US07714345B2
A light-emitting device includes a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces. An active region is on the first surface and first and second electrical contacts are adjacent to the second surface and are conductively coupled to the active region. In other embodiments, a light-emitting device includes a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces. An active region is on the first surface and includes a first active layer having a first conductivity type on the first surface and a second active layer having a second conductivity type on the first active layer. A first electrical contact is adjacent to the second surface. A contact plug extends through the substrate and the active region and couples the first electrical contact to the second active layer. A second electrical contact is coupled to the substrate at the second surface.
US07714342B2
A chip coated LED package and a manufacturing method thereof. The chip coated LED package includes a light emitting chip composed of a chip die-attached on a submount and a resin layer uniformly covering an outer surface of the chip die. The chip coated LED package also includes an electrode part electrically connected by metal wires with at least one bump ball exposed through an upper surface of the resin layer. The chip coated LED package further includes a package body having the electrode part and the light emitting chip mounted thereon. The invention improves light efficiency by preventing difference in color temperature according to irradiation angles, increases a yield, miniaturizes the package, and accommodates mass production.
US07714338B2
A semiconductor light emitter includes a quantum well active layer which includes nitrogen and at least one other Group-V element, and barrier layers which are provided alongside the quantum well active layer, wherein the quantum well active layer and the barrier layers together constitute an active layer, wherein the barrier layers are formed of a Group-III-V mixed-crystal semiconductor that includes nitrogen and at least one other Group-V element, a nitrogen composition thereof being smaller than that of the quantum well active layer.
US07714325B2
A method for forming a thermal oxide layer on the surface of a semiconductor substrate exposed during a semiconductor fabricating process. The thermal oxide layer is to be thin to minimize silicon substrate defects caused by volume expansion. A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) layer is then formed on the thin thermal oxide layer, creating a required thickness. The thin thermal oxide layer and the CVD material layer are formed in the same CVD apparatus. As a result, a process can be simplified and a particle-leading pollution can be prevented.
US07714323B2
The present invention relates to an organic thin film transistor which includes an organic layer comprising an organic compound facilitating the ohmic contact between a semi-conducting layer and electrodes and serving as the semi-conducting layer.The organic thin film transistor according to the present invention has excellent electric contact between the semiconductor layer and the source electrode/drain electrode, and thus can be widely used as components for electric/electronic devices. As a result, as the materials for the source electrode or the drain electrode in the organic thin film transistor, materials which are less expensive and excellent in processibility though they have a low work function as the materials can be used.
US07714320B2
A composition comprising a plurality of molecules. Each of the molecules has a core comprising at least one aromatic ring and at least three pendant arms chemically bonded to the core. The pendant arms comprise a phenylene-terminated thiophene oligomer.
US07714317B2
In some embodiments of the invention, encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described. In certain embodiments the nanostructures described are semiconducting nanomaterials encapsulated with ordered carbon shells. In some aspects a method for producing encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials is disclosed. In some embodiments applications of encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described.
US07714316B2
Disclosed is an acid etching resistance material comprising a compound having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1): (in the general formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom or methyl group; R3 is a cyclic group selected from an alicyclic group and an aromatic group; R4 is a polar group; R2 is a group represented by the following general formula (2); and j is 0 or 1): (in the general formula (2), R5 is a hydrogen atom or methyl group).
US07714315B2
A memory includes an array of resistive memory cells, bit lines between rows of the memory cells for accessing the memory cells, and a conductive plate coupled to each of the memory cells.
US07714310B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus, unit and method for testing image sensor packages, which can automatically test whether the image sensor packages are defective before they are assembled into camera modules. An apparatus for testing image sensor packages according to the present invention comprises a seating unit on which image sensor packages are seated for tests; a testing section having a lens and a light source above the image sensor packages to perform an open and short test and an image test for the image sensor packages; and a controlling and processing unit having a tester module for performing the open and short test and the image test for the image sensor packages. A method for testing image sensor packages according to the present invention comprises the steps of connecting the image sensor packages to a tester module for performing tests for checking whether the image sensor packages are defective; and carrying out an open and short test and an image test for the image sensor packages while irradiating light on the image sensor packages through a lens or blocking the light.
US07714307B2
Optimization of a projection system is performed to obtain a starting configuration that is at a local minimum of the merit function or simply a previously known minimum system is used as the starting configuration. A zero-thickness meniscus lens is inserted at a surface in the local minimum starting configuration with N surfaces to construct a saddle point with Morse Index=1 having N+2 surfaces. The saddle point is perturbed and optimization is performed on both sides of the saddle, and the distances at the two surfaces that have been introduced are increased, to generate two new configurations, m1 and m2, that are new minima in the merit function. Each resulting configuration is output, e.g., as a table of parameters specifying the projection system or as a computer file for use in making an actual projection system.
US07714302B2
An apparatus is disclosed for inspecting a surface containing a material that emits luminescent radiation in response to absorbing excitation radiation. The apparatus comprises a laser disposed in or adjacent to a housing. A sensor opening is defined in the housing and permits emission of excitation radiation generated by the laser and permits admission of the luminescent radiation emanating from the surface in response to the excitation radiation. A sensor monitors whether ambient light is being admitted between an edge of the sensor opening and the surface upon which the sensor opening is in contact. A safety circuit permits the laser to be actuated only when the sensor detects a substantially or completely light-impermeable contact between the edge of the sensor opening and the surface.
US07714290B2
A first band pass filter selects and transmits light having an infrared wavelength specific to flame. A first infrared-ray receiving element receives the light from the first band pass filter. A second band pass filter selects and transmits light having an infrared wavelength which is not the infrared wavelength specific to flame. A second infrared-ray receiving element receives the light from the second band pass filter. A first output of the first infrared-ray receiving element is compared with a second output of the second infrared-ray receiving element to detect the flame. When light having homogeneous energy in a transmissive wavelength band of the first band pass filter and a transmissive wavelength band of the second band pass filter is incident on the first band pass filter and the second band pass filter, an amount of the light transmitted through the second band pass filter is less than an amount of the light transmitted through the first band pass filter, and the first output and the second output are adjusted so that a level of the first output is equal to a level of the second output.
US07714288B2
Electrification affected on a surface of a sample which is caused by irradiation of a primary charged particle beam is prevented when plural frames are integrated to obtain an image of a predetermined area of the sample in a charged particle beam apparatus. The predetermined area of the sample is scanned with a primary electron beam from an electron gun, and plural frames are generated and integrated while detecting generated secondary electrons with a detector to obtain the image of the predetermined area. If it is determined by a detection signal of the detector that an electrification amount at the predetermined area becomes a specified value when generating plural frames, an electricity removal voltage is applied to a boosting electrode to remove or reduce the electrification, prior to generation of the next frame. Accordingly, the signal-to-noise ratio of the image obtained by integrating plural frames can be improved.
US07714274B2
Apparatus for transporting a fluid, atomizers, reactors, integrated fuel processing apparatus, combinations thereof, methods of atomizing reactants, methods of moving fluids, methods of reverse-flow in a reactor, and combinations thereof, are provided. One exemplary apparatus for transporting a fluid, among others, includes: a channel for receiving a fluid; a sensor for determining an internal condition of the fluid in the channel; and a channel actuator in communication with the sensor for changing a cross-sectional area of the channel based on the internal condition, wherein the change in cross-sectional area controls a parameter selected from a pressure and a fluid flow.
US07714259B2
A video projector (1) comprises a projection lens (18) which projects an image on a screen (S), a zoom ring (19) which varies a magnification ratio of the projection lens (18), a drive wheel (32) which is partially protruded from a bottom face of a housing (2), and a plurality of gears (310, 311, 312) that constitutes a power transmission mechanism (31) between the drive wheel (32) and the zoom ring (19). When the video projector (1) is moved in an anteroposterior direction to the screen with rotating the drive wheel (32), the zoom ring (19) is turned in conjunction with the rotation of the drive wheel (32) through the power transmission mechanism (31). Since the magnification ratio of the projection lens (18) is varied with the turning of the zoom ring (19), the size of the image projected on the screen is varied without a direct operation of the zoom ring (19) by a user.
US07714240B1
A microfabricated vacuum switch is disclosed which includes a substrate upon which an anode, cathode and trigger electrode are located. A cover is sealed over the substrate under vacuum to complete the vacuum switch. In some embodiments of the present invention, a metal cover can be used in place of the trigger electrode on the substrate. Materials used for the vacuum switch are compatible with high vacuum, relatively high temperature processing. These materials include molybdenum, niobium, copper, tungsten, aluminum and alloys thereof for the anode and cathode. Carbon in the form of graphitic carbon, a diamond-like material, or carbon nanotubes can be used in the trigger electrode. Channels can be optionally formed in the substrate to mitigate against surface breakdown.
US07714236B2
An electric component includes a substrate, a function element provided on the substrate, a first sealing body provided on the substrate to cover the function element at a certain distance, the first sealing body including multiple apertures communicating with an internal space formed between the first sealing body and the substrate, and a second sealing body provided on the first sealing body and configured to occlude the multiple apertures. Here, a boundary between the first sealing body and the substrate is curved in a direction to narrow the internal space.
US07714233B2
A printed wiring board including a wiring substrate provided with at least one conductor circuit, a solder resist layer formed on the surface of the wiring substrate, covering the at least one conductor circuit, conductor pads formed on a part of the at least one conductor circuit exposed from respective openings provided in the solder resist layer for mounting electronic parts, and solder bumps formed on the respective conductor pads. The ratio (H/D) of a height H of the solder bumps from solder resist layer surface to an opening diameter of the openings are made to be about 0.55 to about 1.0 with the pitch of the openings provided in the solder resist layer of about 200 μm or less.
US07714232B2
Provided are a hybrid integrated circuit device in which fine patterns can be formed while current-carrying capacitances are ensured, and a method of manufacturing the same. The hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention includes conductive patterns formed on a front surface of a circuit substrate and circuit elements electrically connected respectively to the conductive patterns. The conductive patterns include a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern formed more thickly than the first conductive pattern. The second conductive pattern includes a protruding portion protruding in a thickness direction thereof.
US07714230B2
A method of assembling a multilayer bus bar assembly includes coating a dielectric layer with a molten reactive hot-melt adhesive, placing the dielectric layer between first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies comprise a conductive element, adhering the molten reactive hot-melt adhesive to the subassemblies by applying a pressure of at least about one bar to the multilayer bus bar assembly for at least about one minute prior to the adhesive cooling to room temperature to provide a bonding strength between the dielectric material and a selected one of the first and second subassemblies of at least 1500 Newtons on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter sample when tested in accordance with ASTM D-1062.
US07714226B2
In a housing device, a first wall portion 10A and a second wall portion 20A are adjacent to each other with a right angle formed therebetween when a case cover 20 is coupled to a case main body 10. A first recess 11 and a first claw 12 are integrally formed with the first wall portion 10A at a part thereof where the first wall portion 10A is butted to the second wall portion 20A. A second claw 21 and a second recess 22 are integrally formed with the second wall portion 20A at a part thereof where the second wall portion 20A is butted to the first wall portion 10A.
US07714224B2
A photovoltaic power generation module that can make use of arcuate cells and a photovoltaic power generation system employing such a module are disclosed. The photovoltaic power generation module may include arcuate cells divided from a disk-shaped single crystal silicon photovoltaic power generation cell. The arcuate cells may have a circular arc with a central angle of 90°. The arcuate cells may have a grid-perpendicular to the chord and at least one busbar perpendicular to the grid. The arcuate cells may be arrayed in a lattice pattern, the arcuate cells having an area of 28 to 65 cm2 and 14 to 42 thereof being arrayed.
US07714223B2
The reproduction device comprises a decoding section, a threshold calculating section, and a musical data output section. The threshold calculating section calculates an average amplitude level in a predetermined section of an end portion of first musical data generated by the decoding section, and calculates a threshold for detecting a silent portion of the end portion of the first musical data on the basis of the calculated average amplitude level. The musical data output section removes a silent portion between the first musical data and the second musical data and reproduces them so that a position nearest to the end position of the first musical data at an amplitude level which is the threshold or more is a reproduction ending position and so that a position near the leading position of the second musical data at an amplitude level which is the threshold or more is a reproduction starting position.
US07714219B2
An improved tambourine has a rigid, enclosed, jingle-supporting frame that defines a center of gravity and a number of pairs of percussion jingles connected to the frame at determined locations around one of the frame's segments. A handle for manually grasping the frame is connected to a second segment of the frame. The second segment is closer to the center of gravity of the tambourine than is the first segment, which is arcuate in shape. The second segment includes radial, inwardly turned portions and a handle-bearing portion that is substantially parallel to a chord formed between the ends of the arcuate first segment and spaced a determined distance from the geometric center of the handle.
US07714209B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH200570. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH200570, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH200570 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH200570.
US07714206B1
An inbred corn line, designated LLR24, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line LLR24, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line LLR24 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LLR24 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLR24, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLR24 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US07714195B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated Crescendo. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line Crescendo, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line Crescendo with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line Crescendo, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US07714190B2
A transgenic plant transformed by a GTP Binding Stress-Related Protein (GBSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated GBSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding GBSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07714185B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific production of poly-unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a process for the production of triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids having at least two double bonds and a 20 or 22 carbon atom chain length. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, hav-ing an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids containing C20- or C22-fatty acids with a delta-5, 7, 8, 10 double bond, respectively due to the expression of a delta-8-desaturase and a delta-9-elon-gase from organisms such as plants preferably Algae like Isochrysis galbana or Euglena gracilis. In addition the invention relates to a process for the production of poly unsaturated fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic, Arachidonic, Docosapentaenoic or Doosahexaenoic acid through the co-expression of a delta-8-desaturase, a delta-9-elongase and a delta-5 desaturase in organisms such as microorganisms or plants. The invention additionally relates to the use of specific nucleic acid sequences encoding for the aforementioned proteins with delta-8-desaturase-, delta-9-elongase- or delta-5-desaturase-activity, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms containing said nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides having an increased content of at least 1% by weight of unsaturated fatty acids and use thereof.
US07714183B2
A flexible dressing for direct application to a wound for absorbing exudates. The dressing comprises an alginate fiber sheet having honey fully impregnated through the fiber sheet such that the dressing has moist surfaces, and on application to the wound, the dressing becomes gel-like as exudate is absorbed.
US07714179B2
Processes for preparing a C5 aldehyde and propene are disclosed, the processes comprising: (a) providing a feedstream, the feedstream comprising butane, 1-butene, 2-butene and 1,3-butadiene, the 1,3-butadiene present in the feedstream in an amount up to 1000 ppm; (b) contacting the feedstream with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to form a 2-butene-rich butane stream and a C5 aldehyde; (c) separating the 2-butene-rich butane stream and the C5 aldehyde; and (d) contacting the 2-butene-rich butane stream with ethene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst to form a propene-containing hydrocarbon stream.
US07714174B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing lower-color polytrimethylene ether glycol, comprising contacting said polytrimethylene ether glycol, or its precursor reaction-mixture, with a hydride compound during at least one stage of the process of manufacture, or on the polytrimethylene ether glycol resulting form such process, such that the polytrimethylene ether glycol demonstrates a reduced color (as compared to using no hydride compound).
US07714170B2
Bis- and tris-dihydroxyaryl compounds and their methylenedioxy analogs and pharmaceutically acceptable esters, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in the treatment of amyloid diseases, especially Aβ amyloidosis, such as observed in Alzheimer's disease, use in the reduction of Aβ peptide in vivo, use in modulating APP processing, and use in modulating the activity of APP secretase.
US07714162B2
To provide such a base multiplying agent capable of being used for crosslinking reaction, for example of a epoxy compound and the like, that generates another base by action of a base, and can efficiently perform base multiplying reaction, and a base-reactive curable composition using the base multiplying agent.The base generating agent of the invention is represented by the following formula (1): (In the formula (1), X represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted alkyl group or an unsubstituted alkyl group; Y represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene chain; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 4.)
US07714161B2
The present invention includes methods for preparing resveratrol, resveratrol esters and substituted and unsubstituted stilbenes of the formula given below; where each Y is —O or halogen, each Z is —O or halogen, each n and each m is independently the value of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, each A and each B is independently selected from Pn, R or absent, each V and each W is independently selected from Pn, straight or branched alkyl of from (2) to (6) carbon atoms and cycloalkyl of from (3) to (8) carbon atoms, alkoxy, phenyl, benzyl or halogen, R is independently selected from the group comprising alkyl with at least one carbon atom, aryl and aralkyl, Pn is an alcohol protecting group and diastereoisomers of the foregoing. The compounds are made from a multi-step process including a N-heterocyclic carbene-type ligand coupling in the presence of a base with benzyol halide and styrene coupling partners. These compounds show increased stability for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
US07714157B2
A process for preparing an optically active biaryl compound the formula (4): which comprises reacting an aromatic sulfonic acid ester compound of the formula (1): with an organic boron compound of the formula (2): at 70° C. or below in the presence of a nickel catalyst and a base. The biaryl compounds produced using this process possess a high optical purity and are useful as intermediates for medicaments, agrochemicals, etc.
US07714154B2
The present invention describes compounds produced from an amino acid molecule and a fatty acid molecule. The compounds being in the form of amino-fatty acid compounds being bound by an anhydride linkage, or mixtures thereof made by reacting amino acids or derivatives thereof with an appropriate fatty acid previously reacted with a thionyl halide. The administration of such molecules provides supplemental amino acids with enhanced bioavailability and the additional benefits conferred by the specific fatty acid.
US07714153B2
A 4,9-bis(glycidyloxy)diamantane and a 4,9-bis[(3-ethyloxetane-3-yl)methyloxy]diamantane are novel curable diamantane compounds, and cured bodies thereof are useful as encapsulants exhibiting excellent light resistance and heat resistance, and can be favorably used, for example, as encapsulants for near ultraviolet LEDs and white LEDs.
US07714143B1
A method of forming monoammonium salt of 5,5′-bis-1H-tetrazole (BTA-1NH3) is presented comprising the steps of charging a mixing vessel with a solution of free BTA acid and distilled water, adding ammonium hydroxide in excess to obtain a pH of at least 9.5 and mixing the solution, and adding sulfuric acid cooled to 10-20 degrees Celsius to obtain a pH of at least 4.5 and mixing the solution. A gas generator 10 containing a gas generant 12 containing the BTA-1NH3 formed in accordance with the present invention is also presented. Gas generating systems 180 such as vehicle occupant protection systems 180, containing the gas generator 10, are also provided.
US07714140B2
A 1,2-benzoisothiazole derivative or a salt thereof is not harmful to a crop and is remarkably effective against agricultural or horticultural plant diseases such as Pyricularia oryzae, Septoria nodorum, Pseudoperonospora cubensis and Colletotrichum orbiculare, and an agricultural or horticultural plant disease-controlling agent containing the derivative or its salt as an active ingredient. The 1,2-benzoisothiazole derivative is represented by the general formula [I]: (wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, and R2 is a methyl group or a halogen atom), or a salt thereof.
US07714136B2
Compounds of a certain formula (I) in which Ra and Rb have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective compounds with anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing activity.
US07714131B2
The present invention provides a compounds the formula (IV): and methods for producing an α-(phenoxy)phenylacetic acid compound of the formula: wherein R1 is a member selected from the group consisting of: each R2 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of (C1-C4)alkyl, halo, (C1-C4)haloalkyl, amino, (C1-C4)aminoalkyl, amido, (C1-C4)amidoalkyl, (C1-C4)sulfonylalkyl, (C1-C4)sulfamylalkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy, (C1-C4)heteroalkyl, carboxy and nitro; the subscript n is 1 when R1 has the formula (a) or (b) and 2 when R1 has the formula (c) or (d); the subscript m is an integer of from 0 to 3; * indicates a carbon which is enriched in one stereoisomeric configuration; and the wavy line indicates the point of attachment of R1; and compounds.
US07714126B2
Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, obesity, type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.
US07714101B2
The invention relates to a polypeptide of a protective antigenic determinant (PAD polypeptide) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide. The PAD polypeptide and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide are useful in the development of antibodies directed to PAD, vaccines effective in providing protection against PRRSV infection, and diagnostic assays detecting the presence of PAD antibodies generated by a PAD-specific vaccine. The invention also discloses methods of generating antibodies to PAD, for vaccinating a pig to provide protection from PRRSV infections, a method of preparing the vaccine, a method of treating PRRSV infections in a pig, and a method of detecting antibodies to PAD of PRRSV.
US07714100B2
Novel markers for cardiac disease that are both sensitive and accurate. These markers are differentially and/or specifically expressed in cardiac tissue, as opposed to other types of tissues, optionally and preferably including muscle tissue. The measurement of these markers, alone or in combination, in patient samples provides information that the diagnostician can correlate with a probable diagnosis of cardiac disease, including pathology and/or damage, including acute and/or chronic damage. The markers of the present invention, alone or in combination, show a high degree of differential detection between cardiac disease states and non-cardiac disease states.
US07714094B2
Disclosed are modified PET polymer compositions and process for making modified PET polymer compositions by reacting purified terephthalic acid and non-hydrogenated isophthalic acid with ethylene glycol. Compositions with acceptable visual appearance, such as clarity and color, can be made at typical modification levels for many packaging application. Disclosed are also shaped articles and the process for making shaped articles of the modified PET polymer composition.
US07714091B2
Catalyst comprising chromium and zirconium for the polymerization and/or copolymerization of olefins
Catalyst for the polymerization and/or copolymerization of olefins which is obtainable by application to a finely divided inorganic support and concluding calcination at temperatures of from 350 to 1050° C. and has a chromium content of from 0.1 to 5% by weight and a zirconium content of from 0.5 to 10% by weight, in each case based on the element in the finished catalyst, with the molar ratio of zirconium to chromium being from 0.6 to 5.
US07714090B2
A (meth)acrylate copolymer obtained by copolymerization of a monomer mixture containing a monomer (A) of the general formula (I), wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or methyl, R2 is a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and Y is a single bond or an oxygen atom, a monomer (B) copolymerizable with the monomer (A) and a crosslinking monomer (C).
US07714086B2
Polyvinyl alcohol co-polymers comprising co-monomers of carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid derivatives wherein the co-polymers further comprise an amino functional monomer, and water-soluble films and pouches formed therefrom.
US07714083B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating unreacted monomer from a polymerization process effluent stream, wherein the effluent stream comprises unreacted monomer and polymer particles. The method comprises passing the effluent stream of a fluidized-bed reactor into at least one container, feeding a high-pressure olefin through an ejector, and vacuuming at least a portion of the effluent stream from the at least one container through the ejector. The apparatus comprises a fluidized-bed reactor having a first conduit connected to a first tank, an ejector having a second conduit connected to the first tank, and a third conduit connected to the fluidized-bed reactor.
US07714080B2
A primer composition comprising an alkoxysilyl-containing polyamide-imide resin, an epoxy resin, a curing promoter, and an organic solvent forms a cured coating having heat resistance and water resistance through brief low-temperature heating and helps bonding of epoxy resin molding compound to semiconductor members.
US07714072B2
The present invention is a multimodal polyethylene composition having (1) a density of at least about 0.940 g/cm3; (2) a melt flow index (I5) of from about 0.2 to about 1.5 g/10 mm; (3) a melt flow index ratio (I21/I5) of from about 20 to about 50; (4) a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, of from about 20 to about 40; and (5) a bubble stability measured on an HS50S stationary extrusion system with an BF 10-25 die, HK 300 air ring, A8 take off, and WS8 surface winder, with a 100 mm die diameter having a 50 mm 21:1 L/D grooved feed extruder used for a film of about 6×10−6 m thickness of at least about 1.22 m/s line speed, at least about 45 kg/hr (0.013 kg/sec) output rate, or at least about 0.5 lb/hr/rpm (0.0000011 kg/s/rps) specific output rate or a combination thereof.
US07714070B2
Polypropylene resin compositions are provided that are useful in the production of thermoformed articles and biaxially oriented polypropylene films (BOPPs), tapes and fibers. The resins of the present invention are blends of high crystalline (low solubles) polypropylene homopolymer and an ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). These blends can be used to replace standard high solubles BOPP grade polypropylene homopolymers. In addition, the use of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymers in the blends imparts improved stiffness to the finished films while maintaining good processability of the blends. Such polypropylene compositions are effectively produced by in-reactor blending of a high crystalline propylene homopolymer and a propylene/ethylene random copolymer.
US07714069B2
The present invention is directed to a method of producing an adherent coating over untreated thermoplastic and thermosetting resinous substrates from a coating composition that includes a crosslinkable component and a crosslinking component that are mixed prior to application and applied over the substrate. The crosslinkable component includes a polymeric mix containing at least one crosslinkable copolymer polymerized from a monomer mixture comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having on average 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 4 and more preferably 1 to 2 hydroxyl groups and a saturated hydrocarbon polymer. The crosslinkable component includes one or more cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate of the formula: R1—(R2—NCO)n wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted cycloaliphatic group, R2 is independently selected from a direct bond, a straight aliphatic group or branched aliphatic group, and wherein n ranges from 2 to 10. The method is well suited to produce adherent coatings on olefinic substrates such as those used in automotive and general commercial application without any pretreatment of the resinous substrates.
US07714061B2
The present invention relates to a process for postcrosslinking water-absorbing polymeric particles in the absence of oxidizing gases, to the water-absorbing polymers preparable by the process and to their use in hygiene articles and packaging materials.
US07714059B2
A cleaning blade, for use in an image-forming apparatus, formed by a molded resin composition containing a rubber component consisting of a thermosetting elastomer containing acrylonitrile as a constituent monomer thereof and having a bound acrylonitrile amount of 15 to 50%.
US07714055B2
Pneumatic rubber tire having at least one component of a polybutadiene-rich rubber composition comprised of a blend of a continuous phase of a specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and a dispersed phase comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer which contains a dispersion of at least partially exfoliated, intercalated, clay platelets, wherein said cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and styrene/butadiene elastomer have spatially defined glass transition temperatures, wherein said blend contains amorphous silica and carbon black reinforcement. Such tire component may be, for example, a circumferential tread having a running surface intended to be ground-contacting or a sidewall insert.
US07714052B2
High performance, low viscosity hot melt adhesives are obtained using acrylic block copolymers. The level of acrylic block copolymer in the adhesive formulation is less than 50% by weight.
US07714049B2
A compounding agent for rubber vulcanization comprising an amine salt compound of a carboxylic acid group-containing disulfide having the formula (I): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or a C1-C20 organic group which may have a heteroatom and/or a substituent group, and X is a C2-C20 organic group which may have a heteroatom and/or a substituent group, a method for producing the same and a rubber composition containing the same, capable of improving the vulcanization rate and vulcanized rubber physical properties, without having a detrimental effect on the scorch time.
US07714046B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a crystal nucleator composition comprising; a first step pulverizing 95% by mass or more of a crystal nucleator ingredient containing one or two or more kinds of specific compounds to a primary particle diameter of 0.8 μm or smaller with a dry medium-stirring type pulverizer; and a second step mixing and pulverizing the pulverized crystal nucleator ingredient obtained in the previous step and a metal aliphatic carboxylate ingredient containing one or two or more kinds of specific metal aliphatic carboxylates. Also provided is a crystalline polymer composition comprising a crystal nucleator composition obtained by the production process
US07714038B2
Polyolefin waxes bearing (meth)acrylate groups, process for preparing them and their use.
US07714036B2
A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume. When applied to a preform, such as a rod, the annealing of the bulk polymer part of the rod from which the finished part is made must take place on the rod before the implant is machined therefrom and exposed to oxygen.
US07714030B2
Polyurethane foams are made and attached to a substrate having an open cavity, but reacting a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component in the presence of a blowing agent. The polyisocyanate component includes at least one isocyanate-terminated, oxazolidone-containing intermediate. This process allows for very fast curing, good quality, adherent foams to be produced on, for example, vehicle parts and assemblies, for acoustical or vibration dampening and for structural reinforcement.
US07714025B2
Antimitotic agents comprising a modified chalcone or modified chalcone derivative are disclosed. The modified chalcone or modified chalcone derivative compounds are of the general formula CHAL-LIN—COV, wherein CHAL is a chalcone or chalcone derivative portion, LIN is an optional linker portion, and COV is a covalent bonding portion (e.g., an α,β-unsaturated thiol ester group). The modified chalcone or modified chalcone derivative compounds provide an improved method of interference with tubulin polymerization, for example by covalent (and essentially irreversible) bonding between tubulin and the covalent bonding portion, potentially resulting in a decrease in tumor size and/or disappearance of the cancer, to the benefit of cancer patients.
US07714021B2
The present invention is directed to pyrrolidin-3-yl derivative compounds which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US07714020B2
Aspects of this invention include the use of G-2MePE to treat patients with brain injury characterized by non-convulsive seizures. G-2MePE is useful in treating brain injuries caused by traumatic brain injury, stroke, hypoxia/ischemia and toxic injury.
US07714012B2
This invention describes novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs), such as TBE-31, TBE-34, TBE-45 and water-soluble TBEs. The methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed. The inventors demonstrate the ability of these new TBEs to inhibit proliferation of human myeloma cells, inhibit the induction of iNOS in cells stimulated with interferon-γ, induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), induce CD11b expression—a leukemia differentiation marker, inhibit proliferation of leukemia cells, induce apoptosis in human lung cancer, and induce apoptosis in other cancerous cells. The TBEs of this invention are expected to be useful agents for the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, inflammation, and pathologies involving oxidative stress.
US07714010B2
The invention relates to pyrrolobenzimidazolone compounds of formula (I), wherein A, T and R1 to R3 are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation and the use thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition.
US07713998B2
The present invention relates to a compound that has p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity useful as drug medicine, represented by the general formula (I): wherein all the symbols are as defined in the description, or its salt, N-oxide or solvate, or a prodrug thereof. Further, there are provided a process for producing the same and usage thereof. The compound of the general formula (I) has a p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity and is useful for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in which an abnormal production of cytokine, such as inflammatory cytokine or chemokine, or an over-reaction thereto would be instrumental in the cause and aggravation of pathologic condition thereof, namely, cytokine-mediated diseases, for example, inflammatory diseases, respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, central nervous diseases, etc.
US07713995B2
Behavioral pharmacological data with the compound of formula (I), a novel and selective 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonist, demonstrate in vivo efficacy in models of psychosis and dyskinesias. This includes activity in reversing MK-801 induced locomotor behaviors, suggesting that this compound may be an efficacious anti-psychotic, and activity in an MPTP primate model of dyskinesias, suggesting efficacy as an anti-dyskinesia agent. These data support the hypothesis that 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonism may confer antipsychotic and anti-dyskinetic efficacy in humans, and indicate a use of the compound of formula (I) and related agents as novel therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease, related human neurodegenerative diseases, and psychosis.
US07713993B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar1 represents an imidazolyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group, or the like, Ar2 represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkoxy group, or the like, X1 represents a double bond or the like, and Het represents an imidazolyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group, or the like, which is effective as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for a disease caused by Aβ.
US07713977B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein n represents 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 R represents independent from each other hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylamine, dialkylamine, alkylcarbonylamine, alkylcarbamate Y represents one of the following groups: in free base or acid addition salt form, to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US07713976B2
The present invention relates to 1-aza-bicycloalkyl derivatives of Formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US07713964B2
This invention provides methods for treating in mammals asthma and asthmatic conditions using substituted indole compounds of the general formula: and pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods for using the compounds as inhibitors of the activity of various phospholipase enzymes, particularly phospholipase A2 enzymes, and for the medical treatment, prevention and inhibition of pain and inflammation.
US07713959B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising mirtazapine and an anticonvulsant drug. Also disclosed are methods of preventing weight gain associated with the administration of mirtazapine comprising identifying a patient to whom mirtazapine is to be administered and administering to said patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising mirtazapine and an anticonvulsant drug. Further disclosed are methods of increasing the efficacy of mirtazapine comprising identifying a patient to whom mirtazapine is to be administered and administering to said patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising mirtazapine and an anticonvulsant drug.
US07713954B2
Methods and pharmaceutical compositions relating to selective antagonists of the 5-HT6 receptor and 5-HT2A receptor useful for the treatment of cognitive disorders are presented.
US07713948B2
The invention relates to the use of at least one overexpression inhibitor of DNA repair genes and oncogenes for producing a drug to increase the apoptotic effect of cytostatics after chemotherapy.
US07713945B2
Inhibition of dendritic cell function in solid organ grafts or allogeneic bone marrow transplants prior to or during engraftment by blocking SH2-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP) expression or function is taught as a method of abrogating immune rejection and thereby increasing the efficacy of engraftment of an allogeneic bone marrow transplant or solid organ allograft or xenograft. Also disclosed is a transgenic mouse having the genotype SHIP−/− which exhibits enhanced survival following mismatched allogeneic marrow grafts.
US07713939B2
The present invention provides illudin analogs of the general formula (I): where R1 is (CH2)n—X—Y or H; n is 0 to 4; X is O or S or N or absent; and Y is an optionally substituted (C1-C8)alkyl, (C6-C10)aryl, (C6-C10)aryl(C1-C4)alkyl or cyclo(C3-C6)alkyl optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms; a monosaccharide, an amino acid residue, or H when n is 2-4; R2 is absent; or R1 and R2 together comprise a 5-7 membered cyclic ring; R3 is (C1-C4)alkyl or H; R4 is H, SCH2CO2(C1-C4)alkyl, O—(C5-C12)aryl or —S—(C5-C12)aryl; R5 is H, OH or absent; R6 is (C1-C4)alkyl or absent; R7 is OH or OSi((C1-C4)alkyl)3; or R6 and R7 together are ethylenedioxy; R8 is optionally substituted (C1-C4)alkyl; and the bonds represented by ----- are individually present or absent. The invention further provides dimers comprising analogs of formula (I).
US07713938B2
The invention relates to a crystalline form of 1-chloro-4-(β-D-glucopyranos-1-yl)-2-[4-((S) -tetrahydrofuran-3-yloxy)-benzyl]-benzene, to a method for the preparation thereof, as well as to the use thereof for preparing medicaments.
US07713934B2
Disclosed are thrombin peptide derivatives comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO. 2: Arg-Gly-Asp-Ala-Xaa-Glu-Gly-Asp-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro-Phe-Val, or a C-terminal truncated fragment of the polypeptide having at least six amino acids. Xaa is alanine, glycine, serine, or an S-protected cysteine. Zero, one, two, or three amino acids in the polypeptide or polypeptide fragment differ from the corresponding position of SEQ ID NO. 2. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject in need of treatment with a thrombin receptor agonist. The methods comprise the step of administering an effective amount of the thrombin peptide derivative described above.
US07713933B2
The present invention concerns stimulators of Activin and/or Inhibin for use in promoting the healing of wounds and fibrotic disorders with reduced scarring, together with medicaments and methods for promoting the healing of wounds and fibrotic disorders with reduced scarring.
US07713932B2
Calcitonin drug-oligomer conjugates that include a calcitonin drug coupled to an oligomer including a single polyalkylene glycol moiety consisting of between 4 and 10 polyalkylene glycol subunits are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions including such conjugates and methods of treating bone disorders by administering such conjugates are also disclosed.
US07713927B2
This invention provides novel antimicrobial peptides that are effective to inhibit growth and/or proliferation of various gram positive bacteria. In particular, the peptides are effective against Streptococcus mutans a common oral pathogen and the causative agent of dental caries.
US07713926B2
The peptide production method of the present invention produces a peptide (SEQ ID NO: 1) of a protein from Plasmodium falciparum, which is effective as a malaria vaccine. The method produces the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 by linking the fragments (i) through (v) shown below: (v) Asn-Asn-Asp-Xaa (SEQ ID NO: 2); (iv) Asp-Phe-Lys-Thr-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 3); (iii) Asn-Lys-Thr-Tyr-Asp-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 4); (ii) Phe-Tyr-Asn-Ser-Glu (SEQ ID NO: 5); and (i) Xaa-Ala-Ser-Glu (SEQ ID NO: 6), where ‘Xaa’ in (i) and (v) represents zero or any arbitrary number of amino acid residues.
US07713920B2
Detergent compositions containing azo initiator compounds are provided. More particularly, detergent compositions containing azo initiator compounds having improved bleaching performance and stain-removal benefits, and methods of using the same, are provided. Composition of matter and articles of manufacture are also provided.
US07713904B2
This invention relates to a composition with desulfurization property, in which the desulfurization component is a kind of molecular sieves with incorporation of vanadium into the skeleton. The composition has high hydrothermal stability and the vanadium is hard to lose.
US07713902B2
The present invention provides methods of preparing an improved platinum catalyst for use in fuel cells. The method includes preparing a platinum-loaded template of mesoporous alumina, and preparing a platinum catalyst using said alumina template. To prepare the template, a platinum solution and an aluminum alkoxide-butanol solution are combined to form a mixture and the mixture is then subjected to hydration and condensation reactions. To prepare the platinum catalyst, the template and carbon precursors are subjected to polymerization, and the resultant composite subjected to heat treatment. Due to the uniform platinum particle size and high specific surface area achieved, the method of the invention can produce a platinum catalyst with high catalytic activity and thermal stability and in turn improve the performance of the fuel cell in which the catalyst is used.
US07713899B2
Compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrodes for fuel cells. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The methods can utilize direct-write tools to deposit ink compositions and form functional layers of a membrane electrode assembly having controlled properties and enhanced performance.
US07713895B2
The invention relates to a clear glass composition of the soda-lime-silicate type that absorbs ultraviolet radiation, which composition includes optical absorbents below in contents varying within the following weight limits: Fe2O3 (total iron)0.01 to 0.15% V2O5 (total vanadium)0.11 to 0.40% MnO (total manganese)0.05 to 0.40% and which has, for a thickness of 3 mm, an ultraviolet transmission not exceeding 40% and chromatic coordinates (a*,b*) of between −3 and 3. It also relates to glass hollowware or flat articles, obtained from the aforementioned composition.
US07713892B2
A laminate sheet that can be easily produced together with improving the heat resistance and the water absorbency. Provided is a laminate sheet prepared by laminating plural sheet materials by a resin composition, wherein the resin composition is comprised of an aromatic polyamide resin and an epoxy group-containing phenoxy resin having an epoxy group in the molecule, and the resin composition is a polyamide resin composition that contains 30 to 50% by mass of the epoxy group-containing phenoxy resin.
US07713890B2
Provided herein are various flexible sheet-like substrates that are lightweight, rupture or burst resistant, and suitable for use in constructing a variety of structures used in fluid-containment, especially gas containment, and other applications, and the processes by which such composites can be fabricated. In the most general case, the composites of this disclosure are comprised of a woven textile fabric to which has been laminated a flexible film. Two principal embodiments are disclosed: a first embodiment without a reinforcing layer, and a second embodiment with a structurally robust, bias-oriented reinforcing layer, preferably interposed between the fabric and the film.
US07713887B2
A method for forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first liner nitride layer on an exposed surface of the trench, forming a first high density plasma (HDP) oxide layer such that the first HDP oxide layer partially fills the trench to cover a bottom surface and a side surface of the trench and an upper surface of the first liner nitride layer, etching overhangs generated during the forming of the first HDP oxide layer by introducing a hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution into the semiconductor substrate, forming a second liner nitride layer over the first HDP oxide layer, removing the second liner nitride layer formed on the first HDP oxide layer while forming a second HDP oxide layer to fill the trench, and subjecting the second HDP oxide layer to planarization, so as to form a trench isolation layer.
US07713885B2
The invention includes methods in which one or more components of a carboxylic acid having an aqueous acidic dissociation constant of at least 1×10−6 are utilized during the etch of oxide (such as silicon dioxide or doped silicon dioxide). Two or more carboxylic acids can be utilized. Exemplary carboxylic acids include trichloroacetic acid, maleic acid, and citric acid.
US07713879B2
In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical polishing method for a substrate having a first layer and a stepped portion. A surface of the first layer is positioned above an upper face of the stepped portion. A polishing process for selectively removing the stepped portion is performed on the first layer by using a first slurry composition that has a self-stopping characteristic so that the first layer is changed into a second layer having a substantially flat surface. A second polishing process is performed using a second slurry composition that does not have the self-stopping characteristic, until the upper face of the stepped portion is exposed.
US07713862B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a printed wiring board, which can enhance the peel strength between an insulating layer and a conductive pattern by a two-step process, that is, a semi-hardening and full-hardening of the insulating layer. In the method for manufacturing the printed wiring board having one or more layers of a conductive pattern and an insulating pattern, an insulating pattern is formed on an insulating substrate, and at least one of the insulating substrate and the insulating pattern is semi-hardened. A conductive pattern is formed on the insulating substrate and/or the insulating pattern, thereby providing a stack structure. Then, a thermal treatment is performed on the stack structure to fully harden the semi-hardened insulating substrate and/or insulating pattern, and the conductive pattern is fired.
US07713859B2
A process for forming a solder bump on an under bump metal structure in the manufacture of a microelectronic device comprising exposing the under bump metal structure to an electrolytic bath comprising a source of Sn2+ ions, a source of Ag+ ions, a thiourea compound and/or a quaternary ammonium surfactant; and supplying an external source of electrons to the electrolytic bath to deposit a Sn—Ag alloy onto the under bump metal structure.
US07713857B2
A first via opening is formed to a first conductor and a second via opening is formed to a second conductor. The first and second via openings are formed through insulative material. Then, the first conductor is masked from being exposed through the first via opening and to leave the second conductor outwardly exposed through the second via opening. An antifuse dielectric is formed within the second via opening over the exposed second conductor while the first conductor is masked. Then, the first conductor is unmasked to expose it through the first via opening. Then, conductive material is deposited to within the first via opening in conductive connection with the first conductor to form a conductive interconnect within the first via opening to the first conductor and to within the second via opening over the antifuse dielectric to form an antifuse comprising the second conductor, the antifuse dielectric within the second via opening and the conductive material deposited to within the second via opening. Other aspects are contemplated.
US07713854B2
A method of forming a gate dielectric layer includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate. The gate dielectric layer is processed with carbon-containing ions. The gate dielectric layer is thermally processed, thereby providing the gate dielectric layer with a level of carbon between about 1 atomic % and about 20 atomic %.
US07713848B2
The invention relates to a method for re-crystallization of layer structures by means of zone melting, in which, as a result of convenient arrangement of a plurality of heat sources, a significant acceleration of the zone melting method can be achieved. The method is based on the fact that a continuous recrystallisation of the layer is ensured as a result of overlaps being produced. According to the invention, a device is likewise provided with which the method according to the invention can be achieved. The method according to the invention is used in particular in the production of crystalline silicon thin layer solar cells or for example in SOI technology. However the application likewise relates also in general to the processing of metals, plastic materials or adhesives and here in particular to the production of thin layers.
US07713840B2
A semiconductor body selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor layer, a semiconductor layer sequence or a semiconductor layer structure. The semiconductor body is transferred from a growth substrate to a support material by: exposing an interface between the growth substrate and the semiconductor body or a region in the vicinity of said interface to electromagnetic radiation through one of the semiconductor body and the growth substrate; decomposing a material at or in proximity to said interface by absorption of the electromagnetic radiation in proximity to or at said interface so that the semiconductor body can be separated from the growth substrate; and connecting the semiconductor body to the support material.
US07713837B2
Described is a wet chemical surface treatment involving NH4OH that enables extremely strong direct bonding of two wafer such as semiconductors (e.g., Si) to insulators (e.g., SiO2) at low temperatures (less than or equal to 400° C.). Surface energies as high as ˜4835±675 mJ/m2 of the bonded interface have been achieved using some of these surface treatments. This value is comparable to the values reported for significantly higher processing temperatures (less than 1000° C.). Void free bonding interfaces with excellent yield and surface energies of ˜2500 mJ/m2 have also be achieved herein.
US07713833B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a first film on a target film; forming resist patterns on the first film; processing the first film with the resist patterns to form first patterns including: periodic patterns; and aperiodic patterns; removing the resist patterns; forming a second film over the target film; processing the second film to form second side wall patterns on side walls of the first patterns; removing the periodic patterns; and processing the target film with the aperiodic patterns and the second side wall patterns, thereby forming a target patterns including: periodic target patterns; aperiodic target patterns; and dummy patterns arranged between the periodic target patterns and the aperiodic patterns and arranged periodically with the periodic target patterns.
US07713831B2
A method for forming a capacitor in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a storage node electrode on a semiconductor substrate, forming a dielectric layer having a high dielectric constant on the storage node electrode, depositing a plate electrode on the dielectric layer, thereby forming by-product impurities, and removing by-product impurities remaining on the plate electrode by introducing a hydrogen (H) atom-containing gas onto the semiconductor substrate while depositing a capping layer on the plate electrode.
US07713828B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, and contact plugs connected to the source and drain regions. The contact plugs includes first impurity-diffused epitaxial layers that contact with the source and drain regions.
US07713822B2
A method of forming a monolithically integrated trench FET and Schottky diode includes the following steps. Two trenches are formed extending through an upper silicon layer and terminating within a lower silicon layer. The upper and lower silicon layers have a first conductivity type. First and second silicon regions of a second conductivity type are formed in the upper silicon layer between the pair of trenches. A third silicon region of the first conductivity type is formed extending into the first and second silicon regions between the pair of trenches such that remaining lower portions of the first and second silicon regions form two body regions separated by a portion of the upper silicon layer. A silicon etch is performed to form a contact opening extending through the first silicon region such that outer portions of the first silicon region remain, the outer portions forming source regions. An interconnect layer is formed filling the contact opening so as to electrically contact the source regions and the portion of the upper silicon layer. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the second silicon region so as to form a Schottky contact therebetween.
US07713811B2
A process for forming bipolar junction transistors having a plurality of different collector doping densities on a semiconductor substrate and an integrated circuit comprising bipolar junction transistors having a plurality of different collector doping densities. A first group of the transistors are formed during formation of a triple well for use in providing triple well isolation for complementary metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors also formed on the semiconductor substrate. Additional bipolar junction transistors with different collector doping densities are formed during a second doping step after forming a gate stack for the field effect transistors. Implant doping through bipolar transistor emitter windows forms bipolar transistors having different doping densities than the previously formed bipolar transistors. According to one embodiment of the present invention, bipolar junction transistors having six different collector dopant densities (and thus six different breakdown characteristics) are formed.
US07713808B2
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) and a method for fabricating the same. A method for fabricating a CIS includes implanting first conductive type dopants in a semiconductor substrate to form a photodiode region in a surface of the semiconductor substrate, implanting second conductive type dopants in the photo diode region to form a second conductive type diffusion region, and implanting fluorine ions in the second conductive type diffusion region to form a fluorine diffusion region.
US07713805B2
A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a MOS structure includes preparing a substrate made of silicon carbide, and forming a channel region, a first impurity region, a second impurity region, a gate insulation layer, and a gate electrode to form a semiconductor element on the substrate. In addition, a film is formed on the semiconductor element to provide a material of an interlayer insulation layer, and a reflow process is performed at a temperature about 700° C. or over in an wet atmosphere so that the interlayer insulation layer is formed from the film and an edge portion of the gate electrode is rounded and oxidized.
US07713803B2
A method of fabricating a quantum well device includes forming a diffusion barrier on sides of a delta layer of a quantum well to confine dopants to the quantum well.
US07713795B2
A flash memory device has a single-poly structure. A method for manufacturing the flash device includes forming an oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate having a P-well region or N-well region. A shallow trench isolation (STI) may be formed in the semiconductor substrate and the oxide layer. A drift region may be formed by injecting a dopant into a part of the P-well region or N-well region. A gate oxide layer and a poly-silicon layer may be formed over the well region, the drift region, and the STI. A control gate pattern may be formed by patterning the gate oxide layer and the poly-silicon layer. A source region and a drain region may be formed on opposite sides of the control gate pattern. A silicon nitride layer may be deposited over the control gate pattern and etching the silicon nitride layer to form a spacer around a sidewall of the control gate pattern. A plurality of insulating layers may be formed over the control gate pattern, and via-patterns may be electrically connected to the source region and the drain region, respectively. A drain electrode and a source electrode may be electrically connected to the via-patterns, respectively.
US07713793B2
A method for manufacturing a fuse of a semiconductor device comprises forming an island-type metal fuse in a region where a laser is irradiated, so that laser energy may not be dispersed in a fuse blowing process, thereby improving repair efficiency.
US07713773B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for deposition of contact layers for Group IBIIIAVIA solar cells using electrodeposition and/or electroless deposition approaches, and solar cells that result therefrom. In one aspect of the invention, the solar cell that results includes a substrate, a stacked contact layer that includes a bottom film coated on a surface of the substrate and a top film formed by electroplating over the bottom film, wherein the top film comprises at least one of Ru, Ir and Os. A Group IBIIIAVIA compound film formed over the top film. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of depositing a stacked layer of a plurality of films in a plurality of sequentially disposed depositing units onto a continuously moving roll-to-roll sheet, preferably using electroplating of a stacked contact layer.
US07713772B2
A sensor integrated on a semiconductor device (1), in particular a flow sensor, comprises a measuring element (2) on a membrane (5). In order to prevent a buckling of the membrane (5) a tensile coating (9) is applied. The coating covers the membrane, but it preferably leaves all the active electronic components integrated on the semiconductor chip (1) uncovered, such that their electrical properties are not affected.
US07713771B2
A differential pressure sensor includes a micro-electromechanical sensor die fabricated as a plurality of sensor die sites on a semiconductor wafer, and then singularized, the sensor die having a top face surface including die electrical output pads exposed to a first test fluid source and a bottom side surface exposed to a second test fluid source. The differential pressure further has a sensor die support member having a die support member fluid access port with a support member port perimeter; wherein one of the top face surface or the bottom side surface is sealed fully around the support member port perimeter by a wafer scale seal formed on the plurality of sensor die sites before die singulation. Wafer scale seals may be formed by a photofabrication process, screen printing, stamp printing, or pressure transfer printing. Some embodiments may include a photofabricated seal formed by a photosensitive polydimethylsiloxane material, by a filled photofabricated mold, and by photopatterned glass frit.
US07713770B2
A method for fabricating a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, and a nitride semiconductor light emitting device fabricated thereby are provided. The method includes: forming a first conductive nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate; forming an active layer on the first conductive nitride semiconductor layer; forming a second conductive nitride semiconductor layer on the active layer; and lowering a temperature while adding oxygen to the result by performing a thermal process.
US07713765B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a compound semiconductor layer that is provided on a substrate and includes a cladding layer of a first conductivity type, an activation layer, a cladding layer of a second conductivity type that is the opposite of the first conductivity type, includes the steps of: forming a diffusion source layer on the compound semiconductor layer; forming a first diffusion region in the compound semiconductor layer by carrying out a first heat treatment, so that the first diffusion region includes a light emitting facet for emitting light from the activation layer; removing the diffusion source layer; forming a first SiN film having a refractive index of 1.9 or higher on the compound semiconductor layer; and turning the first diffusion region into the second diffusion region by carrying out a second heat treatment.
US07713764B2
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device including testing dedicated pad and probe card testing
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing two substrates having a first and a second surface and having first and second pads and a second testing-dedicated pad, the first pads in the first surface, the second pads in the second surface and arranged with an inter-pad distance that is larger than that for the first pad, and the second testing-dedicated pad being in the second surface; coupling a wafer with a apparatus, and inspecting the wafer with a probe card, the wafer having a LSI, which is an object of an inspection, the apparatus applicable signal to the LSI formed in the wafer, and measurable electrical characteristics of the LSI formed in the wafer, and the probe card having one of the two substrates; dicing the wafer into semiconductor elements containing the LSI; and packaging the semiconductor element over the other of the two substrates.
US07713752B2
Mixing of a sample containing a suspect bioagent or antigen with 1° recognition molecule coated magnetic beads in the preliminary stage of an enzyme linked immunoassay (“ELISA”) procedure is emulated by first inserting the coated magnetic beads into a non-magnetic confinement region, generating a magnetic field B along the axis of said non-magnetic confinement region to agglomerate the coated magnetic beads into a porous mass; then percolating or otherwise forcing the sample solution through said porous mass; and withdrawing the magnetic field to de-agglomerate said coated magnetic beads. In seeping or otherwise flowing through the magnetic beads the molecules of the sample link to respective magnetic beads that are coated with recognition molecules.
US07713750B2
A method for patterning a one or more biomolecules on a substrate that includes coating the substrate with a coating of the one or more biomolecules, applying a laser to the coating, and ablating a portion of the one or more biomolecules with the laser in a predetermined pattern.
US07713743B2
For successful wound healing to occur, the newly formed skin must generate tensile strength through collagen deposition. Measurement of collagen in the granulating wound bed may be predictive of successful wound healing. Existing methods for collagen measurement either require specialized equipment, or do not allow for discrimination of potential interfering molecules. Herein described is an accurate, specific and reliable method to extract and quantify collagen from tissue utilizing high pressure liquid chromatography techniques. The method is sensitive enough to measure the small amounts of collagen found in newly healing wounds.
US07713738B2
Oligonucleotides directed against the survivin gene are provided for modulating the expression of survivin. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding the survivin. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of survivin expression and for the treatment of diseases associated with either overexpression of survivin, expression of mutated survivin or both are provided. Examples of diseases are cancer such as lung, breast, colon, prostate, pancreas, lung, liver, thyroid, kidney, brain, testes, stomach, intestine, bowel, spinal cord, sinuses, bladder, urinary tract or ovaries cancers. The oligonucleotides may be composed of deoxyribonucleosides or a nucleic acid analogue such as for example locked nucleic acid or a combination thereof.
US07713736B2
A platform and method for mimicking the environment within a cell is provided. The platform includes a microfluidic device defining a chamber. At least one hydrogel post is positioned within the chamber of the microfluidic device. Each hydrogel post defines a corresponding pore for receiving a first molecule therein. Second molecules are introduced into the pores of the hydrogel posts and the interactions between the first and second molecules are observed.
US07713726B2
Compositions containing a lactic acid-producing bacterial strain, e.g., Bacillus coagulans for inhibition of pathogenic bacterial infections. Spores or extracellular products produced by the bacterial strains are also useful as inhibitory agents.
US07713709B2
The present invention relates to methods for screening body fluids or tissues for antibodies, including neutralizing and isotype-specific antibodies, against lysosomal enzymes administered as part of enzyme replacement therapy.
US07713702B2
The invention relates to the identification and selection of novel biomarkers and the identification and selection of novel biomarker combinations which are differentially expressed in blood and useful in diagnosing schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder as well as monitoring therapeutic efficacy of treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The measurement of expression levels of the products of the biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers of the invention can be used to diagnose schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder. Measurement of the expression level of products of biomarkers of the invention using polynucleotides and proteins which specifically and/or selectively hybridize to the products of the biomarkers of the invention are also encompassed within the scope of the invention as are compositions and kits containing said polynucleotides and proteins. Further encompassed by the invention is the use of the polynucleotides and proteins to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic regimens. The invention also provides for the identification of methods of using the products of the biomarkers of the invention in the identification of novel therapeutic targets of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder and a method of screening the genes of said biomarkers for additional markers of disease.
US07713698B2
This invention provides methods for attaching a nucleic acid to a solid surface and for sequencing nucleic acid by detecting the identity of each nucleotide analogue after the nucleotide analogue is incorporated into a growing strand of DNA in a polymerase reaction. The invention also provides nucleotide analogues which comprise unique labels attached to the nucleotide analogue through a cleavable linker, and a cleavable chemical group to cap the —OH group at the 3′-position of the deoxyribose.
US07713694B2
A method of enhancing the fluorescence of and/or producing an increased Stokes' shift in a fluorescent dye comprising combining the dye with a base and/or a detergent is described. The method is suitable in chemical or biochemical techniques using fluorescent dyes, particularly techniques requiring staining or labeling of organic molecules, such as electrophoresis.
US07713690B1
Methods for the isolation and identification of a toxicant in a sample are disclosed. Luminescent biological agents (i.e., bacteria) having sensitivity to a toxicant or an isolatable component in a sample are used to provide visually discernable zones of luminescent inhibition in the presence of a toxicant (or) in the presence of an isolatable sample component as separated by paper or thin layer chromatography. Kits for use in conjunction with the identification of a toxicant in a sample are also described, which include a luminescent biological reagent as the visualizing agent. Particular examples of luminescent bacterial agents useful in the practice of the present invention include photobacterium leoganthi, photobacterium phosphoreum, Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi a luminescent fungi, a luminescent fish extract, a luminescent dinoflagellate and fluorescent microorganisms, such as Cypridina. Potential toxicants in a liquid sample, a solid sample, or in a gaseous sample may be identified and further chemically characterized using the described methods. The isolation of potential toxicants in a sample through the processing of a sample through a separation phase matrix such as chromatography paper or TLC plate, followed by exposure to luminescent biological agent, provides for a rapid and inexpensive method for identifying pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals in a known or unknown sample.
US07713689B2
An article such as a biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon is described. The article comprises: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; (c) a polymer layer comprising brush molecules formed on the linking layer; and (d) optionally but preferably, a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) coupled to the brush molecules. The polymer layer is preferably formed by the process of surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of monomeric units thereon. Preferably, each of the monomeric units comprises a monomer (for example, a vinyl monomer) core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form the brush molecule on the surface portion. Methods of using the articles are also described.
US07713683B2
A method for making a forming structure having columnar protrusions extending therefrom comprising the steps of exposing a liquid photosensitive resin to light having an activating wavelength thereby inducing partial curing of the photosensitive resin to form a monolithic slab of partially-cured photosensitive resin; and, including the step of inducing partial curing of a plurality of protrusions on the monolithic slab such that they are joined to and integral with the monolithic slab. The method can further comprise the step of laser etching a plurality of apertures through the forming structure.
US07713680B2
A radiation sensitive resin composition for forming a protective film, comprising: [A] a copolymer of (a1) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride, (a2) an epoxy group-containing unsaturated compound and (a3) an unsaturated compound different from the components (a1) and (a2); [B] a monofunctional polymerizable unsaturated compound having a molecular weight of 180 or more and a carboxyl group; [C] a polyfunctional polymerizable unsaturated compound; and [D] a photopolymerization initiator, a method of forming a protective film from the above composition and a protective film formed from the above composition. The composition can provide a cured film having high flatness, has high developability and heat resistance, is advantageously used to form a protective film for liquid crystal display devices and solid-state image sensing devices, and has high storage stability as a composition.
US07713677B2
A photoresist composition capable of forming a high resolution pattern without an additional heating process includes an alkali-soluble phenol polymer in an amount of 10 to 70 parts by weight, including at least one unit of Formula 1, a photo-acid generator in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, a dissolution inhibitor in an amount of 5 to 50 parts by weight, including at least one unit of Formula 2, and a solvent in an amount of 10 to 90 parts by weight, wherein the amounts of the foregoing components is based on a total of 100 parts by weight of alkali-soluble phenol polymer, photo-acid generator, dissolution inhibitor, and solvent, and wherein Formulas 1 and 2 have the structures: wherein R is a methyl group, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and are hydrogen or t-butyl vinyl ether protective groups.
US07713674B2
An emulsion polymerization process comprising polymerizing monomer in an emulsion in a reaction vessel at a first temperature to form a resin; cooling the reaction vessel to a second temperature that is above the softening point of the resin yet below the temperature required for significant depolymerization reaction to occur; and adding water to the cooled reaction vessel in an amount sufficient to effect phase inversion with mixing for a sufficient time to form an aqueous latex emulsion in the absence of a surfactant.
US07713664B2
A method for fabricating a photomask includes the steps of forming a phase shift layer, a light-shielding layer, and a negative resist layer in that order on a transparent substrate, forming a first resist pattern including a pattern corresponding to a transfer pattern by performing first exposure and development on the negative resist layer, forming a light-shielding pattern by etching the light-shielding layer using the first resist pattern as a mask, removing the first resist pattern, and then forming a positive resist layer thereon, forming a second resist pattern including a pattern corresponding to a light-absorbing pattern by performing second exposure and development on the positive resist layer, and forming a phase shift pattern by etching the phase shift layer using the second resist pattern as a mask.
US07713661B2
The present invention relates to negative electrode for zinc nickel secondary batteries and the fabrication methods. These negative electrodes contain hydrophobic porous conductive granules such as carbon black granules with a hydrophobic material adsorbed. The fabrication methods for these negative electrodes include the following steps: adding a hydrophobic material to conductive porous granules such as granules in an aqueous solution; stirring the aqueous solution with the conductive porous granules and the hydrophobic material; fabricating the active material with the aqueous solution with the conductive porous granules and the hydrophobic material; and forming the negative electrode with the active material. Batteries with negative electrodes that are embodiments of this invention or are fabricated by the method of this invention are efficient in the recombination of oxygen at the electrodes during charging have low internal pressure, and are not subjected to electrolyte leakage.
US07713652B2
A series of cell fill valves are interconnected by a series of hoses and T-connections, one to each battery cell. Each cell fill valve is controlled by a ball in a seat in a single fill opening. The ball is controlled by a float on a pivotable lever arm with an end finger which holds the ball up to admit water with the float down and allows the ball to lower onto the seat as the cell fills causing the float to rise to a shutoff level when the cell is filled to a desired level.
US07713650B2
The invention is a method of reducing catalyst dissolution in the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; (b) assembling a fuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly; (c) applying a fluid comprising an oxidant to the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly; (d) applying a fluid comprising a fuel to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; and (e) supplying a sufficient quantity of reducing agent to the cathode to maintain the average open-circuit voltage of the cathode at less than about 0.98 V.
US07713644B2
A membrane electrode assembly comprising an ionically conductive member and an electrode, wherein the electrode is a smooth, continuous layer that completely covers and supports the ionically conductive member. The electrode further comprises a central region and a peripheral region, wherein a gradient of electrochemically active material exists between the central region and the peripheral region such that a content of the electrochemically active material is greater in the central region than the peripheral region.
US07713637B2
Provided herein are a coating or a device (e.g., absorbable stent) that includes a PEGylated hyaluronic acid and a PEGylated non-hyaluronic acid biocompatible polymer and the methods of use thereof.
US07713628B2
A cured coating or molded article prepared from a composition comprising an actinic-radiation curing polymer, wherein the composition is cured with actinic radiation at a temperature of at most 150° C. to form the cured coating or molded article; wherein the cured coating or molded article has a thickness of at least about 0.5 mm and a hardness of about Shore A 90 to about Shore D 90.
US07713616B2
The invention relates to a flat dual security feature which comprises two different security components, one of which can be verified in the visible spectral region and one of which can be verified in the ultraviolet spectral region of light, and which comprises flake-form effect pigments and luminescent pigments in such a low concentration that the latter are evident to the naked eye as individual particles under the action of UV light; to a process for the production thereof, and to the use thereof.
US07713610B2
A sliding member includes convex portions are formed by directly quenching a sliding surface of a sliding member in a line shape or a dot shape, and concave portions are formed in indirectly quenched portions adjacent to the directly quenched portions. An irregular surface is formed on the sliding surface by the directly quenched portions and the indirectly quenched portions. The directly quenched portions are formed in a lattice shape, a parallel straight line shape, a concentric circle shape or a spiral shape. With the irregular surface on the sliding surface by the directly quenched portions and the indirectly quenched portions, the seizure resistance can be improved.
US07713607B2
A laser-welded article comprises: a laser-transmissible workpiece made from a laser-transmissible colored resin composition including at least a thermoplastic resin and an alkaline earth metal salt of an anthraquinone-type acidic dye represented by the following chemical formulae (1) and/or (2) and a laser-absorptive workpiece putting the laser-transmissible workpiece together, wherein the workpieces are welded at the put position thereof by irradiated laser towards the laser-transmissible workpiece that transmits therethrough and is absorbed into the laser-absorptive workpiece.
US07713602B2
Packaging containers for foods in which the contents can be safely kept and which give no metallic residue after incineration. A bag made of a film material wherein a light-blocking printed layer (4) having a sepia printed layer (7) is provided on the internal face of the bag. The color of the sepia printed layer (7) is controlled to give a color hue of 5R to 10R in the Mansell color system, a lightness of 5 to 7 and a chroma of 0 to 3, while the light (300 to 800 nm) permeability of the packing material (1) is controlled to 10% or less.
US07713584B2
Processes are provided for producing bismuth-containing oxide thin films by atomic layer deposition. In preferred embodiments an organic bismuth compound having at least one monodentate alkoxide ligand is used as a bismuth source material. Bismuth-containing oxide thin films can be used, for example, as ferroelectric or dielectric materials in integrated circuits and as superconductor materials.
US07713582B2
A film-forming method that includes providing a substrate to be film-formed in a reaction chamber of an apparatus that includes: the reaction chamber; a first gas supply pipe in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for carrying a first processing gas to the reaction chamber; a second gas supply pipe in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for carrying a second processing gas to the reaction chamber; a gas reservoir in fluid communication with the first gas supply pipe; and a bypass line in fluid communication with the first gas supply pipe, the bypass line bypassing the gas reservoir; and the steps of alternately supplying the first processing gas and the second processing gas into the reaction chamber a plurality of times to form a film on the substrate, and wherein when the first gas is supplied, the gas reservoir or the bypass line is selected to supply the first gas into the reaction chamber through the first gas supply pipe, and when the second gas is supplied the second gas is supplied through the second gas supply pipe.
US07713576B2
A method of producing a piezoelectric ceramic thick film on a substrate, said method comprising: providing a piezoelectric ceramic material in powder form; forming a liquid mixture by mixing the powdered material with a liquid phase precursor of a metal oxide of low-melting point, said precursor being adapted to decompose, upon subsequent annealing, into the metal oxide; drying the liquid mixture to form a precipitate; milling the precipitate to form a powdered precipitate; adding an organic carrier to the powdered precipitate; further milling the precipitate to form a paste; depositing a layer of the paste, as a wet film, onto the substrate; and annealing the layered substrate at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause transformation of the paste into the thick film.
US07713573B2
The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents. The invention also includes methods, devices, and specifications for loading of drugs and other therapeutic agents into nanoporous coatings.
US07713571B2
An egg-based material that includes an egg-based substance, a water-absorbent thickener distributed throughout the egg-based material, and pieces of supplemental food distributed throughout the egg-based material, where the egg-based substance includes a natural liquid egg component and the water-absorbent thickener is effective to maintain distribution of the pieces of supplemental food throughout the egg-based material.
US07713569B2
The invention provides olive-derived hydroxytyrosol. According to one aspect of the invention, vegetation water is collected from olives. Acid is added to stabilize the vegetation water and prevent fermentation. The mixture is incubated to allow oleuropein to convert to hydroxytyrosol, and then fractionated to separate hydroxytyrosol from other components. The hydroxytyrosol is useful as a therapeutic and anti-oxidant for a variety of health purposes, including for the treatment of skin damage. In addition, the hydroxytyrosol is useful as a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral and fungicidal product for agricultural and pest control applications.
US07713566B2
A process for enhancing polyphenolics content of beverages brewed from polyphenolic containing, processed beverage substrate by pre-soaking substrate (coffee beans, for example) before roasting and then quenching the substrate after processing with the liquid in which the substrate was first “pre-soaked.” Beverages produced from the treated substrate exhibit substantially increased polyphenolics content, when compared to conventionally processed beverage substrate of the same nature and processing.
US07713559B2
Amorphous water-soluble calcium citrate salts having a mole ratio of calcium to citrate of less than 2.5:2, and powdered beverage mixes and liquid compositions fortified with these amorphous water-soluble calcium citrate salts as a calcium source, are provided. Liquid compositions fortified with calcium citrate according to this invention have superior dispersability, solubility, appearance, and storage stability. These liquid compositions are prepared by new methods that provide and preserve a stable amorphous character in the dry powdered product salts. The present invention also is directed to a method of administering such calcium citrate-fortified liquid compositions to increase the dietary calcium intake in individuals.
US07713556B2
Extracts from an indigenous Jamaican plant that exhibit an anti-tumor activity and/or an anti-inflammatory activity and, more particularly, an extract of Jamaican Ball Moss (Tillandsia Recurvata) that has a therapeutic pharmacological activity, in particular an anti-cancerous activity by inducing tumorous cell death by apoptosis, and active compounds isolated thereof are described. Furthermore, methods for the extraction of the extracts are disclosed. Also, a pharmaceutical composition or product for the treatment of cancer which includes an effective amount of the described extract or an active compound thereof, a therapeutic compound and optionally a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier are described.
US07713552B2
Disclosed is a medical device (5) and more particularly, an implantable biomaterial. The biomaterial comprises a radiopaque (22) collagenous biomaterial (10).
US07713551B2
Disclosed is a solid or semi-solid gelatin nanoparticulate active agent dosage form comprising at least one nanoparticulate active agent and at least one gel forming substance which exhibits gelation sufficient to retain excess water in the solid or semi-solid gelatin form. The active agent particles have an effective average diameter prior to inclusion in the dosage form of less than about 2000 nm. The dosage form of the invention has the advantages of easy administration combined with rapid dissolution of the active agent following administration.
US07713550B2
Disclosed is a controlled release formulation comprising valproic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, amide thereof, or derivative thereof.
US07713540B2
The present disclosure relates to devices methods for the reverse transport of lipids such as cholesterols for the treatment diseases and conditions caused by vulnerable plaques. The devices can reduce or eliminate vulnerable plaques by transporting the plaques away from their location.
US07713534B2
Protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae are disclosed, together with nucleic acid sequences encoding them. Their use in vaccines and in screening methods is also described.
US07713533B2
The use of a biologically active complex of α-lactalbumin, selected from HAMLET (human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumour cells) or a biologically active modification thereof, or a biologically active fragment of either of these, in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of papilloma, such as cutaneous papillomas.
US07713532B2
There is provided a HBV precore protein having an ability of forming particles, and a means for determining it. A novel HBV precore protein that forms the virus (like) particles of HBV was identified. The present invention provides this novel HBV precore protein. Furthermore, there are provided core-like particles and virus-like particles formed by this HBV precore protein. These virus-like particles can be used for vaccines and therapeutic agents. The present invention also provides a method of determining the HBV precore protein and a method of determining the anti-HBV precore protein antibody.
US07713525B2
Disclosed herein are biomarkers and uses thereof for evaluating anti-cancer efficacy and sensitivity.
US07713515B2
Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular weight Actin protein fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity and/or characterize disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.
US07713513B2
A family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites designated UZM-8HS and derived from UZM-8 have been synthesized. The aluminum content of the UZM-8HS is lower than that of the starting UZM-8 thus changing its ion exchange capacity and acidity. These UZM-8HS are represented by the empirical formula: M1an+Al(1−x)ExSiy′Oz″ and are prepared by treatments such as acid extraction and AFS treatments.
US07713506B2
Metal aminoboranes of the formula M(NH2BH3)n have been synthesized. Metal aminoboranes are hydrogen storage materials. Metal aminoboranes are also precursors for synthesizing other metal aminoboranes. Metal aminoboranes can be dehydrogenated to form hydrogen and a reaction product. The reaction product can react with hydrogen to form a hydrogen storage material. Metal aminoboranes can be included in a kit.
US07713504B2
A process to produce mixed metal oxides and metal oxide compounds. The process includes evaporating a feed solution that contains at least two metal salts to form an intermediate. The evaporation is conducted at a temperature above the boiling point of the feed solution but below the temperature where there is significant crystal growth or below the calcination temperature of the intermediate. The intermediate is calcined, optionally in the presence of an oxidizing agent, to form the desired oxides. The calcined material can be milled and dispersed to yield individual particles of controllable size and narrow size distribution.
US07713499B2
Apparatuses and methods for preparing sol-gel solutions are provided. Specifically, apparatuses include a vessel optionally containing a stirrer; a pump; a fluidized bed reaction column; and multiple fluid lines. The multiple fluid lines connect the vessel and the pump in a first circulation loop and connect the vessel, the pump and the fluidized bed reaction column in a second circulation loop. Processes for preparing sol-gel solutions using such apparatuses are also disclosed.
US07713497B2
A natural gas liquid plant includes a separator (103) that receives a cooled low pressure feed gas (4), wherein the separator (103) is coupled to an absorber (108) and a demethanizer (110). Refrigeration duty of the absorber (108) and demethanizer (110) are provided at least in part by expansion of a liquid portion of the cooled low pressure feed gas (4) and an expansion of a liquid absorber bottom product (19), wherein ethane recovery is at least 85 mol % and propane recovery is at least 99 mol %. Contemplated configurations are especially advantageous as upgrades to existing plants with low pressure feed gas where high ethane recovery is desirable.
US07713489B2
The invention relates to an original experimental device for the study and the validation of processes in a reactive simulated moving bed, as well as the method that makes possible the exploitation of the results obtained from said device.This device consists of one or two columns and a number of storage tanks.
US07713488B2
A pre-scented or custom-scented attachment designed to fit onto any existing lamp or lamp shade. The scent attachment allows consumers to choose a scent additive to freshen their home, kitchens, bedroom, bathroom, common-space lobbies, bar, restaurant or any other place where these products are used, as well as to complement the light emitted from the actual light fixture. The attachment can be replaced easily to refresh the space, or change the fragrance for the desired area to be scented. The attachment can be sold with a matching lamp fixture and shade or individually as its own product. It is a shaped attachment, with fragrance embedded therein, being a central hole to fit in the lamp spider, and incorporate grooves to fix it in place.
US07713484B2
The invention concerns a device for isolating, on a reactive surface, an analyte from a liquid sample containing the analyte.
US07713481B2
The invention concerns an automatic pipetting unit with a replaceable pipetting head. The pipetting head includes two head rails located on opposite sides. The pipetting unit also has two horizontal guide channels located in the interior of the pipetting unit for supporting the two head rails. Two frame-mounted, double-sided slider crank mechanisms are vertically arranged in the pipetting unit. Each double-sided slider crank mechanism includes two crank mechanisms each connected to a common articulated thrust joint by a thrust couple. The horizontal guide channels are formed in the articulated thrust joint and the crank mechanisms are connected indirectly to a head cover of the pipetting unit, so that with the opening and closing motion of the head cover the two slider crank mechanisms are moved between two end positions so that the pipetting head can be moved vertically between a lower end working position and an upper end replacement position.
US07713480B2
A lead portion (25) of a heater coil (22) is constituted of a single coil wound into a coil and a bead portion (24) is constituted of a double coil formed by further winding the single coil into a coil. By constituting a detecting element (2) by burying the bead portion (24) in a heat conductive layer (21) and adhering a catalyst layer (23) on the surface of the heat conductive layer (21), improvement of the gas sensitivity and the response speed of a catalytic combustion gas sensor is facilitated. Zero point variation is reduced by improving impact resistance. When both ends of the heater coil are fixed to electrode pins, both ends of the heater coil are welded to the electrode pins using a resistance welding method, etc., with a platinum wire, etc., wound on a primary core wire, and thereafter, the primary core wire is melted and eliminated while leaving the platinum wire, etc., by a wet etching process.
US07713476B2
An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects (1), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station (3) and one object carrier (2) for bringing the object (1) to the processing station (3), optionally through the processing station (3), and away from the processing station (3), is characterized in that the object carrier (2) has a code; that data concerning the object (1) and/or the handling or processing of the object (1) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.
US07713474B2
A device for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample includes a liquid permeable composition for making a physical separation between compositions of the sample or for reacting with components. The liquid permeable composition has adhesive properties and can be used to make a multi-layered test strip or the composition can be used in the sample wells of microfluidic devices.
US07713472B2
The present invention provides novel broad spectrum antiseptic compounds that further have properties that allow them to be coated/impregnated into polymer surfaces. Methods for coating these antiseptic compounds onto medical devices especially in-dwelling medical devices to prevent the growth of pathogens in such devices and hence, to prevent infection to patients via such devices are provided. The invention also provides antiseptics that are useful as general surface disinfectants and sterilizers, fluid disinfectants and biocide preservatives.
US07713461B2
The invention relates to a process for producing an oral care device, such as a toothbrush, having a body, which comprises a handle region, a head region and a neck region located between the handle region and the head region, and having functional elements which are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit and an electric supply device which has an energy store and is intended for the functional unit, in the case of which the body is produced, by injection molding, from at least one hard component, which serves as a reinforcement, and at least one soft component, and at least some of the functional elements, during the production of the body, are encapsulated, at least in part, directly by the plastic which forms the soft component.
US07713454B2
Arrangement for producing a three-dimensional product, which arrangement comprises a work table on which said three-dimensional product is to be built up, a powder dispenser which is arranged so as to distribute a thin layer of powder on the work table for forming a powder bed, a radiation gun for delivering energy to the powder, fusing together of the powder then taking place, means for guiding the beam emitted by the radiation gun over said powder bed for forming a cross section of said three-dimensional product by fusing together parts of said powder bed, and a control computer in which information about successive cross sections of the three-dimensional product is stored, which cross sections build up the three-dimensional product, where the control computer is intended to control said means for guiding the radiation gun over the powder bed according to an operating scheme forming a cross section of said three-dimensional body, said three-dimensional product being formed by successive fusing together of successively formed cross sections from by the powder dispenser, and method for producing three-dimensional product using such an arrangement.
US07713453B2
A method for fabricating micro-lenses and a method for fabricating micro-lenses by photolithography are provided. The method includes forming a plurality of micro-cavities in a substrate, filling lens material into each of the micro-cavities, and heating the lens material, thereby reflowing the lens material so as to form a plurality of micro-lenses in the substrate. The micro-cavities define a boundary of each of the micro-lenses formed by reflowing the lens material, thereby preventing adjacent micro-lenses from fusing together by reflowing when overheated. The process uses negative photoresist and positive photoresist as micro-cavities and lens material respectively, thereby streamlining the fabrication method and its steps.
US07713445B2
The invention relates to a mixture for applying a thin polymer, especially less than 6 μm, non-corrosive, electroconductive or semiconductive coating which can be shaped in a low-abrasive manner, to a base. Said mixture contains A) electroconductive and/or semiconductive elements/compounds selected from the group of a) electroconductive and/or semiconductive particles having a particle size distribution with a transfer value d80 which is less than or equal to 6 μm, b) electroconductive and/or semi-conductive polymer compounds, and c) electroconductive and/or semiconductive compounds containing amine and/or ammonium, B) at least one binding agent optionally containing reactive thinning agents, C) at least one crosslinking agent and/or at least one photoinitiator, D) optionally at least one constituent selected from d) post-crosslinking compounds, e) additives, f) anticorrosion pigments, and g) non-particulate corrosion inhibitors, and optionally E) an organic solvent and/or water, the sum of all of the conductive and/or semiconductive elements/compounds A) amounting to between 0.5 and 70 wt. %, and the particle content a) amounting to between 0 and 60 wt. %. The invention also relates to a method for producing a non-corrosive, viscoplastic coating on a base, said coating containing polymer and inorganic particles, and to an electroconductive or semiconductive coating containing polymer and inorganic particles.
US07713443B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic phosphor, particularly, an oxynitride phosphor containing alkaline earths which has a higher luminance than that of conventional sialon phosphors activated with a rare earth, and is chemically stable.By baking a raw material mixture containing at least silicon nitride powder, M element containing inorganic substance, and A element containing inorganic substance at a temperature range of 1200° C. to 2200° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, a phosphor comprising an inorganic composition containing at least M Element, A Element, silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen (wherein M Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, A Element is one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and containing at least crystal having the same crystal structure as that of A2Si5N8 and A element-containing crystal is obtained.
US07713440B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprises uncoated particles of a single thermodynamic equilibrium reversed cubic phase material containing an active agent disposed within. The uncoated particles have an anionic charge that is sufficient to stabilize them in dispersion in a liquid, e.g. a polar solvent.
US07713424B2
Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for purging an adsorptive material of entrapped particulates. Methods, systems and apparatus rely upon a reverse loop for reversing the flow of medium within an adsorption material, allowing particulates caught within the adsorption material to be preferentially moved through and out of the adsorption material.
US07713423B2
In one embodiment, a reactive filtration method includes continuously regenerating a reactive filter media while simultaneously filtering contaminants from fluid flowing through the filter media. In one embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises mixing metal granules with the filter media and agitating the mixture. In another embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises introducing a metal in the fluid flowing through the filter media and agitating the filter media. In one embodiment, a method for removing phosphorus, arsenic or a heavy metal from water includes introducing a metal salt reagent into the water at a molar ratio of 5:1 to 200:1 to the phosphorous or the arsenic in the water and passing the water through a bed of moving sand.
US07713419B2
A method and construction for treatment of sludge from waterworks and wastewater treatment plants is disclosed. The method for treatment of sludge from waterwork or wastewater treatment plant, comprising precipitated inorganic chemical coagulants and precipitated organic substances, comprises adding an acid to the sludge in such a way that a first sludge mixture with low pH is received. The first sludge mixture includes the inorganic chemical coagulants in solution and the organic substances. The sludge mixture is pumped, via heat exchangers to a pressure tank. An obtained first concentrate is fed to at least one membrane filtration process in which a second concentrate and a first permeate are obtained.
US07713418B2
A method for a liquid-liquid extraction of hydrophilic organic compounds from aqueous solutions thereof is described. The method generally includes intermixing a sufficient quantity of a specified glycol ether with the aqueous liquor at a first temperature to form a suspension comprising an aqueous raffinate phase and a glycol ether extract phase; separating the glycol ether extract phase from the aqueous raffinate phase; heating the glycol ether extract phase to a second, higher temperature to form a suspension comprising an aqueous extract phase containing a portion of the hydrophilic organic compound and a glycol ether raffinate phase; and separating this glycol ether raffinate phase from the aqueous extract phase. The selected glycol ether has an inverse solubility in water and the partition ratio, value K, for the hydrophilic organic compound is greater than 0.1. This method is useful for recovering valuable hydrophilic organic acids produced via fermentation or produced or used in various manufacturing processes.
US07713414B2
Disclosed is a water de-contamination system, methods, and apparatus using alternating aerobic, anaerobic, and aerobic conditions, with carbon and other waste processing treatments, to remove contaminants from water. Included is an aerobic system in flow communication with an outlet from a waste tank; waste processing treatments in flow communication with liquid exiting the aerobic system and in which anaerobic conditions can be created; means for creating and maintaining anaerobic conditions either within the waste processing treatments or after fluid exits the waste processing treatments; means for return of the fluid into aerobic conditions. A fluid retaining device within which anaerobic conditions are maintained and nitrogen-containing compounds and other contaminants are processed and removed is used. Waste processing treatments are provided within or adjacent the fluid retaining device. Included are outflow means for fluid to exit the fluid retaining device and enter aerobic conditions for final processing and release.
US07713413B2
A process for treating biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes providing wastewater influent to an oxygen-deficit aeration zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes transferring the mixed liquor from the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to an oxygen-surplus aeration zone and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the oxygen-surplus aeration zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. In addition, the process includes recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the oxygen-deficit aeration zone as recycled activated sludge.
US07713406B2
A biosensor comprises a space part for sucking and housing a sample formed of two upper and lower plates, the two plates being stuck together by an adhesive layer, the space part for sucking and housing the sample being constituted so as to be partially opened in the peripheral part and partially closed by the adhesive layer, and has a working electrode having at least glucose oxidase immobilized thereon and a counter electrode on the same plane of the plate.
US07713404B2
An apparatus and method for improving the accuracy of Electrochemical Capacitance Voltage (ECV) profiling measurements by alerting the operator to the presence of surface films or gas bubbles during the etching process and by using this in-situ monitoring apparatus to determine the true measurement area at the end of the measurement cycle and using the new value to recalculate the data. By making the area measurement integral to the ECV tool, every sample measurement can be corrected for the true measurement area, leading to improved accuracy and eliminating a large source of error.
US07713395B1
A dielectrophoretic columnar focusing device uses interdigitated microelectrodes to provide a spatially non-uniform electric field in a fluid that generates a dipole within particles in the fluid. The electric field causes the particles to either be attracted to or repelled from regions where the electric field gradient is large, depending on whether the particles are more or less polarizable than the fluid. The particles can thereby be forced into well defined stable paths along the interdigitated microelectrodes. The device can be used for flow cytometry, particle control, and other process applications, including cell counting or other types of particle counting, and for separations in material control.
US07713394B2
A sample plate assembly for an electrophoresis apparatus including a tray at a sample supply portion of a capillary array, an adapter for the tray, a sample plate mounted on the adapter, a septer mounted on the sample plate and a septer holder mounted on the septer. Thereby, many number of samples can be automatically supplied to capillaries in a multi capillary array.
US07713391B2
In an activation state of a sensor device, when voltage on the connection points between the sensor device and the sensor control circuit becomes a preset abnormal value, electric cut off is made between the sensor control circuit and the connection point. Then, the delivery of power to the heater is ceased to lower the temperature of the cells to a below of an activation temperature, thereby increasing the internal resistance of the cell. Thereafter, the sensor control circuit supplies to the sensor device a current in a degree not to damage the sensor device, to detect voltages on the connection points at that time. By comparing between the voltages on the respective connection points detected, a content and location of abnormality occurred is identified for the sensor device.
US07713384B2
A device for the detachable fixing of a holder for a doctor blade located in a paper production plant, it being possible for the doctor blade, which is assigned to a supporting or guiding roll for the wire, for the felt or for the paper web, to be set in its position with respect to the supporting or guiding roll by way of an actuating device and, furthermore, it being possible for the holder for the doctor blade to be displaced on a support for the holder by way of a guide at least approximately in the axial direction of the supporting or guiding roll and fixed on the support in the operating position. A pressure hose is disposed between the holder for the doctor blade and the support. The pressure hose allows the holder for the doctor blade to be clamped to the support.
US07713380B2
A method for preventing the formation of contaminating polymeric films on the backsides of semiconductor substrates includes providing an oxygen-impregnated focus ring and/or an oxygen-impregnated chuck that releases oxygen during etching operations. The method further provides delivering oxygen gas to the substrate by mixing oxygen in the cooling gas mixture, maintaining the focus ring at a temperature no greater than the substrate temperature during etching and cleaning the substrate using a two step plasma cleaning sequence that includes suspending the substrate above the chuck.
US07713379B2
Plasma confinement rings are adapted to reach sufficiently high temperatures on plasma-exposed surfaces of the rings to substantially reduce polymer deposition on those surfaces. The plasma confinement rings include an RF lossy material effective to enhance heating at portions of the rings. A low-emissivity material can be provided on a portion of the plasma confinement ring assembly to enhance heating effects.
US07713378B2
A substrate ozone processing device includes: a substrate-carrying/heating platform; above the platform, a gas supply head made up of a main head unit bored with platform-directed vent holes, gas conduits connected at their basal ends to the gas vent holes and separated by an interspace communicating with the gas-supply-head exterior, and a plurality of coplanar facing plates perforated, top-side-to-underside, with gas-discharging through-holes receiving the distal ends of the gas conduits, and with a latticework of gaps surrounding the discharging through-holes and communicating with the interspace; and a gas supply device for supplying ozone gas to the discharging through-holes. The facing plates are of small volume such that even should heat transfer between the plates and the substrate occur, thermal equilibrium between the plates and the substrate is reached in a short time, facilitating substrate temperature management.
US07713374B2
A pipe lining material is inserted into a pipeline and expanded to press against an inner peripheral surface of the pipeline. Hot water from a first fluid source is sprayed onto the pipe lining material via a hose to cure the thermosetting resin impregnated therein and thereby cure the pipe lining material, with the sprayed hot water being accumulated in a bottom part of the pipe lining material. The hot water accumulated in the bottom part of the pipe lining material is delivered to a second fluid source separate and independent from the first fluid source, cooled in the second fluid source to provide cooling water, and supplied to the hose. The cooling water is sprayed onto the cured pipe lining material via the hose to cool the cured pipe lining material.
US07713371B2
The invention relates to a method for applying flat material web sections (28) to a first flat web of material (6) which is displaced in the direction of the machine having a first web speed during the production of hygiene articles or medical articles. The dimensions of the flat material web sections (28), in the direction of the machine, are smaller than the measurements of the articles which are to be produced. The flat material web sections (28) of an endless web (8) are separated in the cut-and-place method and are arranged on the first flat material web (6). The endless web (8) is fed at a second web speed to a second cutting station in the direction of a cutting roller (18). According to the inventive method, a front section (26) of the endless web (8) is applied against a surface section (24) of an anvil roller (22) which co-operates with the cutting roller (18), the surface section being curved less than the periphery (34) of the anvil roller (22). The front section (26) is cut in the endless web (8) in order to form the flat material web section (28) and each cut flat material web sections (28) is accelerated in a slip-free manner by the anvil roller (22).
US07713357B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating a surface with a gel, as well as to a treatment gel.The treatment may be a decontamination, etching or surface degreasing treatment, for example.The method comprises in this order, the following steps: applying the treatment gel on the surface to be treated, maintaining the treatment gel on the surface to be treated at a temperature and relative humidity such that the gel dries by breaking up and that it has the time to treat the surface before forming a dry and solid residue, and removing the dry and solid residue from the treated surface by suction or brushing.The gel comprises a viscosing agent, a treatment agent and optionally an oxidizing agent.
US07713356B2
A cleaning sheet for cleaning foreign matters away from the interior of the substrate processing equipment is provided. The cleaning sheet includes a cleaning layer having substantially no tackiness and having a tensile modulus of not lower than 0.98 N/mm2 as determined according to JIS K7127. Alternatively, the cleaning sheet includes a cleaning layer having a Vickers hardness of not lower than 10.
US07713355B2
A silicon shelf tower for hatch thermal processing of silicon wafers in a vertical furnace. The tower includes at least three silicon legs joined to bases and having a vertical arrangement of slots. Silicon shelves are detachably loaded by sliding them through the slots in the side legs and into the slot of the back leg. A interlocking mechanism detachably locks the shelves to the back leg while the slots in the two side legs laterally constrains the shelves. The shelves include cutouts to allow a robot paddle to load and unload wafers to the shelves. Circular holes in the shelves relieve stress and prevent wafer sticking Preferably, the shelves are formed from randomly oriented polycrystalline silicon. The shelves and towers can alternatively be made of other materials such as quartz and silicon carbide.
US07713353B2
A method for growing a β-Ga2O3 single includes preparing a β-Ga2O3 seed crystal and growing the β-Ga2O3 single crystal from the β-Ga2O3 seed crystal in a predetermined direction.
US07713350B2
A pigment with modified properties because of the powder size being below 100 nanometers. Blue, yellow and brown pigments are illustrated. Nanoscale coated, un-coated, whisker inorganic fillers are included. Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric composition are disclosed. The pigment nanopowders taught comprise one or more elements from the group actinium, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, chalcogenide, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, gallium, gold, hafnium, hydrogen, indium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mendelevium, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, neptunium, nickel niobium, nitrogen, oxygen, osmium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, promethium, protactinium, rhenium, rubidium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium.
US07713348B2
A precursor composition including a precursor for forming a ferroelectric, the ferroelectric being shown by a general formula AB1-XCXO3, an element A including at least Pb, an element B including at least one of Zr, Ti, V, W, and Hf, an element C including at least one of Nb and Ta, the precursor including at least the element B and the element C and part of the precursor including an ester bond, the precursor being dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent, and the organic solvent including at least a first alcohol and a second alcohol having a boiling point and viscosity higher than a boiling point and viscosity of the first alcohol.
US07713346B2
This invention relates to silicon precursor compositions for forming silicon-containing films by low temperature (e.g., <300° C.) chemical vapor deposition processes for fabrication of ULSI devices and device structures. Such silicon precursor compositions comprise at least one disilane derivative compound that is fully substituted with alkylamino and/or dialkylamino functional groups.
US07713345B2
The present invention is directed to an “warm” asphalt paving composition that contains an modified asphalt binder and aggregate, wherein the asphalt binder is modified, at least in part, by the addition of a hydrated phosphate modifier to the asphalt.
US07713340B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a pretreating agent for electroless plating that is stable and soluble in organic solvents, a method of electroless plating with excellent adhesiveness using it and an electroless plated product. An object to be plated is pre-treated using a pretreating agent for electroless plating comprising a noble metal soap of naphthenic acid or a fatty acid having 5 to 25 carbon atoms or preferably using a pretreating agent for electroless plating additionally comprising an imidazole silane coupling agent or other silane coupling agent having metal capturing ability, and then electroless plated. The noble metal soap is preferably a palladium soap.
US07713337B2
A canister device includes a main canister, a sub-canister, and a hose. The main canister includes a charging port, a purging port, and a main canister-side connection port. The sub-canister is separated from the main canister and located on a side of the main canister, and includes a drain port opened to the atmosphere and disposed on the same side as the main canister-side connection port of the main canister and a sub-canister side connection port disposed on the opposite side from the drain port. The hose provides fluid communication between the main canister-side connection port and the sub-canister-side connection port.
US07713335B2
A device for separating gas from liquid includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid and gas. The inlet is positioned such that the flow of liquid and gas enters the housing in a direction substantially tangential to a circumference of an inner surface of the housing. The housing also includes a first outlet for discharging an at least partially gaseous flow from the housing and a second outlet for discharging an at least partially deaerated flow of liquid from the housing. The device also includes a gas separating element disposed inside the housing downstream from the inlet and upstream from the second outlet. The gas separating element forms at least one opening to permit liquid to pass and form the at least partially deaerated flow and to permit the at least partially gaseous flow to separate from the at least partially deaerated flow.
US07713330B2
A tower ionizer air cleaner is provided. The tower ionizer air cleaner includes a tower chassis, with a base of the tower chassis including a small footprint, one or more airflow inlet openings in the tower chassis, one or more airflow outlet openings in the tower chassis and substantially opposite to the one or more airflow inlet openings, and an ionizer element positioned within the tower chassis. The tower ionizer air cleaner further includes one or more fan units substantially vertically located within the tower ionizer air cleaner and affixed to the tower chassis. The one or more fan units are configured to provide an airflow between the one or more airflow inlet openings and the one or more airflow outlet openings and through the ionizer element.
US07713322B2
A filter layer includes at least partially gas-permeable material having a plurality of segments joined to one another in such a way that the filter layer has non-parallel edges. Inexpensive manufacturing methods for such a filter layer, conical honeycomb bodies having the filter layer and particle-filtering exhaust gas purification apparatuses for motor vehicles, are also provided.
US07713321B2
Air cleaner assemblies and components therefor are described and shown. Also methods of assembly and use are described and shown. Projection/receiver arrangements are described, for securing a filter cartridge in place within the housing. Also housing seal arrangements for the filter arrangements being sealed to the housing, and specific housing features and cartridge features are shown.
US07713318B2
The hydrogen generator includes: a reformer 101 having a reforming catalyst configured to cause a source material and water to react with each other to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas; a reformer heater 104 configured to heat the reformer; a carbon monoxide reducing portion 111,121 having a carbon monoxide reducing catalyst configured to reduce carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas; a carbon monoxide reduction heater 112,123 configured to heat at least one of the carbon monoxide reducing portion, the carbon monoxide reducing catalyst and the reformed gas passing through the carbon monoxide reducing portion; and a controller 200 capable of control such that the carbon monoxide reduction heater is caused to operate in a stop operation period.
US07713307B1
A layer (2∝″) is arranged on an implant (1″) for bone or tissue structure (5). The layer constitutes a boundary or a barrier between the actual or unoxidized body of the implant (1″) and the structure for the purpose of increasing retention and has in this context, a substantial thickness (T′). The layer (2′″) is designed with a channel network (6) which gives the layer a substantial porosity. The channel network (6) is designed with mouths (3′,4′) which face towards the structure (5) and whose respective cross-sectional diameters (D), at the surface (2a′) of the layer (2′″) facing towards the structure (5), are substantially less than the respective extents (e.g., H) of the channels in and down into the layer (2′″) as seen from the said surface (2a′).
US07713304B2
The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The present invention also relates to prosthetic spinal disc designs that are implanted using a transforaminal approach.
US07713302B2
An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one spirally slotted belleville washer having radially spaced concentric grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.
US07713300B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed for performing a surgery, such as an orthopedic surgery. The apparatus can include a guide portion and an alignment portion. The guide portion can assist in positioning the alignment portion to assist in aligning an implant. The implant can be aligned and positioned to hold a graft relative to a bone portion.
US07713299B2
An intraocular lens is disclosed, with an optic that changes shape in response to a deforming force exerted by the zonules of the eye. A haptic supports the optic around its equator and couples the optic to the capsular bag of the eye. The region of contact between the optic and the haptic extends into the edge of the optic, similar to the interface between a bicycle tire and the rim that holds it in place. The haptic may be stiffer than the optic. The haptic may have the same refractive index as the optic. The haptic may include a saddle-shaped portion in contact with the adjustable optic, with a convex profile along an optical axis; and a concave profile in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
US07713298B2
Methods and devices are provided for support of a body structure. The devices can be adjusted within the body of a patient in a minimally invasive or non-invasive manner such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient's body. The energy may include, for example, acoustic energy, radio frequency energy, light energy and magnetic energy. Thus, as the body structure changes size and/or shape, the size and/or shape of the annuloplasty rings can be adjusted to provide continued reinforcement. In certain embodiments, the devices include a shape memory material that is responsive to changes in temperature and/or exposure to a magnetic field. A material having enhanced absorption characteristics with regard to a desired heating energy may be used in order to facilitate heating and adjustment of the support device.
US07713290B2
A vertebral stabilization assembly for stabilizing vertebrae is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprises a first vertebral screw having a shaft with a threaded portion and an engaging portion and a second vertebral screw having a shaft with a threaded portion and an engaging portion. The assembly also comprises a first connecting screw having a first end configured to be engaged by the engaging portion of the first vertebral screw, and a second connecting screw having a first end configured to be engaged by the engaging portion of the second vertebral screw. The assembly further comprises a first horizontal connecting member configured to be coupled to the first vertebral screw and the first connecting screw, and a second horizontal connecting member configured to be coupled to the second vertebral screw and the second connecting screw. The assembly additionally comprises a vertical connecting member configured to be coupled to the first horizontal connecting member and the second horizontal connecting member.
US07713281B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for providing access to a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. A pushable stiffening member extends from the distal end of the tubular member, the elongate member terminating in a distal tip. An expandable sheath extends along at least a portion of the stiffening member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the stiffening member into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with the tubular member lumen. In one embodiment, the sheath includes an outer lumen and an inner lumen floating within the outer lumen, and the stiffening member is carried in the inner lumen.
US07713279B2
A method of removing material from a blood flow lumen generally includes providing a device having a cutting element and an opening, advancing the device through the blood flow lumen to a site where material is to be removed, forcing the opening toward a wall of the site where material is to be removed, and moving the cutting element and the opening so that material in the blood flow lumen is cut by the cutting element and directed into the opening for removal as the cutting element and opening are moved through the blood flow lumen. In some embodiments, the device may be deflected or bent to force the opening toward a wall to remove material. The cutting element may be rotatable and may have an axis that is movable, that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, or both. In some embodiments, the cutting element is movable between retracted and deployed positions for advancing the device to a site for treatment and for removing material, respectively.
US07713272B2
Bioabsorbable coatings for bioabsorbable implantable medical devices having dragging or engagement surfaces. The coatings on a surface of the devices reduce device drag.
US07713271B2
Methods and devices for treating fractures in or adjacent the wrist and distal forearm employ an intramedullary interlocking fixation rod (i.e, it interlocks the distal and proximal fracture fragments together) to stabilize the skeletal structure in a manner which can inhibit the amount of collapse or loss in skeletal length exhibited by a patient with a distal radius fracture.
US07713268B2
The present invention provides applicators for performing thermokeratoplasty. One embodiment of such applicators includes two generally tubular electrical conducting elements coaxially disposed relative to one another and separated by an electrically insulating element having a selected thickness. At least a portion of each conducting tube is coated with an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material, e.g., anodized aluminum, so as to electrically insulate the conducting tubes from corneal tissue upon placement of the applicator on a subject's cornea while facilitating extraction of heat from the cornea.
US07713263B2
Devices, systems, and methods for compensate for friction within powered automatic systems, particularly for telesurgery and other telepresence applications. Dynamic friction compensation may comprise applying a continuous load in the direction of movement of a joint, and static friction compensation may comprise applying alternating loads in positive and negative joint actuation directions whenever the joint velocity reading falls within a low velocity range.
US07713254B2
A sanitary, absorbent article includes a hooks and loops type fastener for releasably attaching a first and a second part of the article to each other, wherein the first part is overlapping the second part when the parts are attached to each other, with a hooks member affixed to said first part of the article and a loops member affixed to the second part of the article. Each member has a base portion having a bottom surface affixed to the first or second part of the article and an opposite top surface containing hooks elements and loops elements, respectively. The fastener can include a first end region distal to the overlapping edge of the first part, in which the engagement force between the hooks and loops element of the members is reduced.
US07713237B2
An improved surgical cassette for controlling intraocular pressure during ophthalmic surgery.
US07713233B2
A dilatation balloon for use in combination with a catheter device, the balloon having a waist, cone and body portion and having a first layer formed from a first polymeric composition, the balloon having a second layer disposed on at least a portion of the first layer, the second layer formed from a second polymeric composition which is crosslinked on at least a portion of the dilatation balloon, and methods of making and using the same.
US07713224B1
An ankle brace is made to be very comfortable and easy to use while still providing sufficient support.
US07713202B2
A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power to the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
US07713201B2
A method for determining a shear elasticity and shear viscosity of a material based on resonance characteristics. A focused ultrasound wave is directed at the material to induce oscillations in the material, and a velocity of the material is measured. A spectrum of frequency of oscillation versus velocity is developed, and the resonance characteristics exhibited by the spectrum are used to estimate the shear elasticity and viscosity of the material.
US07713180B2
An exercise device includes an inflatable bladder and is partially stabilized with a small amount of filler. The bladder includes a first aperture to allow the filler to be easily placed in the bladder. The bladder also includes a valve main body that allows air to be easily injected into the bladder to inflate the bladder. In an exemplary method the filler is forced into the inflatable bladder using a mixture of air and filler. The air is under pressure and assists in forcing the filler into the bladder. After a proper amount of filler is in the bladder, the bladder can be deflated for packaging and/or shipping.
US07713174B2
This trampoline enclosure net design relates to a rebounding mat assembly and an enclosure net that surrounds the periphery of the rebounding mat assembly. The enclosure net is attached to the rebounding mat assembly by the enclosure net poles. The enclosure net pole includes: the body of the pole that is attached to the rebounding mat assembly and a connection assembly that sits at the top end of the body of the pole; a hanging hook is placed at the connection assembly; the hanging hook is connected to the enclosure net pole through an extendable piece. A connection assembly is placed at the top end of the pole; a hanging hook is placed at the connection assembly; the hanging hook is connected to the enclosure net pole through an extendable piece, allowing the enclosure net to expand and contract and buffer impact by user on the enclosure net.
US07713171B1
An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium including a telephone line that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local, system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus includes running a modifiable script on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of an exercise apparatus, and communicating with a remote system to provide the remote system with data concerning the use of the exercise apparatus. The script is stored in read/write memory of the local computer and remote system data received from the remote system may include at least a portion of a new script to be stored in the read/write memory of the local computer.
US07713163B2
A control system for hybrid vehicles, in which a second prime mover is connected to an output member to which a power is transmitted from a first prime mover through a transmission in which a torque capacity is varied in accordance with an oil pressure, and which has a first hydraulic pump driven by the first prime mover for establishing an oil pressure to be fed to the transmission, and a second hydraulic pump arranged in parallel with the first hydraulic pump and driven by an electric motor. A torque limiter limits an output torque of the second prime mover temporarily to a predetermined torque which is lower than a maximum output torque, at a starting time of the first prime mover.
US07713161B2
A transmission having input and output shafts, planetary gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), and additional shafts and shifting elements. A ring gear of set (RS4) and the input shaft define shaft (1). A carrier of (RS3) and the output define shaft (2). The sun gears of (RS1, RS4) define shaft (3). A ring gear of (RS1) forms shaft (4). A ring gear of (RS2) and a sun gear of (RS3) define shaft (5). A carrier of (RS1) and a ring gear of (RS3) form shaft (6). A sun gear of (RS2) and a carrier of (RS4) define shaft (7). A carrier of (RS2) forms shaft (8). A first element (A) couples shaft (3) to the transmission housing. A second element (B) couples shaft (4) to the housing. A third element (C) couples shafts (1, 5) to one another. A fourth element (D) couples shafts (2, 8) or (6, 8) to one another. A fifth element (E) couples shafts (5, 7), (7, 8) or (5, 8) to one another.
US07713143B2
A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.
US07713129B2
An image processing system includes a fixed-type game machine and a hand-held type game machine. To the hand-held type game machine, an imaging cartridge is attached, and therefore, when an operator photographs a face image of a desired object, for example, face image data corresponding thereto is produced. In addition, by operating an operating switch of the hand-held type game machine, the operator can input feature data representing a feature of the object. The hand-held type game machine transmits the face image data and the feature data to the fixed-type game machine. The fixed-type game machine deforms provisional three-dimensional character data selected by the operator based on the feature data, and attaches the face image data to the deformed provisional three-dimensional feature data so as to compose an image. A composed image is displayed on an image display device by an animation based on the feature data.
US07713124B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.
US07713122B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game is disclosed. A wager is received from a player to play a basic game. A plurality of bonus objects are provided within the basic game. The bonus objects are capable of being collected in the basic game. A secondary game is initiated and at least one collected bonus object is provided as a player-selectable bonus object within the secondary game. The bonus object may be capable of providing an enhanced payout in the secondary game. A system is further provided for playing the above-described wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game.
US07713118B2
A timed gaming event has a start time, a defined duration, and an end time. In one embodiment, the timed gaming event comprises a period of time during which the payout for winning results is enhanced, such as by a multiplier. In another embodiment, the timed event is a tournament in which players of multiple gaming machines play a plurality of games. The winner(s) of the tournament is determined by the aggregate outcomes of each player's play of the multiple games during the event, such as the player having the highest aggregated winnings for games played during the event. Another event is a timed bonus period of a main game, during which a player is provided the opportunity to play a bonus game for enhanced winnings.
US07713114B1
A cap capable of being secured to a chimney or flue of either air cooled or non-air cooled type and including a base, an annular collar member for insertion into a chimney or flue, an annular shaped mesh member that is supported from the base; a top supported on the annular shaped mesh member, means supported from an outer surface of the collar member below the base and forming a ledge for support of the collar member from the chimney or flue, and an over lap joint including a lower segment that extends substantially longitudinal of the collar member and a top segment that extends diagonal to the lower segment enabling compression of the diameter of the collar member.
US07713111B2
A device for supplying water to a cutting wheel of a hand-held cut-off machine has a water-conducting line and a valve arrangement arranged in the line. The valve arrangement has a shut-off valve for controlling the water flow flowing through the line. The shut-off valve is actuated as a function of an operating signal of the cut-off machine such that in operation of the cut-off machine the water flow through the line is released by the shut-off valve. The shut-off valve interrupts the water flow through the line when the operating signal is absent.
US07713107B2
A polishing tool comprising a support member, and polishing means fixed to the support member. The polishing means is composed of felt having a density of 0.20 g/cm3 or more and a hardness of 30 or more, and abrasive grains dispersed in the felt. A polishing method and apparatus involving pressing the polishing means against a surface of a workpiece to be polished, while rotating the workpiece and also rotating the polishing tool.
US07713091B2
An adaptor device is provided for connecting and accessing data cards of various specifications and includes a data card insertion structure, a cover board, and a carrier board. The data card insertion structure forms at least one first insertion slot for the insertion of the carrier board. The carrier board forms at least one data card carrying section for carrying at least one selected data card. The cover board is mounted to a top surface of the data card insertion structure. An underside of the cover board is provided, at a predetermined position, with at least one set of signal contact elements. When the carrier board is inserted in the first insertion slot, a signal contact section of the data card is electrically connectable with the signal contact elements of the cover board for direct output through a signal connection port of the cover board or for output to a computer device via a signal connection port of the data card insertion structure.
US07713088B2
An electrical connector having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact adjacent to the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact may define a first broadside and a second broadside opposite the first broadside. The second electrical contact may define a third broadside and a fourth broadside opposite the third broadside. The electrical connector may further include a non-air dielectric and a commoned ground plate. The non-air dielectric may be disposed between the second broadside of the first electrical contact and the fourth broadside of the second electrical contact. The commoned ground plate and the first electrical contact may be adjacent to one another and may be separated by an air dielectric.
US07713083B1
A jumper device configured for adjusting connections between a number of pins of a jumper block includes a non-conductive casing, a number of conductive members, and a switch. The non-conductive casing includes a number of slots in linear alignment defined in the casing and through a bottom of the casing, and a sliding groove communicating with tops of the slots. The conductive members each include a top wall, disposed in the plurality of slots and configured for electrically connecting with the plurality of pins of the jumper block respectively. The top wall of each of two alternate conductive members includes a conductive tab. The switch is slidably disposed in the sliding groove configured to selectively connecting the top walls of two adjacent conductive members, or connecting the tabs of two alternate conductive members, thereby electrically connecting two corresponding pins of the jumper block.
US07713076B2
A floating connector adapted for use with microwave surgical instruments is presented. The disclosure provides for the use of cost-effective and readily available non-floating connectors in a floating housing which can compensate for dimensional variations and misalignments between the connectors. Multiple connectors of varying types can therefore be used within a single support housing without requiring the costly precision manufacturing processes normally associated with such multiple connector assemblies. The floating connector is suitable for use with electrical connections as well as fluidic connections.
US07713073B2
A power adapter includes a housing, a power input portion and a connecting wire. The housing has a reel device mounted therein, and a wire outlet and more than one output portions formed in one side wall. The power input portion is mounted on the housing. A first end of the connecting wire is extended into the housing through the wire outlet and connected with the reel device thereby the connecting wire can be retracted via the reel device, and a second end thereof is connected with an electrical connector which extends out of the wire outlet. Basing on the structure, the connecting wire can be pulled out of the power adapter for use or retracted in the power adapter for collection via the reel device.
US07713069B2
An electrical connector configured to interconnect first and second electrical components. The connector includes a connector housing that is coupled to the first electrical component. The connector housing has a mating face that extends substantially in an axial direction and includes a slot opening. The connector also includes a connector contact that extends through the connector housing and the slot opening. The connector contact has a base portion located a depth within the connector housing and a curved portion formed along and protruding through the slot opening and beyond the mating face. The connector contact is configured to pivot about the base portion when a mating contact of the second electrical component is moved alongside the mating face in the axial direction and engages the curved portion. The curved portion is movable within and along the slot opening in the axial direction.
US07713060B1
A convex polyhedron is formed from planar polygonal members, wherein aligned sides of adjacent abutting polygonal members meet to form edges of the polyhedron. A flexible polycarbonate plastic joining tab fits into slots in the centers of sides of adjacent polygonal members to enable adjustment of the dihedral angle between the adjacent polygonal members. A supplemental source of support such as hook and loop strips are used to fasten joined polygonal members securely in place at a desired alignment and dihedral angle. The polygonal members have mirrored interior faces which impart infinite internal reflections within an interior of the polyhedron, wherein one of the polygonal members is a two-way transparent mirror serving as a viewport, allowing a user to see into the infinitely-reflective interior of the polyhedron.
US07713054B2
There is provided a split mold insert and a mold stack incorporating same. The split mold insert for defining, at least partially, a neck area of a preform suitable for blow molding into a final-shaped article, in particular, is provided. The split mold insert comprises a body having (i) a cavity defining portion for defining, in use, a portion of the neck area and (ii) a top projecting portion and a bottom projecting portion located at opposite sides of the body; a first female taper portion associated with the top projecting portion; a second female taper portion associated with the bottom projecting portion; the first female taper portion and the second female taper portion for cooperating, in use, with a first male taper of a first mold component and a second male taper of a second mold component, respectively, for aligning the body into an operational configuration.
US07713049B2
When a screw equipped with a check ring is moved forward, torque acting on the screw is detected, and whether the check ring is closed is determined on the basis of the detected torque. The screw is rotated in reverse when the check ring is determined not to be closed, and the reverse rotation of the screw is stopped when the check ring is determined to be closed. The reverse rotation of the screw is thereby controlled so that the screw is rotated in reverse by an optimal amount for reliably closing the check ring.
US07713040B2
A rotor shaft sealing method for an oil-free rotary compressor is provided, with which occurrence of lubrication oil intrusion into the compression chamber of the compressor which is liable to occur when negative pressure is produced in the compression chamber, is prevented. With a rotor shaft sealing structure composed such that two shaft seal means are provided in the rotor casing between the oil lubricated bearing and the compression chamber such that an annular airspace is formed between the two shaft seal means, at least one communicating hole is provided to communicate the annular airspace to the outside of the rotor casing, and the annular airspace of the male rotor shaft sealing part and the annular airspace of the female rotor shaft sealing part are connected by a between-rotor shaft communication passage, pressurized air is supplied to the annular airspaces by which lubrication oil intrusion into the compression chamber is prevented.
US07713039B2
A helical screw compressor includes two rotors which are mounted in the rotor housing. The helical screw compressor includes sealing arrangements (11, 11′) for sealing the pressure-sided shaft journals of the rotors. Each sealing arrangement includes a plurality of annular seals (11a, 11b) which are arranged in a row adjacent to each other, and an annular-shaped discharge chamber (51) is associated with the system on an intermediate position and is connected, via a discharge channel (53), to the chamber in the rotor housing, wherein pressure which is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the discharge channel is connected to the suction chamber (10) of the rotor housing (1), and is impinged upon by precompressed gas from an upstream compressor step.
US07713031B2
A submersible pump apparatus comprising a housing containing all the components of the pump assembly for using the submersible pump apparatus in a body of water. A float or a plurality of floats are attached to the top side of the housing for providing a positive buoyancy to the submersible pump apparatus. The float is provided with a channel for slidably receiving a single weight or a plurality of weights. The weight is used to overcome the positive buoyancy of the float and achieve a negative buoyancy for submerging the submersible pump apparatus to the bottom of the body of water. A sled is attached to the bottom side of the housing and comprises the combination of both legs and feet for supporting the submersible pump apparatus at the bottom of a body of water. A finder float floating at the water surface level is attached using a rope to both the weight and the housing. By removing the weight or weights from the float, a positive buoyancy is restored to raise the submersible pump apparatus.
US07713030B2
A fan includes a rotatable center member that is centered relative to an axis of rotation of the fan. The fan includes a number of blades radially extending from the rotatable center member. Each blade may have one or more ribs extending therefrom non-parallel to the axis of rotation of the fan. Each blade may be may be flat in shape, except for the ribs extending therefrom, or it may have a cycloidal curvature that curves away from the direction in which the rotatable center member rotates. In addition to or in lieu of the ribs, each blade may have a side profile that is non-linear. The side profile may be a zigzag or a curvy shape. The side profile may have one or more notches pointed in a direction opposite that in which the rotatable center member rotates, or may have one or more holes extending through the blade.
US07713028B2
A turbine blade assembly has a plurality of blades mounted on a central rotor. Each of the blades has a proximal section and a variable pitch section. A number of stays extend in groups from the central rotor to converge and terminate on an associated one of the blades. The stays each have a proximal end spaced from the blades.
US07713026B1
A turbine blade with a blade tip cooling passage formed within the blade tip and extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The blade tip passage includes a plurality of fins extending from the pressure side to the suction side walls of the passage, and in which each fin includes a cooling air opening, the openings of which alternate from the pressure side to the suction side in the passage to force the cooling air to flow in a sinusoidal manner. The openings also alternate from the bottom of the passage to the top of the passage so that the cooling air flows in a spiral shape manner. Film cooling holes are positioned along the pressure side walls for some of the spaces formed between adjacent fins to provide film cooling for the blade. A leading edge cooling supply channel supplies cooling air to the blade tip passage through a metering and impingement hole in the first space of the passage located on the leading edge. The fins with the alternating pattern of openings produce both impingement cooling and vortex cooling for the blade tip.
US07713022B2
A shroud for supporting a variable vane in a compressor section for a gas turbine engine includes a pair of components which are secured together by a threaded fastener extending into a blind hole in one of the two components. Additional material forms on the component which includes the blind hole extends beyond a pivot axis for the vane such that there is an increased length of engagement between the threaded fastener and the blind hole. The blind hole eliminates the need for multiple nuts and reduces the radial height of the shroud to save additional weight.
US07713019B2
A flat-bed truck system and method for efficiently delivering and unloading items using special crane, lift or hoist elements. The cranes are foldable downward into a horizontal position. Lower plural and parallel drive elements are used to drive upper pivoting arms which are connected by a cross-bar element. The cranes are designed with a low center of gravity so they may be positioned at various points around the bed of the truck. The lower plural drive elements are fixed in a horizontal position by brackets which may be easily applied and removed.
US07713016B2
A dual function binding machine for making journal notebooks at home includes a hole punching mechanism and a binding mechanism. A punch die includes a plurality of rectangular punch teeth in a graduated configuration to minimize the amount of force required to penetrate through the journal book materials. A guide provides different positions for punching through covers, inner pages and continuous punching of both. This allows the perfect alignment and fit of the outside covers with the inside pages. A spring biased lever operates the punch die in a horizontal direction. The binding mechanism included in the same machine has a vertical outer vise wall that is horizontally movable to compress the binding material to the pages and covers of the journal notebook.
US07713014B2
An explosive attachment device for mechanical connection of components, internally provided with an explosive charge, the detonation shock effect of which is strong enough for rupturing a connection forming part of the attachment device for a rapid disconnection, whereby the attachment device incorporates an attachment screw (2) and an explosive attachment element (4-14) which comprises a cylinder (4), a cover (5), and a piston (6) mounted in the cylinder (4), a space between the piston (6) and the bottom of the cylinder (4) is provided with a circular row of small holes (14), the piston (6) is provided with a rod (7) that the attachment screw (2) is mounted to, in the space between the piston and the cover (5) is arranged the explosive charge (9) with a firing device (10,11,12,13) having a delay mechanism, whereby the blasting pressure is converted to a pulling stress, which acts upon the attachment screw (2) to be pulled off without the other parts splintering.
US07713009B2
Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling the payload to a body of a locking assembly, engaging an insertion portion of the body into the channel, translating the insertion portion of the body along the track from a first position to a second position, the body being substantially constrained from movement away from the track in the second position, and actuating at least one engagement member from an unsecured position to a secured position, a portion of the track being clampably engaged by the at least one engagement member and the insertion portion of the body when the at least one engagement member is positioned in the secured position such that the body is substantially constrained from movement along the track by the at least one engagement member.
US07713002B2
The invention relates to a drilling device for producing a drilling column in the soil comprising a mast, a drill drive arranged on a carriage, which is movably supported along the mast, a drilling tube which can be driven in a rotating manner by the drill drive and is movable along the mast in order to produce a drill hole, and a tube hopper that is connected to the drilling tube and comprises a storage space for filling material to fill the drill hole during the extraction of the drilling tube. In accordance with the invention provision is made for the tube hopper to be arranged in the drilling direction above the drill drive and to be connected to the drilling tube. The invention further relates to a method for producing a drilling column in the soil.
US07712999B1
A method and apparatus for drying soil wherein a soil drying machine is adapted to traverse an area of soil and to dry the soil in the process. The soil drying machine includes a main frame having an air generating device, such as a blower, and a heater mounted thereon. A system of heated air is generated on the soil drying machine and directed downwardly into engagement with the soil being dried. Forming a part of the soil drying machine is a tilling implement. From time-to-time the tilling implement can be lowered and engaged with the soil so as to till the soil prior to the soil being subjected to the heated air, or after the soil has been subjected to the heated air. The soil drying machine may be in the form of a self-propelled unit or a pull-type unit configured to be pulled by a tractor.
US07712991B2
An applicator (1) for fluid substances for medical and/or cosmetic use comprises a container (2), which is divided by a transverse breakable partition (3) into a first chamber (4) for containing a fluid substance and a second chamber (5), which is spaced in an axial direction from the first chamber (4) and is provided with an opening (6), a piercing element (7), which is associated with the opening substantially hermetically with respect to the substance and so that it can slide axially between a first configuration, in which it does not interfere with the partition (3), and a second configuration, in which it interferes with the partition (3) in order to break it, an axial hole (8) formed through the piercing element (7), a porous pad (9), which is associated with the end of the piercing element (7) that is directed toward the outside of the container (2), and a cap (10) for covering the pad (9), which is detachably associated with the piercing element (7).
US07712989B2
An ink jet recording apparatus performs a print operation by controlling an ink jet recording head to eject ink drops there from against front and back surfaces of a recording sheet at a print position. The apparatus includes a transporting mechanism for transporting a portion of the recording sheet to a location outside of the apparatus after a completion of the print operation on the front surface of the recording sheet and just before printing of the back surface of the recording sheet.
US07712986B2
An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier for mounting a printhead cartridge. The printhead carrier includes a carrier back wall having an upper portion. A back portion of a printhead cartridge cradle is connected to the carrier back wall. A first proximal end of a latch lever is pivotably attached to a front portion of the printhead cartridge cradle. The latch lever has at least one cam follower, with each cam follower being located near the first distal end of the latch lever. A second proximal end of a carrier lid is pivotably attached to the upper portion of the carrier back wall. Each cam of the carrier lid is formed near a second distal end of the carrier lid, and each cam is positioned for progressive engagement by a corresponding cam follower as the latch lever is moved from an open position toward a latched position.
US07712980B2
An optical transmission module mounted pluggably to a cage having an opening. The optical transmission module comprises a gasket on at least a part of an outer periphery of the module. The gasket is deformed depending on temperature change. The gasket is deformed according to temperature rise in a direction toward an inner wall of the cage to push the inner wall and deformed according to temperature drop in an opposite direction to the direction.
US07712973B2
A connector for fiber optic cable comprising a one-piece body having a plurality of holes in a first end dimensioned to receive an optical fiber and reinforcing members. The connector comes preassembled with a ferrule connector at the opposing end. The first end has a slot therein dividing the first end and holes into two halves. A crimp sleeve is crimped to the connector body, compressing the first end of the connector body and thereby gripping the reinforcing members. Reinforcing fibers are crimped between the connector body and crimping sleeve.
US07712972B2
The present invention relates to an optical receptacle which prevents the occurrence of a large impact by collision of a plug body with an optical propagation member. The optical receptacle includes a solid sleeve having a cavity hole into which the plug body is inserted from its one end side and which has an even inner diameter so as not to substantially define a gap with respect to an outer diameter of the plug body and an optical propagation member fixedly secured to the other end side of the cavity hole, with the solid sleeve being formed such that a length from an end portion of the cavity hole on the plug body insertion side to the optical propagation member is longer than a maximum length of extension due to the elastic body of the terminal member.
US07712971B2
Disclosed herein is an optical connection. In the present invention, an element wire is removably fastened to the optical connector by tightening a main wire connection member using a tightening member from a state in which a plug, a main wire aligning member, a spring, a fastening member, the main wire connection member and the tightening member are previously assembled together. Consequently, only a related optical line need be repaired or replaced with another one, so that the optical line connection work is markedly simplified and can be performed conveniently. Furthermore, there is an advantage of efficient reuse of components.
US07712970B1
A detachable fiber optic connector includes a bottom cover shell having a rear extension, a rear cover covering the rear extension of the bottom cover shell to hold down a fiber optic, and a top cover shell detachably covered on the bottom cover shell to hold down connection modules that are respectively connected to fiber cores of the fiber optic. By means of pressing a retaining block of the rear cover downwardly away from a rear end edge of the top cover shell, the top cover shell can be pushed backwards and then pulled upwards to move coupling flanges thereof along bottom grooves of the bottom cover shell and then out of side grooves of the bottom cover shell, thereby exposing the connection modules and the fiber cores of the fiber optic to the outside for position interchange.
US07712968B2
A bearing comprises an inner race defining an inner track, an outer race defining an outer track, and a compound roller assembly interconnecting the inner and outer races for relative rotation between the inner and outer races. The compound roller assembly includes a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. The first and second rollers respectively contact the inner track of the inner race and the outer track of the outer race for rolling contact therewith. Each of the first rollers contacts at least one of the second rollers such that the first and second rollers rotate in opposite directions during relative rotation between the inner and outer races.
US07712966B2
A relief groove (23) is provided at a corner in which a track surface (21) and a flange surface (24) cross, in an inner ring (20) of a cylindrical roller bearing. A chamfer (42) is provided at a corner part in which a rolling surface (41) and an end surface (43) cross, in a cylindrical roller (40). When it is assumed that the height of the chamfer (42) from the rolling surface (41) is “h” and the curvature radius of the chamfer is “R”, the relation such that 1.0≦R/h≦1.5 is satisfied.
US07712965B2
A piston pin bushing consisting of a brass alloy containing between 30 and 32.2 wt. % zinc. between 1.8 and 2.2 wt. % aluminium, between 1.8 and 2.2 wt. % manganese, between 1.4 an 2.2 wt. % nickel and between 1.4 and 2.0 wt. % iron, in addition to optional contaminant-related constituents with a respective maximum content of 0.2 wt. % and a maximum total content of 1 wt. %, the remaining percentage consisting of copper. The bushing is cut in the form of a longitudinal section from a continuously cast pipe, whose exterior has been previously machined and can be used without being subjected to a forging process following the cutting operation.
US07712950B1
An improved multi-point locking mechanism in combination with a lamp assembly and a support assembly with mating, cooperating plug connectors providing a detachable lamp assembly for use on vehicles, such as boat trailers, for quick removal before exposure to corrosive water. The improved locking mechanism, in addition to providing a means for quick detachment and removal of the light assembly, provides a stronger and durable engagement with the support assembly preventing accidental dislodgement while towing vehicles, like boat trailers. The locking mechanism comprising a corrosive resistant L-shaped member having a horizontal extending plate with a hole through the distal end, and a downward depending section retractably positioned within the support assembly. In the engaged position, the L-shaped member being in a downward position, a receiving pin on the lamp assembly is mated with the support assembly by alignment with the hole in the horizontal plate and the depending section being in communication with a cut-out section in the cooperating plug connector providing the multi-point locking mechanism.
US07712942B2
A light pipe includes a light input end and a diffractive structure. The diffractive structure includes elongated formations having diffractive properties for coupling light out from the light pipe to provide backlighting of a flat-panel display. The elongated formations are curved, the curvature being dependent on the location of a light source at the light input end.
US07712938B2
A socket for a vehicle lamp, including a base housing and at least two contact spring elements fixed in the base housing for housing and electrically contacting the lamp. The contact spring elements of the socket housing are fixed to the base housing by means of a base slide having a slot recess for receiving a leg of a first contact spring element, and an abutment surface for contacting a leg of the second contact spring elements.
US07712930B2
An optical module for projecting a light beam comprises a solid body of transparent material into which a light source is sunk and which is delimited by an annular surface and by a central surface, and a substantially annular reflecting surface arranged around the solid body. The central and annular surfaces are suitable for receiving respective distinct portions of the luminous flux produced by the source. The reflecting surface may have a reflecting coating or may form part of a transparent body, in which case it works by total internal reflection. The reflecting surface reflects a portion of luminous flux refracted by the annular surface and shapes the flux into a predetermined distribution of luminous intensity about the principal axis. The annular surface is designed in a manner such as to reduce the overall thickness of the module by moving the refracted ray away from the principal axis. The central surface shapes the other portion of the luminous flux emitted by the source into a predetermined distribution of luminous intensity about the principal axis. The surfaces cooperate so as to shape the luminous flux as a whole emerging from the source into a distribution of luminous intensity having divergences which may be different in two directions that are perpendicular to one another and to the principal axis.
US07712924B2
An optical device for effectively adjusting the F-number of an elliptical lamp is provided, the elliptical lamp for producing a focused light beam at a given focal point having a given cone angle. The optical device comprises a light interaction portion for optically interacting with the focused light beam when the light interaction portion is in general longitudinal alignment with a light emitting aperture of the elliptical lamp, the light interaction portion for triggering optical adjustment of a cone angle of at least a high cone angle portion of the focused light beam to a smaller cone angle. The optical device further comprises a light egress portion, coupled to the light interaction portion, for enabling exit of the focused light beam from the optical device with an effective cone angle smaller than the given cone angle, after the cone angle of the at least the high cone angle portion of the focused light beam has been adjusted to the smaller cone angle.
US07712915B2
An emergency light includes a charging unit comprising a housing, a prong support rotatably secured to the housing, and a prong assembly fixedly secured to the prong support and being adapted to mate with a conventional electrical outlet; an illumination unit releasably disposed in the housing to be electrically connect to the charging unit; and a lamp indicator unit electrically connected to the charging unit and comprising a plurality of LEDs for indicating a charging state of the illumination unit. The rotation of the prong support, i.e., the prong assembly, is 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees. The illumination unit can be used as a flashlight after removing from the housing.
US07712913B2
A lighted panel system for a tub wall comprising a light diffusing panel, a light source that illuminates the light diffusing panel, and a mounting structure that couples the light diffusing panel to the tub wall. The light diffusing panel comprises a formed transparent or translucent sheet to which the light source is mounted. The light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diode lamps mounted on a circuit board protected by a circular rubber boot that attaches to a rear surface of the light diffusing panel such that light rays are dispersed in a principally lateral direction, parallel to the wall of the tub. A plurality of the lighted panel systems are preferably installed side by side along the length of a tub wall at the water line, an arrangement that allows for continuous lighting coverage and creates a new ambient effect.
US07712906B1
A light guide adapter for a camera stroboscopic illuminator, comprising a removable mounting adapted to adhere to an unmodified on-camera stroboscopic illuminator; and at least one flexible light guide, connected to the mounting, having an entrance aperture positioned to receive light from the stroboscopic illuminator, each light guide having a self-supporting, independently positionable exit aperture distal from the entrance aperture.
US07712896B1
This invention is related to a pair of eyeglasses. The lens includes a pair of connecting pieces disposed with a connecting barb portion set on two opposite sides of the lens; the temples include a hinge portion comprising a hinge neck portion and a hinge pillar set on one end of the temples, the hinge neck portion being respectively connected to the temples and the hinge pillar; the connecting elements comprise a connecting trough with an inner trough in it, a hinge trough, and a hinge passage, and the connecting elements are respectively connected to the lens and the temples. Wherein when the lens is hinged to the connecting elements, the connecting piece is received by the hinge trough and the connecting barb portion is engaged in the inner trough; when the temples are hinged to the connecting elements, the hinge pillar is hinged in the hinge trough.
US07712891B2
A multifunctional device including a lower frame, a main control board, and a cartridge holder. A conveying space is formed in the lower frame farther forward than a recording unit and includes a discharge space for receiving discharged recording sheet. The main control board is disposed horizontally above the conveying space when viewed from the front. The recording unit is disposed farther rearward than the conveying space, with its topmost part substantially equal in height to the main control board. The cartridge holder is disposed to the side of the conveying space and the main control board and fits vertically within the top part.
US07712888B2
An inkjet printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an inkjet printing chamber depositing ink on a substrate, and a drying chamber spaced from inkjet printing chamber by a predetermined interval and drying the ink by regulating a vapor pressure of a solvent of the ink deposited on substrate. The drying chamber is provided separately, and the vapor pressure of the solvent within the drying chamber is regulated, so that the drying speed of the ink is regulated so as to improve the crystallinity of the organic semiconductor.
US07712883B2
An embodiment provides a print cartridge body with three or more compartments in series, and a partition formed between each successive pair of compartments. Each partition is substantially parallel to a scanning direction of the cartridge body.
US07712881B2
An attaching and detaching device includes a cartridge holding unit configured to hold an ink cartridge by insertion of the ink cartridge by a first predetermined stroke and a power transmitting and converting mechanism configured to convert turning of a lever arm into motion of a second predetermined stroke required for mounting the ink cartridge while held by the cartridge holding unit. The cartridge holding unit includes an integrated engagement member configured to engage with a surface of the ink cartridge, the surface being parallel to a mounting direction. When engaging with the ink cartridge, the engagement member lies in a central portion in a width direction with respect to the mounting direction at the surface.
US07712878B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a flow channel substrate having a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle aperture through which liquid is ejected, and a piezoelectric element disposed on one surface of the flow channel substrate. The piezoelectric element includes a common electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an individual electrode. The piezoelectric layer is made of lead zirconate titanate having a rhombohedral or monoclinic crystal structure preferentially oriented in the (100) plane. The saturated polarization Pm and the residual polarization Pr of the piezoelectric layer satisfy the relationship 33%≦2Pr/2Pm≦46%.
US07712868B2
Provided is a printer assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly having a support frame for supporting a printhead arrangement. The support frame includes an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion separated by an internal cavity. The support frame also includes a lower arm portion and an upper wall fast with the outer and inner wall portions. The upper wall portion defines a channel for receiving printhead tiles of the printhead arrangement. The upper wall portion and arm portion have a clipping arrangement configured to receive a printed circuit board (PCB) having electronics for controlling the printhead arrangement. The support frame is configured to minimize substantial dimensional changes due to environmental changes to retain a positional relationship between individual printhead tiles of the printhead arrangement.
US07712863B2
A maintenance method that discharges liquid L collected in a liquid receiver 15 of a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first step of causing a nozzle opening face 43a of a liquid ejecting head 3 to be disposed facing the liquid receiver 15 in a non-contact state and applying an electric field between both, a second step of ejecting liquid D from a nozzle 47 to the liquid receiver 15, a third step of detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction at the time of ejecting the liquid D to the liquid receiver 15, a fourth step of determining a liquid level height H of the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver on the basis of a result of detection of the voltage change, and a fifth step of discharging the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver when the liquid level height H reaches a predetermined height.
US07712856B2
A pattern formation method for forming a pattern by ejecting a liquid droplet of a pattern forming material in a pattern formation region of a substrate includes: ejecting the liquid droplet at an outer periphery of the pattern formation region in an ejection direction directing from an inside of the pattern formation region toward an outside thereof when viewed from a normal line direction of the substrate.
US07712853B2
A printer-equipped disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes: a disk drive; a printer; a single light-emitting indicator unit able to luminously indicate colors; an ink tank containing color inks of which the number corresponds to the number of colors the light-emitting indicator unit can indicate; an ink level detection unit that detects color ink levels in the ink tank and outputs detected signals; a printing operation detection unit that detects a printer operation and outputs a detected signal; a drive operation detection unit that detects a disk drive operation and outputs a detected signal; and a first light emission control unit that controls a luminous color and state of the light-emitting indicator unit in accordance with the printer operation, the disk drive operation and the color ink levels on the basis of the detected signals from the ink level detection unit, printing operation detection unit and drive operation detection unit.
US07712845B2
A method of selective, automatic application of one rear brake of a motor vehicle under appropriate vehicle operating conditions in response to intent of a driver to make a turn, whereby the rotational speed of the selected braked rear wheel is reduced so as to reduce the turn radius of the vehicle. Vehicle sensor outputs and calculated parameters in conjunction with vehicle systems such as, but not limited to, ESC, ABS, and traction control are used to determine if appropriate vehicle operating conditions exist to actuate the present invention. The method of the present invention is implemented via an algorithmic control, preferably within an ESC system.
US07712838B2
An improved ground support member insertion device comprising means for attaching the device to a jackleg drill, a clutch assembly disposed adjacent to the attaching means and adapted for holding a ground support member while it is being inserted into a first drill hole; and, anchoring means disposed opposite the clutch assembly and adapted for temporarily anchoring the device for stabilization in a rock formation during insertion of the ground support member. An impact tool for engaging the proximate end of the ground support member providing rotation and impact to the ground support member to mix the resin and to secure the ground support member in a rock formation. The impact tool can also be used to manually or mechanically tension the ground support member once installed.
US07712823B2
The armored vehicle (1), showing a bottom and a top shell (4, 5) has a reinforced floor structure for protection against mines, in that the floor area (6) of the subshell (4) is connected rigidly with an inner floor plate (7) via bracing elements (13, 14, 15) having longitudinal and transverse walls, which are also connected with the side walls (11, 12) of the subshell (4) along their borders (9, 10). The minimum height of the stiff bracing elements (13, 14, 15) corresponds to distance provided for the arrangement of a drive shaft between the inner floor plate (7) and the floor area (6).
US07712821B2
The invention relates to a system for reducing fuel consumption in vehicles. According to the invention, fuel consumption is reduced by minimizing the aerodynamic resistances generated as the vehicle moves forward. The inventive system conveys air to the rear or stern of the vehicle where a depression is known to form. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air is conveyed using a tubular casing which is fixed to the rear part of the vehicle roof and which bends slightly towards the rear end. The air is channeled from the upper part of the forward-moving vehicle and is released at the low-pressure stern area, the depression serving as a suction device which facilitates the passage of the air. The outlet is oriented towards, but does not extend to the top of the rear doors.
US07712819B2
Described herein is a door for a motor vehicle provided with a supporting framework, supporting means for supporting an external rear-view mirror, a lock, and a key assembly, which is operatively connected to the lock and can be selectively actuated via a control key for disabling/enabling opening of said lock from the outside of the motor vehicle. The key assembly is rigidly fixed to the framework, and is covered, towards the outer side of the door, by the means for supporting the rear-view mirror and is accessible from the outside through a seat made in the supporting means themselves.
US07712812B2
An extender bed system having channel affixed to the flatbed of the vehicle and a cradle slidingly received within the channel. An extendable bed is slidingly received within the cradle and a plurality of bearings affixed to the cradle permit sliding movement of the cradle in the channel and sliding movement of the extendable bed in the cradle.
US07712808B2
A flat workpiece transport apparatus having a movable arm and an end effector. The end effector is connected to the arm. The end effector has a movable grip for holding a flat workpiece on the end effector. The end effector has a grip actuator operably connected to the movable grip. The grip actuator has more than one actuation members and a resiliently flexible member connecting the more than one actuation members. Each actuation member actuates at least one corresponding grip element of the movable grip to capture or release the workpiece. Flexure of the resiliently flexible member effects movement of at least one of the more than one actuation members for actuation of the at least one corresponding grip element. The resiliently flexible member is sandwiched by substantially rigid portions of the more than one actuation members.
US07712807B2
A method utilizing a vacuum cup for a material handling system including a body portion and a perimeter seal that functions to substantially seal against an object. Engaging the vacuum cup with an object to substantially seal the cup perimeter against the object. Substantially closing a relief port, via the sealing member, as the vacuum cup is engaged with the object. Transporting the object to a targeted location while the perimeter seal is substantially sealed against the object. Moving the vacuum cup in a direction generally away from the object at the targeted location. At least partially opening the relief portion to at least partially vent the cavity from the vacuum cup. Removing the vacuum cup from the object.
US07712805B2
A sifting shovel for sifting particulate matter from a volume of material comprising a shovel head and a handle with an end fixed to the shovel head. The shovel head has a base plate, a sifting plate disposed in spaced relation relative to the base plate, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a proximal end wall. The sifting plate has a plurality of apertures therein, and the base plate, the sifting plate, and the first and second side walls have distal ends that together define an open mouth of the shovel head. The open mouth can have a minimum opening height greater than a maximum aperture dimension, and the shovel head can have a truncated wedge shape. At least a portion of the handle can be disposed below a longitudinal center of gravity of the sifting shovel, such as by forming a bend in the handle, to enable the sifting shovel to tip automatically.
US07712799B2
A hidden lock locked to an inner side of a doorplate comprises a top seat assembly; a top rod; the top seat assembly being assembled to the top rod; a linking rod installed to a lower side of the top rod; a lower rod; a lower head; a top seat assembly; a resisting unit. The connecting shaft having a groove, plurality of slots, a plurality of holes, an upper engaging tube and a lower engaging tube. A bent stop is extended from the resisting unit. When a top rod reduces inwards, the stop will resist against a neck of the top rod to prevent a lower head to contact the ground. A pin device is installed for retaining the lock in high temperature.
US07712793B1
A ball and socket-type swivel connector for use with second stage scuba regulators used by scuba divers. The ball is made from a metal with good corrosion resistance. The ball is held in position by a low friction bushing. The bushing, compresses the metal swivel ball with light assembly pressure. This is accomplished by machining or molding the same radius of the swivel ball into one side of the low friction bushing. No seawater can enter the swivel. The ball has a unique O-ring slot or channel that completely encircles the ball along a path that permits an O-ring to wipe the bushing upon swiveling of the connector and prevents seawater from entering the swivel. No area exists for seawater to collect around the O-ring. The preferred embodiment uses a high-grade stainless steel swivel ball, low friction polymer bushing material and an internally lubricated low friction O-ring. A wiper ring boot, a ball and socket wiper that utilizes an outer boot as a wiper ring, keeps sand and contamination out of the rotational mechanism of the swivel.
US07712787B2
It is disclosed a connecting device for the manufacture of ducts for heating, conditioning, ventilation comprising a plate-like element (2) which is provided, on a face (2a) thereof at opposite positions, with at least two hooking points (3) adapted to penetrate contiguous portions to be joined of a duct (4) segment or of two consecutive duct segments. Also provided is a connecting process comprising a step of applying at least one connecting device (19 on either side of a junction line (4a) defined by two opposite longitudinal bands of a panel (5) adapted to form a duct (4) segment.
US07712777B2
Method for controlling outflow of gas from an airbag includes deploying the airbag toward an occupant prior to or during an accident involving the vehicle, detecting contact between the airbag and the occupant by means of a sensor, and controlling outflow of gas from the airbag based on the detected contact. Contact between the airbag and the occupant may be detected by analyzing deceleration of the airbag, e.g., via an accelerometer arranged on a surface of the airbag, a pressure sensor arranged to sense the pressure in the airbag which is correlatable to the deceleration of the airbag and tension sensors arranged on tethers between opposed inner surfaces of the airbag. Outflow of fluid from the airbag may be controlled by arranging an exit control valve or vent in, on or in connection with the airbag and which is adjustable to provide variable outflows of gas from the airbag.
US07712774B2
An airbag assembly including a tension mounting mechanism is disclosed. In one embodiment, an inflatable curtain is coupled to a one-way locking mechanism via an attaching element to provide tension along the longitudinal mounting surface of the inflatable curtain during its installation adjacent the vehicle roof rail.
US07712767B2
An airbag device includes a door (16), an inflator (18), and an airbag (20). The door (16), provided in a vehicle-body outer panel (12), is opened to open an opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12) when a predetermined situation occurs. The inflator (18) is disposed inside the door (16). The inflator (18) includes a gas-injection port (36) that is closer to the end (16B) of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16) than to the center of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16). The airbag (20) is disposed at a predetermined position inside the vehicle-body outer panel (12). When the predetermined situation occurs, the airbag (20) is inflated by the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator (18) to open the door (16), and the airbag (20) passes through the opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12), and is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body. The high inflation pressure of the airbag (20) is applied to the end (16B) of the door (16).
US07712762B1
A trailer (50) is attachable to a pulling vehicle (22). Attachment to the pulling vehicle (22) provides steering rigidity around a vertical axis (32), permits pivotal freedom around a horizontal transverse axis (30), and optionally permits pivotal freedom around a longitudinal axis (34). A wheel (14), which preferably is steerable, at least partially supports the trailer (50). In a preferred embodiment, a body of the trailer (50) is a clamshell body (52) that is disposed vertically and transversely for traveling, and that includes clamshell portions (54A and 54B). Optionally, the clamshell body (52) is positioned horizontally, the clamshell portions (54A and 54B) are separated, and a tent (74) is erected above one of the clamshell portions (54A or 54B).
US07712761B2
An extension coupling for interconnecting a trailer to a tow hitch carried on a tow vehicle includes a pin box assembly having a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally connected to the trailer. A king pin is connected to the second end. The pin box assembly includes a locking wedge that engages the tow hitch to strictly limit pivoting movement of the pin box assembly relative to the tow hitch.
US07712756B2
To arrange a steering damper behind a head pipe in a compact manner while suppressing the influence of the steering damper on an intake duct which penetrates the vicinity of head pipes of a vehicle body frame. A steering damper is arranged between left and right main frames of a vehicle body frame and, at the same time, is arranged above or below an intake duct which penetrates the vicinity of a head pipe of the vehicle body frame.
US07712755B2
An extending and retracting device for a vehicle step includes a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a body of a vehicle and a step bracket. An arc sliding member is fixed to the step bracket. A driving arm defines a pair of ends thereof pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and step bracket, respectively. A supporting arm defines an upper end portion thereof pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and a lower end portion of the supporting arm defining at least one arc slot of the lower end portion. The arc sliding member is adapted to fit into the arc slot so as to be slidable in the arc slot such that the lower end portion of the supporting arm is slidably connected to the step bracket.
US07712752B2
A storage device for transporting equipment includes a housing having a base end, a pair of retractable wheels, and a foot operated actuator for retracting and extending the wheels from the housing. The housing defines at least one compartment for storing the equipment. The housing has a handle at an upper end thereof, an open front defining an opening into the housing, and a door for selectively closing the open front. The actuator is coupled to a lower end of the housing towards its base end. Actuation of the actuator displaces the wheels between retracted and extended positions while the housing is resting on its base end. A user while grasping the handle depresses a foot pedal component of the actuator to extend the wheels against the resiliently biased return force of a spring. A manually operated latch releases the wheels to their retracted position urged by the spring.
US07712748B2
A support system (3,5,54,55) designed to connect a wheel (2) to suspension elements (4,41,74,75,76) of an automobile, the support system including a cambering device that confers upon the wheel carrier (3) a degree of camber freedom relative to the suspension elements, the cambering device including a triple hinge (5), the triple hinge including three essentially longitudinal axes, the triple hinge including two flanges (52, 53) and two levers (54, 55), each of the levers being respectively attached to one of the two flanges. The levers are connected on the one hand to the wheel carrier (3) and on the other hand to the suspension elements. The camber movement of the wheel carrier takes place around an instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s), a lateral distance “dl” separating the transverse position of the instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) from the transverse position of the wheel base (BR). The system is also configured such that the distance (dl) remains smaller than 40 mm during a camber deflection (α) of 0° to −3°.
US07712737B2
Methods and systems for performing sheet registration are described. A device having a plurality of drive rolls may receive a sheet. Each drive roll may operate with an associated angular velocity. A state vector, including a plurality of state variables, may be identified. Error-space state feedback values may be determined based on a difference between each state variable and a corresponding reference state variable based on a desired sheet trajectory. Control input variable values may be determined based on the error-space feedback values and one or more gains. A motor control signal for a motor for each drive roll may be determined based on the control input variable values and the state variables. Each motor control signal may impart a desired angular velocity for at least one drive roll. The identifying step and each determining step may be performed repeatedly to register the sheet to the desired trajectory.
US07712734B2
A multi-purpose feeder (MPF) for office automation (OA) machinery includes an MPF tray installed rotatably on a main body panel so that it can be opened and closed. An auxiliary stocker is rotatably installed on the tray by a hinge. An auxiliary stocker pivoting unit automatically pivots the auxiliary stocker as the MPF tray is opened and closed. Since the auxiliary stocker is automatically opened and folded when the MPF tray is opened and closed with respect to the main body, the MPF has improved user's convenience.
US07712731B2
The gutter clamp is a handheld clamp allowing a user to temporarily clamp a gutter to a support surface, such as a face board, while work is being performed on the gutter. The gutter clamp includes an handle portion and a clamping portion extending from the handle portion. The clamping portion includes first and second clamping members joined to the handle portion in such a manner that the clamping members pivot toward and away from each other. The first clamping member is adapted for contacting an outer face of the support surface, and the second clamping member has a substantially U-shaped upper end, allowing the upper end to be mounted on an outer wall of the gutter, and to securely contact an inner face of the outer wall, the handles being resiliently biased to hold the clamping members, thus releasably securing the gutter to the support surface.
US07712730B2
Shock dampener bumper for motor-vehicles, adapted to be applied on to motor-vehicles of various kind, both for personal uses and for sports contests, for protecting the constructive structure of each motor-vehicle from any possible damage and/or breakage thereof, in the case in which the motor-vehicle falls. Bumper composed of first and second component parts combined and assembled to each other with adequate arrangements, of which said first component parts (disc 8, bush 10 and cap 11) are made of semi-rigid materials such as magnesium, plastic, Teflon, aluminium and other metallic and/or plastic materials having similar characteristics, which are able to be fixed to and supported by the motor-vehicle constructive structure and to come into contact with the ground during the fall of the motor-vehicle, and said second component parts (disc 9) are made of elastic material, preferably elastomers such as for example rubber, said second component parts (9) being interposed between said first component parts (8, 10, 11), for damping and absorbing the energy of shocks and related vibrations, which are produced during the fall and which are transmitted to the motor-vehicle constructive structure.
US07712726B1
A device for pulling wire through a conduit with sheave head, sheave head support boom, wire puller frame, conduit interface, and wire pull assembly. The wire pull assembly further comprises a capstan, a gear box having an input axle and an output axle, and a means to interface a power source to impart rotating force to the capstan.
US07712724B2
A ball valve having improved sealing between the valve member and the valve body is presented. Improved sealing is realized by providing a sealing member that is allowed to float on the outer surface of the valve member in the closed position. By being able to float on the outer surface, the sealing member can compensate for any variations in the valve member as a result of machining tolerances or variations in position of the valve member due to changes in pressure within the valve, thereby providing dynamic sealing The dynamic sealing is also provided by configuring the valve member such that it causes the sealing member to be exposed to a higher biasing force in the closed position than in the open position.
US07712720B1
A resizable device stand includes a suction base, an adjusting module mounted on the suction base, and a load-supporting module mounted on the adjusting module. The load-supporting module includes a housing, a pair of clamps, elastic pieces, and a wedge. The housing defines a first channel and a second channel therein. The clamps include vertical parts and horizontal parts. The horizontal parts are received in the first channel. The vertical parts extend upwardly from the housing. The elastic pieces are configured for driving the clamps to clamp the device. The wedge is received in the second channel, configured to press and open the clamps via the interaction of the inclined surfaces when receiving a user operation. The stand is adapted for supporting different types and sizes of devices.
US07712718B2
A holder for supporting a beverage container against an automobile air conditioner/heater grill includes a housing having a base for holding a beverage container bottom, and open top surrounding the beverage container sides, an open back and upstanding sidewalls inner connecting the base and the open top. Sidewalls include an open front for enabling passage of air therethrough and circulation of air around the container sides. A pair of spaced apart ribs extending vertically between the base and the top across the open back and a slidable element disposed between the ribs enable vertical positioning of the housing in front of the grill. Arms, separate from the housing, are provided for engaging the grill and including an interconnecting portion for removably engaging a slidable/deflecting element.
US07712715B2
A clamping arrangement may comprise a support having a base and an extension, a clamping member having a body, a clamping edge and one or more engaging features for engaging the support extension. The body may have a hole in which a fastener may be disposed when the clamping member engages the extension of the support. A stud and nut or a bolt may provide the fastener for moving the clamping member for applying a clamping force. The body may have an opening for engaging the extension of the support when the clamping member is in a certain position.
US07712714B2
An apparatus for adjustably securing a boat accessory to a boat. A first member has a plug and a second member has a socket. The plug has a rosette shape with rounded protrusions and the socket has a corresponding mating shape. Both the plug and the socket have openings for a fastener to secure the plug in the socket. The first member is one of a mounting base and an accessory base, and the second member is the other one. In one embodiment, an extension is positioned adjacent the plug so as to separate the first and second members. In another embodiment, the extension has a plug on each end and the first and second members have sockets. In another such embodiment, the extension has two members joined with a rosette-shaped plug and socket.
US07712711B2
A display apparatus including a display main body to display a picture thereon, a base to support the display main body on an installation surface, and a lifting unit provided between the display main body and the base to move the display main body up and down relative to the base, the lifting unit having a guide frame vertically disposed relative to the base, a lifting member slideably provided in the guide frame and coupled to the display main body, and an oil groove formed in at least one of the guide frame and the lifting member. With this configuration, the present general inventive concept provides a display apparatus in which a display main body can lift up and down relative to a base. The present general inventive concept also provides a display apparatus in which a display main body can rotate in various directions relative to a base.
US07712708B2
A fastener or routing clip for use in a vehicle is configured to reduce the surface area of that is in contact with the tube, wire, or cord to which it is mounted. The fastener clip simultaneously reduces vibration noise. The fastener clip may include two ends which may be connected to each other by a swivel hinge, which allows the two ends of the clip to close and snap-fit together. When in the closed position, the two ends, which further define corresponding semi-circular sections, will capture the tube, wire, cord, etc. thereby mounting them to the clip. The clip may then be mounted to the vehicle. The fastener clip may include at least one flex arm having a bulbous-like end that contacts and pushes on the tube, wire, cord, etc. to reduce the amount of surface contact between the tube, wire, cord, etc. and the clip, and functions as a dampener to reduce vibration noise.
US07712696B2
A method (200) for coiling an earphone set (10) comprising at least one earphone (11), at least one cable (12), one for each earphone (11), and a connector (14), the method comprising: coiling the at least one cable (12) around a cable strap (21) having at least one end (22); passing a first (22) of the at least one end of the cable strap (21) over a first (11) of the earphones by inserting the first earphone (11) through a first slot (23) in the first end (22) for attaching the first earphone (11) to the cable strap (21); and passing a second (22) of the at least one end of the cable strap (21) over a second (11) of the earphones by inserting the second earphone (11) through a second slot (23) in the second end (22) for releasably attaching the second earphone (11) to the cable strap (21).
US07712694B2
A special shape of bars on refining discs or plate segments of a rotating disc refiner is disclosed including a plurality of bars generally extending outwards towards the outer end of the disk across its surface, arranged in a single, two or more radial zones, the plurality of the bars within a zone being curved with the shape of a logarithmic spiral. Disc refiners including such refining discs are also disclosed.
US07712679B2
The mist ejection head has: a nozzle plate in which a nozzle hole for ejecting liquid is formed; a liquid chamber connected to the nozzle hole; an ultrasonic wave generating device which applies an ultrasonic wave to the liquid in the liquid chamber; and a reflective wall which reflects the ultrasonic wave applied to the liquid, wherein: the reflective wall is disposed so as to oppose the nozzle plate and has an axially symmetrical shape comprising a portion of a parabolic surface, the portion including an apex of the parabolic surface and being on an apex side with respect to a focal point of the parabolic surface; an axis of the parabolic surface passes through the nozzle hole; and the focal point of the parabolic surface is positioned in a vicinity of the nozzle hole.
US07712678B2
A control unit including a switch for regulating the temperature of a passenger compartment and/or the temperature of a vehicle seat. The switch is of a unit type with a control member, a switch member, a light-emitting member, and an indicator member housed in a single case, and can be disposed anywhere near a driver.
US07712675B2
A physical object comprises one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly by a reader device attached to or incorporated within the physical object. Data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader. Data in the memory circuit is also adapted to identify an authorised bearer of the physical object. Moreover, data in the memory circuit is adapted to allow access to a specified asset or assets by the authorised bearer.
US07712674B1
The present invention differs from the prior art in that the present invention provides one or a network of passive or active radio frequency identification (RFID) transceivers and antenna elements in different numbers, in various network sizes, in different configurations and on various substrates. The RFID transceiver can be co-located with standard semiconductor devices, for cost-effective circuit design and non-destructive fabrication test and analysis of integrated circuits and printed circuit boards after fabrication, and to locate, track and identify the integrated circuit, printed circuit boards and products in which they are implemented. The RFID transceivers can be coupled to substrates containing matter in gas, liquid, or solid form, such as medical devices like breast implants, for effective monitoring of the substrates to ensure that the substrate is in an unaltered state and the matter is still contained securely within. The RFID transceivers can be coupled to secure tapes of various lengths and widths and mesh bags or sheets of various sizes and they can be applied at the carton-level using them to locate, track and identify the integrated circuit, printed circuit boards and products in which they are implemented and/or the cartons in which they were placed.
US07712671B2
A document is printed on a recoding medium together with a high resolution 2d barcode that encodes desired information about the document, and a low resolution 2d barcode that encode resolution data that specifies the spatial resolution of the high resolution barcode. The low resolution barcode has a sufficiently low spatial resolution so that it can be adequately read by a majority of scanners at their low resolution settings. Thus, if the printed document is scanned at a low scan resolution, the low resolution barcode can be adequately read to extract the resolution data in order to determined whether the scan resolution is adequate for reading the high resolution barcode. If necessary, the printed document can be re-scanned at a higher scan resolution so that the high resolution barcode can be adequately read. Alternatively, the resolution data may specify the print resolution at which the document is printed.
US07712670B2
A data collection device is configured so that the device receives and processes various radio signals and automatically changes an operating mode of the data collection device in response to the processing of the radio signals or in response to the presence or absence of radio signals without manually inputting any commands with use of a user interface. By configuring the data collection device to automatically change an operating mode in response to sensed radio signals, operating modes are presented to an operator that may be tailored to the preferences of the present operator and/or tailored to the particular requirements of the device at present location of the device. With highly featurized operating modes being automatically and selectively presented to operators under specific circumstances, an operator is relieved of a variety of burdensome and time consuming exercises that are typically associated with learning how to access particular functions of a highly featurized electronic device.
US07712663B2
A communication board mounted on an electronic device includes a plurality of antennas configured to transmit and/or receive a signal by electromagnetic induction, where each of the plurality of antennas is provided on a substrate, as a coil-shaped pattern, a semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate, the semiconductor chip including at least one of a transmission circuit which transmits a signal to the antenna and a reception circuit which receives a signal transmitted from the antenna, and an input-and-output end that is connected to the semiconductor chip via a wiring layer provided on the substrate and an electronic circuit of the electronic device. The communication board communicates with a communication board mounted on another electronic device via the antenna by electromagnetic induction.
US07712659B2
A novel card recognition system includes a computer having a card controller for exchanging data with a standard card that is compliant with a standard and a non-standard card that is not compliant with the standard, and a card adapter for connecting the non-standard card to the computer so that the non-standard card is recognized. The computer or card adapter includes a data converter having an input/output controller for the non-standard card and converting data of the non-standard card into data for the standard card, and an interface having an input/output controller for the standard card and connected to the data converter via a dedicated transmission path. A novel card recognition system includes: a plurality of card management systems, each including a card connector, a first controller, a first multiplexer, a card detector; a second controller; and a second multiplexer to assign the second controller to one card connector.
US07712653B2
A carton has a removeable dispenser that forms a dispenser opening that allows articles to be removed from the carton. The dispenser also has access flaps that create access openings that provide access to articles in the carton.
US07712649B2
An electronic component mounting device according to the invention includes a bonding head for holding and pressure bonding an electronic component to a mounting substrate, a local stage provided with a support surface formed in an area which is almost equal to or slightly larger than that of a mounting surface of the electronic component and serving to support a pressure bonding force from an antimounting surface of the mounting substrate through the support surface, a length measuring mechanism for measuring a distance between the bonding head and the mounting substrate, thereby calculating a virtual plane in a predetermined mounting position on the mounting substrate, and a tilting and moving mechanism for tilting and moving the bonding head and the local stage, thereby causing a normal of the virtual plane in the mounting position to be coincident with an action line of the pressure bonding force, and the pressure bonding is carried out along the normal.
US07712646B2
An adaptor (10) for a fastening tool (12) having an attachment portion (18) for coupling the adaptor (10) to the fastening tool and a support (14, 16) for coupling a mounting bracket (26) to the adaptor (10), arranged so as to hold the mounting bracket (26) relative to a substrate and allow a fastener from the tool to be driven through the mounting bracket to secure the mounting bracket to the substrate (52). A holder for holding an item to facilitate attachment of said item to a substrate by a fastener, wherein the holder magnetically retains the item in a position to receive the fastener from a fastener tool. A method of securing a mounting bracket to a substrate including the steps of coupling the mounting bracket (26) to an adaptor (10) which is arranged so as to hold the mounting bracket relative to a fastening tool (12), supporting the mounting bracket in position relative to the substrate (52), and operating the tool to drive a fastener through a mounting portion of the mounting bracket to secure the mounting bracket to the substrate.
US07712635B2
A caulking gun cartridge caddy has back to back cartridge clamps which surround a portion of the circumference of two caulking gun cartridges, holding them in parallel juxtaposition whereby one cartridge is held in readiness for replacing another while the latter is in use. The caddy holds the cartridges oriented in opposite directions to minimize interference by the spare cartridge with using the caulking gun. The caddy may include means on its side for also holding a smoothing tool commonly needed by users to smooth a bead of the fill material after it has been distributed from the cartridge nozzle.
US07712632B2
This invention is a material discharge apparatus for controlling the flow rate of flowable material being conveyed through a hopper, the apparatus includes a hopper with an inlet at the top to receive flowable material and a discharge outlet at the base of the hopper, a valve configured and arranged in the hopper, the valve has a lower end portion adjacent the discharge outlet forming a gap between the hopper and the valve for material discharge, with the valve fixedly connected to a fixed support beam, the hopper elastically connected to the same fixed support beam such that as the more material is received by the inlet, the more the hopper sags, the larger the gap formed between the valve and the hopper grows, thereby increasing the rate of flow of material discharge.
US07712631B2
A liquid dispensing device including a dispense head configured to be placed and secured onto a bottle of liquid in a manner which enables the liquid to be dispensed. The dispense head includes a stopper having gas inlets and a liquid intake tube. A gas intake and a dispense spout are also mounted on the dispense head. A valve assembly allows pressurized gas to be introduced into the dispense head and into the bottle of liquid such that selective channeling of gas or liquid can be controlled to flow through the dispense spout thus enabling either liquid to pour through the spout or gas to clear the spout. A system utilizing this dispense head and a method of dispensing liquid using this head are possible with this device.
US07712623B2
The present trash receptacle (and method for using the same) reduces the suction/vacuum effect in the bottom portion of the receptacle as trash bags or polyliners are removed therefrom. The receptacle includes a vent enabling fluid communication from a first chamber section (at the bottom of the receptacle) to a second chamber section which rests above the first chamber section.
US07712620B2
In a bottle 1 having a waist groove 61 and a grasping recess 63 nearly in the center of the height direction of a body portion 4 for imparting the sloped surface of a waist portion with necessary strength and restoring capability so that the denting and deformation of the sloped surface of the waist portion are prevented and for forming an easily graspable container even if it is a thin-wall container of which the weight has been decreased, a finger receiving recess 62 having the form of a convex curved surface toward an inside of the container is formed in a region including a container bottom portion side connecting face 61c of the waist groove 61.
US07712619B2
We propose a screw closure for containers, particularly bottles, with a top from which extends a surrounding skirt, said screw closure having a holding device for fixing the screw closure to the container, and with a security band disposed at the edge of the skirt that is facing away from the top, said security band being connected to the screw closure via a predetermined breaking line, and at least one elongation zone being provided in the security band, said elongation zone enabling the security band to extend preferably transverse to its circumferential direction. This screw closure is characterized by the fact that the security band (11) has at least one elastic region (39) that is formed by the lower part of the security band (11) between a holding strip (29) and an elastic holding band (35).
US07712607B2
A rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes having: at least one group of cigarettes; at least one inner container housing the group of cigarettes; an outer container housing the inner container and having at least one open lateral end; and a hinge connecting the inner container and the outer container to allow the inner container to rotate between a closed position, in which the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open position, in which the inner container is at least partly extracted from the outer container; the hinge being located close to an edge of a wall of the inner container and close to an edge of a bottom wall of the outer container at the open lateral end of the outer container.
US07712603B2
A device according to the invention for monitoring two sheet products transported by means of a clamp of a transport device. The device has at least two sensors that are intended to generate signals on the basis of which the number of products held in the clamp can be determined. A first sensor hereby generates a first detection signal referred to as reference signal when a clamp passes a reference area assigned to this first sensor. The second sensor is arranged in such a way that it generates a second detection signal when at least one section of one of the products in a second side edge area free from the clamp passes through its assigned detection area.
US07712596B2
Disclosed is a bill recycle machine, in which a separation part for separating bills from each other and a push plate are installed at the same level as a bill receiving space, and an elevation plate is removed, so that a simple structure and small volume thereof can be achieve. The bill recycle machine includes: a front plate forming a wall surface of a front side of a bill receiving space formed at a lower part of a shutter, the front plate rotating about a hinge shaft of an upper part of the front plate; a push plate forming a first bill receiving space between the push plate and the front plate; a stack plate installed at an opposite side of the first bill receiving space, based on the push plate, so as to support bills stacked through a stack wheel; a transfer plate forming a second bill receiving space between the transfer plate and the stack plate; and a pickup roller installed at a position allowing the pickup roller to make contact with bills stacked in the first bill receiving space when the push plate moves frontward.
US07712581B2
A transmission having a sealing baffle is disclosed. The transmission further includes a transmission case, a torque converter housing and a torque transfer member. The transmission case has a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket mounted for rotation therein. The torque converter housing has a fluid pump for pumping lubrication fluid. The torque converter housing is configured to mount to the transmission case. The torque transfer member is coupled to the drive sprocket and to the driven sprocket for transferring a driving torque from the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket. The first baffle is mounted to the torque converter housing. The first baffle has a base, a first flange extending from a first side of the base, a second flange extending from a second side of the base and a sealing lip formed in the second flange. The sealing lip contacts the transmission case to form a seal to prevent the fluid from flooding the torque transfer member. The seal created by compression of the sealing lip against the transmission case and the subsequent thermal expansion of the baffle and sealing lip is maintained over the entire operating temperature range of the transmission.
US07712564B2
An air box for a motorcycle including a motorcycle engine and a fuel tank. The air box includes a housing having an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle engine. A filter element is coupled to the housing and is configured to separate debris from the intake air. A mounting feature is configured to connect the housing below the fuel tank of the motorcycle.
US07712561B2
A driving wheel structure (100) for a motor vehicle employing an in-wheel motor arrangement includes first (105) and second (108) electric motors for generating drive torques to rotate a wheel (102), a first support member attached to the vehicle body for supporting the first motor on a vehicle body, and a second support member attached to the vehicle body for supporting the second motor on the vehicle body. When the wheel (102) is rotated in one direction by the first motor (105), a reaction torque (F1) is induced in the first support member by the drive torque of the first motor (105) that applies a down-ward bias force (F1) to the wheel (102). When the wheel (102) is rotated in said one direction by the second motor (108), a reaction torque (F2) is induced in the second support member by the drive torque of the second motor that applies an upward bias force (F2) to the wheel (102).
US07712540B2
A choke that is usable with a well includes an inlet port and an outlet port. The choke also includes pressure drop stages between the inlet port and the outlet port. Each of the pressure drop stages is adapted to create part of an overall pressure differential between the inlet and outlet ports.
US07712530B1
A pre-stressed annular sealant and method of creating a durable seal in a well bore annulus which is based on hydraulic cement that is designed to be easily pumped and placed into a casing-wellbore annulus, to set into a hardened mass, and to then undergo post-set crystal growth and phase changes in the crystalline matrix to combat inherent volumetric shrinkage and to create internally-generated compressive stress in the cement matrix. This internally-generated compressive pre-stressing compensates for tensile stress induced by well operations. The tensile stress must be greater in magnitude than the magnitude of the compressive pre-stress plus the magnitude of the cement's tensile strength before the cement sheath will fail in tension. This expansion and pre-stressing also creates significantly higher shear bond strengths than those developed with ordinary hydraulic cement.
US07712521B2
A device is described for a plug (12) for pressure testing of bore holes and the like in a formation or the like, and associated pipe (10) in which the plug is installed in a plug-carrying chamber (14), and the plug (12) seals the passage through the pipe by cooperating with sealing bodies (23, 25), with the underside of the plug (12) being arranged (rests) in a seat at the bottom of the chamber. The plug is characterized in that it comprises a number of layer-formed or tier-formed ring disc elements of a given thickness, on fitted on top of the other.
US07712519B2
A method and apparatus for imparting a transverse magnetization to a wellbore tubular is disclosed. In certain exemplary embodiments, tubulars are magnetized to include at least one flux reversal (e.g., at the center of the tubular) at which the direction of the transverse field changes (i.e., from pointing radially inward to pointing radially outward). A plurality of such magnetized wellbore tubulars may be coupled together and lowered into a target well to form a magnetized section of a casing string. Exemplary embodiments of the invention may be utilized to impart a strong, highly uniform magnetic field about a string of wellbore tubulars, thereby providing for improved passive ranging and wellbore twinning.
US07712515B2
A municipal casting frame is provided with cast nut retainers that allow the frame to be used with or without a bolt-down cover. The frame defines one or more bolt holes of sufficient dimension to allow free passage of the cover bolts. The undersurface of the frame defines a cast nut retainer adapted to securely receive a nut. In one embodiment, the nut retainer includes protrusions that permit the nut to be snap-fitted into the nut retainer. In another embodiment, the nut retainer is configured to frictionally receive the nut in a wedging interaction. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a frame with integral cast nut retainers. The method generally includes the steps of (a) providing a core corresponding in shape to the bolt hole and the cast nut retainer, the cast nut retainer being configured to receive and retain a nut, (b) casting a frame in a mold about the core, (c) removing the cast frame from the mold and (d) removing the core from the cast frame. The process may also include the step of inserting a nut into the cast nut retainer in a direction that is in substantial coaxial alignment with the bolt hole.
US07712512B2
A method for manufacturing a composite metal material combined with a nanocarbon material comprises heating a metal alloy to a half-melted state in which both liquid and solid phases are present. Next, a nongraphitized nanocarbon material is added to the half-melted metal alloy and stirred to form a composite metal material combined with a nanocarbon.
US07712511B2
The present invention relates to a casting mold having a molten metal received therein which is rotated in one direction by a rotary device with the vertical axis as a rotary axis while solidifying the molten metal for a predetermined period of time, and, after the predetermined period of time is lapsed, the casting mold is rotated in the direction opposite the direction of rotation for a predetermined period of time, and the rotation in the opposing directions is repeated so that the molten metal is solidified. The molten metal can be shaken and agitated without roughening the surface of the molten metal to uniformalize the distribution of temperature of the molten metal in the casting mold.
US07712510B2
An installation tool for mounting a tire to a wheel, the tire and wheel defining a central axis, the tire having opposing annular sides and two circumferential beads that define an opening through the opposing annular sides and the wheel having shoulders for receiving the circumferential bead, the installation tool comprising a shoe having an upper axial side, a lower axial side and an outer radial side, wherein the shoe includes a beveled transition zone that extends across at least a part of at least one of the upper axial side and the outer radial side, the beveled transition zone defining a bead drawing surface that mounts the bead of the tire to the shoulder of the wheel when rotatable movement is introduced between the tire and the shoe.
US07712508B2
A combination type tape dispenser includes a first member having a cutter and a first tape roll mount, and a second member having a second tape roll mount. The first member and the second member is manipulative to be combined and separated. When the first member and the second member are combined, the first member and the second member form a big tape dispenser to mount a big tape roll on the second tape roll mount and cut a tape of the big tape roll by the cutter. When the first member and the second member are separated, the first member forms a small tape dispenser to mount a small tape roll on the first tape roll mount and cut a tape of the small tape roll by the cutter.
US07712495B1
A wooden stake sharpening machine moves a conical cutting head along a linear path into engagement with a clamped wooden stake blank to affect sharpening thereof. A walking beam conveying apparatus moves a wooden stake blank into position from a supply bin where a clamping apparatus holds the stake blank in place while the cutting head moves onto the stake to form a point thereon. The drive mechanism moves the conveyor in coordination with the linear movement of the cutting apparatus, which trips a switch to actuate the clamping mechanism as the cutting head moves toward engagement with the stake blank. The conveyor then moves the sharpened stake toward a collection area while moving another stake blank into position for sharpening as the cutting apparatus is retracted away from the stake, thus providing an automated stake sharpening machine with a minimal number of moving parts.
US07712491B2
An apparatus and method for automatically dispensing a radioactive dose by filling a container, such as a vial or disposable syringe, with a required radioactive dose in a sterile environment; the apparatus being stand alone and radioactive-shielded. The apparatus further includes a control device for accurately dispensing and diluting the required radioactive dose using an online radioactivity measurement, which does not require knowledge of the volumetric radioactivity of the stock solution.
US07712490B2
Methods and apparatus prevent breakage of a catalyst particle and evenly fill the catalyst into tubes to an optimum density. A loading tool comprises a plurality of damper members extending from a centerline of the tube in at least one radial direction but in every case, having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the tube. For example, in one embodiment the damper members are shaped in a “Z”-like formation with each having a different rotational orientation than the adjacent one above or below it. The Z formations can be horizontally arranged along a central member or can be formed vertically in a unitary fashion from a single, stiffened member. In another embodiment, the dampers are formed into spiral or helical shapes that increase or decrease in diameter along the length of the tube.
US07712487B2
A tube having enhanced inner diameter stiffness is provided. The tube includes a wall having an inner zone, intermediate zone, and an outer zone. The intermediate zone includes a plurality of partially offset and overlapped plies that form a number of non-radial spokes and voids extending from the inner zone and the outer zone. The non-radial spokes of the tube facilitate the transmission of torque from the inner zone to the outer zone during winding and handling operations, while insulating the inner diameter from radial pressure on the outer zone. The spokes and voids may essentially extend around the entire circumference and length of the tube and thus provide for more consistent properties throughout the tube.
US07712480B2
The invention relates to a method of extracting contents from sealed flexible containers using irrigation water, to a device for implementing same and to the container used. The inventive method essentially comprises the following steps: a) perforation of the container (1) with the closure of a container support (10); b) injection of irrigation water into the container (1) through the perforations thus produced; c) breakage of the container, by applying same against breaking means comprising projecting elements (16) that are disposed on the container support (10), such that the container (1) is subjected to the pressure of the irrigation water; and d) extraction of the soluble fertiliser (3) contained in the container (1) by means of the stream of irrigation water. The invention also relates to the device used to perform said method, comprising a container support (10) which is divided into a body (12) and a lid (13), perforation means in the form of points (15), water injection means, breaking means consisting of projections (16) which are disposed inside the container support (10) and means for opening and closing the container support (10). The container (1) used comprises a receptacle (2) which is closed with a cover (4) having a peripheral rim (7).
US07712476B2
A disposable umbrella includes a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user. A fixed collar is mounted on the upper end of the staff. A plurality of main struts are pivotably attached to the fixed collar and extend radially from the fixed collar. The main struts are movable from collapsed positions, wherein the main struts extend generally parallel to the staff, to open positions, wherein the main struts extend outwardly from the staff. A waterproof film is fixed to the main struts, such as by adhesive, and extends generally from the staff to the extended ends of the main struts. A slidable collar has a bore therethrough and is slidably mounted for movement along the staff. A plurality of actuating struts are provided, the actuating struts having an inner ends pivotably attached to the slidable collar and outers end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of the collar along the staff towards the upper end of the staff causes the main struts to move out to their open positions. A latch is provided for selectively holding the slidable collar in a predetermined position on the staff to thereby hold the main struts in the open position, or releasing the slidable collar to allow movement of the slidable collar towards the lower end. The staff, collars, struts, waterproof film and latch are all formed of biodegradable materials. In this way the umbrella may be disposed of without harming the environment.
US07712471B2
Smoking article components, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided that use transition metal oxide clusters capable of catalyzing and/or oxidizing the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or adsorbing carbon monoxide. Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material can comprise transition metal oxide clusters.
US07712464B2
A valve for paint ball guns includes a case for receiving a first piston rod therein in which a first end of a second piston rod is movably received. The case includes several chambers defined therein so as to introduce pressurized air into the barrel of the paint ball gun. The first piston rod includes two piston rings and one of which is larger than the other. The first piston rod is biased by a first spring. The first end of the second piston rod in the first piston rod is biased by a second spring which is easily overcome by pushing the second piston rod by a driving member. The movement of the second piston rod introduces pressurized air to apply to the piston ring of larger area to generate a force to overcome the force from the first spring and the piston ring of the smaller area.
US07712459B2
An air-fuel ratio control system includes an air-fuel ratio sensor (23, 24) disposed upstream or downstream of an exhaust purification catalyst, and performs feedback control of the fuel supply amount such that an output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor is controlled to the target air-fuel ratio. The feedback control is performed by calculating a correction amount by summing up the value of a proportional and the value of an integral calculated based on the deviation between the output value of the air-fuel ratio sensor and the target air-fuel ratio, and correcting the fuel supply amount based on the obtained correction amount. At cold startup of the internal combustion engine, the value of the integral is set to be a smaller value from the startup of the internal combustion engine until a predetermined period elapses.
US07712458B2
The present invention refers to an apparatus for raising the spark energy in capacitive ignition systems comprising at least one charge winding (L1) which via a first rectifier device (D1) charges a charge capacitor (C1) connected to the primary winding of an 5 ignition voltage transformer in order to provide said primary winding with energy for generation of a spark characterized in that additionally a second rectifier device (D2) and a switching device (Q2) are arranged in such a way that the switching device periodically can short circuit the charge winding and thereby increase the charge of the charge capacitor at low engine speeds.
US07712446B2
A control device of an internal combustion engine includes: a target negative pressure setting section that set a target negative intake pipe pressure during cold acceleration to a negative intake pipe pressure larger than a negative intake pipe pressure prior to the cold acceleration; a throttle valve control section that controls a throttle valve so that the negative intake pipe pressure increases during cold acceleration; and an intake valve control section that controls a variable valve mechanism of an intake valve, based on the target negative intake pipe pressure, to obtain a target intake air amount.
US07712438B2
An animal behavior modification kit including a collar mountable receiver and a plurality of circuit boards. The collar mountable receiver has a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal. Each of the plurality of circuit boards are selectively mechanically connectable to both the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. The plurality of circuit boards include at least one electrical component having an electrical characteristic. The electrical characteristic of each of the plurality of circuit boards being different.
US07712434B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a heater in thermal contact with a showerhead electrode, and a temperature controlled top plate in thermal contact with the heater to maintain a desired temperature of the showerhead electrode during semiconductor substrate processing. A gas distribution member supplies a process gas and radio frequency (RF) power to the showerhead electrode.
US07712427B2
A steerable wing-type sail system for a wind powered craft. The system includes first and second secondary airfoils and that are spaced outwardly to the sides of the plane of the main wing, and that are positioned rearwardly of the trailing edge of the wing. The secondary airfoils are selectively pivotable so as to steer the main wing in one direction or the other. The main wing is also provided with a pivoting flap at its trailing edge, which pivots simultaneously with and in the same direction as the secondary airfoils. The secondary airfoils are carried on elongate horizontal booms mounted near the mid-span height of the main wing. The secondary airfoils pivot about vertical axes at the distal ends of the booms, and are operated by control cables that are retracted and paid out by linear actuators or similar mechanisms. The craft may be multi-hull vessel, such as a catamaran. The control mechanism for the secondary airfoils may operate the airfoils in response to signals received from one or more onboard sensors. The system is suitable for use on an autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV).
US07712422B2
A folding table includes a frame with a folding top mounted to the frame. A linkage mounts to the frame and to the top and facilitates movement of the top between a horizontal use position and a folded position wherein the top is substantially vertical. The linkage includes a link mounted to the frame at a first end and to the table top at a second end. A first element mounts to the underside of the top and has a slot with a straight portion and an end portion extending upward at an oblique angle to the straight portion. A follower mounts at the top of the frame and slides in the slot and resting in the end portion when the top is in the use position. The slot, follower and linkage are configured so that the table top does not require latching, but cannot be accidentally folding when force is applied to the top.
US07712415B2
A processing machine for webs includes second units which are driven independently of each other by drives. Signals for a lead axle position of a virtual lead axle are supplied to at least one signal line that connects the drives for these several units. The drives are each provided with an offset, which offset determines a permanent, but adjustable, displacement of a set angular position relative to the lead axle.
US07712414B2
A pre-packaged cleaning system or kit is used for transport, storage and solvent impregnation of one or more fabric rolls used for cleaning components of printing machines. A container holds one or more fabric rolls, and one or more bags containing a solvent. When the rolls are to be used, the bags are perforated, allowing the solvent to flow onto the rolls. Thus, the rolls can be impregnated with solvent immediately before use. Because they are stored separately, the rolls and solvent are not likely to deteriorate even during long periods of storage.
US07712413B2
A printable label assembly includes a printable label having an adhesive coating applied to a first surface thereof to facilitate attachment of the label to an article. The label is configured to receive a printed image on a second surface thereof. A removable backing is releasably attached to the adhesive coating and has at least three sections: a removable primary section releasably attached to a central portion of the adhesive coating of the label and being configured to be removed from the central portion to expose the central portion for attachment to the article; and a pair of removable handle sections releasably attached to outward portions of the adhesive coating of the label, the handle sections being configured to remain on the adhesive coating of the label after removal of the primary section to provide at least two handling points for manipulation by a user to assist the user in applying the label to the article.
US07712410B2
An erosion control log and method for packing and handling erosion control logs. In one aspect, the erosion control logs are formed, stacked, compressed and prepared for delivery while retaining maximum decompressibility.
US07712402B2
A food slicer for slicing a food product is provided. The slicer may have an adjustable surface and a stationary surface with a blade interposed therebetween. The food product may be sliced with a specific thickness via the blade by traversing the food product from the adjustable surface to the stationary surface. A trailing edge of the adjustable surface and an edge of the blade may define a gap distance which determines a slicing thickness of the food product. A cam may contact an underside of the adjustable surface to set the gap distance. The gap distance may be reset by rotating the cam. More particularly, the cam may have a plurality of cam surfaces. Each of the cam surfaces may have a different distance to a rotating axis of the cam. The gap distance may be changed by rotating the cam such that a different cam surface contacts the adjustable surface's underside.
US07712394B2
A handlebar grip for a transportation vehicle includes a grip body having a body portion and an annular flange provided on one end of the body portion, a tightening member mounted on the outer surface of the annular flange, a locating ring mounted on the outer surface of the annular flange in such a way that the tightening member is placed in between the locating ring and the annular flange, and a fastener inserted into a through hole of the locating ring. When the fastener is fastened up, one end of the fastener leans against the outer surface of the tightening member such that the annular flange of the grip body is pressed by the tightening member to be radially inwardly deformed and compressed against the periphery of a handlebar of the transportation vehicle. Thus, the handlebar grip is firmly fixed to the handlebar of the transportation vehicle.
US07712384B2
A dilution apparatus for diluting a gas sample. The apparatus includes a sample gas conduit having a sample gas inlet end and a diluted sample gas outlet end, and a sample gas flow restricting orifice disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end connected with the sample gas conduit and providing fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the sample gas conduit. A diluted sample gas conduit is provided within the sample gas conduit having a mixing end with a mixing space inlet opening disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end, thereby forming an annular space between the sample gas conduit and the diluted sample gas conduit. The mixing end of the diluted sample gas conduit is disposed at a distance from the sample gas flow restricting orifice. A dilution gas source connected with the sample gas inlet end of the sample gas conduit is provided for introducing a dilution gas into the annular space, and a filter is provided for filtering the sample gas. The apparatus is particularly suited for diluting heated sample gases containing one or more condensable components.
US07712380B2
Systems and methods are described for measuring flow properties of a high gas-cut multiphase mixture flowing in a conduit, such as a wet-gas produced from a hydrocarbon well. In aspects of the present invention, one or more receivers are used to receive Doppler shifted signals resulting from an interaction between a propagating dominant microwave mode developed in the conduit and the high gas-cut multiphase mixture flowing in the conduit. Analysis of the Doppler shift in the received signals may provide for determining the velocity of the gas and/or the liquid phase of the high gas-cut multiphase mixture. In other aspects, analysis of the phase difference of Doppler signals received at the plurality of receivers provides for a determination of the content of the wet-gas, such as the water holdup.
US07712375B2
There is disclosed a method for measuring the strength of a honeycomb structure provided with an insertion hole preferably without generating any chipping. In the strength measuring method of the honeycomb structure, the strength is measured while a rubber plug is inserted into the insertion hole. The rubber plug has a hardness of 45 or more and 90 or less, a clearance between the inserted rubber plug and the inner surface of the insertion hole parallel to the depth direction of the insertion hole is 0.2 mm or more and 2.6 mm or less, and the protruding height of the inserted rubber plug from the peripheral surface of the honeycomb structure is 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less.
US07712372B2
An apparatus for testing switches of a vehicle audio system includes contact bars. In use, a front end of each contact bar contacts either one of the switches, or a portion of the surface of the audio system. A front end of an extension bar is connected to a rear end of each contact bar. A gear unit is connected to a rear end of each extension bar, to move the extension bar forward and rearward. A motor is mounted to each gear unit, to rotate the extension bars. A piezoelectric sensor is mounted to each motor, to measure the pressure applied to the contact bars. A control unit compares the pressures measured by the piezoelectric sensors with set values, and diagnoses the switches.
US07712363B2
A liquid state detecting sensor is provided in which a level detecting unit for detecting the level of a liquid and a concentration detecting unit for detecting the concentration of a particular component contained in the liquid are integrated.In a liquid state detecting sensor 100 capable of measuring the level and a urea concentration of a urea aqueous solution, a level detecting unit 70 and a liquid property detecting unit 30 are connected in an insulated state. An outer cylinder electrode 10 and an inner electrode 20 for forming the level detecting unit 70 form a capacitor, and level detection is performed on the basis of the electrostatic capacity which changes in response to the level of the urea aqueous solution which is present therebetween. A holder 120 for holding a ceramic heater 110 is fitted to a leading end portion 21 of the inner electrode 20, and the holder 120 is supported inside a leading end portion 11 of the outer cylinder electrode 10 by a rubber bushing 80. Further, the urea concentration is determined by a liquid property detecting circuit unit of a circuit board 60 by energizing a heat generating resistor pattern provided on the ceramic heater 110 for a fixed time duration and on the basis of a voltage value corresponding to a resistance value of the heat generating resistor pattern obtained at this time.
US07712359B2
A dispensing measuring device. The device correlates the relative proximity between a Hall effect sensor and a magnet. One is held stationary, while the other is movable in response to ordinary actuation which occurs during dispensing. Detection of changes in the proximity are correlated to the amount of material dispensed.
US07712354B2
Method and apparatus of easily controlling the Z-position of the probe used in a microprobe analyzer. The apparatus has: (A) a holder, (B) a reference body having a reference surface that is at the same height as a surface of a sample, the reference body being placed on or in the holder, (C) a probe-positioning device for bringing the probe into contact with the reference surface, (D) a controller for controlling motion of the probe-positioning device in the Z-direction, (E) position-measuring apparatus for measuring the Z-coordinate of the probe at which it is in contact with the reference surface, (F) a memory for storing a positional coordinate outputted by the position-measuring apparatus, and (G) probe contact detection apparatus for detecting that the probe is in contact with the reference surface.
US07712350B2
An apparatus for determining the density of insulation in a cavity of a structure that senses a force of the insulation against the sensor. The force is used to determine the density of the insulation, which, in turn, is used to determine the thermal resistance or R-value of the insulation. The apparatus may include a fixture for supporting the sensor and holding the sensor in the substantially fixed position. A method for determining the density of loose-fill, blown-in-place insulation in a wall cavity by the use of a sensor is that measures a force exerted on the sensor by the insulation. The measured force is used to determine the density of the insulation. The thermal resistance of the insulation is determined from the known cavity depth and insulation density.
US07712348B2
A device for the selective determination of the quantity of oil mist includes an impactor (1) with a micronozzle (4) for dispensing a predetermined volume of a gas to be tested, a baffle plate (5) arranged downstream of the micronozzle (4) for depositing oil particles. A window (7) is provided on the side of the baffle plate (5) facing away from the micronozzle (4).
US07712331B2
A system is set forth to increase the capacity of an LNG-based liquefier in a cryogenic air separation unit wherein, in a low production mode, the nitrogen that is fed to the LNG-based liquefier consists only of at least a portion of the high pressure nitrogen from the distillation column system while in a high production mode, a supplemental compressor is used to boost the pressure of at least a portion of the low pressure nitrogen from the distillation column system to create additional (or replacement) feed to the LNG-based liquefier. A key to the present invention is the supplemental compressor and the associated heat exchange equipment is separate and distinct from the LNG-based liquefier. This allows its purchase to be delayed until a capacity increase is actually needed and thus avoid building an oversized liquefier based on a speculative increase in liquid product demand.
US07712329B2
A compressor system includes a first compressor, which has a first low side oil sump, in a first shell and a second compressor, which has a second low side oil sump, in a second shell. The first and second compressors are connected in series. There is an oil transfer conduit connected between the first low side sump of the first compressor and the second low side sump of the second compressor. The system also includes a normally open check valve in the oil transfer conduit. A method for effecting oil balance in a compressor system, the method includes establishing a first compressor in a first shell having a first low side oil sump and establishing a second compressor in a second shell having a second low side oil sump. The first and second compressors are connected in series. The method also includes positioning an oil transfer conduit between the first low side sump and the second low side sump and positioning a normally open check valve in the oil transfer conduit.
US07712327B2
A heat exchanger and method for defrosting a heat exchanger is disclosed and which includes a heat exchanger having a fluid receiving conduit, and at least one space which is defined, at least in part, by the fluid receiving conduit, an expandable and contractible heating element which is received within the space, and which is located in heat transmitting relation relative to the fluid receiving conduit, and a biasing member mounted on the heat exchanger and the heating element and which longitudinally, and resiliently restrains the movement of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger during the expansion and contraction of the heating element relative to the heat exchanger.
US07712322B2
A device for sensing a level of ice stored in a bin of an automatic ice maker includes a bail arm and an actuator mechanism. The actuator mechanism is constituted by a shape memory alloy that, upon application of a voltage, contracts to move the bail arm to a raised position prior to initiation of an ice harvest cycle. After completion of the ice harvest cycle, the voltage is discontinued, allowing the shape memory alloy to relax, causing the bail arm to return to a lowered position. The bail arm includes a sensing member that extends into the bin and, depending upon the level of ice, prevents the bail arm from contacting a sensing switch, temporarily halting ice production.
US07712317B2
A flow control system comprises includes a fluidic control device having a main fluid path for a flow of fluid through the device, and a control fluid path for a control flow of fluid through the device. At least part of the control fluid path coincides with at least part of the main fluid path to control the flow of fluid out of the fluidic control device. A valve is associated with the control fluid path. The valve is movable between an open condition to allow fluid to flow along the control fluid path to effect the aforesaid control of the fluid flow out of the fluidic control device, and a closed condition to inhibit or prevent fluid flow along the control fluid path.
US07712316B2
A gas turbine engine includes turbine blades having film cooling holes at an outer face of an airfoil wherein the film cooling holes are designed to be better filled with air. In a disclosed embodiment, the film cooling holes include a meter section extending along a direction having a main component extending from a blade tip to a blade root. In addition, a diffused section communicates with the meter section at a face of the airfoil. The diffused section is spaced toward the blade tip from the meter section. In this manner, centrifugal force ensures the diffused section is also filled with air.
US07712314B1
A combustor for a gas turbine is provided having a nozzle assembly located at one end and a combustion chamber defining a second end of the combustor. A venturi is positioned within the combustor, between the nozzle and the combustion chamber. The venturi defines a passageway therein having a first side facing the nozzle and a second side facing the combustion chamber. Compressed air is directed into an inlet in fluid communication with the first and second sides of the venturi passageway. The venturi passageway directs the compressed air from the inlet in opposite directions within the first and second sides of the passageway for cooling the venturi.
US07712302B2
A crossfire tube for attachment between casing bosses of combustors includes a bellows assembly having a bellows with opposite cylindrical ends welded to annular flanges. The annular flanges include a bolt circle for securing the flanges to the combustor bosses. The flanges bear against a gasket for sealing against inserts welded to the casing bosses for retrofit in the sealing assembly to combustors or to seats where the inserts and bosses are formed integrally during original equipment manufacture. A telescoping cylindrical sleeve surrounds the bellows to protect from falling foreign object damage.
US07712300B2
A water treatment and pressurization system for the adiabatic cooling of comburent air destined for plants using gas turbines (15), run by measuring, control and regulation units, comprising a lifting and pressurizing station (16) of vaporization water at a varying flow-rate for a maximum operating pressure, preferably up to 120 bar, associated with a series of nozzles (20) situated on nozzle-holder ramps (12) downstream of which there is at least one housing unit (44) for humidity and temperature probes (52-55). The lifting station (16) comprises at least two pumps (22) with relative auxiliaries devices connected to nozzle-holder collectors (39).
US07712290B2
A container packaging apparatus includes a side edge chuck member that positions and holds both side ends of an opening of a packaging bag in place during a deaeration operation, suppressing development of crimps in a sealed area of the packaging bag. A high level of sealing of the packaging bag and thus the packaging of a container case with a resultant high level of quality in a stable manner can be obtained.
US07712288B2
Techniques for reducing non-compliance of medication use are described. The techniques involve generating and storing an identifier for a specific dosage instance of a specific patient, and creating a package that includes a mechanism for conveying the identifier. Once the package is created, a set of one or more medications that are prescribed to be taken by the specific patient at the specific dosage instance are placed in the package. The set of medications within the package in a manner that prevents the identifier from being perceived from the mechanism until the package is opened. Once opened, the identifier is perceived and communicated back to an automated compliance system.
US07712285B2
A waste disposal device including a sensing mechanism for delaying the rotation of a cartridge. The waste disposal device comprises a container defining a waste chamber for receiving encapsulated waste in a flexible tubing. The rotatable cartridge contains the flexible tubing. A lid is coupled to the device and is capable of moving between an open and closed position on the container. A rotation mechanism is operatively configured to engage the rotatable cartridge. A sensing mechanism is arranged to allow for delay in rotation of the cartridge until the lid assumes the closed position so that the waste is encapsulated in the flexible tubing after the closing of the lid, and after the subsequent twisting of the flexible tubing about the waste material caused by the rotation of the cartridge.
US07712283B2
A bracket system for assembling playground equipment includes a plurality of deck support brackets, at least two vertical frame brackets, at least two horizontal frame brackets, a swing bracket, and at least two ladder brackets. The deck support brackets secure horizontal deck support beams to vertical frame beams at first points along the vertical frame beams. The vertical frame brackets attach to at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at second points above the first points. The at least two horizontal frame brackets fix at least one horizontal frame beam to the at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at the second points; the horizontal frame brackets and the vertical frame brackets interconnect. The swing bracket fastens a swing support beam to the at least one horizontal frame beam at a third point along the at least one horizontal frame beam. The at least two ladder brackets connect a ladder to one of the horizontal deck support beams.
US07712276B2
A siding panel product is provided comprising a first polymeric siding panel having a butt end and a top end, a front surface comprising a plurality of front faces defined between the top and butt ends and separated by at least one shoulder surface to define a stepped contour, and a rear surface. An insulation backing is coupled to the rear surface of the siding panel. The insulation backing comprises at least first and second insulation members coupled to the rear surface of said siding panel. The first insulation member has a bottom edge thereof coupled proximate to the stepped contour and the second insulation member has a top edge thereof coupled proximate to the stepped contour.
US07712268B1
A screen-type wind abatement system is provided for protecting openings, such as window and door openings, in buildings and other structures. Both openable and non-openable systems are disclosed. A openable system includes a first frame member anchored to the structure wall, a second frame member pivotally connected to the first frame member and having a screen mounting portion for receiving an edge of a screen and a retainer, and a snap-lock mechanism for removably connecting the first and second frame members, whereby the screen is sandwiched between the second frame and the retainer in covering relation with a window or door opening. The assembly is of heavy-duty construction to resist high impact forces caused by hurricane force winds and accompanying flying debris. The snap-lock mechanism allows for quick and simple installation and removal the second frame member. A fixed system is disclosed for non-openable installations.
US07712261B2
A collapsible structure with a self-locking mechanism includes a first hub, at least two struts pivotable connected at a first ends thereof to the first hub and movable relative to each another between a folded position and an expanded position, and a tension member adapted to limit pivotable movement of at least two struts such that, when in the expanded position, the at least two struts define an angle of less than 180°. The structure further includes a locking hub and at least two locking struts pivotably connected at first ends thereof to the locking hub and, at seconds ends thereof, to connection points on respective ones of the at least two struts. A method of erecting a structure is also disclosed.
US07712260B2
An adjustable wall system comprising horizontal and vertical members for forming a frame. Panels including mounting elements for being removably mounted to two adjacent vertical members of the frame thus forming a wall run. The vertical members include protrusions to be mounted by the mounting elements. The vertical and horizontal members may be provided with mutually mating locators. Surface mounting elements are provided to be mounted to a surface, the vertical members are mounted to these elements. A region of the vertical members is exposed between adjacent panels. This region can be used to mount display members and the like thereto or be used as a spacer. Levelers are used to bolt the freestanding wall runs to the floor. Perpendicular tabs on the horizontal members are used to connect them to other horizontal members creating dividing wall runs on straight wall runs. Angular or curved brackets are used to shape the wall run accordingly.
US07712259B1
A quick, field installed sump cover system for below ground sumps includes a support ring, a seal between the ring and sump upper lip, preferably two compression brackets each having two spaced regions extending under riser parts, at least one elongated member coupled between the support ring and compression brackets for selectively applying tension forces therebetween causing the bracket regions to engage the riser parts and the support ring to compresses the sealing member to form liquid-tight seal with the sump lip. The sump top can be closed by a dome-cover removably coupled to the support ring. The elongated members can include chain-like members with tensioning devices that, in field installations, can accommodate various sump sizes.
US07712250B2
A wild seaweed, like sea lettuce, is picked and germ cells are released from the seaweed. The germ cells then obtain adherence and are sprouted into youngs of the seaweed so that the seaweed can be cultivated artificially and productively and can be supplied as a material for biomass energy.
US07712248B2
A device for uniform emission of a composition having at least one volatile liquid attractant. It is especially useful in traps to improve the monitoring of pest insect populations and/or for mass trapping of insects.
US07712247B2
Disclosed are methods for affecting movement of an insect with respect to a specified location. One generates an electromagnetic field adjacent the location and exposes the insect to the field. Preferably the insect is a crawling insect such as a German cockroach, earwig, firebrat, or a silverfish. To attract insects, the strength of the field is not so high as to be repulsive to the insect, yet sufficiently strong as to be attractive. Such field generators are preferably incorporated into insect traps and insect bait stations.
US07712246B2
The vertical rodent trap provides a rodent trap that is oriented in a substantially vertical direction and spaced apart from a support surface, thus requiring a rodent to achieve a substantially vertical position in order to attempt to remove bait therefrom. This vertical position of the rodent is optimal for capture and killing thereof. The vertical rodent trap includes a conventional rodent trap that is vertically spaced apart from a horizontal support surface, such as the ground. A base, adapted for being horizontally mounted on the horizontal support surface, is further provided, and the lower end of a rod is secured to the base. The rod projects upwardly from the base and supports the conventional rodent trap, both spacing the rodent trap from the base and vertically orienting the rodent trap. Preferably, steel wool is secured to a bait-receiving member of the rodent trap for retaining bait thereto.
US07712240B2
Do-It-Yourself angular corner structures that join universal foldable frame moulding lengths, by use of hand pressure, to create triangular, rectangular and other polygon shaped custom picture frames or custom float frames or protective covers, which are made permanent using adhesive or solvent, without the need for metallic attachment devices.
US07712233B2
To prevent or minimize bridging of material to be dispersed within a containment vessel, a rotatable auger is positioned in close proximity to a curvilinear inner wall surface of the vessel. The auger has an axis that moves parallel to the curved wall surface in a manner such that the auger flights maintain a close working relationship relative to the curved wall surface as the auger is positioned for movement therealong. A spreader apparatus is positioned to receive material dispensed through the vessel outlet port to broadcast the dispensed material externally of the vessel.
US07712219B2
In a process for the aligning of the tooth spaces of a workpiece with precut teeth, which is set up on the work spindle of a gear finishing machine, the workpiece (1) is brought into no-backlash double flank mesh with a pilot gear (6). The workpiece (1) is rotated, and during this rotation both the angular position of the tooth space centre lines of the pilot gear (6) and the centre distance between the pilot gear (6) and the workpiece (1) are measured. This allows the workpiece (1) to be tested with respect to radial run-out, flank material allowance, helix angle, and any possible irregularities.
US07712218B2
A sprinkler assembly includes a body, a support, which extends from the body, and a closure device that releasably closes the discharge opening of the body. The sprinkler assembly further includes a trigger that releasably holds the closure device at the discharge opening. A flow shaper is mounted to the support and the support is adapted to allow the fluid flowing from the discharge opening, when the closure device is released, to pass through the support substantially unimpeded by the support and the flow shaper is adapted to reshape the flow of fluid as it flows through the support. The flow shaper is formed from a plate having an elongated portion having first and second side edges and first and second ends with at least one tab extending from the first side edge. The elongated portion is formed into a ring shaped body and the at least one tab is bent radially inward toward a center of the generally ring shaped body.
US07712217B2
An improved system and method for disassembling the valve body assembly of a motor vehicle transmission. Air automatically ejects the internal components of a valve body assembly sub-assembly, thereby eliminating the need for an operator to manually “beat” the sub-assembly to remove said internal components. The process of separating the upper and lower sub-assembly, and of pre-washing the sub-assembly, remain the same as in the prior art. As before, the operator manually removes the valve retainers and plugs in each sub-assembly. The operator then loads either sub-assembly onto tooling specifically designed for that sub-assembly (either upper or lower). Once started, the tooling begins an automated, pre-programmed sequence of (1) clamping the sub-assembly, (2) injecting air into specific valve ports to eject internal components causing them to be automatically ejected into parts bins specified for each valve port, and (3) releasing the sub-assembly that no longer contains any internal parts.
US07712215B2
A method for assembling a flexible bus connector is disclosed, which includes the following steps. The first is a preparing step. An insulative housing and a plurality of terminals are provided. The insulative housing defines an opening and a plurality of passageways, and forms an upper side wall, a lower side wall, and a rear wall corresponding to the opening. The second is an assembling step. Each terminal includes at least a contact portion, a support portion and a soldering portion. The contact portion and the support portion are located near the opening when assembled, and the soldering portion extending toward the rear wall of the insulative housing. The third is a positioning step. A lower end of the soldering portion is located on a position where the lower end is lower than an inner surface of the lower side wall of the insulative housing.
US07712210B2
A method of making a printed circuit board in which at least two circuitized substrates are aligned and bonded together (e.g., using lamination). A gasket is provided on one of these and a facing circuitized portion on the other. The gasket forms an effective seal about the circuitized portion to prevent heated dielectric material from contacting the circuitry. After bonding, parts of the bonded structure, including the gasket, are removed to leave a projecting edge portion having circuitry thereon. This edge portion is then adapted for being positioned within an edge connector.
US07712208B2
The invention is directed to an unfailing pickup operation of an electronic component from a component storage portion at a seam of storage tapes connected even using a connection tape and prevention of reduction in a pickup rate of an electronic component. A CPU sends a feeding command to a component feeding unit to perform a component feeding operation or the like. Then, when the CPU judges that a connection tape reaches a pickup position, the CPU drives an X axis drive motor and a Y axis drive motor to move a board recognition camera to the pickup position of the feeding unit, the camera takes an image of a storage portion of a storage tape, and a recognition processing device performs recognition processing. A correction value based on a result of this recognition processing is stored in a RAM, and a suction nozzle is moved taking this correction value into account and lowers to pick up an electronic component.
US07712204B2
A manufacturing method of a thin-film head includes the steps of, laminating and patterning a soft magnetic layer with iron alloy that contains silicon and aluminum through a base layer on a substrate; laminating an insulating layer on the patterned soft magnetic layer; performing a chemical-mechanical polishing of a surface of the laminated insulating layer and the patterned soft magnetic layer with a first acid slurry; forming a lower shield layer by a mechanical polishing with a second weak acid, or neutral slurry with a pH different from that of the first slurry; and forming a lower shield gap layer and a magnetoresistive effect layer on the lower shield layer.
US07712200B2
A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which hooks or clasps onto a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prison seats in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand the strap to be disconnected.
US07712199B1
A manually operable hand tool for installing laminate flooring includes an elongated shaft and a base member statically connected to the elongated shaft and including a downwardly averted shoulder spaced from a distal end of the shaft. A first handle is slidably engaged with the shaft, and a stop member is statically affixed to the distal end of the shaft. A second handle is connected to the base member and extends upwardly from a top surface thereof. Such a second handle is forwardly offset at an oblique angle biased towards the averted shoulder and is securely welded to the base member for providing an additional gripping surface seated above the base member for applying additional weight to the base member during installation procedures.
US07712193B2
A rope tensioner is used, for example, to connect a rope 1 under tension to a safety switch whereby the switch operates, e.g., to turn off power to machinery guarded or bounded by the rope in the event that the rope tension departs significantly from a predetermined value. The rope tensioner ensures a firm gripping of the rope 1 reducing risk of the rope 1 slipping and losing the required tension. The rope tensioner comprises to this end a housing 2 with passageways 16,17 to receive the rope 1 running between main inlet and outlet locations and a clamp 14 to apply a clamping force transverse to the rope 1 at a clamping location 8 within the passageway 16, 17, the passageway having sections running in opposed directions.
US07712191B2
A secure fastener includes a fastening device and a security device. The fastening device includes a base, a handle pivotally installed on the base between a slackening position and a fastening position and a latch movably installed on the handle for engagement with the base in the fastening position. A first crossbar is installed on the base so that a first belt can be attached to the first crossbar. Second and third crossbars are installed on the handle so that a second belt can be directed past the third crossbar, wound around the second crossbar and directed past the third crossbar again. The security device is installed on the base and moveably urged by the handle so that the security device can be moved to push the second belt against the third crossbar in the fastening position.
US07712190B2
The invention relates to a clip for clipping together sheets which are made of paper, plastic, metal etc, on the corners or sides thereof. Said clip is U-shaped and comprises two similar or different limps. The stack of paper is clipped together between said two limps or by means of projections incorporated therein. The invention is characterised in that said clip is embodied as a triangular single piece or is trapezium-shaped or is shaped like a semi-circle or is semi-elliptically shapes with limpbs (1, 1a or 1b) which are arranged parallel to each other when in the rest position. The two limbs (1, 1a or 1b) comprise a small fold (3), which is inwardly curved an which bends to form an acute or obtuse angle (3a), on each side (4) forming an acute angle or an obtuse angle (4a) with the back (2) or on each vertex (8). The two limbs (6) are arranged on top of each, parallel to each other and are connected together without mutual contact by means of a spring (7) both in a rest position and also in a position wherein a stack of sheets is clipped. The clip is displaced in the direction of the edge (4) or the back (2) on the stack of paper and is clipped by the pre-tensed back (2) or the spring (7) on the folds (3) which are inwardly curved.
US07712187B2
A hinge assembly for use in a flat display monitor includes a support member, a rotational base and a pivot mechanism for rotatably connecting the rotational base to the support member. The support member includes two first sidewalls, a first resisting surface and a second resisting surface. Each first sidewall defines a pivoting hole. The pivot mechanism includes a pivotal shaft, a limiting washer and a fixing element. The pivotal shaft includes a shaft portion running through the pivoting bole. The pivotal shaft is non-rotatable relative to the support member. The limiting washer includes a first restricting surface and a second restricting surface. The limiting washer is non-rotatable relative to the rotational base with the first restricting surface and the second restricting surface configured for resisting the first resisting surface and the second resisting surface respectively.
US07712183B2
An electric vacuum cleaner (1) of the invention is adapted for wipe off cleaning using a sheet wound about a rotary brush (25) incorporated in a suction device (10). In order to wind a sheet (50) around a periphery of the rotary brush (25), a brush motor (44) rotates the rotary brush (25) in a predetermined direction at a predetermined rotational speed. At the same time, suction force of an electric blower fan (42) is set to the lowest level. This achieves the following advantage in a case where a wet sheet is used as the sheet (50). During sheet winding, water and alcohol released from the wet sheet (50) can be prevented from being scattered on a surface (100) to be cleaned. Further, the released water and alcohol do not adversely affect the electric blower fan (42).
US07712182B2
Electrical components and vacuums. In some aspects, the invention provides an electrical component including a housing defining a passageway, a motor supported by the housing, the motor being selectively electrically connectable with a power source, a fan connected to the motor and operable to generate an airflow through the passageway, an electrical circuit supported by the housing, the electrical circuit being selectively electrically connectable with the power source, and a power-tool battery electrically connectable with the electrical circuit such that power is selectively transferred between the battery and the electrical circuit, the battery being connectable to the housing. In some aspects, the invention provides a vacuum.
US07712179B2
A convenient ticket scraper is comfortable for use in scraping various surfaces and consists of a main body with a guitar pick shape and an arcuate protruding blade. The main body has a banana shaped key ring hole in one end and the arcuate protruding blade with the thickness of a coin in the other end. There is an even beveled area covered by rubber on each side of the main body for a thumb and a forefinger. An appealing version of this scraper is also disclosed.
US07712177B2
To provide a cleaning sheet that can remove foreign matter adhering on a probe needle without wearing the probe needle and that does not allow the foreign matter to re-adhere on the probe needle, the cleaning sheet has a cleaning layer on at least one surface thereof, the cleaning layer containing a urethane polymer and a vinyl monomer.
US07712175B2
The invention is directed to toothbrushes that include a handle, a neck a head, and a polishing member attached to the head, where the polishing member includes a base proximate the backside of the head and a plurality of projections of sufficient size and shape and disposed in a pattern on the base that are effective to provide polishing of teeth.
US07712172B2
A method and apparatus for a sleep system is provided. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user's zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation contains adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Likewise, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the adjustable mattress.
US07712166B2
A siderail and support mechanism for a bed includes a siderail having a head edge and a foot edge. First and second support arms having upper and lower pivot shafts are configured to pivotally attach the siderail to a bed. At least one of the first support arm and the second support arm includes an edge configured to form a continuous face with one of the head edge and the foot edge of the siderail. In a further embodiment, a bed siderail and support mechanism includes a siderail for a bed including a central portion and at least one end portion. The end portion is configured to extend lower than the central portion to closely cooperate with a bed structure for preventing a patient from being trapped between the siderail and the bed. The siderails are configured to minimize potential trapping hazards.
US07712159B2
A potty training device for male and female toddlers that is adaptable to be used as a training urinal for male toddlers. The convertible potty and urinal training device can be used the same way as conventional training potties but, in addition and unlike conventional training potties, is easily converted to a training urinal to train male toddlers to urinate in the standing position. This invention is comprised of a front, back, and side walls on a base with legs having a opening in the floor center. A removable waste container is mounted beneath the base for collecting waste making it adaptable to be used as a urinal for male toddlers. A removable seat with a opening in its bottom section is mated on the top and side brims of the urinal section making it adaptable to be used the same way as a conventional training potty.
US07712148B2
A ballistic vest having an articulated body armor component and duty gear support component connected together such that the body armor and duty gear support component each support the weight of duty gear items positioned on a duty gear belt. The body armor component includes a rear panel fastened to the duty gear support component and a front panel attached to the duty gear component such that the front component can articulate over the duty gear portion based upon movement of a wearer.
US07716746B2
A controller in a hard disk serving as a data storage device stores a license including a content key for decrypting encrypted content data E and others in a secure data storage portion. The license is managed in the secure data storage portion in accordance with a LBA, and the LBA for storing the license, which is being processed for transmission, is stored as a log in a log memory of the secure data storage portion. When a failure occurs during the transmission processing, the license, which was being processed for transmission, is specified based on the LBA stored in the log memory.
US07716742B1
A packet transmitted on a network is read and decoded. A network device and its operating system are identified by analyzing the decoded packet. If more than one operating system is identified from the decoded packet, the operating system is selecting by comparing confidence values assigned to the operating systems identified. A service running on the network device is identified from the decoded packet or subsequent packets that are read, decoded and analyzed. The network topology of a network is determined by reading, decoding, and analyzing a plurality of packets. A flow between two network devices is determined by reading, decoding, and analyzing a plurality of packets. Vulnerabilities are assigned to operating systems and services identified by reading, decoding, and analyzing packets. Network configuration policy is enforced on operating systems and services identified by reading, decoding, and analyzing packets.
US07716740B2
Methods to detect rogue access points (APs) and prevent unauthorized wireless access to services provided by a communication network are provided. A mobile station (MS) reports to a serving AP the received signal strength (RSS) for all APs in the area it travels. The serving AP detect a rogue AP based on inconsistencies perceived in the RSS reports, assessed during the handover phase or whilst the communication is active.
US07716737B2
A system for detecting network intrusions and other conditions in a network is described. The system includes a plurality of collector devices that are disposed to collect data and statistical information on packets that are sent between nodes on a network. An aggregator device is disposed to receive data and statistical information from the plurality of collector devices. The aggregator device produces a connection table that maps each node on the network to a record that stores information about traffic to or from the node. The aggregator runs processes that determine network events from aggregating of anomalies into network events.
US07716736B2
The present invention comprises apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for computer virus testing in a networked environment. A host is provided that permits uploading of suspected files by a user. The are transferred to a server, where they are scanned for the presence of known virii. The files are then run, in an appropriate operating environment, separate from the operating system of the server, and the results compared to and noted against a reference. Any modified files are logged, as is any output. The user is notified as to the results, and in some embodiments, the lists of modified files are made available to various users.
US07716732B2
Techniques for secure online storage. A user is registered for securely storing documents on a network. User documents are stored on a network server. The user documents include documents for disposing of user property after death or for effecting user medical decisions. A secure network interface is provided for displaying the user documents remotely upon receiving a user security identifier. A secure network interface is provided for displaying the user documents remotely to authorized medical personnel who do not have access to the user security identifier.
US07716731B2
A method, and computer program product for providing dynamically tunneling over an unreliable protocol or a reliable protocol based on network conditions is presented. A connection between a source device and a destination device is established using a reliable protocol. An attempt is then made to utilize an unreliable protocol to communicate between the source device and the destination device. When the attempt to utilize an unreliable protocol is successful, then the unreliable protocol is used to transmit data between the source device and the destination device. When the attempt to utilize the unreliable protocol is unsuccessful, then the reliable protocol connection is used to transmit data between the source device and the destination device.
US07716730B1
A method for offloading a secure protocol connection, involving establishing the secure protocol connection between a host system and a remote peer, offloading the secure protocol connection to a network interface card (NIC) to obtain an offloaded secure protocol connection, determining whether a packet is associated with the offloaded secure protocol connection, and if the packet is associated with the offloaded secure protocol connection, identifying the offloaded secure protocol connection, performing cryptographic operations on the packet using at least one secret key to obtain a processed packet, and returning a status of the processed packet to the host system.
US07716725B2
A firewall configured to be interfaced between an internal and an external networks. The firewall includes a VoIP processor for detecting an outgoing VoIP packet sent from the internal network, for changing data in a header of the VoIP packet and also changing data contents in the VoIP packet corresponding to data changed in the header to enable bi-directional VoIP communication. In one embodiment, the VoIP processor changes a source IP address and a port number in the header of the VoIP packet and also changes the data contents in the VoIP packet corresponding to the source IP address and the port number changed in the header to enable bi-directional VoIP communication. In another embodiment, the firewall further includes an external VoIP interface comprising multiple VoIP ports for receiving multiple incoming VoIP packets each designated with one of the VoIP ports. And, the VoIP processor further includes a VoIP port versus internal address table for identifying an internal address in the internal network for directing each of the incoming VoIP packets to the internal address identified.
US07716721B2
Automatically re-authenticating a computing device seeking access to a network or a resource. A method comprises forwarding a request received from the computing device to an authentication device to enable the authentication device to authenticate the computing device using a full-authentication mechanism. State information related to authenticating the computing device is created from authenticating the computing device. The state information is received and stored. For example, an authenticator device that forwarded the initial authentication request from the computing device to the authentication device receives and stores the state information. The computing device is re-authenticated using the stored state information without again contacting the authentication device.
US07716718B2
A printing system in one implementation of an electronic device network system of the present invention includes a plurality of hosts, a plurality of storages, and a plurality of printers, wherein the hosts, storages, and printers are connected to one another on the Internet. The hosts, storages, and printers each have one of two data protecting functions, and each have three security levels. As a result, there is provided an electronic device network system that enables a user to transmit data through a transmission route according to a user's desired security level, while taking into account protection (security) of transmitted data between electronic devices on the network. In addition, there is also provided a data receiver search method using such an electronic device network system.
US07716716B1
A method for architecting enterprise data security solutions for an enterprise having multiple levels is provided. The method includes analyzing the enterprise levels and a workflow related to the plurality of levels and analyzing a data element having a security requirement. The method includes providing a reference model including the data element. The reference model associates the data element and the security requirement with the workflow. The method includes determining a vertical component of the data element using the reference model. The vertical component identifies the security requirement for the data element based on the workflow for each of the plurality of levels of the enterprise. The method includes identifying a technical component using the reference model and the vertical component. The technical component is operable to provide the security requirement of the data element for the workflow across each of the plurality of levels of the enterprise.
US07716707B2
In-program content telescoping can enable a subscriber to telescope into content that is specially associated with a broadcast program. The selectable content is stored as video-on-demand (VOD) assets that are related to particular portions of broadcast programs. In a described implementation, content providers created association linkages between broadcast programs and the VOD assets. Each association links a VOD asset to a broadcast program and a specific trigger location within the associated broadcast program. The association linkage may be include in VOD asset metadata and in trigger information. In a described operation, a client device detects trigger information in a media transport stream. In response to a request, the client receives asset representation indicators for the VOD assets that are associated with the upcoming trigger location. Upon arrival of the trigger location in the media transport stream, the client displays the asset representation indicators for consideration by the subscriber.
US07716701B2
An apparatus for displaying an EPG guide bar includes: an EPG data extraction part extracting EPG data from a signal through a channel; a first memory storing the EPG data; a second memory storing a broadcast program; a user interface display part producing a guide bar having a fixed indicator displaying a present time with the help of a graphic processor, sliding title areas of broadcast programs corresponding to the EPG data of the first memory in the guide bar on real-time correspondingly to the present time, and updating the title areas with a predetermined time interval centering around the fixed indicator so as to produce information indicating a record proceeding status on at least one of the title areas of the broadcast programs which are being recorded in the second memory; and an on-screen display part converting the information from the user interface display part into an on-screen display form so as to display the converted information on a display.
US07716694B2
An actuating module includes an actuating member, a magnetic plunger engaging the actuating member due to magnetic power and capable of disengaging the actuating member upon receipt of an actuating signal, and a flexible flat cable. The flexible flat cable includes a plurality of laterally connected data wires. The data wires includes at least one branch wire connected electrically to the magnetic plunger for transmitting the actuating signal to the magnetic plunger so as to release the actuating member.
US07716693B2
An optical disc drive includes a chassis assembly formed of metal and grounded, a tray supporting an optical disc and installed capable of sliding in and out of the chassis assembly, a cover-deck formed of metal and attached on a lower surface of the tray, an eject switch provided on a front surface of the tray to unlock the tray which is inserted in the chassis assembly and locked therein, an eject button provided in front of the tray to press the eject switch, a bracket formed of metal, provided between the eject switch and the eject button, and having a lead formed at one end portion thereof and contacting the cover-deck, and a static electricity discharge wire electrically connecting the cover-deck and the chassis assembly, wherein static electricity generated when the eject button is pressed sequentially flows through the bracket, the cover-deck, and the chassis assembly, and flows out to ground.
US07716684B2
Methods and systems for backing up data of a client connected to a server. The methods and systems include operating a graphical user interface for displaying to a user information about the data of a client. At an administrator module and client module, initiating one or more wizard program modules including dynamic link libraries configured to carry a user through the steps to complete a backup function, each wizard program module having one or more application programming interfaces which allow the wizard program modules to communicate with the operating system on which the administrator module or client module is operating. A common presentation layer can also be included to provide one or more common user interface screens which are insertable into each wizard program module.
US07716683B2
A method and apparatus forward a hardware call from a driver to graphics hardware via a virtual connection. Specifically, the method and apparatus process graphical data in a system having the driver, which produces a hardware call for the controlling the operation of the graphics hardware. As noted above, the method and apparatus first establish the virtual connection between the driver and the graphics hardware. Next, the hardware call is forwarded to the graphics hardware via the virtual connection.
US07716665B2
The present invention provides a system and method for developing a Portal Application by creating a Portal Application Archive, and automatically deploying the Portal Application Archive into a Portal Server Application by using a Portal Application Archive specific deployment mechanism. The Portal Application Archive represents an entity which includes an assembly of all required application components forming a coherent Portal Application, and an application component assembly descriptor which specifies how the single application components need to be assembled to provide the complete Portal Application on the Portal Server Application.
US07716656B2
Systems and methods that enhance a programming language by introducing null unification on a type level in addition to a value level, for static types of both reference and value types T. An operator that adds a level of nullability (and removes such nullability) is introduced without a mention of the actual type, to steer overloading in a precise manner.
US07716654B2
Techniques for simulation of multi top-level graphical-containers (e.g., frames) in an object-oriented computing environment are disclosed. A Multi Top-level Graphical-Container Simulator (MTGS) can be provided to simulate multi top-level graphical container support for applications that expect to use a plurality of top-level graphical containers (e.g., frames, windows). A MTGS may be implemented as a layer between a GUI-based application and an operating system and/or hardware/device with limited or virtually no graphical support capability. The Multi Top-level Graphical Simulator (MTGS) can effectively isolate the operating systems and/or hardware/device from the GUI-based application, and yet hide this simulation from the operating system and/or hardware/device. MTGS may be implemented in a platform independent programming language (e.g., Java™ programming language using a set of Java™ classes which have been provided in the Java™ Swing development toolkit.
US07716653B2
The present invention provides a component-based tool for converting a data source from a first format into a second format. Specifically, the present invention includes reusable importer and resource writer components. Each importer component is designed to import all or a portion of a data source of a particular first data type and convert this data source from the first data type into an intermediate data type. A resource writer component may then convert the data source in the intermediate data type into an application artifact in the specific second data format that corresponds to the resource writer. Furthermore, a framework may be included within which the appropriate importer and resource writer may be stored and/or chosen from a plurality of importers and resource writers for performing a required conversion.
US07716652B2
The disclosure is directed to an application server including memory including an instrumented computer executable application. The instrumented computer executable application includes a first routine including a first set of tracing instructions and external resource access instructions and the instrumented computer executable application includes a second routine. The second routine includes a first segment including a second set of tracing instructions and instructions configured to access the first routine and the second routine includes a second segment including the external resource access instructions.
US07716643B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided for use in a system which includes a target application, a profiler application and a debugging application, the profiler application being operative to attach to the target application and, upon attaching to the target application, performing operations to profile the target application, the debugging application being operative to monitor the target application. The method comprises attaching, by the profiler application, to the target application such that operations performed by the profiler application in profiling the target application are susceptible to monitoring by the debugging application. In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating helper code; transferring the helper code to the memory used by the target application; and causing the helper code to be executed from the memory used by the target application, wherein the helper code, when executed, causes the profiler agent library to be loaded to the memory used by the target application.
US07716639B2
A system for facilitating the creation of design specifications includes a computer and a database having stored thereon data indicative of a plurality of storage locations in a processed specification into which data may be entered. Software executing on the computer: displays a requirements document; receives an indication of a selected portion of the requirements document; based at least in part upon the indication of the selected portion of the requirements document, retrieves from the database a list of possible storage locations corresponding to the selected portion of the requirements document; displays the list of possible storage locations corresponding to the selected portion of the requirements document; receives an indication of a selected storage location; receives an indication of data selected in the requirements document to be stored in the selected storage location; and stores the selected data in the selected storage location in the processed specification.
US07716633B1
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for converting, through add-on hardware and code, any of a variety of types and vintages of general purpose personal, laptop, or notebook computers to be an efficient, secure, dedicated system which run independently of the host system's resident operating system.
US07716631B1
A development system for developing enterprise software. The system consists of a data store maintaining information related to enterprise hardware components, including information on servers and applications operating on the servers. The system also includes an architectural component including a display operable for architecture of the enterprise software by selection via the display of one or more of the servers and applications operating on the servers. Also included in the development system is a development engine that can deploy a first integrated development environment for development of a first software component, and deploy a second integrated development environment for development of a second software component. The system also includes an interface component that allows information stored in a data store by the first integrated development environment to be accessible by the second integrated development environment.
US07716623B1
A programmable logic device (“PLD”) architecture includes logic elements (“LEs”) grouped together in clusters called logic array blocks (LABs”). To save area, local feedback resources (for feeding outputs of the LEs in a LAB back to inputs of LEs in the LAB) are reduced or eliminated as compared to in the prior art. Because all (or at least more) of any LE-output-to-LE-input connections of LEs that are working together in a LAB must be routed through the general-purpose input routing resources of the LAB, it is important to conserve those resources. This is accomplished, for example, by giving greater importance to finding logic functions that have common inputs when deciding what logic functions to implement together in a LAB.
US07716622B2
Memory modules implemented on an FPGA device are re-implemented to improve the performance of the device, such as to reduce logic delays. One or more logic blocks of the FPGA device that realize the logic function of a memory module or portion of a memory module are desirably selected. Based on the outcome of a timing analysis, the most critical signal pin of the selected logic blocks may be identified. Methods of deriving the memory module re-implementation for various types of the most critical pins are disclosed. Procedures are described for integrating physical timing analysis, memory transformation, placement, and routing, as well as for the selection of logic blocks for re-implementation.
US07716619B2
A keeper device design structure for dynamic logic used in integrated circuit designs includes a first keeper path statically coupled to a dynamic data path, the first keeper path configured to prevent false discharge of the dynamic data path during an evaluation thereof, and a second keeper path selectively coupled to the dynamic data path. The second keeper path is configured to maintain the dynamic data path at a nominal precharge level prior to an evaluation thereof, wherein the second keeper path is decoupled from the dynamic data path during the evaluation.
US07716617B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a circuit pattern group comprising at least N (≧2) circuit pattern on the semiconductor substrate, at least one vicinity of end portion among the at least of N circuit patterns including a connection area to electrically connect to a circuit pattern in another circuit pattern group different from the circuit pattern group, the at least N wirings pattern including a circuit pattern N1 and at least one circuit pattern Ni (i≧2) arranged in one direction different from longitudinal direction of the circuit pattern N1, the at least one circuit patterns Ni having larger i being arranged at further position away from the circuit pattern N1, and in terms of a pattern including the connection area among the at least of Ni circuit patterns, the larger the i, the connection area being arranged at a further position in longitudinal direction.
US07716612B1
A method and system for integrated circuit optimization to improve performance and to reduce leakage power consumption of an integrated circuit (IC). The original IC includes a plurality of nominal cells, and each of the nominal cells includes a plurality of transistors. The method creates an optimized standard-cell library from a standard-cell library. The standard-cell library includes a plurality of nominal cells, and each of the nominal cells includes a plurality of transistors. Further, an optimized IC is generated by using the optimized standard-cell library from the original IC. The optimized IC has an improved performance and reduced leakage power characteristics, as compared to the original IC.
US07716604B2
In a thumbnail screen, categories and category thumbnails are disposed and displayed in the depth (Z-axis) direction and in the horizontal (X axis) direction, respectively. When focus is given by a focus to any of upper and lower category thumbnails, which are displayed on the most front side, and a category name display part, the row (layers) of the thumbnails scrolls in the horizontal direction. When the right and left direction keys of a remote controller are operated while the category name display has focus, the scroll in the depth direction is performed, thus enabling the specification of a desired category. This three-dimensionally displays the thumbnails and facilitates the operation for viewing information.
US07716592B2
An interactive dashboard providing scorecard presentation with subordinate reports is automatically generated and configured based on centrally managed metadata definitions. The dashboard may be customized based on subscriber credentials, past preferences, and the like. The dashboard may be deployed to one or more locations to be consumed and further customized by end users.
US07716591B2
A method for dynamically constructing a web page is disclosed which includes receiving a uniform resource locator identifying a web page. The web page references a plurality of elements. The method also includes receiving a user identifier representing a user and evaluating each of the referenced elements based on the user identifier to identify a subset of at least one element the user is authorized to access. The method further includes determining a data conversion specification associated with the user and determining a data representation specification associated with the user. The subset of elements that the user is authorized to access is converted and presented to the user. Systems and computer-readable storage media for defining and presenting a composite web page are also disclosed.
US07716585B2
A device discovery and presentation system. The architecture facilitates automatically sensing devices, ports, or other wirelessly identifiable entities by detecting such entities, and displaying a 2-D or 3-D representation of the relative location of such entities to a user via a display. The architecture may be controlled to detect such entities in a confined envelope of space for a specified distance.
US07716579B2
A method, system and computer-readable media for supporting text entry on a personal computing device by activating automated searching to search for completion candidates which are based on a partial text entry received from a user. The completion candidates are displayed in a search list. The user may select a completion candidate from among the completion candidates in the search list to correspondingly modify the partial text entry, or the user may decline all of the completion candidates displayed in the search list and terminate the automated searching. The system may further provide a digital keyboard for use in entering text.
US07716576B1
Methods and systems thereof for processing Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents are described. In one embodiment, an XML document comprising content in an XML format is parsed. The content is converted into pcodes according to a conversion key; that is, an XML tag is converted into a pcode can be converted back to XML using the conversion key. A pcode file including the parsed XML document, converted into pcode, is thereby generated. The pcode file is smaller than the original XML document and the content is already parsed, so the time needed to process the pcode file is significantly less than the time needed to process an XML document. Memory usage and the time needed to send and receive information are also improved.
US07716575B2
A system and method of using an example document to create another document with the same style. The style is determined by examining the example file for syntax patterns that are required in a document of this type. Each pattern is used to create a section template (a sub-template for a larger template). After all the required sub-templates have been defined, by examining the example, we have a document template that may be used to format new documents. Along with user-specific content, a document generator uses the captured document template to generate sections of a new document. When a section of a document is generated, the sub-template that corresponds to that section of a document is inserted with user-specific content. The generated file ends up with the same kind of text spacing and positioning, ordering of sections, presence of annotations and other nonfunctional attributes as the example.
US07716574B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing direct style sheet editing. The disclosed systems and methods may include selecting a first target rule for a next formatting operation. The selected first target rule may include a modified property and may be selected from a plurality of target rules. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include enabling property changes to occur in a most specific target rule in the plurality of target rules. The most specific target rule may contain the modified property. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include providing a highlighting mechanism configured to allow a user to see which regions of a page are to be affected by the selected first target rule.
US07716571B2
An object model and a user interface (UI) enable users of a scorecard application to define an order and categorization of elements including header and row components to break out the scorecard data for effective presentation of multidimensional scorecard views combined with data from non-multidimensional sources. Users are provided options to select individual or sets of members, or to provide queries that select sets of metrics for the scorecard view. Header components are defined at predetermined depth of layers enabling the user to view categorized metrics. Additional columns providing attribute information associated with the metrics can also be inserted in selected places within the scorecard matrix using the editing UI.
US07716566B2
Multiple corruptions and/or erasures in data storage or data communication systems are corrected. An encoder generates M of parity fields from N data channels. Each item of the generated parity fields is the result of simple exclusive-or operations on one item from one or more data fields and possibly one item from one or more of the other parity fields. A decoder can regenerate as many as M missing or corrupted fields of either data or parity using combinations of correct and/or previously corrected items as inputs using M independent parity equations to solve for and correct each missing or corrupted item in turn.
US07716555B2
Disclosed herein is a memory device which comprises a nonvolatile memory having first and second areas and a controller that stores backup data along with checksum data alternately in the first and second areas. In the first and second areas, data storing areas and checksum areas are respectively provided. The highest bit of checksum data stored in each of the checksum areas is used as the bit based on which the latest updated side is recognized.
US07716553B2
A memory address generation method and circuit architecture for time-multiplexed RS-based LDPC code decoder is presented. The method is developed for non quasi-cyclic RS-based LDPC code decoder implementation. A circuit for the memory address generation method achieves low area. High throughput time-multiplexed RS-based LDPC code decoder design models and circuit architectures are presented. The decoder models are specifically developed for 10BASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet Transceiver Over Copper) system. These time-multiplexed architectures enable higher throughput with lower area.
US07716529B2
A system LSI which is capable of precisely acquiring the status of a module which is referred to as a resource for debugging when a high-performance processor debugs a processing program executed by a small-scale processor. A function unit has a bus interface connected to a bus and a data processing unit. The function unit is controlled in accordance with a processing program. The processing program is debugged in accordance with a debug program. Functioning of the data processing unit is halted. The function unit control processor suspends execution of the processing program to assert a debug signal when the processing program satisfies a predetermined condition. The halting unit halts functioning of the data processing unit without halting the bus interface in the function unit when the debug signal becomes asserted. The debugging processor acquires a status of the data processing unit when the debugging processor detecting that the debug signal is asserted.
US07716526B2
An information processing apparatus carrying out hardware diagnosis processing by means of initializing processing of each part of hardware when power supply in the apparatus is started, has a power-off initializing processing part carrying out the hardware diagnosis processing when the power supply in the apparatus is cut off; and a power-off timing control part controlling timing of cutting off the power supply in the apparatus in such a manner that the power supply in the apparatus is carried out after the hardware diagnosis processing and trouble reporting processing carried out by said power-off initializing processing part are finished.
US07716519B2
A method for reconstructing a logical block, wherein the logical block comprises a first set of sectors. The method including obtaining a copy of the logical block comprising a second set of sectors, determining which of the sectors in the first set of sectors are identical to sectors in the second set of sectors to obtain identical sectors, selecting a first combination of non-identical sectors from the first set of sectors and the second set of sectors, combining a copy of each of the identical sectors with the first combination of non-identical sectors to obtain a first reconstructed logical block, calculating a first checksum for the first reconstructed logical block, and determining whether the first calculated checksum is equal to the stored checksum associated with the first logical block.
US07716518B2
A method, storage system, and machine-readable medium for resynchronizing data stored among a first storage element and a second storage element of a remote copy pair of storage elements is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is provided which includes detecting a reestablishment of a remote copy relationship between the first and second storage elements and performing a resynchronization operation in response to this detection. Performing the resynchronization operation comprises transmitting data of a second change record associated with the second storage element to the first storage element, combining the second change record with a first change record associated with the first storage element, identifying a data segment of the second storage element utilizing the combined change record, and overwriting data of the first storage element with data of the identified data segment.
US07716515B2
The present invention discloses a method for updating the timing of a baseboard management controller (BMC) applied in a computer system. When a basic input output system (BIOS) installed on a motherboard of the computer system is initialized, the current time for the BMC to receive the BIOS is used for the timing of the BMC, and the BMC will send regular synchronous signals to the motherboard at a predetermined interval thereafter. After the motherboard has received the synchronous signal, the current time of the BIOS is sent to the BMC, and the BMC updates the timing of the BMC by the current time of the BIOS, so that the timing of the BMC will be consistent with the current time of the BIOS, and system administrators no longer need to update the time manually.
US07716512B1
Disclosed is a method of validating the contents of a real-time clock in a digital circuit. A plurality of memory elements create a first random signature value when power is newly applied to a circuit. The plurality of memory elements maintain the first random signature value while power to the circuit is maintained. The first random signature value is stored as a reference value such that the reference value is not altered by a power interruption. When power to the circuit is lost and then regained, a second random signature value is created. The second random signature value likely will no longer match the reference value because both the reference value and the second signature are random. When the reference value does not match the signature value, the real-time clock value is considered invalid. User input may be employed to correct the real-time clock value.
US07716506B1
A system has a plurality of different clients. Each client generates a report signal indicative of a current latency tolerance associated with a performance state. A controller dynamically determines a power down level having a minimum power consumption capable of supporting the system latency of the configuration state of the clients.
US07716505B2
A power control method for a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device comprises a power supply unit and a volatile memory for storing data when the power supply unit supplies power thereto. First, the portable electronic device is set to enter a deep sleep mode. Then, data accessed from the volatile memory is transferred to a non-volatile memory. Finally, except for maintaining sufficient power to restore the device, the power supply unit is turned off.
US07716502B2
Flattening total current consumption of system having processing core and power supply input by current sensing within system at power supply input and controlling system current consumption such that system current is reduced if over reference current threshold, and increased if below reference current threshold. Inject additional current through digital injections cells working higher frequencies, by increasing switching activity, by increasing voltage supply to core, and by increasing operating frequency of processor core. Feedback signal indicates current consumption of system. Current consumption similarly decreased. Current sensed by mirroring input current inline with power supply input and compensating for voltage drop introduced by mirroring using opposing field effect transistors and maintaining outputs at same voltage through feedback control loop. Processor core may be general purpose processor core or cryptographic processor core. System may be system-on-chip or system-on-package. System includes processor core and current flattening device based on method. Also, current flattening device and current sensor. On chip current sensor sensing current draw of processor core.
US07716493B2
The invention is a method and apparatus for managing the secure acquisition, storage and disclosure of confidential information using biometric keys to lock data storage devices, a secure data input/output device and authorization procedures to facilitate identity rights management; and/or metadata querying techniques to preserve the anonymity of disclosed personal data.
US07716492B1
A service discovery mechanism may allow clients in a distributed computing environment to search for services. The service discovery mechanism may allow a client to request a capability credential from a service. In one embodiment, the client may present to the service a set of desired capabilities. The service may then respond with a capability credential that may convey to the client the rights to use the requested capabilities. A complete service advertisement may be needed to create a message endpoint for accessing the service. In an embodiment, the capability credential may be used by a client to obtain a complete advertisement for the requested capabilities. The capability credential may provide an additional level of security for the service provider. The capability credential that may be used to receive the complete advertisement may also be used to construct a message gate to communicate with the service where the gate embeds the capability credential in each message to the service.
US07716490B2
An access control apparatus is disclosed that controls access to a predetermined resource. The access control apparatus includes entity relationship definition information defining a predetermined relationship of a first entity attempting to access the predetermined resource with a second entity, indirect access control information defining an access right to the predetermined resource based on the predetermined relationship, and an indirect access right determining unit that detects the second entity with which the first entity has the predetermined relationship based on the entity relationship definition information, and determines an access right of the first entity based on the predetermined relationship with the detected second entity and the indirect access control information.
US07716480B2
In one embodiment, a network comprises a plurality of nodes that communicate with one another. A first node included in the plurality of nodes generates a plan comprising a plurality of marker states. Each marker state comprises a value for a property associated with the first node. When the first node broadcasts information indicative of a given marker state included in the plan, at least one node other than the first node verifies the value of the property included in the given marker state.
US07716474B2
A method and system for protecting software products from unauthorized use and distribution is described. The system comprises a client process executed on a client computer coupled to a producer computer over a network. The method comprises the steps of providing to a user a copy of the distributed software, the distributed software comprising an incomplete executable program requiring a security module to be installed prior to execution on the client computer. The user receives a registration code for use with the distributed software. Upon attempted execution of the distributed software the producer computer requests user registration from the user. Upon receipt of the registration information including the registration code from the user, the producer computer validates the registration code and constructing a security module for transmission to the client computer. The security module is integrated with the distributed software to allow execution of the executable program.
