US07700951B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having at least one gap, extending under a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A gate stack is on the semiconductor substrate. A strain layer is formed in at least a portion of the at least one gap. The strain layer is formed only under at least one of a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor device.
US07700949B2

A liquid crystal display has, a plurality of pixel including a switching element, a plurality of gate lines extending transversally, a plurality of data lines extending longitudinally, a first storage electrode line extending transversally, a second storage electrode line extending longitudinally, a third storage electrode line connecting two of the adjacent second storage electrode line, a repair assistant formed in an area that the data line crosses over the third storage electrode line. The liquid crystal display can be repaired with good quality by shortening the repair path.
US07700940B2

An LED emitting light of wavelength mainly 375 nm or below. The LED includes a GaN layer (16), an n-clad layer (20), an AlInGaN buffer layer (22), a light emitting layer (24), a p-clad layer (26), a p-electrode (30), and an n-electrode (32) arranged on a substrate (10). The light emitting layer (24) has a multi-layer quantum well structure (MQW) in which an InGaN well layer and an AlInGaN barrier layer are superimposed. The quantum well structure increases the effective band gap of the InGaN well layer and reduces the light emitting wavelength. Moreover, by using the AlInGaN buffer layer (22) as the underlying layer of the light emitting layer (24), it is possible to effectively inject electrons into the light emitting layer (24), thereby increasing the light emitting efficiency.
US07700935B2

A non-volatile memory device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. In the non-volatile memory device, at least one first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type may be formed spaced apart from each other on a portion of a substrate. A plurality of first resistance variation storage layers may contact first sidewalls of each of the at least one first semiconductor layer. A plurality of second semiconductor layers of a second conductivity type, opposite to the first conductivity type, may be interposed between the first sidewalls of each of the at least one first semiconductor layer and the plurality of first resistance variation storage layers. A plurality of bit line electrodes may be connected to each of the plurality of first resistance variation storage layers.
US07700929B2

A system for detecting atmospheric contamination, the system comprising a laser operable to generate an infrared light beam comprising a longitudinal component and a transverse component, the laser remote from the atmospheric contamination, and a processor operable to process a flouresence resulting from contact between the atmospheric contamination and an ultraviolet light being generated from the longitudinal and transverse components of the infrared light of the laser, wherein the processor determines the identity of the fluorescence by comparing the fluorescence to known fluorescence.
US07700925B2

Techniques for providing a multimode ion source are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation, the apparatus including an ion source having a hot cathode and a high frequency plasma generator, wherein the ion source has multiple modes of operation.
US07700924B2

A scintillator element 2 has a rod-like base material 11, and a scintillator 12 is formed by being vapor deposited radially onto a side face of the base material 11. A plurality of these scintillator elements 2 are aligned and bundled together to form a scintillator unit 1. By mounting a solid-state image pickup element 20 to an open face of a case 3 of the scintillator unit 1, an image sensor M, which serves as a radiation detector, is formed. The image sensor M can be adjusted in size by adjusting the number, etc., of the scintillator elements 2.
US07700922B2

A cassette device includes a radiation detecting cassette having a radiation detector therein for detecting radiation having passed through a subject and converting the detected radiation into radiation image information, a transmission and reception controller connected to the radiation detector for transmitting the radiation image information to an image processor by way of wireless communications, and a cassette storage bag for storing the radiation detecting cassette therein. The cassette storage bag includes an antenna incorporated therein for transmitting the radiation image information from the transmission and reception controller to the image processor by way of wireless communications. The transmission and reception controller and the antenna are capable of being electrically connected to each other through detachable connectors.
US07700920B2

The present invention relates to a microcolumnar zinc selenide (ZnSe) scintillator and uses thereof, and methods of fabrication of microcolumnar scintillators using sublimation-based deposition techniques. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a scintillator including a microcolumnar scintillator material including zinc selenide (ZnSe) and a dopant. The microcolumnar scintillators of the present invention provide improved light channeling and resolution characteristics, thereby providing high spatial resolution, highly efficient scintillators.
US07700915B2

The present invention relates to a method, computer program and device for determining the crystal structure and/or the range of crystal structures of one or more crystalline tubular molecules from a set of calibration-free properties of a diffraction pattern of the one or more crystalline tubular molecules.
US07700912B2

Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include methods of calibrating a mass spectrometry system, and the like. One exemplary method of calibrating a mass spectrometry system, among others, includes: acquiring a first mass spectrum of a sample using a first trapping potential, wherein the first mass spectrum is acquired from a low ion population, wherein the first mass spectrum includes a first set of mass ion values; and acquiring a second mass spectrum of the sample using a second trapping potential, wherein the second mass spectrum is acquired from a high ion population, wherein the second mass spectrum includes a second set of mass ion values, wherein the first trapping potential is lower than the second trapping potential, wherein the first set of mass ion values is more accurate than the second set of mass ion values, wherein the second set of ion values has a greater signal-to-noise value and a greater detection dynamic range than the first set of mass values, and wherein the first set of mass values is used to calibrate the second set of mass values.
US07700909B2

A method of and apparatus for automatically calibrating a computed tomography (“CT”) scanning system (100) is provided including providing (405) a calibration object (130) substantially centered on a translating table (120) for passing through the CT system (100). The system (100) scans (410) the calibration object (130) and provides (420) a preliminary representation such as a display (500) of a sorted sinogram of the object (130). From that preliminary representation, the system (100) determines intercept-related and/or slope-related values for at least a portion (510, 520, 530 or 540) of the preliminary representation and uses these values to calculate (440) one or more predetermined calibrations values.
US07700908B2

An ultra high speed miniature two dimensional electro-optic image acquisition system uses prisms of varying geometries to control the amount of horizontal deflection and a Bragg grating to control the amount of vertical deflection. A collimating lens array and a Gaussian profile Bragg grating help confine the beam diameter of the deflected light beam. A separate prism further bends light into the vertical direction. A spherical lens focuses light onto a photodetector array for display.
US07700904B2

A compound-eye imaging device comprises nine optical lenses arranged in a matrix array of three rows and three columns, and a solid-state imaging element for capturing unit images formed by the optical lenses. A stray light blocking member having a rectangular-shaped window is provided on the capture zone side of the optical lenses, eliminating the need to provide, between the solid-state imaging element and the optical lenses, walls by which light propagation paths of lights emitted from the optical lenses are partitioned from each other. The stray light blocking member blocks incident lights in a range outside each effective incident view angle range of each optical lens. This prevents the light entering each optical lens to form a unit image from interfering with other unit images formed by adjacent optical lenses, thereby obtaining a good quality image, without complicating the manufacturing process and increasing the cost thereof.
US07700899B2

To devise a heating device of the light irradiation type in which costs can reduced by reducing the number of filament lamps and current source parts without adversely affecting the illuminance distribution with respect to a wafer, in a heating device of the light irradiation type that has a light source part, in which several filament lamps are located parallel to one another, in which at least one of the filament lamps has several filaments which are located along the bulb axis are supplied with power individually to produce light which is irradiated from the light source parts onto an article to be treated, the distance between at least some of the adjacent filament lamps to one another is nonuniform.
US07700897B2

A hand-held electric sealer having a detachable sealing module, comprises a casing having a module chamber located at the front end of the casing and a battery chamber beside the module chamber, a sealing module unitarily attached to or detached from the module chamber, and a press bar pivotally fixed at the rear end of the casing. Also disclosed is a detachable sealing module for use with the hand-held electric sealer, comprising a module cover plate and a module seat plate which form an accommodating space for receiving a heating mechanism, where the top portion of the heating mechanism protrudes from the module cover plate upon being biased by a spring secured in the module seat plate.
US07700896B2

An image heating member includes a first region having a Curie temperature higher than a preset temperature, and a second region having a Curie temperature lower than the Curie temperature of the first region. A width of the first region in a conveying direction of a recording material is equal to or larger than a width of the recording material of a maximum size to be fed. The second region is provided outside the first region.
US07700888B2

There is disclosed structure which overcomes the deficiencies with respect to prior art devices by providing a wiring device such as a switch having a paddle that pivots about its upper end and is biased to assume the same at rest position when either in its on position or off position. Repeated pressing and releasing the lower portion of the face of the switch paddle alternately closes and opens a set of contacts within the switch to alternately connect and disconnect a load form a source of electricity each time the paddle is pressed. Thus, regardless of whether adjacent switches are on-off switches or 3-way switches, they will always be in alignment. An on-off indicator such as a small light is provided to indicate to a user when the contacts of the switch are opened or closed. The paddle of the switch has a length-width ratio dimension that is proportioned to provide a finger contact surface of increased area to allow a user to more easily and quickly identify and operate a particular switch. The vertical axis of the switch has a surface of positive first differential, comprised of splines drawn between points of varying distance from a datum plane, and has along the horizontal axis a surface of a positive first differential and negative second differential, comprised of a combination of splines drawn between points of varying distance from the datum plane.
US07700884B2

A method for forming interconnections within a column grid array is provided. The method involves casting one or more columns with at least a compliant core material that increases flexibility between an electronic component and a printed wiring board by at least a factor of two over metallic-based solder columns, and forming the one or more columns to length for interconnecting between the electronic component and the printed wiring board. The method also involves forming a conductive material for the one or more columns to provide electrical interconnection between the electronic component and the printed wiring board.
US07700874B2

A cable mounting structure for a telecommunications cable distribution pedestal is provided. The structure has back to back compartments, may be used with fiber or wire and includes at least one door. The structure also includes protection and organization features. The structure is field convertible, reconfigurable and upgradeable. A snap fit door hinge for a telecommunications cable distribution pedestal is also provided.
US07700873B2

A protective sheath against radiation, in particular derived from electric field generated by electric cables (1, 2, 3) extending inside the sheath. The sheath includes an electrically insulating plastic outer layer (4) covering an electrically conductive material layer (5), the sheath end including removable connecting elements for connecting the electrically conductive material layer (5) to an electrical conductor (7) designed to be connected to the ground, the sheath enclosing or designed to enclose at least one neutral cable (1), one ground cable (2) and one phase cable (3) connected to an electric power distribution system.
US07700868B2

A supporting system is provided on a saxophone for offering assistance to the player, and includes pressure sensors monitoring the touch pieces of the keys, power assisting units equipped with torque motors provided for the keys and a controller connected to the pressure sensors and the power assisting units; a conversion table for depressed touch pieces and another conversion table for released touch pieces are prepared in the controller, and different relations between the finger force and the amount of current to be supplied to the torque motor are respectively defined in the conversion tables, respectively; the amount of current to be supplied is read out from the conversion tables depending upon the increase and decrease of finger force so that the player quickly closes the tone whole with the padded cup without curious key touch.
US07700867B2

An apparatus of playing back an audio signal includes storage means for dividing exercise tempos of a user into a plurality of groups and storing digital audio data concerning music pieces, the digital audio data being associated with the plurality of groups; a playback circuit that plays back the digital audio data; detecting means for detecting an exercise tempo of the user; and a control circuit that reads out the digital audio data from the storage means to supply the readout digital audio data to the playback circuit. The control circuit determines which group, among the plurality of groups, the exercise tempo detected by the detecting means belongs to, and reads out the digital audio data concerning a music piece associated with the determined group from the storage means to supply the readout digital audio data to the playback circuit.
US07700861B1

A stringed musical toy that allows an individual to play notes on the various strings and alter their pitch by changing the configuration of the string bar end. The stringed musical toy has a generally tapered design, resulting in one wide end and one narrow end. A quartet of strings is located within the housing, and can be plucked through a circular opening found on the front panel. The stringed musical toy also has an acoustic pickup, allowing an individual to connect the stringed musical toy to an amplifier, signal processing unit, recorder, or other similar device.
US07700852B2

Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides active in the fructan, cellulose, starch and/or tannin biosynthetic pathways are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.
US07700843B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D4021792. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D4021792. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D4021792 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D4021792 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07700831B2

The instant invention relates to a method of inducing resistance to pathogens including fungi in transgenic plants by introducing into the plants a first sequence encoding a plant defense peptide and a second sequence encoding a peptide delivery scaffold.
US07700826B2

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding wheat starch synthases, and probes and primers derived therefrom, which are useful in the modification of plant starch content and/or composition, and for screening plant lines to determine the presence of natural and/or induced mutations in starch synthase genes which affect starch content and/or composition. More particularly, the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention further provide for the screening-assisted breeding of plants having desirable starch content and/or composition, in addition to providing for the direct genetic manipulation of plant starch content and/or composition.
US07700824B2

A non-human animal which has a reduced amount of functional TAZ polypeptide and/or TAZ-like polypeptide, or a reduced amount of nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide. A method for generating a non-human animal which develops PKD comprising reducing the amount of functional TAZ polypeptide and/or TAZ-like polypeptide, or nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide. A method of screening for compounds of use in preventing or treating PKD wherein a non-human animal is administered with a test compound and the effect of the test compound on the amount or function of TAZ polypeptide and/or a TAZ-like polypeptide and/or a polypeptide regulated by TAZ or a TAZ-like polypeptide function, or the amount of nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide, is assessed.
US07700817B2

The current invention provides a process in which ethers are converted into α-olefins by passage over a modified alumina catalyst. The alumina catalyst is made by treating gamma-alumina with a rare earth metal oxide such as lanthanum oxide, La2O3. The modified aluminum catalysts convert 1-methoxyoctane into 1-octene with high selectivity at high conversion rates.
US07700808B2

There is provided a novel process intermediate represented by the general formula (1) or (2): (where, X represents halogen atom, cyano group or the like, Y represents halogen atom, cyano group or the like, R1 represents C1-C6 haloalkyl group or C3-C8 halocycloalkyl group, R2 represents methyl group, halogen atom, cyano group or the like, m represents an integer of 1 to 5, and n represents an integer of 1 to 4).
US07700806B2

A process for preparing ethylene amines and ethanolamines by hydrogenative amination of monoethylene glycol and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the process is carried out in two process stages in which in the first process stage, the amination is carried out over a hydroamination catalyst to a monoethylene glycol conversion of not more than 40% and in the second process stage, a supported catalyst having an active composition comprising ruthenium and cobalt and no further additional metal of group VIII and also no metal of group IB is used in the form of shaped catalyst bodies which in the case of a spherical shape or rod shape in each case have a diameter of <3 mm, in the case of a pellet shape have a height of <3 mm and in the case of all other geometries in each case have an equivalent diameter L=1/a′ of <0.70 mm, is proposed.
US07700804B2

A process for transferring heat to a liquid mixture comprising at least one (meth)acrylic monomer in an indirect heat exchanger, wherein a quaternary ammonium salt, a tertiary amine or a salt thereof with a Brønsted acid is added to the liquid mixture to reduce fouling.
US07700796B2

A method of making nanosized copper (I) compounds, in particular, copper (I) halides, pseudohalides, and cyanocuprate complexes, in reverse micelles or microemulsions is disclosed herein. The method of the invention comprises (a) dissolving a copper (II) compound in the polar phase of a first reverse micelle or microemulsion, (b) dissolving a copper (II) to copper (I) reducing agent or a pseudohalide salt in the polar phase of a second sample of the same reverse micelle or microemulsion, (c) mixing the two reverse micelle/microemulsions samples to form nanometer sized copper (I) compounds and (d) recovering said nanometer sized copper (I) compounds. The present invention is also directed to the resultant nanosized copper (I) compounds, such as copper (I) chloride, copper (I) cyanide, and potassium cyanocuprate complexes having an average particle size of about 0.1 to 600 nanometers.
US07700788B2

A method of oxidizing hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) includes providing a starting material which includes HMF in a solvent comprising water into a reactor. At least one of air and O2 is provided into the reactor. The starting material is contacted with the catalyst comprising Pt on a support material where the contacting is conducted at a reactor temperature of from about 50° C. to about 200° C. A method of producing an oxidation catalyst where ZrO2 is provided and is calcined. The ZrO2 is mixed with platinum (II) acetylacetonate to form a mixture. The mixture is subjected to rotary evaporation to form a product. The product is calcined and reduced under hydrogen to form an activated product. The activated product is passivated under a flow of 2% O2.
US07700776B2

This invention relates to novel compounds and a process for preparation of montelukast sodium.
US07700771B2

The present invention is to provide a novel heterocyclic compound of the formula [I]: wherein R1 is a halogen, nitro, an alkyl, etc.; R2 is hydrogen, an alkyl, etc.; Ring A is 2-oxo-4-imidazolin-3,4-diyl, etc.; Ring B is a cycloalkyl, monocyclic saturated heterocyclic group; X is CH, N; Y is a single bond, CO, SO2; Z is O, NH, etc.; and Ring C is an aryl, a heterocyclic group, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor.
US07700767B2

A system for purifying an aqueous solution of crude caprolactam is provided, which includes a filtration zone (A), an inspection unit (B), a purification zone (C), and a first temporary storage tank (D). The filtration zone (A) contains a filtration apparatus though which an aqueous solution of crude caprolactam is filtered to remove ionic impurities therein, so as to obtain caprolactam-containing filtrate; the inspection unit (B) is used for judging the filtrate from the filtration zone (A) meets the preset inspection standards; the purification zone (C) is used for concentrating and further purifying filtrate meeting the preset inspection standards, thereby forming a final caprolactam product; and the first temporary storage tank (D) is used for receiving the filtrate not meeting the preset inspection standards, which is then mixed with the aqueous solution of crude caprolactam and delivered back to the filtration zone (A).
US07700764B2

The present invention relates to a method of preparing microfibrillar polysaccharide comprising treating a polysaccharide in an aqueous suspension comprising an oxidant and at least one transition metal, mechanically delaminating said polysaccharide such that microfibrillar polysaccharide is formed. The invention also relates to microfibrillar polysaccharide obtainable by the method.
US07700754B1

To identify a domain in HIF-1α protein, which participates in stabilization of a fused protein, DNA encoding the following polypeptide (A) or (B) is provided:(A) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1(B) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence comprising at least 16 amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and imparting stability dependent on an oxygen concentration to other protein in a cell harboring a fused protein, when the polypeptide is fused with a nuclear localization signal and the other protein to form the fused protein.
US07700753B2

The present invention discloses a modified tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) catalytic domain, that unlike the native TACE catalytic domain, is stable at high protein concentrations. The present invention further discloses methods for generating crystals of the modified TACE protein in protein-ligand complexes with a number of inhibitors. In addition, the present invention discloses methods of using the proteins, crystals and/or three-dimensional structures obtained to identify compounds that can modulate the enzymatic activity of TACE.
US07700752B2

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for microbial based production of pravastatin. The compositions of the invention include novel strains of microorganisms that are capable of efficiently hydroxylating compactin (ML-236 B) resulting in production of pravastatin. In particular, the microorganisms of the invention are genetically engineered to express both cytochrome P-450 and the fdxshe or fdxshe-like protein. The invention further relates to the use of such microorganisms in processes designed for production of pravastatin for use in treatment of disease such as hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia.
US07700750B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the detection and characterization of mutations associated with non-syndromic hearing impairment. More particularly, the present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for using invasive cleavage structure assays (e.g. the INVADER assay) to screen nucleic acid samples, e.g., from patients, for the presence of any one of a collection of mutations in the Connexin 26, or gap junction beta 2, gene associated with non-syndromic hearing loss.
US07700745B2

In an in-flow chemical reaction system (A) of the present invention, a sample solution (1) containing glycoprotein is injected into a reaction tube (7) in which an alkaline solution continuously flows. When a mixed solution of the sample solution and the alkaline solution reach a thermostat bath (6), reaction for cleaving a glycoside linkage takes place, thereby separating a carbohydrate chain from glycoprotein. From the solution containing the carbohydrate chain, alkali is removed by using an ion-exchange column (12), so that a fraction of a carbohydrate chain (14) is collected into a sample tube (13). In the in-flow chemical reaction system (A), reaction takes place in minutes, so that reaction time is significantly reduced compared to a conventional method. Thus, a glycoside linkage is readily cleaved with high precision in a short time, thereby separating carbohydrate from a glycoside-linkage-having compound.
US07700743B2

A chromatography media such as silica controlled pore glass or agarose containing an affinity ligand such as 2-Aminobenzimidazole (ABI) or aminomethylbenzimidazole (AMBI). The ligand is present in density of from about 30 to about 80 μmole/ml.
US07700737B2

Methods and compositions for the detection, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases, including, but not limited to human sarcomas and carcinomas are described. In particular, specific antibodies are provided, which are capable of binding an epitope of Hsp70 that is extracellularly localized on diseased tissue and cells, in particular on tumor cells and infected cells.
US07700735B2

High potency antibodies, including immunologically active fragments thereof, having high kinetic association rate constants and optional high affinities are disclosed, along with methods for producing such antibodies. The high potency antibodies disclosed herein are of either the neutralizing or non-neutralizing type and have specificity for antigens displayed by microorganisms, especially viruses, as well as antigenic sites present on cancer cells and on various types of toxins, and the products of toxins. Processes for producing high potency neutralizing antibodies and increasing the potency of already existing neutralizing antibodies are also described. Methods of using said antibodies in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases, especially diseases induced or caused by viruses, are disclosed.
US07700713B2

Golf ball compositions, and components formed therefrom, including trifunctional materials, such as trifunctional isocyanates, polyols, and amines, that have improved performance and durability characteristics, e.g., improved heat resistance, improved resiliency, and dimensional stability.
US07700710B2

A method and a ceramic made therefrom by: providing a composition of a compound having the formula below and a metallic component, and pyrolyzing the composition. R is an organic group. The value n is a positive integer. Q is an acetylenic repeat unit having an acetylene group, crosslinked acetylene group, (MLx)y-acetylene complex, and/or crosslinked (MLx)y-acetylene complex. M is a metal. L is a ligand. The values x and y are positive integers. The metallic component is the (MLx)y-acetylene complex in the compound or a metallic compound capable of reacting with the acetylenic repeat unit to form the (MLx)y-acetylene complex. The ceramic comprises metallic nanoparticles.
US07700706B2

The present invention provides solid support media for use in oligomer synthesis, methods of producing the media, and methods of using the media. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention comprise (a) providing an organic phase comprising an olefin monomer, a cross-linker, a functionalizing reagent and an initiator; and (b) contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase under conditions of time and temperature effective to form the polymeric bead.
US07700704B2

The present invention provides a method for producing an (meth)acrylate syrup by bulk polymerization which is characterized by: a) using (meth)acrylate ester monomer; and b) using 2,4-diphenyl-4methyl-1-pentenol singly or together with a thiol chain transfer agent as a chain transfer agent, c) initiating polymerization by adding an initiator having the half-life of up to 30 minutes at 55-80° C. of initial reaction temperature, so as to maintain the peak reactor temperature below 95° C. and the reactor conversion rate as 5-50 weight %. The method for producing an (meth)acrylate syrup of the present invention has such advantages that reaction runaway does not occur, the control of molecular weight and conversion rate is possible even at low exothermic temperature without stirring failure, and a partially polymerized (meth)acrylate syrup can also be prepared therefrom.
US07700703B2

New polymeric additive including one or more ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomers are described having a number average molecular weight less than 40,000 and having an improved balance of tack, adhesion, plasticity and peel strength and water whitening resistance as compared to other polymer additives.
US07700701B2

A polymer compound having a monosaccharide or an oligosaccharide residue, or an amino acid or peptide residue bound to a monosaccharide or an oligosaccharide residue bound to a side chain of a water-soluble polymer through a linker containing a selectively cleavable bond, the water-soluble polymer containing 20 to 80 mol % of (meth)acrylic acid residue.
US07700700B2

This invention relates to a heterogeneous copolymer composition of polyvinylidene fluoride with one or more perfluoroalkyl ethers. These copolymers have excellent low temperature impact properties, while maintaining a high melting point.
US07700695B2

A modified butyl rubber composition comprising a butyl rubber modified by mixing, under heating, (a) a compound having a nitroxide-free radical in the molecule thereof, which is stable at an ordinary temperature even in the presence of oxygen, (b) a radical initiator, and (c) a bi- or more-functional radical polymerizable monomer and further by compounded with (d) a bi- or more-functional radical polymerizable monomer, which is different from the ingredient (c).
US07700691B2

A vinyl.cis-polybutadiene rubber is provided containing 1,2-polybutadiene and a polymer substance of a melting point lower than that of the 1,2-polybutadiene and with at least one unsaturated double bond per repeating unit, where the 1,2-polybutadiene and the polymer substance are dispersed at physically and/or chemically adsorbed states in the cis-polybutadiene rubber as the matrix component of the vinyl.cis-polybutadiene rubber, and a method for producing the same, to provide a vulcanized product exerting a small die swell ratio and excellent extrusion processability and operability, as well as very great characteristics demanded for the side tread of tire and the like.
US07700689B2

The invention provides a golf ball material composed of (i) a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin, (ii) an ionomeric resin and/or an acid-containing polymer which is the base polymer of an ionomeric resin, and (iii) a norbornene dicarboxylic anhydride and/or a derivative thereof. Methods for preparing such a material, and a golf ball which includes as a component therein a part made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls endowed with an excellent rebound resilience, durability and flexibility.
US07700687B2

Resorcinol resin-blocked isocyanate compositions are derived from the reaction between a resorcinol resin and at least two different isocyanate compounds. The resorcinol resin-blocked isocyanate compositions may have two or more unblocking temperatures and/or melting characteristics that may provide some unique properties, such as improved adhesion of reinforcing materials to rubber compounds. The resorcinol resin-blocked isocyanate compositions can be used in fabric dipping formulations and/or rubber compositions with improved properties.
US07700686B2

A process for producing a modified polymer which increases low heat buildup and reinforcing capability of a rubber composition and which has excellent abrasion resistance, mechanical characteristics, and processability; a modified polymer obtained by the process; and a rubber composition using the modified polymer are provided. The process comprises a step of carrying out a modification reaction on the active end of a conjugated diene polymer having a vinyl content of below 10%, a cis-1,4 bond content of 75% or higher, and an active end, using an alkoxysilane compound, and a step of carrying out a condensation reaction in the presence of a condensation accelerator comprising a compound of an element belonging to at least one of the groups 4A (excluding Ti), 2B, 3B, and 5B of the periodic table.
US07700684B2

A novel highly grafted, functionalized olefin polymer is provided comprising the reaction product of a method comprising reacting an acylating agent with a mixture comprising an olefin polymer having a number average molecular weight of between about 5,000 to about 100,000 and a diluent in the presence of a free radical initiator to provide an acylated olefin polymer which is further reacted with a polyamine to provide the grafted functionalized olefin polymer dispersant. Lubricating oil concentrates and compositions containing the highly grafted, functionalized olefin polymer and uses thereof also are provided.
US07700680B2

The present invention relates to halogen-free flame retarded thermoplastic moulding compositions based on a polyester resin, a process for their preparation and halogen-free flame retarded corresponding articles.The composition according to the invention comprises at least from 0.1 to 30% by weight of aluminium hypophosphite as halogen free flame retardant additive, in case in addition to a mixture of other halogen free flame retardant additives and at least from 5 to 95% by weight of a polymer based on polyester, particularly a linear polyester resin.
US07700677B2

The present inventions relates to a process for the preparation of a PVC homopolymer solution containing PVC in concentration greater than 5 wt %, comprising adding solid PVC to an organic solvent containing a dissolving agent selected from phthalates, adipates, phosphates, sebacates and azelates, and stirring the same until a clear solution is obtained, a process for the manufacturing of the PVC sheet, comprising applying the PVC, homopolymer solution, and a PVC film, whenever manufactured by the process of the PVC sheet. The present invention provides a process for the preparation of the PVC homopolymer solution, the transparent solution which is stable and in which no precipitation or gel formation occurs for long periods of time, the PVC dissolving solution without applying any external heat, and the PVC sheet by efficient and inexpensive method.
US07700669B2

Silicas modified with groups of the general formula (I) RaSiR1bOc—  (I) where at least one of R or R1 is a >C3 hydrocarbon radical are useful in preparing stable dispersions of basic substances, the silica permitting a decrease in the shear viscosity h for a storage time of 1 week at room temperature (25° C.) to not more than 50% of the initial viscosity value, the viscosity being measured by means of cone/plate geometry with a shearing gap of 105 μm and a shear rate of 0.5 s−1 at 25° C.
US07700665B2

The fragrant gel polymer system is a process where a complete fragrance formulation remains whole and is then blended with either a polymer or a cross-linking agent. The non-fragrance carrying polymer is then liquefied and made homogenous with a solvent. The solvents modify viscosity and ease the mixing of the non-fragrance carrying polymer with the fragrance carrying polymer. The method also provides surfactants and wetting agents for further integration and mixing of the fragrance oils with either the polymer or the cross-linking agent during the steps of the process. Mixing of the fragrance carrying polymer and the non-fragrance polymer results in a gel that sets in less time and with less syneresis than existing processes.
US07700655B2

A medicament for the preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of allergic diseases and/or endometriosis and/or hysteromyoma which comprises as an active ingredient a substance selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a hydrate thereof and a solvate thereof: wherein X represents a connecting group whose number of atoms in the main chain is 2 to 5 (said connecting group may be substituted), A represents hydrogen atom or acetyl group, E represents an aryl group which may be substituted or a hetero aryl group which may be substituted, ring Z represents an arene which may have one or more substitutents in addition to the group represented by formula —O-A wherein A has the same meaning as that defined above and the group represented by formula —X-E wherein each of X and E has the same meaning as that defined above, or a heteroarene which may have one or more substitutents in addition to the group represented by formula —O-A wherein A has the same meaning as that defined above and the group represented by formula —X-E wherein each of X and E has the same meaning as that defined above.
US07700654B2

A process for isolating N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) from biological material, the chemical synthesis of benzenesulfonamide derivatives, the use of NBBS and benzenesulfonamide derivatives for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and/or prostate carcinoma, the production of medicaments for the treatment thereof, and the use of NBBS and benzenesulfonamide derivatives as a lead substance in the development of active substances for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and/or prostate carcinoma are provided.
US07700651B2

A unique composition of a 5-amino salicylic acid (5ASA) and a phospholipid is disclosed for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), where the composition can be a mixture, a molecular association complex or a covalent compound of 5ASA and a reactive phospholipid covalently bonded together via a diazo linkage and to methods for administering the compositions to treat symptoms of IBD.
US07700650B2

This invention provides new lipoxin analogs, compositions containing these analogs, and methods of using these compounds and compositions for treating and preventing oral inflammation, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and other forms of periodontal disease. The invention also provides for methods of treating and preventing oral inflammation, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and other forms of periodontal disease with compositions containing COX-2 inhibitors. Further, the invention provides methods for preventing systemic diseases beyond theoral cavity that are related to periodontal disease using the compositions containing lipoxin analogs, COX-2 inhibitors, or both.
US07700641B2

This invention is directed to spiro-oxindole compounds of formula (I): wherein k, j, Q, R1, R2a, R2b, R2c, R2d, R3a, R3b, R3c, and R3d are as defined herein, as a stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer thereof or mixtures thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, which are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of preparing and using the compounds are also disclosed.
US07700637B2

Compounds of the formula provide pharmacological agents which bind to Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Accordingly, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of conditions mediated by the PPAR receptor activity in mammals. Such conditions include dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, hypertriglyceridemia, heart failure, myocardial infarction, vascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, skin disorders, respiratory diseases, ophthalmic disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in mammals as hypoglycemic agents for the treatment and prevention of conditions in which impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are implicated, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, and Syndrome X.
US07700636B2

The invention relates to thiadiazole compounds useful for treating diseases mediated by protein kinase B (PKB). The invention also relates to the therapeutic use of such thiadiazole compounds and compositions thereof in treating disease states associated with abnormal cell growth, cancer, inflammation, and metabolic disorders.
US07700635B2

This invention relates to compounds of Formula I and the use of compounds of Formula I as neuroprotective agents in the treatment of neuronal disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Formula I:
US07700634B2

Disclosed herein are indole derivatives of the formula (I) wherein each of the substitutents is given the definition as set forth in the specification and claims. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the indole derivatives and use of the derivatives for the treatment of pain.
US07700631B2

PDE4 inhibition is achieved by novel nitroxide compounds, e.g., N-substituted aniline and diphenylamine analogs. The compounds of the present invention are of Formulas I-III: wherein A, B, D, R1, R2, R3, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R6 are as defined herein.
US07700630B2

The compounds of the present invention are of formula I: wherein A, R3, R4 is as defined herein, are useful as ligands for nicotinic receptors.
US07700628B2

This application relates to a compound of formula (I) (or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound or prodrug thereof) as defined herein, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and its use as an inhibitor of factor Xa and/or thrombin, as well as a process for its preparation and intermediates therefor. An example of a compound of formula (I) is (a).
US07700626B2

Compositions containing opioid antagonists, particularly alvimopan and its active metabolite, with improved solubility and bioavailability for oral or parenteral administration, injectable dosage formulations, kits, and methods of making and using same are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, invention provides injectable formulations containing opioid antagonists, particularly alvimopan and its active metabolite, having low solubility that may be readily prepared, are stable during storage, and provide maximum levels of opioid antagonists when administered parenterally, particularly via injection. The results are achieved by a combination of processing techniques and component selection.
US07700615B2

Methods for treating an individual having cancer are provided. The method may include administering a cell migration inhibitor and a chemotherapeutic agent to the individual to inhibit migration of cancer cell. Inhibiting cell migration may increase cell division. In this manner, the cell migration inhibitor and the chemotherapeutic agent in combination may have increased efficacy compared to the chemotherapeutic agent alone due to the increased cell division. The cell migration inhibitor may include any of the inhibitors described herein. For example, the cell migration inhibitor may be an organic molecule having a molecular weight of less than about 700, a monoclonal antibody, or a natural product.
US07700613B2

The use of 7-ter-butoxyiminomethylcamptothecin is described in the preparation of a medicament useful for the treatment of uterine neoplasms, particularly cancer of the endometrium and of the neck of the womb.
US07700590B2

This invention provides compositions which are 1,3-oxazinan-2-one compounds of formulae (I) and (II), and oxazolidinone compounds of formula (III): wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, a heterocyclic group, a hydrocarbyl group having at least one substituent, or a heterocyclic group having at least one hydrocarbyl substituent, wherein the substituent on the hydrocarbyl group or heterocyclic group is selected from the group consisting of a heterocyclic group, an azo group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a fluoro group, a chloro group, a bromo group, an alkoxy group having up to 15 carbon atoms, and a hydrocarbyl group having up to 15 carbon atoms; and R′ and R″ are each independently hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a methylaryl group, a carbonyl group, a hydrocarbylamido group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfonamoyl group, a heterocyclic group, a heterocyclic group having at least one substituent, or an aryl group or methylaryl group having at least one substituent, where the substituent on the heterocyclic group, aryl group, or methylaryl group is selected from the group consisting of a heterocyclic group, an azo group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a fluoro group, a chloro group, a bromo group, an alkoxy group having up to 15 carbon atoms, and a hydrocarbyl group having up to 15 carbon atoms. For the oxazolidinone compound of formula (HI), there is a proviso that when one of R′ or R″ is a (3-fluoro)-(4-morpholinyl)-phenyl group, the other of R′ or R″ is not an acetamido group.
US07700584B2

The present invention provides curcumol derivatives of the following formula (I) or pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof: wherein, Y is selected from the group consisting of ═CHR2, —CH2R2, ═O,  —OH or —OR1;R1 is selected from H, R, RCO or HO3S; and R is selected from the group consisting of H; saturated or unsaturated linear C1-10 hydrocarbon group and the like; R2 is selected from the group consisting of F; Cl; Br; I; H; —OH; —OR; —HSO3 and the like; with the proviso that both R1 and R2 are not H. The present invention also provides anti-tumor or antiviral pharmaceutical compositions comprising said derivatives or pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof. The present invention further provides the use of said derivatives or pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof in the preparation of a medicament for prophylaxis and/or treatment tumor or an antiviral medicament.
US07700582B2

An oral pharmaceutical formulation comprising iota-carrageenan, one or more neutral gelling polymers and a basic pharmaceutically active ingredient; which formulation inhibits the release of the basic pharmaceutically active ingredient from the formulation at acidic pH; a process for the manufacture of said formulation; and the use of said formulation in medicine.
US07700576B2

Novel pharmaceutical compositions which contain one of the reverse transcriptase inhibitors, viz., Zidovudine, Lamivudine or Stavudine in clinically efficacious amount and Meldonium as well as pharmaceutically applicable excipients. It has been proved that inclusion of Meldonium in these pharmaceutical compositions essentially diminishes the cardio- and neuro-toxicity of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
US07700570B2

The invention provides new methods for modulating specific CMI-inducing cytokines in vivo. Such new methods result in stimulation of the cytokines IL-6, IL-12 MIP-1β and MCP without substantially inducing undesired cytokines. The methods according to the invention are based upon administration of oligonucleotides containing particular structural motifs which lead to specific cytokine induction.
US07700564B2

A delivery system. The delivery system includes a carrier or an active compound and a glutathione or a glutathione derivative grafted thereon. The invention also provides a compound including a moiety comprising a vitamin E derivative or a phospholipid derivative, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a polyethylene glycol derivative bonded thereto, and a glutathione (GSH) or a glutathione derivative bonded to the polyethylene glycol or the polyethylene glycol derivative.
US07700558B2

The present invention provides methods for treating diabetes using Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same.
US07700556B2

The present invention provides soluble CTLA4 mutant molecules which bind with greater avidity to the CD80 and/or CD86 antigen than wild type CTLA4 or non-mutated CTLA4Ig. The soluble CTLA4 molecules have a first amino acid sequence comprising the extracellular domain of CTLA4, where certain amino acid residues within the S25-R33 region and M97-G107 region are mutated. The mutant molecules of the invention may also include a second amino acid sequence which increases the solubility of the mutant molecule.
US07700552B2

Compounds of the formula (I): and N-oxides, salts and stereoisomers thereof wherein A is OR1, NHS(═O)pR2, NHR3, NRaRb, C(═O)NHR3 or C(═O)NRaRb wherein; R1 is hydrogen, C1-C6alkyl, C0-C3alkylenecarbocyclyl, C0-C3alkyleneheterocyclyl; R2 is C1-C6alkyl, C0-C3alkylenecarbocyclyl, C0-C3alkyleneheterocyclyl or NRaRb; R3 is C1-C6alkyl, C0-C3alkylenecarbocyclyl, C0-C3alkyleneheterocyclyl, —OC1-C6alkyl, —OC0-C3alkylenecarbocyclyl, —OC0-C3alkyleneheterocyclyl; wherein any alkyl, carbocyclyl or heterocycylyl in R1, R2 or R3 are optionally substituted p is independently 1 or 2; n is 3, 4, 5 or 6; denotes an optional double bond; Rq is H or when L is CRz, Rq can also be C1-C6alkyl; Ry and Ry′ are independently C1-C6alkyl; L is N or CRz; Rz is H or forms a double bond with the asterisked carbon; W is —CH2—, —O—, —OC(═O)NH—, —OC(═O)—, —S—, —NH—, —NRa, —NHS(═O)2—, —NHC(=0)NH— or —NHC(═O)—, —NHC(═S)NH— or a bond; R8 is an optionally substituted ring system containing 1 or 2 saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated carbo or heterocyclic rings have utility in the inhibition of NS-3 serine proteases, such as flavivirus infections.
US07700543B2

The use of NF-κB inhibitors to enhance the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the treatment of neoplastic conditions is described. When chemotherapeutic compounds and radiation activate NF-κB within cells, the cells are more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of these treatments. Inhibition of NF-κB activation is disclosed to provide a method to improve the efficacy of these cancer therapies.
US07700542B2

Polymers comprising a polyethylenimine, a biodegradable group, and a relatively hydrophobic group are useful for the delivery of bioactive agents to cells.
US07700540B2

Cleaning compositions which enhance hard surfaces to exhibit excellent water-spreading and oil-repellency and therefore provide a “next time easier cleaning” consumer benefit contain selected copolymers capable of forming invisible, extremely thin hydrophilic films on treated surfaces. The cleaning compositions feature a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer having a first monomer capable of forming a cationic charge on protonation and a second monomer that is acidic and that is capable of forming an anionic charge in the compositions, and may contain an optional third monomer having an uncharged hydrophilic group and/or an optional fourth monomer that is hydrophobic. The cleaning compositions may further contain functional ingredients including surfactants, organic solvents and/or other optional adjuvants to enhance the cleaning performance and aid in preparation of the surface for effective delivery of the copolymer during a cleaning operation.
US07700538B2

A cleaning composition and method which may be used to clean a variety of household objects. Such objects may include floor surfaces (including carpets), counter surfaces, bathroom surfaces, clothing, and utensils. In one embodiment, the composition consists essentially of water, vinegar, slaked lime, and alum. In another embodiment, the composition consists essentially of vinegar, lime juice, tamarind, slaked lime, and rock alum.
US07700535B1

There is provided a method and composition for rinsing sliced ingots into wafers from a wire saw cutting operation. The method uses an alkoxylated alcohol diluted in water alone or with a polyalkyl siloxane when the bath has a dynamic flow of water to prevent foaming.
US07700527B2

A composition of matter resistant to foaming comprising a hydrocarbon oil and an acrylate copolymer dispersed in the said hydrocarbon oil, which acrylated copolymer contains at last one polymerised fluorinated (meth)acrylate monomer wherein not more than three neighbouring carbon atoms in the said fluorinated (meth)acrylate monomer carry one or more fluorine substituents.
US07700526B2

A water-dilutable emulsion lubricant for machining, exhibiting improved dispersibility and emulsion stability, by emulsifying an oil system, composed of a base oil and an effective amount of fine particles of boron nitride of a crystalline turbostratic structure, dispersed in the base oil, in a water system, using an emulsifier. The lubricant is free from heavy metals, e.g., molybdenum disulfide and useful for machining difficult-to-cut materials such as Ti alloys and Inconel. The lubricant is effective even at a diluted state comprising 0.001% up to 0.1% by weight of crystalline t-BN.
US07700522B2

The invention relates to α-oxygenated or α-thiolated carboxylic acid phenethylamide derivatives of general formula (I) including the optical isomers thereof and mixtures of such isomers, wherein A stands for optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; X is oxygen or sulfur; Y is oxygen or sulfur; R1, is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl or halocycloalkyl; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, alkoxy-alkenyl, alkoxy-alkynyl, whereof all alkyl- alkenyl-, alkynyl-, or cycloalkyl-groups may be optionally substituted by halogen; or optionally substituted aryl-alkyl, optionally substituted aryl-alkenyl, optionally substituted aryl-alkynyl or optionally substituted aryloxy-alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, alkoxy-alkenyl, alkoxy-alkynyl, whereof all alkyl- alkenyl-, alkynyl-, or cycloalkyl-groups may be optionally substituted by halogen; or is optionally substituted aryl-alkyl, optionally substituted aryl-alkenyl, optionally substituted aryl-alkynyl, optionally substituted aryloxy-alkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl-alkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl-alkenyl or optionally substituted heteroaryl-alkynyl; R4 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy-alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkenyloxy, alkylthio, alkanoyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, whereof all alkyl- alkenyl or alkynyl-groups may be optionally substituted by halogen; or is halogen, cyano, nitro, amino, formyl or carboxyl; R5 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl; n is an integer 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; B, represents a bridge member —CR10R11—, wherein R10 and R11 independently of each other are hydrogen or alkyl; and B2 is an alkylene bridge. These compounds possess useful plant protecting properties and may advantageously be employed in agricultural practice for controlling or preventing the infestation of plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, especially fungi.
US07700517B2

Octahedral molecular sieve sorbents and catalysts are disclosed, including silver hollandite and cryptomelane. These materials can be used, for example, to catalyze the oxidation of COx (e.g., CO), NOx (e.g., NO), hydrocarbons (e.g., C3H6) and/or sulfur-containing compounds. The disclosed materials also may be used to catalyze other reactions, such as the reduction of NO2. In some cases, the disclosed materials are capable of sorbing certain products from the reactions they catalyze. Silver hollandite, in particular, can be used to remove a substantial portion of certain sulfur-containing compounds from a gas or liquid by catalysis and/or sorption. The gas or liquid can be, for example, natural gas or a liquid hydrocarbon.
US07700510B2

The opto-ceramics and optical elements of the present invention are transmissive to visible light and/or to infrared radiation. They consist of a crystal combination in which individual crystallites have a cubic structure of the type Y2O3 and are made from In2O3 or a mixture of oxides of the type X2O3 in which X=Y, Lu, Sc, Yb, In, Gd, or La. Also mixtures of X2O3 with oxides having different stoichiometries, such as zirconium and hafnium oxide, are possible, as long as the cubic structure of the opto-ceramic is maintained. The optical elements prepared from the opto-ceramics are particularly suitable for mapping optics, such as objectives having reduced chromatic aberrations, in particular with approximately apochromatic mapping behavior. The optical elements of the present invention may be used in lens systems in combination with lenses of glass, but also with other ceramic lenses.
US07700502B2

A textile finished with a biocidally active component is provided. The textile is characterized in that the biocidally active component is contained in the textile and comprises 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and also, optionally, one or more other biocides and the biocidally active component is enclosed in microparticles composed of an aminoplast resin. The enclosure of the biocidally active component in the microparticles causes the biocidally active component to stay on the textile during the drying and curing involved in the finishing process. In addition, in practical use, the biocidally active component is only released slowly and is not washed off by exposure of the textile to rain or water. This stops a large part of the biocidally active component escaping during the finishing of the textile or being washed off the tenting, awnings, filters, tarpaulins, shower curtains and the like after just a few (rain) showers.
US07700495B2

The present invention relates to a thin film transistor device formed on an insulating substrate of a liquid crystal display device and others, a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display device. In structure, there are provided the steps of forming a negative photoresist film on a first insulating film for covering a first island-like semiconductor film, forming a resist mask that has an opening portion in an inner region with respect to a periphery of the first island-like semiconductor film by exposing/developing the negative photoresist film from a back surface side of a transparent substrate, etching the first insulating film in the opening portion of the resist mask, forming a second insulating film for covering the first insulating film and a conductive film thereon, and forming a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode by patterning the conductive film.
US07700493B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first pattern over a substrate, forming an oxide-based layer over the first pattern, forming a hard mask layer over the oxide-based layer, etching the hard mask layer at a first substrate temperature, and etching the oxide-based layer to form a second pattern, wherein the oxide-based layer is etched at a second substrate temperature which is greater than the first substrate temperature using a gas including fluorine (F) and carbon (C) as a main etch gas.
US07700489B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a SiO2 film on the substrate having formed thereon a wiring pattern; coating a SOG film on the SiO2 film; and polishing the SOG film using a slurry containing cerium oxide and cationic surfactant with a chemical-mechanical polishing process.
US07700481B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a metal layer on a silicon-containing layer located on a semiconductor substrate. The method also comprises reacting a portion of the metal layer with the silicon-containing layer to form a metal silicide layer. The method further comprises removing an unreacted portion of the metal layer on the metal silicide layer by a removal process. The removal process includes delivering a flow of an acidic solution to a surface of the unreacted portion of the metal layer, wherein the acidic solution delivered to the surface is substantially gas-free.
US07700480B2

Some embodiments include methods of titanium deposition in which a silicon-containing surface and an electrically insulative surface are both exposed to titanium-containing material, and in which such exposure forms titanium silicide from the silicon-containing surface while not depositing titanium onto the electrically insulative surface. The embodiments may include atomic layer deposition processes, and may include a hydrogen pre-treatment of the silicon-containing surfaces to activate the surfaces for reaction with the titanium-containing material. Some embodiments include methods of titanium deposition in which a semiconductor material surface and an electrically insulative surface are both exposed to titanium-containing material, and in which a titanium-containing film is uniformly deposited across both surfaces.
US07700470B2

Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for providing a workfunction metal gate electrode on a substrate with doped metal oxide semiconductor structures are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07700461B2

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a string structure including a selection transistor and a memory cell on a substrate. An insulation layer pattern is formed on the substrate to cover the string structure. The insulation layer pattern includes at least one opening exposing a portion of the substrate adjacent to the selection transistor. A seed layer including a single-crystalline material is formed in the opening. An amorphous thin film including an amorphous material is formed on the insulation layer pattern and the seed layer. The amorphous thin film is transformed into a single-crystalline thin film, using the single-crystalline material in the seed layer as a seed during a phase transition of the amorphous thin film, to form a channel layer on the insulation layer pattern and the seed layer. Therefore, the semiconductor device including the channel layer having the single-crystalline thin film may be manufactured.
US07700458B2

An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing a substrate with a protective coating; attaching a labeling film to a support member in a separate process; joining the protective coating and the labeling film; and dicing the substrate, the protective coating, and the labeling film to form the integrated circuit package system.
US07700457B2

The invention concerns a sealing zone between two microstructure substrates. Said sealing zone comprises at least the following parts: on a first wafer level (20), a lower edging (22A) made of an adhesive material capable of causing the first substrate (20) to adhere to a sealing material, said sealing material being adapted to spontaneously diffuse jointly with the material of the second wafer level (30); on said lower edging (22A), a layer of said sealing material; and on said layer of sealing material, a protuberance (36) formed on said second wafer level (30) containing a certain amount of sealing material. The invention is applicable to microstructures comprising vacuum-operated components.
US07700456B2

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes a step of defining an element region by etching a semiconductor substrate using a first dielectric film as a mask, a step of reducing the first dielectric film by isotropic etching, a step of forming a side wall on a side surface of the reduced first dielectric film, a step of removing the first dielectric film, and a step of forming a trench in the element region by etching using the side wall as a mask to form a plurality of fin portions at the element region.
US07700454B2

A method of fabricating a uniformly wrinkled capacitor lower electrode without the need to perform a high-temperature heat treatment and a method of fabricating a capacitor including the uniformly wrinkled capacitor lower electrode are provided. A first conductive layer is formed. Then, a second conductive layer including about 20% to about 50% of impurities is formed on the first conductive layer. Next, at least some of the impurities are exhausted from the second conductive layer by heat treating the second conductive layer. A surface of the second conductive layer is wrinkled due to the exhaustion of the impurities from the second conductive layer. A dielectric layer and an upper capacitor electrode may then be formed.
US07700447B2

A method for making a semiconductor device which may include forming a first monocrystalline layer comprising a first material having a first lattice constant, a second monocrystalline layer including a second material having a second lattice constant different than the first lattice constant, and a lattice matching layer between the first and second monocrystalline layers and comprising a superlattice. More particularly, the superlattice may include a plurality of groups of layers, and each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a semiconductor base portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon. Furthermore, the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions, and at least some semiconductor atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together through the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer therebetween.
US07700442B2

A semiconductor device, having a recessed gate and asymmetric dopant regions, comprises a semiconductor substrate having a trench with a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the heights of which are different from each other, a gate insulating layer pattern disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor such that the gate stack protrudes from the surface of the semiconductor substrate while the gate stack fills the trench, and first and second dopant regions disposed at the upper part of the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the first and second sidewalls of the trench, respectively, such that the first and second dopant regions have different steps.
US07700439B2

A memory device is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A select gate electrode and a control gate electrode are formed adjacent to one another. One of either the select gate electrode or the control gate electrodes is recessed with respect to the other. The recess allows for a manufacturable process with which to form silicided surfaces on both the select gate electrode and the control gate electrode.
US07700435B2

A method for fabricating deep trench DRAM array is disclosed. A substrate having thereon a memory array area is provided. An array of deep trench patterns is formed in the memory array area. The deep trench (DT) capacitor patterns include first dummy DT patterns in a first column, second dummy DT patterns in a first row and a plurality of effective DT capacitor patterns. Each of the first dummy DT patterns has an extended width (W) along a first direction, which is greater than or equal to a photomask's shift tolerance. Each of the second dummy DT patterns has an extended length (L) along a second direction, which is greater than or equal to the photomask's shift tolerance. The first direction is normal to the second direction.
US07700433B2

A method of fabricating an MIM type capacitor includes at least one of: Forming a first trench within an insulating interlayer formed on a semiconductor substrate. Forming a lower electrode layer of a metal nitride layer substance to fill an inside of the first trench. Forming a second trench on a surface of the lower electrode layer to have a depth less than the first trench. Forming a capacitor dielectric layer conformal along a surface of the lower electrode layer including the second trench. Forming an upper electrode layer of a metal nitride layer substance on the capacitor dielectric layer. Sequentially patterning the upper electrode layer and the capacitor dielectric layer by photolithography.
US07700427B2

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit, a method for manufacturing a cell arrangement, an integrated circuit, a cell arrangement, and a memory module. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit having a cell arrangement is provided, including forming at least one semiconductor fin structure having an area for a plurality of fin field effect transistors, wherein the area of each fin field effect transistor includes a first region having a first fin structure width, a second region having a second fin structure width, wherein the second fin structure width is smaller than the first fin structure width. Furthermore, a plurality of charge storage regions are formed on or above the second regions of the semiconductor fin structure.
US07700425B2

A method is provided for forming an SOI MOSFET device with a silicon layer formed on a dielectric layer with a gate electrode stack, with sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the gate electrode stack and raised source/drain regions formed on the surface of the silicon layer. The gate electrode stack comprises a gate electrode formed of polysilicon over a gate dielectric layer formed on the surface of the silicon layer. A thin amorphous silicon cap layer is formed in the top surface of the gate electrode by implanting dopant into the surface thereof. A notch is etched into the periphery of the cap layer. A plug of dielectric material is formed in the notch. The sidewalls of the gate electrode are covered by the sidewall spacers which cover a portion of the plug for the purpose of eliminating the exposure of the gate polysilicon so that formation of spurious epitaxial growth during the formation of raised source/drain regions is avoided.
US07700424B2

Methods for forming embedded epitaxial layers containing silicon and carbon are disclosed. Specific embodiments pertain to the formation embedded epitaxial layers containing silicon and carbon on silicon wafers. In specific embodiments an epitaxial layer of silicon and carbon is non-selectively formed on a substrate or silicon wafer, portions of this layer are removed to expose the underlying substrate or silicon wafer, and an epitaxial layer containing silicon is formed on the exposed substrate or silicon wafers. In specific embodiments, gates are formed on the resulting silicon-containing epitaxial layers.
US07700421B2

A semiconductor device using a crystalline semiconductor film is manufactured. The crystalline semiconductor film is formed by providing an amorphous silicon film with a catalyst metal for promoting a crystallization thereof and then heated for performing a thermal crystallization, following which the crystallized film is further exposed to a laser light for improving the crystallinity. The concentration of the catalyst metal in the semiconductor film and the location of the region to be added with the catalyst metal are so selected in order that a desired crystallinity and a desired crystal structure such as a vertical crystal growth or lateral crystal growth can be obtained. Further, active elements and driver elements of a circuit substrate for an active matrix type liquid crystal device are formed by such semiconductor devices having a desired crystallinity and crystal structure respectively.
US07700418B2

Disclosed herein is a method for production of a thin-film semiconductor device which includes, a first step to form a gate electrode on a substrate, a second step to form a gate insulating film of silicon oxynitride on the substrate in such a way as to cover the gate electrode, a third step to form a semiconductor thin film on the gate insulating film, and a fourth step to perform heat treatment in an oxygen-containing oxidizing atmosphere for modification through oxygen binding with oxygen-deficient parts in the silicon oxynitride film constituting the gate insulating film.
US07700412B2

A chip package structure includes a chip-placed frame that having an adhesive layer thereon; a chip includes a plurality of pads on an active surface thereon, and is provided on the adhesive layer; a package structure is covered around the four sides of the chip-placed frame, and the height of the package structure is larger than the height of the chips; a plurality of patterned metal traces is electrically connected to the plurality of pads, another end is extended out to cover the surface of the package structure; a patterned protective layer is covered on the patterned metal traces and another end of the patterned metal traces is exposed; a plurality of patterned UBM layer is formed on the extended surface of the patterned metal traces; and a plurality of conductive elements is formed on the patterned UBM layer and is electrically connected to one end of the exposed portion of the patterned metal traces.
US07700402B2

The invention concerns a film having at least one electrical component and a process for the production of such a film. An adhesive layer comprising a radiation-cross-linkable adhesive is applied to a base film. The adhesive layer is applied to the base film in a form of being structured in pattern form and/or is irradiated in pattern form in such a way that the adhesive layer hardens with structuring in pattern form. A transfer film which comprises a carrier film and an electrical functional layer is applied to the adhesive layer. The carrier film is pulled off the film body comprising the base film, the adhesive layer and the electrical functional layer, wherein in a first region structured in pattern form the electrical functional layer remains on the base film and in a second region structured in pattern form the electrical functional layer remains on the carrier film and is pulled off the base film with the carrier film.
US07700397B2

A wafer level packaging process for packaging components is provided. The process includes permanently connecting a functional side of a base substrate to a covering substrate at wafer level so that a plurality of functional regions on the functional side are in each case packaged to form a wafer level package, the plurality of functional regions being spaced apart from one another on the functional side; producing contact-connection recesses in the base substrate to uncover contact surfaces on the base substrate from a back surface of the base substrate; dividing the base substrate into body regions and connection regions; thinning the body regions or the connection regions until the wafer level package has different thicknesses in the body regions and the connection regions; and dicing wafer level package into chips along predefined cutting lines between the plurality of functional regions.
US07700394B2

There is obtained a silicon wafer which has a large diameter, where no slip generated therein in a wide range of a density of oxygen precipitates even though a heat treatment such as SLA or FLA is applied thereto, and which has high strength.First, by inputting as input parameters combinations of a plurality of types of oxygen concentrations and thermal histories set for manufacture of a silicon wafer, a Fokker-Planck equation is solved to calculate each of a diagonal length L and a density D of oxygen precipitates in the wafer after a heat treatment step to form the oxygen precipitates (11) and immediately before a heat treatment step of a device manufacturing process is calculated. Then, a maximum heat stress S acting in a tangent line direction of an outer peripheral portion of the wafer in the heat treatment step of the device manufacturing process is calculated based on a heat treatment furnace structure and a heat treatment temperature used in the heat treatment step of the device manufacturing process, and then an oxygen concentration or the like satisfying the following Expression (1) is determined: 12000×D−0.26≦L≦51000×S−1.55  (1).
US07700392B2

The present invention is to provide a semiconductor laser device manufacturing method for realizing highly reliable semiconductor laser devices. The semiconductor laser device manufacturing method includes: cutting a wafer into bar-shaped wafers by scanning an electron beam on the front side of the wafer on which a semiconductor laser structure has been formed so as to cause cracks which trigger the cutting of the wafer; and depositing front and back coating films on the end faces, which have been newly exposed by the cutting of the wafer, of the cut wafers. In the method the cut wafers are transferred in a non-ambient atmosphere at a time between the cutting of the wafer and the depositing of the end face coating films.
US07700385B2

A method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, the electro-optical device having an electro-optical element formed by laminating a first electrode, an electro-optical layer, and a second electrode in sequence on a base body, the method of manufacturing the electro-optical device, including the steps of: forming an ultraviolet absorbing layer on the substrate by a vapor deposition method so as to cover the electro-optical element; and forming a gas barrier layer by a vapor deposition method using plasma so as to cover the ultraviolet absorbing layer.
US07700377B2

During the patterning of respective contact etch stop layers having a different type of intrinsic stress, the deposition of an etch indicator layer between the first and the second contact etch stop layer may be omitted in order to avoid any undue effects of this layer during the subsequent processing. Local removal of the second stressed layer may be performed on the basis of an etch time controlled etch process, which in some aspects may include the provision of an etch indicator material, wherein feed forward and feed back measurement data may be used in an appropriately designed process controller.
US07700374B2

It is intended to provide a target substance-capturing body comprising: a base consisting of a soluble protein; and two or more functional domains capable of binding to different target substances.
US07700340B2

The invention relates to molecules or molecular complexes, which comprise binding pockets of PLK3 or its structural homologues. The invention relates to crystallizable compositions and crystals comprising PLK3. The present invention also relates to a data storage medium encoded with the structural coordinates of molecules and molecular complexes which comprise the PLK3 or PLK3-like ATP-binding pockets. The present invention also relates to a computer comprising such data storage material. The computer may generate a three-dimensional structure or graphical three-dimensional representation of such molecules or molecular complexes. This invention also relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to solve the structure of homologous proteins or protein complexes. In addition, this invention relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to screen for, identify and design compounds, including inhibitory compounds that bind to PLK3 or homologues thereof.
US07700339B2

In accordance with the invention, novel gene deletions and translocations involving chromosome 2 resulting in fusion proteins combining part of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase with part of a secondary protein have now been identified in human solid tumors, e.g. non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Secondary proteins include Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML-4) and TRK-Fusion Gene (TFG). The EML4-ALK fusion protein, which retains ALK tyrosine kinase activity, was confirmed to drive the proliferation and survival of NSCLC characterized by this mutation. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant ALK kinase polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, recombinant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides. The disclosed identification of this new fusion protein enables new methods for determining the presence of these mutant ALK kinase polypeptides in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer characterized by the mutant polynucleotides or polypeptides, which are also provided by the invention.
US07700327B2

A method has been discovered to produce a resistant starch product that retains the same cooking quality as found in untreated rice starch or flour, but has a higher percentage of starch resistant to α-amylase digestion. This method uses a debranching enzyme, e.g., pullulanase, to digest the starch, but does not require pre-treating the starch source prior to enzymatic treatment. This method produced resistant starch from low amylose starches, rice starch (24%) and rice flour (20%). Surprisingly the resistant starch product formed by this method retained the pasting characteristics of the untreated flour or starch, and was heat stable. This method may also be used to produce resistant starch from other botanical sources, e.g., corn, wheat, potato, oat, barley, tapioca, sago, and arrowroot. Resistant starch produced by this method has a variety of uses in food products.
US07700309B2

This invention provides methods useful in aiding in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The methods involve measuring the amount of amyloid-β peptide (x-≧41) in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient. High levels of the peptide generally are inconsistent with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Low levels of the peptide are consistent with the disease and, with other tests, can provide a positive diagnosis. Other methods involve measuring the amounts of both Aβ(x-≧41) and tau. Low levels of Aβ(x-≧41) and high levels of tau are a positive indicator of Alzheimer's disease, while high levels of Aβ(x-≧41) and low levels of tau are a negative indication of Alzheimer's disease.
US07700307B2

Provided are previously uncharacterised markers of cancers, for example colorectal cancers, and uses of these as diagnostic and prognostic markers of cancers, and in particular colorectal cancers. The markers are SEQ ID NO: 1—hnRNP-K; SEQ ID NO:2—HMG-1; SEQ ID NO:3—proteasome subunit alpha type 1; SEQ ID NO:4—bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein; SEQ ID NO:5—ST11; SEQ ID NO:6—annex in IV; SEQ ID NO:7—60 kDa heat shock protein; SEQ ID NO:8—T complex protein 1 beta subunit; SEQ ID NO:9—T complex protein 1 epsilon subunit; SEQ ID NO: 10—mortalin; and SEQ ID NO: 11—TER-ATPase. The invention further provides related methods and materials for the use of the markers in therapeutic intervention in colorectal and other cancers e.g. to specifically target neoplastic cells without causing significant toxicity in healthy tissues, and to provide methods for the evaluation of the ability of candidate therapeutic compounds to modulate the biological activity of cancerous cells from the colon, rectum and other tissues.
US07700305B2

The present invention relates to analyte detection test systems, including test systems for the oral detection of analytes in saliva. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for storing multiple assay tests and compositions and methods for measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample.
US07700304B2

The present invention provides methods inhibiting formation of neurofibrillary tangles; and methods for treating disorders relating to apolipoprotein E (apoE) in a subject. The methods generally involve reducing the level of a carboxyl-terminal truncated form of apoE in a neuronal cell of a subject. The invention further provides isolated cells comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a carboxyl-terminal truncated form of apoE; and methods of screening compounds using the cells. The invention further provides compounds that inhibit an apoE cleavage enzyme, and that reduce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in a neuronal cell. The invention further provides transgenic non-human animals that include as a transgene a nucleic acid that encodes a carboxyl-terminal truncated form of apoE; as well as methods of screening compounds using transgenic animals.
US07700302B2

Methods and compositions are provided for efficient, high throughput screening of antibody libraries against proteins targets, especially membrane proteins in yeast. In particular, methods are provided for screening a diverse antibody library for antibodies that bind to a membrane protein such as a chemokine receptor in yeast.
US07700297B2

Arterial and venous endothelial cells are molecularly distinct from the earliest stages of angiogenesis. This distinction is revealed by expression on arterial cells of a transmembrane ligand, called EphrinB2 whose receptor EphB4 is expressed on venous cells. Targeted disruption of the EphrinB2 gene prevents the remodeling of veins from a capillary plexus into properly branched structures. Moreover, it also disrupts the remodeling of arteries, suggesting that reciprocal interactions between pre-specified arterial and venous endothelial cells are necessary for angiogenesis.
US07700287B2

Compositions and methods for sequencing a template polynucleotide comprising a sequence of interest are provided herein. The compositions and methods employ at least one blocking probe that is designed to bind in a sequence-specific manner to a blocking sequence such that primer extension beyond the site where the blocking probe binds is reduced or prevented.
US07700278B1

A real-time reverse transcription-PCR, or NABSA, method targeting the rbcL gene developed for the detection and quantitation of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis.
US07700277B2

This invention relates to use of polymorphisms in human OATP-C in statin therapy because they are associated with an effect on statin pharmacokinetics (PK) in humans, especially rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics. The invention also relates to the use of OATP-C polymorphisms in predicting the efficacy and safety of statins, whose uptake in to the liver is mediated by OATP-C, especially rosuvastatin.
US07700274B2

The present invention relates to novel sequences for use in diagnosis and treatment of carcinomas, especially breast cancers. In addition, the present invention describes the use of novel compositions for use in screening methods.
US07700273B2

The present invention relates, e.g., to an isolated peptide comprising a sequence of contiguous amino acids that is at least about 60% identical (e.g., at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% identical) to the sequence E-W-Q-K-E-G-L-V-T-L-W-L (SEQ ID NO:1), or an active variant of an isolated peptide comprising SEQ ID NO:1. Neutralizing antibodies generated by, or specific for, such peptides are also described, in particular antibodies which are specific for the HIV co-receptor, CCR5, and which inhibit infection of a host cell by HIV. Neutralizing single strand and complete human monoclonal antibodies against CCR5 are described. Methods of using such peptides or antibodies, for inhibiting infection by HIV, are also described.
US07700270B1

Double Bragg grating scanner receivers (DBS) and methods thereof based on spinning high-efficiency transmitting or reflecting holograms in photo-thermo-refractive (PTRG) glass provides unlimited field of view while incident angle for all components do not exceed approximately 45 degrees. The devices and methods are highly tolerable to high power laser radiation and has no restriction for the use in any laser systems working in visible and near IR spectral regions. Rate of scanning by DBS is higher compared to known mechanical scanners because the use of thin glass plates with recorded holograms and spinning instead of rocking. The components described herein are holographic optical devices (reflecting and transmitting volume gratings) for visible and near IR spectral regions with absolute diffraction efficiency exceeding approximately 95% and high thermal, optical and mechanical stability.
US07700265B2

An image forming method in which a planographic printing plate precursor having, on a support, an image recording layer containing (A) a polymerization initiator, (B) a polymerizable compound, and (C) a binder polymer, and having photosensitivity in a wavelength range of 250 nm to 420 nm, is subjected to exposure using laser light in the wavelength range of 250 nm to 420 nm, and a one-pixel drawing time is one millisecond or less, a planographic printing plate precursor having the image recording layer which further contains (D) a compound having a polymerizable group and a support adsorptive group, or (F) a filler, and a planographic printing method including development-on-machine, are provided.
US07700260B2

A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprises: (A) a fluorine-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (C) a fluorine-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkali developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer; and (D) a solvent, the method comprising: (i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating; (ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid; (iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating; (iv) a step of heating the resist coating; and (v) a step of developing the resist coating.
US07700256B2

The present invention relates to new polymers that contain repeat units of phenol and photoacid-labile esters that contain an alicyclic group, preferably a bulky group that suitably may contain 7 to about 20 carbons, such as an alkyladamantyl, ethylfencyl, tricyclo decanyl, or pinanyl group. Polymers of the invention are useful as a component of chemically-amplified positive-acting resists.
US07700250B2

A photoconductor containing an optional supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer thereover, and at least one charge transport layer, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a chelating agent, and a Type V titanyl phthalocyanine prepared, for example, by dissolving a Type I titanyl phthalocyanine in a solution comprising a trihaloacetic acid and an alkylene halide; adding the mixture comprising the dissolved Type I titanyl phthalocyanine to a solution comprising an alcohol and an alkylene halide thereby precipitating a Type Y titanyl phthalocyanine; and treating the Type Y titanyl phthalocyanine with a monohalobenzene.
US07700249B2

A photoconductor that includes a supporting substrate, and an active layer in contact with the substrate, and which active layer contains a photogenerating pigment of a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine, at least one charge transport component, and a mixture of a metal oxide and a chelating agent, where the phthalocyanine is, for example, prepared by hydrolyzing a gallium halide phthalocyanine.
US07700239B2

A graphite particle obtained by assembling or binding together a plurality of flat-shaped particles so that the planes of orientation are not parallel to one another, or a graphite particle in which aspect ratio is 5 or less or specific surface area is 8 m2/g or less or the size of crystallite in the direction of c-axis of the crystal is 500 Å or more and the size of crystallite in the direction of plane is 1,000 Å or less as measured by X ray broad angle diffraction, or a graphite particle in which pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 102 to 106 Å is 0.4 to 2.0 cc/g per weight of graphite particle or pore volume of the pores having a size falling in a range of 1×102 to 2×104 Å is 0.08 to 0.4 cc/g per weight of graphite particle is suitable for production of negative electrode of lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery obtained therefrom is excellent in rapid charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, etc.
US07700238B2

Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte-based, high-power lithium secondary battery having a long service life and superior safety at both room temperature and high temperature, even after repeated high-current charging and discharging. The battery comprises a mixture of a lithium/manganese spinel oxide having a substitution of a manganese (Mn) site with a certain metal ion and a lithium/nickel/cobalt/manganese composite oxide, as a cathode active material.
US07700234B2

A binder for electrode of lithium ion secondary battery, comprised of a copolymer composed of 15 to 80 weight % of units from ethylenically unsaturated monomer (A) whose homopolymerization yields a polymer soluble in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and 20 to 85 weight % of units from ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B) whose homopolymerization yields a polymer insoluble in NMP, which copolymer exhibits a swelling degree of 4 or below, in an electrolyte obtained by dissolving LiPF6 in the concentration of 1 mol/liter into a solvent of 1:2 (volume ratio at 20° C.) mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). This binder for electrode of lithium ion secondary battery enables obtaining an electrode having a flexible electrode layer excelling in binding properties with industrial advantage.
US07700226B2

The present invention provides an electrode in which an electrode active material particles as being interconnected are applied on current collector, wherein the interconnected surface of electrode active material particles is coated with a polymer, the polymer being present as an independent phase, while maintaining a pore structure formed among the interconnected electrode active material particles as well as an electrochemical device including the electrode. Also, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electrode coated with a polymer present on an interconnected surface of electrode active material as an independent phase, while maintaining a pore structure formed among the electrode active material particles, which comprises the steps of: (a) coating slurry for an electrode including an electrode active material on a current collector and drying it to form an electrode; and (b) dipping the electrode obtained from step (a) into a solution containing the polymer dissolved therein and a method for manufacturing an electrochemical device comprising the electrode obtained by the above method.The electrode coated with a polymer as an independent phase provides an electrochemical device with improved safety and prevents degradation of performance of an electrochemical device.
US07700223B2

A battery cover assembly for coupling to a housing of an electronic device, the battery cover assembly comprising: a cover (10) comprising an inner surface (106) and a button slot (101) defined therein; a movable member (20) comprising a main body (21), a button (211) formed on the main body and extending through the button slot, and a catch assembly extending from the main body; and a fixing plate (30) coupled to the cover, with the movable member being sandwiched between the fixing plate and the cover, the fixing plate defining at least one opening, the catch assembly of the movable member extending through the opening and being adapted for engageably securing the cover assembly to the housing (40). The battery cover assembly has a steady structure. The battery cover assembly is convenient to open and close.
US07700222B2

A sealed rechargeable battery has an electrode group formed by winding together a positive electrode and a negative electrode via a separator. A plurality of radial slits are provided in a welding section that is formed by an exposed section of a collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode exposed at both ends of the electrode group. In the welding section, the exposed section is folded from the winding axis side toward the outer periphery to form a flat welding face.
US07700214B1

A cartridge comprises a housing that can be easily attached and detached from an electrolyzer so that the hydrogen generated can be stored within the cartridge. The housing is further configured to easily attach and detach from a fuel cell so that the stored hydrogen can be released to the fuel cell for power generation. In preferred embodiments, the cartridge comprises a cathode that serves to generate hydrogen when joined to the electrolyzer, as well as to store hydrogen. With this arrangement, a single device (the fuel cell cartridge) can function to generate hydrogen when connected to form part of the electrolyzer, to store hydrogen (whether attached to either the fuel cell or electrolyzer or neither—in stand alone form), and/or to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell, when connected thereto.
US07700201B2

Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device including a substrate, a first and a second electrode, and an emitting layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The emitting layer includes a plurality of materials which is a blue emitting material using a following chemical formula as dopant. In this case, at least one of A1 and A2 is selected from a substituted or non-substituted aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, an aliphatic group, and hydrogen.
US07700196B2

Organosilicon compounds bearing keto or aldehyde groups are easily prepared in high yield by oxidation of a carbinol-functional precursor by an oxidizing agent in the presence of a nitrogen-containing free radical mediator which contains aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic, or aromatic NO—, NOH—, or H—N—OH group. The oxidation may be conventional, i.e. using air, oxygen, or other oxidant, may be electrochemical, or enzymatic.
US07700194B2

A high-frequency magnetic material is provided and includes: an oxide phase including: a first oxide of a first element being at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti, Hf, Zn, Mn, a rare-earth element, Ba, and Sr, and a second oxide of a second element being at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Zn, the first oxide and at least a part of the second oxide being formed into a solid solution; and magnetic metal particles including at least one of Fe and Co and having a particle size of 1 to 100 nm, the magnetic metal particles being deposited on a surface and inside of the oxide phase, the magnetic metal particles occupying 50% of a volume of the high-frequency magnetic material exclusive of a void.
US07700185B2

There is provided an insulation material having a dielectric constant of 10 or more, comprising a filler having a dielectric constant of 50 or more and having two peaks in different particle size ranges in a particle size distribution and an insulating resin combined with each other; an insulation material having a dielectric constant of 10 or more comprising, as essential components, 1) at least one filler selected from the group consisting of barium titanate, strontium titanate, potassium titanate, magnesium titanate, lead titanate, titanium dioxide, barium zirconate, calcium zirconate and lead zirconate, 2) an insulating resin and 3) a dispersant containing a carboxylic group; or an insulation material comprising a filler having a dielectric constant of 50 or more, a dispersant for dispersing the filler and an insulating resin as essential components, wherein an extract of a cured product of the insulation material obtained by extraction with water at 120° C. for 20 hours using a pressure vessel has a pH of 6 or higher.
US07700177B2

A resin molded component includes a flange having a through-hole. A concave portion is formed on the surface of the flange that faces the component on which the flange is fitted. Flows of a molten resin material meet each other at a meeting portion in a region around the through-hole during a molding process, and a weld line is formed at the meeting portion. The concave portion is formed upstream of the meeting portion at which the flows of the molten resin material meet each other, and in the vicinity of the through-hole. The thickness of the resin material in the bottom portion of the concave portion is greater than the thickness of the resin material in the thinnest portion of the wall of the concave portion.
US07700166B2

A process for the evaporation of a high-melting material in an evaporator cell having a crucible for receiving the material to be evaporated, and a heating device with a heating resistor for the resistance heating of the crucible, the heating resistor being provided as an electron emitter for the electron beam heating of the crucible.
US07700165B2

Provided is a deposited film containing microcrystalline silicon by plasma CVD, which includes changing at least one of conditions selected from a high frequency power density, a bias voltage with respect to an interelectrode distance, a bias current with respect to an electrode area, a high frequency power with respect to a source gas flow rate, a ratio of a diluting gas flow rate to a source gas flow rate, a substrate temperature, a pressure, and an interelectrode distance, between conditions for forming a deposited film of a microcrystalline region and conditions for forming a deposited film of an amorphous region; and forming a deposited film under conditions within a predetermined range in the vicinity of boundary conditions under which the crystal system of the deposited film substantially changes between a amorphous state and a microcrystalline state.
US07700160B2

The invention is directed to a process for the production of a scratch-resistant vehicle coating comprising the following steps:I. applying a top coat layer of colour- and/or special effect-imparting base coat and a transparent clear coat or of a pigmented one-layer top coat onto a prior coating,II. optionally, applying a sealing layer of a transparent sealing coat onto the top coat layer applied in step I andIII. curing the top coat layer applied in step I and the sealing layer optionally applied in step II,wherein the transparent clear coat or the pigmented one-layer top coat and/or the transparent sealing coat contains modified nanoparticles based on an element-oxygen network, the elements are selected from the group consisting of aluminium, silicon, tin, boron, germanium, gallium, lead and transition metals including the lanthanides and actinides and wherein the modified nanoparticles being produced by treating the (unmodified) nanoparticles with compounds of the general formula I Me(ORI)4 and/or the general formula II Me(OCOR1)4, wherein R1 means an alkyl, aryl and/or aralkyl residue and Me means zirconium and/or titanium.
US07700157B2

A method of forming a periodic array of nano-scale objects using a block copolymer, and nano-scale object arrays formed from the method are provided. The method for forming the arrays generally includes the steps of depositing a block copolymer of at least two blocks on a substrate to form an ordered meso-scale structured array of the polymer materials, forming catalytic metal dots based on the meso-scale structure, and growing nano-scale objects on the catalytic dots to form an ordered array of nano-scale objects.
US07700143B2

A method for making asymmetrical snack pieces that can be efficiently nested or stacked. A dough preform is mated with a mold as the preform is cooked into a snack piece. The preform takes the shape of the mold. The mold is designed such that the resultant snack piece, when resting upon a flat surface, has an apex and a base of equal height. This is achieved by making the mold such that the centroid of the snack piece lies in a plane that is parallel to a plane formed by the vertices of the snack piece. The snack pieces can then be efficiently nested or stacked.
US07700135B2

Xenon or xenon-containing gases and, where appropriate, an NO source are employed as medicament for cerebral protection. Cerebral protection is defined as reducing or preventing impairments of cerebral function of various causes, but especially secondary to perfusion impairments of unclear etiology. The medicament can be used for cerebral protection for the prophylaxis of impairments of cerebral perfusion and for therapy after cerebral disorders have occurred, irrespective of the cause (e.g. cognitive, sensory or motor in nature).
US07700134B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the protection and restoration of hearing. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention of chemical (e.g., cisplatin) induced deafness. The present invention thus provides methods of improving the outcome of subjects treated with cisplatin.
US07700128B2

A solid preparation useful as a diabetes-treating agent or the like and excellent in the dissolution properties of an insulin sensitizer and an insulin secretagogue, which comprises an insulin sensitizer, an insulin secretagogue and a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester is provided.
US07700117B2

The CAMP factor gene of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is described, as well as the recombinant production of CAMP factor therefrom. Also disclosed are chimeric CAMP factor constructs, including CAMP factor epitopes from more than one bacterial species. The CAMP factors and chimeras including the same can be used in immunogenic compositions for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections.
US07700116B2

A method of developing an immune response to HIV using a composition of inactivated HIV. Inactivation is through psoralen and ultraviolet radiation. The composition is rendered more effective by the removal of structural features of HIV that interfere with immune response. In particular, sialic acid is removed to enhance immune recognition of the composition and to impair Complement Factor H binding. CD55 and CD59 are also removed to prevent the binding of Complement Factor H.A method of developing an immune response to HIV using a composition of inactivated HIV. Inactivation is through psoralen and ultraviolet radiation. The composition is rendered more effective by the removal of structural features of HIV that interfere with immune response. In particular, sialic acid is removed to enhance immune recognition of the composition and to impair Complement Factor H binding. CD55 and CD59 are also removed to prevent the binding of Complement factor H.
US07700114B2

Described are DNA sequences encoding an E6 or E7 fusion protein of HPV, wherein said DNA sequences are characterized by a combination of the following features: original codons are exchanged by codons which lead to an enhanced translation in a mammalian cell, they contain a deletion resulting in the production of a truncated non-functional protein, and they encode a fusion partner which is a highly immunogenic polypeptide capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of the E6 or E7 protein in the mammalian host. Furthermore, the modified E6 or E7 protein encoded by said DNA sequences as well as expression vectors containing said DNA sequences are described as well as several uses of the these compounds.
US07700113B2

The present invention relates to the ability of constitutively active Notch 2 to function as an inhibitor of breast cancer. The invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting breast cancer cells by using hNotch2ICD polypeptides.
US07700112B2

A novel FSH mutant with increased glycosylation and longer half-lifes for use in inducing folliculogenesis in human patients is described. The FSH mutant permits the use of lower cumulative doses of FSH to achieve the same or better clinical result.
US07700111B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the protection and restoration of hearing. In particular, the present invention relates to treatments to facilitate the protection and re-growth of the auditory nerve. The present invention further provides methods of preventing hair cell loss and the accompanying loss in hearing. The present invention thus provides novel interventions for a variety of hearing impairments.
US07700108B2

An inducer of cytotoxic T cells comprising as an active ingredient a protein which comprises the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as that shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a peptide derived from the protein above is provided.
US07700103B2

Synthetic DNA molecules encoding the HPV 52 L1 protein are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides polynucleotides encoding HPV 52 L1 protein, wherein said polynucleotides are codon-optimized for high level expression in a yeast cell. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the nucleotide sequence of the synthetic molecule is altered to eliminate transcription termination signals that are recognized by yeast. The synthetic molecules may be used to produce HPV 52 virus-like particles (VLPs), and to produce vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the HPV 52 VLPs. The vaccines of the present invention provide effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity and may also be useful for treatment of existing HPV infections.
US07700102B2

Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding novel CD100 molecules which stimulate a leukocyte response, such as a B cell response, including B cell aggregation, B cell differentiation, B cell survival, and/or T cell proliferation are disclosed. These novel molecules have a certain homology to semaphorins, proteins which are growth cone guidance molecules that are critical for guiding growing axons of neurons to their targets. In addition to isolated nucleic acids molecules, antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced are also described. The invention further provides isolated CD100 proteins, fusion proteins and active fragments thereof. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US07700099B2

The present invention relates to a non-immunostimulatory antibody which lacks antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc gamma receptor binding and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. In some embodiments, the antibody contains a modified immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) Fc region with at least one substitution in the B/C loop, FcRn binding domain, and the F/G loop. The antibody of the invention is useful in the preparation of therapeutic antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing the same.
US07700091B2

The present invention concerns a TGC method for inducting targeted somatic transgenesis in an animal host, whereby bacteria with a foreign DNA integrated into an episomal vector release, under the control of eukaryotic regulatory elements forulterior transcription and expression, said foreign DNA in the case of infection of a foreign organism, organ, tissue, cell line or individual cells, causing transcription and expression of foreign DNA and/or foreign protein in said location.
US07700084B2

The present invention relates to a mixture, having a skin-tightening effect, which is made up of: 10 to 80% by weight of a polysaccharide, preferably of an alginate, having a molecular weight of less than 600,000 Daltons, preferably less than 400,000 Daltons and more preferably less than 200,000 Daltons, 15 to 75% by weight of a polyhydroxylated agent selected from sugars and their derivatives, particularly sugar esters and sugar ethers, preferably sorbitol, 3 to 15% by weight of poly(vinyl alcohol) or polyvinylpyrrolidone, and 0 to 25% by weight of cellulose or of a derivative of cellulose, such as carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxymethylcellulose. The present invention also relates to cosmetic compositions which contain this mixture.These cosmetic compositions enable a mechanical smoothing of the surface of the skin to be obtained progressively with great comfort of use and enables a good fixing of make-up products.
US07700074B2

Chronic alcoholism is a diverse and heterogeneous disorder that can be dichotomized into cognitively intact and cognitively impaired subgroups. At a molecular level, ethanol has been shown to have both acute and chronic effects on: Membrane biophysical properties, Membrane composition and metabolism, Protein phosphorylation, Lipid metabolic signaling, Lipoprotein transport of cholesterol. Actual molecular underpinnings are determined for cognitive impairment seen in some chronic alcoholism subjects including molecular/metabolic alterations of phospholipid and ganglioside metabolisms.
US07700071B2

A method of producing hydrogen gas from a reaction of carbon monoxide with a base. Hydrogen is produced in a reaction of a base with carbon monoxide that proceeds through the formation of a bicarbonate or carbonate compound as a by-product. In some embodiments, the reaction may occur in the presence of water and may produce carbon dioxide as a by-product. The instant base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous than the water-gas shift reaction and are able to produce hydrogen gas from carbon monoxide at greater reaction rates than is possible with the water-gas shift reaction. Carbon monoxide in a purified or unpurified state or as a component within a mixture of gases is suitable for use in the instant invention. Metal hydroxides are the preferred base reactant. The base reactant can be in the solid phase, molten phase, liquid phase or solution phase.
US07700070B2

The present invention relates to the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons for generating a gas that is rich in hydrogen, to the use of said apparatus and to a process for generating hydrogen. The apparatus comprises a reforming catalyst (5), as well as a means (8) for supplying hydrocarbons to the catalyst. The reforming catalyst is arranged in an exhaust pipe (3) through which the exhaust gases of combustion processes are passed.
US07700060B2

A thermal spray powder contains granulated and sintered yttria particles and fine yttria particles, the average particle diameter of the fine yttria particles being no more than 1 μm. The content of the fine yttria particles in the thermal spray powder is 1,000 to 10,000 ppm by mass. It is preferred that the thermal spray powder be used in applications for forming a thermal spray coating by plasma thermal spraying at atmospheric pressure.
US07700056B2

A decontamination system having modular components to efficiently decontaminate enclosures of various dimensions. The decontamination system includes a main unit comprising a controller, a supply of liquid decontaminant, a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid decontaminant to generate a vaporized decontaminant, and a destroyer for breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An embodiment of the present invention includes a detachable dryer and a detachable external blower that are in fluid communication with the main unit. An optional external destroyer and an optional external dryer may be controlled by the controller of the main unit to respectively increase the destroying and drying capacity of the decontamination system.
US07700055B2

A hydrogen combustion system comprising: an external cylinder 1 constituting the exterior of a double tube construction; an internal cylinder 2 formed by a porous metal plate constituting the interior of said double tube construction; hydrogen combustion catalyst 4 supported with precious metals on spherical ceramic support surface, formed in pellet state, being packed in said internal cylinder 2; an insert pipe 3 formed by porous metal plate inserted in the center of said internal cylinder 2; pre-heating heaters 5 installed between said insert pipe 3 and said internal cylinder 2 to preheat said hydrogen combustion catalyst 4 to ambient atmosphere of over catalytic reaction temperatures; a hydrogen introducing port 8 connecting to said insert pipe 3; an air introducing port 9 provided at the bottom of said external cylinder 1 in the area between said external cylinder 1 and said internal cylinder 2, wherein air for hydrogen combustion is introduced by the drift effect resulting from the differential pressure generated between the packed layer of hydrogen combustion catalyst and the outside, by thermal convection, achieving safe combustion treatment of hydrogen in simple construction, small size and high treatment efficiency.
US07700050B2

A honeycomb body assembly includes a honeycomb body with channels through which a fluid can flow. The channels extend between two end faces. At least one sensor extends at least partly into the honeycomb body. A first partial volume of the honeycomb body is defined between a first end face and the at least one first sensor. The honeycomb body has a lower capacity for oxygen in the first partial volume than in at least one further partial volume. An exhaust system with a space-saving configuration of such a honeycomb body is also disclosed.
US07700046B2

A system for controlled delivery of a predetermined volume of an additive (e.g., a liquid, solid, etc.) to a vacuum sealed container is provided and includes a delivery device that includes a housing having a chamber defined therein for holding the predetermined volume of additive and a piston or the like that is axially moveable within the chamber. The system includes a connector that is detachably connected to or formed as integral part of the delivery device. The connector has a hollow piercing element for piercing through a stopper of the vacuum sealed container. The attached apparatus and connector are mated with the vacuum sealed tube for delivering the additive such that the piercing element pierces through the stopper and one end of the element is in fluid communication with an interior of the container causing the chamber in the apparatus to be exposed to the vacuum resulting in the predetermined volume of additive being drawn from chamber through the connector and into the container without releasing a vacuum seal that exists between the stopper and container.
US07700045B2

A sampling device is described for analysis of a substance, wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, aminoisocyanates, isothiocyanates, anhydrides, amines and carboxylic acids and can be present in both gas and particle phases in an air flow passed, for sampling, through the sampling device, said device comprising: a) an adsorption device comprising a coating, wherein said coating comprises a reagent mixture in the form of one or more primary or secondary amines and an acidic compound having the ability to form a salt (or ionic bond) with the amine(s) for adsorption of and reaction with the substance in the gas phase of the air flow; and b) a filter device comprising said mixture of amine(s) and acidic compound for adsorption of and reaction with the substance in the particle phase of the air flow.
US07700043B2

A plurality of analyzer units for serum, a plurality of analyzer units for blood plasma and a plurality of analyzer units for urine are arranged along a main transfer line for transferring a sample rack from a rack providing portion to a rack storage portion. A reagent bottle for inspecting liver function is contained in each reagent delivery mechanism of two analyzer units among the plurality of analyzer units for serum. When the reagent for inspecting liver function in one of the two analyzer units is to be short, analysis for the liver function analysis item to samples can be continued by transferring a sample rack from the rack providing portion to the other analyzer unit.
US07700040B2

Applicants have produced a chromophore and a polymer that are highly sensitive to the presence of various agents, including organophosphates, pesticides, neurotoxins, metal ions, some explosives, and biological toxins. The detection is accomplished by detecting a change in the fluorescence characteristics of the chromophore or polymer when in the presence of the agent to be detected. The chromophore and polymer may be incorporated into sensors of various types, and they are adaptable for potential field use in areas where detection of these types of agents is desired.
US07700037B2

A steel material having a good resistance to corrosion, consisting of an alloy containing in % by weight: max 0.12 C 0.5-1.5 N 12-18 Cr max 0.5 Mn max 0.5 Ni 1-5 (Mo+W/2) max 1.5 (V+Nb/2+Ti) 0.1-0.5 Si from traces and up to max 2.0 Co from traces and up to max 0.1 S balance iron and essentially only impurities at normal contents.
US07700034B2

Slip containing at least one aluminium oxide powder and at least one unstabilized zirconium dioxide powder, wherein a) the zirconium dioxide powder i) has a mean particle diameter of less than 300 nm, ii) shows only the monoclinic phase and the tetragonal phase in the X-ray diffraction pattern, with the proportion of tetragonal phase at room temperature being from 20 to 70%, and iii) is present in a proportion of from 2 to 20% by weight, based on the total amount of the slip, b) the aluminium oxide powder i) has a mean particle diameter of more than 300 nm and ii) is present in a proportion of from 80 to 98% by weight, based on the total amount of the slip, and c) the solids content, as the sum of aluminium oxide and zirconium dioxide, is from 50 to 85% by weight, based on the total amount of the slip.
US07700026B2

Described herein is a process and apparatus for the production of an article made of moulded plastic material with a first component and at least one second component overmoulded on the first component, in which, in the second injection step for overmoulding the second component, the moulding cavity is at least in part delimited by at least one resting surface that is independent of and mobile with respect to the mobile surface of mould and is set in contact with the first component.
US07700021B2

A shoe (and fabrication techniques therefor) on which is provided a bottom portion that includes a sole portion and a heel portion and that has a bottom surface and an upper portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion. The bottom surface of the bottom portion of the shoe has areas of a fabric material (such as cotton, nylon, polyester, any other cloth or fabric), or any of a variety of other first materials, interspersed with areas of a durable material (such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic rubber, any other plastic, and/or any other natural or synthetic leather or rubber), or any of a variety of other second materials.
US07700020B2

A method of producing an object through solid freeform fabrication preferably includes ejecting drops of different volumes to form a layer of the object. The drops may be binder drops ejected into a build material or may include the build material used to form the object.
US07700009B2

A method for producing a positive electrode active material that realizes a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having high discharge capacity and excellent high temperature preservation characteristic is provided. The method includes: an underwater kneading step of kneading lithium nickel composite oxide (LixNi1-yMyOz, 0.9
US07700000B2

Disclosed are a silicon derivative, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same, and a compensation film for a liquid crystal display device using the same liquid crystal composition. More particularly, the silicon derivative is a liquid crystal material of a high-quality view angle compensation film, which improves a contrast ratio measured at a tilt angle when compared to a contrast ratio measured from the front surface and minimizes color variations in a black state depending on view angles.
US07699999B2

The invention is directed to a screen-printable getter composition comprising: (a) glass frit; dispersed in (b) organic medium. The invention is further directed to a screen-printable thick film getter composition comprising: (a) glass frit; and (b) desiccant material; dispersed in (c) organic medium.The present invention further relates to a getter composition utilizing low-softening temperature glasses comprising, based on weight %, 1-50% SiO2, 0-80% B2O3, 0-90% Bi2O3, 0-90% PbO, 0-90% P2O5, 0-60% Li2O, 0-30% Al2O3, 0-10% K2O, 0-10% Na2O, and 0-30% MO where M is selected from Ba, Sr, Ca, Zn, Cu, Mg and mixtures thereof. The glasses described herein may contain several other oxide constituents that can substitute glass network-forming elements or modify glass structure.
US07699993B2

Wireless methods for dispensing water supplied by a main purification unit to a remote dispensing device. The remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with the main purification unit. A wireless transceiver is associated with the remote dispensing device and another wireless transceiver is associated with the main purification unit. The wireless transceivers communicate across a wireless communications link between the remote dispensing device and the main purification unit. The system may include multiple remote dispensing devices and/or multiple main purification units.
US07699981B2

An apparatus and method for installing an adjustable height drain onto a conduit in a layer of hardenable material. The drain includes a grate member adjustably connected to and in fluid communication with a base member. A connection member connects the grate member and base member and is adjustable to allow the elevation of the grate member to be adjusted in relation to the base member. A spacer is disposed substantially adjacent at least a portion of the connection member to limit hardenable material from setting around the connection member when a layer of hardenable material is poured.
US07699979B2

Methods are disclosed for the capture, detection, separation, isolation and quantification of contaminants in a starting material. Also disclosed are competitive assay methods for the detection and quantification of contaminants in a starting material. Kits for use with the method are disclosed as well. A system for capturing, separating and/or concentrating contaminants from a material is also presented. The system captures, separates and/or concentrates contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, other microorganisms, and/or larger items, such as insects, from a variety of materials, such as food, and environmental and clinical materials. In general, the system uses a rotating magnetic field to mix the material with magnetic particles to capture the target contaminants, and a fixed magnetic field to separate and concentrate the captured target contaminants.
US07699974B2

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a method of heating a FCC unit having a regenerator and a reactor having overall CO2 reduction is provided. The method comprises compressing syngas to define compressed syngas. Separating a first stream of gas comprising CO2 from the compressed syngas. A second stream of gas comprising O2 is expanded with the first stream of gas to produce a feed gas. The feed gas is introduced to the regenerator at gasification conditions to burn coke from coke heavy spent catalyst advanced from the reactor, producing syngas and heat for operating the reactor at reaction temperatures.
US07699971B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a microstructure, wherein an aluminum substrate is subjected to, in order, (1) a step of subjecting a surface of the aluminum substrate to a first anodizing treatment to form an anodized film having micropores on the surface of the aluminum substrate; (2) a step of partially dissolving the anodized film using an acid or alkali; (3) a step of performing a second anodizing treatment to grow the micropores in their depth direction; and (4) a step of removing a part of the anodized film above inflection points in cross section of the micropores, whereby the microstructure having the micropores formed at a surface of the anodized film is obtained and a microstructure manufactured by the method. The method is capable of obtaining in a short period of time a microstructure having an ordered array of pits without using highly toxic chromic (VI) acid.
US07699970B2

A method of producing a structured hard chrome layer is described, wherein chromium is deposited from an electrolyte onto a workpiece, said electrolyte containing: (a) a Cr (VI) compound in an amount corresponding to 50 g/l to 600 g/l of chromic acid anhydride (b) 0.5 g/l to 10 g/l of sulphuric acid; (c) 1 g/l to 20 g/l of aliphatic sulphonic acid, comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and (d) 10 g/l to 200 g/l of at least one compound forming a dense cathode film, said compound being selected from among ammonium molybdate, alkali molybdate and alkaline earth molybdate, ammonium vanadate, alkali vanadate and alkaline earth vanadate, ammonium zirconate, alkali zirconate and alkaline earth zirconate. Further, the application relates to a structured hard chrome layer obtained according to said method and to an electrolyte for carrying out said method.
US07699968B2

The present invention provides a water purifying system capable of efficiently producing treated water containing boron at a low concentration. Water to be treated is first fed to the RO membrane apparatus 1 and the passed water is fed through the boron absorptive apparatus 2. Water which was passed through the boron absorptive apparatus 2 and of which boron was thus removed is fed through the electrodeionization apparatus 3. In this manner, water treated by electrodeionization is taken out as treated water. The condensed water of the electrodeionization apparatus 3 may be discharged or returned to the upstream side of the RO membrane apparatus 1 through a return pipe 4 so that the condensed water is added to water to be treated. Suitably used as the absorptive agent accommodated in the boron absorptive apparatus 2 is a boron selective absorptive agent capable of selectively absorbing boron.
US07699967B2

The present invention relates to an analytical tool (X) which includes a substrate (1), a flow path for moving a sample along the substrate (1), a reagent portion (14) provided in the flow path, and an insulating film (13) covering the substrate (1) and including an opening (15a) for defining a region for forming the reagent portion (14). The insulating film (13) further includes at least one additional opening (15b) positioned in a longitudinal direction (N1) relative to the opening (15a). For instance, the flow path is configured to move the sample by capillary force.
US07699965B2

Proposed is a zinc oxide-based transparent conductor characterized in having zinc oxide as its primary component, containing an element at 1 to 10 atomic % which has a smaller ion radius than zinc in the zinc oxide and serves as an n-type dopant for the zinc oxide, and containing nitrogen in which the atomicity ratio of nitrogen in relation to the n-type dopant (nitrogen/n-type dopant) is 0.3 to 0.6. In the development of a transparent conductor that does not contain In, which is an expensive raw material with concern of resource depletion, the limit of the conventional development technique known as the single-dopant method is exceeded, a guide to dopant selection as a specific means for realizing the co-doping theory is indicated, and a transparent conductor having low resistivity is provided.
US07699964B2

A multifunctional membrane is provided. The multifunctional membrane is suitable for use in an analyte sensor. In a particular application, the multifunctional membrane may be used in connection with an amperometric biosensor, such as a transcutaneous amperometric biosensor. Some functions of the membrane are associated with properties of membrane itself, which is comprised of crosslinked polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups. For example, the membrane, by virtue of its polymeric composition, may regulate the flux of an analyte to a sensor. Such regulation generally improves the kinetic performance of the sensor over a broad range of analyte concentration. Other functions of the membrane are associated with functional components, such as a superoxide-dismutating/catalase catalyst, either in the form of an enzyme or an enzyme mimic, that can be bound to the scaffold provided by the membrane. The effect of any such enzyme or enzyme mimic is to lower the concentration of a metabolite, such as superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide, in the immediate vicinity of the sensing layer of the biosensor. Lowering the concentrations of such metabolites, which are generally deleterious to the function of the sensor, generally protects or enhances biosensor integrity and performance. The membrane is thus an important tool for use in connection with analyte sensors, amperometric sensors, biosensors, and particularly, transcutaneous biosensors. A membrane-covered sensor and a method for making same are also provided.
US07699959B2

Tissues are provided as multi-ply tissue products having greater tactile sensation and resiliency in hand. Improved tissues may have a thickened and reduced density middle layer. The tissues may serve as applicators for chemical agents to be released during use of the tissue. A tissue having an improved tactile impression to the consumer, with enhanced resilience and high external bulk is disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-ply structure having at least three plies is desirable. A middle or intermediate ply is comprised an increased thickness and a greater bulk is employed. In general, the exterior plies of the tissue are smooth and desirable to the consumer.
US07699949B2

The present invention provides thickened fabrics and reinforcements for use as a spacer or reinforcement for a matrix system. The fabric includes in a first embodiment a woven fabric comprising weft and warp yarns containing glass fibers. A portion of the weft yarns are undulated into a sinusoidal path forming a generally “C” shaped bridge between adjacent warp yarns which results in an increased thickness for the fabric. The fabric is coated with a polymeric resin or bonding agent, for substantially binding the weft yarns in the undulated condition. This invention also includes methods for making such fabric by increasing the thickness of a woven or non-woven material by such methods as applying tension to warp yarns having opposite twists during weaving operations, or using unbalanced yarns, for example.
US07699947B2

The invention relates to ultrahigh strength hot-rolled steel having a chemical composition consisting of, by weight: 0.05%≦C≦0.1% 0.7%≦Mn≦1.1% 0.5%≦Cr≦1.0% 0.05%≦Si≦0.3% 0.05%≦Ti≦0.1% Al≦0.07% S≦0.03% P≦0.05% the remainder comprising iron and impurities resulting from the production thereof. Moreover, the inventive steel has a bainitic-martensitic structure which can contain up to 5% ferrite. The invention also relates to a method of producing bands of said steel.
US07699942B2

A drain hose fixing assembly of a dishwasher includes a holder body provided at an outer circumference with at least one hook and an interference preventing rib formed on an inner circumference of the holder body to prevent a drain hose from interfering with the hook.
US07699926B2

The present invention related to a chrome-free passivating solution, which comprises following components: effective amount of oxysalt containing transition metal, inorganic acids and water. Said oxysalt containing transition metal is selected from a group of oxysalt containing titanium, oxysalt containing zirconium, oxysalt containing hafnium, oxysalt containing vanadium, oxysalt containing niobium, oxysalt containing tantalum, oxysalt containing molybdenum, oxysalt containing tungsten, oxysalt containing manganese, oxysalt containing technetium, and oxysalt containing rhenium, and the weight ratio between said oxysalt containing transition metal and inorganic acids is in the range of 200˜400:1. Said chrome-free passivating solution may further comprise one or more complexant. The problem that noxious hexad and trivalent chrome existing in the galvanizing coat and passivating solution of the prior art is solved substantially by the chrome-free passivating solution of the present invention, and said chrome-free passivating solution of the present invention can replace really the passivating solution containing hexad and trivalent chrome of prior art, to complete the passivation of electro-galvanizing coat and hot-galvanizing coat.
US07699923B2

A non-aqueous ink not curable by UV radiation includes an organic color pigment and between 12 to 98 wt % of tetraethylene glycol dimethylether based on the total weight of the inkjet ink. Also, a method for preparing a non-aqueous inkjet ink is provided.
US07699916B1

A corrosion resistant, electrically-conductive, durable plate at least partially coated with an anchor coating and a corrosion resistant coating. The corrosion resistant coating made of at least a polymer and a plurality of corrosion resistant particles each having a surface area between about 1-20 m2/g and a diameter less than about 10 microns. Preferably, the plate is used as a bipolar plate in a proton exchange membrane (PEMFC) fuel cell stack.
US07699904B2

The present invention is a method for producing functionally graded materials that contain a hard phase that is embedded in a metal matrix phase. The material have a continuous gradient of a matrix metal phase. An example of these types of materials include functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide (the hard phase) that has a continuous gradient of cobalt (the matrix metal) from one reference position, for example, one surface of a part, to another reference position, for example, the opposite surface of the part or within the part. The functionally graded materials are sintered via a liquid phase sintering (LPS) technique. In order to achieve the desired continuous gradient of the matrix metal, an initial gradient of one of the chemical elements of the hard phase is designed and built into the part prior to liquid phase sintering. The exact gradient of the composition material elements that will be required depends on factors such as the desired final matrix metal gradient, the dimension of the part to be made, and the sintering time and temperature.
US07699892B2

A method for modifying a heart valve annulus includes placing a purse string suture at a puncture site adjacent a heart valve, inserting at least one delivery member through the puncture site, positioning a distal end of the at least one delivery member adjacent a portion of a valve annulus, deploying an annuloplasty device carried within the at least one delivery member and implanting the annuloplasty device into the valve annulus. The method also includes reshaping the heart valve annulus after implantation of the at least one annuloplasty device.
US07699884B2

Medical devices and methods for delivery or implantation of prostheses within hollow body organs and vessels or other luminal anatomy are disclosed. The subject technologies may be used in the treatment of atherosclerosis in stenting procedures or be used in a variety of other procedures.
US07699881B2

The invention concerns a bone screw comprising a head (2), a stem (3) and a thread (4) provided in the form of turns on the stem (3). A plurality of first turns (6) comprising smooth cutting edges (7) extend towards the head (2) from the free end (5) of the stem (3). Second turns (8) adjacent to the first turns (6), arranged in steps towards the head (2), comprise recesses (9) provided in the cutting edges (7). The size of the recesses (9) of the second turns (8) gradually increases from the free end (5) while the are of the edges in the peripheral direction gradually decreases.
US07699870B2

A surgical fastening system for attaching one piece of tissue to another piece of tissue. The system comprises a surgical fastener, an installation tool for deploying the surgical fastener in tissue, and a method for using the same.
US07699866B2

An emboli filtration apparatus is provided comprising a guide wire having a filter element captured thereon, so that the guide wire is free to rotate and translate while the filter element remains stationary. The apparatus allows for movement and rotation of the guide wire as devices are advanced over it to treat occlusive disease, substantially without dislodging the filter element. In a preferred embodiment, the guide wire comprises a proximal stop configured to reposition the filter element during a medical procedure without having to remove or insert additional interventional devices.
US07699861B2

A surgical instrument for harvesting vessels from the body includes an elongated shaft having distal and proximal ends and a plurality of lumens disposed therethrough. The shaft also includes a tip having a dissecting portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a cradle section. The tip is movable from a first position proximate the distal end of the shaft to at least one additional position distally further from the distal end of the shaft to expose the cradle section. The instrument also includes an endoscope disposed in one of the plurality of lumens and at least one additional surgical instrument disposed in one of the remaining lumens. Methods are disclosed for utilizing the surgical instrument.
US07699857B2

A hydrodynamic suturing instrument, comprises a elongated cannulated suturing needle having a distal end configured to carry a suture through tissue and a proximal end adapted to connect to a syringe barrel and a lumen extending from said proximal end to an opening at the distal end for having a size for the passage of a suture, and the opening at the distal end configured to receive a suture extending from the lumen along an outer surface of the needle wherein a sharp point extends forward of the suture. A companion instrument includes forceps having a distal end with jaws and a proximal end with a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end for passage of the needle, and the jaws having an opening enabling passage of the needle through tissue grasped in the jaws.
US07699856B2

A novel suture removal instrument, kit and technique are described herein. The invention utilizes a newly designed thermal filament to allow the tip of the suture removal instrument to be slipped under the stitch in order to heat and cut the stitch. Current suture removal techniques utilize scissors, forceps, and/or scalpels. These techniques, which are well known in the art, are problematic because they exert tension on the stitch and are associated with patient discomfort. Small stitches add to the difficulty of suture removal because they have less suture laxity for scissor insertion. The present invention therefore allows for more rapid suture removal with less patient discomfort and at a competitive or lower cost.
US07699855B2

A sterile adaptor, a sterile drape with the integrated sterile adaptor, and a telerobotic surgical system including the sterile drape with a drape interface are provided. The adaptor, drape, and system allow for draping portions of a telerobotic surgical system to maintain a sterile barrier between the sterile surgical field and the non-sterile robotic system while also providing an interface for transferring mechanical and electrical energy and signals between a robotic arm and a surgical instrument in the sterile field.
US07699854B2

This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.
US07699852B2

A bone tap may be used to deliver fluid into bone to stabilize and/or strengthen the bone. The bone tap may include a passage. A distal portion of the bone tap may be threaded. In some embodiments, openings in a distal portion of the bone tap may communicate with the passage. The bone tap may be driven into bone, and material may be introduced to the passage. Material introduced to the passage may enter the bone through the openings. Thread flights of the bone tap proximal to the openings may inhibit retrograde backflow of material during introduction of the material into the bone. Material deposited in the bone may strengthen a bone and/or augment fixation of a bone fastener in the bone.
US07699827B2

A pant shaped garment having a rear portion, a front portion, and a crotch portion, a waist opening with a waist edge and two leg openings bordered by a leg edge having a front part located generally on the front portion and a rear part located generally on the rear portion and on the crotch portion. Front and rear portions are mutually connected in two side joins which run from the waist opening to each leg opening. An elongated elastic element is pre-stretched along the rear part of the leg edge of each leg opening. The front portion comprises an elastically extensible material and the elongated elastic element constricts the rear part of the leg edge, thereby stretching the elastic material along the front part of the leg edge. The side joins exhibit a curvature in a direction towards the rear portion that increases in a direction from the waist opening towards the leg opening.
US07699817B2

A monitoring device is coupled to the open proximal end of an implanted gastrostomy feeding tube in order to monitor the administration of enteral nutritional fluids into the body of the patient. The monitoring device includes a clamshell-like casing and an electronic control circuit mounted within the casing. The casing includes upper and lower housings which are coupled together about a hinge. The casing additionally includes a connector shaped to fittingly project into the open proximal end of the feeding tube, the connector defining a lumen in fluid communication with the longitudinally-extending bore of the tube. A metering device is disposed within the lumen in the casing and is electrically connected to the control circuit. In use, the monitoring device is capable of, among other things, measuring the duration of a particular feeding period, measuring the duration between subsequent feeding periods, and measuring the delivery rate and amount of fluid that passes through the lumen during a feeding period, the results of the measurements being provided on an externally-viewable display.
US07699811B2

A pre-filled syringe including a barrel 1, a base end gasket 4 which is fluid-tightly slidable in the barrel 1, a front end gasket 8 which is fluid-tightly slidable in the barrel 1, and a nozzle part 2 provided in a front end of the barrel 1, wherein the nozzle part 2 includes a front end gasket accommodation part 23 which is capable of accommodating the front end gasket 8, and liquid flow passages 21 extending in an axial direction in an inner periphery wall, through which a liquid medicine can pass when the front end gasket 23 is accommodated in the front end gasket accommodation part 23, and a sectional area of a front end of the liquid flow passages 21 is smaller than a sectional area of a base end.
US07699802B2

A needle-less injector device that includes an outer housing and an inner housing that is slideably supported from the outer housing is disclosed. The inner housing supporting a vial that includes a nozzle for delivering a fluid held within the vial. A spring powered ram that is adapted for pushing a seal and plunger is mounted within inner housing. A skin tensioning spring mounted between the inner housing and the outer housing is used for pushing the leading end of the inner housing away from the outer housing. A trigger that cooperates with the spring-powered ram is used to release the ram from the cocked position only when the inner housing is in a firing position.
US07699796B2

The present invention is a hand-held ergonomic reflexology device. The device includes a semi-cylindrical shape handle dimensioned to fit within the palm of the user's hand. The handle is defined by a first end, an opposite second end, inner edge and a outer edge. A thumb support member is integrally connected to the handle and protruding outwardly to the sensor tip portion. The sensor tip portion is adapted to apply direct pressure to predetermined reflex points on the body. The thumb support member has substantially an elliptical shape and is defined by an upper surface area, an inner curved peripheral edge, and a outer curved peripheral edge. The upper surface area has a circumference dimensioned to fit a thumb of the user's hand. The inner curved peripheral edge extends from the sensor tip portion to the inner edge of the handle and is integrated therein. The outer curved peripheral edge extends from the tip portion to the outer edge of the handle and transitions into an arc therein, whereby the hand-held device has a structure resembling a small handgun.
US07699795B2

A massager device that provides a liquid applicator that dispenses a liquid and provides a massaging effect is disclosed. The massager device comprises a massage head adapted to engage a reservoir for storing a liquid, a liquid dispensing component engaged to the reservoir for applying the liquid, and a vibratory component for vibrating the massager device such that the user may simultaneously apply the liquid and provide a massaging effect.
US07699794B2

A handheld massager is disclosed having a spring and dampener provided between a massage head portion and a handle portion of a massager. A massage mechanism is provided in the massage head portion for application of a massage effect to the user. Resulting shock and vibrations caused by the massage effect are absorbed and dampened by the spring and dampener for minimizing these effects upon the hand and wrist of the user. Additionally, variable vibrational contact surfaces and various visual therapy effects are disclosed in combination with the massage effect.
US07699793B2

A device and method for detecting an impingement of joint components of a joint includes detecting a spatial position of each joint component during a relative movement of the joint components; calculating an instantaneous center point of rotation or an instantaneous axis of rotation from the detected spatial positions of the joint components; when one joint component moves relative to the other joint component, establishing whether the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation moves within a first expectation range or whether the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation moves within a second expectation range; and establishing that there is an impingement of the joint components when at least one of the calculated instantaneous center point of rotation or the calculated instantaneous axis of rotation leaves or exits the respective expectation range.
US07699790B2

A debulking catheter comprising a tissue debulking assembly for removing a contiguous strand of material from a body lumen. Catheters of the present invention generally include a catheter body having proximal and distal portions and a tissue debulking assembly disposed at least partially within the distal portion. The tissue debulking assembly is radially movable to expose at least a portion of the assembly through a window on the catheter body. The catheter is advanced transluminally through the body lumen to contact material in the body lumen and remove a plane of contiguous material that has a length that is typically longer than a length of the window on the catheter. The contiguous material may be directed into a collection chamber. Thereafter, the material may be removed from the collection chamber and preserved or tested.
US07699787B2

A blood pressure measurement apparatus for use in association with a blood pressure measuring cuff includes a housing having an upper shell and a lower shell defining an interior chamber and a replaceable module disposed within the interior chamber. The replaceable module houses a pump for inflating the blood pressure measuring cuff and a vent valve for venting the blood pressure measuring cuff. A cuff pressure sensor is provided within the interior chamber, either within or externally of the replaceable module. A control circuit for controlling the pump and the vent valve is provided on a circuit board disposed externally of the replaceable module. A power pack may be provided within the replaceable module for supplying electric power to the pump, the valve, the control circuit and other components within the interior chamber.
US07699769B2

The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to systems and methods for adjusting support to an anatomical location using an expandable chamber.
US07699760B2

To reposition parts of the body, pool therapy fixtures are used in a pool to develop neuromuscular recognition of the normal human musculoskeletal, respiratory and neurological patterns with feed forward activation. Individual muscles are isolated using the buoyancy of the pool, and in some cases applying streams of water within the pool against specific muscles. Selected forces may be applied using water jets in multiple directions in a programmed sequence with at least one pool therapy fixture to provide neuromuscular training.
US07699755B2

An isometric exercise system according to the present invention facilitates user interaction with a host computer system and includes at least one effector, at least one sensor coupled to the effector, a platform to accommodate the user and control circuitry including a processor. The platform accommodates a user and includes the effector attached thereto. The sensor measures at least one force applied by a user to the effector, where the applied force effects a strain on or deflects the effector. The processor receives and processes data corresponding to applied force information measured by the sensor for transference to the host computer system in a compatible format and facilitates user interaction with the host computer system via effector manipulation by the user. The host computer system processes the information to update or respond to events within an executing software application (e.g., a game).
US07699746B2

A one way clutch and synchronizer assembly includes a stationary member having a plurality of clutch struts and camming surfaces, a second circular selector member, an third rotating controlled member and a fourth stationary member. The selector member includes apertures or windows through which the clutch struts may pass to engage the rotating member and camming surfaces which provide a selective frictional coupling between the stationary members and the rotating member. A bi-directional hydraulic or electric actuator selectively, bi-directionally rotates the selector member.
US07699726B2

A game ball is disclosed that includes a polymer foam layer processed with an inert fluid blowing agent, such as nitrogen. The polymer foam may be a polyolefin material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylvinylacetate, and the inert fluid blowing agent may have a relatively high-purity. The polymer foam may be manufactured with a process that includes impregnating a polymer with the inert fluid blowing agent and expanding the polymer by heating the polymer above a softening temperature of the polymer, reducing a fluid pressure surrounding the polymer, and cooling the polymer. The game ball may be a soccerball, football, or volleyball, for example, that includes the polymer foam.
US07699724B1

A muscle memory training apparatus for training a ball player in proper elbow elevation at the beginning of a throw includes a frame; an elbow support cup assembly mounted to and projecting forwardly from the frame; a spring-loaded reel mounted to the frame a distance above the support cup assembly and having a retracting line secured to a ball mounted to the frame; and a fastening mechanism connected to the frame for fastening the apparatus to an anchoring object at a suitable elevation. A method of using the muscle memory training apparatus includes the steps of: securing the apparatus to a selected anchoring structure such that the elbow support cup is substantially at the user shoulder level; placing the user elbow in the elbow support cup; grasping the ball; and throwing the ball forwardly from the apparatus, so that the ball is subsequently retracted by the spring-loaded reel.
US07699713B2

A bowling ball including a rubber material and at least one fragrance. The rubber material may be substantially nonporous and substantially rigid. Polyurethane may be used as the rubber material. The bowling ball may, optionally, include a pigment. A method by which the bowling ball is formed includes dissolving the fragrance in a polyol, adding a catalyst, introducing the mixture into a mold, and polymerizing the mixture.
US07699712B1

A construction element (4) for a bowling lane is intended as a surface board of the bowling lane and it comprises at least one laminate layer (1), a board layer (2) and a supporting structure layer (3). The supporting structure layer (3) is a cellular structure of a honeycomb shape.
US07699711B2

A swing assembly includes a swing frame and at least two single-seater seat units. The swing frame includes a horizontal support bar and a plurality of spaced apart hook members disposed swingably on the support bar. Each single-seater seat unit includes a chair member, and a hanging unit connected to an adjacent pair of the hook members and further connected to the chair member. The single-seater seat units are swingable independently of each other on the swing frame.
US07699710B2

A sealing sleeve (11) of the rolling boot type having a first larger, substantially cylindrical collar (12), a second smaller, substantially cylindrical collar (13), as a well as a wall portion (14) which is positioned between the collars (12, 13) and which forms at least one axially open annular fold (15) with circumferentially distributed indentations (18) in the convex curvature of the axially open annular fold (15), or with radial ribs (21) in the concave inner curvature of the axially open annular fold.
US07699701B2

The present invention involves a method and system for providing sports betting information, in real time, utilizing a standard Internet connection on a computer to display the odds from a plurality of sports books. The system provides its users with a line seeker alert, a major line move alert, a bet tracker, and a fully customizable display. A method of gaining real time sports betting information without the use of a web browser, through the use of a separate program written in the C++ programming language is disclosed.
US07699693B2

An electronic game card (1) comprising a controller and one or more communication devices (12), all contained within a planar card having three or more sides. The communication devices (12) allow communications between adjacent cards when two cards are placed close to each other, with one side of each card opposite a side of the other card. An electronic card game method comprising: Defining the number of participants in the game; setting up the game; each participant locates his/her cards on a flat surface, adjacent to each other; performing a setup procedure; automatically recognizing the game configuration; detecting and addition of a new card and automatically responding thereto.
US07699691B1

A cooling system is provided for enclosed volumes having payloads of electronic or other equipment that are susceptible to failures when overheated. One particularly useful application of the present invention is in a cooling system for a turreted gimbaled system (i.e. a gimbal) that includes electronic and optical equipment typically used for surveillance, but many other applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art after being taught by the present disclosure. According to one aspect of the invention, a cooling system includes a pair of reciprocal openings between a gimbal sphere and yoke allowing for passage of air therethrough and a pair of fans for circulating the air between the sphere and yoke, thereby expanding the surface area available for heated air from the interior to conduct into the exterior air. In another example, a heat exchanger is provided in the yoke to allow further cooling of the circulated air. In another example, a heat pipe is provided in the yoke to allow heat to be transferred to the heat exchanger.
US07699688B2

A carrier head that has a base assembly, a retaining ring assembly, a carrier ring, and a flexible membrane is described. A carrier ring has an annular upper portion and an annular lower portion having a lower surface with a smaller inner diameter than the upper surface of the annular upper portion, wherein the carrier ring circumferentially surrounds a retaining ring and has a lower surface to contact a polishing pad.
US07699684B2

This invention provides a method for polishing pad comprising a polymeric material having pores and a component that is disposed within the pores.
US07699666B2

A first contact piece and a second contact piece interact to give a contact configuration. The second contact piece is singled-sided and can be reversibly deformed. In order to increase the contact pressure of the second contact piece onto the first contact piece, an additional pressure element is provided. The pressure element generates contact pressure acting upon the second contact piece via a deflecting device.
US07699663B1

An electrical connector includes a housing member and a number of contacts attached to the housing member. The contacts include a number of first contacts and second contacts arranged side by side along a transverse direction, respectively. The second contacts include a first pair of differential contacts, a second pair of differential contacts and a grounding contact disposed therebetween, the first contacts and the first and the second pairs of differential contacts are used for being soldered to the PCB while the grounding contact needn't be soldered to the PCB. The grounding contact includes a grounding tab to attach to the metal shell for grounding purpose. As a result, a much integral space between the first and the second contacts can be provided for receiving a fiber optical lens module.
US07699659B2

A surface contact card latching assembly (100) is located in a portable electronic device (200). The latching assembly includes a receiving portion (11) and a latch portion (12). The receiving portion is configured for receiving a surface contact card (20). The receiving portion includes an aperture (113) formed at a first end thereof via which the surface contact card enters or exits, and a latching containing portion (114) formed at an opposite second end thereof. The latch portion is received in the latching containing portion. The latch portion is operable to move in the latching containing portion so as to drive the surface contact card to move out of the receiving portion through the aperture.
US07699651B2

A coaxial plug and socket connector includes a coaxial plug and a bulkhead socket. The socket has: an outer conductor shell, and coaxial cable and mating ends. The shell inside wall, adjacent the mating end, has a latching edge groove. The plug has: an outer conductor shell having mating and coaxial cable ends, a latching sleeve fitting round and axially displaceable relative to the plug shell. The latching sleeve has axial slots at its mating end forming elastically resilient latching tongues having, at their mating ends, a latching edge extending radially outwardly to latch onto the socket groove latching edge. An unlocking sleeve surrounding and displaceable axially relative to the latching sleeve has a ramp sloping radially outwardly toward the cable end. The ramp cooperates with a groove on an inside face of the unlocking sleeve so unlocking sleeve displacement relative to the latching sleeve bends the tongues inwardly.
US07699648B2

This invention discloses a stackable connector assembly, which includes a first connector, a second connector, a shielding member, a contact member, and a ground member. The second connector is placed above the first connector. The shielding member is covered on the first connector. The contact member is used for connecting the shielding member and the ground member. This structure can reduce the electromagnetic radiation from the first connector.
US07699637B2

An LGA connector includes an insulative housing accommodating a plurality of terminals, a stiffener disposed around the insulative housing and a cover attached to the stiffener. The stiffener includes a front end, an opposite rear end, and two substantially vertical sidewalls connecting the front and rear ends. The cover is pivotally mounted to the rear end of the stiffener. The cover includes a pair of lateral sides having blocking walls being bent downwardly and distant to the sidewalls of the stiffener. One of the sidewall of the stiffener and the blocking wall of the cover has a self-aligning portion extending towards the other for leading the blocking wall to prevent the cover from inclining when the cover is rotated from an open position to a close position. Thus, the cover is shielded on the insulative housing safely without interfering with the insulative housing.
US07699632B2

A prevention part projected forward from a rear-end surface of a hood part (12) has a first prevention piece (61) disposed within a region of a rear-end surface of the hood part (12) from which a plurality of tabs (22) is projected; and a pair of second prevention pieces (62) so disposed as to sandwich the first prevention piece (61) therebetween, with the second prevention pieces (62) and the first prevention piece (61) arranged in a row at certain intervals. The tabs (22) are disposed between the first prevention piece (61) and the second prevention pieces (62). This construction is capable of decreasing a tab-disposing region.
US07699629B2

A transceiver module that utilizes a pivot lever to ground a shielded cable that is plugged into the transceiver module. In one example embodiment, a transceiver module includes a housing, a jack, and a movable pivot lever. The housing is operative to be electrically connected to chassis ground when the transceiver module is received within a host port. The jack is defined in the housing and operative to receive a shielded plug. The pivot lever is configured to allow removal of the transceiver module from within the host port. Further, the pivot lever is configured to be in electrical contact with both the housing and a conductive element of the shielded plug received by the jack such that a chassis ground is established between the housing and the shielded plug.
US07699624B2

The dial module includes: a sheet-shaped dial having a design part on a surface of the dial; a sheet-shaped light source fixed to a back surface of the dial for illuminating the design part; and a flexible printed circuit fixed to a back surface of the light source. The dial module thus constructed enables to reduce the number of components, to facilitate assembly of a meter which employs the dial module therein, to improve the productivity, and to reduce the cost.
US07699622B2

An electronic unit includes a case, a printed circuit board, a connector block, and a connector introducing portion. The case is selected from a waterproof case and a non-waterproof case. The connector block is mounted upon the printed circuit board. The connector block has a retaining projection that engages a mating connector. The connector introducing portion is integrally formed with the cases and yet separately from the connector block. The connector introducing portion of the waterproof case has a retaining projection that engages the mating connector. The electronic unit is assembled with the case selected from the waterproof case and the non-waterproof case, and with the printed circuit board and the connector blocks received in the case that has been chosen.
US07699619B2

A socket for a camera module includes an insulative terminal assembly housing that supports a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing serves as the bottom of a socket and it is surrounded with a conductive metal shell that defines a cavity which receives a camera module. The shell has one or more elastic arms that extend into contact with the housing. The shell is movable on the housing, and the housing has one or more projections that serve as stops for the elastic arms to limit the vertical movement of the shell with respect to the housing. This vertical movement permits the shell to move relative to the housing and thereby compensate for warping and the like which may occur on circuit boards to which the socket is mounted.
US07699615B2

Disclosed herein are joint replica models that are designed to enable simulated use testing by medical device companies, medical device designers, individual inventors, or any other entity interested in the performance of medical devices. These models are unique in possessing a level of complexity that allows them to be substituted for either a live animal, an animal cadaver, or a human cadaver in the testing of these devices. These models are further characterized by a similarity of geometry, individual component physical properties, and component-to-component interfacial properties with the appropriate target tissue and anatomy.
US07699612B2

A fixing member for an implant which comprises a tube or a pillar made of an hydroxyapatite ceramics at least one part of which is a ceramics porous article consisting essentially of a hydroxyapatite formed by agitation foaming, in which a number of approximately spherical pores mutually contact having pore structures communicated three-dimensionally opened at the contact area and having an averaged porosity of from 65% to 85%. A method for fixing an implant comprising a step of inserting an implant whose at least one part of the periphery is integrated with a hydroxyapatite ceramics into an implant insertion site of an alveolar bone or a gnathic bone. A method for fixing an implant, a fixing member for the implant and an implant composite in order to reinforce an implant insertion site by compensating or regenerating an alveolar bone or a gnathic bone on an implant treatment in dentistry or in oral surgery is obtained.
US07699607B2

This present invention concerns a locating and measuring device of facial anatomical parameters of a human face. It includes in particular a frame intended to be positioned in front of a face, and a bite yoke mounted on a cross member of the frame, intended to be inserted into the mouth and bitten onto by a patient. In a manner that is characteristic, the invention also includes materialization and positioning for an incisive line, materialization and positioning for a bi-pupillary line, and materialization and positioning for a Camper's plane on at least one profile of the face. The device of the invention finds a particular application in the fields of dental and periodontal reconstruction and repair in accordance with the aesthetic harmony of the face.
US07699596B2

In apparatus and processes for producing pellets of plastic resins and additives, the heat collected in the quench water of the pelletizer device is used to heat the plastic entering the process. This simple unique idea has an energy saving in the process.
US07699594B2

A method and an apparatus for supplying a label to a pseudo-core with the label held in the right position that can reduce the rate of producing defective molded products. They also can delivery a label with reduced suction force for drawing the label so as to downsize the apparatus and reduce the cost. A label 25 that is sucked and held at least at a longitudinal central part thereof is introduced into a pseudo metal mold 23 having a hollow section 23a whose inner surface shows a profile substantially agreeing with the outer profile of a corresponding pseudo-core and an aperture section 23b communicating with the hollow section 23a by way of pseudo metal mold 23 so as to extend along the inner surface of the hollow section 23a, while it is being resiliently deformed. Subsequently, the label 25 is supplied to the pseudo-core 21 coming into the hollow section 23a of the pseudo metal mold 23.
US07699593B2

A hydraulic press can include a press frame with a press table arranged thereto and a traveling press platen arranged therein, in which at least one rapid motion cylinder with a platen connection can be arranged for the rapid no-load stroke of the press platen, in which at least one working cylinder with a piston directed toward the press table can be rigidly arranged on the upper crosshead of the press frame, in which a coupling device and opposed thereto a crosshead with at least one positioning and synchronizing cylinder for the piston can be arranged on the piston toward the press table, in which the piston can include a centrically arranged cylindrical extension for the sliding guide of a connecting device, such as a toothed rack, in which this connecting device can be connected to the press platen.
US07699592B2

A rotary piston machine includes a driving part driven by an electric motor, and a driven part that have mutually engaging end-face denticulation for delivering a medium, the driving part and the driven part being housed in a machine housing and connected to the machine housing via respective bottom bearings of the driving/driven parts, creating a unit.
US07699591B2

A scroll compressor in which a scroll fixed lap rising from a fixed plate of a fixed scroll and a scroll orbiting lap rising from an orbiting plate of an orbiting scroll are combined with each other to form compression chambers therebetween, the fixed scroll is made of iron-based material, the orbiting scroll is made of aluminum-based material, at least the plate back surface of the orbiting scroll is subjected to surface processing.
US07699590B2

An oil pump includes a pump cover covering a recess in a side face of a pump body to form a gear compartment therebetween. A drive gear and a rotatably driven gear are meshed and mounted in the gear compartment. Working spaces R are formed by the engagement of the meshed gear teeth. Discharge ports are formed in both the pump body and the pump cover in communication with the gear compartment. A notch is formed in the pump body at the bottom of the gear compartment and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the pump body to the rear end of a discharge area for the working spaces. Another notch is formed in the inner side face of the pump cover, and extends from the front end of the discharge port in the cover to the rear end of the discharge area.
US07699583B2

A cooling microcircuit for use in a turbine engine component is provided. The cooling microcircuit has at least one leg through which a cooling fluid flows. A plurality of cast vortex generators are positioned within the at least one leg to improve the cooling effectiveness of the cooling microcircuit.
US07699582B2

A fan module includes a fan (10), a bracket (20), and a locking member (30). The fan includes a pair of parallel side walls (12) each defining through holes (122) therein. The bracket includes a pair of parallel side plates (26) for securing the fan therebetween. The side plates are perpendicular to the side walls of the fan. A locking hole (262) is defined in one of the side plates. The locking member is sandwiched between the fan and one of the side plates of the bracket, and has a resilient arm (322) and two pairs of resilient posts (326) inserting between the side walls of the fan. A protrusion (3262) is formed on each post and removably engages in the corresponding through holes of each side wall of the fan. A locking tab (3222) protrudes from the resilient arm and detachably engages in the locking hole of the bracket.
US07699573B2

A reticle manipulating device with an at least substantially closed housing for maintaining clean-room conditions inside the housing, an input/output station for introducing and discharging reticles in and out of the housing, and at least one functional unit arranged in the housing for impressing a predetermined function on the reticles. The device has a manipulating device also arranged inside the housing, for manipulating the reticles in the housing.
US07699563B2

Landfills and their methods of operation are disclosed. Through the controlled introduction of septage into a wet cell having a refuse layer, refuse decomposes faster to achieve additional landfill space.
US07699558B2

An anti-ram system and method of construction having a shallow mounted base pad from which extend a plurality of bollards. Very little or only a shallow excavation is required for the base of the bollard system, which can be partially or fully assembled prior to bringing it to the installation site. The shallow mounting pad or base of the bollard system of this invention may be formed or constructed in various ways and of various materials, and in various configurations. The shallow mounting pad or base is constructed so as to have considerable mass.
US07699551B2

Disclosed is a cleaning device with a squirter for squirting liquid forward of a cleaning head. The cleaning head has a nozzle head with a nozzle. A liquid receiving part is provided to extend from beneath an orifice of the nozzle toward a front face of the cleaning head. Liquid dripping from the orifice of the nozzle can be led down an inclined top face of the liquid receiving part to the outside of the cleaning head, preventing the cleaning head from being soiled with a detergent, a wax or the like.
US07699546B2

A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.
US07699536B2

The present invention provides a new releasing mechanism form a cage on the host system for a pluggable optical transceiver. The transceiver includes an optical receptacle, an actuator with a hook that latches with the key hole of the cage, a bail attached so as to rotate in front of the receptacle and a release button. Rotating the bail or pushing the button will bring the seesaw motion of the actuator that disengages the hook with the keyhole and the transceiver is enabled to be extracted from the cage by picking the bail positioned in front of the receptacle.
US07699534B2

A plastic ferrule (1) for optical connecting systems, in which a optical wave guide (3) of an optical fibre (6) is guided through a support element (2), whereby the optical wave guide (3) is surface-conditioned in a partial area (4) in order to bond in a force-actuated way to a hardened casting mass (5) in this partial area (4).
US07699533B2

A back-to-back receptacle and system for providing selective interconnection between a pair of optic fibres. The system comprises a receptacle comprising a pair of back-to-back receptacle sockets, with at least a first of the sockets configured to one of a plurality of predefined receptacle keying geometries, a first connector plug terminating the first optic fibre, the plug adapted for insertion into the first receptacle socket, the plug configured to one of a plurality of predefined connector keying geometries and a second connector plug terminating the second optic fibre, the plug adapted for insertion into a second of the back-to-back receptacle sockets. At least one of the predefined connector keying geometries matches at least one of the predefined receptacle keying geometries. When the receptacle keying geometry of the first receptacle socket corresponds to the connector keying geometry of the first plug and optionally the receptacle geometry of the second of the back-to-back receptacle sockets corresponds to the connector keying geometry of the second plug, the first plug can be inserted in the first socket and the second plug can be inserted in the second socket bringing the first optic fibre into axial alignment with the second optic fibre.
US07699532B2

A bottom bracket assembly for supporting the crank axle of a bicycle includes a bottom bracket and two bases are securely connected to two open ends of the bottom bracket. Each base has a bearing received in a recess defined in an end thereof. Two collars each have a neck which is inserted and engaged with a central hole of the bearing corresponding thereto and each neck has a tapered inner periphery. An axle extends through the two bearings and the two collars. Two positioning rings are positioned between the axle and the tapered inner periphery of the collar. Each positioning ring has a tapered outer periphery which is matched with the tapered inner periphery of the collar corresponding thereto.
US07699525B2

A support arrangement for a machine portal includes a lightweight support structure and a row of base segments supporting at least one guide rail of a linear drive on the support structure. Both the base segments and the guide rail exhibit different thermal expansion behavior from the support structure. The base segments are fixed at a distance from their edges by fixing screws to respective fastening members extending into the support structure. The base segments define at least one step on which they support the guide rail with a positive fit. The guide rail is fixed to the support structure by at least one expansion screw. The support arrangement maintains precise alignment of the guide rail while accommodating differing thermal expansions between the rail, base segments and support structure.
US07699524B2

A utility bag for carrying and distributing a plurality of generally thin promotional sheet materials includes a housing having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and including, in combination, a front panel, a rear panel, a pair of sides panels and a bottom panel, wherein the combination forms an internal compartment open at one end, and wherein the internal compartment is sized to receive such plurality of generally thin promotional sheet materials. A handle or flexible strap is connected to the housing for carrying such bag.
US07699518B2

A prism sheet includes a main body. The main body includes an incident surface, an emitting surface opposite to the incident surface, and a plurality of micro-protrusions formed on the incident surface. Each micro-protrusion includes two side surfaces and an arced ridge of intersection of the two side surfaces. Each side surface is a conical surface of an imaginary cone. The imaginary cone has a conical base whose circumference is defined by the arced ridge. The conical bases defined by the arced ridges of the micro-protrusions are parallel to each other. The present prism sheet and the backlight module using the same can efficiently decrease interference.
US07699515B2

A lighting system is provided having a light source with a housing, an LED engine, a controller, a heat sink, a connection device, and a power cable opening. The LED engine, controller and heat sink can be enclosed by the housing and sealed from atmosphere. The heat sink can be in thermal communication with the LED engine. The controller can be connected to a power cable inserted through the power cable opening. The controller can control at least one of power to the LED engine and a light output generated by the LED engine. A fiber optic cable can be connected to the LED engine by the connection device. The LED engine can communicate the light output through the fiber optic cable.
US07699511B2

A turn lamp includes a base housing; a light source unit incorporated with a light source and housed in the base housing; an inner housing provided with a long and solid light guide; a lens cover that covers the base housing; and a diffused reflection generator that is structured such that light from the light source leaks out long from the light guide.
US07699499B2

The invention provides an automated light-emitting apparatus, which can be disposed in an object, includes a light-emitting unit, a force-sensing module, and a power-generating module. The force-sensing module includes a first component and a second component engaged to the first component. When the object receives an external force, the force-sensing module changes the distance between a first portion of the first component and a second portion of the second component. Moreover, the power-generating module includes a coil coupled to a magnetic member, the magnetic member engaged to the first component, and a magnetic conductor engaged to the second component. Particularly, when the distance between the first portion and the second portion is changed, the coil generates an induced electromotive force for supporting the light-emitting unit with needed power.
US07699498B2

An LED lamp includes a bracket and a heat sink secured to the bracket. The heat sink has a base and a plurality of mounting members and platforms extending upwardly from the base. A plurality of LED modules are mounted on the mounting members and the platforms. A pair of LED modules located beside and adjacent to a central line of the base is disposed slantwise and face inwardly to each other. Another pair of LED modules at two opposite lateral portions of the base of the heat sink is disposed slantwise and face outwards. The LED modules mounted on the platforms face upwardly.
US07699496B2

A structure for attaching a fluorescent tube includes a base, a holder supported by the base, and a pair of contacts. The holder holds an intermediate portion of the fluorescent tube while restraining the fluorescent tube from moving in a radial direction. To the pair of contacts, terminals of a pair of end portions of the fluorescent tube are respectively attachable in an attaching direction corresponding to the radial direction of the fluorescent tube. Each contact includes a pair of elastic pieces facing each other. The pair of elastic pieces have a pair of straight portions extending substantially straight along the attaching direction and facing each other. On the pair of straight portions, a pair of contact portions for clamping the corresponding terminal of the fluorescent tube therebetween are formed.
US07699494B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing a solid state light emitter and driving circuitry integrated into a component module that will retrofit common incandescent light bulb applications.
US07699493B2

A personal light including a battery power source connected in series with a light-emitting diode (LED) light source and a switching mechanism configured for non-contact actuation are disposed within an environmentally sealed chamber. A reflector is employed to maximize reflection of light emanating from the LED and a lens having an anti-reflective coating thereon associated with the LED opposite the reflector to enhance the light output and magnify the narrow beam of the LED. The switch employs an actuation mechanism exterior to the chamber to activate and deactivate the light.
US07699489B2

An in-grade light fixture comprises a light fixture housing arranged to be buried substantially below grade level. The light fixture housing has a light opening substantially at grade level and an optical chamber having a light source arranged within the optical chamber and the optical chamber arranged within the housing with light from the light source passing through the light opening. The fixture further comprises a plurality of housing openings and one or more enclosures, each of which is removably mounted to a respective one of the housing openings. The enclosures accept external power and generate power to energize the light source causing it to emit light. The optical chamber can also comprise an anti-condensation valve and an air passageway between the optical chamber and one of the enclosures form a vacuum in the optical chamber and vacuum during operation.
US07699477B2

An end face of a narrow-diameter end portion is easily disposed at a correct position on an examination object without setting an examination site, thus enabling rapid and straightforward acquisition of an image of the examination site. The invention provides an alignment method for a guiding device which is attached to an end of an objective lens in such a manner as to be capable of positional adjustment in an optical axis direction and which is brought into contact with an examination target to make a focal position of the objective lens coincident with an examination site. The alignment method comprises securing, to an end face of the guiding device, an alignment screen, having a predetermined pattern; relatively moving the objective lens and the guiding device, to which the alignment screen is secured, in the optical axis direction; fixing relative positions of the objective lens and the guiding device at a position where an in-focus image of the pattern of the alignment screen is obtained, or at a position further relatively shifted by a predetermined distance from that position; and removing the alignment screen from the guiding device.
US07699476B2

A system for providing a dynamic audio-visual environment using an eSurface situated in a room environment; a projector situated for projecting images onto the eSurface; a camera situated to picture the room environment; a central processor coupled to the eSurface, the projector and the camera. The processor receives pictures from the camera for detecting the location of the eSurface; and controls the projector to aim its projection beam onto the eSurface. The eSurface is a sheet-like surface having the property of accepting optically projected image when powered, and retaining the projected image after the power is turned off.
US07699470B2

Methods, devices, and systems for predicting an optical acuity measure of an optical system of an eye. An optical acuity measure can be predicted by determining a point spread function based on a wavefront measurement of an eye, convolving a resolution target with the point spread function to produce an image, and predicting the optical acuity measure of the optical system of the eye based on the image.
US07699468B2

A surgical microscope (100) for ophthalmology includes a measuring unit (110) for determining at least one characteristic value of a patient eye (104). The measuring unit (110) is connected to a computer unit (120) which calculates a model of the patient eye (104) based on the determined characteristic variables. The surgical microscope also includes a display device for displaying the calculated model of the patient eye (104) or characteristic variables that are derived from the calculated model.
US07699466B2

A visual training device 1 including: a screen arranged facing a subject H having visual impairment; a line of vision detection unit that detects a line of vision of the subject H and outputs line of vision signals indicating the line of vision; a visual field data storage unit that stores visual field data indicating the visible area AR2 and the area of visual impairment AR1 of the subject H; and a screen control unit 53 that, on the aforementioned screen, moves the visible area AR2 specified based on the aforementioned visual field data in correspondence to the movement of the line of vision of the subject H specified by the aforementioned line of vision signals. The display format of the visible area AR2 or a region including the vicinity thereof, is displayed different from the display format of the other region. By doing this, an attitudinal barrier of the person with visual impairment, the subject, can be removed, and the visual training device can allow easy training to be provided.
US07699452B2

An ink cartridge 1 is detachably connected to a head of a record apparatus and has a container main body 2 having an ink tank chamber 11 opened to the atmosphere in a state in which the head and the cartridge are connected and a first opening 85 through which ink can be injected into the ink tank chamber (second ink storage chamber 16, etc.,). Such an intermediate wall 301 partitioning the ink tank chamber 11 into two space parts 11a and 11b placed side by side in an ink injection direction is disposed in the ink tank chamber 11 and is formed with a through part 301a through which ink can be injected.
US07699447B2

An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly includes a piston and cylinder ink reservoir. The piston has a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder and is piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by the print cartridge.
US07699445B2

A structure of the present invention includes a base plate and a formation unit. The formation unit is bonded and fixed to and retained on the base plate by a first adhesive. The first adhesive is disposed at least in the vicinities of end portions of a peripheral edge of a bonding surface of the formation unit.
US07699442B2

A piezoelectric inkjet printhead includes a manifold, a chamber array including a plurality of chambers in connection with the manifold and arranged along at least one side of the manifold, a vibrating plate to cover the plurality of chambers, and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators formed on the vibrating plate to change pressures of corresponding ones of the plurality of chambers by vibrating the vibrating plate. The plurality of chambers includes a plurality of pressure chambers disposed in a center portion of the chamber array and having corresponding ink ejecting nozzles, and at least two dummy chambers, one disposed on each side of the chamber array and having corresponding dummy nozzles that do not eject ink. A plurality of trenches may be formed in the vibrating plate between each of the piezoelectric actuators.
US07699441B2

A liquid drop ejector includes a substrate and a liquid chamber for receiving a liquid. The liquid chamber is positioned over the substrate and includes a nozzle plate, a chamber wall and a liner layer. The nozzle plate and the chamber wall include an organic material. The liner layer includes an inorganic material. The liner layer is located on the nozzle plate and the chamber wall such that the inorganic material is contactable with the liquid when the liquid is present in the chamber.
US07699434B2

There is provided a liquid droplet discharging device including: a liquid droplet discharging head, for discharging liquid droplets; an opposing member, opposing the liquid droplet discharging head; and a blade, cleaning the opposing member and in contact with the opposing member, a plurality of grooves being formed on the blade, and the grooves having a groove width increasing from a bottom portion thereof to an opening portion thereof, and a groove angle decreasing from the side of the opposing member to the side opposite to the opposing member.
US07699425B2

The present invention provides a printing apparatus which is capable of estimate an amount of remaining ink with high accuracy by using ejection of ink from a printing head while restraining a consumption of ink during the estimation of the remaining ink amount, and also provides a method for estimating an amount of ink. An amount of ink ejected per unit time during the ink ejection for estimation of the remaining ink amount is set to be larger than an amount of ink ejected per unit time during printing.
US07699424B2

There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus having a printhead equipped with printing element row that includes printing elements having a plurality of heat-producing resistance elements. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing unit which senses the temperature of the printhead, a temperature distribution storage unit in which a temperature distribution along the printing element row, a temperature gradient calculating unit which calculates the temperature gradient of the printing element row from the temperature of the printhead sensed by the temperature sensing units, a predicting unit which predicts the temperature of each printing element using the temperature gradient and the temperature distribution along the printing element row, and a control unit which applies discharge pulses, which are decided based upon the predicted temperature from the predicting unit, to each of the printing elements.
US07699416B2

A printing device includes: a conveying unit; a printing unit; a detecting unit; a partial printing unit; a reverse conveying unit; a printing state detecting unit; and a restoration process executing unit. The conveying unit conveys a recording medium in a conveying direction to a prescribed printing position. The printing unit is capable of printing an image based on inputted print data on the recording medium conveyed to the printing position. The detecting unit is capable of detecting the recording medium on an upstream side of the printing position of the printing unit with respect to the conveying direction. The partial printing unit controls the printing unit to execute a printing operation based on at least part of the inputted print data when print data is inputted. The reverse conveying unit conveys the recording medium in an opposite direction to the conveying direction so that a printing region printed by the partial printing unit is in a detection position at which the detecting unit can detect at least part of the printing region. The printing state detecting unit controls the detecting unit to detect a printing state in the printing region conveyed to the detection position of the detecting unit by the reverse conveying unit. The restoration process executing unit executes a process to restore the printing state when the printing state detecting unit detects that the printing state in the printing region is unsatisfactory.
US07699415B2

A drawer slide locating system includes an outer rail having a bracket at its front end, an inner rail, and a bearing carrier disposed between the inner rail and the outer rail. The bracket contains a locking piece toward the bearing carrier. Two wings extend from both sides of the locking piece to define a leverage axis. A slot is disposed on the outer rail. The locking piece having one lower end adapted with a hooking portion and another end being held against by the bearing carrier. The hooking portion raises to hold against the bottom of the bearing carrier and secure the bearing carrier in place.
US07699408B2

The system and method for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, such as an aircraft brake, an aircraft tire, a standby system, and landing gear. One or more sensors are provided for sensing a parameter of usage, and an estimate of usage of the part can be determined based upon the signal indicating the sensed value of the parameter of usage of the aircraft part. A plurality of sensors can be provided for sensing usage of a plurality of parts of the aircraft, and the estimate of usage of the part can be stored for access of the estimate by ground personnel. As applied to monitoring wear of an aircraft brake, a linear brake wear indicator attached to the brake moves a discrete distance when the brake is actuated, and a linear position encoder measures the distance traveled by the linear brake wear indicator as an indication of brake usage. A wheel speed monitor may also be provided for measuring the aircraft wheel speed, for distinguishing between static brake applications and moving brake applications, based upon the wheel speed signal.
US07699406B1

A system for actuating brakes in a towed vehicle in response to actuation of brakes in a towing vehicle comprising a cylinder including an inner cylindrical wall attached to a brake pedal in the towed vehicle and an outer cylindrical wall attached to the firewall in the towed vehicle. An air line supplies positive airflow from the towing vehicle to the cylinder and to a venturi to create a vacuum in response to the airflow. The vacuum is supplied to a brake booster in the towed vehicle while the airflow is supplied to the air cylinder to move the brake pedal in the towed vehicle in proportion to the amount of braking is the towing vehicle.
US07699393B2

A child restraint seat which changes the position of the occupant and dissipates kinetic energy during a collision. An exemplary embodiment rearward-facing child restraint seat shifts the occupant to translate forward and/or move from a relatively reclined position to a relatively upright position during a vehicular collision. Additionally, some of the kinetic energy of the occupant is dissipated through the use of an energy absorbing element, which limits loading on the occupant.
US07699391B2

This relates to a bicycle saddle of the type that presents two identical portions (1, 1′) longitudinally symmetrical. Thanks to its special conformation, said saddle permits the cyclist to avoid the occurrence of pathologies normally caused by the use of a racing saddle of commonly known types, eliminating the crushing of the vascular structure of the perineum, as well as the testicles of male cyclists and the clitoris of female cyclists. The special geometry permits a pedaling action without causing friction of the thigh muscles, in particular the delicate and adducent muscles.
US07699383B2

A pedestrian protection apparatus for a vehicle, including a plate member which is disposed at a front face of the vehicle, which includes front and rear portions, and which is fixed at the rear portion to the vehicle with at least a leading end part of the front portion protruded from the front face of the vehicle, the apparatus being arranged to sweep a leg portion of a pedestrian, thereby protecting the leg portion, wherein the leading end part includes at least one horizontally extending portion and a plurality of vertically extending portions each having an anterior surface substantially orthogonal to a horizontal plane, the horizontally extending portion and the vertically extending portions being formed integrally with the leading end part so as to be alternately disposed in the frontward and backward direction of the vehicle and extend in a staircase-like form.
US07699375B2

The invention relates to a glove compartment (3) for a motor vehicle. In order to provide a glove compartment of such a kind that allows the driver better access, the invention proposes that the glove compartment (3) have a pivotal mounting by means of which the glove compartment (3) can be pivoted towards the driver's side of the motor vehicle.
US07699369B1

A hood scoop decoration kit includes a bezel trim member having a concave shape with first and second ends extending in a common direction from a center section thereof. The bezel trim member is attached to an exterior surface of a hood scoop adjacent a forward facing end thereof. A planar mesh member, having a trapezoidal shape, is attached to a forward facing end of a hood scoop. The kit includes an attachment device for securing the bezel trim and planar mesh members to the hood scoop. In one embodiment, an adhesive material is applied to the concave surface of the bezel trim member and to an edge of the mesh member to provide attachment of these members to the hood scoop. The adhesive material includes a fluid adhesive and/or a tape having opposed adhesive sides. Alternatively, mechanical fasteners are employed for securing the decorative members to the hood scoop.
US07699368B2

A hose manipulator according to the present invention includes an elongate shaft having upper and lower ends and extending between about 3 feet and about 5 feet in length. The hose manipulator also includes a handle at the shaft upper end, the handle having a portion extending generally perpendicular to the shaft. A hook is positioned at the shaft lower end and extends between about 150 degrees and about 180 degrees and includes a diameter between about 3 inches and about 6 inches. The hook and the perpendicular handle portion are generally coplanar.
US07699365B2

A sash lock for a sash window assembly where the sash window assembly includes an upper sash window and a lower sash window, each of the sash windows being mounted within opposed guide rails on a master frame wherein at least one of the sash windows is slidable within the frame relative to the other sash window. The sash lock has a housing for mounting on a stile of one of the sash windows and a keeper for mounting on a stile of a second sash of the window. The housing has a locking assembly comprising an actuator and a catch. The actuator is adapted to move the catch. The catch is adapted to engage and disengage a keeper as the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position. The movement of the catch from a first position to a second position causes an indicator in the housing to signal whether the locking assembly of the sash lock is in locking position.
US07699361B2

A tubular joint in which radial expansion caused by the passage of an expander, inclined shoulder fittings formed respectively on a peripheral surface of the female element facing radially inwards and on a peripheral surface of the male element facing radially outwards, are subjected to a relative axial displacement towards each other to be urged into sealed mutual contact with radial interference. The tubular joint is, for example, useful in hydrocarbon wells.
US07699348B2

A method and an apparatus are provided for enabling a safe and secure environment for a pet traveling in a vehicle during a collision or sudden breaking of the vehicle by using a seat belt system to flexibly restrain the pet with a safety restrainer or a detachable safety belt. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first seat belt prong that latches into a first seat belt buckle. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap removably couplable to a body portion of the pet. The restraint assembly may be positionable about the body of the pet and the restrain strap positionable between a pair of fore legs and a pair of hind legs of the pet. The restraint strap may include a first strap end and a second strap end being releasably couplable to each other such that the restraint strap forms a loop having a hole when the first and second strap ends are releasably coupled together. The safety restrainer may further comprise a harness coupled to the restraint assembly. The harness may be releasably couplable to the seat belt of the vehicle for flexibly restraining the pet. The harness may include a first harness end and a second harness end, wherein the first harness end having a second seat belt buckle for releasably coupling to the first seat belt prong and the second harness end having a second seat belt prong for releasably coupling to the first seat belt buckle.
US07699345B2

The invention concerns a cover for a motor vehicle steering column (10), said motor vehicle comprising an instrument panel (12), said steering column (10) comprising a fixed portion (16) and a mobile portion (18), said fixed portion (16) being mounted in fixed position through said instrument panel (12), while said mobile part (18) is mounted sliding on the fixed part (16), said cover including a shell (14) for covering the steering column (10), said shell being adapted to be mounted secured in translation to the mobile portion (18), said cover further comprising means for guiding in translation (22, 24). The invention is characterized in that said guiding means (22, 24) are adapted to be installed between said fixed portion (16) and said shell (14) to guide said shell (14) in translation relative to said fixed portion (16).
US07699333B2

In a saddle tube for a bicycle frame, especially a racing bicycle frame, the bottom bracket end (22) of the saddle tube is wider in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (24) of the frame than in the longitudinal direction (24) of the frame. According to the invention, the saddle tube (18) has a flat portion (32) at the chain ring side.
US07699323B2

In one embodiment, an iceboard includes a plank having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side. One or more supports are coupled to the first side of the plank and, one or more blades are coupled to the one or more supports, the blades operable to glide across an icy surface. The iceboard further includes a piece of frictional material coupled to the second side of the plank and operable to provide traction relative to the plank. The iceboard further includes a brake coupled to the first side of the plank adjacent a first end of the plank. In particular embodiments, the brake is operable to abrasively scrape the icy surface when applied to the icy surface.
US07699320B2

A seal device includes a first seal portion, a second seal portion, and a joint base, wherein the first seal portion has a first elastic portion with a flat side surface at one side of a first bight portion and a second elastic portion at the other side of the first bight portion. The second seal portion has a first symmetrical elastic portion with a flat side surface at one side of a second bight portion and a second symmetrical elastic portion at the other side of the second bight portion. A first seal face is disposed on a first outmost circumferential surface of the first elastic portion, and a second seal face is disposed on a second outmost circumferential surface of the first symmetrical elastic portion.
US07699314B2

A method for hosting and playing a lottery game using nostalgic game themes. The lottery game, in one embodiment emulating Pac-Man®, comprises a player selecting a path on a grid, and a lottery populating the path with numbers either generated randomly or selected by the player. The lottery also randomly places few ghosts on the same grid. A set of player indicia is determined by the numbers on the path before the path intercept with one or more ghosts. The set of player indicia is then compared with a set of winning indicia and the player receives a prize depending on the number of matches between the player indicia and winning indicia.
US07699313B2

A paper sheet stacking apparatus comprises a conveying device which has first and second conveying members, wherein take-out ends of the second conveying members are positioned on a more upstream side in a paper sheet conveying direction than a take-out end of the first conveying member, and after a paper sheet is taken out from the second conveying members, the paper sheet is conveyed by only the first conveying member, an impeller which introduces the paper sheet conveyed by only the first conveying member into between vanes thereof to guide the paper sheet in a predetermined direction, and then discharges the paper sheet, and a stack housing which stacks the paper sheets discharged from the impeller.
US07699309B2

A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.
US07699307B2

A medium delivery apparatus, includes: a medium insertion portion; a medium delivery port; first and second medium guide surfaces; a feed roller; a first pressing member; a second pressing member; a rotating member; an urging member, configured to give an urging force acting in a first rotation direction to the rotating member to rotate the second pressing member toward the protruding position; an elastic member, configured to cause the second pressing member and the rotating member to abut against each other; and a stationary abutting portion, against which the rotating member abuts when the first pressing member is placed in the vicinity of the waiting position.
US07699302B2

A sheet handling apparatus comprises: a stacking mechanism to stack sheets of one or more printable media as a sheaf; a sheet conveyance mechanism to transport the sheaf to a respective position; a stapling mechanism to perform a stapling operation with respect to the sheaf; and a plurality of sheet regulating mechanisms disposed at positions spaced from each other along a sheet conveyance path, each sheet regulating mechanism being operable to align ends of the sheets in the sheaf according to a sheet conveyance direction. An image forming apparatus comprises such a sheet handling apparatus and an image forming device to form respective images upon the sheets and to provide the sheets to the sheet handling apparatus.
US07699289B2

A valve (13a) is described comprising: a housing (50) having a fluid inlet for (54) receiving a flow of compressed fluid and a fluid outlet (55); a flow duct (60) movably mounted with respect to the housing, the duct (62) having a fluid inlet (62) for receiving a flow of compressed fluid and a fluid outlet (65), the fluid outlet being positioned around at least a part of the circumference of the duct and being dimensioned to provide a different flow rate at different sections or positions around the circumference of the duct; the fluid outlet of the housing being alignable with a portion of the fluid outlet of the duct to provide a flow rate related to the relative position of the portion of the fluid outlet of the duct and the fluid outlet of the housing; and, a drive element (70) for moving, e.g. rotating, the duct with respect to the housing such that a desired portion of the fluid outlet of the duct aligns with the fluid outlet of the housing. The valve may operate as a so-called throttle valve. It is an advantage that the valve is quickly movable into a desired relative position in order to regulate fluid flow through the valve. The valve is designed to have a long operational lifetime as, even if the outer surface of the duct wears, the outlet will not substantially change in size and the throttling effect will remain substantially the same.
US07699287B2

Support device (1) for a container enclosing a pneumatic life raft, comprising a support plate (2) and means (3) for stowing the container on the plate which comprises two separate bases (4) located opposite one another, in line with one another and at a distance from one another; the stowing means being able to comprise a rigid bar (5) of variable length extending from one base to the other by spanning the container with one end (6) articulated in rotation (11, 12) on a base (4a) and its other end (7) which may be fixed by releasable fixing means to the other base (4b); blocking means (8) blocking the container transversely to the bar; said support device may support containers of various dimensions.
US07699286B2

A label holder is provided for mounting on a shelf channel. The label holder includes a front panel, a back panel connected to the front panel with a common bottom edge with a cavity there between. The label holder also has a protective flange along a top edge of the back panel and a shelf clip portion separated from the back panel by a common top edge. The shelf clip portion includes an upward retaining flange for engaging the shelf and includes a downward angled engaging portion terminating in a catch flange and a curved resilient hinge portion that is configured to encompass the catch flange and terminate in an upward flange. The shelf clip portion provides resilient clamping onto the shelf. The catch flange is configured to engage a lower shelf channel flange as the curved resilient hinge wraps an arcuate channel of the shelf.
US07699285B2

An external mirror mounting system for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having a mounting reinforcement attached to an inner surface, and an extended outer belt reinforcement which is mounted with stand off structures to the mounting reinforcement, so that a box section is constituted for supporting a mirror attached to the outer surface of the outer panel.
US07699276B2

A support post and safety fence assembly in which the post has a telescoping inner and outer tube and is supported on a threaded internal shaft coupled to a floor engaging end and ceiling engaging end preferably formed with claws that have a number of sharp penetrating points for firm engagement with a support surface. In one embodiment, a gravity lock assembly is provided for fixing the relative position of the inner and outer tubes. Dynamic adjustability of the support post is provided by internal compression springs.
US07699272B2

A railroad switching indicator apparatus for use with a point detector bar, and a point locking rod which cooperatively locks with a locking bar. First and second point detector bar receptors generate first and second signals indicating the first and second terminal movements of the point detector bar. At the same time, a point lock rod receptor generates another signal indicating the locking of the locking bar with the point locking rod.
US07699268B2

A sling release mechanism for releasing the sling of a drogue parachute from a descending aerially delivered cargo pallet. The sling release mechanism has a body, with which a pivot arm, an inner and an outer hinge plate articulate. The inner and outer hinge plates articulate in opposite directions when in use. The inner hinge plate has a cavity or receiver into which the end tip of the pivot arm may engage. The end of a parachute sling is placed over the pivot arm, and the pivot arm and inner hinge plate are articulated to engage the pivot pin end with the receiver of the inner hinge plate. The outer hinge plate is then articulated to engage the inner hinge plate, and is held in place with a releasable retainer. The parachute sling is released by releasing the retainer, allowing the outer and then the inner hinge plates to articulate, thereby releasing the pivot arm to articulate, after which the end of the parachute sling slides off the pivot pin. Other embodiments include multiple mechanisms for releasing a plurality of slings.
US07699259B2

An apparatus for dispensing and tensioning wire from a coil, the apparatus comprising a frame (1) for attaching to a vehicle, means (19) for mounting at least one coil of wire for rotation, a lever arm member (21) pivotally mounted with respect to the frame and having a guide (27, 29) co-operable with the wire in use, and a play-out path for the wire defined between an abutment (13) of the frame and an abutment (33) carried by the lever arm member, the lever arm having a first operative position in which the respective abutments are spaced apart to allow play-out of the wire around said guide, and the lever arm having a second operative position in which it is moveable pivotably about said pivot point to cause wire to be trapped between the respective abutments.
US07699256B2

[Object] It is intended to provide a spool capable of winding and retaining a thread-like substance without causing a winding curling.[Solving Means] This spool 11 has a base plate 14, thread retaining members 15 and 16, and auxiliary plates 17 and 18. The base plate 14 is made from a resin, paper, or the like and in the form of an elongated rectangle. The base plate 14 is folded at a central portion 21. The thread retaining members 15 and 16 are provided on opposite ends of the base plate 14. The auxiliary plates 17 and 18 are fixed to the thread retaining members 15 and 16 to form flanges. Ends of the auxiliary plates 17 and 18 are fixed to the base plate 14.
US07699252B2

A grinder includes a body, which has a holding room in a bottom portion thereof; the grinder includes a rotating operational component on an upper end of the body, and a grinding mechanism in an upper portion of the holding room; the rotating operational component and the grinding mechanism are coupled by means of a transmission rod; the bottom portion of the grinder body has several outlet holes on a peripheral side for the holding room to communicate with an outside; a stopping board is secured over a lower end of the holding room of the grinder body so as to seal up the lower end of the holding room; the user is allowed to tilt the grinder to make ground seasoning fall out through the outlet holes; seasoning won't fall out of the holding room to dirty the table even if the grinder is subjected to external force accidentally.
US07699251B2

The present invention is a device for cutting solid medications, whether in the form of capsules, tablets or pills. When cutting capsules, the capsules are retained to be divided by a first blade. Tablets and other forms of the medication are retained by pill stabilizers and cut by a second blade. The device also may have a pill crusher and a section to hold whole or divided medications.
US07699246B2

In a supply system fluids are supplied separated from each other to a delivery head through chambers (1, 3, 5) formed in a single supply line. In the delivery head a fluid mixture is produced and delivered to the outside in the form of mist. It is possible to deliver different fluids or fluid mixtures within individual cycles by a control.
US07699242B2

An injector has a lift limiting member provided by a single plate member. The plate member has a stopper face, multiple hole sections, a flow passage hole, and a spring seat face. An axial end face of a needle head section of a needle contacts the stopper face when the needle lifts by a predetermined amount. Transmitting sections of a pressurizing piston are loosely inserted in the hole sections. High pressure fuel can pass through the flow passage hole. The spring seat face receives an end portion of a spring that biases the needle in a valve closing direction. The lift limiting member limits a valve opening lift position of the needle, so a stable injection quantity is obtained. Thus, a surface area of the single plate member can be used in multiple functions.
US07699240B1

A multiple liquid and solids dispenser apparatus and method includes a solids dispenser for holding and dispensing solids. A liquid dispenser is connected to the solids dispenser and the liquid dispenser contains more than one liquid and is positioned so as to dispense the more than one liquid on the solid or not on the solid as desired.
US07699236B2

A method and apparatus for creating and detecting an optically encoded document having a uniquely designed document verification indicator is disclosed. One embodiment includes applying a spatially varying Brewster angle pattern on a substrate. Another embodiment includes an apparatus for detecting the spatially varying Brewster angle pattern including a light source, a slit aperture, a polarizer, at least one parabolic mirror, and an image capturing device.
US07699224B2

The invention relates to a device (10) comprising a housing wherein a communication station is accommodated, said communication station comprising an inner antenna (12), wherein the housing comprises a wall (14) which has a transversal outer communication surface (16) which is generally vertical and which is fitted close to the inner antenna (12) and which is permeable in relation to electromagnetic waves, wherein the inner antenna (12) can communicate electromagnetically (E) in a remote manner with a data medium (18), more particularly in the form of a card, when a user places the data medium (18) against the outer communication surface (16), characterized in that the communication surface (16) comprises means (22) for maintaining the data medium (18) in a pressed position in relation to the communication surface (16).
US07699222B2

A supply information management system comprises a reader/writer for writing process information on each of the processes to an IC tag and reading information out from the IC tag, the reader/writer being provided for a station for performing each of processes to supply a diaper product with an IC tag, and a host computer for receiving the information from the reader/writer. In the host computer, a product database which is a set of data elements each associating a serial number of an IC tag with process information thereof is stored and updated on the basis of the information from the reader/writer. The supply information management system makes it possible to specify an individual diaper product and perform a proper and easy management of information on supply of diaper products.
US07699214B2

A carton includes a pivoting recloseable lid that is easy to open and recluse. The recloseable lid includes a breachable closure aperture section that can be adapted to receive a portion of a bag or other flexible container accommodated within the carton. When the lid is opened, the contents of the flexible container can be dispensed.
US07699207B1

An internal ring assembly for welding backup against internal hoops of pipes or tanks has a chain assembly of diverse cells. A majority of the cells include a tile of conductive metal for abutting inside walls across a seam of two sections of pipe or tank to be welded, as well as a cell of a roller chain assembly comprising either both a pin-link and roller-link construction or alternatively a pair of mosaic-link constructions. In either case, one of such link constructions is anchored to the tile and the other extends free of the tile for linking with another cell of the chain assembly. In contrast, a minority of the cells are arranged to produce an expansion force on the chain assembly as a whole in order that the chain assembly expansively forces itself tightly against the inside seam of the pipe or tank sections.
US07699199B2

A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.
US07699193B2

The invention relates to a self-closing valve for the dispensing of flowable media from a container comprising a curved membrane, a support segment, a connecting wall as well as a slitting provided in said membrane.
US07699190B2

An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.
US07699185B2

A multi-compartment liner bag is disposed within a receptacle and includes a first compartment having a height that is greater than that of the receptacle and a volume that is at least about equal to that of the receptacle. A second bag compartment is attached to and folds to the side of the first compartment when placed in the receptacle and has an entry folded over the receptacle top to form at least a visual seal to the compartment contents. Indicia means, which may be either visual or tactile, are provided along the second compartment entry to allow easy location of the compartment entry.
US07699182B2

The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels from each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base. The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.
US07699176B2

A tool box includes a cover pivotably connected to a base, at least one torsion spring is located between the cover and the base to maintain the cover at opened status when in use. A magnetic member is connected to an inside of the cover so that the user can position the spare bits by the magnetic member. A plurality of storage racks are pivotably connected to the base so as to receive bits and tools, the storage racks are cooperated with torsion springs so that when the cover is opened, the storage racks are pivoted an angle.
US07699174B2

An inventory control system, comprising a blister pack having a pierceable sheet that includes a plurality of printed circuits overlying each of the compartments of the blister pack. The printed circuits are in electrical communication with a connector assembly, the connector assembly being in electrical communication with a removable header. The header is in communication with a microprocessor controlled device having a memory; wherein the microprocessor controlled device determines the contents of the blister pack. The blister pack and connector assembly are removed from the substantially fixed header so the contents can be distributed. As the contents are distributed from the blister pack, the printed circuits are broken. When the connector assembly is reattached to the blister pack, electrical signals transmitted through the connector assembly and the blister pack determines the number of broken circuits, indicative of the contents of the blister pack. The connector assembly is a reusable device that includes a board that provides for electrical communication between the header and the blister pack and also facilitates assembly and removal of the connector to the header.
US07699172B2

A two position stacking delivery tray is provided which is capable of stacking with itself, and also stacking with existing single position stacking delivery trays. A single uneven upstanding tongue is positioned along a top edge of each of a first side wall and a second side wall. The uneven upstanding tongue defines a first engagement with peaks and valleys. Tongue receivers are positioned in the bottom defining an uneven groove adapted to mate with a single upstanding tongue of an underlying tray having a single stacking product height position. The uneven groove defines a second engagement with peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys of the first engagement and the second engagement are asymmetrically positioned, so as to provide two stacking product height positions by relative rotation of stacking trays by 180 degrees.
US07699165B2

An organizer system comprising: (A) an organizer folder having front and back covers, optionally at least one page positioned between the front and back covers and at least one of the following components associated with at least one surface of the front or back covers or the at least one page: (1) a planner having planning diagram associated with the at least one surface, and at least one object that is repositionable on the planning diagram; or (2) at least one pocket for storing materials; (B) a self-standing folder holder having a receptacle for receiving at least one folder in a stored configuration; and (C) a carrier having a receptacle for receiving at least one holder in a stored configuration and a handle for grasping by the user. The organizer folder can be used with the organizer system, or separate from the organizer system, and can comprise: (1) a front cover; (2) a back cover; (3) optionally at least one page positioned between the front and back covers; (4) a planner associated with at least one side of the front cover, the back cover or the at least one page, and comprising a planning diagram associated with the at least one side, and optionally at least one object that is repositionable on the planning diagram, or at least one erasable writing surface; and (5) at least one pocket for storing materials associated with at least one side of the front cover, the back cover or the at least one page.
US07699164B2

The carrier has a vertical support structure, a pair of foldable receptacles extending from opposite sides of said vertical support structure. The receptacles have automatically unfolding bottom walls. Each receptacle has at least one divider member extending upwardly and laterally from the upper edge of one side-wall of each receptacle to a reinforcing panel secured to said vertical support structure. The dividers and reinforcing panels are formed in a foldable blank from a single sheet of material and need no gluing to secure them to the carrier structure.
US07699144B2

An active break release device externally attached to a door controller. The door controller includes a housing for receiving a first motor which rotates a rotary shaft to reel the door; a braking device installed around the periphery of the rotary shaft. The active break release device comprises: at least a brake releasing rod, one end of which is to activate the braking device while the other end of which extends to the outside of the door controller; at least a second motor, for moving the other end of the brake releasing rod; a circuit having a backup power source used to temperately supply electricity to the second motor if electricity fails, so that the one end releases the braking.
US07699143B2

In a method for setting the floor associations of a plurality of operating units of an elevator installation, a plurality of operating units is distributed over a plurality of floors. These floors can be traveled to by an elevator car having a transmitter unit. In the method, the elevator car is moved to a predetermined one of the floors. The operating unit allocated to the moved-to floor is activated. The position data describing the floor at which the operating unit is located are communicated from the transmitter unit to the operating unit and/or to a central control unit. The position data are stored in a memory unit of the operating unit and/or in the central control unit.
US07699141B2

The invention is a device mounted on a forklift to provide the operator with information of the distance from the pallet load to the upright part of the fork/tines. The invention has a source of a range determining signal such as sonic waves but other signals such as infra red or radar waves may be used. The emitted signals hit the palletized goods and are reflected to a detector or sensor and processed. The range information is transferred to a distance display device. The range/distance between the upright part of forklift tines and the palletized load combined with knowledge of the length of floor parallel tines of the forks will provide information to prevent any excessive penetration of the pallet hollow which excessive penetration can cause damage to either truck trailer walls, warehouse structures, or other palletized loads.
US07699126B2

A drill bit for drilling a borehole includes a cutter element comprising a base portion. In addition, the cutter element comprises a cutting portion extending from the base portion and terminating in an elongate crest extending between a first crest end and a second crest end, and having an intermediate portion therebetween. The first crest end has a width W1 and the second end has a width W2 that is greater than the width W1. Still further, the intermediate portion of the crest has a width W3 that is less than the width W2 and less than or equal to the width W1.
US07699123B2

A bore hole sleeve reaming apparatus which is characterized by one or more subterranean bore clearing devices or sleeves for use with one or more clearing or bursting heads attached to a pull rod or cable and a pulling apparatus. One or more tapered sleeves are attached in spaced-apart relationship to a string of tandem-mounted plastic pipe when the clearing or bursting head or heads are attached to the pipe string to be pulled through the bore hole. The tapered sleeves are designed to straighten bore irregularities and clean, smooth and free the bore hole from collapsing earth, roots and/or rock and broken pipe and facilitate pulling the pipe string through the bore hole with minimum friction on the pipe string. The clearing sleeve elements are sequentially pulled through the bore hole with the clearing or bursting head(s) and pipe string from an entry pit using a pull rod or cable and a pulling apparatus is seated in a corresponding exit pit spaced from the entry pit and receives the opposite end of the pull rod or cable. A method for clearing and cleaning a subterranean pilot bore or tunnel is also disclosed.
US07699121B2

A system for coupling a pipe segment to a pipe string is provided that includes a top drive assembly having a threaded output shaft; and a pipe running tool threadingly coupled to the threaded output shaft of the top drive assembly such that the primary load of the pipe running tool is supported by the threads of the output shaft of the top drive assembly, and wherein the pipe running tool is rotatable by the output shaft and further includes a pipe engaging portion for grippingly engaging the pipe segment sufficient to transmit a torque from the top drive output shaft to the pipe segment.
US07699120B2

A downhole tool includes a tubular body having an upper connection and a lower connection and an axial borehole therethrough, wherein the upper and lower connections are configured to connect to a drilling assembly. The downhole tool further includes at least one expandable component coupled to the tubular body and configured to selectively extend radially therefrom and an actuation mechanism configured to selectively extend the at least one component in response to a change in a circulating fluid pressure in the axial borehole.
US07699117B2

A nondestructive retrofit fire sprinkler protection system including a sprinkler fitting with a unique shape that inserts behind a wall surface and that securely connects a sprinkler head emerging from a wall location to preferably concealed sprinkler piping located in a room at a point where the ceiling surface meets a wall surfaces. In addition, a room coupler fitting is adapted to be inserted between wall structures to connect sprinkler piping in adjacent rooms.
US07699112B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods of forming a lateral wellbore wherein the monobore characteristic is maintained. In one embodiment, a method of completing a lateral wellbore comprises inserting a first tubular into a main wellbore; forming one or more oversized portions on the first tubular; and intersecting the lateral wellbore with the main wellbore. The method further includes inserting a second tubular into the lateral wellbore, wherein a portion of the second tubular is positioned adjacent the one or more oversized portions and expanding the portion of the second tubular adjacent the one or more oversized portions.
US07699099B2

A Christmas tree is used between production tubing elevation and flow line elevation. The tree has a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion. The intermediate portion is positioned between the production tubing elevation and the flow line elevation and has an axial dimension configured to substantially maintain the axial dimension between the elevations. The intermediate portion has first and second shut-off valves for closing fluid communication of the axial bore. A hanger is positioned in the axial bore of the intermediate portion between the first and second shut-off valves. The hanger defines a bore and a port. The port communicates a side of the hanger with the lower end of the hanger. The coil tubing attaches to the port at the lower end of the hanger, and the port at the side of the hanger communicates with the feed line of the intermediate portion.
US07699097B2

A mover stabilizing and stator cooling arrangement includes an upper sleeve surrounding the mover of the linear motor, a lower sleeve, a thermoconducting sleeve surrounding the stator and axially connected between the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The arrangement further includes a thermal grease filled in the space defined between the upper sleeve and the mover, the space defined between the thermoconducting sleeve and the stator, and the space defined between the lower sleeve and the outer tube for quick dissipation of waste heat. A stabilizer ring is set between the upper sleeve and the mover to stabilize axial movement of the mover. A piston and multiple one-way valve sets are mounted in the space between the lower sleeve and the outer tube for allowing adjustment of the volume in the thermoconducting sleeve responsive to expansion/contraction of the thermal grease due to temperature changes.
US07699090B2

A disengageable master carrier assembly for a motor driven drapery is provided, having a master carrier block section and a locking block section. The locking block section has entrance ramps and a detent pocket sized to receive an engagement member mounted to the master carrier block section. The master carrier block assembly has a support arm for supporting a leading edge of drapery fabric, the support arm being supported by a first resilient member. The engagement member is sized for fitting into the detent pocket of the locking block member and is resiliently urged by a second resilient member disposed between a movable portion of the support arm and the engagement member such that the engagement member will be displaced into its engaged position in the detent pocket when the engagement member is aligned with the detent pocket and will be moved to its disengaged position when the support arm is moved to its disengaged position.
US07699082B2

An electric multi-pencil sharpener includes an entering pencil vase, a sending mechanism, a hustling mechanism, a sharpening mechanism, and an exit pencil vase. The entering pencil vase includes a pushing mechanism for pushing pencils. The hustling mechanism is for clamping pencils to take the pencils into or out of the sharpening mechanism. The sharpening mechanism is for sharpening the pencils. The exit pencil vase has an exit mechanism. The sending mechanism connects the pushing mechanism, the hustling mechanism, and the exit mechanism, to move the pencils from the pushing mechanism to the hustling mechanism and move the pencils sharpened by the sharpening mechanism to the exit mechanism.
US07699080B2

An apparatus for distributing a medium to containers may include a distribution chamber which is arranged with respect to a rotation axis and which has a plurality of openings through which the medium can be guided out of the distribution chamber. A sleeve may be arranged on the distribution chamber, wherein the sleeve extends in the direction of the rotation axis of the distribution chamber. According to the invention, the apparatus has a supply tube for supplying the medium to the distribution chamber. Furthermore, the supply tube extends at least partially in the direction of the rotation axis of the distribution chamber, and the sleeve is designed such that it can rotate with respect to the supply tube. A gap through which the medium can pass is formed between the sleeve and the supply tube and extends in a circumferential direction around the rotation axis.
US07699076B2

A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
US07699068B2

An improved tent covers a hammock suspended from a pair of upright members by suspending means at each end of the hammock. The tent is formed from top and bottom portions that interact to provide a tent opening that prevents the entry of atmospheric precipitation when the tent opening is open. The tent also provides improved visibility from inside the tent, by enabling a horizontal field of view.
US07699065B2

A concrete wash-out bin includes a primary receptacle having a rim positioned at an elevation that exceeds the elevation of a discharge port of certain items of concrete-handling equipment. An auxiliary receptacle is positioned in leading relation to the primary receptacle and is hingedly mounted to the primary receptacle. The auxiliary receptacle has a position of repose where it is horizontally disposed at an elevation lower than the discharge port of the concrete-handling equipment and a discharge position where it is disposed in elevated and angled relation to the position of repose. The discharge position is effective to discharge the contents of the auxiliary receptacle into the primary receptacle. The auxiliary receptacle is repeatedly lifted and lowered as needed until the concrete-handling equipment is free of residual concrete or until the primary bin is full.
US07699038B2

The invention concerns a method for controlling the opening of an internal combustion engine throttle valve body assembly, characterized in that it includes the following steps: specifically mapping the engine, limiting the opening angle of the throttle valve body assembly, and defining particular operating points requiring replacement of the usual mapping by the specific mapping.
US07699035B1

A compression release assembly is disclosed, the assembly including a camshaft rotatable about a camshaft axis, a trigger rotatable about a trigger axis substantially perpendicular to the camshaft axis, and a spring position between the trigger and the camshaft. Preferably, the trigger is rotated from an engagement position toward a disengagement position when a rotational velocity of the camshaft achieves a known value, and is rotated from the disengagement position toward the engagement position when the rotational velocity of the camshaft is below the known value.
US07699032B2

With a camshaft for an automotive internal combustion engine in particular, having two concentrically arranged shafts mounted to rotate in opposite directions, namely an inside shaft (3) and an outside shaft (4), at least one single cam (1) fixedly connected to the inside shaft (3) by a pin (5) passing radially through the outside shaft (4) and passing radially through the outside shaft (4), a bearing of the pin (5) in the respective pin receptacles (6), each running radially, in the cam and the inside shaft (3), a lateral projection as the receptacle (6) on the cams (1), a space-saving design of the at least one adjustable single cam should be achieved. To this end, various space-saving pin receptacle designs are proposed. A space-saving measure is also provided with respect to an arrangement of an adjustable cam in close proximity to a cam fixedly connected to the outside shaft by adjustment of the shaft of the neighboring cam to the pin receptacle of the adjustable single cam.
US07699023B2

Embodiments as described herein provide an apparatus and a method for performing an atomic layer deposition process. In one embodiment, a deposition chamber assembly contains a substrate support having a substrate receiving surface, and a chamber lid containing a tapered passageway extending from a central portion of the chamber lid, and a bottom surface extending from the passageway to a peripheral portion of the chamber lid, the bottom surface shaped and sized to substantially cover the substrate receiving surface. The system also includes one or more valves coupled to the gradually expanding channel, and one or more gas sources coupled to each valve. In one example, the gas source is a gas box assembly which is attached to the deposition chamber by at least one disconnect fitting and contains an inlet tube directed away from the gas outlet.
US07699022B2

The invention relates to equipment for area-based surface treatment of an article by electric dielectric barrier discharge in the presence of a non-atmospheric controlled gaseous mixture, comprising a hollow metal electrode enabling the gaseous mixture to circulate therewithin and the mixture to be transported to a discharge area, whereby said electrode is divided into individual elements which can each be pivoted about a central axis to ensure sufficient distance between the element which is considered as being pivoted and the area of the article opposite the element in question so that the discharge cannot develop; the central pivoting axis is used as a channel for the circulation of the gaseous mixture inside the electrode and is provided with openings enabling the gaseous mixture to be evacuated to the discharge area; pivoting one of the elements of the electrodes blocks up the evacuating opening associated therewith and the gaseous mixture can only be evacuated via the evacuating openings of non-pivoted elements.
US07699013B1

A water uptake device for directing water flow into a moving boat that allows the volume and pressure of the water flow entering the device to be adjusted from full force to no flow at all by simple adjustment of how much of its scooping member protrudes beyond its through-hull fitting into the water stream. Water enters the device through an opening in its deployable scooping member, and operator positioning of the scooping member relative to the through-hull fitting, including complete withdrawal of the scoop into the distal end of the through-hull fitting, is remotely accomplished so that the operator can remain at the helm. Multiple devices can be used on the same marine vessel, with all devices mounted on the bottom of its hull, in a standard fashion for through-hull fittings mounted below the waterline. Applications may include the filling of ballast bags for the sport of wakeboarding.
US07699005B2

The invention relates to an ammunition arrangement. The ammunition arrangement comprises at least two active parts (2, 3), each with its own active charge (4, 6), arranged axially one behind the other. In order to make large holes in walls and the like without problems of great weight, the second active charge (6) is designed to act essentially in the radial direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the active charge.
US07698997B2

An improved processing method and system for producing tomato paste and other food products affected by viscosity. Tomatoes are processed into tomato juice. The juice is provided to a decanter that separates or fractionates the juice into two portions—a thicker, more viscous cake portion and a thinner, less viscous serum portion. The serum portion is concentrated by removing a portion of water using an evaporator such as a thin film or juice evaporator. The cake portion can be concentrated if necessary with a drier. The serum and cake portions are re-combined to produce a tomato paste having improved color, texture, flavor and nutrition.
US07698992B2

The present invention provides a multi-function coffee maker, comprising at least two brewing accessories including an espresso coffee brewing accessory and a drip coffee brewing accessory, which are interchangeable and each can be loaded within said brewing room of said cover assembly to form an individual brewing chamber. Said multi-function coffee maker further comprises a control circuit including a detection circuit for the brewing accessory. By a water distributor assembly and said control circuit, water flow of suitable pressure is provided into said brewing chamber and the brewing accessory in use is detected automatically so as to initiate a corresponding work mode according to desire.
US07698984B2

A ballistic projectile resistant barrier apparatus combines the advantages provided by both high hardness material barriers and multiple laminate layer barriers. An outer tier of the barrier is comprised of a plurality of interconnected hard tiles. Each of the tiles has an outer, front surface designed that, upon impact by a ballistic projectile, the projectile is immediately deflected from its initial path. Subsequent tiers of the barrier are comprised of layers of a flexible material interspersed with layers of a ballistic liquid or at least one layer of ballistic fiber. When tiles are impacted by a projectile, the impacted tile is pushed into the laminate layers of the barrier, thereby substantially multiplying the area of the barrier that resists the impact force of the projectile as the projectile enters the barrier.
US07698977B2

An apparatus for providing groups of shingled slices comprises a jump conveyor and a slicing machine. The slicing machine includes a slicing blade. The jump conveyor includes a first slice receiving section and a second slice receiving section, the first slice receiving section having a first slice receiving surface, and the second slice receiving section having a second slice receiving surface. The jump conveyor is located adjacent the slicing blade so that the first slice receiving surface receives slices cut by the slicing blade directly. The first slice receiving section is articulated with respect to the second slice receiving section to be articulatingly movable relative to the second slice receiving section to vary the angular orientation of the first slice receiving surface.
US07698968B2

In a wave gear device provided with a cup-shaped flexible external gear, the difference in the direction of the thrust force applied to the wave generator during speed reduction or speed increase is used to reduce the input-side holding torque. During speed reduction, thrust force F1 is applied to the wave generator in the direction toward the open side of the flexible external gear, and during speed increase, thrust force F2 is applied in the opposite direction. The plug of the wave generator is pressed against the friction plate mounted on the motor housing by the thrust force F2 applied during speed increase, and the friction force that is produced is used as part of the input-side holding torque for restraining the wave generator from rotating.
US07698965B2

The invention relates to a transmission device for a motor vehicle comprising a plurality of connecting elements that are mounted in an axially movable manner and are each provided with a shift mouthpiece and comprising an actuating device having a control shaft that is mounted in a swiveling and axially movable manner, on which is provided a main control element and at least one secondary control element, the at least one secondary control element having functional regions for a movement in the same direction as well as functional regions for movement in the opposite direction, the at least one secondary control element extending in its neutral position essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the connecting elements, and, with respect to this neutral position on the secondary control element and on at least one shift mouthpiece, the particular functional regions for the movement in the same direction being designed with a bent shape and being axially symmetric to the particular, likewise bent functional regions for the movement in the opposite direction, and specifically with respect to a plane that is defined by the axis of rotation of the control shaft and the direction of movement of the connecting element.
US07698956B2

A Coriolis flow meter (11) with a vibrating direction restriction means includes flow tubes (13, 13), a drive means (14) for driving the flow tubes (13, 13), and phase difference detection means (15, 15) for detecting a phase difference in proportion to a Coriolis force. The Coriolis flow meter further includes plate springs (16, 16) functioning as vibrating direction restriction means, and a flow tube fixing member (17) also functioning as a vibrating direction restriction means and serving to fix the flow tubes (13, 13) in position.
US07698954B2

A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable flowtube, and a driver connected to the flowtube that is operable to impart motion to the flowtube. A sensor is connected to the flowtube and is operable to sense the motion of the flowtube and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to determine an individual flow rate of each phase within a multi-phase flow through the flowtube.
US07698949B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting and monitoring bolted joints of metallic and composite structures for defects such as delamination and fatigue cracking are provided that incorporate ultrasonic transducers with load bearing washers. These active washers may be used for inspecting and monitoring a structure beneath such load bearing fasteners as bolts and nuts. Active washers may be used for continuous, periodic, and controlled inspections of bolted joints. Ultrasonic transducers may be permanently applied to a surface of a washer or recessed in a cavity on a surface of the washer. Inspection signals may be transmitted from ultrasonic transducers into a structure and reflected in pulse-echo application or received by another active washer on the opposing side of the structure in a through-transmission application.
US07698944B2

Even in measurement in which the measurement time is limited to a short time, soundness of a spot weld zone can be evaluated with high reliability without being influenced by a positional deviation between an ultrasonic probe and the spot weld zone and the coupling condition between an ultrasonic probe and a metal sheet. Specifically, ultrasonic waves propagating along the surface of a test object are transmitted in a plurality of directions from a plurality of wave sending positions outside the spot weld zone in metal sheets (1a, 1b), and ultrasonic waves propagating along the surface of the test object with propagation paths not including the spot weld zone and ultrasonic waves propagating along the surface of the test object with propagation paths including the spot weld zone are received at a plurality of wave receiving positions outside the spot weld zone to evaluate the soundness of the spot weld zone.
US07698940B2

A device for determining and/or monitoring the fill level of a medium in a container, including: a first conductive element; a second conductive element; and a sealing ceramic. The sealing ceramic being arranged in a region between the two conductive elements, for the purpose of process separation. A first seal, which is provided between the first conductive element and the sealing ceramic, a second seal, which is provided between the sealing ceramic and the second conductive element, and a control/evaluation unit, which determines the fill level of the medium in the container on the basis of a capacitance measurement or on the basis of a measuring of travel time of measurement signals are also included.
US07698938B2

To provide a flowmeter producing stable measurement results and coincidentally achieving miniaturization, a bent portion is provided in a flow path located between an inlet port of fluids to the flowmeter and a second flow path at which a sensor detecting a flow rate is positioned, thus forming at a sensor an almost uniform flow-velocity distribution in cross-section of the fluids and a reproducible and constant flow-velocity distribution.
US07698934B2

A procedure specifically for the execution of a diagnosis of an emission treatment system is being introduced. The pressure of the reagent between the first and second valve and/or between the second valve and the injector valve is measured and the pressure measuring signal are the basis of the diagnosis. The first and second valve, are opened in an alternating cycle, where the opening time, and/or the period duration of the first and second valves are set in such a way that the emerging diagnostic flow volume is smaller than the measuring flow volume. The procedures pursuant to the invention thereby reduce the influence of dynamic precursors of the reagent flow in the reagent line and enables, aside from an increase in reliability of the diagnosis results, a diagnosis possibility of small leakages.
US07698930B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for characterizing flow of magneto-rheological suspensions through microchannels. The apparatus includes a pump for pumping a the magneto-rheological suspension; a microchannel hydraulically coupled to the pump and configured to receive the magneto-rheological suspension from the pump; a manifold hydraulically coupled between an outlet of the microchannel and the pump; a static pressure tap configured to convey a static pressure of the manifold; a pressure sensor hydraulically coupled to the pressure tap and configured to receive the static pressure conveyed therefrom; and a magnet positioned to direct a magnetic field toward the microchannel and contents disposed therein.
US07698921B2

A cylinder and key combination including a pin operated cylinder including a cylinder body, a plug rotatable within the cylinder body and defining a keyway and first pin assemblies and at least one second pin assembly communicating with the keyway and being selectably positionable by key cuts on a key inserted into the keyway for positioning the pin assemblies with respect to a shear line between the cylinder body and the plug to permit rotation of the plug with respect to the cylinder body and a key, including a shank defining at least one planar surface configured to define a longitudinally extending key-cut region thereon, the longitudinally extending region having formed thereon a plurality of first key cuts configured to position a plurality of first pins at a desired shear line position and having pre-formed thereon at least one second key cut configured to position a corresponding at least one second pin assembly at a desired shear line position.
US07698916B2

A lock with a core rotatable in an intermediate shell that is rotatable in an outer shell of the lock's body resists attack by the application of excessive torque to the keyway or drilling into the core.
US07698915B2

A locking device includes a first and second body members that may optionally include laterally projecting arms. A retainer element has end portions respectively received in the interiors of the first and second body members and mechanically links them for longitudinal movement between collapsed and expanded orientations. The retainer element also moves between a retain position and a release position that respectively secure the body members in the collapsed orientation and allows them to move to the expanded orientation. A lock core is operative to engage the retainer element. In a locked state, the lock core holds the retainer element in the retain position and in an unlocked state that moves the retainer element to the release position. A shackle may extend between arms on the first and second body members in order to enclose a locking region when the bodies are in the collapsed orientation.
US07698901B2

A refrigerator icemaker assembly includes a bin having a bottom wall, as well as first and second pairs of opposing side walls. One of the first pair of opposing side walls includes an opening within which is movably mounted a coupler. The coupler is provided with a recessed portion having formed therein an aperture and a cog member. An auger is rotatably mounted in the bin and includes a first end portion that extends through the aperture of the coupler. A drive member extends into the coupler and drives the auger in a first direction to dispense ice cubes and in a second direction to dispense crushed ice. The driver engages with the cog member when being rotated in the first direction and directly engages the first end of the auger when being driven in the second direction.
US07698900B2

An ice making device having a water supply unit for controlling a water supply to an ice making unit, including: a water pipe connected to a water supply source; and a valve member so disposed as to open and shut off the water pipe. The valve member is so disposed as to be controlled in opening and shutting off by a control switch. The water pipe may be so mounted as to be connected to a water supply source outside of a refrigerator, or may be so mounted as to be connected to a water supply tank attachably and detachably equipped inside the refrigerator.
US07698896B2

An eductor assembly is provided that includes a primary nozzle, a cooler plenum, and a surge plenum. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the primary nozzle is configured to accelerate and discharge turbine exhaust gas therefrom and the cooler plenum surrounds the primary nozzle and includes at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The surge plenum partially surrounds the primary nozzle and the cooler plenum and includes at least a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The surge plenum fluid outlet axially aligns and is coterminous with the cooler plenum fluid outlet.
US07698887B2

An apparatus comprises an emissions trap and a loading determination device. The emissions trap is configured to trap emissions present in exhaust gas and comprises a first local region and a second local region. The loading determination device is configured to determine emissions loading of the first local region and emissions loading of the second local region. An associated method is disclosed.
US07698881B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a control assembly and method of manufacturing a walk-behind mower having a transmission and an engine electrically connected to an operator presence switch. The control assembly can include a left drive lever and a right drive lever. The control assembly can also include a left control member and a right control member each coupled to the transmission. The control assembly can further include a left operator presence lever and a right operator presence lever coupled to the operator presence switch. The operator presence switch can allow the engine to operate when either the left operator presence lever is moved toward the left drive lever or the right operator presence lever is moved toward the right drive lever.
US07698880B2

A coin wrapping machine includes a discrimination unit which detects images of the front face and rear face of coins during conveyance, and which discriminates the coins, a sorting unit which sorts the coins to one of a first side and a second side based on the discrimination results of the discrimination unit, a stacking unit which stacks the coins sorted to the first side by this sorting unit into columnar form with a prescribed number of coins, a wrapping unit which wraps stack of coins in columnar form, and a controller which controls the sorting unit based on the discrimination results so that at least one of an outside face of a coin at one end of the stack of coins and a second outside face of a coin at the other end of the stack of coins is the rear face.
US07698872B2

Disclosed herein is a portable panel having numerous favorable characteristics. The panel comprises a core having a length, a width, a first side and a second side. A first fiber layer is attached to the first side while a second fiber layer is attached to the second side. A first polyurethane layer is impregnated in the first fiber layer while a second polyurethane layer is impregnated into the second fiber layer. A first skin is attached to the first polyurethane layer while a second skin is attached to the second polyurethane layer. The panel can be used in the manufacture of tables, flooring, risers, stages, bleachers, and the like.
US07698871B2

A closure frame includes at least one end rail, at least one side rail and a corner joint between ends of the corner and side rails. The corner joint includes a rail insert secured within a first of the rails. A threaded fastener is secured against rotation within the insert and extends from an open end of the first rail into a second of the rails. A nut is disposed within the second rail in threaded engagement with the end of the fastener and clamps the second rail against the open end of the first rail. The corner joint preferably is a butt joint, and a pair of rail inserts preferably are disposed within the end of the first rail so that a pair of threaded fasteners extend into the second rail and are engaged by associated nuts in the second rail. A washer plate preferably is disposed in the second rail beneath the nuts, and a gasket preferably is disposed between the second rail and the open end of the first rail to seal the corner joint.
US07698864B2

A polymer siding panel for mounting on a wall surface that in one embodiment includes at least two horizontal adjacent sections and a plurality of decorative elements integrally formed with the said panel and disposed in at least one row. The panel may also include an upwardly facing channel formed on a rear side of the siding panel opposite the front face; and at least two splicing members. The splicing members may be transparent or translucent and manufactured from a polymer that is the same or different than the polymer of the siding panel, and one of the splicing members may be welded to and joining the sections to one another. The other splicing member can be welded to one of the sections at a side edge opposite the side edge adjoining the other section. The other splicing member may extend beyond the respective side edge.
US07698860B2

An Emergency Isolation and Treatment Shelter (EITS) deck system is constructed from a multiple of deck unit modules. Each deck unit module includes four adjustable leg assemblies attachable together by a lower truss between each leg assembly so as to support a deck surface panel. The size of the deck unit module defines the modularity of the EITS. Each leg assembly includes a primary leg, an intermediate leg, and a screw foot each in telescopic relationship. Each leg assembly may be telescoped independently to provide a level deck surface irrespective of the underlying terrain.
US07698855B2

A opening control apparatus for a sliding door of a vehicle, includes a driving source, a clutch arranged to connect the driving source and the sliding door in an engaged state and to disconnect the driving source and the sliding door in a disengaged state, and a control section. The control section brings the clutch from the disengaged state to the engaged state when a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from a stop position to a position in one of an opening direction and a closing direction reaches a first predetermined distance and then a measured distance of movement of the sliding door from the position in the one of the opening and closing directions reaches a second predetermined distance, and drives the sliding door to move in the one of the opening and closing directions by the driving source.
US07698846B2

The invention presented in this work creates the possibility of a portable gun—revolver, pistol, carbine, riffle or hand-machine gun, to recognize its owner, in progressive levels of handling safety. Three levels of handling safety are established based on the evaluation of the grip force or its effect through material deformation or strain gage measurement. The first level of handling safety does not allow persons with grip force bellow a given limit, to shoot with a gun. The second level of handling safety enables the portable gun to recognize an individual as belonging to a smaller group than the first level. Now, the gun will only recognize for a successful firing an individual whose grip force, measured by one strain gage, fit into a small operational range, established and stored at the moment of acquisition by the owner. The third level of handling safety enables a portable gun to recognize an individual, as belonging to an even smaller group than in the second level. In practice this group is unitary and is composed by the person that grasped the handle to establish the average local grip forces, measured by six strain gages, at the acquisition moment.
US07698839B1

Molded polymer elevator buckets are reinforced by tapering the thickness of front and sidewalls and integral arcuate corner parts to improve bucket life without significant weight increase or reduced bucket capacity. Front lip wear indicators may be molded into the front wall section delimited by the lip and/or on the arcuate corner parts.
US07698835B2

A stability device that increases foot security on the footbed of a shoe, provides lateral or medial stability, shock dampening, and optimizes flexibility. The stability device includes a resilient bladder insert having a horizontal sole portion underneath a wearer's foot, and a foot portion positioned along a lateral or medial side edge of a wearer's foot. The sole portion and the foot portion are in fluid communication. The stability device can be generally L-shaped to cradle a portion of the foot. The stability device can also include a plurality of finger-shaped elements that encircle the top of the foot and expand down onto the foot due to an increase in fluid pressure therein.
US07698828B2

A safety rule includes a rule body, which has a stop flange protruded from and extending along one long side thereof, a protective plate, which has one long side pivotally coupled to the rule body so that the protective plate can be set in a collapsed position and closely attached to the top surface of the rule body when the safety rule is not in use or lifted from the rule body to a lifted position for protecting the user's hand to avoid accidental hand injury when the safety rule is used to guide a cutter in cutting a sheet member.
US07698826B2

A surveying type target has a precisely located aperture that achieves tolerances, within +/−0.0005 inch, in the assembly and usage of a retro-reflective photogrammetry target for use with close range industrial photogrammetry. The dot the target may also be refurbished and reconditioned in the field under all weather conditions. This target has a precisely machined ring that fits into a precisely machined socket of a body to eliminate assembly irregularities. This target precisely locates the ring upon the body forming a finished target with a known centerline and height location within +/−0.0005 inch tolerance.
US07698819B2

A shaving apparatus includes at least one cutting unit having an inner cutter rotationally drivable with respect to an outer cutter by driving shaft of a driving device. The driving shaft exerts a prestress force on the inner cutter in the direction of the outer cutter. During cutting of a hair, the hair exerts a cutting force on the inner cutter directed opposite the driving force. The driving shaft bears axially on the outer cutter via at least one driving surface of a coupling element which is rotationally drivable. The inner cutter includes at least one driven surface for cooperating with the driving surface for exerting the driving force. The direction of the driving force is substantially perpendicular to the driving surface and the driven surface.
US07698816B2

A method of defining a new pinion for use with a given face gear set. Tooth geometry of the new pinion is generated by a plane taking the given face gear set as reference and maintaining true conjugate actions among the original pinion, the face gear, the new pinion and the generating plane. This method makes it possible to eliminate adapter gears for applications requiring different shaft settings and/or ratios than those of the given gear set.
US07698814B2

A method for linearizing potentiometric sensors is provided, the method can include the steps of: insertion in a measurement and/or processing station of a potentiometric sensor provided with a resistive track; application of a defined voltage and/or of a defined current across the resistive track; placement of a number of sensing elements composed of metallic contacts distributed at uniform intervals over the length of the resistive track; acquisition of the individual measured values of the sensing elements and determination of the curve of the resistance of the resistive track, and linearization of the resistance of the resistive track by means of sequential adjustment of the resistance of the resistive track. A means for marking the contact points of the sensing elements is placed on the resistive track prior to the placement of the sensing elements, and then the sensing elements are placed on the means, and the means are removed once the contact points of the sensing elements have been marked, and the position of the contact points of the sensing elements is taken into account in determining the curve of the resistance of the resistive track.
US07698811B2

An exemplary inner substrate for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards is provided. The inner substrate has a number of substrate units and a number of transverse folding portions alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction of the inner substrate. Each of the substrate units is configured for forming a unitary printed circuit board. Each of the folding portions is interconnected between neighboring substrate units. Each of the folding portions defines at least one line weakness perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the inner substrate for facilitating folding and unfolding the neighboring substrate units to each other. An exemplary method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards using the inner substrate is also provided. The method can improve efficiency of manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards.
US07698808B2

A substrate is prepared that includes substrate segments arranged in series in the X and Y directions. The substrate segments are respectively provided with circuit patterns on its one side and electrodes on the other side. Sets of IC devices including bobbins are mounted on the sides with the circuit patterns of the respective substrates. A conductor is wound around the bobbins successively to form the windings. Portions of the conductor extending between the adjacent windings are pressed against and connected to the circuit patterns to form leading and trailing ends of the windings connected to the circuit patterns. Thereafter, the substrate is severed to provide surface-mount coil packages each comprising the circuit board and the set of IC devices including the coil.
US07698790B2

A reusable slider stop member has a solid body shaped to fit over a tooth element in a slide fastener assembly. The solid body has a central through channel defined by a pair of parallel prongs which fit over a tooth element. Each prong has an internal shoulder that engages a portion of the tooth element to retain the stop in place. The stop may be removed without damaging the stop or the tooth element, thus permitting easy repair of slide fastener assembly components. The stop is installed by aligning the channel at a right angle to the axis of the array of tooth elements, pressing the stop partially onto the tooth element, twisting the stop into alignment with the array and pressing the stop fully onto the tooth element to engage the internal shoulder of the stop with the tooth element.
US07698781B2

A drapery arrangement includes a drapery fabric, a sliding track, and a plurality of sliding wheels. Each of the sliding wheels includes a sliding hanger, a wheel seat, a central connecting shaft, and a plurality of sliding elements. The wheel seat, having a rotating groove, is adapted to fittedly receive in a toggle cavity of the sliding hanger, wherein the wheel seat has a through connecting channel extended along a radial direction thereof. The central connecting shaft penetrates though the connecting channel enhancing a structural rigidity of the respective sliding wheel, and evenly distributing a load imposed on the sliding wheel. The plurality of sliding elements is rotatably received in the rotating groove for running on a circular sidewall of the toggle cavity, wherein the sliding wheel is slidably mounted on the sliding track for sliding therealong.
US07698773B2

A holder for hygienic wipes and the like includes triangular-shaped a base member that is suitable sized and shaped for securing a wiping sheet thereto. An adjustable handle is removably attached to the base member. The base member is also configured as a wedge for allowing a user to comfortably position the apparatus between the buttocks. Gripping members are positioned on the base member bottom surface on either side thereof for securing the wiping sheet to the top surface of the base member. Each gripping member includes raised teeth for securing the wipe in place. The handle is substantially cylindrically-shaped and is telescopically extendable, allowing the apparatus to be used by larger individuals. The handle is hingedly connected to the base member, enabling the user to angle the base member for optimal contact and comfort.
US07698769B2

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.
US07698767B2

One embodiment of the present patent application is a device, comprising a first piece and a second piece. The first piece includes a stirring spoon, a bottle opener, and a corkscrew. The corkscrew has a corkscrew base. The second piece includes a removable cover that attaches to the corkscrew base to cover the corkscrew.
US07698761B2

An adjustable bed includes a stationary seat deck board and independently movable front and rear carriages powered by linear actuators supported by a stationary base. A head deck board is hingedly secured to the front carriage and moves with it. Leg and foot deck boards hingedly joined together are supported by the rear carriage and move with it. Additional linear actuators move the head deck board and leg deck boards between horizontal and inclined positions independently.
US07703141B2

Various embodiments provide methods and systems that utilize a protocol which enables media content protection by establishing a secure communication channel and, in some embodiments, a secure data channel, between a device such as a computing device running a protected content playback application, and a downstream component such as an associated driver, such as a graphics driver, of an associated display device such as a monitor, flat panel LCD, television and the like.
US07703134B2

A wireless home entertainment system consistent with certain embodiments has at least one server having at least one manipulable authentication element thereon, wherein the manipulable authentication element is not a general purpose data entry element. At least one component is in wireless communication with the server. A User Interface is used for selecting an authenticated component to be de-authenticated. A person can cause the server to regard an authenticated component as being de-authenticated by manipulating the authentication element while a component to be de-authenticated is selected using the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07703130B2

Systems and methods are provided for authentication by combining a Reverse Turing Test (RTT) with password-based user authentication protocols to provide improved resistance to brute force attacks. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for user authentication, the method including receiving a username/password pair associated with a user; requesting one or more responses to a first Reverse Turing Test (RTT); and granting access to the user if a valid response to the first RTT is received and the username/password pair is valid.
US07703127B2

A system and method are presented for authorizing execution of requested actions transmitted between clients and servers of a data processing system. The method includes receiving a message including a set of actions and simulating execution of the set of actions. A list representing allowable actions and user-definable inputs to the simulated actions is defined. The list of allowable actions and user-definable inputs to the allowable action is then compared to user-requested actions and inputs. When elements within the user-requested actions and inputs are included in the allowable actions and input list, the user-requested actions and inputs are authorized for execution.
US07703126B2

A method that includes initiating a network access request from an access requester on a platform that couples to a network, the network access request made to a policy decision point for the network. The method also includes establishing a secure communication channel over a communication link between the policy decision point and a policy enforcement point on the platform. Another secure communication channel is established over another communication link. The other communication link is between at least the policy enforcement point and a manageability engine resident on the platform. The manageability engine forwards posture information associated with the access requester via the other secure communication channel. The posture information is then forwarded to the policy decision point via the secure communication channel between the policy enforcement point and the policy decision point. The policy decision point indicates what access the access requester can obtain to the network based on a comparison of the posture information to one or more network administrative policies.
US07703122B2

Provides methods and apparatus to reduce effects on playback of moving picture data caused by variations in data transmission rate that occur on a communication line, a receiving and playing back apparatus includes a receiver for receiving moving picture data transmitted over a communication line; playback modules for playing back the received moving picture data; buffer B for temporarily storing the moving picture data received by the receiver and outputting the stored moving picture data at a desired speed; and buffer A for providing the playback modules with moving picture data required for playback processing.
US07703112B2

An image output system configured of information terminals, each of which includes an identification information storage unit which stores identification information for identifying each of the information terminals and a transmission unit which transmits the identification information, and an image output apparatus which includes: an identification information receiving unit which receives the identification information transmitted by each of the information terminals; an output unit which obtains image information which is information for outputting images, and outputs images based on the obtained image information; a judgment unit which judges whether or not plural pieces of identification received by the identification information receiving unit satisfy a predetermined condition; and an output control unit which controls the output unit based on the judgment made by the judgment unit.
US07703105B1

A method of trapping a logout event includes receiving an HTTP request, checking if a URI of the HTTP request matches an entry in a first map, looking for an entry in a second map, checking for a logout parameter in a list of request query parameters, checking for a logout parameter in a header of the HTTP request, checking for a logout parameter in a body of the HTTP request, and triggering a logout event when the first of the entries or parameters if found. The method can be extended to call a logout handler and can be used in a wide range of web-based computing environments and in particular with policy/web/j2ee agents.
US07703104B1

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media of enrolling conferees to receive conferencing services. Methods to achieve the foregoing can comprise: receiving a request from the conference call host to enroll in conferencing services; receiving data representing a unique identifier relating to the conference call host; providing data representing access information to the enrolled conference call host, wherein the given conference call host can request access to a given conference call using the access information; and configuring a component of a system related to supporting the conference call to connect the conference call host directly to the conference call in response to recognition of the access information of and the unique identifier in a communication from the conference call host.
US07703093B2

A method is disclosed for a system including at least one process management computer and a number of field devices, whereby status and control signals are transmitted between at least some of the field devices and the process management computer using a TCP/IP protocol over a communication channel, preferably a radio connection and/or the Internet. A process management system includes a process management computer with a web-server, a client computer with an Internet browser and a number of sensors and actuators. The process management system may preferably be operated by way of the Internet, using the client computer.
US07703091B1

An agent installer operates to install an agent on a plurality of host computer systems using a bulk automated installation process that identifies at least one agent to be installed on a plurality of host computer systems and performs prerequisite checking of each of the plurality of host computer systems to determine which host computer systems of the plurality of host computer system are capable of supporting operation of the at least one agent. For each host computer system of the plurality of host computer systems that is capable of supporting operation of the at least one agent, the agent installer performs an automated bulk agent installation operation to install the at least one agent on that host computer system.
US07703088B2

Selected regions of native instructions translated in a DBT environment from non-native instructions are compressed based on the independent compression of different fields of selected instructions using compression tables to reduce a length of selected fields. The regions of compressed instructions are stored and de-compressed into the native instructions during subsequent execution using de-compression tables. Specifically, for native instructions of a selected region, selected types of opcodes and/or operands may be compressed independently. The types may be selected by profiling the opcodes using benchmark programs and creating an opcode conversion table prior to compression, and scanning of the operands and creating an operand conversion table during compression of the opcodes.
US07703086B2

An integrated circuit card includes a storage device to store one or more code files and one or more data files, and control logic. The control logic implements an ICC runtime environment that executes an applet in response to a command identifying both a code file and a data file received from a host system.
US07703061B2

A method, system and program product to model an IC design to include dimensions such as a local width and spacing of IC shapes in a consistent fashion. In particular, the invention uses a core portion of Voronoi diagrams to partition edges of a shape into intervals and assigns at least one dimension to each interval such as a local width and spacing. Dimension assignment can be made as any desirable definition set for width and spacing, e.g., numerical values or continuous dimension-dependent design rules. Design rule checking for dimension-dependent spacing rules given in any arbitrary functional form of width and spacing is possible. Application of the invention can be made anywhere the width and spacing of VLSI shapes play a role, e.g., relative to a single edge, neighboring edges, neighboring shapes, and/or for edges in more than one layer of the IC design.
US07703060B2

Stitched integrated circuit (IC) chip layout methods, systems and program products are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining from a first entity a circuit design for an IC chip layout that exceeds a size of a photolithography tool field at a second entity, wherein the IC chip layout includes for at least one stitched region of a plurality of stitched regions: a boundary identification identifying a boundary of the at least one stitched region at which stitching occurs and a type indicator indicating whether the at least one stitched region is one of: redundant and unique; dissecting the IC chip layout into stitched regions indicated as unique or redundant at the second entity; and generating a photolithographic reticle at the second entity based on the plurality of stitched regions, the photolithographic reticle having a size that fits within the size of the photolithographic tool field at the second entity.
US07703045B1

A system that interacts with objects in a user interface of a computer system. During operation, the system receives a selection of an object displayed within the user interface from a user, wherein the selected object contains a plurality of sub objects. In response to the selection, the system determines whether the user is moving the selected object with a specified motion. If so, the system performs a transformation on the selected object, wherein the transformation is associated with the specified motion.
US07703042B2

An interface for a medical record database allows multiple different applications to be opened accessing the records of a common and/or different patients. For those applications accessing the records of a common patient, a visual indication is provided indicating whether or not records of the same patient are being accessed to prevent the user from mistakenly comparing the records of different patients.
US07703035B1

A method, system, and apparatus for entering alpha-numeric and non-alpha numeric data without the use of a keyboard input device are provided. According to one method, a grid is displayed on a display screen that includes one or more alpha-numeric characters. Distinguishing characters are displayed adjacent to each alpha-numeric character. In response to receiving a selection within the grid, a determination is made as to whether the selected location contains an alpha-numeric character and, if so, a further determination is made as to whether a distinguishing character is present on two sides of the selected location. If a distinguishing character is present on two sides of the selected location, then the character located at the selected location is entered into a keyboard buffer as if a keyboard input device had been utilized to type the character. The grid may also include character strings corresponding to non-alphanumeric keystrokes that may be selected and entered into the keyboard buffer in a similar manner.
US07703030B2

In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a plurality of ratings provided for an item by a plurality of users, and, for each of the plurality of ratings, graphically illustrating relevance of a corresponding rating to an information recipient.
US07703024B2

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for a remote Graphical User Interface (GUI). In an embodiment, a local computing system requests access to a remote computing system. In response, the remote computing system provides connection information to identify an appropriate GUI for accessing the remote computing system. The local computing system forwards the connection information to another local computing system to obtain the identified GUI. In one embodiment, the local computing system automatically downloads the GUI and accesses the remote computing system with the GUI.
US07703008B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for registry driven transformation of a document exchanged between businesses or applications. More particularly, it relates to systems and protocols for using one or more commonly accessible registries to transform electronic commerce documents among dissimilar interfaces, preferably XML documents. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US07703007B2

Data presented in a hierarchical format is rendered in a form allowing the data to be imported into a spreadsheet document where the data can be modified and new data can be added. A data file containing the hierarchically formatted data is selected for importing. A mapping relating a plurality of elements within the hierarchical data to a plurality of respective locations in the spreadsheet document is accessed. The hierarchical data is rendered in the spreadsheet document according to the mapping. Input is received to modify the hierarchical data rendered in the spreadsheet document. The mapping is updated to include the modifications to the hierarchical data. The modifications to the hierarchical data and the updated mapping are exported for subsequent rendering in a second spreadsheet document according to the updated mapping.
US07703000B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the contextual mark-up of formatted electronic documents. These systems and methods have many applications, including use for online editing and education.
US07702996B2

In a multimedia contents converting apparatus configured to convert input multimedia contents to be displayed with a predetermined size, including text media and the other media, into output multimedia contents to be displayed with a size smaller than the predetermined size, a spatiotemporal layout information setting processing unit sets a display time of the text media included in layout information on the basis of a display time of the text media calculated in a text display time calculation processing unit, and sets a playing time of the other media included in the layout information on the basis of the display time of the text media set as the layout information.
US07702993B2

A data recording method for an optical disk drive is implemented by the following steps. First, one or more data blocks are encoded and recorded sequentially, and it detects if a buffer under run occurs. If a buffer under run occurs, the recording does not stop immediately until at least the main data of the data block being currently recorded have been recorded completely. Afterwards, it restarts to encode and record from the data block next to the data block where the recording stops. Moreover, the recording also can stops if a servo error is detected, and the data restart to encode and record from the data block where the recording stops or at least one data block preceding the data block where the recording stops.
US07702985B2

A received RF signal can include data information intended for transmission over a wireless communication link. The data information of the signal can be processed at a node to produce overhead bits supporting a serial transmission of the data information over a communication medium to another node. For example, the data information of the received signal and overhead bits can be combined or framed according to a serial transport protocol for transmission over the communication medium. This technique of mapping or framing the data information into a serial transport protocol is used to more efficiently transmit the data over the communication medium to a target receiver, where the original RF signal can be reconstructed.
US07702982B2

The invention provides a testing system and method suitable for determining whether a pin-out of an electrical component is properly connected to a PCB. The testing system includes a testing signal source, a signal detector, a signal processor, an analysis unit and an integrated circuit having boundary-scan test function to provide testing signals to the device under test (DUT) whose signal traces are passing through inner layer of PCB in order to detect whether the sensed signal is an error signal.
US07702970B2

An apparatus and method for reading written symbols by deinterleaving to decode a written encoder packet in a receiver for a mobile communication system supporting turbo coding and interleaving, such that a turbo-coded/interleaved encoder packet has a bit shift value m, an up-limit value J and a remainder R, and a stream of symbols of the encoder packet is written in order of column to row. The apparatus and method perform the operations of generating an interim address by bit reversal order (BRO) assuming that the remainder R is 0 for the received symbols; calculating an address compensation factor for compensating the interim address in consideration of a column formed with the remainder; and generating a read address by adding the interim address and the address compensation factor for a decoding-required symbol, and reading a symbol written in the generated read address.
US07702969B2

The method allows to obtain, starting from an initial S-random interleaver permutation, stored in memory devices and having a spread S, a size K and a degree of parallelism M
US07702964B2

Techniques for performing data tracing in an integrated circuit with multiple embedded memories are described. A trace module within the integrated circuit forms packets of trace data for memory accesses of the multiple memories. The trace module includes multiple data capture units (one for each memory) and a trace stream generator. Each data capture unit includes a register, a comparator, an address compressor, a data compressor, and a packetizer. The register stores an address for a prior memory access of the associated memory. The comparator compares an address for a current memory access against the address stored in the register. The address and data compressors perform address and data compression, respectively, for the current memory access. The packetizer forms a packet of trace data for the current memory access. The trace stream generator generates a stream containing trace data packets from all data capture units.
US07702960B2

User input defines transmission filter rules to be met when sending an error report to a support provider. User input also defines collection filter rules to be met when including failure data within an error report. Error reports corresponding to crash failures at clients are filtered with the transmission filter rules to determine which of the error reports to send to the support provider, and each error report to be sent to the support provider is further filtered to remove any failure data that fails to satisfy the collection filter rules. Each error report that satisfies the transmission filter rules, along with the failure data satisfying the collection filter rules, is sent to the support provider for analysis. Standard and or custom failure responses corresponding to the failures at the clients may be retrieved and sent to the clients in accordance with the collection filter rules.
US07702952B2

To update firmware on a consumer device intelligently, two or more application images are stored as firmware on the consumer device. If the primary application image is corrupt, the back-up application image is executed on the consumer device. The back-up application image can be updated based on the primary application image. User configuration files can be preserved during the update of an application image, or they can be overwritten. This firmware updating scheme can be advantageously implemented in a personal media broadcasting system.
US07702946B2

A clock filter circuit (20), which serves for filtering the clock of non-isochronous data signals having a selected one of at least two nominal data rates, has an auxiliary clock source (21) that generates an auxiliary clock signal (27) with a pulse repetition rate which is in the range between the at least two predetermined data rates, a delay line (22) connected to the auxiliary clock source (21) for creating a set of mutually delayed copies of the auxiliary clock signal and a multiplexer (23) that switches in a cyclic order between the delayed copies according to predetermined rules, which depend on the selected data rate to generate a filtered clock signal (28). A control circuit determines whether the rate of the filtered clock (28) signal must be increased or decreased as compared to said data signal and controls the multiplexer (23) to delay or advance the cyclical switching accordingly.
US07702933B2

A multiprocessor power-on switch circuit applied to a mainboard having multiple power-on circuits is provided, in which each power-on circuit includes a peripheral circuit corresponding to a processor. A selection circuit in the power-on switch circuit is responsible for selecting a power-on circuit as a first power-on circuit or a second power-on circuit. When the mainboard is powered on, a detection circuit in the power-on switch circuit receives a status signal from the first power-on circuit performing the power-on action. When the status signal is determined as a fault signal by the detection circuit, a control signal is output to the selection circuit, so as to make the selection circuit set the second power-on circuit as the power-on circuit to actuate the mainboard.
US07702930B2

A control device controls a device to be on and off in response to boot data that instructs boot of the device. The control device includes a receiving unit that receives the boot data through a network; a counting unit configured to count the number of the boot data received within a predetermined time; and a control unit that controls to turn on and to turn off the device. The control device controls to turn on the device when the number of the boot data counted is “1”. The control device controls to turn off the device when the number of the boot data counted is “N”.
US07702921B2

In a method for loading media data (M) into a memory of a portable data carrier (10) connected to an external operator device (24), the data carrier (10) receives a loading job, an encrypted data transfer channel (50) is set up between the data carrier (10) and a trustworthy, non-local server (30) on which the media data (M) are held, and the media data (M) are transferred in encrypted form via the data transfer channel (50) and written to the memory of the data carrier (10). A data carrier (10) and a computer program product have corresponding features. In addition, an operator device (24) and a computer program product are provided that are configured to provide a user interface for initiating the method for loading the media data (M). The invention provides a technique for loading media data (M) into a portable data carrier (10), which technique prevents unauthorized copying of the media data (M).
US07702920B2

When a channel adapter (CHA) is replaced, the storage control device of the present invention deletes the security information held in the channel adapter to improve security. The CHA conducts encrypted communications with the host. Security information (encryption keys and the like) employed in encrypted communications is stored in the port memory of each communications port. When replacement of the CHA is designated, the processor causes the security information stored in the port memory to be saved to shared memory, and deletes the security information in the port memory. When a new CHA is installed, the security information stored in the shared memory is transferred to the port memory.
US07702913B2

An interactive system for managing access via a communications network by one or more Device-Users and Database-Users with regard to at least one secured Location and an entry control Device assignable for use in gaining access to the Location by the one or more Device-Users. The system may include a searchable database configured to store information on at least one of the secured Location, the one or more Device-Users, the one or more Database-Users or the entry control Device. Software is configured to produce a real time activity report on a selected portion of the stored information during a time period selected by the one or more Database-Users.
US07702908B2

Methods and apparati for securely loading one or more computer software applications onto a tamper resistant module (TRM) (107) and for securely deleting one or more applications from the TRM. An embodiment of the invention comprises a method for determining, based at least upon an encrypted personalization data block, whether a TRM (107) is part of a qualified set of TRM's to accept loading of an application. Thereafter, the method provides for loading the application onto the TRM (107) only after the first step determines that the TRM (107) is qualified to accept the loading of the application. Another embodiment comprises a method for determining, based at least upon an encrypted personalization data block, whether a TRM (107) is part of a qualified set of TRM's to accept deleting of an application. Thereafter, the method provides for deleting the application from the TRM (107) only when the first step determines that the TRM (107) is qualified to accept the deleting of the application.
US07702901B2

A method for securing communications within a computer network that includes wireless devices is presented. The method involves the use of a middleware server, which allows ill-performing and potentially insecure communications protocols to be off-loaded onto a more powerful machine running in a more secure environment, e.g., within a company's Intranet. The method can be practiced with any symmetric encryption algorithm, and can be combined with additional security methods, such as asymmetric encryption methods.
US07702899B2

Verifying revocation status of a digital certificate is provided in part by a receiver verifying a security certificate for a sender. In an embodiment, an approach comprises receiving a first security certificate associated with the sender and storing the security certificate in a location accessible to the receiver; updating the first security certificate in the location accessible to the receiver if the first security certificate is changed or revoked; receiving a second security certificate from the sender when identity of the sender needs to be verified; comparing the second security certificate to the first security certificate; and confirming the sender's identity only if the second security certificate matches the first security certificate for the sender.
US07702895B2

A method for configuring a computing system having a processing unit and at least one application subsystem for enabling the processing unit to perform system functions, includes packaging the system processing unit in a first housing, and at least one subsystem of the computing system in a second housing separate from and external to the first housing. The second housing is configured to visibly identify the subsystem contained within. The processing unit and the subsystem are connected with a communication link.
US07702894B2

A method for booting into computer memory a non-operating system (O.S.) program from a hard disk drive (HDD) prior to booting into memory an O.S. from the HDD. The method includes establishing a table of contents (TOC) on the HDD that contains entries for special O.S. programs. A pointer to the TOC is placed in non-volatile memory of the computer that is associated with the HDD, and when BIOS of the computer is prompted to load into memory one of the special O.S. programs, the pointer is accessed and used to locate the TOC, which in turn is accessed to load the special O.S. program.
US07702892B1

A system enabling computing to be provided as a packaged product or as a remote resource to users. Computing is delivered as a product or a resource by providing dynamic computing environments to users based on users' choices of virtual components (hardware, software or network components). A customer can choose the components and configure a computing environment. The system packages this environment and makes it available for users to compute. A service provider can use the system to create computing environments, automatically, on demand and thus providing computing as a remote resource to customers. The system monitors the usage of the customers and they are billed accordingly. In either case users can carry out their computing activity remotely using a client device such as a web browser.
US07702891B1

Modules are started-up for a computing system based on start-up data. Start-up data can, for example, include a dependency-matrix indicating start-up dependencies of various modules. Start-up sequences can be determined based on the start-up data and a start-up sequence can be subsequently selected based on one or more criteria. The selected start-up sequence need not include all modules, yet it can list most modules that are likely to be used in or by a computing system. In addition, software (or application) start-up can be controlled based on various criteria. As a result, software start-up is performed more efficiently and more control over system start-up is exercised.
US07702889B2

Techniques for the design and use of a digital signal processor, including (but not limited to) processing transmissions in a communications (e.g., CDMA) system. The disclosed method and system process interrupts arising in a multithreaded processor by receiving in an interrupt register a plurality of interrupts of a statistically indeterminate interrupt type and then associating a plurality of processing threads with the interrupt register for receiving the interrupt from the interrupt register. The method and system mask at least a subset of the plurality of processing threads so as to receive within each of the threads within the subset only ones of the plurality of interrupts of one or more predetermined types, thereby controlling on a per thread basis the processing of the plurality of interrupts according to the mask associated with a particular thread.
US07702887B1

A method and mechanism for monitoring events in a processing system. A performance monitoring mechanism includes is configured to store a count of events in an event counter. Periodically, the count stored in the event counter is updated to a new count. If the new count equals a predetermined value, an indication that the count equals the predetermined value is conveyed. If the new count does not equal the predetermined value, but is within a given epsilon of the predetermined value and the occurrence of a corresponding event is detected, an indication that the count equals the predetermined value is conveyed. The mechanism is further configured to suppress event counts which correspond to mis-speculations.
US07702881B2

A processing device includes a first storage location configured to store a first value associated with a first address space, a second storage location configured to store a second value associated with a second address space, and a third storage location configured to store a third value associated with a third address space. The processing device further includes a memory management unit, which includes a first input configured to receive a first address value associated with a data transfer operation, a second input configured to receive an identifier associated with the data transfer operation, and an address space select module configured to identify a select value from the first value, the second value and the third value based on the identifier. The memory management module further includes an address modification module configured to generate a second address value based on the first address value and the select value.
US07702876B2

A system for and method of providing a flexible means of using and storing file configuration metadata in a RAID network, so that the memory system does not restrict the metadata to exact format or location in memory. A RAID controller is operable to power-up a memory device, to determine whether the memory device is new and, if so, to build and configure a file system on the memory device. Configuration data is communicated to the RAID controller. If a configuration update is needed, the RAID controller updates the configuration file of the memory device.
US07702871B1

A system for controlling the pacing of host data writes in response to changing system conditions allows for the use of variably controlled delays that facilitate asynchronous replication with bounded lag and smooth steady-state performance. Adding delay to the writes slows down the host and dampens activity spikes. A first storage device receives a write request, transmits data to a second storage device, and acknowledges the write request. An amount of additional write response time is controlled between when the write request is received and when the write request is acknowledged by the first storage device, where the amount of additional write response time is controlled according to system parameters including an amount of lag time between when the write request is received and when the write request is committed at the second storage device.
US07702869B1

A system and method for verifying the consistency of mirrored data sets is provided. A verification module executed on a destination storage system transmits a list of desired persistent consistency point images (PCPIs) to a source destination storage system. The source destination storage system identifies a common subset of PCPIs and returns a list of the common subset to the destination. The destination initiates a separate connection for each PCPI in the common subset. The source then generates a data stream which is transmitted to the destination for use in verifying the PCPIs.
US07702858B2

In one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of agents coupled to an interconnect and a cache coupled to the interconnect. The plurality of agents are configured to cache data. A first agent of the plurality of agents is configured to initiate a transaction on the interconnect by transmitting a memory request, and other agents of the plurality of agents are configured to snoop the memory request from the interconnect. The other agents provide a response in a response phase of the transaction on the interconnect. The cache is configured to detect a hit for the memory request and to provide data for the transaction to the first agent prior to the response phase and independent of the response.
US07702857B2

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for adjusting parameters used to prefetch data from storage into cache. Data units are added from a storage to a cache, wherein requested data from the storage is returned from the cache. A degree of prefetch is processed indicating a number of data units to prefetch into the cache. A trigger distance is processed indicating a prefetched trigger data unit in the cache. The number of data units indicated by the degree of prefetch is prefetched in response to processing the trigger data unit. The degree of prefetch and the trigger distance are adjusted based on a rate at which data units are accessed from the cache.
US07702842B2

A relay device and the like are provided which are capable of easily transmitting/receiving information among information processors connected on buses whose information transmission standards are different from each other.A bridge B1 for connecting buses BS1 and BS2 whose information transmission standards are different from each other includes: an operation unit (11) for performing an operation of instructing an operation of an apparatus connected to any of the buses BS; a message generator 5 for generating a control message corresponding to the instructed operation; and a packet transmitter/receiver (7, 8) for transmitting the generated control message to a target apparatus via the bus BS to which the target apparatus is connected.
US07702840B1

Lane configuration of an interface device of an integrated circuit is described. A core is used to tile a portion of an integrated circuit with a first version of the core and a second version of the core. The core is an application specific circuit version of an interface device. The first version and the second version in combination have a sharable interface. Each of the first version and the second version has N lanes. The first version is a primary version and the second version is a secondary version responsive to a shared interface mode. The N lanes of the second version are combined with the N lanes of the first version via the sharable interface for providing 2-by-N lanes of input/output to the first version.
US07702836B2

To provide a processor capable of achieving high processing efficiency by performing the exclusive control between task processing and interrupt handling properly even in a multiprocessor. An interrupt processor that includes a plurality of unit processors, in which at least of the plurality of unit processors is capable of performing interrupt handling requested from the outside is configured such that the unit processor P1 of the unit processors P0 to P3 comprises an purge inhibit flag 106 for causing the unit processor P1 to enter a lock state where the purge of the task is being inhibited, a hardware semaphore unit 13 for inhibiting other unit processors from accessing a predetermined region in memory accessed by the unit processor P1 after the unit processor P1 is brought into the lock state, and an interrupt control unit 11 for inhibiting the interrupt processor from performing the interrupt handling during the execution of exclusive control.
US07702827B2

Device, system, and method of utilizing PCI Express packets having modified headers. For example, an apparatus includes a credit-based flow control interconnect device to generate a credit-based flow control interconnect Transaction Layer Packet in which one or more bits of an ID field carry non-ID data.
US07702823B2

This invention enables a disk subsystem that employs the FC-AL connection to grasp the operation status of each disk drive, quickly locate a disk drive that has failed, and promptly carry out blocking processing. In a disk subsystem including plural drive enclosures which store disk drives, and a disk controller which controls transfer of data stored in the disk drives between the drive enclosures and a host computer. The drive enclosures each comprise a backend switch which is connected to the disk drives and to the disk controller, the backend switch comprises a status monitoring port through which operation status of switch ports of the backend switch is outputted, and the disk controller monitors a fault of the switch ports through the status monitoring port.
US07702822B2

The invention relates to a semi-conductor component, in particular a semi-conductor component configured to be connected with a bus, in particular a LIN bus system, as well as a process for operating a system module, configured to be connected with a bus, in particular a LIN bus system, which includes emitting a data record and allocated check bits while operating the system module in a first operating mode, such that to operate the system module in a second operating mode, check bits differently generated in comparison with the first operating mode are used.
US07702819B2

A plurality of independent cache units and nonvolatile memory units are provided in a disk controller located between a host (central processing unit) and a magnetic disk drive. A plurality of channel units for controlling the data transfer to and from the central processing unit and a plurality of control units for controlling the data transfer to and from the magnetic disk drive are independently connected to the cache units and the nonvolatile memory units through data buses and access lines.
US07702813B2

A device may receive personal data that is collected at a client device, obtain a network address of a media device from the client device, send the network address to an advertisement device, and send the personal data to the advertisement device. The advertisement device may retrieve advertisements based on the personal data and send the retrieved advertisements to the media device.
US07702809B1

A method and system is directed to routing a flow of packets over a network to multiple traffic management devices. An apparatus receives each packet from a network and forwards the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The apparatus also may receive packets from servers for which the traffic management devices are managing communications. When forwarding packets, a traffic management device is selected from the group of traffic management devices by employing a hash of an IP address and port number. The IP address and port number are selected from source or destination information in the packet that has a greater port number. When the traffic management device performs a network address translation, further actions may be performed so that packets that are part of a flow between two network devices are delivered to the same traffic management device.
US07702806B2

A system architecture for thwarting denial of service attacks on a victim data center is described. The system includes a first plurality of monitors that monitor network traffic flow through the network. The first plurality of monitors is disposed at a second plurality of points in the network. The system includes a central controller that receives data from the plurality of monitors, over a hardened, redundant network. The central controller analyzes network traffic statistics to identify malicious network traffic. In some embodiments of the system, a gateway device is disposed to pass network packets between the network and the victim site. The gateway is disposed to protect the victim site, and is coupled to the control center by the redundant hardened network.
US07702804B2

A communication relay device adds information to communication data without depending on a communication application of a communication terminal. The relay device (1) includes a relay control portion (13), a control information database (14), an adder portion (15) and a database for addition (16). The relay control portion (13) controls the adder portion (15) in accordance with information accumulated in the control information DB 14. The adder portion (15) adds the additional data accumulated in the database for addition (16) to decoded first contents in accordance with a control instruction by the relay control portion (13).
US07702798B2

A facility is described for providing contextual information automatically. In various embodiments, the facility receives an indication to start a conversation, automatically determines an identification for an item indicated by the indication, encodes the identification in a message, and sends the message so that a recipient of the message can locate the item. The facility can include a responder component and an initiator component. The initiator component can receive an identification for contextual information and an identification of the responder, initiate a conversation with the responder's computing device, and automatically encode the received indication of the contextual information in a message that it sends to the responder component so that the responder component can cause a link to the contextual information to be provided that, when selected, causes an application executing on the responder's computing device to load the contextual information. In various embodiments, the facility receives a message containing an indication of contextual information, decodes the indication to determine an identifier for the contextual information, and provides a command for loading the contextual information.
US07702797B2

A data processing system includes a wireless terminal and first and second data processing apparatuses. The first data processing apparatus, responsive to receiving from the wireless terminal data including identification information identifying the second data processing apparatus, sends to the second data processing apparatus a shift signal for shifting the second data processing apparatus from a power saving mode incapable of receiving wireless communication data to a standby mode capable of receiving wireless communication data. Further, the second data processing apparatus shifts from the power saving mode to the standby mode responsive to receiving the shift signal from the first data processing apparatus.
US07702792B2

A system and method for communicating messages includes receiving, from a first client associated with a calling party, a request for connection with a second client. A called party associated with the second client is notified that the request for connection was received, in response to receiving the request for connection. A connection processing instruction may be received from a third client associated with the called party. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the request for connection may be processed in accordance with the connection processing instruction.
US07702786B2

Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and computer program product to reduce the detrimental effects of taking resources offline. A resource is taken offline in a storage network by quiescing activity to the resource providing notification that the resource will become unavailable, and taking the resource offline.
US07702779B1

A system for metering of application services in utility computing environments includes one or more meter agents and a meter aggregator. A meter agent may be configured to periodically collect usage data corresponding to one or more resources, and provide the usage data to the meter aggregator. The meter aggregator may be configured to aggregate the usage data associated with an application service, where the application service includes a plurality of application processes. In addition, the meter aggregator may be configured to compute a billing amount based on an aggregate resource usage by the application service over a specified time period.
US07702774B2

A method for operating an object-based configuration system CS for field devices of automation technology, with a frame application FA, which serves for managing and instantiating a plurality of objects, wherein, to individual groups of device objects, field device types are assigned, which enable, as device managers, a configuration of the corresponding field device type. A first main object MO-1 is provided, which makes available a first object set OS-1 with device objects for a plurality of device types and instantiates, with the help of a first control engine, via an identifier ID, device objects of the first object set, in order to produce device managers for these field device types. Besides the first main object MO-1, a second main object MO-2 is provided, which has a second object set OS-2, wherein individual device objects of the second object set OS-2 are updated device objects of the first object set OS 1. Between the frame application FA and the main object(s) MO-1, MO-2, respectively, an intermediate layer I is provided, which selects, via a second control engine, that main object, which makes available the updated device objects for the selected device type, and which, following selection of the device type, transfers to the corresponding main object the identifier ID, in order to instantiate the updated device object.
US07702773B2

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for remotely managing enterprise resources. In some implementations, a method includes remotely receiving information associated with heterogeneous assets in an enterprise network. Transactions for remotely managing the heterogeneous assets are generated in response to at least the information. The management transactions are stored remote from the enterprise network until a request for the management transactions is received from the enterprise network. The management transactions are transmitted to the enterprise network using a single interface.
US07702769B2

In a hierarchical network configuration, if transfer of data, such as requirements and responses therefrom and thereto, are executed in a relay manner between plural manager systems and managed systems on network routes, the requirements and the responses are duplicated in each manager system, thereby presenting a problem of increased amounts of data transfer on the network. It is possible to prevent the data transfer amounts from increasing not only on one route but also on plural routes by determining whether to update data on the basis of names of a manager system in upper layers, route information and so forth.
US07702765B1

Techniques for automatically creating a BGP mesh, and more specifically, an iBGP mesh, are provided. Peering information is flooded to routers within a network AS. The peering information is analyzed and a list of neighbors is created. BGP sessions are then performed with the neighbors to establish the BGP mesh.
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