at least as far as a distance equal to five times the diameter of a standard billiard ball and the outer side or each arm extending at least as far as the distance equal to four times the diameter of a standard billiard ball that is accessible from the top. The radius of curvature of the apex preferably is 1⅛ inches and the distance between the ends of each inner side of each arm is 13⅝ inches and the outer side is 14⅛ inches. In a preferred method, the balls are racked by the user with two thumbs pressing against the balls and the rack is removed by forward movement away from the balls without disturbing the balls.
US07666101B2
A yoke for universal joint includes a base portion and a pair of opposed side walls and is connected to one end of a rotating shaft having two planes parallel to each other. One end of the rotating shaft is inserted between the opposed side walls such that both planes oppose the respective opposed side walls and the lower surface is abutted on the base portion. Then, a fastening portion of the opposed side walls in the upper portions thereof is fastened by a bolt such that the rotating shaft is interposed and fixed. On the inner surfaces of the opposed side walls, the concave portion is formed under the fastening portion. The concave portion is pushed against the outer peripheral square portion of the rotating shaft in both sides of the fastening portion in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.
US07666091B2
A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot.
US07666090B2
A method of leasing a gaming machine is provided that includes determining a monetary average machine net win in monetary units per gaming machine per unit of time for a group of existing gaming machines, receiving the leased gaming machine, and determining a monetary payment amount for the leased gaming machine for a second time period based on the average machine net win, the monetary payment amount equaling a percentage of a new gaming machine net win amount.
US07666089B2
A gaming device having an accumulation game with changing selections. The gaming device generates or picks, one at a time, a plurality of selections. Each generated selection is accumulated or marked and then changed to another selection. The gaming device continues generating selections, accumulating the generated selections and changing the generated selections until at least one selection is generated and accumulated a designated number of times. When at least one selection is generated and accumulated the designated number of times, an award is provided to the player wherein the award is based on the selection which was generated and accumulated the designated number of times.
US07666085B2
A gaming device which displays multiple results wherein subsequently displayed results are formed from previously displayed results. A gaming device randomly generates and displays a first set of symbols. The gaming device also generates a second set of symbols. The second set of symbols are not initially displayed to a player. The gaming device compares the first and second set of symbols to determine whether any symbols in the first set of symbols match any symbols in the second set of symbols. The gaming device displays the matching symbols and then displays the second set of symbols.
US07666080B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for implementing a bonus round of a slot machine game. A plurality of concealed elements are displayed, and a player can reveal each element one by one, until a terminating symbol is revealed. Combinations are formed and a player is awarded a highest combination upon revealing a terminating symbol.
US07666070B2
A tool holder or a disc-shaped working tool (18) has a working tool holding member (14) and a working tool holding counter-member (16) rotatable, together with the working tool holding member, (14) about an operational axis (A) and cooperating with the working tool holding member (14) for receiving therebetween the working tool (18) for joint rotation therewith; central securing element (26) for securing the working tool (18) between the working tool holding member (14) and the working tool holding counter-member (16); and at least one coupling element (44) associated with the working tool holding member (14), radially spaceable from the central securing element (26) and having a rotary stop for forming a releaseable plug-in connection with at least one through-bore (24) formed in the working tool (18).
US07666066B2
A method and apparatus for injecting solid particles such as dry ice into an airstream using an airlock having a spherical valve member with spaced through ports and rotatable between an annular seal on one side of the spherical member for feeding the particles to the fluid stream chamber with an annular seal on the opposite side for sealing a particle feed chamber. The airlock device is useful for sealing fluid stream pressure of about 133 Kg/m2 and temperatures of about 350° R.
US07666062B2
A grinding wheel having a convex grinding surface is attached to a wheel spindle that is contactlessly supported by a casing through a controlled type axial magnetic bearing and controlled type radial magnetic bearings and that is rotated by an electric motor. A groove of a workpiece is ground by causing relative displacement of the casing. After the axial positioning of the casing is performed, the casing is radially displaced. Then, the groove is ground. The stiffness value of the axial magnetic bearing 6 is set to be lower than a normal value before the casing is radially displaced. After it is detected that the grinding surface of the grinding wheel touches the entire groove of the workpiece and that the grinding of the entire surface of the workpiece is started, the stiffness value is set back to the normal value.
US07666058B2
A compression bra for addressing and/or correcting synmastia complications in reconstructive breast surgeries has: (i) a wide, cotton-lined, unidirectional elastic, torso band adjustably encircling a woman's thoracic torso immediately below the inframammary skinfold; (ii) a trapezoidal shaped, sternum compression panel secured at its base to the upper edge of torso band below the inframammary skinfold and at the top by a pair of adjustable over-the-shoulder straps for elastically compressing sternum tissues while restraining, shaping and separating the inside conically rising, side portions of a woman's breasts; (iii) a pair of breast support cups/flaps also fastened to the upper edge of the torso band each similarly secured at the top by an adjustable over-the-shoulder support strap; and (iv) elastic side panels fastened to the breast cup/flaps and the upper edge of the torso band for anchoring the respective shoulder straps of the sternum compression panel and breast cups/flaps supporting, restraining and shaping the outside, conical rising side portions of the woman's breasts.
US07666057B2
A device and associated process for hygienizing and warming beehives aiming at the improvement of the production of organic bee produce, the device being installed in a beebox including an entrance for bees and frames for accommodating bees and bee products, and between the frames, a spacing making available one empty frame for installing the device. The device comprises a ceramic block inserted in the one empty frame provided with at least one row containing from 8 to 32 channels being in the vertical position and where the lower end and the upper end of the channels are opened towards the inner portion of the beehive, the channels being: i) thermally insulated from the rest of the one frame with the aid of wings and ii) traversed by conducting filaments connected to an energy source by a flat wire, whereby the electrical current crossing the filaments makes it possible to attain temperatures inside the channeles between 300-350° C. with ensuing warming of the air circulating in the beehive by convection, the warmed air from the upper ends of the channels creating a negative pressure in the lower ends of same, whereby outer colder air is sucked towards the ceramic channels so as to sustain continuous circulation of air through the channels, with the consequent extermination of the microorganisms present in the air as the microorganisms pass through the warmed channels.
US07666052B2
A smoke generating unit for a model vehicle controls and varies the rate at which smoke is generated by controlling power to a heater. The model vehicle is electrically driven, and the smoke-generating unit is configured to emit smoke so as to mimic varying emission from a traditionally-fueled vehicle, such as a steam-driven or diesel-driven vehicle. Smoke is generated in proportion to power supplied to the heater. A controller controls the power as a function of various control inputs, such as vehicle engine load, vehicle speed, or user input. Temperature or power feedback may be used as input for a closed-loop control process. A blower for the fan may be controlled via an analog circuit in response to velocity or load input to simulate a steam or diesel locomotive.
US07666048B1
Miniature bulbs are secured in their holders against twisting by first forming holders with tapered cavities smaller at their bottoms than the bulb, then heating the holders to soften them prior to insertion of the bulb. When the bulb is fully seated and the holder has cooled and firmed up, the holder will conform to the exterior shape of the bulb including the irregularities in its surface caused by the bulb formation process. The snug fit of the holder to the irregularities in the bulb resist the twisting of the bulb.
US07666038B2
An outboard motor is steerably mounted to a hull via a bracket and a steering arm is mounted to a steering bracket unit attached to the outboard motor. The steering arm includes a shift grip as a shift operating unit, a throttle grip as a throttle operating unit and a throttle adjusting knob as a throttle adjusting operating unit. These units are adjacently disposed in the described order in a forward direction of a hull.
US07666031B2
A plug-side connector to be connected to a jack-side connector is provided that includes a conductive housing configured to surround an electromagnetically shielded projecting part of the jack-side connector upon the plug-side connector being connected to the jack-side connector; and a leaf spring member for a plug-side electromagnetic shield, the leaf spring member including multiple conductive leaf spring pieces arranged at a pitch enabling formation of the electromagnetic shield, the leaf spring member being provided to the housing so that the leaf spring pieces are arranged in a width direction of the housing on the interior side of the housing. The leaf spring pieces are configured to come into elastic contact with a surface of the projecting part of the jack-side connector upon the plug-side connector being connected to the jack-side connector.
US07666028B2
A wiring arrangement for interconnecting an alternating current power source to a receptacle within a motor vehicle includes a first wire harness having a current rating and a second wire harness having a similar current rating. A coupling mechanism electrically interconnects the first and second wire harnesses of similar current ratings. The coupling mechanism restricts interconnection of wire harnesses having dissimilar current ratings.
US07666025B2
A power connector assembly is provided which comprises a plug connector and a mating receptacle connector. The plug connector includes an insulative plug housing having a plurality of passageways divided by division walls and a plurality of plug terminals accommodated in the corresponding passageways of the plug housing. The receptacle connector includes an insulative receptacle housing having a receiving space for receiving a part of the plug housing inserted therein and a plurality of receptacle terminals accommodated in the receptacle housing for mating with the plug terminals. Airflow channels are formed between the outer surface of the part of the plug housing in the receiving space and the inner surface of the receiving space for dissipation of heat.
US07666023B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an elongated housing (1) having a base segment (1a) and a mating segment (1b); a latch mechanism (3) including a pull member (32) interlocking with a latch member (31), said pull member (32) assembled to a rear portion of the base segment and latch member (31) engaging with a front portion of the base segment, and said latch member further having at least a hook portion arranged on a front portion thereof and disposed above the mating segment. Movement of the pull member actuates the latch member bias upwardly to cause the hook portion apart from the mating segment.
US07666022B2
An electrical connector is for electrically connecting an electronic package with a circuit substrate. The connector includes a housing having a plurality of conductive terminals, a fastening device including a load plate for pressing the electronic package and a retaining member for securing the load plate. The load plate defines a first edge, a second edge opposite to the first edge, a third edge pivoted to the fastening device and a fourth edge adjacent to the first edge and the second edge. The four edges jointly define an opening in the middle thereof with the first and second edges each having a pressing portion. Corners of the opening near the third edge extend upwardly. During the rotation of the load plate, the pressing portions will abut against the electronic package prior to the corners near the third edge, and thereby prevent the corners from abutting against the electronic package.
US07666019B2
Systems and methods for retaining a card in an information handling system are disclosed. A retainer for use in an information handling system may include a body, at least one mounting feature coupled to the body, and a retention flange coupled to and protruding from the body. The at least one mounting feature may be configured to couple the retainer to a card. The retention flange may have a top edge configured to engage with a bottom edge of a retention ledge associated with a connector to secure the card to the connector. At a least a portion of the top edge of the retention flange of the retainer may be situated in a substantially non-parallel manner relative to the bottom edge of the retention ledge associated with the connector when the retention flange is engaged with the retention ledge.
US07666017B2
A SIM card securing mechanism applied to a casing of a mobile phone is provided. The SIM card securing mechanism includes a SIM card holder used for carrying a SIM card, a restoring element, an elastic element, and a tenon structure. One end of the SIM card holder is connected to the casing, and the other end thereof has a first blocker. The SIM card holder may be rotated to be held in the casing or be exposed from a recess. One end of the elastic element is fixed on the casing. One end of the tenon structure is connected to the elastic element, and the other end thereof has a second blocker. The SIM card holder is rotated to allow the first blocker to be fastened with the second blocker via the resilience of the elastic element, and the SIM card holder may be held in the casing.
US07666009B2
Disclosed are an electrical connector and a method for providing transmit and receive electrical signal contacts to reduce or minimize total crosstalk. Such methods may be particularly suitable for connectors having larger near-end crosstalk aggressors than far-end crosstalk aggressors. The electrical signal contacts may be subdivided on a substrate, such as a midplane PCB, and through the opposing connectors, such that the transmitting contacts are all on one side of the connector and the receiving contacts are on the other side of the connector, with a buffer between them. The buffer may comprise a plurality of “dummy” or “buffer” contacts, which may be unassigned or devoid of electrical connectivity. This is one step beyond the primary assignment of contacts as single-ended or differential signal contacts. The contacts themselves may also receive a secondary assignment according to their desired transmitting, receiving, or buffering function.
US07666004B2
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a PLC housing comprising a plurality of board mounts. Each of the plurality of board mounts can be configured to physically position a board of a plurality of boards relative to at least one other system component. In certain exemplary embodiments, one or more of the plurality of board mounts might not be configured to electrically or communicatively couple the board to another system component.
US07666002B2
An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing (1) comprising a bottom wall (11) and a locking member (131) extending downwardly from the bottom wall (11), a plurality of contacts (4) received in the insulative housing (1) and a fastening device (3) locked with the insulative housing (1) for fastening the electronic package (2) on the insulative housing (1). Thus even if exert an upwardly force on the electronic package (2), the electronic package (2) can also securely located on the insulative housing (1).
US07665993B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for determining accurate estimates of punitive damages in bifurcated cases. The method increases the accuracy of punitive damages predictions through the use of mock juries that have completed the liability phase of the mock trial and have found the defendant liable. Prior art methods of estimating punitive damages typically skip the liability phase of the trial and ask jurors to simply assume liability, an assumption that ignores the fact that the experience of going through the process of finding the defendant liable changes the nature and dynamic of the jury in a fundamental and unpredictable manner. The method provided takes the totality of that experience into account, including the perceptions, coalitions, and antagonisms that develop during liability deliberations. The method includes assembling a pool of jurors, presenting the liability case, and assessing the results to determine whether each of the jurors is plaintiff-oriented or defendant-oriented. Based on these data, a punitive damages research jury is assembled from the pool, and this research jury deliberates the liability case to a verdict. The damages case is then presented to a research jury which has found for the plaintiff, after which the research jury hears the punitive damages case and deliberates to reach a decision on the amount of punitive damages.
US07665992B2
Three part bonding compositions that include an etching solution, a preparative solution, and a curable composition, as well as packaged products and methods of use for the treatment of bone substrate, i.e., teeth, are described. The etch solutions generally include an inorganic acid, an organic acid, an ethylenically unsaturated functional monomer and, optionally a solvent, and water. The preparative solutions generally include an ethylenically unsaturated functional monomer, at least one polyethylenically unsaturated functional crosslinking monomer, a photo initiator, and at least one solvent. The curable composites include reactive monomers and crosslinking agents that are effective to adhere to the surface of the treated substrate. The methods of the invention provide the ability to modify a bone or bone-like surface so that the curable composition, such as an adhesive resin, can be used in combination with a restorative material.
US07665988B2
Provided is a complex sintering furnace to sequentially perform a bake-out process and a sintering process for molding ceramic products. The complex sintering furnace includes: a support frame; a pair of furnace bodies supported on the top of the support frame and having a built-in heat insulator covered by a disc-shaped cover; a pair of rails arranged under the support frame in parallel in a length direction along arrangement of the furnace bodies; a rotating base horizontally transferred along the rails and rotatably connected to bottoms of the furnace bodies when the rotating base is vertically transferred directly under the bottoms of the furnace bodies, the rotating base including a separately rotating setter mounted the top thereof; and an ascending/descending apparatus mounted under the rotating bases and having a ball-screw type rotation shaft to vertically ascend/descend the rotating base at the same time of the separate rotation of the setters. Accordingly, the production efficiency of the ceramic products can be significantly improved by rapidly transferring to the post-processes and simultaneously performing the bake-out process and the sintering process.
US07665985B1
An apparatus for distributed ignition is disclosed wherein a combustion fuel and an ignition mixture are combined where the ignition mixture comprises ignition agents and fuel and where ignition agents can be nano-metallic particles in combination with single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs). The combination of ignition mixture and combustion fuel in the presence of oxygen are exposed to light causing heating of the ignition agents and combustion of the fuel within which the ignition agents are interspersed. A system for igniting fuels using the method is also disclosed.
US07665982B2
A twin-sheet thermoforming process and associated apparatus which enables placement of an insert between upper and lower sheets before the sheets are actually heated and formed is described herein. Since the insert is positioned before molding takes place, the insert does not cause the formed panels to rest and cool down before fusing is finally carried out to capture the insert and seal the panels to each other. Panel fusing may therefore be performed at an optimal temperature.
US07665978B2
A mold is mounted with a locating ring mated into a hole in a stationary platen. A distance measuring unit is disposed to the side of the injection nozzle. The distance A between the sprue hole and the outer circumference of the locating ring and the distance B between the distance measuring unit and the outer circumference of the locating ring are both known. The distance C between the central axis of the nozzle hole and the side of the injection nozzle is also known. If the distance D to the side of the injection nozzle is measured by means of the distance measuring unit, the displacement between the central axis of the sprue hole and the central axis of the nozzle hole is obtained by calculating {(A+B)−(C+D)}. The injection nozzle is centered by being moved manually or automatically by the amount corresponding to the displacement.
US07665971B1
A control system and method for obtaining power on demand from a diesel engine in order to operate vehicle functions and accessories. The method comprised of: (1) determining a flow rate necessary to operate each of a plurality of function hydraulic pumps and an vehicle drive pump associated with the engine; (2) comparing the flow rates of the various hydraulic pumps to determine the greatest flow rate; (3) establishing an engine speed necessary to deliver the greatest flow rate; (4) comparing the engine speed necessary to deliver the greatest flow rate with a current engine speed; and (5) adjusting the current engine speed to provide the greatest flow rate required.
US07665970B2
A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed having a motor housing (11) which encases an electric motor (13). The motor includes a bottom mounting plate (14) that rotates and thereby drives an annular array of blade irons (16), each having a blade (17) mounted thereto in conventional fashion. Each blade iron is mounted for pivotal and radial movement relative to the bottom mounting plate. An annular balancing ring (28) causes pivotal and radial movement of other blade irons (36)in response to the radial movement of an off-balanced blade iron (35).
US07665969B2
An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, the assembly including an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces having a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. The layer of cushioning material extending along and following the general contour of yoke surface, and the layer of cushioning material directly contacting a support plate. Another embodiment is an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle.
US07665964B2
A gas turbine engine turbine comprises an annular array of nozzle guide vanes and an annular array of turbine blades mounted within its annular casing. An array of radially extending protrusions are positioned axially upstream of said array of said nozzle guide vanes and protruding inwardly from the inner casing wall so as to mix the tangential momentum component of the overtip leakage fluid flow before it reaches the array of nozzle guide vanes.
US07665963B2
A method for repairing or replacing a mechanically retained vane is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming an oversized cavity in an outer base, inserting a flared end of a vane in the oversized cavity, and inserting a wedge for mechanically retaining the flared end of the vane in the oversized cavity. The wedge has a first surface with a constant pitch angle to match the outer base cavity and a second surface with a variable pitch angle to match the vane tip dovetail.
US07665958B2
A heat accumulation segment for local separation of a flow duct inside a turbo engine, from a stator housing that radially surrounds the flow duct is provided. The heat accumulation segment includes two axially opposed joining contoured elements that are engagable with two components that are axially adjacent along the flow duct. A first one of the two joining contoured elements has a radially oriented recess with a contoured surface against which a securing pin having an external contour complementary to the contoured surface acts radially under force action from a component that adjoins the first joining contoured element. The first joining contoured element has a collar portion having radially upper and lower collar surfaces, and the collar portion is connected within a counter-contoured receiving contoured element in the axially adjacent component by a joining force that acts between the securing pin and the conical contoured surface.
US07665953B2
A method for cooling a shroud segment of a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a turbine shroud assembly including a shroud segment having an inner surface and a leading edge that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface, and coupling a turbine nozzle to the turbine shroud segment such that a gap is defined between an aft edge of an outer band of the turbine nozzle and the leading edge. The method also includes directing cooling air into the gap, and directing the cooling air in the gap through at least one cooling hole extending between the leading edge and the inner surface.
US07665946B2
A transfer chamber for a flat display device manufacturing apparatus is provided. The transfer chamber may combine functions of a transfer chamber and a load-lock chamber. A robot may be provided aside from a center of the transfer chamber, and a buffer may be provided so as to avoid interference with the robot. An aligner may adjust a position of a substrate mounted on the buffer.
US07665941B2
An anchor rod cap and method for protecting an anchor rod bolt/nut/lower flange assembly are provided. An anchor rod is provided having upper and lower tubular elements connected by a shoulder. The upper element is disposed about the anchor rod threads and has an interior surface defined on a radius smaller than an anchor rod thread outer radius. The lower tubular element has an interior radius larger than an anchor nut outer dimension and is configured to define an air gap between the lower tubular element inner surface and an anchor nut encompassed thereby. A lower tubular element bottom edge is configured to form a physical barrier interface with the anchor rod base flange. At least one of the upper tubular element interior surface and the lower tubular element bottom edge are configured to form a sealing interface with anchor rod thread outer surfaces or an upper flange surface.
US07665936B2
The invention concerns a wood drill bit with a cylindrical drilling head. The drilling head has at its end a centering tip which is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the drill bit and which projects in the drilling direction for centering the wood drill bit, at least two main cutters which are arranged diametrically and radially or substantially radially and have main cutting edges, and a pan-cylindrical guide bell. Adjoining each main cutter is a chip ejection space which is partially open towards the connecting portion. It is proposed inter alia that the main cutter extends with a radially inwardly disposed portion into the centering tip and the chip ejection space is enlarged into the centering tip by means of a pre-chip ejection groove.
US07665931B2
A pier support system provides an arrangement for constructing a pier either onsite or offsite. Support apparatus provides four sides arranged in a square which are supported vertically from a planar pier support base. The walls are inset from the edge of the pier support base to provide a margin around the sides of the base to permit constructing an outer wall using blocks and cement adjacent to each support side. Two methods of attaching a footing base to a site are shown. The pier support base is attached to the upper side of an installed footing base by a two axis and verticality adjusting apparatus. The outer wall is constructed after the bases are connected and then the pier verticality is adjusted and a cap installed to complete the pier.
US07665930B2
A hydraulic system has a hydraulic actuator for moving a door leaf of a door installation between open and closed positions thereof. A reservoir has a volume for containing a hydraulic fluid. A fluid circuit provides fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The system also has a pump for pumping hydraulic fluid from the reservoir into the fluid circuit to operate the actuator. A fluid circuit flushing system of the hydraulic system operates to flush a volume of hydraulic fluid from the fluid circuit back to the reservoir without moving any door leaves of the door installation. The hydraulic system may be part of a mine door installation installed in a mine passageway and having at least one door leaf. The hydraulic actuator is connected to the door leaf for driving movement of the door leaf between its open and closed positions.
US07665927B2
The present invention is an improved swivel joint for use as part of a cable-guided fishing assembly. The swivel joint contains a bearing assembly comprising a series of ball bearings partially encased by an inner and outer race. During a cable-guided fishing operation, the inner and outer race exert a shearing, rather than compression, force on the ball bearing due to the unique configuration of the bearing assembly. This unique configuration increases the strength of the bearing assembly, and the corresponding strength of the swivel joint, without necessitating an increase in the outer diameter of the swivel joint.
US07665926B2
A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises a housing, hinge plates, and ring members. The housing supports the hinge plates for pivoting motion relative to the housing to open and close ring members mounted thereon. The mechanism comprises a thin, flat travel bar below the hinge plates arranged in a vertical orientation. The travel bar is supported by coil springs in a position where the travel bar is adjacent a bottom surface of the hinge plates. The travel bar moves relative to the hinge plates between a position blocking the hinge plates against pivoting when the ring members are closed and a position allowing the hinge plates to pivot when it is desired to open the ring members.
US07665922B2
A writing instrument that includes a body extending along a central axis between a front end provided with a writing tip and a rear end, the body presenting a grip zone and comprising at least first and second elements that are assembled together, and a tubular grip sleeve covering the grip zone at least in part. The grip sleeve presents at least one projection extending towards the central axis, and the first and second body elements define a housing adapted to receive the projection of the sleeve, the projection being pinched in the housing by the first and second assembled-together elements.
US07665919B2
A recording control device includes a head driving circuit, a temperature detector, and a controller. The head driving circuit includes a power supply that supplies a driving current to a plurality of driving coils used for driving a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head. An induced current flows through a circuit which is connected to the plurality of driving coils when the driving current to the driving coils stops. The temperature detector detects a temperature of heat generated in the circuit due to the induced current, and the controller controls an operation of the recording head based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector.
US07665917B2
Apparatus and methods for heating a substrate in a pressurized environment inside of a thermal processing system. The substrate is placed in a gaseous environment inside a processing chamber of the thermal processing system. The substrate is supported in the gaseous environment. The gas pressure inside the processing chamber is increased above atmospheric pressure, which increases the temperature of the gaseous environment. Heat is transferred from the pressurized gaseous environment to the substrate for thermally processing a layer on the substrate.
US07665915B2
A camera module, including a printed circuit board, an image sensor chip, and a housing, is provided. A plating line can be formed in an inner layer of the printed circuit board. A method of manufacturing the camera module can include connecting the plating line of the inner layer of the printed circuit board to a pattern of an outer layer using a via hole, performing a plating process, and forming an image sensor, the housing, and a lens part on the printed circuit board.
US07665886B2
A mixing apparatus has a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a nozzle having an interior passageway affixed to the nozzle support such that the nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. The nozzle moves through the fluid such that fluid is channeled through the interior passageway at a same rate that the nozzle moves through the fluid. Another nozzle can be affixed to the nozzle support diametrically opposite to the nozzle.
US07665883B2
The present invention provides a modular panel lighting apparatus comprising a multi layer power board and one or more lighting modules. The power board is a compound structure of one or more electrically conductive layers which are separated by one or more electrically insulating layers. The power board is configured to receive one or more lighting modules and can provide electrical, mechanical and thermal function adequate to meet a desired functionality of the lighting apparatus. A lighting module comprises one or more light-emitting elements operatively attached to a connector element that has one or more electrical contact portions. By inserting the connector element into the power board, the lighting module can be mounted anywhere on the face of the power board. When appropriately inserted into the power board, the one or more electrical contact portions of the connector element can establish selective electrical contact with the conductive layers of the power board and can secure the lighting module in place.
US07665876B2
A backlight unit includes: light guide plate surrounded by main surfaces and end surfaces, one end surface facing a light source designated as entrance surface, one main surface designated as emitting surface; first prism sheet provided above the light guide plate, having first prism columns on a top surface and second prism columns on a bottom surface, each first prism column has first ridge line parallel or perpendicular to the entrance surface, each second prism column has second ridge line extending in a different direction from the first ridge line; second prism sheet provided above the first prism sheet, having third prism columns abutting each other on a top surface, each third prism column has third ridge line extending in a direction different from the first and second ridge lines; and reflection sheet facing the light guide plate below the light guide plate.
US07665874B2
An information display device illuminates a light pipe, and includes a controller to regulate the power levels delivered to a light source, thereby regulating the amount of light delivered to the light pipe. Alternatively, the information display device delivers visual data, including alpha-numeric characters, predetermined images, or a controlled phasing. The information display device may be utilized to illuminate information associated with the structure. The illumination system provides the ability to phase between different colors, as well as blended colors. Accordingly, an information display device phases between varying colors, and may blend colors to create color schemes. The illumination system includes a control module disposed within the structure to control device parameters. The illumination system further includes landscape lights that are in communication with the control module and the information display device, such that the landscape lights may phase with the information display device, thereby providing a unified phasing effect.
US07665872B2
A first LED unit, a first reflector, a second LED unit, a second reflector, and a light source mount which supports the first LED unit and the second LED unit are provided in a light chamber. The first reflector is formed integrally with a projection lens and forwardly reflects direct light outputted from a first LED to the central axis of the lens. The second reflector is formed integrally with the projection lens and forwardly reflects direct light outputted from a second LED. The light source mount has a fixing portion adapted to perform the positioning of the projection lens, the first reflector and the second reflector, which are formed integrally with a connecting member, in the direction of the central axis of the lens. The light source mount also has a positioning projection and positioning recesses, which are adapted to perform the positioning of the projection lens, the first reflector and the second reflector in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.
US07665862B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture for achieving a desired illumination pattern includes a support plate and a plurality of panels connected to the support plate. Each panel has an array of LEDs mounted to a planar surface thereof, and each of the panels is rotatable in at least two dimensions.
US07665861B2
An LED module for illumination systems is provided that can be installed in and connected to an illumination system in a simple way both electrically and mechanically, and that ensures the greatest possible flexibility with reference to its possible uses. The LED module has a plurality of light-emitting diodes (2) arranged on a carrier plate (1), the carrier plate (1) being provided with at least one electrical connecting device (12) for electrically connecting the LED module, and with a fastening device (5) for fastening the LED module in an illumination system.
US07665858B2
Optical systems are described that have at least one source of a beam of blue light with divergence under 15°. A phosphor emits yellow light when excited by the blue light. A collimator is disposed with the phosphor and forms a yellow beam with divergence under 15°. A dichroic filter is positioned to transmit the beam of blue light to the phosphor and to reflect the beam of yellow light to an exit aperture. In different embodiments, the beams of blue and yellow light are incident upon said filter with central angles of 15°, 22°, and 45°. The filter may reflect all of one polarization and part of the other polarization, and a polarization rotating retroreflector may then be provided to return the unreflected light to the filter.
US07665853B2
A scan mirror is held steady during a holding period interval between forward and return scans in a lightweight, compact image projection module operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to project an image in color.
US07665851B2
A color wheel (35) has equally arranged RGB primary color filters, and intermediate color filters each arranged between adjacent primary color filters. A time division driver (39) drives a spatial light modulator (31) by supplying color signals corresponding to color of the lights from the color wheel (35) to the spatial light modulator (31). The time division driver (39) controls the spatial light modulator (31) in accordance with display control instructed by a control unit (14). Since the intermediate color filters are arranged between the adjacent primary color filters, a projector engine (13) projects mixed color lights during color mixture terms where the primary color and the intermediate color are mixed, thus improves the color reproduction performance.
US07665845B2
A goggle based light-weight VOG system includes at least one digital camera connected to and powered by a laptop computer through a firewire connection and allows for high speed pupil dilation tracking. An EOG system may be incorporated directly into a goggle base. The digital camera may digitally center the pupil in both the X and Y directions. A calibration mechanism may be incorporated onto the goggle base. The VOG system may track and record head position and goggle slippage. An animated eye display may provide data in a more meaningful fashion. The VOG system may be a modular design whereby the same goggle frame or base is used to build a variety of digital camera VOG systems.
US07665840B2
The present invention provides protective eyewear, also referred to as sport goggles, where the lens and the flexible frame are easily separated and interchangeable. The lens and the flexible frame are both available in a variety of colors. Therefore, the wearer can select and easily assemble a preferred color combination. More specifically, the protective eyewear includes a lens received within a flexible frame and a strap that is permanently attached to the lens for securing the eyewear to a wearer's face. There are at least two connection apertures spaced around an outer perimeter of the lens. The flexible frame has at least two connection protrusions that are aligned with the connection apertures in the lens for removably receiving the connection apertures.
US07665839B1
A coupling device with a breakaway tab and methods of using the same for operably coupling an ornament to a side arm of an apparatus having ornamentation. The coupling device comprises an elongated body having openings at each end. One opening has been adapted to receive a screw of a side arm, the other to receive an ornamental fastener. A breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem is provided to manipulate the screw and coupling device so the coupling device may be inserted between a head of the screw and an inside surface of the side arm. After engaging the side arm by the screw, the breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem of the screw may be broken off at a breakaway and discarded.
US07665830B2
A liquid discharge head comprises a base member, a plurality of nozzles which discharge drops of a liquid, a plurality of liquid chambers which communicate with the plurality of nozzles respectively, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements generating a pressure to pressurize the liquid in each of the plurality of liquid chambers. In the liquid discharge head, a plurality of piezoelectric element members in which the plurality of piezoelectric elements are formed with grooves in columns by slot processing are arranged on the base member in rows along a direction of the columns of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
US07665828B2
A drop generator including a fluid channel substructure having a pressure chamber and an inlet formed therein, a diaphragm layer overlying the fluid channel substructure, a transducer substructure attached to the diaphragm layer, and an ink feed aperture formed in the diaphragm layer.
US07665827B2
A liquid discharge recording head which discharges a liquid includes a substrate on which liquid-discharge-energy-generating elements are provided and which constitutes a part of a flow path for supplying the liquid; and a covering resin layer which is provided on the substrate, which constitutes a part of the flow path, and which includes orifices for discharging the liquid, wherein the covering resin layer is composed of an oxetane resin composition containing an oxetane compound having at least one oxetanyl group in its molecule and a photocationic polymerization initiator as essential components.
US07665824B2
A printing system includes an ink dispenser configured to dispense ink upon a print medium, a condenser configured to condense vapor into a condensate and a receptacle configured to collect the condensate. The receptacle is perforated to permit a portion of the condensate to evaporate.
US07665801B2
A structure of an upper frame for supporting a cabin of construction machinery, whereby, in the event of a rollover accident, an excessive vertical load or rearward load applied to a cabin structure is primarily dispersed by a reinforcing member of the cabin structure, and the dispersed load is supported by a separate cabin supporting structure, so that the plastic deformation of the cabin structure can be minimized.
US07665797B1
An optimized aerodynamic drag and vibration reducing geometry is described for round cylindrical tubing or pipe exposed to a flow stream at right angles to its direction of travel. The base drag reduction of the tube or pipe is maximized by providing a shaped fairing which intersects the cylindrical tube at the point of would-be flow separation and by means of a turbulator strip along the leading edge of the fairing geometry at the juncture, ensures a smooth flow transition to avoid asymmetric vortices and large negative pressures from forming in the remainder of the wake flow. A direct application would be to improve fuel economy of a semi-tractor trailer vehicle with large exposed vertical exhaust pipes operating at freeway speeds. By reducing the wake turbulence behind the exhaust pipes, a secondary reduction of trailer fore body pressure drag will ensue. By lowering the wake turbulence, ambient noise levels into the tractor cab are reduced, as are reduced vibrations transmitted directly into the cab from the pipe mount.
US07665790B2
A partition which can fully prevent a luggage from moving is provided. A partition which divides the luggage room of a vehicle two dimensionally has a main partition member which divides the luggage room in one direction and sub partition members which divide the luggage room in another direction. The main partition member has connection parts detachably connected to respective anchors provided in the luggage room. The sub partition member has a connection part provided at one end thereof, and the other end thereof is coupled to the main partition member. The main partition member has the connection parts at both side ends thereof, and the sub partition members divide the luggage room in a direction orthogonal to the main partition member.
US07665782B2
This invention provides hand operated portable devices for grasping and manipulation of objects as well as methods of their use. Embodiments of the devices of the invention comprise two opposing angled jaw members that are operated by a user-controlled trigger through a linkage lever as well as comprise a locking mechanism allowing locking of the jaw members.
US07665781B2
A portable apparatus for picking up and storing waste and, particularly animal waste, includes a container having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and forming an open top end. An elongated member with a pointed lower edge is provided for securing the apparatus to a ground surface in a semi-permanent fashion. There is a pair of hooks for securing the handles of a grocery type bag positioned within an interior portion of the container. An optional liner storage member is attached to the exterior surface of the container. The invention also provides a device for picking up the animal waste which includes a cup-shaped member mounted at one end of an elongated member and a handle which is mounted at a distal end of the elongated member.
US07665778B2
A vehicle bumper and a method for making a vehicle bumper formed of first and second members. Each of the first and second members are formed of substantially similar first and second U-shaped members positioned such that the respective sidewalls of the first and second U-shaped members are positioned adjacent one another. The bumper including a plurality of apertures therein formed by cutouts extending inward from the peripheral edge of each of the first and second U-shaped members.
US07665776B2
An handle assembly for a vehicle door and method of actuating a release mechanism, such as a door latch, are disclosed. The handle assembly may have a pull handle including a sliding leg, a pivot leg and a hand gripping portion extending between the sliding leg and the pivot leg, with the sliding leg adapted to guide the pull handle between a closed position and an open position, and with the pivot leg adapted to be secured for pivoting about a handle pivot axis about which the pull handle is pivotable. The handle assembly may also include a torque cable having a first end centered and rotatable about the handle pivot axis, and a second end adapted to operatively engage the release mechanism, with the first end rotationally fixed to the pivot leg.
US07665764B2
The gas generator includes, a housing having a gas discharge port, a first combustion chamber defined by the housing, a first gas generating agent adapted to generate gas to inflate an air bag, the first gas generating agent having a first combustion temperature and disposed in the first combustion chamber, a second gas generating agent adapted to generate gas to inflate the air bag, the second gas generating agent having a second combustion temperature lower than the first combustion temperature and disposed in the first combustion chamber, and a first ignition unit for directly igniting at least one of the first gas generating agent and the second gas generating agent.
US07665763B2
An inflator for an air-bag comprises at least one gas bottle (1, 2) containing pressurized gas. The gas bottle is sealed by a rupturable foil (9). There is a support member (15) engaging the rupturable foil to maintain it in an unruptured state. The support member (15) is retained in an initial position by a part (23) of a piston element (20) which directly engages the support member (15). The piston element (20) is associated with a squib (11) to drive the piston element from an initial position to a release position in which the piston element no longer engages the support member (15). This permits the support member (15) to move to a position in which the foil (9) will rupture to permit gas to escape from the bottle. The preferred embodiment has two gas bottles each sealed by a respective foil each maintained by a support member which directly engages a single piston member.
US07665757B2
A technique is provided that is effective in easily draining liquid entering the interior of housing for housing a prefolded airbag of an airbag apparatus mounted to motorcycles. In a first form, an airbag apparatus mounted to a motorcycle has an opening at the bottom of a retainer, through which the water entering a retainer can be drained to the outside of retainer.
US07665748B2
A driving form switching apparatus enabling even a user of wheelchair who cannot freely use limb to easily change over a driving form by single hand self-operation. By using a differential gear mechanism or a combination mechanism comprising pinions and racks, the rotating, tilting and shifting motions of a steering lever are transmitted to two rotating shafts. Drums are directly coupled to the two rotating shafts, and the rotations of the two rotating shafts are transmitted to steering shafts through flexible wires as first connecting means. Also, the steering shafts for wheels are parallel- or cross-connected by second connecting means. Thus, the driving forms of a four-wheel drive vehicle such as back and forth traveling, counter-clockwise turning, clockwise turning, turning on the spot, parallel traveling, stopping and braking, etc, can be switched by a single-hand simple operation.
US07665734B2
A board game which represents a predetermined geographic area including a plurality of cites which a plurality of players may visit. The players may enter and exit the predetermined area through various entrances and exits and a plurality of travel routes are designated within the area along which a player may move. A player receives points determined by which area of interest and which themes related thereto exist. Various cards are provided for each player which may be used by the player during the play of the games which the cards determining the manner in which the player may move or be restricted from motion.
US07665730B2
A sheet processing apparatus including a cross-directionally moving device for moving a sheet in a direction crossing a sheet discharging direction, and a cross-side restricting member for receiving one side edge of the sheet moved in the crossing direction by the cross-directionally moving device, and restricting the movement of the sheet, wherein the cross-directionally moving device moves the next sheet from a position between the other side edge of the sheet received by the cross-side restricting member and the cross-side restricting member to the cross-side restricting member.
US07665727B2
A system, method, and process of for packaging liquid product into cartons using an automated packaging system and more specifically methods of enclosing the packaging system and routing conditioned air over the cartons is presented. More specifically, a carton magazine assembly for collecting plastic coated paper carton blanks prior to sanitization, assembly, filling, and sealing includes a magazine cover that can be opened to insert additional carton blanks into the packaging system as necessary. The magazine cover has an integrated air manifold that directs pressurized conditioned air over the carton blanks towards suction ports. The suction ports collect the air with potential contaminants and the filters the air prior to ejecting it away from the vicinity of the packaging system.
US07665706B2
A suction-adhered device includes a main body, suction cup units, and suction power detection units. The main body is provided with chambers. Each of the suction cup units includes a suction cup received in the chamber, and a safety lever projected from the upper side of the main body and movably connected to the suction cup with an elastic element mounted between them. Each of the suction power detection units includes a probe received in a long hole near the chamber to partially project from the long hole, and an indicating member visible via a window formed on a top of the main body above the long hole. When the suction cup is loosened from a mounting surface, the indicating member is turned by an elastic element to show a warning indicating zone thereof, so that a user may be timely warned to re-mount the main body.
US07665705B2
An apparatus is provided including a main body portion, a first portion connected to the main body portion, and an extension portion connected to the first portion. The extension portion is comprised of an extension arm and a base. The base is configured to slide up and down the extension arm. The apparatus further includes a base engagement means, and a base release. The base engagement means does not allow the base to slide down the extension arm away from the first portion unless the base release has been activated. The base engagement means allows the base to slide up the extension arm toward the first portion regardless of whether the base release has been activated. The apparatus may be used to hang up a picture frame.
US07665704B2
An object of the invention is to provide a seat rail apparatus, which is capable of locking/unlocking forward/backward sliding of a seat for vehicle in a stepless manner with a simple structure, at an inexpensive cost. A brake disk 51 is attached to the front end of a slide screw 5, which is screwed with a nut 4 disposed within a lower rail 2 and an upper rail 3. A lock mechanism 6 comprises rollers 63 and 64, springs 65 for imparting a force to the rollers in the peripheral direction and a supporting member 61 disposed with the rollers and the springs therein. The springs 65 impart a force to the brake disk 51 and the supporting member 61 to bring the rollers 63 and 64 into a friction engagement; thus the rotation of the slide screw 5 can be locked. Owing to first and second engagement plates 81 and 82, the rollers 63 and 64 are caused to roll against the force imparted by the springs 65, and are released from the friction engagement; thus the slide screw 5 can be unlocked.
US07665701B2
A mounting bracket for securing to an upright wall has an anchor plate formed with an upper horizontally throughgoing mounting hole and having a back face engageable with the wall, and a support plate fixed to and extending horizontally from the anchor plate below the upper mounting hole. The back face is formed between the upper mounting hole and an upper edge of the anchor plate with a bevel having a bevel face extending upward away from the wall.
US07665688B2
A micro aerial vehicle can be converted during flight between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotary wing flight mode. The canard design micro aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, two tiltable propellers and airfoils arranged at a forward portion of fuselage, a pair of coaxial drive shafts positioned aft of the tiltable propeller and airfoil arranged for contra-rotation, a stop rotor mechanism, and a pair of wing panels, each of the wing panels attached to one of the coaxial drive shafts. The wing panels act as contra-rotating rotor blades in the rotary wing flight mode, and act as fixed wing panels in the fixed wing mode.
US07665682B2
An overend take-off crosswound bobbin and a method for its production are designed in such a way that the density of the finished crosswound bobbin is increased and the run-off characteristics during further processing are optimized. For this purpose, in one variant parallel windings are introduced at intervals. In another variant, when the bobbin diameter is small the yarn is wound on at a smaller pitch angle than for a larger diameter. Furthermore, a traversing stroke which is reduced by comparison with the bobbin width is displaced along the bobbin width.
US07665679B2
A document management system comprises a document management apparatus that manages a document ID by associating the document ID with a storage time of the document, and checks the storage time in response to an inquiry about a permission of destroying the document and gives a permission of destroying the document when the storage time has expired, and a document destruction apparatus including a mode selection unit that selects one of a first destruction mode and a second destruction mode and an execution unit that destroys the document according to a destruction mode selected by the mode selection unit. The execution unit destroys the document without reading the document ID in the first destruction mode, and reads the document ID to inquire the permission of destroying the and destroys the document when the document management apparatus gives the permission of destroying the document in the second destruction mode.
US07665675B2
A watering system includes a watering can and a dispensing system. The dispensing system includes a cart for supporting the watering can, wheels coupled to a bottom of the cart and adapted to facilitate movement of the dispensing system on a surface, and a lever movably coupled to the cart and adapted to allow for manual movement of the watering can between a lowered position in which water held in the watering can's bucket is not dispensed and a raised position in which water held in the buck is dispensed through the watering can's spout. The lever has an exposed end adapted to be lowered by a user to move the watering can from the lowered position to the raised position.
US07665674B2
The present invention relates to a structure for fixing a reducer for a sprinkler in a side wall, and more particularly, to a structure for fixing a reducer for a sprinkler for side wall construction, in which since the reducer can easily adjust a distance from the side wall in the horizontal direction, a connection work between the reducer and the sprinkler head for the side wall construction connected to the reducer can be conveniently performed.
US07665668B2
A data card may comprise a chip and a card body having a first face and a second face. The chip may be mounted in the card body between the first face and the second face at least one of the first face and the second face has a cut indicator.
US07665662B2
A method, system and program product for the electronic delivery of reports of institutional votes affecting corporate governance to an institutional account holder, also referred to as a plan sponsor. An electronic template is provided to each institutional manager to declare a proxy voting position on each issue that can appear on a corporate proxy ballot. Subsequently, each institutional manager is presented with an electronic proxy ballot for each position in the corporation's stock. Each institutional manager is enabled to vote proxies using an electronic vote reporting platform. A plurality of voting results from the votes of the institutional managers is aggregated by the electronic vote reporting platform. An electronically-generated report for the aggregated voting results is then provided to the institutional account holder. A separate electronically-generated report for the voting results for each institutional manager over a selected period of time can also be provided to the institutional account holder. The electronically-generated reports can include a summary and/or detailed voting records across all managers or for each institutional manager over selected time periods. The user interface associated with the electronic vote reporting platform enables the plan sponsor to customize certain displays of voting results.
US07665661B2
A system for tracking elements employing fixed tags that are permanently attached internally or externally to elements. The tags include radio-frequency (RF) communication units that have wireless communication with RF communicators. The wireless communications between the RF tags and the RF communicators operate with a tag communication protocol that defines the operations and sequences for storing information into and retrieval of information from tags. Each communicator has a processor for controlling a security routine with the tag. Each tag has a tag memory having storage locations for storing security information, a controller for accessing the tag memory to access security information in response to the security routine and an I/O unit for electronic communication with the controller and for RF communication with the communicator.
US07665659B2
A display includes a visual aspect and, in certain embodiments, a sampling aspect. The visual aspect displays items of visual interest to a consumer. Product samples are associated with the sampling aspect for dispensing to a consumer such that the consumer may sample the product. Upon depletion of the product samples, the display retains value as a visual display.
US07665652B2
Metallurgy structures for input/output pads of an electronic devices can be adapted to receive both solder and wire bonds. First and second metallurgy structures, for example, can be provided on respective first and second input/output pads of an electronic device such that the first and second common metallurgy structures have a shared structure adapted to receive both solder and wire bonds. A solder bond can thus be applied to the first metallurgy structure, and a wire bond can be applied to the second metallurgy structure.
US07665649B2
Provided are device for assembling groups of eyebrow beautifying needles and method therefor. The assembling device comprises a base, a sliding block including two resilient members biased between the base and the sliding block, a central fastener for fastening the sliding block on or above the base, a holding assembly comprising a plurality of clamping posts vertically disposed on the base, and a plurality of holes with the sliding blocks passed through. Groups of eyebrow beautifying needles are adapted to insert into holding heads of the clamping posts with needle tips being flush in the holding heads of the clamping posts, and the needles in each group are fastened together by soldering. Moreover, sleeves of different colors or marks may be put on the needle groups for facilitating identifying the number of needles in each group.
US07665646B2
A surgical stapler is provided having a pair of jaws including a staple containing cartridge and an anvil. Buttress material is releasable affixed to the staple containing cartridge and the anvil. One of the jaws includes a pair of longitudinal projections at a first end of the jaw and configured to frictionally engage corresponding slots in a first end the buttress material. One of the jaws includes a post at a second end of the jaw. The buttress material includes a hole in a second end of the buttress material for receipt of the post.
US07665641B2
A support system for devices having a back plate, and a support arm connected to the back plate, the support arm having a plate section with a device connection, the support arm configured to be jointed from the back plate, the back plate and the support arm in conjunction configured to hold a device in any one of a plurality of positions, wherein the support system is configured to be worn by an individual.
US07665640B2
A very safe synthetic resin clip is composed of a pair of synthetic resin clip members, and a hanger includes two synthetic resin clips. Each synthetic resin clip member has at least one bracket bearing portion projecting inwardly from an interior portion on a rear face thereof which is provided with a bearing space therein. A pivot shaft is interposed into the bearing spaces of the clip members in use. If a synthetic resin spring has broken and the respective clip members are subjected to a reaction to the spring breakage, the pair of clip members is held by the pivot shaft, secured in position, without flying apart in pieces.
US07665636B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing fluids, especially particulate matter, from a supply bin. The apparatus includes a plough that is movable at least partially in and out of the bin and which, when retracted, closes a matching aperture in the bin, whereby there is an adequate quantity of fluid above the plough.
US07665633B2
An apparatus for dispensing small quantities of particles, the apparatus comprises a hopper (20) provided with a sieve (21) at a bottom portion thereof, the hoper defining a powder-containing zone (42) above the sieve which in use contains powder to be dispensed therefrom trough the sieve (21), a support for the hopper, the support holding a portion of the hopper so that the hopper can in use be held above a container into which the dispensed powder is to be received, at least one actuator for delivering impact energy to the hopper for causing powder to be dispensed through the sieve when the hopper receives the impact energy, and a deagglomeration device (58) disposed in the powder-containing zone (42).
US07665630B2
Dispensing apparatus is primarily intended for dispensing product from product containers (12) by extrusion. In controlling discharge of product a flexible tube (25) is connected to the container outlet and the tube is engageable with drive means (29, 31) for deforming the tube and controlling product discharged along the tube to an outlet nozzle (26). Usually there will be valves towards the entry (27) and exit (28) of the flexible tube and the drive means engages the tube between the spaced positions.
US07665626B2
A paint container, comprising a body (10) with a polygonal cross section, presenting upper edge portions (13) and a lid (20) having lateral edge portions (21) which are removably seated and tightly retained in a seat (15) defined along the upper edge portions (13) of the body (10). The lid (20) presents a lower face (20a) incorporating a downwardly projecting support means (22) which is engaged with an adjacent upper edge portion (13) of the body (10) after the opening of the lid (20), in order to maintain the latter with its adjacent lateral edge portion (21) externally seated against the lateral wall (11) of the body (10) and in an inclined position with its lower face (20a) forming a paint drip tray, said support means (22) defining a deflecting chute (25) for directing, to the interior of the body (10), the paint that is gravitationally dripping down the internal face (20a) of the lid (20).
US07665623B2
A tab for use with a container includes a rigid lever part, wherein the rigid lever is connectable to a tear part of the container and an operating part for operating the lever part. The operating part is movably connected to the lever part, such that the operating part can be moved out of the plane of the rigid lever part.
US07665622B2
A railroad car coupler centering device including in one embodiment a spreader beam mountable to the striker at one end of a railroad car, a right side centering spring rotatably connected to the spreader beam by a hinge, and a left side centering spring rotatably connected to the spreader beam by a hinge. The first or right side centering spring is moveable to and between a coupler engaged position and a coupler disengaged position. In the coupler engaged position, the right side centering spring is positioned to engage the right side of the coupler and to bias the coupler to a central position. In the coupler disengaged position, the right side centering spring allows the coupler to move from the center position to the right. Similarly, the left side centering spring is moveable to and between a coupler engaged position and a coupler disengaged position. In the coupler engaged position, the left side centering spring is positioned to engage the left side of the coupler and to bias the coupler to the central position. In the coupler disengaged position, the left side centering spring allows the coupler to move from the center position to the left.
US07665620B2
The present invention relates to a crane, preferably a truck crane, comprising a plurality of crane elements which are movable by actuators, a crane control unit for controlling and/or monitoring the movement of the crane elements, and at least one actuating switch for actuating the actuators. In accordance with the invention, the crane is characterized in that in the at least one actuating switch a logic module is integrated, by which the actuators can be driven directly corresponding to a respective switch movement, and the crane control unit can be connected with the logic module by a data transmission connection.
US07665618B2
An improved gravity feed product dispenser track apparatus for products sold in containers having a truncated conical shape, such as a bell shape or an inverted bell shape used for certain popular yogurt products. The dispenser track assembly of the present disclosure aligns the products on a track with a front discharge portion and an exit ramp that tilts the lead product forward or rearward so that the inclined or declined front surface of the container is pivoted to a more vertical state to improve its visibility for customers. A plurality of pull through fingers is disposed near front discharge portion. These fingers maintain a lead container on the track while also allowing a customer to remove a container by pulling it through the opening between the fingers.
US07665612B2
Disclosed herein is a gift wrap ensemble that includes a first end cap and a second end cap. Each of the first and second end caps includes a base member and a plurality of depressions extending therefrom. A plurality of gift wrap rolls are provided that form a chamber therebetween and that receive the depressions. A decorative item, such as a ribbon, bow, tissue paper and/or a gift tag, is positioned within the chamber. Packaging such as shrink wrap, a container, etc. encloses the decorative item within the chamber, and the decorative item is visually-perceptible from outside the packaging.
US07665608B2
The invention relates to a display and distribution packaging unit for fragile articles, especially for eggs, comprising a bottom part (2) which at least partially matches the outer contours of the articles housed within the unit and a cover part (3) comprising planar top- and side surfaces (10, 14, 15) for the provision of graphical information about the contents of the unit, where portions of the cover part (8) are furthermore shaped to reflect the shape of the eggs housed within the display and distribution package. The structure of the bottom and cover parts furthermore adds mechanical strength to the unit.
US07665606B2
In accordance with the present invention, a Clamp-On Tray for Neurosurgical Patties comprises a rectangular tray having a well at each end, parallel individual channels for the patty strings running between the wells and c-clamps mounted on one side for attaching to a MAYO stand encased in sterilized covering material.
US07665605B2
A sharps container for only one medical pen needle is configured with an elongated, hollow shield having an axially extending recess at a first end thereof. The recess is sized to receive the outer diameter of a pen needle hub. A cover member, sized for closing off the first end of the shield, is connected to the shield by means facilitating movement of the cover member between (i) a first position adjacent to a side of the shield and (ii) a second position abutting the first end of the shield. Locking means may be used for locking the cover member in the second position. The container has dual utilizations, first as a container for only one used medical pen needle and alternatively as a container for only one unused medical pen needle.
US07665604B2
A protective case for a product, such as a tambourine, having a predetermined configuration includes a clam shell housing generally configured to conform to the shape of the product. The housing is dimensioned to receive the product with clearance. The clam shell housing is formed of two clam shell members that are hinged to each other so that the clam shell members may be separated to allow the product to be inserted into or removed from the case. A suitable lock is provided for selectively locking the clam shell members to each other to prevent a separation of the clam shell members. A handle suitable for gripping is provided on the housing for carrying the case. Positioning members in the form of stabilizing walls are provided within the clam shell housing for positioning the product and stabilizing it against excessive movements within the clam shell housing when the clam shell members are juxtaposed in a closed condition of the clam shell housing. The product is preferably maintained in a generally fixed design position within the clam shell housing where the protection of the product is enhanced. By making the clam shell housing from a transparent molded plastic material the protective case can also serve as a display case through which the product may be viewed.
US07665603B2
A locking device and method for a storage container provide benefit denial. The locking device includes a base part and a cover part configured to lock to the base part. The cover part is configured to prevent a disk from being removed from a disk-retaining hub when the cover part is locked to the base part, and the base part is configured for easy and secure connection to the storage container. The base part includes a stop for engaging the exterior of the case when inserted into a receptacle in the bottom wall of the container, which precludes the base part from being pulled through the bottom wall of the storage container When the cover part is locked to the base part, the base part cannot be separated from the storage container without causing damage to the media disk.
US07665598B2
An arrangement (10) for assembling into batches (Ln), via a phasing device (23), a plurality of products (Pn) traveling on a conveyor belt (16) from an intake zone upstream to an exit zone downstream. The phasing device (23) is placed between the intake zone and the exit zone. The arrangement has at least one retractable catch (60, 62, 64), and the catch (60, 62, 64) is moved successively into an engaged position, causing a first product (Pn) to be slowed down until a second product (Pn) located immediately upstream moves up to it, so as to form a batch (Ln), and into a retracted position which enables the previously formed batch (Ln) to continue its downstream movement at the running speed of the belt.
US07665594B2
Provided is a passenger conveyor including a plurality of steps (2) having step rollers (6 and 7), a step chain (8) circulatingly moving in conjunction with each of the plurality of steps (2), guide rails (13a, 13b, 14a and 14b) provided in an intermediate portion of a truss and guiding the step rollers (6 and 7) of each step (2), and an intermediate driving device (12) provided in the intermediate portion of the truss and configured to transmit a driving force to the step chain (8). A step-attitude changing zone (Z) for changing the attitude of each step (2) on a return path side is provided on the traveling path of the steps (2) on the return path side.
US07665591B2
To reduce the axial size of a twin-clutch device including first and second clutch actuating mechanisms arranged in parallel along the axes of first and second driven shafts that are coaxial. A first clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism is provided for switching disconnection/connection of the first clutch actuating mechanism. A second clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism is provided for switching disconnection/connection of the second clutch actuating mechanism. A second clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism is arranged between first and second clutch inners so that at least a part of the second clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism is accommodated in at least one of first and second cylinder portions.
US07665588B2
The invention relates to a starting unit (1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6) comprising a starting element in the form of a hydrodynamic component (5, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6) and a housing (17, 18) that is coupled with the primary impeller (6) in a static or rotationally fixed manner and that encloses at least one impeller (7, 8) in the axial direction, thereby defining at least one working fluid guide channel or compartment (19). The invention is characterized in that the unit is provided with means (2) for influencing the transmission behavior of the hydrodynamic component (5). Said means comprise pressure medium-actuated integrated mechanical components (3) that have an at least indirect effect on the working cycle ensuing in the working compartment (8, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6). The pressure medium-actuated integrated mechanical components (3) are impinged upon by a pressure medium from the supply channel (20) or the first working medium guide channel or compartment (19), the position of the pressure medium-actuated integrated mechanical components (3) relative to the working compartment (8) being a function of the differential pressure of the pressure medium branched off from the first supply channel (20) or the first working medium guide channel or compartment (19) and the pressure in the interior of the housing (17, 18) in the area of the regulating device (26, 31).
US07665574B2
Soundproofing, restraining systems including at least one transparent acrylic glass panel that contains at least one embedded metal cable. A layer of plastic is provided, at least partially, between the surface of the metal cable and the transparent acrylic glass matrix. The restraining systems can be used in particular as noise barriers.
US07665570B2
A weight balance of a vehicle body is provided in an all terrain vehicle wherein an engine is supported by a vehicle body frame and an electric power steering device having an actuator unit is provided on a steering shaft. An electric motor is provided in the actuator unit, and heavy objects including a battery and a muffler are disposed on an opposite side to the electric motor in a vehicle width direction with respect to a vehicle body centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and on an opposite side to the electric motor in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the engine. To shorten and reduce weight the steering shaft is supported on a vehicle body frame through a radial bearing and ball bearings. Of the plurality of bearings, at least one of the bearings is made self-aligning.
US07665569B2
A power steering system includes a hydraulic power cylinder having a first and a second hydraulic chambers, for assisting a steering force of a steering mechanism, a first and a second oil passages respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic chambers, a reversible pump discharging operating oil and providing oil pressure to the hydraulic power cylinder through the first and second oil passages, and a motor connected to the reversible pump and rotating the reversible pump in normal and reverse directions. A steering load detection unit detects a steering load of a steering wheel for steering of the steered road wheels, and a motor control unit outputs a control signal to the motor to bring an actual oil pressure generated by the reversible pump closer to a desired oil pressure determined based on the detected steering load. A discharge amount per rotation of the reversible pump is smaller than or equal to 5 cc.
US07665567B2
A shift actuator comprises a drive shaft and a housing that rotatably supports the drive shaft. A shift position detecting apparatus detects a rotational position of the drive shaft. The drive shaft is connected to a shift mechanism by an operating lever and a shift rod. The operating lever and the housing are respectively formed with a through hole and a bottomed hole. The drive shaft can be temporarily secured in rotational position by inserting a lever positioning pin into the through hole and the bottomed hole. When secured, the shift position detecting apparatus can be attached to the housing and a length of the shift rod can be adjusted.
US07665562B2
A tubular case into which a drive shaft configured to transmit a driving force from a transmission T of an engine to a rear wheel of a motorcycle is accommodated, the case including a case body which has an opening portion extending in an axial direction of the drive shaft and is configured to accommodate the drive shaft therein through the opening portion, and a cover removably attached to the case body so as to close the opening portion.
US07665559B2
A hybrid vehicle controller operates to use GPS navigation information to determine how much energy should be delivered from or sent to, the battery. The battery charge can be better managed by using knowledge of the future path of the vehicle.
US07665551B2
A gripping apparatus for supporting a tubular includes a longitudinal opening extending therethrough. A bowl is formed on an inner wall of the housing to provide an incline surface for one or more gripping members. As the gripping members are move down along the incline, the incline causes the gripping members to move radially toward the tubular and contact the tubular. In one embodiment, the housing comprises two body portions coupled together using one or mores hinges. In one aspect, the bowl is formed as a recess in the inner wall of the housing. The hinges of the housing are progressively curved to accommodate the recess bowl, thereby increasing the tubular size handling capacity of the gripping apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include guide keys that mate with guide slots formed on an outer surface of the gripping members to minimize the rotational movement of the gripping members relative to the housing. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include a leveling ring connected to the one or more gripping members for synchronizing the movement of the one or more gripping members. In another embodiment still, the flange may include one or more blocks for mating with a rotary table. In another embodiment still, the apparatus may include one or more adjustable guide rollers to facilitate movement of the tubular within the housing.
US07665549B2
A fluid channeling device (10) is for a down-hole drill assembly (1) having a central axis (1c) and advanceable into a hole in a downward direction (D) along the axis (1c). The assembly (1) includes a drill member (2) with an inner surface (2a) bounding a central bore (2b) and an outer surface (2c). The channeling system includes at least one passage (12) provided within the drill member (2) so as to extend generally between the drill member inner (2a) and outer surfaces (2c). A generally annular channeling member (14) is disposeable about a portion of the drill member (2) and has at least one inlet port (20), at least one discharge port (16), and a passage (12) extending between the inlet (20) and discharge ports (16). The inlet port (20) is fluidly connectable with the drill member passage (12) to fluidly couple the central bore (2b) with the discharge port (16). The discharge port (16) is configured to direct fluid generally externally of the drill assembly (1) and generally in an upward direction (U) along the axis (1c).
US07665545B2
A method and apparatus for temporarily increasing fluid pressure at a specific location in a work string to perform an operation in an oil or gas well bore. Apparatus is provided which, in a first position provides fluid flow through the work string; in a second position provides the desired increase in fluid pressure to perform the operation in the well bore by dropping a ball (62) into the apparatus; and, by shearing pins (52) to move a sleeve (50) within the apparatus, provides a third position which returns fluid flow through the work string via bypass channels (26) created in the apparatus around the ball. Operation of a pressure activated near bit reamer in conjunction with the apparatus is also described.
US07665544B2
Measurements are made using a plurality of measure electrodes on a pad of a logging tool. The bias and gain of the measurements prior to A/D conversion are altered using measurements made by an additional electrode that is ahead of the measure electrodes.
US07665542B2
A core barrel capacity gauge for use on a core barrel assembly having a barrel for receiving a core sample. The core barrel capacity gauge includes a core sample marker located within the barrel such that the core sample marker rests against the top of the drilled core sample and a marker location sensor. The marker location sensor is arranged to detect the location of the core sample marker within the barrel.
US07665539B2
An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other. An adjustable linkage is attached to the frame for allowing flotation of the unit on a contour.
US07665537B2
The invention is a sealing system, such as a packer, that is used in a wellbore to seal against an exterior surface, such as a casing or open wellbore. The sealing system includes a swellable material that swells from an unexpanded state to an expanded state thereby creating a seal when the swellable material comes into contact with a triggering fluid.
US07665528B2
A frangible flapper valve that may be closed to hydraulically isolate a portion of a wellbore tubular. The flapper valve is made of a frangible material adapted to shatter upon impact from an impact sleeve. The sleeve may be used to initially hold open the flapper valve. A latching mechanism may be used to retain the sleeve above its initial position allowing the flapper to close isolating a portion of the tubular. The latching mechanism may engage a piston to retain the sleeve at the second position. A shearable device adapted to shear under a predetermined pressure selectively connects the piston to the tubular. When the pressure within the tubular increases above the predetermined amount the shearable device releases the piston and pushes the sleeve into the closed flapper valve causing the flapper valve to shatter. A second latching mechanism may prevent further movement of the sleeve.
US07665526B2
An isolation system for producing oil and gas from one or more formation zones and methods of use are provided comprising one or more pressure activated and tool shiftable valve assemblies. The tool shiftable valve may be actuated before or after actuation of the pressure activated valve.
US07665523B2
Of the many compositions and methods provided herein, one method includes a method comprising: contacting tar resident in a well bore with a treatment fluid comprising a styrene-acrylate polymer; and allowing the styrene-acrylate polymer to interact with the tar to at least partially reduce the tendency of the tar to adhere to a surface. Another method provided herein includes a method for treating tar sand comprising: contacting the tar sand with a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a styrene-acrylate polymer, the tar sand comprising tar and sand; and allowing the styrene-acrylate polymers to interact with the tar to at least partially separate the tar from the sand.
US07665522B2
The present invention relates to aqueous oilfield treatment fluids containing a gas component and fibers, wherein the fluids may further include a viscosifying agent and/or proppant. The fluids have good proppant suspension and transport properties as well as excellent gas phase stability. Use of fluids comprising an aqueous medium, a gas component, viscosifying agent, and fibers for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, cleanup operations, and gravel packing a wellbore, are also disclosed.
US07665519B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for downhole sampling or sensing of clean samples of component fluids of a multi-fluid mixture. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for, amongst other things, separating downhole multi-fluid mixtures into an oil-based fluid, a water-based fluid and/or the like and sampling and/or sensing of the clean separated fluids. Such sampling or sensing may be provided by a downhole tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention and the downhole tool may be used for production logging, formation testing and/or the like.
US07665517B2
Methods for remediating a subterranean environment. Methods comprising introducing a cleanup fluid through a well bore and into a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by the well bore, applying a pressure pulse to the cleanup fluid, and introducing a consolidating agent through the well bore and into the portion of the subterranean formation. Methods of cleaning a sand control screen comprises introducing a cleanup fluid through a sand control screen and into a portion of a subterranean formation, the sand control screen located in a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; applying a pressure pulse to the cleanup fluid; and introducing a consolidating agent through the sand control screen and into the portion of the subterranean formation.
US07665513B2
A heat exchanger structure of an automatic transmission stabilizing a temperature of oil is provided. A heat exchanger structure of an automatic transmission includes an automatic transmission, a first heat exchanger provided on an upstream side and a second heat exchanger provided on a downstream side, each capable of cooling oil ejected from the automatic transmission, and a thermo valve capable of supplying oil subject to heat exchange by at least one of first and second heat exchangers to the automatic transmission. When a temperature of the oil is relatively low, the thermo valve supplies oil passed through the first heat exchanger to the automatic transmission and shuts off a flow of oil from the second heat exchanger to the automatic transmission. When a temperature of the oil is relatively high, the thermo valve supplies oil passed through first and second heat exchangers to the automatic transmission.
US07665503B2
A ladder drum is mounted in a head rail of a Venetian blind for securing a ladder cord thereto, and includes a drum body installed on a tilt bar of the blind. An upper portion of the drum body is formed into an open-topped recess, which has two sidewalls interconnected by an end wall. A holder set is provided in the recess, such that a clearance is existed between the holder set and each of the sidewalls and a limiting space between the holder set and the end wall for receiving a securing element therein. The securing element is a rectangular frame has a rear end turnably received in the limiting space and a front end releasably engaged with a front side of the holder set to thereby firmly press two free ends of the ladder cord in the drum body against the two sidewalls of the recess.
US07665493B2
A nozzle inhibitor is positioned in a filler neck closure assembly to prevent a user from pumping unleaded fuel into a diesel fuel tank. The nozzle inhibitor blocks full insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly yet allows full insertion of a large-diameter diesel fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly.
US07665490B1
A loader device for a hopper-fed processing machine has a top plate pivotally secured to a bottom plate. The plates are attached between the processing equipment throat and the material hopper, or vacuum receiver/reservoir. As the top plate pivots upon the other, ports that extend through the plates control the flow of material from the hopper into the throat of the machine. The pivot design, a purge funnel, and a drain tube are additional features that save time, labor, and make switching of processing material quick and convenient without the use of tools.
US07665486B2
A tear out test plug for plumbing installations includes a cylindrical body having a peripheral sidewall, a closed end and an open end. A positioning flange extends outwardly from the peripheral sidewall at the open end. An end wall closes the closed end. A frangible strip extends from the open end, down the peripheral sidewall, and across at least a portion of the end wall.
US07665482B2
A mechanism for opening or closing a shut off valve, the mechanism having a lever mounted on a spindle to which the valve is attached for mounting the valve from a normally open position to a closed position. A trigger mechanism including the lever and a biasing spring which when activated, rotates the lever, spindle and valve. A retainer mechanism ordinarily holds the trigger mechanism in a cocked position corresponding to the open position of the valve. The float, when subjected to water, releases the retainer mechanism permitting the trigger mechanism to close the valve.
US07665481B2
A pressurized fluid line servicing tool assembly consists of a tool insertion adaptor, a cap removal tool and a plug setting tool. The tool insertion adaptor connects to a pipe of a pressurized fluid line and enables tools to be inserted and removed without releasing pressurized fluids, such as natural gas, to atmosphere. It has a tool insertion chamber which is divided into an upstream portion and a downstream portion by a valve. The cap removal tool connects to the tool insertion adaptor to enable service personnel to pass a cap removal wrench through the valve to remove a cap from an end of the pipe of the pressurized fluid line. The plug setting tool connects to the tool insertion adaptor to enable service personnel to pass a torque settable plug through the valve to set a plug into the end of the pipe.
US07665479B2
A method for operating an aircraft refueling system, where the aircraft refueling system has a computer system, a plurality of fuel tanks containing a fuel, a plurality of fuel pumps, a plurality of motor operated valves, and at least one refueling connection. The method may involve using the computer system to signal at least one of the motor operated valves to open; initiating a flow of the fuel to the at least one of the refueling connections using at least one of the pumps; sensing a flow condition of the fuel; signaling the flow condition to the computer system; and varying an operating quantity of the pumps in response to the flow condition.
US07665475B2
A utility shelf includes a retaining frame pivotally connected to a support frame. The support frame is pivotally connected to a side portion of a dish rack through a plurality of hinge elements. Similarly, the retaining frame is pivotally connected to the support frame through a corresponding plurality of hinge members. The hinge members on the retaining frame are adapted to abut a stop member that positions the retaining frame at an angle relative to the support frame. With this arrangement, the retaining frame can be extended from the support frame to support objects during a washing operation.
US07665474B2
A disposable eyebrow dye kit includes two separate primary components. The first component is an elongated container consisting of two compartments separated by a thin membrane. One compartment contains a hair developer, for instance hydrogen peroxide and the appropriate colored dye, and the second compartment contains a dye solution, like ammonia. The second component consists of a brush member with brush bristles and a protective cap over the bristles at one end and a connector component at the other end. In use, the brush component is inserted into the container where the protective cap punctures the membrane separating the two compartments. The solution in one compartment is allowed to mix with the solution in the second compartment to form the dye mixture which is to be applied to the eyebrows. The brush component is then withdrawn from the container, causing the cap over the bristles of the brush component to fall to the bottom of the container. The brush component is then used to apply the dye directly to the eyebrows. When the dying operation is complete, the kit may be disposed of.
US07665456B2
A barbecue apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprises: a grill body comprising at least one cooking chamber and a fire bowl having a topside opening; at least one lid, and the lid being designed to cover the topside opening of the fire bowl during a closed position; at least one mounting assembly attached to the firebowl, and the mounting assembly having at least one aperture; and at least one swing out shelf system, and the system comprises at least one shelf and at least one bracket with opposing ends, a first end being connected to said shelf and a second end comprising at least one shaft extending downwardly therefrom and designed to fit and rotate within the aperture of the mounting assembly whereby the shelf can be swung between a first position for use and a second position for storage, at least a portion of the shelf being situated away from the topside opening of the fire bowl in the first position and the shelf is situated generally above the topside opening of the fire bowl during the second position, and the shelf assembly capable of being in the first use position when the lid is in the closed position.
US07665453B1
A game device adapted for use by a player to launch a disc or projectile. The holder has a pivot member with a rest position and a release position. The pivot member is biased to its rest position so as to at least partially retain the projectile in readiness for launching. A handle is attached to the holder for grasping by the player so as to launch the projectile.
US07665446B2
In a feed unit for feeding fuel from a fuel container of a motor vehicle a surge part (1) has a base plate (9) and an adjoining tubular section (10). The base plate (9) is fabricated in one piece with a nozzle (15) and a mixer pipe (16) of a suction jet pump (8) and has receptacles (21, 13) for a fine filter (3) and for supporting rods (22) of a fuel pump (2). The feed unit is of particularly simple design as a result of this and can be fabricated in a cost-effective way.
US07665433B2
Surging is reliably prevented from occurring even when an engine with a turbocharger is operated with reduced number of cylinders and at a low speed range.Concerned is a method for controlling actuation of valves in an engine with a turbocharger, a variable valve mechanism 18 being arranged for controlling opening/closing timing and lifts of suction and exhaust valves (only exhaust valves 17 being shown in the figure) of each of cylinders 8, an operation with reduced number of cylinders being made possible by the variable valve mechanism 18 such that valve-opening action of suction and exhaust valves in part of the cylinders 8 is disabled to conduct the operation with the remaining cylinders 8. The exhaust valves 17 are opened substantially when a suction pressure is higher than an exhaust pressure in a suction stroke during the operation with the reduced number of cylinders at a low speed range, so that blown out amount of fresh air (suction air 4) to the exhaust side is increased to increase apparent exhaust flow rate and raise the level of the suction characteristic of the engine.
US07665431B2
A drive piston assembly is provided that is operable to selectively open a poppet valve. The drive piston assembly includes a cartridge defining a generally stepped bore. A drive piston is movable within the generally stepped bore and a boost sleeve is coaxially disposed with respect to the drive piston. A main fluid chamber is at least partially defined by the generally stepped bore, drive piston, and boost sleeve. First and second feedback chambers are at least partially defined by the drive piston and each are disposed at opposite ends of the drive piston. At least one of the drive piston and the boost sleeve is sufficiently configured to move within the generally stepped bore in response to fluid pressure within the main fluid chamber to selectively open the poppet valve. A valve actuator assembly and engine are also provided incorporating the disclosed drive piston assembly.
US07665419B2
Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
US07665417B1
A drawer-mounted feed bowl shelf to hold an animal's food or water bowl, adapted for mounting on the edges of the sidewalls of a cabinet drawer, or for mounting between the sidewalls of a drawer is disclosed. The first embodiment includes an expandable mount to permit mounting on or in drawers of various widths. The expandable mount include two sections one above the other, the upper one moving laterally relative to the lower section. The second fixed-width embodiment can be either mounted permanently or removably on or fixedly in a cabinet drawer. A gasket that fits over and within the opening for the bowl adds friction to prevent bowl movement when present. This invention permits the feed bowl to be out of sight when not in use.
US07665415B2
LEDs in an LED display part are arranged so as to have approximately the same placing form as containers. When a chemical solution in a container is exhausted, a corresponding LED of the LED display part lights up. Prior to an operation of replacing the container, an operator allows a bar code reader to read a bar code of an unused container. A bar code reader collator collates the bar code data of the unused container with the bar code data of a container corresponding to the lighting LED, which is already registered in a data base. When the bar code reader collator judges that the chemical solutions in the both containers are identical, the display of the LED is changed from a lighting-up display to a flashing display. This makes it easy to recognize the disposing position of the empty container to be replaced, thereby effectively preventing incorrect replacement of the container.
US07665411B2
A device used when towing a user with a watercraft includes a tow-rope and a tow-rope retraction device receiving the tow-rope. The tow-rope retraction device is configured to selectively retract the tow-rope so as to accelerate a user being towed by the watercraft on the tow-rope. A method of towing a user with a watercraft includes selectively retracting a tow-rope while towing the user to accelerate the user.
US07665403B2
The present invention prevents an obstacle from entering a running route of an overhead carriage to allow the carriage to run smoothly, increasing carrying efficiency. The present invention provides a carrying system including a carriage 1 having a hoist 7 that elevates and lowers an article in a vertical direction and a running portion 2, and a track 12 which internally houses the running portion 2 and which is suspended from a ceiling. The carrying system has a cover 13 placed parallel to the track 12 to prevent entry of an obstacle into the track; the cover 13 is provided below the track 12 so as not to hinder the elevation and lowering of the article executed by the hoist 7.
US07665393B2
A table saw guard assembly for guarding a blade on a table saw is provided. The table saw guard assembly includes a support structure and a hood assembly including at least one of a front curtain, first side curtain, second side curtain and top curtain, wherein each of said curtains are independently moveable and/or removable from the hood assembly. Furthermore, a table saw guard assembly is provided including a quick release mechanism for connecting the hood assembly to the support structure.
US07665385B2
To reduce moment generated at the proximal portion and the supporting portion of a brake pedal and to prevent an increase in weight even when the brake pedal is disposed outside a vehicle body and an operating unit is disposed away from the brake pedal within the vehicle body. A supporting shaft rotates integrally with the brake pedal by being connected with the brake pedal at one end with a supporting member for supporting both ends of the supporting shaft. An operating member is provided for operating an operating unit by rotation of the brake pedal and the supporting shaft by being connected to the other end of the supporting shaft at the position away from the brake pedal are provided. A pedal pad unit includes a flat depressing surface forming portion to be covered by a cover on the front face on which the driver depresses and a mounting portion extending from the depressing surface forming portion in the direction opposite from the cover for being pivotally mounted on the pedal lever unit. The depressing surface forming portion and the mounting portion are integrally formed.
US07665383B2
A bicycle shift control device is provided with a stroke length control arrangement that allows the rider to selectively regulate at least one shift operating member between a single gear shifting operation position and a multiple gear shifting operation position. In the illustrated embodiment, the bicycle shift control device has a gear shifting mechanism that is operated by a pair shift operating members (levers). The stroke length control arrangement selectively limits movement of the shift operating member in a range of movement between the rest position and an intermediate actuating position by preventing the shift operating member from being moved past the intermediate actuating position to the fully actuating position.
US07665382B2
A bicycle shift control device is provided with a shift winding member, a winding pawl, a winding member return element, a gear shifting mechanism and a winding pawl biasing element. The winding member is movably arranged between a rest position and a shifting position. The winding pawl moves in response to movement of the winding member. The winding member return element biases the winding member to the rest position and to bias the winding pawl to a pawl engagement position when the winding member is moved from the rest position towards the shifting position. The gear shifting mechanism includes winding teeth that are engaged with the winding pawl. The winding pawl biasing element applies a biasing force to the winding pawl that urges the winding pawl to the pawl engagement position when the winding member is in the rest position.
US07665378B2
An electric power steering apparatus includes a transmission mechanism for transmitting an output from an electric motor for steering assist to a steering mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving gear, an intermediate gear and a driven gear. An eccentric mechanism for eccentrically locating the intermediate gear is provided in order that a center axis of the intermediate gear is moved toward at least one of the axes of the driving gear and the driven gear while maintaining a parallel relation. The eccentric mechanism includes an intermediate-gear support shaft having a center axis. The intermediate-gear support shaft is supported by first and second circle holes in a manner to be rotatable about the center axis thereof for adjustment of a rotational position thereof, the first and second circle holes have their center axes aligned coaxially with each other. The intermediate gear is rotatably supported by an eccentric portion provided at an outer periphery of the intermediate-gear support shaft. The eccentric portion includes a cylindrical surface eccentric relative to the center axis of the intermediate-gear support shaft.
US07665376B2
An automated dual-clutch multi-speed transmission is adapted to transfer power from an engine to the driveline of a motor vehicle. The transmission includes an output shaft adapted for connection to the driveline, an input shaft continuously driven by the engine and offset from a position substantially parallel to the output shaft. A countershaft is in constant driving engagement with the output shaft and is offset from and positioned substantially parallel to the input and output shafts. A first clutch is operable for establishing a releasable drive connection between the input shaft and a first driven shaft. A second clutch is operable for establishing a releasable drive connection between the input shaft and a second driven shaft. First and second gearset clutches are operable to releasably drivingly couple first and second gearsets to the countershaft.
US07665373B2
A torque transferring and monitoring device includes a coupling having a hub portion, a first rim portion, a first set of spokes radially extending between the hub portion and the first rim portion, a second rim portion spaced apart from the first rim portion and a second set of spokes radially extending between the hub portion and the second rim portion. The second set of spokes are axially spaced apart from the first set of spokes. A plurality of pins are fixed to the first rim portion. Each pin has a portion positioned in an aperture formed in the second rim portion. The pin is clear of the second rim portion when the coupling is in an unloaded state. The pin engages the second rim portion to transfer load between the first and second rim portions when a torque exceeding a predetermined magnitude is transferred through the coupling.
US07665367B2
A method for measuring the shape of a heating treatment jig to be held by a holding portion of a vertical heat treatment apparatus includes measuring the shape of the heat treatment jig in a state that the position of a supporting portion for supporting the heat treatment jig is set to be the same as the position of the holding portion for the heat treatment jig in the vertical heat treatment apparatus. The heat treatment jig can be used for placing a semiconductor wafer to be subjected to heat treatment.
US07665349B2
A method and apparatus of engaging a probe with a sample surface including automatically reducing the spacing between a probe of a probe based instrument and a sample from an initial separation to one in which the probe is positioned for obtaining a sample surface measurement in less than ten seconds without damaging either the probe or the sample. The method includes oscillating the probe, measuring at least one parameter of probe oscillation and then engaging the probe and the sample by generally continuously controlling the reducing step based on the measuring step to reduce the separation from an initial separation to an engage position. In addition to feeding back directly on the tip-sample interaction, a direct communication line is provided between the processor used to generate control signals that govern the engage and a conventional motion controller. In an alternative, a coarse positioning actuator and a fine positioning actuator in which the control of both is coordinated under feedback to place the probe in the engaged position, and wherein the close approach phase of the algorithm is controlled by a dedicated real time controller.
US07665346B1
A method and apparatus for detecting leaks in blister packages wherein a package is supported with a support chamber and a flexible and imperforate bladder is placed over the package after which at least a partial vacuum pressure is applied and a measure made to determine if any leakage is detected while an image of the bladder is detected, such as by a camera, with the image being used to provide a visual indication of the location of a failure in the blister package.
US07665343B2
An identification attachment is provided for a compression tool of the character having a pair of jawarms pivotally mounted between a pair of side plates by pivot pins having outer ends including pin retainers for maintaining the jawarms and side plates in assembled relationship. The jawarms have opposite sides, inner and outer edges and front and rear ends, respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the side plates, and the identification attachment is removably mountable on the tool independent of any mounting openings for the attachment extending through the jawarms. The attachment may, for example, interengage with opposite sides of a jawarm or be captured on the tool by the pin retainers or the side plates.
US07665338B2
The present invention provides a method of shot peening at least a portion of a rotary machine comprising a rotor. Shot peening is carried out with a rotor which is at least partly assembled. The method comprises: fixing a system for supporting at least one acoustic assembly to the machine; and shot peening at least one region of the machine using projectiles which are moved by the acoustic assembly.
US07665326B2
A modular cabinet for a family of drawer appliances including an insulated liner defining a drawer space, a machine compartment, a wiring harness leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space, a passage leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space and an air passage leading from the machine compartment to the front of the cabinet and a drain leading from the liner space to the machine compartment. The family of drawer appliances can include refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, wine and warming drawers. A drawer can have two compartments and can be maintained at two temperatures. The drawers include an insulated front and a bin and can be slidably carried in the drawer space. The modular cabinet and control can be used for each member of the family of drawer appliances.
US07665322B2
The present invention uses multiple global cooling chambers for providing liquid cooling to a plurality of electronic components. The global cooling chambers utilize a non-electrically conductive fluid which is in direct contact with the components to be cooled. The system provides very effective heat transfer rates, environmental isolation of the electronics components and can be deployed in a wide range of applications. Multiple global cooling chambers allows for the hot swapping of cards during operation of the system. Valves provide the ability to minimize the amount of interaction between the cooling fluid and air outside the chambers.
US07665318B2
A compressor controlling apparatus including a bypass unit connected between an outlet and an inlet of the compressor and a control unit. The control unit reduces pressure difference between the outlet and the inlet of the compressor by the bypass unit to start the compressor when the compressor is to be started. The compressor is started while pressure equilibrium is achieved by the bypass unit, thereby preventing poor start-up of the compressor caused due to excessive pressure difference, and thus improving reliability of the compressor.
US07665310B2
A gas turbine engine includes an engine core extending along a core axis, a cooling-air delivery duct on the engine core, and a removable nacelle cowl overlying the engine core. A cooling-air nacelle-cowl duct delivers cooling air to the cooling-air delivery duct. At least a portion of the length of the cooling-air nacelle-cowl duct is integral with the nacelle cowl and not directly supported on the engine core.
US07665309B2
A secondary fuel delivery system for delivering a secondary stream of fuel and/or diluent to a secondary combustion zone located in the transition piece of a combustion engine, downstream of the engine primary combustion region is disclosed. The system includes a manifold formed integral to, and surrounding a portion of, the transition piece, a manifold inlet port, and a collection of injection nozzles. A flowsleeve augments fuel/diluent flow velocity and improves the system cooling effectiveness. Passive cooling elements, including effusion cooling holes located within the transition boundary and thermal-stress-dissipating gaps that resist thermal stress accumulation, provide supplemental heat dissipation in key areas. The system delivers a secondary fuel/diluent mixture to a secondary combustion zone located along the length of the transition piece, while reducing the impact of elevated vibration levels found within the transition piece and avoiding the heat dissipation difficulties often associated with traditional vibration reduction methods.
US07665307B2
A combustor liner assembly includes an outer shell made of a ceramic composite and an inner heat shell that is supported within the outer shell. The inner heat shield defines a surface that is exposed to combustion gases. The inner heat shield is made of material that is compatible with the ceramic matrix composite and that provides favorable thermal gradient capability for a combustion chamber.
US07665303B2
The invention described is a method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit. The described invention further includes a method of segregating a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit wherein the method includes the step of injecting an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus. In addition, the described invention includes a method of measuring the analyte concentration in a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit. The described invention further includes a method of measuring the analyte concentration in a bolus of fluid using a pneumatic actuator in a fluid handling circuit wherein the method includes the step of injecting an air pocket into the fluid stream to create the bolus.
US07665301B2
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas energy of the internal combustion engine is increased when a variable that is characteristic of the compression of the compression device reaches a predefined value, the variable that is characteristic of the compression is the pressure ratio between the pressure downstream from the compressor and the pressure upstream from the turbine.
US07665300B2
An actuator includes a bistable mechanism having a tension beam and a compression beam defined by a relief slit in a flexible substrate; and a first shape memory element that upon heating actuates the actuator from a first position to a second position. A heat source can be thermally coupled to actuate the first shape memory element, or the first shape memory element can be heated by passing current through the element. The actuators can be formed in an array. Such arrays can be useful for tactile displays, massagers, and the like. Also included are methods of operation and manufacturing.
US07665295B2
A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine in whose exhaust-gas region an exhaust-gas treatment device is situated, and in which a reagent is introduced into the exhaust-gas region of the internal combustion engine. in addition, a device is provided for implementing the method. The reagent pressure occurring between a reagent safety valve and a reagent dosing valve, disposed directly in the exhaust-gas region is recorded during different states of the reagent safety valve and/or the reagent dosing valve and compared to at least one threshold value. If the threshold is exceeded, a fault signal is provided. This may offer high safety which may be of particular importance when fuel is used as reagent.
US07665282B2
A laminate comprising a compressible, cushioning layer and an open layer comprised of a tough, reinforcing woven or non-woven mesh, net, webbing, scrim or sheet material having openings therein and attached to the compressible, air permeable, cushioning layer is particularly useful for producing horn wraps that permit ventilation for the parts of the horns and head in contact with a horn wrap product. Permeable or air ventilating laminates of various materials and configurations are disclosed along with methods of making horn wraps using the laminates.
US07665281B2
The present invention relates to a packaging with a packaging tray, into which a product for packing can be filled and which is closed with a lid, whereby at least one form-fit connection connects the packaging tray with the lid and the connection includes first and second connection elements. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for the production of a packaging as well as a packaging machine.
US07665276B2
The disclosure relates to an apparatus for sealing a package. The apparatus comprises a sealing unit and an abutment between which a number of material layers are disposed to be clamped and sealed and fused together, wherein the abutment is connected to at least one elongate element which extends in a direction from the abutment towards and past the sealing unit, the elongate elements, beyond the sealing unit are disposed to be connected to at least one first operating element, and an operating unit is disposed to apply a force between the sealing unit and the first operating element so that these are moved in a direction away from one another and so that the abutment and the sealing unit are moved in a direction towards one another.
US07665274B2
The invention relates to a device for gas filling of a duct (7) in a container (1) of a collapsible type, said duct (7) being defined by a first and a second side wall (2) of the container (1), the side walls (2) being joined along a common connecting portion (4), and said duct (7) comprising an inlet (15) arranged in the first side wall (2). The device comprises an abutment (21) and a gas module (26) with an outlet (28), which is arranged in a surface of the gas module (26) facing the abutment (21), and a clamping means (29) arranged outside the outlet (28), which clamping means (29) is applicable to the abutment (21) for clamping the container (1), and which outlet (28), in connection with the clamping of the container (1), is applicable to said inlet (15) for supply of gas to the duct (7) of the container. The device is characterized by a groove (30) formed in said surface of the gas module (26), which groove surrounds the outlet (28) and is positioned radially inside said clamping means (29), said groove (30) being arranged to prevent, when supplying gas to the duct (7) intended to be filled with gas, build-up of a pressure above atmospheric on the side, facing the gas module, of said first side wall (2) surrounding said inlet (15). The invention also relates to a method for filling such a duct with gas.
US07665272B2
A floor hole repair fixture has at least one vertical side wall and a bottom wall which together define an inner volume. The fixture is connected to a hole in a floor with one or more fasteners and is filled with a non-shrink grout. A depending rim or flange extending from the at least one side wall helps seat the fixture within the hole. Intumescent material may be coated onto or applied to external fixture surfaces before the fixture is inserted into the hole. Floor covering material is installed over the grout-filled fixture.
US07665270B1
Lattice structure assembly having members with overlapping end sections connected by connection rods
A lattice structure includes a plurality of members and a plurality of connection rods. The plurality of members may be individually oriented to form the lattice structure. Each of the plurality of members may include at least one of (i) an end section having a sidewall and a platform that define an end gap, or (ii) a mid-section having two sidewalls and a platform that define a mid-gap. Each member of the lattice structure may be connected to at least one other member, so that the lattice structure includes a plurality of connections between individual members in the plurality of members. Furthermore, each of at least some of the plurality of connections is formed by one of (i) an end section of a first member of that connection overlapping an end section of a second member of that connection; or (ii) an end section of the first member of that connection overlapping with a mid-section of the second member of that connection. The connections may further be formed by at least one connection rod that extends (i) lengthwise at least partially into the first member of that connection, and (ii) at least partially into the second member of that connection. This results in the connection rod maintaining the end section of the first member in overlapping the end section or mid-section of the second member.
US07665269B2
A construction block includes rectangular front and rear panels and at least one web connecting the front and rear panels. Each of the front and rear panels has top, bottom, and right and left edge surfaces. At least one web having top and bottom surfaces co-extensive with the top and bottom of the front and rear panels is provided to define top and bottom surfaces of the block. The top surface of the block has a shallow rectangular ridge along its length, flanked by outer support surfaces. The lower surface of the block has a shallow rectangular channel along its length, flanked by flat outer feet corresponding to the outer support surfaces. The right and left edge surfaces of the front and rear panels are profiled to interfit with one another.
US07665263B2
An improved fabricated hardwood flooring product providing the advantage of a thick wood wear layer similar to a traditional ¾ inch solid wood floor with the dimensional stability characteristics of engineered wood floor products.
US07665261B2
A laminated shingle has a rendered shadow design when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlamp portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more tabs separated by cutouts. The overlay member is also coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form horizontally-oriented overlay shading areas on the upper and lower edges of the tabs. The underlay member is coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form vertically and horizontally-oriented underlay shading areas. In one embodiment, one or both vertical edges of each tab are generally parallel to the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the vertically-oriented shading area to expose a portion of the shading area.
US07665257B2
Certain embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for securing a wall system together in a vertical direction. More specifically, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a first floor lower linkage beam attached to a foundation of a structure. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed including attaching a first floor lower linkage beam to a foundation of a structure.
US07665256B2
A method and apparatus for creating firestopping barrier in a partition, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling, that is mounted adjacent the opening includes a housing containing a central opening. The cross-sectional area of the housing is greater than the cross-sectional area of the through-penetration opening, and the housing is arranged external to the through-penetration opening with at least a portion thereof extending along a surface of the partition thereby to allow the housing to be installed adjacent the through-penetration opening. Firestop material is arranged within the housing.
US07665251B1
Steel frames formed of rolled steel I-beams are connected by steel framed wall panels spanned by steel studs, and covered by steel framed roof panels spanned by steel purlins, making a structural frame completely formed of steel components bolted together. All components are precut and predrilled before transport to a construction site. A crane is used to raise steel frames and steel framed roof panels into position for bolted assembly, reducing construction times to absolute minimums. Entire structure is virtually lightning-proof, wind-proof, and earthquake resistant.
US07665250B2
A structure assembled from a combination of stackable modules, each module assembled from multiple prefabricated, transportable blocks. The blocks are typically reinforced cast concrete formed in reusable molds. Module framing blocks may include arched corner blocks, key blocks that interlock with a pair of corner blocks, and optional center blocks. Other structural elements include roof, floor, and wall components that interlock with the framing modules. Modules may be stacked or nested to form structures including buildings, elevated roadways, and parking garages. Utilities may be provided through optional conduits formed in the corner elements. The framing supports raised floor modules for ease in mechanical system installation and modification. The roof elements support usable terraces and rainwater collection. The blocks are demountable and reusable. The modules are self-supporting during erection, and may be assembled without fasteners.
US07665248B2
A roof anchor includes a base member and a connector. The base member has an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are proximate one another at an end opposite the intermediate portion. A first interruption is proximate the junction of the first end and the intermediate portion, and a second interruption is proximate the junction of the second end and the intermediate portion. The first and second interruptions assist in bending the first and second ends outward from one another and from the intermediate portion. The connector is operatively connected to the intermediate portion proximate an opposing end relative to the first end and the second end thereby extending outward from the first end and the second end.
US07665242B2
An environmentally safe method for controlling insects is provided, which prevents the invasion of social insects into areas where their presence is undesirable. A method for detecting the presence or appearance of social insects is also provided. Environmentally safe means adapted for controlling or detecting insects are disclosed.
US07665237B2
An illuminable sign (20) has a base (22); a trough (24) having a configuration C formed in the base (22); a light dispensing medium (26) having the configuration C fitted in the trough (24) and including a pair of light-entering ports (28, 30); a light generator (32) fixed in operative relation between the pair of light-entering ports (28, 30), the light generator (32) including at least one light source (34); and a cover (36) fitted to the base.
US07665229B2
Support structures for foot-receiving devices (such as midsole and/or outsole structures for articles of footwear) include one or more of the following: (a) a base member (e.g., including an impact-attenuating material); (b) a generally U-shaped moderator element engaged with the base member; (c) an edge element extending from a surface of the base member for engaging a lateral side of a foot in use; (d) an outsole member including a herringbone or zig-zag tread structure on both surfaces; and/or (e) an outsole member including a perimeter element for engaging a lateral side of a foot and/or the edge element of the base member. Such support structures may be incorporated into various foot-receiving device products, such as athletic footwear for basketball, etc.
US07665227B2
A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises directing a flow of air through a chamber while tumbling the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; removing particulates from the air flowing through the chamber; directing a treatment fluid into the chamber and onto the fabric; and tumbling the fabric while at least intermittently contacting the fabric with a low absorbency textured surface. In another embodiment, a method comprises placing the fabric in a chamber having a low absorbency textured surface; extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; inserting treatment fluid into the chamber to apply the treatment fluid to the fabric; and extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric.
US07665226B2
An apparatus and a method for drying under reduced pressure using microwaves. The apparatus comprises a chamber (13) for housing an object (11), a depressurizing pump (22) connected to the chamber (13) for depressurizing the inside of the chamber (13), a microwave irradiating device (12) for irradiating microwaves to the object (11) in the chamber (13), an airflow generating device for generating an airflow in the chamber (13) by introducing a gas from the outside to the inside of the chamber (13), and a control device (35) for controlling the above components. The object (11) in the chamber (13) is dried at temperatures below a deterioration temperature of the object (11) by intermittent irradiation of the microwaves under reduced pressure while the airflow is generated around the object (11).
US07665219B2
A measurement probe (12, 110, 250), such as a touch trigger or analogue probe, is described that comprises a deflectable stylus portion (14) and a wireless communications unit (18) for transmitting stylus deflection data to a remote probe interface (20, 104, 254). The wireless communications unit (18) is arranged to transmit digital data packets comprising stylus deflection data and a probe identity code. The wireless communications unit (18) allows said probe identity code to be set by a user. The measurement probe (12, 110, 250) may communicate with an associated probe interface (20, 104, 254) over a radio frequency (RF) spread spectrum link (106).
US07665217B2
This invention relates to a pendulum assembly within a laser levelling apparatus. In use, the assembly is rotatably mounted with the levelling device to hang under the effect of gravity such that opposed light emitting devices produce light on a horizontal plane. The assembly includes a main body rotatably mountable in the levelling apparatus and at least two light emitting devices mounted in or on light emitting mounting portions. At least one of the light emitting mounting positions is rotatably mounted to the main body and adjustable in its orientation with respect to the main body by an threaded adjustment means. Once one light emitting device is mounted, the adjustable one can be brought into a substantially co-linear position by movement of the threaded adjustment means. A further embodiment includes a further light emitter acting on a reflective surface to provide a substantially vertical light. Such a further embodiment fixes the position of the further emitter and reflective surface and provides adjustment mean on both other light emitting device mounting portions to arrange these co-linear to each other and transverse to the reflected light beam.
US07665216B2
The present invention generally provides a saw blade clamping assembly. The assembly has a main body, a clamping device, a rotating sleeve and a biasing device. The main body has a receiving slot for receiving a fixing end of a saw blade and an oblique and elongate hole communicating with the receiving slot. The clamping device has at least one clamping member passing through the oblique and elongate hole of the main body. The rotating sleeve encloses the main body and the clamping device. The biasing device is biased between the main body and the rotating sleeve.
US07665213B2
Metal parts can be economically fabricated by a metal stamping that comprises preforming a piece of wire to have a shape corresponding to the 2-dimensional configuration of a desired product workpiece, flattening the wire to form a metal blank, and subjecting the metal blank to metal stamping to obtain the desired product workpiece. The process can significantly reduce the amount of scrap material and thereby reduce manufacturing costs.
US07665202B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a block of low-frequency piezoelectric composite material having rows of superposed ceramic posts embedded in a dielectric. This process includes the production of the block of composite material from two superposed identical half-blocks, produced by cutting into a single pre-machined piezoelectric ceramic block. According to the invention, the block of ceramic material thus constituted is then machined so as to form a structure comprising rows of aligned posts, each post being formed from two elementary posts facing each other in strict alignment. The ceramic structure thus produced is then integrated into an appropriate dielectric matrix. The block thus produced is intended to be used for manufacturing acoustic transducers from composite materials. The invention relates in particular to the field of sonar detectors designed to detect objects located at a relatively short distance from the detector.
US07665199B2
A method of making a razor blade unit is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a plastic base member; providing a plastic upper member, the plastic upper member having a first surface and an opening in the first surface; securing a shaving aid member to the first surface of the upper member, the shaving aid completely surrounding the opening; inserting at least one razor blade between the plastic base member and the plastic upper member; and securing the plastic base member to the plastic upper member creating a plastic body having the at least one razor blade disposed in the plastic body.
US07665197B2
The invention relates to a work holder device designed for holding work for machining by a machine tool and to a machine tool equipped with such a holder device. The work holder device includes a carrier fixture and at least one transferable jig adapted to be attached to the carrier fixture, such transferable jig having a work trap for receiving and holding the work, the at least one transferable jig being able to be inserted on a linear guide arrangement like a drawer into a trap of the transferable jig in an insertion plane and being able to be fixed in the trap in a fixing position.
US07665193B2
A metallic double-sided element comprising a coupling head includes: thin flat plate portions; coupling convex portions projecting at a central portion in the right-left direction of the thin flat plate portion; right and left raised portions which are raised in the front surface-rear surface direction from the thin flat plate portion disposed on the right and left sides of each of the coupling convex portions and integrated with the body portion; and a coupling concave portion which is formed surrounded by the coupling convex portion, the right and left raised portions and the body portion, wherein each of the right and left raised portions has a slope portion which is inclined from a front edge toward the body portion such that the slope portion rises thereof, part of each side face of the right and left slope portions is integrated with part of right and left side faces of the coupling convex portion in a face bonding manner.
US07665191B2
A fastening system includes a grommet having a grommet shank and two grommet cap ends secured to opposing ends of the grommet shank; a planar border having a base and integrally formed substantially parallel planar flexible peripheral first and second legs of substantially like length, the first leg having a first leg distal end with a first aperture and the second leg having a second leg distal end with a second aperture and an integral and peripheral first spike having a first spike pointed end, each of the first and second apertures being proportioned for slidable receipt of the grommet when the first and second apertures are aligned with each other; and an elongate securement leg integrally dependant from the base in a direction of the distal ends of the flexible legs, and including a securement leg distal end having a receiving surface for receiving first spike pointed end.
US07665187B1
A hinge apparatus includes a first hinge section with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the first hinge section. A second hinge section is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the second hinge section and a hinge device moveably connects the first hinge section and the second hinge section.
US07665184B2
A hinge assembly (10) includes a shaft (20), a follower (22), a cam (30), a washer (50), a rolling means, and an urging means. The shaft has a securing portion (21) formed at one end thereof. The follower connects with the shaft. The cam essentially is in the shape of a cylinder, and includes a cam surface (32) and defines a cam hole (31) extending therethrough. The cam hole receives the shaft therethrough. The washer defines a center hole (52), and is located around the shaft. The rolling means is disposed between the washer and the cam. One end of the urging means abuts the shaft, and an opposite end of the urging means biases the washer. The cam surface of the cam is rotatably and movably engaged with the follower under force of the urging means.
US07665176B2
A disposable child sized article is provided. The disposable child sized article is releasably carrying a benefit composition. An article of commerce comprising disposable child sized article is also provided.
US07665175B2
A lint roller holder having a pair of elongated housing parts which are substantially identical to each other. Each housing part includes an elongated handle section and semi-cylindrical lint roller support section which is longitudinally adjacent the handle section. The housing parts are secured together in a facing relationship, such that an outer peripheral edge of both of said semi-cylindrical lint roller support and said handle sections abut against each other to form both a cylindrical lint roller support and a handle. The outer peripheral edges of the housing parts are then secured together by ultrasonic welding. Each housing part also includes at least one cut-out in the semi-cylindrical lint roller support section to reduce raw material usage requirements.
US07665169B2
An insole providing cushioning and control of foot motion. The insole includes a stability cradle and a number of pods on the underside of the insole core or base. Some of the pods have different material properties selected to help control foot motion.
US07665161B2
A retractable bed is disclosed which can be automatically raised and lowered in a vertical fashion. The retractable bed includes a frame for holding a mattress; and means for raising and lowering said bed through vertical displacement, such as one or more motors. When the bed is in the lowered configuration it will come into contact with the floor thereby permitting a person to sleep on the bed. When the bed is in the raised configuration it will be near the ceiling thereby permitting a person to pass under the bed. The means for raising and lowering said bed, such as one or more motors, provides an automated and convenient way to take the bed down and to put it away.
US07669242B2
Embodiments of a method and system for detecting and confirming an agent presence are disclosed herein. The agent presence can be confirmed by a secure management engine configured to execute in a secure execution environment. In various embodiments, a secure execution environment includes a service processor, a virtual partition, and an embedded microcontroller. The management engine is configured to monitor a signal communicated from the agent. Based on the monitored signal, an analysis determines an operational state of the agent. Embodiments include remote management applicability for monitoring a host agent.
US07669238B2
Evidence-based application security may be implemented at the application and/or application group levels. A manifest may be provided defining at least one trust condition for the application or application group. A policy manager evaluates application evidence (e.g., an XrML license) for an application or group of applications relative to the manifest. The application is only granted permissions on the computer system if the application evidence indicates that the application is trusted. Similarly, a group of applications are only granted permissions on the computer system if the evidence indicates that the group of applications is trusted. If the application evidence satisfies the at least one trust condition defined by the manifest, the policy manager generates a permission grant set for each code assembly that is a member of the at least one application. Evidence may be further evaluated for code assemblies that are members of the trusted application or application group.
US07669237B2
A system and method for securing data in mobile devices includes a computing node and a plurality of mobile devices. A node security program executed in the computing node interfaces with a device security program executed at a mobile device. The computing node is responsible for managing the security based on a node security profile interpreted by a node security program executed in the computing node. A device discovery method and arrangement also detects and locates various information about the mobile devices based on a scan profile.
US07669236B2
The security of an entity is protected by using passcodes. A passcode device generates a passcode. In an embodiment, the passcode is generated in response to receipt of user information. The passcode is received by another system, which authenticates the passcode by at least generating a passcode from a passcode generator, and comparing the generated passcode with the received passcode. The passcode is temporary. At a later use a different passcode is generated from a different passcode generator.
US07669220B2
A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system includes receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations. Determining whether the requested video program is associated with a first subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than the threshold level, and a third subset of channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership. The first subset of broadcast channels is substantially continuously transmitted. The second subset of broadcast channels is transmitted based upon channel availability and programming assignments. The third subset of on-demand channels are transmitted from the head-end to at least one of the plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to the requesting subscriber station.
US07669204B2
Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for autonomic system tuning of simultaneous multithreading (“SMT”). In one embodiment, the method for autonomic tuning of at least one SMT setting for an optimized processing, such as via throughput, latency, and power consumption, of a workload on a computer system includes calling, by a kernel, an SMT scheduler having at least one hook into a genetic library. Further, the method includes obtaining, by the SMT scheduler through the at least one hook, genetic data from the genetic library for the optimized processing of the workload. Further still, the method includes tuning, by the SMT scheduler and based on the obtaining, the at least one SMT setting for at least one cpu of the computer system.
US07669203B2
Method, apparatus and system embodiments provide support for multiple SoEMT software threads on multiple SMT logical thread contexts. A thread translation table maintains physical-to-virtual thread translation information in order to provide such information to structures within a processor that utilize virtual thread information. By associating a thread translation table with such structures, a processor that supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT) may be easily retrofitted to support switch-on-event multithreading on the SMT logical processors.
US07669202B1
A technique for executing a segmented virtual machine (VM) is disclosed. A plurality of core VM's are implemented in a common core space. Each core VM is associated with a shell VM. Resources of the core space are allocated among the core VM's. A core VM is associated with a shell VM configured to perform shell VM functions and communicate with the core VM. VM internal execution functionality is performed on the core VM. The shell VM may be bypassed to communicate with an external application.
US07669200B2
A data processing system, a data processing implemented system, and an article of manufacture for resizing an image. A removable features list is generated, and the generated removable features list identifies one or more removable features associated with the install image. A removable components list is generated, and the generated removable components list identifies one or more components associated with the one or more removable features. The generated removable features list and the generated removable components list are used to determine which files may be removed from the install image so that removal of one or more components does not impact features that are not to be removed.
US07669195B1
Disclosed herein is an electronic device network including a plurality of electronic devices. The electronic devices may each have software adapted to update firmware/software resident in the electronic device in compressed form. The software adapted to update firmware/software may also be adapted to employ the decompressed firmware/software components in conjunction with additional update information in performing an update on the electronic devices. An update generator in the electronic device network may be adapted to employ compression and decompression techniques upon generated updates for use in updating the electronic devices. The update generator may also be adapted to generate update packages using the decompressed update information. The update generator may also be adapted to selectively compress the generated update packages usable for updating the electronic devices prior to the update package being transmitted to eth electronic device.
US07669194B2
A mechanism for minimizing effective memory latency without unnecessary cost through fine-grained software-directed data prefetching using integrated high-level and low-level code analysis and optimizations is provided. The mechanism identifies and classifies streams, identifies data that is most likely to incur a cache miss, exploits effective hardware prefetching to determine the proper number of streams to be prefetched, exploits effective data prefetching on different types of streams in order to eliminate redundant prefetching and avoid cache pollution, and uses high-level transformations with integrated lower level cost analysis in the instruction scheduler to schedule prefetch instructions effectively.
US07669190B2
A host bus adapter (“HBA”) is provided with a programmable trace logic that can be enabled or disabled by firmware running on the HBA and if enabled can receive trace information from at least one processor, which is stored in a local memory buffer controlled by a local memory interface. A receive and transmit path processor data is traced and stored in the local memory buffer. The trace logic includes an arbitration module that receives trace data from plural sources and the trace data is stored in a first in first out based buffer before being sent to a direct memory access arbiter module and then to an external memory. Trace data as stored in the external memory includes a trace data source identity value, and a time stamp value indicating when data was collected.
US07669178B2
The present invention relates to a system and method that models computer programming language concepts in a plurality of objects and enables a computer programmer to interact with multiple programming languages through one code model interface. This allows the computer programmer to identify objects or functionality available in an application without having to know or specify an underlying language that implements that object or functionality. The computer programmer can employ the code model to locate an object that implements a specific functionality and return a code model object that implements that functionality. The computer programmer may then interact with that code model object rather than having to interact with the computer programming language.
US07669169B2
A shape-based layout beautification operation can be performed on an IC layout to correct layout imperfections. A shape is described by edges (and vertices) related according to specified properties. Each shape can be configured to match specific layout imperfection types. Corrective actions can then be associated with the shapes, advantageously enabling efficient formulation and precise application of those corrective actions. Corrective actions can include absolute, adaptive, or replacement-type modifications to the detected layout imperfections. A concurrent processing methodology can be used to minimize processing overhead during layout beautification, and the actions can also be incorporated into a lookup table to further reduce runtime. A layout beautification system can also be connected to a network across which shapes, actions, and IC layout data files can be accessed and retrieved.
US07669168B1
Method and apparatus for dynamically connecting modules within a programmable device is described. In an example, a programmable device is programmed with modular circuits. A bitstream is obtained from a database. The bitstream includes a first portion associated with a module and a second portion associated with an interface to the module. The bitstream is then modified with configuration data to connect the interface to one or more of the modular circuits. The programmable device is then configured using the modified bitstream.
US07669164B1
Implementing an electronic design having software-implemented blocks and hardware-implemented blocks. A specification of the electronic design is created in response to selection of blocks from a library, and at least one of the blocks is available for implementation in a selectable one of a software implementation for an embedded processor on a programmable logic device (PLD) and a hardware implementation on the PLD. A specification of each block in a first subset is obtained from the library and translated into an execution function of the software implementation of the block. Peripheral functions are generated for connections between blocks in the first subset and blocks in a second subset, which are designated for a hardware implementation on the PLD. A program is generated that invokes each peripheral function and each execution function in an order determined from the interconnections between the blocks.
US07669163B1
A method of partially reconfiguring a field programmable gate array (FPGA) with at least one design that has interdesign routing with at least one other design programmed into the FPGA. A first configuration data set implements a first design in a first area of the FPGA, a second design in a second, non-overlapping area, and at least one bus macro that defines a bus interface between the first design and the second design. The bus interface includes a set of signal lines coupled to the first and second designs and logic that controls input and output of signals over the signal lines. A second configuration data set implements a modified version of the first design in the first area and does not implement any version of the second design. The FPGA is configured with the first configuration data set, and then partially configured with the second configuration data set.
US07669150B2
A computer implemented method of performing projection based polynomial fitting. The method includes generating a plurality of sampling points as a function of variables. The method also includes forming a polynomial model template representative of the plurality of sampling points. According to embodiments of the present invention, the polynomial model template comprises at least one polynomial coefficient. The method further includes forming a low-rank matrix to approximate the polynomial coefficient.
US07669149B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing information to a screen reader. A method includes the actions of receiving at a client side information for representing a web page in a browser; setting focus initially on an element of the web page and presenting the web page to a user; and in response to a user command directing the focus to an element of the web page, determining whether the element is present in a functionality map, and if so, looking up the element in the functionality map, then processing the element as indicated by a corresponding entry point in the map, and if not, providing the focus and information related to web page elements associated with the focus to a placeholder control, and providing a screen reader with access to the placeholder control.
US07669140B2
The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment to present and provide access to user information. The system may include a sidebar for hosting a plurality of tiles. Applications may be minimized and inserted into the sidebar upon minimization. Selected features of the application remain available through a tile when the application is represented by a tile in the sidebar. The system may also include user interface tools for allowing a user to command placement of a selected application into the sidebar. The application may include an available feature selection module for allowing an application to provide at least a sub-set of a full feature set upon minimization. An insertion module may be provided for inserting the tile into the user interface.
US07669124B2
A system and method is provided to manage different UI language settings in a central place by merging different UI language settings and related dependency data to an integrated UI language preference list. A set of API functions is provided that enables each resource loader to gain consistent UI language support by interacting with the integrated UI language preference list.
US07669122B2
As either regular entry or as an assist to the user of existing computer text entry systems, the invention makes possible an alternative method of Chinese character entry by entering a Chinese character assumed by the user to be a rhyme of the character the user desires to enter. Entry methods for such rhyme alternative entry include phonetic and non-phonetic entry of Chinese characters, including keyboard stroke-category input, and handwritten entry using an electronic surface. The invention is not only helpful for entry of difficult Chinese characters but provides an approach to the use of supplementing input methods for most if not all written languages.
US07669118B2
Methods, systems and programs are disclosed for providing a page with a plurality of code portions. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system is provided that includes a browser client and a page-generator server. The page-generator may provide an HTML-page with a plurality of Y-code portions in HTML by using a page description with X-code portions in XML. The generator may read a set of first data items from an interface and read the description that defines a table structure, references to the first data items, a set of second data items, and a presentation direction by which the first and second data items are to be consecutively presented by the browser. Further, the generator may provide the Y-code portions for the page by writing corresponding structure code to the page according to the table structure, by writing data code (a) corresponding to the first data items resolved from the references and (b) corresponding to the second data items, and by writing presentation direction code. Presentation directions may include horizontal and vertical presentation directions.
US07669117B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing global annotations made for data elements that may be instantiated (e.g., displayed) by a variety of different type applications are provided. By anchoring the global annotations to the data element, rather than the particular data source containing the data element at the time the data element was annotated, the annotation may be retrieved from any application that instantiates or displays it.
US07669107B2
In a disk array environment such as a Redundant Array of Independent Disks-6 (RAID-6) environment, the overall performance overhead associated with exposed mode operations such as resynchronization, rebuild and exposed mode read operations is reduced through increased parallelism. By selecting only subsets of the possible disks required to solve a parity stripe equation for a particular parity stripe, accesses to one or more disks in a disk array may be omitted, thus freeing the omitted disks to perform other disk accesses. In addition, disk accesses associated with different parity stripes may be overlapped such that the retrieval of data necessary for restoring data for one parity stripe is performed concurrently with the storage of restored data for another parity stripe.
US07669095B2
In a first aspect, a first method of injecting one or more errors in data flowing into or out of a chip is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) generating an error injection pattern indicating one or more bits of data on which a pseudo-random error is to be inserted; and (2) generating an error injection trigger indicating when the pseudo-random error is to be inserted. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07669087B1
A method for operating a system comprising multiple resources. The method comprises identifying for each resource a set of one or more failure risks for that resource. For each identified failure risk, a likelihood of failure is combined with an expected resolution time to provide a risk weight for the identified failure risk. For each resource, the risk weights for each failure risk are accumulated to provide an accumulated risk weight for the resource. A resource manager provisions workload across the multiple resources based on the accumulated risk weights for each resource.
US07669086B2
Systems and methods for providing collision detection in a memory system including a memory system for storing and retrieving data for a processing system. The memory system includes resource scheduling conflict logic for monitoring one or more memory resources for detecting resource scheduling conflicts. The memory system also includes error reporting logic for generating an error signal in response to detecting a resource scheduling conflict at one or more of the memory resources.
US07669076B2
This disclosure describes methods, systems and software that can be used to calculate the estimated mean time to data loss for a particular configuration of a disk group. For example, a system can be used to evaluate a plurality of configurations, and/or to select (and/or allow a user to select) an optimal configuration of the disk group, based, in some cases, on the relative estimated mean times to data loss of the various configurations. This can allow, if desired, the configuration of the disk group to minimize the likelihood of data loss in the disk group.
US07669075B2
An apparatus and program product check for nodal faults in a row of nodes by causing each node in the row to concurrently communicate with its adjacent neighbor nodes in the row. The communications are analyzed to determine a presence of a faulty node or connection.
US07669074B2
Embodiments herein provide a fault-handling scheme based on forward recovery for cooperative workflow environments. The fault handling scheme relies on the correct placement of transaction scopes and their associated fault and compensation handlers for maintaining correct application semantics, a fault propagation scheme for forwarding faults to a workflow component that has the corresponding fault handler, and a distributed mechanism for collecting data of completed workflow components to facilitate recovering from faults. The fault handling scheme makes use of control flow messages to facilitate compensation of nested transaction scopes (residing in different components). The workflow components are also modified with additional code for aiding with fault propagation and fault recovery.
US07669073B2
Methods and systems are provided by which a computer system, and in particular, a lockstep fault-tolerant computer system, may be split into a plurality of independently operational subsystems. Each subsystem may be examined, managed or upgraded by an administrator while the overall computer system continues to service end-users. Finally, the separate subsystems may be merged in an efficient fashion and fault-tolerant operation will resume upon the combined system.
US07669071B2
An information handling system includes modular processing resources, each having a main processor, system memory, and preferably a service processor resource. A management resource coupled to a service processor resource evaluates a system power budget and allocates power to a processing resource by indicating a critical power level. The processing resource determines a warning power level based on the critical power level and monitor its actual power consumption. If actual power consumption exceeds the critical power level, the processing resource is powered down. If actual power consumption exceeds the warning power level, the processing resource throttles its performance to conserve power and requests a power allocation increase. If actual power consumption is below the warning power level, the processing resource may request a reduction in allocated power.
US07669063B2
A method of power down control (PDC) for a display device is to be implemented by a processor in a power down controller of the display device. The power down controller includes a main system, a main system power source, and a PDC power source. The method includes the steps of: (A) receiving power from the PDC power source, determining if the main system is to be activated, and proceeding to step (B) if affirmative; (B) turning on the main system power source, and activating the main system; (C) determining if operation in a power down mode is intended, and proceeding to step (D) if affirmative; and (D) turning off the main system power source to operate in the power down mode. Further, a state parameter is stored that allows the main system to be restored to the operating state prior to a power interruption.
US07669044B2
Increased efficiency in booting a computer uses a process of logging physical-level disk access during a boot cycle for use in creating a boot plan for a subsequent boot. Processing the log from one or more previous boots removes unnecessary reads such as those associated with temporary files and then orders the remaining read accesses based on times of prior read accesses and and by physical location on the disk. Upon boot, data likely to be requested first orders the remaining read accesses based on times of prior read accesses and By taking advantage of disk head and platter characteristics, data is read in sweeps through the disk, reducing overall latency. Requests that are not in cache may be held if the data is already scheduled for retrieval.
US07669041B2
A processor having a zero-overhead operand copy capability. The processor includes multiple execution units to execute instructions in parallel and multiple register files each associated with one or more of the execution units. The processor further includes circuitry to select either an instruction execution result from a first one of the execution units or content of a register within a first one of the register files associated with the first one of the execution units to be stored within a register within a second one of the register files.
US07669040B2
A system that executes a long transaction in a system with limited transactional hardware resources. During operation, the system executes the long transaction in a non transactional mode, which does not use transactional hardware resources. The system defers stores generated during the long transaction so that the stores are not committed to the architectural state of a processor until the transaction is successfully completed. If the long transaction successfully completes, the system commits the long transaction, which involves performing multiple hardware transactions to commit the deferred stores to the architectural state of the processor.
US07669036B2
Resource management techniques in multi-processor systems are described. Embodiments include a multi-processor system having a primary processor for communication with pipelined secondary processors. The secondary processors include registers containing status information for tasks executed by the respective secondary processors. The primary processor is provided with direct access to contents of the registers and manages computational and memory resources of the multi-processor system based on the acquired status information.
US07669018B2
A method and apparatus for filtering memory probe activity for writes in a distributed shared memory computer. In one embodiment, the method may include initiating a first store operation to a cache data block stored in a first cache from a first processing node including the first cache and assigning a modified cache state to the cache data block in response to initiating the first store operation. The method may further include evicting the cache data block from the first cache subsequent to initiating the first store operation, storing the cache data block in a remote cache in response to the evicting, and assigning a remote directory state to a coherence directory entry corresponding to the cache data block in response to storing the cache data block in the remote cache, where the remote directory state is distinct from an invalid directory state.
US07669012B2
A method and system are disclosed to insert coherence events in a multiprocessor computer system, and to present those coherence events to the processors of the multiprocessor computer system for analysis and debugging purposes. The coherence events are inserted in the computer system by adding one or more special insert registers. By writing into the insert registers, coherence events are inserted in the multiprocessor system as if they were generated by the normal coherence protocol. Once these coherence events are processed, the processing of coherence events can continue in the normal operation mode.
US07669009B2
A method and apparatus for selecting and updating a replacement candidate in a cache is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cache miss may initiate the eviction of a present replacement candidate in a last-level cache. The cache miss may also initiate the selection of a future replacement candidate. Upon the selection of the future replacement candidate, the corresponding cache line may be invalidated in lower-level caches but remain resident in the last-level cache. The future replacement candidate may be updated by subsequent hits to the replacement candidate in the last-level cache prior to a subsequent cache miss.
US07668999B2
A method for retrieving information about a device within an information handling system comprising a central processing unit and a plurality of devices coupled with the central processing system through an internal bus and a slot based bus expansion system for adding a plurality of devices, comprises the steps of: determining the location of a device within the system; if the device is coupled through the internal bus, then requesting a primary identification information from the device; otherwise requesting a secondary identification information from the device.
US07668994B2
In accordance to one aspect, a method for optimizing the effective data transmission rate in a bus system, in particular in automation technology is provided. A data telegram used in higher-order data networks based on the Internet protocol, with at least one data telegram, at least one data segment and/or at least one data section being generated and/or modified and/or deleted by at least one slave. The topology of the bus system can hereby be selected according to the application and is taken into account in the configuration of the data contained in the data telegrams, without infringing the protocol characteristics of the higher-order data network. The number of data telegrams required is hereby significantly reduced, in particular on communication links with maximum loading.
US07668992B2
A reconfigurable context-based operation instruction set processor for use in a processing system capable of executing a first instruction set. The reconfigurable context-based operation instruction set processor comprises: 1) a reconfigurable data path comprising a plurality of reconfigurable functional blocks; and 2) a programmable finite state machine capable of controlling the reconfigurable data path. The programmable finite state machine is capable of executing a first plurality of context-related instructions that are a first subset of the first instruction set.
US07668988B2
A bus inversion apparatus includes exclusive-OR gates and an inversion detector. The exclusive-OR gates are coupled to an instant data bus and a last data bus. The data buses have a corresponding plurality of bits, where the exclusive-OR gates perform a bitwise comparison of the data buses, and provide an exclusive-OR bus. The states of the exclusive-OR bus indicate whether corresponding bits of the data buses are different. The inversion detector counts the number of the corresponding bits that are different, and indicates that the instant data bus should be inverted. The inversion detector has a plurality of left shift circuits, each configured to perform a logical left shift of input bits as directed by the states of shift bits, where outputs of the each of the plurality of left shift circuits indicate a number of a subgroup of the corresponding bits that are different.
US07668985B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of interfaces each of which supports any one of a plurality of types of devices; and a controller which controls devices. The interfaces and the controller are connected so as to link together in series.
US07668983B2
Systems and methods for designing data structures are provided. In one embodiment, an asynchronous first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure may include, for example, a FIFO memory having a depth d in which d is an integer and a code generator coupled to the FIFO memory. The code generator may provide, for example, a first code sequence of length 2d. The first code sequence may have a circular property and a Hamming length of one for any two consecutive codes of the first code sequence. The first code sequence may be generated from a second code sequence by removing one or more pairs of mirrored codes of the second code sequence.
US07668982B2
The present invention provides a method and system for processing media data on a host processor. The method and system involve receiving media data, generating clocking signals, transferring media data to host processor buffers, generating media transfer done interrupts for each media data stream and generating an override interrupt to indicate to the host processor to process the media data. The override interrupt has high priority and effectively indicates to the host processor to forgo all other scheduled tasks and to start processing the media data.
US07668981B1
A method for controlling data traffic within a storage area network can be provided. The method can comprise analyzing data for a path in a storage area network to determine whether the path should be identified as a less preferred path, and controlling data traffic routing to avoid use of a path identified as a less preferred path. In some embodiments, the data can be obtained from a host bus adaptor in the path. In some embodiments, the controlling can comprise throttling traffic over a path identified as a less preferred path.
US07668980B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a primary storage control unit receives an information unit from a remote host over a fiber channel connection, wherein persistent information unit pacing is implemented over the fiber channel connection. Information is maintained on how many large writes have been received at the primary storage control unit over at least one logical path established over the fiber channel connection between the primary storage control unit and the remote host, wherein a large write is an input/output (I/O) operation for which a number of data information units that are processed exceeds a default value of an information unit pacing credit. The primary storage control unit adjusts an information unit pacing parameter included in a response sent from the primary storage control unit to the remote host, wherein the adjusting is based at least on the information maintained on how many large writes have been received at the primary storage control unit over the at least one logical path.
US07668976B2
A computer system comprising a memory module, a connection port, and a central processing unit (CPU) is disclosed. The memory module stores a main base input/output system (BIOS) comprising an auxiliary function. The connection port is capable of connecting an auxiliary module comprising at least one specific program. The CPU executes the main BIOS when the auxiliary function is de-activated. The CPU executes the specific program when the auxiliary function is activated.
US07668969B1
One or more rules for performing one or more network switch functions, the one or more rules conforming to an improved rule structure, are provided. The improved rule structure comprises a first specification defining one or more conditions to be met, the one or more conditions comprising or including one or more conditions to be met by one or more usage-derived packet statistics, and a second specification defining one or more actions to be taken by the network switch if the one or more specified conditions are met.
US07668968B1
A closed-loop voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) system has a local and a remote VOIP application. Each VOIP application monitors incoming packet arrival times and durations of audio data in the incoming packets to estimate bandwidth. The bandwidth estimates are forwarded to the other VOIP application. The forwarded bandwidth estimates are compared to a sending bandwidth. When the bandwidth estimate is above the sending bandwidth, compression and audio-frame decimation are reduced to improve voice quality. When the bandwidth estimate falls below the sending bandwidth, audio compression and decimation are increased to improve efficiency. Packet size can also be increased. Congestion estimates can also be sent with the audio data, causing packet transmission to pause until congestion ends. Incoming packet latencies are compared to a moving average to determine the congestion estimate, while bandwidth estimates are made by comparing packet audio duration to time between packet arrivals.
US07668966B2
The present invention provides for a system and method for data network control. Using a flow control system, embodiments of the present invention can analyze traffic flow volume and performance, incorporate usage, billing, and cost control data to yield an improved data network controller. Efficiency in data routing is improved while costs are decreased by enabling the selection of the optimal performance data route. Cost constraints and costs are minimized for an overall data load. Given a diverse set of cost structures for available transit providers, the overall system cost can be minimized by distributing traffic in a manner that takes advantage of the diverse billing structures and yet maintains acceptable performance levels. Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention determine projected flow performance and projected flow volume in relation to the available bandwidth and marginal cost to a destination provider.
US07668958B2
A mobile ad-hoc network device includes application software. The device constructs its routing table, listing reachable devices with the same application software. The routing table knowledge is dynamic, as devices enter and leave the network or their parameters change.
US07668957B2
The present invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates reducing network traffic between a plurality of servers located on a social-based network. The system and method involve identifying a plurality of vertices or service users on the network with respect to their server or network locations. The vertices' contacts or connections can be located or determined as well. In order to minimize communication traffic, the vertices and their connections with respect to their respective server locations can be analyzed to determine whether at least a subset of nodes should be moved or relocated to another server to facilitate mitigating network traffic while balancing user load among the various servers or parts of the network. Thus, an underlying social network can be effectively partitioned. In addition, the network can be parsed into a collection of nested layers, whereby each successively less dense layer can be partitioned with respect to the previous (partitioned) more dense layer.
US07668951B2
Disclosed herein are filtering systems and methods that employ an electronic message source reputation system. The source reputation system maintains a pool of source Internet Protocol (IP) address information, in the form of a Real-Time Threat Identification Network (“RTIN”) database, which can provide the reputation of source IP addresses, which can be used by customers for filtering network traffic. The source reputation system provides for multiple avenues of access to the source reputation information. Examples of such avenues can include Domain Name Server (DNS)-type queries, servicing routers with router-table data, or other avenues.
US07668947B2
The disclosed methods and systems can be used to manage at least one asset, where the methods and systems include associating the at least one asset with at least one user, and providing the at least one user with at least one task list that includes at least one task associated with a vulnerability of the asset and at least one task associated with a configuration standard associated with the asset.
US07668946B1
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture of the present invention may assist in planning, execution, and evaluation of advertising campaigns on the Internet. Particularly, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture of the present invention may help evaluate and/or predict traffic volume on the Internet. An exemplary method for predicting traffic may comprise receiving historical traffic data for a location, and computing a prediction of traffic volume for a particular time at the location using the historical traffic data and at least one prediction algorithm.
US07668936B1
A continuous play broadcast system includes a distributed communications system and a playback control device that is connected to the distributed communications system. The playback control device includes an output device, memory that stores digital media files and a continuous play program, and a controller that outputs the digital media files to the output device according to the continuous play program. The media files include at least one of audio, video and announcements. A computer is connected to the distributed communications system. A web server is connected to the distributed communications system and to a master library of the digital media files. The computer accesses the web server via the distributed communications system to alter the continuous play program for the playback control device. The computer includes a browser module for accessing the web server and the web server transmits executable files to the computer for creating the continuous play program. The executable files are at least one of Active-X® components, Java Applets® and Java Script®. The continuous play broadcast system can also deliver video files and announcement files using the continuous play program. The computer and the playback control device can be integrated.
US07668933B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus configured to distribute stored content to a client reproducing apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via a network, which may include acquiring means; real item information generating means; extracting means; virtual item generating means; reproduction sequence list generating means; virtual item information generating means; collecting means; and distributing means.
US07668913B1
A technique for generating a web site in accordance with received data entry by: determining at least one characteristic of at least one web site dimension of the web site based on the data entry; generating a multi-dimensional description of the web site based on the determined characteristics; retrieving web site data according to the generated multi-dimensional description of the web site; and generating the web site based upon the generated multi-dimensional description of the web site and the retrieved web site data. The web site data includes dynamic content data from an external data source, and the data entry may include a designation of such an external data source.
US07668911B2
The object of the invention is to make communication between users smoother utilizing terminal type information. To achieve the object, a terminal type is specified based upon information in login and information acquired by adding the information to presence information is notified. Besides, terminals of the same type are connected by an SIP server. The selection of the communication means of voice communications and a character chat when communication is started and the specification of a calling terminal at a partner terminal are enabled by adding terminal information to presence information and grasping mutual owned terminals. Detailed status can be grasped based upon presence information of the same name by grasping presence information and terminal information. Further, in the case of a terminal not provided with a presence function, an SIP server also identifies terminal type information by deputy and can also specify a calling terminal.
US07668909B2
A site for communication and information sharing among members is provided by a bulletin board management system utilizing a computer network. When a change is made to contents of bulletin information, the system determines members who have already read the bulletin information before the change based on a result of monitoring. The system automatically sends an electronic mail urging these members to check the change in contents of the bulletin information and changes the status of these members from “already read” to “required to check the change.” Thus, the electronic mail urging members to check the change in contents is sent only to members who need to check, so failure of information transmission is prevented and information can be communicated to all members securely.
US07668900B2
A method for scheduling an event over a network in a calendar of an invitee includes creating a schedule request that includes at least a set of details of the event and an identifier if the event creator. The schedule request is sent to a server in communication with the network. The server has access to the calendar of the invitee and a calendar for the event creator. Upon receipt of the schedule request, an event record is created at the server that includes at least the set of details for the event and a link to the invitee's calendar. The event is also added to the calendar of the invitee. The schedule request may be created using a link associated with the event.
US07668898B2
A calculating circuit and a method for generating an output signal representing an output number approximating an N-th root and/or a reciprocal of an input number represented by an input signal are described. The calculating circuit includes a subtractor circuit, an integrator circuit, and a multiplier circuit. The subtractor circuit responsive to a first signal and a feedback signal and configured for generating an error signal representing a difference between the first signal and the feedback signal. The integrator circuit responsive to the error signal and configured for computing the output signal. The multiplier circuit responsive to the output signal and configured for generating a feedback signal. The method for generating the output signal includes the following iterative steps: (i) generating an error signal at a j-th iteration, (ii) integrating the error signal for obtaining the output signal, (iii) generating the feedback signal and (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) as required to obtain the N-th root and reciprocal with a required accuracy.
US07668896B2
The first and second n-bit significands are multiplied producing a pair of 2n-bit vectors, and half adder logic produces a corresponding plurality of carry and sum bits. A product exponent is checked for correspondence with a predetermined exponent value. A sum operation generates a first result equivalent to the addition of the pair of 2n-bit vectors. First adder logic uses corresponding m carry and sum bits, the least significant of them carry bits being replaced with the increment value prior to the first adder logic performing the first sum operation. Second adder logic performs a second sum operation and uses the corresponding m−1 carry and sum bits replacing the least significant m−1 carry bits with the rounding increment value prior to the second adder logic second sum operation. The n-bit result is derived from either the first rounded result, the second rounded result or a predetermined result value.
US07668887B2
A computer-implemented method of maintaining a list of documents of interest to a user within a corpus of documents includes associating an editable user document with the corpus and generating an initial list of documents based upon an initial content of the user document. The list is generated by cross-referencing the initial content with content of documents in the corpus, and each entry in the initial list is assigned a corresponding initial ranking value based upon the cross-referencing. The user is presented with an initial list of documents of interest from within the corpus on the basis of the initial ranking values. Responsive to one or more updates of the editable document by the user, one or more further lists of documents are generated based upon updated content of the document. The process may be repeated to provide the user with ongoing feedback of relevant documents within the corpus.
US07668884B2
Systems and methods for data classification to facilitate and improve data management within an enterprise are described. The disclosed systems and methods evaluate and define data management operations based on data characteristics rather than data location, among other things. Also provided are methods for generating a data structure of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. This data structure may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than scanning the data files themselves.
US07668878B2
A method and apparatus for replicating data between heterogeneous databases is provided. Data is replicated between two heterogeneous databases with the use of a volatile storage queue, enabling the rapid replication of data across databases provided by different vendors or operating on different platforms. According to one embodiment, an in-memory queue is used to queue change operations to be performed on a target data repository. The change operations may be operations that were applied to a source data repository. An apply process retrieves the change operations from in-memory queue and commits the change operations to persistent storage. When the change operations have been committed, the apply process notifies the source platform that the particular change operation has been stored.
US07668875B2
When there is a constituent tape that is other than the process target magnetic tape (Yes in step S15), valid data on the process target magnetic tape is copied onto that constituent tape (step S22). For this process, the magnetic tape that stores the largest amount of valid data in relation to invalid data stored on the process target magnetic tape is determined to be the copy destination.
US07668874B2
A technique capable of constructing a disaster recovery system reduced in performance degradation of a primary system is provided. The technique includes a step of conducting synchronous writing of log information into a secondary storage subsystem in a secondary system when a write request received from a host computer is a write request of log information, a step of temporarily storing a write request and conducting asynchronous writing into the secondary storage subsystem when the received write request is a write request of database data or status information, a step of modifying log information, data in a database area, and status information in the secondary storage subsystem according to contents of a write request received from a primary storage subsystem, and a step of recovering the database area according to contents of log information in a location indicated by the status information.
US07668870B1
A method for updating web pages on a web server without republishing the web pages involves providing on a production database server a live version of one or more business data tables containing information used to populate web pages on a production web server and storing in a quality assurance database server a quality assurance version of the business data tables that can be used to populate pages on a quality assurance web server. A maker at a business workstation can access the quality assurance database server from time to time and enter a change to data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables. Thereafter a checker at a business workstation accesses the quality assurance database server to review and approve or reject the changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables, and if the checker approves the changes, the changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables are replicated from the quality assurance database server to the live version of the business data tables on the production database server.
US07668859B2
A system for user-directed acquisition over a wide area network includes a client computer, a database having information data relating to user-entered text of HTML pages, and a server computer having a program software stored on the storage device to receive a user-entered word data in a first language from the client, to receive a user-entered geographic search area data from said client, and wherein the program software is associated with software for generating a translation language pair data and for translating the word data in accordance with the language corresponding to the user entered geographic search area data, software for accessing said information data as a function of the translated word data, and software for transmitting the accessed information data to the client-computer. A method is also provided.
US07668856B2
The invention provides methods and systems for summarizing multiple continuous update streams such that an approximate answer to a query over one or more of the continuous update streams (such as a Query requiring a join operation followed by a duplicate elimination step) may be rapidly provided. The systems and methods use multiple (parallel) Join Distinct (JD) Sketch data structures corresponding to hash buckets of at least one initial attribute.
US07668855B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for generating and subsequently using a series of graphical perspectives of an organization. Each of the perspectives includes a series of defined elements which are identified as being part of the perspective. Each element is analyzed in each of the perspectives and those which are common to more than one perspective are identified as are those elements which are interconnected and hence refer to each other. A graphical display panel is generated for each perspective which identifies in a dynamic manner those elements which are so connected and said panel can be used a navigational tool in conjunction with a graphical user interface.
US07668847B2
In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a method and associated apparatus that allows a user to obtain a semi-structured data input and a workload input. An improved semi-structured data storage schema is selected for a relational schema in response to the semi-structured data input and the workload input. The semi-structured data is segmented based on the selected improved semi-structured data storage schema. In one aspect, the semi-structured data is XML data.
US07668828B2
A system for the entry of notes on a policy or claim, wherein the notes, after submission, are stored is non-editable form and are locked in a database for historical archival. In one scenario, the entered notes are editable and can be deleted for a pre-set time period, wherein, after the expiration of the pre-set time period, the entered notes are stored is non-editable form and are locked in a database for historical archival. Filters can be used to categorize and render the stored notes based on a set of categories.
US07668820B2
A longitudinal database of de-identified patient healthcare transaction data records linked by longitudinal linking tags (IDs) is provided. A new healthcare transaction data record, which may include alphanumeric identification code attributes, third party attributes and/or demographic attributes, is assigned an linking ID associated with a previous healthcare transaction data record based upon successful comparison of either a designated set of identification code attributes or a designated set of demographic attributes. The longitudinal data base is assembled by a matching process in which a new data record is compared level by level with previous healthcare transaction data records through a hierarchy of a first series of matching levels each defined by a designated set of alphanumeric identification code attributes and a second series of matching levels each defined by a designated set of attributes including demographic attributes and then assigned the ID associated with a successfully matched reference data record.
US07668808B2
Techniques are provided for modifying queries to increase the number of sponsored links that are returned in response to the queries. A query modification system uses a predefined set of rules that are designated to modify a query to increase the chance that the modified query will match more sponsored links. The modified query is then matched against a listing of search query strings that have been pre-selected by sponsors. Each pre-selected search query strings corresponds to one or more sponsored web links. If the modified query matches one of the pre-selected search query strings, the corresponding sponsored web links are returned and displayed to the user.
US07668806B2
Techniques are provided for processing a query, including receiving the query, where the query specifies certain operations to be performed, including (a) a first set of one or more operations that are to be performed on a markup language data source and (b) a second set of one or more operations that are to be performed on a second data source. Then it is determined that a first server that manages the markup language data source is capable of performing the first set of operations. A request is sent to the first server to perform the first set of operations. A response is received, where the response contains results of performing the first set of operations on the markup language data source. Finally, results are generated for the query based at least in part on the results of performing the first set of operations.
US07668805B2
A system, computer usable medium and computer-based method for supporting named memory variables in an information retrieval system including a relational database. PUBLIC and PRIVATE named memory variables can be created, referenced, modified or deleted using SQL statements. The information retrieval system allocates a memory area as a named variable storage space for storing named memory variables. System catalogs may be used for storing information about PUBLIC, SECURE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, SECURE PRIVATE and pre-defined named memory variables. PUBLIC and PRIVATE named memory variables can be used for transferring information between SQL statements of one or more sessions or for retrieving system information from the relational database. Both PUBLIC and PRIVATE types can be defined as SECURE named memory variables requiring specific authorization privileges to read or write to the variable.
US07668801B1
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing queries. The present invention discloses an efficient method for providing answers to queries under parametric aggregation constraints.
US07668798B2
The present invention relates to a system (10) for generating and maintaining virtual and physical metadata layers in a MetaBase metadata repository (110b) in order to simplify and optimize the retrieval of data from a plurality of disparate information sources (130a-130c). The system stores in a physical metadata layer of a MetaBase metadata repository a plurality of physical metadata elements, wherein each one of the physical metadata elements corresponds to the metadata elements in the plurality of information sources. Logical metadata elements are stored in the virtual metadata layer and are linked to the physical metadata elements in order to maintain the relationships therebetween. By maintaining the relationships between the physical metadata elements, users can initiate a data query request for data corresponding to a logical metadata element, and the system is configurated to retrieve the desired data from the relevant information sources, even in the event that relevant information sources maintain the data in fields having different data field names, that the information sources employ incompatible data formats, and that the relevant information sources employ different query languages.
US07668795B2
A data analyzer stores data values at any one of N stages while associating the data values with a plurality of data elements respectively and stores association weighting information among the data elements, selects one of the data elements as a target data at random and computes an input stimulus value concerned with the target data on the basis of the association weighting information between the target data and the other data elements and the data values of the other data elements, and updates the data value of the target data on the basis of the computed input stimulus value in such a manner that a threshold decided in accordance with a current data value associated with the target data and varying according to each data value is compared with the input stimulus value to determine whether the data value needs to be changed or not, and that the data value is updated when a decision is made that the data value needs to be changed.
US07668793B2
A data mining method for determining association rules within a multitude of N transactions. Each transaction includes up to p different items. A sample size n of the multitude of N transactions is computed based on precision requirements such that n is at least an estimated sample size n*. Association rules are computed based on a sample of the multitude of N transactions with sample size n according to a methodology for mining of association rules, using the association rules as estimated association rules of the multitude of N transactions.
US07668789B1
A first distribution of cases over a first group of categories is received. A categorizer trained using a search-and-confirm technique classifies the cases into a second group of categories. A second distribution of the cases over the second group of categories is generated using results of the classifying. The first and second distributions are compared to identify differences between the first and second distributions.
US07668788B2
This invention provides a means to minimize the costs of technical and business processes. These processes are comprised of resources and tasks requiring resources. The optimization consists of the best assignment of resources to tasks to minimize the costs. In the resource assignment optimization method disclosed herein, Genetically Adapted Search Agents (GASA) are employed to improve a population of possible assignments, each represented by a single variable length chromosome, where the chromosome upon which the GASA operates is a direct encoding of possible resource to task assignments and order. To manage the enlarged search space, this method uses the GASA with substring crossover to evolve the population towards better solutions. The assignments generated by this method satisfy all constraints.
US07668769B2
Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting fraud. In particular, one embodiment includes a system and method of detecting fraud in transaction data such as payment card transaction data. For example, one embodiment includes a computerized method of detecting that comprises receiving data associated with a financial transaction and at least one transacting entity, wherein the data associated with the transacting entity comprises at least a portion of each of a plurality of historical transactions of the transacting entity, applying the data to at least one first model, generating a score based on the first model, and generating data indicative of fraud based at least partly on the score. Other embodiments include systems and methods of generating models for use in fraud detection systems.
US07668765B2
A method and system for determining a billing rate of a telecommunications connection is disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. The geographic location of a mobile unit (MU) is determined, and compared to a list a predetermined subsidized zones. When the MU initiates or receives a call from within a subsidized zone, and the MU is otherwise responsible for paying a predetermined billing rate associated with the call, the predetermined rate is subsidized for at least the portion of the call made while the MU is located within the subsidized zone.
US07668756B2
A method for providing real-time individualized customer support simultaneously to a plurality of customers in a chat-room environment is disclosed. The method monitors the content of chats or conversations between service representatives and customers to automatically formulate product and service offerings and other services to customers in response to the chat content.
US07668753B2
A service session supervision platform is disposed between an access network and an input node of a service-hosting network. During the provision of a service, at least one atomic section is first defined. Such atomic section consists of a determined sequence of events which are involved in message exchanges with a subscriber. The supervision platform detects and flags events forming the beginning or end of an atomic section in a service session in progress for a subscriber by means of the access network. A communication interrupt request from a subscriber is processed by ascertaining if an atomic section is in progress for this subscriber according to the atomic section beginnings and ends flagged by the supervision platform, in order to determine whether or not the communication must be interrupted immediately.
US07668746B2
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for human resource assessment. A resource planning device includes a processor, a memory, and a user interface coupled to one another. The device includes program instructions storable in the memory and executable by the processor to present, in a selectable configuration, organization specific human resource content after processing according to a selectable set of business rules. The selectable set of business rules are process neutral, brand neutral, and assessment neutral between various organizations. The device can track input to the organization specific content and analyze the input.
US07668739B2
A web-based method for identifying items to replace insured items includes receiving item specification information from at least one of a user, a manufacturer, a distributor, a system administrator, and an authorizing agent, and utilizing a server to compare the received specification information with pre-stored information. The method also includes selecting at least one item which matches the received specification information and downloading information to the user related to the item.
US07668738B2
A method and system for enabling a service provider to file insurance claims electronically directly with the payer rather than through a clearinghouse. The system has two components interacting with an existing practice management system of a service provider and with online claim filing systems of insurance payers. The first is a software application installed on the service provider's computer to seek out billing information and create files suitable for filing of formatted claims with the payer's web sites. The second component is a web portal that interacts with both the first component and the payers' web sites to keep the former with formatting requirements and to facilitate filing of the claims electronically. The system uses a software “cookie” to convey instructions to the first component so that it can automatically connect to the appropriate page of each payer's web site.
US07668735B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information.
US07668733B2
A method of adaptively operating a medical triage system includes triaging a plurality of persons using a set of triage questions to select particular dispositions from a plurality of triage disposition. Triage-related data is acquired as a result of the triaging of the plurality of persons. The triage-related data is analyzed and the set of triage questions or the dispositions are modified based on the analysis of the triage-related data.
US07668729B2
A user information item is associated with a data set selected by a user for delivery over an electronic network. The user's present and previous data selections are analyzed to identify a user information category related to at least one of these data selections, and the user information item is chosen from the identified user information category. User information items can be combined or associated with a video, animation or multimedia data set selected by a user for delivery over an electronic network.
US07668721B2
Systems and/or methods (“tools”) are described that enable indexing and storing verbal content, and other techniques. Some of these tools may be enabled using a computer-implemented method that includes receiving events that result from detecting keywords within a stream. In a first operating mode, the tools may create metadata in response to the event. The metadata includes an indication of the detected keyword and a time index indicating where in the stream the keyword was detected. The tools may also merge the metadata with a portion of the stream where the detected keyword occurred. In a second operating mode, the tools may associate data representing the keyword with the time index, and may store a record that includes the keyword and the time index in an output file.
US07668718B2
An apparatus for transforming data input by dividing the data input into a uniform dataset with one or more data divisions, processing the uniform dataset to produce a first processed dataset with one or more data divisions, processing the uniform dataset to produce a second processed dataset with one or more data divisions, wherein the first and second processed datasets have the same number of data divisions, and editing data selectively within each one of the one or more divisions of the first and second processed dataset. This apparatus has particular utility in error-spotting in processed datasets, and toward training a pattern recognition application, such as speech recognition, to produce more accurate processed datasets.
US07668706B2
The invention relates to a method for simulating the driving behavior of vehicles on a test stand in which the engine of the vehicle is coupled on the test stand to an electronically controllable braking apparatus and a first simulation model calculates simulation values of variables which are representative of the driving state of the vehicle in that the reaction of the vehicle to the behavior of the engine and the values of the variables as determined immediately prior thereto are calculated, with at least one evaluation variable w being calculated on the basis of the values measured on the test stand for measurable variables and engine torque M and the values calculated therefrom with the simulation model for non-measurable variables. An improved simulation is achieved in such a way that in a further simulation model higher-frequency changes are calculated from variables which are measurable per se and are considered in the calculation of the evaluation variable by superimposing with the actual measured values or that in the simulation model higher-frequency changes are calculated from variables which are measurable per se and are considered in the calculation of the evaluation variable w by superimposing with the actual measured values.
US07668701B2
The present invention relates to a computer-aided process for carrying out the structural design of a stiffened panel (9) made of a composite material, optimizing a target variable, comprising a first preparation phase (21) in which a Simulation Model (25) of the stiffened panel (9) with all the relevant information for the structural analysis thereof is obtained from a General Finite Element Model (23) and the modifiable variables and the restrictions (27) are defined, and a second simulation phase (51) in which the design variables are iteratively modified for the purpose of optimizing the target variable, taking into account in each iteration the load distribution changes resulting from the previous iteration, and verifying that the restrictive conditions and the safety margins associated to the pre-established failure modes are met using for that purpose simulation expert modules (55) of families of failure modes.
US07668695B2
The present invention includes a sensor malfunction determination unit 207 detects the pressure value corresponding to a signal outputted by a pressure sensor 101 capable of measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire 10. When the detected pressure value is decreasing along the time axis, the sensor malfunction determination unit 207 determines that the pressure sensor 101 is not malfunctioning.
US07668694B2
A method and apparatus for determining a fluid level and/or output flow during operation of a centrifugal pump, are provided, which may be used for production of gas and/or oil from a well, and include a vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives, from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters, an estimated value of fluid level and other pumping system parameters. Controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input, near an optimum level, or within a safe operating range and/or output flow from the pump.
US07668693B2
A method for evaluating uncertainty associated with the value of a measurand derived from measurements of a device under test is disclosed. A mathematical model is provided wherein the measurand is expressed as a function of (i) at least one physically observable quantity, and (ii) the reference value of the physically observable quantity in a reference device. The reference value of the reference device and the value of the measurand of the device under test are measured. The value of the at least one physically observable quantity is also measured. At least one uncertainty value is determined as a function of the physically observable, wherein the mathematical model takes into account the at least one source of uncertainty and the reference value of the reference device.
US07668684B2
In a sensor network system for transferring sensing data measured by a sensor node to a host server based upon a process condition, the process condition can be easily set. The host server (4) previously sets a transmission condition which is used to transmit only an event satisfying a preset condition to the host server (4). When the host server (4) receives a joined event from a PAN management server (2), the host server (4) transmits to the PAN management server (2) a transmission condition corresponding to an identifier of an ID of a sensor node (1) of a transmission source of the joined event, and the PAN management server (2) transfers only an observed event satisfying the transmission condition to the host server (4).
US07668682B2
A design structure and method comprising a degradation detection circuit configured to respond to degradation. The degradation detection circuit is located within a semiconductor device and comprises a process sensitive circuit, a measurement circuit, a calculation circuit, and a control circuit. The method comprises subjecting the semiconductor device to a first operating condition. A first value at a first time for a parameter of the process sensitive circuit is measured by the measurement circuit. The semiconductor device is operated to perform an intended function. A second value at a second time for the parameter of the circuit is measured by the measurement circuit. The second time is different from the first time. A first differential value between the first value and the second value is determined by the calculation circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive an enable signal.
US07668680B2
Methods systems and computer readable media for testing operation of an instrument controlled by a system under test. Raw data, used by the system under test to calculate reduced data, is inputted to an independent data reduction engine. Independent reduced data is calculated using at least one independent algorithm independent of a corresponding algorithm used by the system under test to calculate the reduced data. Values of the reduced data are compared with corresponding values of the independent reduced data, and at least one of outputting a result of the comparing for use by a human user, and storing a result of the comparing in memory are performed.
US07668676B2
A method for calibration is controlled using measurement technology of at least one device unit of a device system which includes a monitor for image processing and a standard light device. The monitor is calibrated, and the luminance is measured at the calibrated monitor and at a standard light device. The actual value of the luminance at the standard light device is compared with the value for the luminance of the monitor. If there is a difference, the standard light device receives a control signal to change the brightness or the contrast. This regulation is continued until no difference exists between the measured actual value at the standard light device and the reference value stored in the memory of the evaluation unit.
US07668675B2
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a counter counts the number of high-speed clock signals that have been generated in a predetermined number of clock cycles of a low-speed clock signal. In synchronization with the low-speed clock signal, the semiconductor integrated circuit compares the counter value and a predetermined value, and judges whether the frequency of the high-speed clock signal has reaches a predetermined frequency. Since variations in the frequency become smaller as the oscillation of a high-speed oscillator stabilizes, the semiconductor integrated circuit detects that the oscillation is stable when the semiconductor integrated circuit has judged affirmatively a plurality of times.
US07668668B2
A method of measuring a stress component in a short period of time in a nondestructive manner and a stress component measurement device that includes a stress component comparison section that compares a Raman spectrum L obtained in a predetermined area W1 of a reference specimen W to which a given stress component is applied with the stress component, a correlation data production section that produces correlation data indicating a correlation between the Raman spectrum L and the stress component by the use of a multivariate analysis method based on the comparison results conducted by the stress component comparison section. The comparison is conducted multiple times on different predetermined areas W1. A correlation data storage section stores the correlation data, and a stress component calculation section calculates a stress component applied to a measurement area W1′ of a measurement specimen W′ whose composition is the same as that of the reference specimen W based on the Raman spectrum L obtained from the measurement area W1′ and the correlation data.
US07668666B2
A method for transmitting data generated by a logger within a concrete mass and for displaying mechanical data to a device for outside the concrete mass. The method includes the step of sensing, processing, and recording the mechanical data generated by the logger within the concrete mass. The mechanical data is protected from alteration while the mechanical data is within the concrete mass. The mechanical data is transferred to an external device with a first protected transference protocol. The mechanical data is transferred to a computer with a second protected transference protocol. The mechanical data is decoded in the computer and displayed on a user interface.
US07668661B2
The invention provides diagnostic methods, kits, and systems, and related computer-readable media, which use multiple blood marker values, including serum and plasma marker values, to aid in the diagnosis of the status or progress of a liver disease in a patient.The invention also provides methods and systems, and related computer-readable media, that use blood marker values, including serum and plasma marker values: (1) to screen for active ingredients useful in the treatment of a liver disease; (2) to aid in the selection of treatment regimens for patients that are predisposed to, or suffer from, liver disease; and (3) to aid in the design of clinical programs useful in monitoring the status or progress of liver disease in one or more patients.
US07668660B2
The invention provides methods for providing information on the probability of DNA samples being contaminated over days, weeks and months in relation to collection, processing and analysis of DNA samples. Methods are also provided for analysing the likelihood of a result arising due to contamination and/or determining the analysis protocol to be applied to a DNA sample and/or methods of operating databases, particularly containing DNA profiles.Improvements in accounting for sporadic and undetected contamination and improvements in the operation of DNA sampling of analysis are provided by the invention.
US07668650B2
The on-vehicle information terminal according to the present invention comprises an abridged road generating device that generates abridged roads by abridging a road map based upon map data, a road decision-making device that makes a decision as to whether or not a road is a special shape road having a predetermined special shape based upon the map data, a substituting device for substitutes a specific road shape pattern stored in memory in advance for a road determined by the road decision-making device to have a special shape and a display control device that displays at the display device an abridged map containing specific road shape patterns used to substitute for special shape roads by the substituting device and the abridged roads generated by the abridged road generating device.
US07668647B2
Entering an identifier to select a navigational waypoint requires “head-down” time, resulting in less time for operating a vehicle. Accordingly, a technique for selecting a navigational waypoint for use is provided. The present invention includes receiving a partially entered identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use, searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of identifiers using the partially entered identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of identifiers, and completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the searching. The completed waypoint identifier forms a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use. The present invention uses as a search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each identifier of the plurality and a reference location/area to reduce the number of user-entered characters needed to select a navigational waypoint, thereby reducing “head-down” time.
US07668639B2
A method for doing an optimization of the performance envelope initially authorized for an existing rotorcraft engine (M) to enable the engine (M), to be used in an optimized performance envelope that is different from the performance envelope initially authorized for the engine, is remarquable in that this optimization is compensated by modifying the total service life of the engine (M).
US07668633B2
In a method for determining at least one, preferably however several driver-independent interventions in a vehicle system, a risk calculator is used, whose input is supplied with predetermined vehicle data, ambience data, current vehicle and driver data, occupant data or data of persons outside the vehicle, or similar data. The risk calculator issues an evaluation of the risk situation of the vehicle and its occupants or the persons outside the vehicle based on said data and, in accordance with the evaluation and optional additional criteria or weightings, outputs driving signals controlling actuators that modify or trigger the driving behavior of the vehicle and/or the occupant protection system and/or protection means for other traffic participants (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.) in such a way that maximum protection is obtained for the persons and the vehicle according to a priority control.
US07668629B2
A GNSS ultra-tight coupling (UTC) receiver architecture applicable to space borne orbit platforms is described. A receiver in accordance with this architecture retains the rotational motion sensors typically found in an inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a conventional UTC receiver, but replaces the IMU accelerometer sensors with precise orbital dynamics models to predict the translational motion of the platform center of gravity (CG). Drag and radiation pressure may be modeled as well. The various models can be implemented in software. The IMU rotational sensors are retained for compensation of the GNSS antenna lever arm effect due to platform rotation.
US07668627B2
A mechanical flight control system for a rotary-wing aircraft is disclosed. The flight control system comprises an upstream portion, a downstream portion, and a booster means for connecting the upstream portion to the downstream portion. The booster means may comprise dual concentric valve actuators and/or a variety of system load limiting features.
US07668626B2
An operation machine displays a received image on a monitor to enable an operator to remotely control a moving unit such as a model car and robotic arms through the image provided through a network by a camera on the unit and displayed on the monitor. Plotting of the received image on the monitor is conducted at predetermined intervals in plotting timing. The plotted image becomes a predicted image subjected to a time delay process. The moving unit carrying the camera is disposed in a remote area, and connected to a personal computer through the Internet to transmit motion pictures to the computer. At this time, a fluctuation correction is made to data of the motion pictures to provide a method of displaying a natural image. The method is employed in a moving unit's remote control system enabling an operator to enjoy a precise remote control of the unit.
US07668625B2
This lateral maneuverability map shows the area of movement of a vehicle with the contours of the regions of complete freedom of lateral movement. It is generated from a distance map listing the distances of the points of its regions that can be negotiated by the vehicle to the regions to be circumvented. It may show the area of movement of the vehicle in the form of a subdivision into at least three types of region, namely a first type corresponding to regions to be circumvented, a second type corresponding to bands surrounding the regions to be circumvented and having the width of a maneuvering space arbitrarily considered as necessary for free lateral movement of the vehicle, and a third type of region corresponding to regions of free lateral movement. In the case of an aircraft, said map may be superimposed on the map of a TAWS system in order to specify to the pilot if he has complete freedom of lateral movement or not.
US07668618B2
Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package.
US07668615B2
A method for dispatching wafers for processing in a tool includes identifying a queue of wafers available to be processed in the tool. One of the wafers is randomly selected based at least in part on a length of time each wafer has been in the queue. The selected wafer is dispatched for processing in the tool.
US07668614B2
Embodiments of a method of optimally scheduling, in near real-time, workunits for processing on processing stations in a processing system, while accounting for constraints such as processing station qualifications by workunit type and service type, and to meet certain business objectives such as cycle time and demand targets, are described. A method of scheduling the processing of workunits in a processing system comprises defining a plurality of workunits, aggregating the work units by workunit type and service to be performed on each workunit to define one or more workunit type-service type groupings. The method further allocates capacity of one or more processing stations to workunit type-service type groupings, assigns workunits of the plurality of workunits to meet the allocated capacity, and sequences the workunit type-service type groupings and workunits on each processing station of the one or more processing stations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07668613B2
Activities within various environments (e.g., industrial control environment) can be automated through a number of interchangeable modules configured to perform an action or series of actions. Each interchangeable module can be dedicated to a specific function or task (e.g., quality control, performance) and can take into consideration various business aspects. A sequence in which the actions should be performed can be assigned and the appropriate module automatically initiated based on the sequence. A user can manually select a module in order to have a particular function automatically implemented, such as inserting a quality control module into a rack so that functions relating to quality control are automatically implemented. When a different task is desired, the quality control module can be removed and replaced with a different module.
US07668609B2
A method and apparatus for receiving digital audio data which does not require the recovery of a clock from the data. Instead, the digital audio data is sampled at a rate greater than a clock rate of the digital audio data. Appropriate transitions in the digital audio data are detected to allow reconstruction of digital values represented by the digital audio data.
US07668602B2
A method is provided for treating a subject, including applying a current to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, and an internal jugular vein of the subject. The method also includes configuring the current so as to treat a condition of the subject selected from the list consisting of: an autoimmune disease, an autoimmune inflammatory disease, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, myelitis, immune-mediated neuropathy, myositis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion body myositis, inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, Guillain Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, inflammation of the nervous system, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, Sjogren syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, glomerulonephritis, thyroid autoimmune disease, sepsis, meningitis, a bacterial infection, a viral infection, a fungal infection, sarcoidosis, hepatitis, and portal vein hypertension.
US07668600B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a telemetry module to communicate with an external device according to a given protocol. To establish a communication session, the IMD will extend active periods of reception on a given channel when some confirmed data is received from the external device. In addition, once a session has been opened, the programmer transmits a short data set (or preamble) for each cycle which the IMD is set to receive. This data set indicates whether additional data will or will not be sent. If no additional data is to be sent during that cycle, then the IMD powers down the receiver for that cycle.
US07668592B2
The electroporation system and method combine pulses having different characteristics for delivering molecules to cells in vivo. The pulses include a high-intensity pulse for inducing electroporation and a low-intensity pulse to induce electrophoretic molecule movement within an interstitial space, molecule adherence to a cell membrane, and electrophoretic movement of the molecule through the permeabilized membrane. The use of a high-intensity and a low-intensity pulse achieves improved delivery; reduction of intensity and/or duration of pulses for inducing electroporation; and decreased muscle stimulation, tissue damage, and patient discomfort.
US07668591B2
Systems and methods involve automatic activation, de-activation or modification of therapies or other medical processes based on brain state. A medical system includes a sensor system having one or more sensors configured to sense signals related to the brain state of the patient. A brain state analyzer detects various brain states, including sleep stage and/or brain seizures. A controller uses the brain state detection information to control a medical system configured to perform at least one respiratory or cardiac process. Methods involve sensing signals related to brain state and determining the brain state of a patient based on the sensed signals. At least one respiratory or cardiac medical process is controlled based on the patient's brain state.
US07668579B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for detecting a response of a patient to an external stimulus. An exemplary method comprises the acts of generating at least one time series of at least one physiologic parameter, detecting the external stimulus, detecting at least one response associated with the stimulus, the response comprising at least one of a pattern and a value, and outputting an indication of the response.
US07668570B2
An information processing apparatus comprises a wireless communication unit which discovers wireless devices existing in surroundings, and a display unit which displays a list of wireless devices discovered by the wireless communication unit as selectable objects in which display icons of the objects are based on radio intensities of the discovered wireless devices.
US07668565B2
A system for controlling communications in a multiradio wireless communication device (WCD) by monitoring a backlog of messages waiting to be wirelessly transmitted through one or more radio modems as compared to a predetermined threshold. If the amount of pending messages meets and/or exceeds the predetermined threshold then a potentially problematic situation may exist, and actions may be taken to alleviate the large message backlog. Actions may include, for example, temporarily reallocating communication time for one or all of the radio modems. This time may be reallocated to radio modems experiencing potential message queue overflows in order to reduced the backlog of messages and avoid a potential communication failure.
US07668554B2
A network approach for aided GPS broadcast positioning where A-GPS data is made available in the network and broadcast via cell broadcast servers to wireless devices in order to reduce the time required to determine the position of a wireless device.
US07668552B2
A system and method for determining the positioning of mobile-appliance location determining sensors in a mobile-appliance communications network by estimating the positioning accuracy of the sensors.
US07668547B2
A method of reselecting a cell by a mobile terminal in idle mode in a cellular telecommunication network in which the network sends to the terminal a list containing information with regard to the UMTS cells to be identified, and in which the mobile terminal periodically performs a series of procedures of identifying the cells and a series of intersystem measurements on the identified cells. Between two successive procedures of identification, the mobile terminal performs a series of procedures of measurement whose duration is fixed so that the total duration for performing a procedure of identification and the subsequent series of procedures of measurement is less than 25 seconds.
US07668545B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for enabling data connectivity when a handoff occurs between one communication network and another communication network, wherein the communication networks belong to different air interface standards. The mobile station triggers a Compression Control Protocol (CCP) request message to a tethered device if the mobile station determines that a new PDSN is not enabled to perform the CCP protocol. The tethered device then responds with a CCP request message with or without new negotiation parameters. The mobile station forwards the CCP request message to the new PDSN. Since the new PDSN is not enabled with CCP, the new PDSN responds with a CCP rejection message. The rejection message is passed from the mobile station back to the tethered device. The tethered device then sends uncompressed data packets to the PDSN.
US07668544B2
A method and system for handling a faulty registration for a subscriber with a mobile communication device in a communications network. A faulty registration comprises a registration missing identification information or having a field that is missing an identifier or other form of information. The method and system comprise selecting another field or property in the faulty registration, which is populated with an identifier or identification information, and searching the selected field or property in a list of registrations for matching identification information. Associating the faulty registration with an existing registration for a subscriber based on matching the identification information. According to another aspect, the system and method comprise generating a new registration for the customer with the faulty registration if a matching registration is not located or search criteria are not satisfied. According to another aspect, the system and method comprise creating a record associated with the faulty registration.
US07668542B2
A token-based receiver diversity processing is described. In one embodiment, a receiver diversity comprises repeaters receiving wirelessly transmitted packets from a mobile station, and one of the repeaters forwarding packets of the wirelessly transmitted packets to a switch if the one repeater is currently assigned to forward packets from the mobile station based on an indicator assigned prior to the wirelessly transmitted packets being sent.
US07668540B2
A method of printing content on a print medium using a mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. When the print medium is inserted into a media feed path of the mobile telecommunications device, a print media identifier read from the print medium using a sensor module of the mobile telecommunications device. The content is then printed on the print medium using a printer module of the mobile telecommunications device, and the content is also stored in a database using a server in communication with the mobile telecommunications device. This allows the content to be retrieved from the database using the print media identifier.
US07668536B2
A user visiting a space is equipped with a mobile device in communication with a service system. Media items held by the service system are associated with various locations around the space and a user arriving at such a location is presented with the corresponding item or items. Preferably, these media items are preemptively loaded into a cache of the user's mobile device in dependence on the user's progress around the space. Items can also be flushed from cache on this basis. In order to reduce load on the service system and the related communication infrastructure, a media item needed by a mobile device is first sought from a nearby device using a short-range communication mechanism.
US07668535B2
A data store is monitored for a change in the data store. A notification communication is generated upon detecting that the change has occurred. The notification communication is formatted based on a wireless device associated with the data store. The notification communication is sent to the wireless device associated with the data store.
US07668534B2
A method of monitoring, and a system to perform the method of monitoring, a mobile network, the method including receiving a data stream from one or more monitoring points of the mobile network and generating a detail record of an information transaction in the mobile network, storing the generated detail record in a data record storage unit immediately upon completion of the information transaction, and notifying a user that the detail record is available to be viewed.
US07668531B1
A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.
US07668525B2
A system and method of a stereo receiving system, including a plurality of antennas, a receiving device, a plurality of summing devices, a phase lock loop device, a controllable phase shifter device, and a gain-control device. The plurality of antennas receive RF signals having a common frequency but potentially different phases. The receiving device is in electrical communication with the plurality of antennas. The plurality of summing devices are in electrical communication between at least one of the plurality of antennas and the receiving device. The phase lock loop device is in electrical communication with the receiving device. The gain-control device is in electrical communication between the plurality of antennas and the receiving device, wherein the gain-control device controls a signal-to-noise ratio of the RF signals aligned from the plurality of antennas.
US07668524B2
An integrated circuit includes clock deskew circuitry. The deskew circuitry includes a loop circuit to align an input clock signal with an output clock signal, and also aligns transmitted data with the output clock signal.
US07668517B2
The invention provides a radio frequency signal receiver with adequate gain control path to control the gain of a mixer and/or a channel selection filter, comprising a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying a radio frequency signal, a local oscillator (LO) for providing a LO signal, a mixer for down converting the radio frequency signal by the LO signal to an intermediate signal, a channel selection filter for receiving and filtering the intermediate signal to develop an output signal, and an automatic gain control unit for feedback adjusting the gain of the low noise amplifier and forward controlling the gain of the mixer and channel selection filter in accordance with the output signal of the low noise amplifier.
US07668514B2
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor comprises a receiver front end that further includes a plurality of in-phase and quadrature phase receive processing block operable at first and second frequency bands wherein each of the receive processing blocks defines an ingoing signal path and further includes a plurality of filtering and amplification blocks disposed within the corresponding ingoing signal path, a plurality of RSSI blocks coupled to receive an ingoing analog signal from a corresponding plurality of nodes disposed throughout the ingoing signal path, each of the plurality of received signal strength indicator blocks producing a signal strength indication, and wherein a baseband processor is operable to receive a selected signal strength indication and to produce at least one gain setting to at least one amplification block within the in-phase or quadrature phase receive processing blocks. In operation, the baseband processor receive a signal strength indication from each RSSI block to determine a total amount of gain and appropriate gain distribution within the receive signal path.
US07668509B2
A frequency selective leveling loop that performs phase and amplitude control of multiple signals within a phased array structure is disclosed. The leveling loop sensor components are embedded into the array structure. The frequency selective leveling loop can be used with multiple signal amplifiers, and a conventional phase array jamming system can be used to radiate multiple signals simultaneously. The conversion of phase information to baseband eliminates the need for phase matched cables. The frequency selective leveling that is enabled is tolerant of multiple signals and provides the individual signal phase and amplitude feedback by utilizing analytic sampling.
US07668499B2
An image reading and/or reproducing apparatus, including a single sided document feeding tray and a double sided document feed tray to each supply a stack of documents to the apparatus; a document feeding unit to feed a document from a top of the stack of documents in the single sided document feeding tray, and to feed a document from a bottom of the stack of documents in the double sided document feeding tray; and an image scan unit to scan an image of the document fed from the document feeding unit. The apparatus further includes a reverse unit to position the double-sided document, fed by the document feeding unit, upstream of the image scan unit as the image scan unit completes a scanning of the image on a first side of the document such that the image scan unit may scan the image on a second side of the document. According to the above structure, reducing a time required to scan an image is possible.
