US07781105B2
An organic electrolytic solution and a lithium battery employing the same are provided. The organic electrolytic solution includes: a lithium salt; an organic solvent containing a high dielectric constant solvent and a low boiling point solvent; and an acetate derivative including two or more substituted silyl groups as an additive. The organic electrolytic solution and the lithium battery employing the same relatively suppress a reduction decomposition of a polar solvent and decrease irreversible capacity in the first cycle. Thus, the charge/discharge efficiency, lifespan, and reliability of the battery can be improved.
US07781099B2
The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high energy density and satisfactory cycle performance by using an alloy comprising Ni and Sn as a negative active material. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a negative electrode with a composite layer containing a negative active material, a positive electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative active material consists of an alloy containing 5 to 25 mass % of nickel and 75 to 95 mass % of tin and the alloy contains Sn4Ni3 phase and Sn phase. It is preferable that the content ratio of Sn4Ni3 phase and Sn phase in the alloy be 0.2≦Z≦3, when m1 is the mass of Sn4Ni3 phase, m2 is the mass of said Sn phase, and Z=ml /m2; and that the composite layer contain carbon material.
US07781096B2
The present invention provides a battery including a case and a battery cell accommodated in the case. The case is divided in a thicknesswise direction of the battery cell into a first case and a second case. The first and second cases have joint portions formed along peripheries thereof for jointing with each other. The joint portion of one of the first and second cases has a joining thin wall formed to extend along a periphery thereof and project in the thicknesswise direction. The joint portion of the other of the first and second cases has a joining recess formed to extend along a periphery thereof for receiving the joining thin wall inserted therein in a state that the joint portions of the first and second cases joint with each other. The joining thin wall and the joining recess in which the joining thin wall is inserted while the joint portions of the first and second cases joint with each other are joined together by welding. The other case has a projecting wall formed at a location of an outer face thereof positioned on the outer side of the joining recess in such a manner as to extend along the joining recess.
US07781092B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, an electrically conducting metallic can, adapted to accommodate the electrode assembly, and having a side opening, a cap assembly including a cap plate and an electrode port, the cap plate being coupled to the side opening of the can and having at least one aperture in a side portion thereof, the electrode port being coupled to the cap plate and being connected to one of at least two electrode tabs that extend from the electrode assembly, and a lead plate, pressed into the at least one aperture of the cap plate, and connected to a safety device.
US07781082B2
A magnetic material is provided that has an iron oxide phase whose principal phase is a crystal of a structure which has the same space group as ε-Fe2O3 crystal and in which Al is substituted for a portion of the Fe sites of the ε-Fe2O3 crystal. The molar ratio of Al to Fe in the iron oxide phase, when expressed as Al:Fe=x:(2−x), satisfies 0≦x≦1. The value of x is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.7. The average particle diameter of the powder determined from a TEM image is preferably 5 to 200 nm, more preferably 10 to 100 nm. The magnetic material has very high practical value because it enables the extremely high coercive force Hc of the ε-Fe2O3 crystal to be regulated to a level enabling utilization in magnetic recording medium and various other applications. The magnetic powder can be produced by a method combining the reverse micelle method and the sol-gel method.
US07781079B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft magnetic lining layer formed on the substrate, and a recording layer. The recording layer includes a first recording layer, an auxiliary recording layer, and a second recording layer that are laminated in this sequence. The first and the second recording layers are ferromagnetic layers that have a magnetization easy axis perpendicular to the layers. The auxiliary recording layer includes two or more magnetic particles mutually separated by non-magnetism members, wherein the magnetic particles are arranged approximately perpendicular to the layer and have the magnetization easy axis in a direction slanted with reference to the layer. The auxiliary recording layer is exchange-coupled with the adjoining first recording layer and second recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium may include an exchange-coupling-strength control layer between the first recording layer and the auxiliary recording layer, or alternatively, between the auxiliary recording layer and the second recording layer.
US07781064B2
A low stain and low mist adhesion coating. Micro- or nano-particles are treated with a hydrophobic agent and an additive to form larger microstructure with the hydrophobic agent and the additive bonded thereto forming a low stain and low mist adhesion coating material. A low stain and low mist adhesion coating formed from the material has a contact angle of at least 130°. In addition, the low stain and low mist adhesion coating has less than 60% mist adhesion area.
US07781062B2
An acrylic resin film material comprising at least a multilayer structure polymer with a particular structure prevent a molded item from being whitened during insert- or in-mold molding and meet the requirement for surface hardness, heat resistance, and transparency or matting performance for vehicle applications. It is also possible to use an acrylic resin film material exhibiting a difference of 30% or less between haze values as determined in accordance with the testing method of JIS K7136 (haze measurement method) after and before a tensile test where a test piece with a width of 20 mm is pulled under the conditions of an initial inter-chuck distance of 25 mm, a rate of 50 mm/min and a temperature of 23° C. until an end-point inter-chuck distance becomes 33 mm as well as having a pencil hardness of 2 B or higher as determined in accordance with JIS K5400.
US07781058B2
A process for manufacturing a composite structure includes the steps of disposing a removable adhesive material in contact with a first surface of a reusable composite structure; disposing a first surface of an expendable composite structure in contact with the removable adhesive material to form a composite structure assembly; and curing the composite structure assembly.
US07781053B2
Provided are a silicon carbide-based porous article comprising silicon carbide particles as an aggregate, metallic silicon and an aggregate derived from organometallic compound particles to form pores through volume shrinkage due to decomposition/conversion by heat treatment; and a method for producing the silicon carbide-based porous article, comprising, adding organometallic compound particles to form pores through volume shrinkage due to decomposition/conversion by heat treatment to a raw-material mixture containing silicon carbide particles and metallic silicon, then forming into an intended shape, calcinating and/or firing the resultant green body, forming pores through volume shrinkage due to decomposition/conversion of the organometallic compound particles, and the decomposed/converted substance of the organometallic compound particles being present as an aggregate in the porous article.
US07781041B2
There is provided an adhesive composite cover and method of use in which the cover is well suited to effectively cover a temporary tattoo utilized in radiation therapy treatments. The cover includes a transparent, flexible layer with a rigid layer releasably adhered thereto. The first, flexible layer has a lower adhesive surface, an upper low-adhesion surface and a predefined peripheral edge. The second, rigid layer has a lower surface releasably adhered to the upper low-adhesion surface of the first layer, an opposing upper exposed surface, and a peripheral edge cooperative with the predefined peripheral edge of the first layer to preserve the integrity of the first layer during handling and application. The second layer is removed from the first layer only after the first layer is adhered to a patient's skin.
US07781040B2
The present invention is directed to an improvement over the flexible composite tubing described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,491,779, 6,804,942, and 7,073,978, wherein said improvement provides for void space or otherwise insulating region along the length of the tubing. The present invention is additionally directed to methods for implementing such improvement.
US07781039B2
A boom section includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth fiber reinforced thermoset composite material layer and a flex core layer. The first fiber reinforced thermoset composite material layer has glass fibers in a vinyl ester matrix. The second fiber reinforced thermoset composite material layer is disposed over the first composite material layer and has carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix. The flex core layer is disposed over the second composite material layer. The third fiber reinforced thermoset composite material layer is disposed over the flex core layer and has aramid fibers in a vinyl ester matrix. The fourth fiber reinforced thermoset composite material layer is disposed over the third composite material layer and has glass fibers in a vinyl ester matrix.
US07781030B2
An infrared sensor manufacturing method according to this invention includes a step of forming a bridge structure of an insulating material on an Si substrate, a step of forming a vanadium oxide thin film on the bridge structure by a dry film forming method, a step of irradiating laser light onto the vanadium oxide thin film to thereby change material properties thereof, a step of forming the vanadium oxide thin film with the changed material properties into a bolometer resistor having a predetermined pattern, and a step of forming a protective layer of an insulating material so as to cover the bolometer resistor having the predetermined pattern and the bridge structure.
US07781024B2
The invention relates to a method for producing ceramic layers by spraying. A cold gas spraying method is used to produce polymer ceramics from pre-ceramic polymers. According to said method, a cold gas stream, to which particles of the pre-ceramic polymers are added via a conduit, is generated by a spray gun. The energy for creating a layer on a substrate is produced by injecting a powerful kinetic energy into the cold gas stream, thus preventing or significantly restricting the thermal heating of the cold gas stream. This permits the heat-sensitive pre-ceramic polymers to be spray-applied as a coating on a substrate using a cold gas spraying method. Polymer ceramics can thus be used in an economic method for the rapid production of layers with a relatively large thickness. The invention allows for example armoured layers, thermal protection layers and other functional layers to be produced.
US07781012B2
A method and an installation for coating, especially painting, articles. The method is characterized by filling nonabrasive powder containers with the powdery coating material and transporting the containers to the vicinity of an application device. The powder containers are opened only in the vicinity of the application device and the powder is removed and then released by the application device onto the article to be coated. The avoids substantial dirtying of the transport paths that the powder containers are transported on, thereby eliminating the need for cleaning when the coating material is changed, especially when the coating powder is changed.
US07781011B2
The invention relates to a tool for coating an optical disc, and the tool includes: a coating section for spreading coating material; a restricting section for defining a coating area; and a support section for supporting the coating section and the restricting section. The coating section and the restricting section form a material accommodating space. Also, a method for coating an optical disc by using such tool and a method for fabricating an optical disc are disclosed.
US07781007B2
The invention relates to a water-in-oil emulsion food product with improved spattering behaviour comprising 0.1-5 wt. % of a porous powderous vegetable matter made from nuts, seeds, kernels, pits and cellulose having a volume weighted mean particle diameter (d4,3) not exceeding 0.5 mm.
US07781003B2
We report herein a composition comprising tricalcium citrate, wherein the tricalcium citrate has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern comprising peaks at 2-theta (2θ) values of about 8.236, about 16.02, about 17.97, about 19.75, about 21.42, about 25.74, and about 28.65. This tricalcium citrate is produced at high temperatures in a low-water environment. This composition is highly soluble (more than about 200 mg per 8 fluid ounces) in potable aqueous solutions (beverages), and can be used to fortify beverages (such as fruit juices) or foods with calcium at higher doses than seen when using previously-known compositions of tricalcium citrate.
US07780995B1
A composition based on natural extracts useful in the prevention and treatment of cutaneous ageing and particularly wrinkles, which comprises in combination: leucocyanadines in the form of extract of Vitis vinifera; triterpenes in the form of an extract of Centella asiatica; fish cartilage extract.
US07780992B2
There is disclosed a prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral composition and in particular compositions which comprise containing vertebrates kidney as a main component. Use of the composition through parenteral administration for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors, lesions and diseases in mammals such as humans or to prepare a medicament is also disclosed. The composition is very effective in preventing and treating viral infections and manifestations as hyperplasia, keratosis, and dermatosis and in particular those caused by Papillomavirus and more particularly Human Papillomavirus. Among the many benefits, the present compounds provide high remedial effect and complete resolution in a relatively short course of treatment with no risk of side effects what so ever. The composition is abundant, inexpensive, easily prepared, and may be self administered to the afflicted area by the patients themselves.
US07780987B2
The invention provides stable controlled release monolithic coating compositions for use in coating pharmaceutical oral dosage forms comprising a polyglycol having a melting point greater than 55° C. and an aqueous dispersion of a neutral ester copolymer lacking functional groups.
US07780983B2
Amphoteric liposomes are proposed, which comprise positive and negative membrane-based or membrane-forming charge carriers as well as the use of these liposomes.
US07780975B2
A coating liquid comprising a polysilazane and a calcium compound is applied to a base material formed from a metal or a ceramic, and the coating liquid is then heated to form a film with apatite forming ability and complete the preparation of a biomaterial. Furthermore, by immersing this biomaterial comprising the film with apatite forming ability in a simulated body fluid, an apatite layer can be formed on top of the film.
US07780964B2
The present invention relates to antibodies to NOGO, pharmaceutical formulations containing them and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases/disorders.
US07780959B2
The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins; to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to inhibitory compounds that regulate such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to identify and obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to regulate an immune response in an animal.
US07780953B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising acid magnetic particles (p) based on an iron compound, the acid magnetic particles (p) being complexed by one or more gem-bisphosphonate compounds, of formula I: X-L-CH(PO3H2)2 (I) in which: L represents an organic group connecting the X group to the gem-bisphosphonate group —CH(PO3H2)2; X represents a chemical group capable of reacting with a biovector; all or some of the X groups of the particles optionally being coupled to a biovector. The invention relates, also to a process for the preparation of the compositions and their use, in particular as contrast products for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
US07780950B2
A diagnostic method of monitoring anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant actions of therapeutic agents comprises determining the level of at least one systemic marker indicative of inflammation or oxidation in a bodily sample taken from a subject at base line or following administration of the therapeutic agent. The marker includes at least one of MPO activity, MPO mass, select MPO-generated oxidation products, and combinations thereof. The level of the systemic marker is compared with a predetermined value to monitor the anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant actions of the therapeutic agent.
US07780942B2
A catalytic method for treating an H2S/SO2 mixture for producing liquid sulphur including the following steps: a) at least one step of heating the mixture containing H2S/SO2 to a temperature Tc; b) at least one step of catalytically reacting the heated mixture obtained in a) in the presence of at least one catalyst and at least one step of recovering the exiting mixture containing gaseous sulphur; and c) at least one step of converting the gaseous sulphur contained in the exiting mixture obtained at step b) into liquid sulphur, wherein between step b) and step c), the temperature Ts of said exiting mixture and the dew point Tr of the gaseous sulphur contained in said exiting mixture are measured and in that the heating temperature Tc of step a) is adjusted so that the temperature Ts is 5° C. to 30° C. above the dew point Tr.
US07780940B2
A method for making an array of carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; (b) forming a catalyst film on the first surface of the substrate; (c) flowing a mixture of a carrier gas and a carbon source gas over the catalyst film; (d) generating a laser beam using a galvanometric scanning system, directing the laser beam toward/on one of the first surface and the second surface to locally heat the catalyst film to a predetermined temperature; and (e) growing an array of the carbon nanotubes from the substrate.
US07780933B2
All sulfur compounds can be efficiently removed from natural gas that contains hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds such as mercaptan without using physical absorption. The process comprises an absorption step of treating natural gas by means of a chemical absorption method using an amine-containing solution to mainly remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, an adsorption step of flowing the natural gas from the absorption step through a packed bed of a molecular sieve to mainly remove mercaptan, a recovery step of recovering sulfur compounds by converting the hydrogen sulfide removed in the absorption step into sulfur by means of the Claus process, a regeneration step of desorbing the mercaptan adsorbed on the molecular sieve in the adsorption step using heated gas and a reaction step of converting the mercaptan in the regeneration exhaust gas exhausted from the regeneration step into hydrogen sulfide. The reaction step is conducted by injecting steam or water at a ratio of H2O/S=1 to 5 (molar ratio) relative to the sulfur in the regeneration exhaust gas in the presence of a catalyst under the conditions of a temperature level of 250 to 400° C. and a pressure level of 1 to 10 MPa.
US07780930B2
The invention provides an apparatus useful in fluorinating organic compounds, or more particularly to a reactor system suitable for the fluorination of organic compounds on a commercial scale. The apparatus is also useful in chemical reactions including heating or cooling.
US07780916B2
The fluidic system with an unclogging feature of the preferred embodiment includes a flow channel, a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid from a sheath container into an interrogation zone, and a waste pump to pump waste fluid from the interrogation zone into a waste container. The sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid from a sample container into the interrogation zone. The fluidic system also includes a controller to adjust the flow rate of the sample fluid from the sample container into the interrogation zone. The pump and controller cooperate to propagate a pulsation through the flow channel from the pump if the flow channel is clogged. The fluidic system is preferably incorporated into a flow cytometer with a flow cell that includes the interrogation zone.
US07780903B2
The present invention can provide a distinctive method and process for making polymer fibers (62) and nonwoven fabric webs (60). The method can include providing a fiber material that exhibits a low crystallization rate. In a particular aspect, the fiber material can be subjected to an anneal-quench at an anneal-quench temperature that approximates a prime-temperature at which the polymer material most rapidly crystallizes. In another aspect, the fiber material can be subjected to a fiber-draw at a selected fiber-draw temperature, and in a further aspect, the fiber-draw temperature can be configured to approximate the prime-temperature of the polymer material. In still other aspects, the fiber material can be subjected to a relatively small amount of fiber-draw, and the fiber-draw can be provided at a relatively low fiber-draw speed.
US07780902B2
A method of molding a shopping cart component includes providing a first subcomponent and then overmolding the shopping cart component as a second subcomponent about the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent acts as an obstacle to a plastic injection stream and to a gas injection stream during the overmolding of the second component to assist in defining a first hollow section of the shopping cart component adjacent the first subcomponent.
US07780900B2
A method for constructing a supraglottic airway of the type used to facilitate lung ventilation and the insertion of endo-tracheal tubes or related medical instruments through a patient's laryngeal opening where the shield is constructed of a generally single-use generally blow-molded structure.
US07780899B2
Process for manufacturing monolithic composite structures comprising providing first and second subcomponents (1, 2) of composite material, attaching an expansion compensating tooling to the second subcomponent, placing the second subcomponent along with said tooling on the first subcomponent and bonding it to the latter by means of an uncured structural adhesive, covering the assembly comprising the first and second subcomponents and the tooling with a vacuum bag, performing an autoclave cycle for curing the curable material contained in said assembly under high temperature and pressure conditions, withdrawing said assembly from the curing autoclave and removing the expansion compensating tooling to obtain the desired monolithic composite structure. The tooling for carrying out the process comprises metal L- or I-shaped beams having a rough surface adapted to be applied to the second subcomponent. The invention is useful for manufacturing aircraft parts.
US07780896B2
A radiation crosslinked (50 kGy), pressure-treated UHMWPE material has been developed by applying compressive force on a crosslinked polymer in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction. The deformed material is then cooled while held in a deformed state. The resulting material is anisotropic, with enhanced strength oriented along the axial direction. The directionally engineered material is oxidatively stable even after four weeks of accelerated aging in a pressure vessel containing five atmospheres of oxygen (ASTM F2003). Because of its oxidative stability, the deformation processed material is a suitable candidate for air-permeable packaging and gas sterilization, which has thus far been reserved for remelted highly crosslinked UHMWPEs.
US07780893B2
A method of patterning a substrate comprising first and second fields with a template, the template having a mold and a plurality of alignment forming areas and a plurality of template alignment marks, the method comprising: positioning a material on the first field of the substrate and a plurality of regions of the substrate, the plurality of regions laying outside of the first and second fields; positioning the mold and the substrate such that a desired spatial relationship between the mold and the first field of the substrate is obtained to define a pattern in the material on the first field of the substrate while concurrently defining a plurality of substrate alignment marks with the material in the plurality of regions of the substrate in superimposition with the plurality of alignment forming areas of the template; positioning a material on the second field of the substrate; and positioning the mold and the substrate to obtain a desired spatial relationship between the plurality of template alignment marks and the plurality of substrate alignment marks such that a desired spatial relationship between the mold and the second field of the substrate is obtained to define a pattern in the material on the second field of the substrate.
US07780886B2
An insulation product is provided comprising an insulation mat comprising randomly oriented fibers. The mat has first and second major surfaces and a pair of side portions. A vapor retardant facing layer is bonded to at least one of the major surfaces of the mat. The facing layer has a fiber orientation such that the facing layer has a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to cross machine direction tensile strength which permits the facing layer to be separated by hand along a substantially straight line selected in the machine direction.
US07780880B2
A plastic lens, which does not require a modification to an inner diameter of a mirror frame but is uniform in outer diameter, is provided and include: protrusions on the circumference in at least three points divided thereof into three equal parts except for an injection gate point, in positions equally distant to a center O of the plastic lens. The protrusions have respective outer surfaces provided as fit portions to a mirror frame. The plastic lens preferably has a diameter of 50 mm or more and a thickness smallest at the center thereof.
US07780877B2
The high-frequency substrate is constructed of a base member and a conductor adhered to the base member, and the base member is composed of a polymer which is a fluoropolymer having a conductor-affinitive monomer graftpolymerized at a grafting percentage of 1% or less by weight. After reactive sites necessary for graftpolymerization are formed on a film of a fluoropolymer under an oxygen-free atmosphere by irradiating the film with an electron beam or the like, the fluoropolymer film is introduced into a solution of a conductor-affinitive monomer so as to cause graftpolymerization, and a conductor is adhered thereto to thereby produce a substrate, with a grafting percentage of the monomer to the fluoropolymer being 1% or less by weight in the graftpolymerization. The technique leads to the production of a high-frequency substrate having superior adhesion force with respect to the conductor.
US07780862B2
In one implementation, a method is provided capable of etching a wafer to form devices including a high-k dielectric layer. The method includes etching an upper conductive material layer in a first plasma chamber with a low cathode temperature, transferring the wafer to a second chamber without breaking vacuum, etching a high-k dielectric layer in the second chamber, and transferring the wafer from the second chamber to the first plasma chamber without breaking vacuum. A lower conductive material layer is etched with a low cathode temperature in the first chamber. In one implementation, the high-k dielectric etch is a plasma etch using a high temperature cathode. In another implementation, the high-k dielectric etch is a reactive ion etch.
US07780859B2
The invention provides the use of a water-soluble biocide as an uncoupling agent at an effective amount to control bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The invention also provides a method for controlling the growth of bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The method comprises adding to, or contacting with, the aqueous system an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises contacting an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide directly with the bacterial biomass in an aqueous system.
US07780851B2
A lightweight portable motorized oil filter inspection device comprising a housing, a drive plate having a plurality of gear teeth, an oil filter size adapter mounting adaptable to receive at least one of a plurality of interchangeable oil filter size adapters, at least one drive pin assembly mounting for accepting at least one adjustable drive pin assembly having a plurality of detents, a cutting blade assembly and a means to rotate the drive plate. The drive pin assembly having a plurality of detents enables precise alignment of at least one drive pin with at least one of the oil flow apertures of an oil filter canister. The drive plate is directly driven by a motor drive gear having a plurality of compatible gear drive teeth, mounted on an electric motor shaft.
US07780845B2
The instant invention relates to a process to produce low sulfur distillate products through the hydrotreating of distillate boiling range feedstreams in the presence of a bulk metal hydrotreating catalyst.
US07780843B2
A method is provided for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit processing heavier than naphtha feeds to recover heat and remove tar therefrom. The method comprises passing the gaseous effluent to at least one primary transfer line heat exchanger, thereby cooling the gaseous effluent and generating superheated steam. Thereafter, the gaseous effluent is passed through at least one secondary transfer line heat exchanger having a heat exchange surface with a liquid coating on said surface, thereby further cooling the remainder of the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by the pyrolysis process, condenses. The condensed tar is then removed from the gaseous effluent in at least one knock-out drum. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
US07780838B2
A method of treating metallic workpieces with an anodizing solution, compositions of the anodizing solution and the coatings prepared with this anodizing solution for anodizing metallic surfaces, especially surfaces of magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys, are disclosed. The compositions are basic aqueous solutions comprising a water-soluble inorganic hydroxide, phosphorus and oxygen containing anions, at least one surfactant and an alkaline buffer based on at least one alkaline hydrolyzed silane, on at least one alcohol showing at least one alkaline radical group or on a mixture of them.
US07780835B2
A capacitor comprising an aluminum anode and a dielectric layer comprising phosphate doped aluminum oxide and process for making the capacitor. The capacitor has a CV Product of at least 9 μF−V/cm2 at 250 volts. Furthermore, the capacitor is formed by the process of: forming an aluminum plate; contacting the plate with an anodizing solution comprising glycerine, 0.1 to 1.0%, by weight, water and 0.01 to 0.5%, by weight, orthophosphate; applying a voltage to the aluminum plate and determining an initial current; maintaining the first voltage until a first measured current is no more than 50% of the initial current; increasing the voltage and redetermining the initial current; maintaining the increased voltage until a second measured current is no more than 50% of the redetermined initial current, and continuing the increasing of the voltage and maintaining the increased voltage until a final voltage is achieved.
US07780833B2
An electrochemical cell 102 comprises an ion exchange membrane 10 having anion and cation exchange materials. The membrane 10 can have separate anion and cation exchange layers 12, 14 that define a heterogeneous water-splitting interface therebetween. In one version, the membrane 10 has a textured surface having a pattern of texture features 26 comprising spaced apart peaks 28 and valleys 30. The membranes 10 can also have an integral spacer 80. A cartridge 100 can be fabricated with a plurality of the membranes 10 for insertion in a housing 129 of the electrochemical cell 102. The housing 129 can also have a detachable lid 96 that fits on the cartridge 100. The electrochemical cell 102 can be part of an ion controlling apparatus 120.
US07780832B2
A method for protecting a thermal barrier coating (TBC) which comprises voids is described. The method involves the step of electrophoretically depositing a mitigation coating material such as alumina to fill at least a portion of the voids. The TBC is often applied over a metal substrate, such as a turbine engine component. The voids can be in the form of vertical cracks within the TBC. A thermal barrier coating is also described, containing voids which extend into the coating from a top surface, wherein at least a portion of the voids is filled with a mitigation coating material.
US07780830B2
A method of delivering fluid can include using electro-wetting effects to pick-up, transport, and/or deliver discrete volumes of fluid. Voltage can be applied across a fluid contact area having a conductive substrate and a dielectric material with an outer surface. The outer surface can have a native interfacial surface tension state and a voltage induced second state having a reduction in interfacial surface tension. A fluid can be contacted such that a volume of fluid adheres to the outer surface of the fluid contact area when the voltage is applied. Subsequently, the voltage can be adjusted such that at least a portion of the volume of fluid is delivered to a receiving location.
US07780816B2
A fibrous insulation has insulation fibers (104) with a fungicide in a dispersed additive affixed to the fibers (104), and a method of making a fibrous insulation by dispersing a fungicide and a dispersed additive on the fibers (104) followed by affixing the dispersed additive on the fibers (104). The method produces thermal, acoustic, duct liner or board insulation either as loose fill insulation or as an insulation mat.
US07780811B2
The dicing die-bonding film of this invention comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2) on a supporting base material (1) and a die-bonding adhesive layer (3) on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2), wherein a releasability in an interface between the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2) and the die-bonding adhesive layer (3) is different between an interface (A) corresponding to a work-attaching region (3a) in the die-bonding adhesive layer (3) and an interface (B) corresponding to a part or the whole of the other region (3b), and the releasability of the interface (A) is higher than the releasability of the interface (B). According to this invention, there can be provided a dicing die-bonding film excellent in balance between retention in dicing a work and releasability in releasing its diced chipped work together with the die-bonding adhesive layer.
US07780807B2
An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.
US07780805B2
Belt material is wrapped around a small diameter mandrel. Instead of cutting the belt to length, the material is then continued to be wrapped around the mandrel, forming a belt material overlap, and held under tension. An ultrasonic welding horn is then traversed across the width of the belt overlap. As this horn is traversed across the overlapped joint, the horn not only joins the belt material wrapped around the mandrel but, as the trailing edge is held under tension, the horn also separates or severs the trailing edge of the material from the welded seam.
US07780803B2
An apparatus for positioning and assembling of a circuit board includes a vacuum adsorption mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, at least four cameras, and a controller. The vacuum adsorption mechanism has a vacuum adsorption platform on which several holes are formed. The vacuum adsorption platform is connected to several vacuum, generators to control the adsorption and positioning of the main board of the circuit board. The vacuum adsorption platform has a through hole. The adjusting mechanism is mounted corresponding to the through hole. The adjusting mechanism is designed to enable the adsorbed daughter board to be adjustable in three axial directions. Two cameras are located corresponding to the main board. The other two cameras are located corresponding to the daughter board for detecting the optical points of the main board and the measuring points of the daughter board. The controller is electrically connected to these cameras.
US07780797B2
High strength hot rolled steel sheet having at least a 590 N/mm2 tensile strength and excellent in elongation and ability of phosphate coating, that is, high strength hot rolled steel sheet excellent in burring, elongation, and ability of phosphate coating having a tensile strength of 590 N/mm2 or more comprising a steel composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.02 to 0.08%, Si: 0.50% or less, Mn: 0.50 to 3.50%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.15 to 2.0%, and the balance of iron and unavoidable impurities, satisfying Mn+0.5×Al<4, having a microstructure of the steel sheet having a ratio of ferrite having a grain size of 2 μm or more of 40% or more.
US07780793B2
Embodiments described herein provide methods for removing native oxide surfaces on substrates while simultaneously passivating the underlying substrate surface. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing an oxide layer within a processing chamber, adjusting a first temperature of the substrate to about 80° C. or less, generating a cleaning plasma from a gas mixture within the processing chamber, such that the gas mixture contains ammonia and nitrogen trifluoride having an NH3/NF3 molar ratio of about 10 or greater, and condensing the cleaning plasma onto the substrate. A thin film, containing ammonium hexafluorosilicate, is formed in part, from the native oxide during a plasma clean process. The method further includes heating the substrate to a second temperature of about 100° C. or greater within the processing chamber while removing the thin film from the substrate and forming a passivation surface thereon.
US07780791B2
A plasma processing system for processing a substrate is described. The plasma processing system includes a bottom piece including a chuck configured for holding the substrate. The plasma processing system also includes an induction coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field in order to create a plasma for processing the substrate; and an optimized top piece coupled to the bottom piece, the top piece further configured for a heating and cooling system. Wherein, the heating and cooling system is substantially shielded from the electromagnetic field by the optimized top piece, and the optimized top piece can substantially be handled by a single person.
US07780787B2
Apparatus and a method for depositing a material on a substrate utilizes a distributor including a permeable member through which a carrier gas and a material are passed to provide a vapor that is deposited on a conveyed substrate. A secondary gas can be provided to promote uniform distribution of the material on the substrate.
US07780779B2
The Rio Capim Kaolin deposit contains a lower bed of soft kaolin clay that averages 10 meters thick, and an upper bed of “hard” kaolin (“RCC hard kaolin”) that may be as thick as 6 to 8 meters. Due to their high impurity content fine particle size, cementetious nature, and high degree of particle aggregation, hard kaolins are difficult to process. Disclosed herein are compositions comprising kaolin having a particle size distribution such that at least about 90% of the kaolin has a particle size of less than 1 micron and a GE brightness of at least about 91, where the kaolin may be derived from a crude kaolin having a Fe2O3 content of at least about 1.0% by weight, and optionally comprises titania in an amount of at least about 1.5% by weight. Also disclosed herein are methods of refining the hard kaolins, such as RCC hard kaolins, by dispersing the kaolin with at least one anionic organic dispersant and at least one inorganic dispersant. Also disclosed are compositions comprising an aqueous kaolin slurry comprising the hard kaolin, such as an RCC hard kaolin, at least one anionic organic dispersant, and at least one inorganic dispersant. Also disclosed are products containing the refined kaolin, such as paints, paper coatings, and plastics.
US07780777B2
An aqueous dispersion that can be used in the coating of glass, ceramics and metal surfaces is prepared by placing, in water, an aggregated titanium dioxide powder having a specific surface area of from 20 to 150 m2/g in such an amount that the desired dispersion contains at least 20 wt. % titanium dioxide, and at least one amino alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and at least one carboxylic acid selected from dibasic carboxylic acids and/or hydroxycarboxylic acids having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. A pre-dispersion is produced by introducing energy in an amount of less than 200 kJ/m3. Then a dispersion is produced in which the aggregated titanium dioxide powder has a mean, volume-related aggregate diameter of less than 150 nm by grinding the pre-dispersion with a high-energy mill at a pressure of at least 500 bar.
US07780772B2
An electroless deposition chemical system includes an electroless solution including a metal component, and a strongly adsorbed species component having a concentration less than a concentration of the metal component.
US07780767B2
A condenser and a containment vessel adapted to efficiently condense a gas out of a mixture of condensing and non-condensing gases. In condensers, the fraction of gas within a condenser made up of non-condensing gases can be significantly reduced by withdrawing gas from localised regions of relatively low temperature where the mass fraction of non-condensing gases will be relatively high. In containment vessels, pressures can be reduced by providing a large surface area of the liquid into which the condensing gas condenses in a relatively cool region of the containment vessel. Both these effects result from an appreciation of the manner in which non-condensing gases tend to accumulate in regions which are relatively cold.
US07780761B2
A gas sampling canister has an electrospray nozzle for creating an ionic fluid electrospray plume. A gas sample intake is positioned to provide a gas sample flowing through the ionic fluid electrospray plume. A cooled counter electrode is positioned to collect the electrospray plume such that selected chemicals in the gas sample are captured by ionic fluid accumulating on the cooled counter electrode. A system and method for sampling gas are also described.
US07780758B2
Methods of preparing capped metal nanocrystals are provided. One method includes reacting a metal nanocrystal precursor with a reducing agent in a solution having a platinum catalyst.
US07780757B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing fine particles. According to the production method, a molten material 1 which has been formed by melting a raw material to be formed into fine particles is supplied in the form of droplets 1a or a jet flow to a liquid coolant 3, and a vapor film formed so as to cover the molten material supplied to the liquid coolant 3 is forcedly broken to promote vapor explosion, thereby forming and cooling fine particles for solidification. The production method and apparatus can readily produce fine particles from a raw material having a high melting point, and can relatively readily produce submicron fine particles—such particles are difficult to produce by mean of the previously developed technique. The method and apparatus can produce amorphous fine particles, or polycrystalline fine particles having a target particle size by regulating conditions for fine particle formation and for cooling-solidification.
US07780751B2
The present invention preferably provides a polishing composition for a hard disk substrate, containing aluminum oxide particles and water, wherein secondary particles of the aluminum oxide particles have a volume-median particle size of from 0.1 to 0.7 μm, and particles having particle sizes of 1 μm or more of the aluminum oxide particles are contained in an amount of 0.2% by weight or less of the polishing composition; and a method for manufacturing a hard disk substrate using the polishing composition. By using the polishing composition and the method for manufacturing a substrate of the present invention, for example, a hard disk substrate suitable for high recording density can be provided in high productivity.
US07780750B2
An integrated biomass converter system capable of converting gasifiable material into a combustible fuel (fuel gas). The system includes elements to convert raw gasifiable material into unprocessed fuel and by a single chamber, down-draft gasifier furnace convert) process) the unprocessed fuel to yield fuel gas. The system includes means to incorporate additional gasifiable materials into the gasifier furnace, or optionally to incorporate material into the unprocessed fuel. The gasifier furnace includes a top closure unit with means to uniformly distribute unprocessed fuel in the furnace and surface treatment means to ensure uniformity of air distribution in the gasification layer and provide means to introduce supplemental gasifiable materials directly into the gasification zone.
US07780749B2
Disclosed herein are unmixed fuel processors and methods for using the same. In one embodiment, an unmixed fuel processor comprises: an oxidation reactor comprising an oxidation portion and a gasifier, a CO2 acceptor reactor, and a regeneration reactor. The oxidation portion comprises an air inlet, effluent outlet, and an oxygen transfer material. The gasifier comprises a solid hydrocarbon fuel inlet, a solids outlet, and a syngas outlet. The CO2 acceptor reactor comprises a water inlet, a hydrogen outlet, and a CO2 sorbent, and is configured to receive syngas from the gasifier. The regeneration reactor comprises a water inlet and a CO2 stream outlet. The regeneration reactor is configured to receive spent CO2 adsorption material from the gasification reactor and to return regenerated CO2 adsorption material to the gasification reactor, and configured to receive oxidized oxygen transfer material from the oxidation reactor and to return reduced oxygen transfer material to the oxidation reactor.
US07780744B2
Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a décor product that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the décor product may be substantially removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. If a user desires to remove the décor product, the décor product is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the décor product to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the décor product may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical. The décor product may also be utilized in the form of a kit or in conjunction with a design device, such as a stencil, to control the application of the décor product to create, for example, a pattern on the surface.
US07780736B2
The use of biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable materials to provide temporary stability after a surgical joint procedure is provided. Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable cam and/or post linings mounted to respective knee prosthesis components. Such linings are reabsorbed after a time sufficient for patient tissue formation to provide permanent stability. Likewise, the invention has application in any joint reconstruction where the integrity of the stabilizing tissue has been compromised by injury or as a result of the surgical procedure itself. Further aspects of the present invention include using biologic and/or biologically reabsorbable materials loaded with agents that may promote tissue formation, fight infection, and promote clotting. Still further aspects of the present invention are directed to the use of biologically reabsorbable snaps or other fasteners to attach a lining to the femoral component and/or the tibial component.
US07780735B2
A total knee arthorplasty in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is accomplished by surgically removing the meniscus and adjacent joint end portions of the femur and tibia and then replacing the first one of the removed joint end portions with a first prosthetic component. Thereafter a flexible protector shim is temporally inserted between the first prosthetic component and the other of the joint end portions. Then the other of the removed joint end portions is replaced with a second prosthetic component while the protector shim is maintained in position between the prosthetic components for thereby preventing scarring, scratching and minimizing movement during the cement curing phase of the insertion process. The protector shim is thereafter removed and a prosthetic meniscus is inserted between the two prosthetic components. If retractors are utilized for inserting the prosthetic meniscus, then the protector shim is maintained in position between the components to assist in the insertion of retractors without snagging or scarring the prosthetic components. Thereafter the protector shim is removed.
US07780729B2
An accommodating intraocular lens has an anterior portion including an anterior viewing element and an anterior biasing element connected to the anterior viewing element. A posterior portion has a posterior viewing element and a posterior biasing element connected to the posterior viewing element. The anterior and posterior biasing elements are connected at first and second apices. First and second distending members are connected to the posterior portion. The first and second distending members extend to locations significantly anterior of an anterior side of the posterior viewing element.
US07780723B2
A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the handle to a distal end of the delivery sleeve assembly. Actuation of the handle pulls on the pull wire, which causes openings in a slotted tube of the delivery sleeve assembly to close, thus causing the delivery sleeve assembly to bend. A stretchable cover is placed over the slotted tube for biasing the steerable catheter toward a straight position. Once advanced to the native valve site, the prosthetic valve is deployed by inflating the balloon.
US07780709B2
An implant assembly for stabilizing a spinal motion segment includes a flexible spacer member positionable between adjacent transverse processes to dynamically limit movement of the upper and lower transverse processes toward one another upon extension of the spinal motion segment. The implant assembly may also include an engaging member positionable about one or more posterior elements of a spinal motion segment to secure the spacer member thereto.
US07780704B2
An assembly and a method of locking a longitudinal member to a cross-connector assembly construct, wherein the assembly comprises a longitudinal member; a flexible clip contacting the longitudinal member; a housing component contacting the flexible clip; a locking mechanism contacting the housing component; and a connecting member contacting the housing component. The flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The flexible clip comprises a socket portion; and a clip portion attached to the socket portion, the clip portion being adapted to retain the longitudinal member, wherein the flexible bias member extends from the clip portion to a bottom region of the socket portion.
US07780691B2
Devices and methods useful for manipulating tools at a surgical site are disclosed. The disclosed devices and methods can be useful, for example, for orbiting the distal end of one tool around the distal end of another tool, such as in an endoscopic resection procedure, and/or for rotating a tool or an end effector. In one exemplary embodiment, an endoscopic device is provided and can include an elongate shaft having a first lumen and a second lumen formed therein, each of the first and the second lumens adapted to receive a tool therethrough. A rotatable element can be disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the rotatable element having a lumen formed therein that is associated with the first lumen of the elongate shaft and also having a tool guide that is adapted to receive a tool and that is associated with the second lumen of the elongate shaft. The rotatable element can be configured to rotate on a longitudinal axis thereof such that the tool guide orbits the longitudinal axis of the rotatable element.
US07780687B2
The present disclosure relates a device for joining a first body vessel to a second body vessel, including an inner member having a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis, an outer member defining a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member therein, and a radially expandable anchor disposed at the distal end of the inner member, the expandable anchor having an initial condition wherein the expandable anchor is disposed between the outer member and the inner member and an expanded condition wherein the expandable anchor is radially larger than the expandable anchor in the initial condition.
US07780684B2
A surgical instrument is provided, principally for use with endoscopic plastic surgery, and adapted for insertion into an incision for engaging subcutaneous tissue, fat, fascia or muscle (STFFM) through a remote access incision, grasping the STFFM, and enabling it to be moved to another location. The STFFM is grasped preferably by engaging it with a needle and passing a suture through it, with the suture being locked by engagement via a hook, all at a location inside the skin that is remote from the opening. This enables the sutured STFFM to be moved, in any direction, but most often toward the incision as the inserted portion of the instrument is removed. A vacuum and an external clamp are provided, for facilitating engagement of the portion of the STFFM that is to be sutured. The instrument is usable for facelift surgery midface surgery, brow surgery, neck lift, scalp reduction, endoscopic mastopexy, endoscopic thigh lift, endoscopic tummy tuck, and for any other technique where it is desired to shift STFFM from one location to another location, as for example, in the correction of undesirable liposuction results.
US07780683B2
Disclosed is a closure catheter, for closing a tissue opening such as an atrial septal defect, patent foreman ovale, or the left atrial appendage of the heart. The closure catheter carries a plurality of tissue anchors, which may be deployed into tissue surrounding the opening, and used to draw the opening closed. Methods are also disclosed.
US07780681B2
The invention includes: a locating system; a computer, interfaced to the locating system and interpreting the positions of tracked objects in a generic computer model of a patient's hip geometry; a software module, executable on the computer, which defines the patient's pelvic plane without reference to previously obtained radiological data, by locating at least three pelvic landmarks; and a pelvic tracking marker, fixable to the pelvic bone and trackable by the locating system, to track in real time the orientation of the defined pelvic plane. Preferably, the system also includes a femoral tracking marker, securely attachable to a femur of the patient by a non-penetrating ligature and trackable by the locating system to detect changes in leg length and femoral offset.
US07780679B2
A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.
US07780677B2
A non-invasive method for determining the articular point of a knee joint is disclosed. The method uses a surgical navigation system having stereoscopic cameras which track the positions of infrared emitting or reflecting markers attached to leg portions on either side of the knee joint. A movable marker is used to palpate known landmarks on the leg portions to determine their positions. The leg portions are moved to determine the trajectories of the landmarks relative to the joint. Positional information from the cameras is fed to a data processing system with resident software which uses the positional information and trajectories to mathematically determine the positions of the knee joint articular point according to the laws of kinematics.
US07780676B2
An implantation apparatus for preparing adjacent vertebral bodies to receive an intervertebral implant including a plurality of keels. The implantation apparatus includes an elongated handle portion, and a template portion carried at a distal end of the handle portion substantially perpendicularly to the handle portion. The template portion defines a plurality of open channels corresponding in position and shape of the plurality of keels. Each channel is positioned and shaped for preparing a vertebral opening to receive a corresponding keel.
US07780673B2
A method and apparatus for performing a minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty including an acetabular cup inserter is provided. The cup inserter is utilized for securing a prosthetic acetabular component thereto for implantation into a hip joint. The acetabular cup inserter includes a frame having an offset frame leg to allow for placement of an acetabular cup in the correct anteversion and abduction without interference from soft tissue.
US07780671B2
A bone resection apparatus and its method of use for knee surgery are presented. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a spacer and a tibial cut guide. The spacer has a first surface engageable with the cut distal femoral bone and a second surface opposite the first surface engageable with the uncut proximal tibial bone in joint articulating relationship. The spacer further includes a cut guide support. The tibial cut guide has a cutter guide defining a cut plane and a support engaging element engageable with the cut guide support. The cut guide support and support engaging element cooperate to position the cut plane in relative to the first surface.
US07780670B2
To change a spatial relationship between two or more bones in a patient's body, a wedge member is moved into a joint between the bones. As the wedge member enters the joint, pivotal movement occurs between the bones to change the orientation of the bones relative to each other. The wedge member may have a circular cross sectional configuration and be moved into the joint by rotating the wedge member about an axis which extends between a thin leading edge portion and a thick trailing edge portion of the wedge member. Alternatively, the wedge member may have a cam-shaped configuration and be rotated through less than a revolution to apply force against the bones. The wedge member may have a porous construction which enables bone to grow through the wedge member and immobilize the joint. The wedge member may be coated with and/or contain bone growth promoting material. The wedge member may be connected to only one of the bones or may be connected to two adjacent bones. If the wedge member is connected to only one bone, the joint may be capable of being flexed after the wedge member is inserted into the joint.
US07780660B2
A medical probe assembly and method for ablating tissue using radio frequency energy. The medical probe assembly includes an elongated shaft, a needle electrode array, and a hinged handle. The handle has a collar, which when in the up position covers the hinge so that the device can be used as a conventional medical probe. When the collar is in the down position the hinge is exposed, and the handle can be bent to reduce its overall height. With this reduced height the probe can be used while a patient is lying in a CT scanner or an MRI chamber. Therefore, the surgeon can monitor the ablation during the procedure, and thus avoid unnecessary damage to the surrounding healthy tissue on the one hand, and insufficient ablation of the diseased tissue on the other hand. An alternate embodiment uses a flexible handle instead of a hinged one.
US07780659B2
An ultrasound treatment system in accordance with the present invention comprises an ultrasonic transducer, a handpiece, a probe, a sheath, a clamping member, an operation unit, an operating member, a suction base, and a perfusion base. The ultrasonic transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations. The handpiece has the ultrasonic transducer incorporated therein and serves as an operation unit. The probe is connected to the ultrasonic transducer, and serves as a vibration transmitting member for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to a distal member realizing a stationary portion that is a treatment portion for treating a living tissue. The sheath serves as a protecting member for shielding the probe. The clamping member is opposed to the distal member at the distal end of the sheath, and realizes a movable portion that is another treatment portion for clamping a living tissue in cooperation with the distal member. The operation unit is manipulated for clamping a living tissue with the clamping member and distal member or freeing the living tissue therefrom.
US07780653B2
Methods and apparatus/articles of manufacture for improving or correcting vision in an eye of a human or animal subject. A quantity of corneal tissue is removed from the subject's eye. Thereafter, a corneal cap is affixed to the anterior surface of the subject's eye in place of the previously removed corneal tissue. The shape and/or thickness and/or rotational orientation of the affixed corneal cap is adjusted as needed such that vision through the subject's eye is improved or corrected. In some cases, the corneal cap may comprise the same corneal tissue that was initially removed from the subject's eye. In other cases, the corneal cap may be formed of corneal tissue that has been harvested from a donor eye (e.g., a human, animal or cadaveric donor) or other material (e.g., synthetic or polymer material) having suitable properties.
US07780642B2
The present invention relates to an external urinary catheter. The present application realizes, that by replacing the traditional broad band of adhesive material with at least two bands, several advantages are obtained. As will be understood in the following, the tendency to leak is decreased, the degree of skin irritation on the penis is decreased and the adhesive characteristic can be improved.
US07780640B1
A collector bag for a catheter comprising a first receptacle and second receptacle selectively fastenable to each other. The first receptacle, serving as a temporary reservoir for fluids while the second receptacle is detached for disposal of its contents. The first has a top end with a throughbore forming a catheter attachment port while the bottom end incorporates a valve movable between an open and closed position thereby controlling the flow of fluids therebetween. The second receptacle serves as the primary receptacle for collecting fluids with a collar serving as receiver for the first receptacle bottom end that once inserted rotation of one member relative to the other in a predetermined direction locks the two receptacle together. Once fastened thereto, the valve can be opened to provide for fluid passage between the first and second receptacle. As needed, the valve can be closed and the second receptacle rotated to a point of detachment from the first whereby the first, with the valve closed serves as a temporary receptacle for fluids while the contents of the second are discarded.
US07780639B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises a trocar and a reducer cap that magnetically attaches to the trocar. The trocar and the cap each include a magnetic member, at least one of which is a first magnet, and the other of which is either a second magnet or a non-magnetized magnetically permeable member. Including a magnet of sufficient strength in the trocar and/or the cap will create a magnetic field that automatically holds a surgical instrument having a magnetically permeable member at its tip in axial alignment with the cap or trocar lumen. Introduction of the surgical instrument into the lumen can be further facilitated by providing the trocar or cap lumen with a funnel-shaped opening. A lumen seal can be provided by one or more compliant toroidal seal members that expand radially inwardly when compressed axially by the magnetic attraction between the cap and trocar. The alignment feature is particularly advantageous when incorporated in a mini-trocar having a lumen on the order of 1-3 mm in diameter. In that case, a trocar cap can be a small disc magnetically attracted to the trocar to cover the lumen. Magnetic aligning devices according to the invention can be used internally of a patient or transdermally. Another embodiment of the invention is an ostium plug with a lumen therethrough that can be used in tubal sterilization. The plug is permanently implanted in the patient, but a cap is coupled magnetically to the proximal end of the plug to permit reopening of the lumen when desired.
US07780638B1
The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with one embodiment, the catheter comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of exit holes along an infusion section of the catheter, and an elongated flexible porous member residing within the tube and forming an annular space between the tube and the member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes may combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. Advantageously, fluid within the catheter flows through all of the exit holes, resulting in uniform distribution of fluid within an anatomical region. In one particular embodiment, the catheter comprises a tube having elongated exit slots therein. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. The porous membrane is configured so that a fluid introduced into an open end of the tubular member will flow through side walls of the tubular member at a substantially uniform rate along a length of the tubular member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube. Fluid within the spring and greater than or equal to a threshold pressure advantageously flows radially outward between the spring coils. Advantageously, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly throughout a length of the spring.
US07780637B2
A storage system for a needleless pen delivery device syringe and a hypodermic needle adapted for attachment to and use with the pen delivery device syringe. A tubular sleeve has a first hollow chamber for receiving therein the needleless pen delivery device syringe, and a hollow cap has a second hollow chamber for receiving therein the hypodermic needle. The cap is adapted to affix to the sleeve to form a continuous tubular housing, and the sleeve is adapted to receive the pen delivery device syringe only when the needle is not attached to the syringe. Alternative exemplary embodiments provide for storing other related accessories or additional spare needles.
US07780634B2
A cushioned medical securement device for cushioning and securing a patient medical device includes a laterally and longitudinally extending pad. The pad has an adhesive coated first side surface for adhering to the patient medical device and an opposing adhesive coated second side surface for adhering to a patient's skin. A first release liner is removably mounted on the first side surface. The first release liner has a first liner peel release value. A second release liner is removably mounted on the second side surface. The second release liner has a second liner peel release value that is greater than the first liner peel release value.
US07780633B2
A surgical cassette having a chamber for fluidly coupling to a source of vacuum in a surgical console and a bubble breaking structure disposed within the chamber. The cassette protects the source of vacuum from liquid.
US07780628B1
Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart by actively or passively enhancing perfusion to the renal arteries. A first embodiment comprises a specially configured balloon catheter and extracorporeal pump, wherein the pump operates in a “once-through” fashion or alternating volume displacement mode. In another embodiment the catheter includes a pair of balloons to isolate a region of the aorta, and a third balloon that directs flow into the renal arteries. In still further embodiments, a stent or cuff having a constricted region is deployed in or around the aorta, respectively, to create a backpressure upstream of the stent or cuff. Methods of enhancing renal perfusion also are provided.
US07780627B2
The invention provides a catheter for insertion into a biological passage which contains a first flowing fluid, the catheter including a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; a fluid delivery lumen contained within the tubular member; an inflatable balloon assembly disposed at the distal end of the tubular member, the balloon assembly including an inflatable balloon member having an uninflated state and an inflated state, the balloon assembly including apertures in communication with the fluid delivery lumen; an inflation lumen in communication with the balloon member; and a valve contained within the inflatable balloon assembly. The inflatable balloon is assembly configured such that when the balloon member is in the inflated state: (i) sections of the balloon member contact the biological passage defining at least one containment pocket; (ii) the apertures are disposed in the containment pocket, (iii) a flow lumen is defined through the balloon member to allow the first fluid to flow through the balloon member; and (iv) the valve functions to allow the first flowing fluid to flow through the flow lumen in a physiologic direction, while blocking backflow of the first fluid through the flow lumen.
US07780625B2
An implantation instrument for implanting a substantially solid material, including solid medication or drugs, in a subcutaneous location and method are described. An incising shaft includes a beveled tip with a cutting edge along a distal end. A syringe body is affixed to a proximal end of the incising shaft. The syringe body and the incising shaft each define a substantially non-circular hollow bore extending continuously along a shared longitudinal axis. The incising shaft bore does not exceed the syringe body bore in girth. Both the incising shaft bore and the syringe body bore are sized to receive the solid material. A plunger is conformably shaped to the syringe body bore and has an end piece facilitating deployment of the plunger assembly. The plunger slidably fits within the syringe body bore and advances the solid material through the syringe body bore and the incising shaft bore into the subcutaneous location.
US07780617B2
The traction device using a winch employs an array of components including winches, pulleys and elastic bands mounted on an upright frame. The arrangement of the components allows the device to be utilized for traction without the use of cumbersome weights. The upright frame is configured to ensure stability. The components, including scales and cables, are mounted on the frame.
US07780613B2
An apparatus for transcutaneously transferring an amount of energy to an implantable orthopaedic device includes a primary coil. The primary coil has a resonant frequency matched to a resonant frequency of a secondary coil, which may form part of the implantable orthopaedic device. The primary coil may have an aperture configured to receive a portion of a patient's body or may include a substantially “C”-shaped core. A power circuit may be coupled with the primary coil to provide power to the coil. The apparatus may also include a wireless receiver, a measuring device, and/or a display.
US07780597B2
Presented is a method of operating a capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) array with multiple firings of varying bias voltage polarity patterns to improve its performance in imaging non-linear media, such as in contrast agent imaging or tissue harmonic imaging. Additionally, transducers incorporating the method are provided. The method of cMUT operation and the corresponding cMUT does not require pre-distortion or phase inversion of the transmit signal and can achieve an improvement in the elevation focus of the cMUT, as compared to the elevation focus that a single firing can achieve. Further, the method of operating the cMUT minimizes the deleterious effects that result from insulators being subjected to high electric fields.
US07780589B2
It is disclosed a device (1) for altering the storage capacity of a tubular mesh bag of heat sealable material during the manufacture thereof and the bag (15) obtained from its using. The device comprises an expansion core (2) to which the tubular mesh is peripheral, which is essentially oblong and will be inserted vertically inside the tubular mesh, thus determining two from faces (21) and two side faces of said mesh as it passes over the expansion core. The device has a mechanism for inserting, in a variable way as the mesh passes over the expansion core, sections of the peripheral tubular mesh into it, thus accumulating a greater or smaller quantity of mesh in each longitudinal section of mesh corresponding with one bag unit.
US07780588B2
A sound-producing folding insert for a magazine is disclosed. A foldable support structure comprises a primary page and a secondary page. The secondary page is folded upon itself to form a pocket that retains a sound emitting means. The sound emitting means includes an electronic microchip sound generating device that includes a switch means connected at one end to a slidable tongue mechanism that is attached at the other end to the primary page, such that upon opening of the folding insert by separating the primary and secondary pages the slidable tongue mechanism allows the switch means to close, thereby activating the sound emitting means. Conversely, closing the folding insert brings the primary and secondary pages together forces the slidable tongue mechanism to open the switch means, and thereby deactivating the sounds emitting means. The sound emitting means is relatively flat and includes a generally flat speaker mounted to the secondary page. Generally flat button batteries are included to power the device when the sound emitting means is activated.
US07780586B2
A training bench supports a user performing upper and lower body exercises and is comprised of a base, a seat, a main and adjustable support column, a pivoting support plate with angular adjustments, locking pins and rubber feet. The training bench has multiple vertical height adjustments independent of the seats' incline adjustments. All seat angles support a user's upper torso, lower torso or entire body. Ergonomics is a basis for the training bench structure. Many types of people are able to use the compact functional training bench regardless of their, height, size or exercise level.
US07780580B2
An arm exercise apparatus simulates the arm movements of running and jogging. The arm exercise apparatus is coordinated with the foot motion of several typical elliptical cross trainers. Each handle is guided by a pair of links to move from along side an operator, engaged on the apparatus, forward and toward the sagittal plane of the operator to simulate the arm movement of running and jogging. An adjustment is provided to vary the handle movement.
US07780577B2
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a pendulous exercise device is provided that comprises first and second swing arms pivotally coupled to a frame. The first and second swing arms extend from the frame at an angle from vertical. First and second footpads are provided pivotally coupled to the first and second swing arms, respectively. Each footpad defines a footpath comprising a forward/rearward component, an upward/downward component and an inward/outward component.
US07780576B1
A resistance tubing fitness system and method for climbing walls. The system and method provides a plurality of cooperating components which permit a user to enhance workout activities at a climbing wall. The system may include a guide, instruction cards, resistance bands, handles and hand holds designed to receive a resistance band, step holds and usage and safety instructions. In use, students may perform lateral raises, bicep curls, step-ups and other exercises at designated workout stations at the climbing wall.
US07780574B2
Systems and methods for facilitating an isometric contraction exercise regimen for many subjects across a network are provided. One or more exercise constraints are developed for a subject as a function of the medical health information of the subject. The subject performs a plurality of isometric contraction exercises using exercise equipment always in the presence of a personal fitness trainer thereby producing an exercise result. The exercise equipment has a strain gauge in order to impose exercise constraints in the one or more exercise constraints. A mandatory recovery period for the subject is then imposed. During this mandatory recovery period, the subject does not perform isometric contraction exercises. These steps are repeated using a new set of one or more exercise constraints that were refined based upon the exercise result of a previous isometric contraction exercise work out session.
US07780572B2
A control valve arrangement having a clutch regulation valve (3), which pressurizes a device to actuate the clutch, and a valve that produces a controlled pilot pressure (P_VST3). An electronic control unit (ECU) controls a valve to supply a control valve with the pressure (P_VST3). The arrangement further having a hydraulic system which, if the ECU fails and the pressure (P_VST3) ceases, the last shift condition of the clutch actuation device, prior to the ECU failure, can be maintained in an emergency. The arrangement includes a valve, which delivers an activation pressure (P_A), depending on an engine-speed-dependent control pressure (P_D), to an actuation valve (2), which then delivers the pressure (P_A) to the valve (3) to prevent the emergency function initiation despite a lack of pressure (P_VST3) and existence of the pressure (P_D) sufficiently high to initiate the emergency function.
US07780567B2
An input brake assembly is provided for selectively grounding a transmission input member. The packaging location of the input brake assembly does not interfere with, and thus still allows the option of providing a bypass clutch for a flex plate-type flywheel connecting the engine with the transmission input member. The input brake assembly includes a flywheel, preferably a flex plate, for transferring rotary torque between the engine and the transmission input member and a ring gear secured to the outer periphery of the flex plate. A pinion gear is axially movable into and out of meshing engagement with the ring gear. A grounding device is operatively connected to the pinion gear and is operable to prevent rotation of the pinion gear, thereby braking the flex plate as well as the transmission input member operatively connected thereto when the pinion gear is in meshing engagement with the ring gear.
US07780562B2
A parallel hybrid vehicle includes a heat engine, a transmission including an input and output, and an electrical device. The transmission input is coupled to the engine and the transmission output is coupled to the electrical device such that substantially all of the torque generated by the heat engine is channeled through the transmission to the electrical device, and a differential, the electrical device coupled to the differential such that during a first mode of operation the electrical device functions as a motor to receive substantially all the torque generated by the engine through the transmission, and such that during a second mode of operation the electric device functions as a generator to receive substantially all the torque generated by the vehicle through the differential.
US07780557B2
Continuously variable transmission includes a set of pulleys, each pulley comprising two discs arranged relatively axially moveable on a central pulley shaft for clamping a transmission belt. The belt includes a continuous array of transverse elements, each having lateral pulley contact surfaces for contacting the belt contact surface of each of the pulley discs, and being provided slideably on an endless tensile element of the belt. Each pulley has a mechanical stiffness as incorporated in the transmission and a stiffness related feature of a pulley when expressed as a parameter Sag that indicates an amount of radial displacement of the belt between the discs in the transmission, occurring in response to imposing a maximum amount of axial force Fax during operation of the transmission, relative to a radial position of the belt in an unloaded state of the transmission, amounts to less than 1.2 mm but more than 0.5 mm.
US07780556B2
A belt drive system including an assembly of a heavy-duty drive V-belt 5 and pulleys 2 and 4 reduces noise generating owing to belt travel while ensuring the durability of the pulleys 2 and 4. The surfaces of belt grooves 6 in the V-pulleys 2 and 4 are micro-blasted or burnished so that their surface roughness satisfies the relational expression y≦−0.9×tp+100, where tp is the load length rate at a given position of a roughness curve indicating the surface features of the groove surfaces in the V-pulleys 2 and 4 and y is the variable (the degree of height) indicating by percentage the ratio of the height from the lowest valley having a maximum depth to the given position to a maximum height Ry.
US07780545B2
The system monitors a user's key physical movements when performing a particular activity, such as a golf swing, and signals visually and/or aurally when a single (or several) error(s) is/are committed, for the purpose of encouraging faster learning of fundamentally sound physical skills. Mental conditioning is achieved when the effects of repeatedly listening to the specially constructed and authored audio conditioning programs during practice sessions and games are combined with the above described physical monitoring effects of the system. Better physical execution of a selected technique or skill results, and the user experiences the benefits of mental conditioning on his/her playing performance.
US07780540B2
A golf swing practice target panel or impact device is provided. The impact device may be or may include a panel made of a type of material such that there will be a temporary mark where a standard or non-standard golf ball impacted the panel. An aiming reference point may be provided on a lower portion of the panel. In addition, lines may be printed on the panel to depict launch or elevation angles and off-center deviation angles. A golfer can examine how accurate the strike was after the swing. Also, the panel material may possess proper friction that enables the spinning direction of a golf ball to be determined when a golf ball bounces off from the panel. Judging from where the ball landed relative to the temporary ball mark on the panel, the golfer is able to know how the ball was spinning after striking.
US07780538B1
A leather billiard cue tip has an insert embedded in the surface of the cue tip having a higher coefficient of friction relative to the cue ball than that of the leather tip itself. The insert has a mechanical compliance compatible with that of the leather tip, and is contoured to form a continuous smooth surface at the apex of the leather tip. The leather tip has a hardness that is not less than, i.e., that is equal to or greater than, the hardness of the insert. The composite of leather and insert provide a cue tip having enhanced friction when contacting the cue ball, diminishing sliding between the cue tip and cue ball during an off center billiard shot that significantly reduces the risk of miscuing while optimum hardness of the leather tip insures substantial maintenance of the structural geometry of the tip during and after a billiard shot.
US07780537B2
An annular-shaped waterslide bowl for use as an element of a waterslide apparatus serves to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop at the end of the waterslide ride. The bowl has a bowl wall with a rider entry port through which a rider slides from a flume into the bowl. The bottom wall of the bowl has an opening at its center and a low circumferential wall around the opening extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The rider comes to a stop in the bowl and can step over the circumferential wall into the opening. A staircase located within the opening provides means for the rider to exit the bowl. The waterslide bowl provides a compact structure for slowing and stopping the rider and is particularly suitable for waterslide installations having limited space.
US07780534B2
Various methods for presenting a game on a gaming machine having a movable top box are disclosed herein. According to one method, the gaming machine receives player input initiating a game. A game outcome is presented on a primary display of the gaming machine. The top box of the gaming machine is moved in response to a triggering event.
US07780532B2
The disclosure provides novel video game methods and systems for allowing players to acquire ownership of game environments. Methods and systems additionally include means for buying and selling ownership or fractions of ownership in a particular game environment.
US07780529B2
A system for monitoring game play is disclosed. The system includes at least one gaming device adapted to present a game to a player and generate game play data. A communication link is provided between the gaming device and a host over which game play data, including player information, is transmitted. The host is adapted to store, manipulate, display and otherwise use the data. In one embodiment, the host is arranged to generate an interface for display by a display device. Game play information is displayed with the interface. In one embodiment, game play information regarding one or more gaming machines is displayed real-time by the interface. Filters may be used upon and reports generated using the game play information. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more portable, hand-held devices for displaying the interface and information.
US07780525B2
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method comprises associating, with a casino patron, a benefit of a first value. The benefit of the first value is determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a first portion of a period of time. The method further comprises associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value. The benefit of the second value is determined based on a second algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion. Associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed.
US07780514B2
In accordance with some embodiments, methods, media, and apparatus are described for processing lottery entries. One embodiment provides for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry, receiving with the request an indicator that the lottery entry is to be entered into at least one lottery drawing until a lottery drawing identifies the lottery entry as a winner, and storing the lottery entry.
US07780513B2
A board game system comprises a touch screen, a computing device and a robot arm. The computing device comprises a processor and a memory. At least one type of board game program is stored in the memory so that the processor can execute the board game program present a corresponding board game interface on the touch screen. The robot arm controlled by the computing device can touch the touch screen and play the board game with a user.
US07780510B2
A passive venting device for venting enclosures comprising a base member, an intermediate splash member including a diverter, and a top, dome-shaped member. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter may be molded as a single unit of manufacture with the base member. The venting device allows air and other gases to escape from within an enclosure to be vented while preventing the intrusion of moisture, such as rain or snow, into the enclosure.
US07780509B1
A foundation vent comprising a front frame and resiliently-flexible clips with tabs at their ends. The foundation vent can be quickly installed within a foundation opening by flexing the clips, placing them into the opening, and pushing the front frame until it seats against the exterior of a foundation wall. At this point, the tabs of the clips will have protruded past the interior face of the foundation wall allowing the clips to return to their unflexed state and causing the tabs to secure against the interior face of the foundation wall.
US07780505B2
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting unit for supporting a semiconductor wafer received from a CMP apparatus and a vacuuming system for holding the wafer on the supporting unit. The vacuuming is applied only in a peripheral area of the wafer. In the peripheral area of the wafer, any circuit such as interconnections and devices are not manufactured. When the wafer is released by supplying gas to the vacuumed space, even if static electricity occurs, the electronic circuit to be manufactured on the wafer does not harmed, because the static electricity occurs only in the peripheral area where any circuit does not exist.
US07780501B2
A hula hoop has a plurality of arched coupling units, which are plastic molded articles and coupled to one another in sequence to complete a circular assembly. Each coupling unit is centrally formed with an expanded acupressure portion, and has one end formed into a bolt-shaped coupling portion and the other end formed into a nut-shaped coupling portion. Thereby, the bolt-shaped coupling portion of one coupling unit is able to be forcibly fitted into and fastened to the nut-shaped coupling portion of another neighboring coupling unit. Each coupling unit is densely wound, throughout an outer peripheral surface of the overall body thereof except for the coupling portions, by a braid that is made by interweaving a plurality of strands. Metal or plastic connecting members are fitted around the respective coupling portions between the neighboring coupling units in the course of assembling of the coupling units.
US07780497B2
A bubble machine has a housing, a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening of the housing, a fan positioned inside the housing, and a motor positioned inside the housing and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator. Actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
US07780493B2
A method of manufacturing a flat panel display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: i) forming a plurality of light emitting units on a first substrate, each of the plurality of light emitting units including a light emitting element, ii) providing a second substrate, iii) placing glass frits between the first and second substrates, iv) radiating a first laser beam, having a first intensity, on one of the first and second substrates, wherein the first laser is configured to melt the grass frits and combine the first and second substrates and v) radiating a second laser beam, having a second intensity, on the first irradiated region so as to anneal the first or second substrate, wherein the second intensity is different from the first intensity. According to one embodiment, the substrate cutting quality can be simply improved.
US07780490B2
A watercraft with a control system includes at least two propulsion units carried by a hull of the watercraft. Each propulsion unit is independently turnable. The watercraft includes a control system arranged to control orientation of the propulsion units. The control system includes a first control mode in which turning of two of the propulsion units is limited to turning through less than an entire range of motion of the two propulsion units, in equal amounts, and in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal centerline of the watercraft.
US07780489B2
A spring contact for an electrical plug connection, which at one end has at least two opposing spring-elastic contact legs for receiving a counterpart contact that can be inserted between the two contact legs in an insertion direction along a central longitudinal axis of the spring contact. The outsides of the contact legs oriented away from the central longitudinal axis are each engaged by respective spring legs which press the respective opposing contact legs toward each other perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis and, when a counterpart contact is inserted, exert a respective contact pressure on the latter. A plug connection can be equipped with at least one spring contact of this invention. A plug connection of this invention can be used between a power tool and a rechargeable battery.
US07780488B2
The present invention relates generally to connectors for terminating and connecting electrical wires and cables. More particularly, the connector of the present invention permits ease of connection at any angle, with regard to the electrical wire or cable equal to that of heavy gauge. Termination of an electrical wire is provided in the present invention using a connector assembly including a barrel connector, a terminal lug connector, and a flexible cable. The terminal lug connector and the barrel connector mechanically and electrically engage the electrical wire. The flexible cable mechanically and electrically connects the barrel connector to the terminal lug connector and permits angular movement between the barrel connector and the terminal lug connector.
US07780487B2
A rotation restricting member (40) of a battery terminal unit (U) is provided with a main body (41) capable of restricting a mounting angle of a battery terminal (20) with respect to a battery post (12) by coming into contact with a battery (10) with the battery terminal (20) connected with the battery post (12), press-fitting portions (42) formed integral to the main body (41) and adapted to fix the rotation restricting member (40) to the battery terminal (20) by being press-fitted into an opening (32) formed in a side surface of a bolt holding portion (22), and a detachment restricting piece (56) formed integral to the main body (41) and adapted to restrict a movement of the main body (41) in a direction opposite to a pressing direction by being engaged with a terminal fitting (60) tightened to a stud bolt (24).
US07780484B2
An outer housing is configured to receive alternative first and second housings. The first inner housing is configured to receive clean body contacts where the inner housing includes integral locking latches extending into the contract receiving cavity where the locking latch may be positioned against the shoulder of the contract retaining the contact in position in the cavity. Alternatively, a second inner housing may be provided with a locking shoulder against which a locking lance of an electrical contact having a locking lance may be provided.
US07780483B1
The present invention may be used for press-fit insertion into an electrical contact hole or an electrical solderless contact. An electrical contact may have a contact portion, an insert portion and a position portion therebetween. There may be an insert guide portion at an insert end and a resilient portion rearward thereof. The resilient portion may have an opening through the sides formed as an elliptically shaped portion with an oblong end portion at each end along a longitudinal axis of the electrical contact. The resilient portion may have a first beam and a second beam spaced apart and arched with a convex outside edge symmetrically located along the longitudinal axis. A first projection and a second projection may be spaced apart and opposed orthogonal to the longitudinal axis on an inner surface of the opening.
US07780480B2
A communication jack is provided with plug interface contacts that have a short conductive signal pathway between a plug-jack interface and crosstalk compensation provided on a printed circuit board within the jack. Contacts of the jack are specially designed not to take a permanent set if a six-position plug or an eight-position plug is inserted into an eight-position jack. A printed circuit board in the jack is placed at an angle, shortening the conductive pathway between plug contacts and the printed circuit board.
US07780477B2
An adapter system is disclosed including a pair of adapters operating in conjunction with each other to allow a variety of different, off-the-shelf memory cards to be used within the ExpressCard slot.
US07780475B1
A socket connector is provided for electrically connecting an electromagnetic relay to a plurality of electrical wires that are terminated by a mating connector. The socket connector includes a dielectric housing having a relay mounting base and a wire connector. The relay mounting base includes at least one relay receptacle. The relay mounting base is configured to receive the electromagnetic relay thereon. A plurality of terminals is held by the housing. Each terminal includes a relay contact portion and a connector contact portion. The relay contact portion extends within the at least one relay receptacle for electrical connection with the electromagnetic relay. The connector contact portion extends within the wire connector for electrical connection to the mating connector.
US07780459B2
An electric junction box has a binding band fitting hole, and two through holes through which a binding band for securing wire harnesses which are arranged along a lower face of a bottom wall of the binding band fitting hole are provided on the bottom wall so as to be positioned at both sides of the wire harnesses. When the wire harnesses are secured, a tip end of the binding band is inserted into one of the two through holes from a lower side of the bottom wall, the tip end of the binding band which has been exposed to an upper side of the bottom wall is U-turned in a downward direction to be inserted into the other of the two through holes, and then, the tip end of the binding band which has been exposed to the lower side of the bottom wall is locked to a lock part provided at a base end of the binding band, thereby to secure the wire harnesses to the lower face of the bottom wall. An upper face of a part of the bottom wall between the two through holes is formed as an arc-shaped wall which is curved upward in a convex shape, whereby a convex arc-shaped face and a concave arc-shaped face are formed on upper and lower faces of the bottom wall between the two through holes.
US07780455B2
A system comprises a primary backplane and a secondary backplane. The primary backplane has a surface region substantially devoid of components and a plurality of connectors to which electronic devices can be mated. The secondary backplane is removably mated to the primary backplane within the region. The secondary backplane has at least two connectors adapted to mate to at least two of the electronic devices. At least two electronic devices communicatively interconnect through the primary and secondary backplanes.
US07780453B2
A method for monitoring cleaning of a surface includes applying an amount of transparent indicator material to an area of a surface and measuring the amount of transparent indicator material remaining on the surface. The transparent indicator material may be fixed on the surface by drying and, when a fluorescent material, may be measured through exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
US07780450B2
A real-time camera image of a student is displayed to the student while the student is performing a physical activity. The student can switch between seeing his natural field of view and the live video image by refocusing his eyes. Additionally, instructional information may be overlaid on the real-time video, thus enhancing the learning process.
US07780448B2
A correction device used for a dental implant device includes a jig formed at the center of the upper portion with a receiving hole having a sleeve on the inner circumferential surface, a solid screw having a head and a coupling screw and being transferred to the receiving hole, the head formed with a second sleeve resting groove corresponding to the sleeve of the receiving hole, the coupling screw integrally formed at the other side of the head, an abutment penetratingly coupled to the coupling screw of the solid screw and formed with a first sleeve resting groove on the outer circumferential surface, the groove corresponding to the sleeve of the receiving hole, a dental analog body formed at the end portion with a coupler coupled to the abutment and at the center with a pass-through hole, and an analog screw formed at the inside with a female screw coupled to the dental analog body and the coupling screw of the solid screw at the same time.
US07780446B2
A ceramic/metallic dental abutment for use with an implant, the abutment generally including a ceramic body portion having a base region, a transgingival region, and a supragingival region. The base region includes an anti-rotational implant interface, such as an external polygonal fitting, for engaging a cooperating internal polygonal fitting of an implant to prevent relative rotation between the abutment and the implant. The ceramic abutment body portion additionally includes a metal implant contact portion for contacting the implant and providing a load-bearing, metal-on-metal interface between the abutment and the implant.
US07780441B2
The invention concerns a mounting device for a pair of orthodontic retainer elements intended for attachment to a pair of adjacent teeth in a dental arch during passive orthodontic treatment. The retainer elements include approximal surfaces formed complementary to each other so as to form contact surfaces capable of stabilizing each other when the pair of retainer elements is attached to the pair of adjacent teeth, thereby also stabilizing the pair of teeth. The mounting device comprises a jig to which the pair of retainer elements is releasably connected and is maintained in a specific spatial relationship, which allows the approximal surfaces to form the stabilizing contact surfaces when mounted on the pair of teeth. The invention also concerns a method of maintaining a correct spatial relationship between the pair of retainer elements, especially when attaching them to the pair of teeth.
US07780440B2
To provide a substrate supporting/transferring tray, which can be placed on a substrate supporting part arranged in a treatment chamber in which the heat treatment is performed to a substrate, especially on a substrate supporting part having a built-in heating means for heating the substrate, and on an upper side of which, the substrate is placed. At the time of heat-treating the substrate, the substrate can be more uniformly heated, and when the heat treatment is completed, the tray can be easily removed from the substrate supporting part without waiting for the temperature of the substrate to be reduced, and can transfer the substrate to other parts from the treatment chamber in which the heat treatment is performed. The substrate supporting/transferring tray, which has the disc-shaped substrate supporting part on an upper plane side, and is provided with a cylindrical side wall part extending from a periphery of the disc-shaped substrate supporting part to a lower side, and an annular part extending from a lower end side of the cylindrical side wall part to an outer side in a diameter direction.
US07780437B2
A premix burner includes a vortex generator (30) for combustion air stream (15), devices (17, 17a, 17b, 31-38, 41-48) to inject fuel into the combustion air stream (15), and tangential air ducts (19, 20). The combustion air (15) enters the cone cavity (14) of the vortex generator (30) via the air ducts. The injection of the fuel into the combustion air is done asymmetrically by injection devices (17, 17a, 17b, 31-38, 41-48). At least one of the injection devices (5) is arranged on a fuel lance (3) that extends into the vortex chamber.
US07780432B2
A method of connecting a plastic workpiece to a further workpiece and a device for carrying out the method are shown and described. The object of providing a method with which a positive-locking connection between a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece can be produced in a short time and without considerable outlay in terms of apparatus is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: providing a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece, placing the further workpiece against the plastic workpiece, providing a connecting element on a surface of the plastic workpiece, this surface being opposite the surface against which the further workpiece bears, producing a recess in the further workpiece, this recess being provided on the surface bearing against the plastic workpiece, heating the connecting element, so that the material of the connecting element is plasticized, and pressing plasticized material into the recess.
US07780428B2
A fluid-guiding and electric conducting system for a suspended electric submersible PCP comprises a fluid-guiding system and an electric conducting system. The fluid-guiding system comprises an upper connector, a protector, a fluid-guiding sleeve, a driving mechanism, a shaft coupling, a first annular cavity, a second annular cavity, a third annular cavity, a fourth annular cavity, and a fluid outlet. The first annular cavity, the second annular cavity, the third annular cavity, the fourth annular cavity, and the fluid outlet are connected orderly to the well fluid pipe. The electric conducting system comprises a motor lead wire, a center hole of the protector, a fifth annular cavity, and a wire outlet. The fluid-guiding and electric conducting system has the advantages of simple structure, low manufacturing cost, easy assembly and inexpensive maintenance.
US07780418B2
A quick assembly blade for a ceiling fan includes a blade frame, a blade and a clamping member. The blade frame is fixed therein with at least three studs spaced apart equidistantly for a fastener to be respectively locked therein. The blade has one end bored with insert holes at the locations corresponding to the studs of the blade frame for the fasteners to be respectively inserted therethrough. The clamping member plate-shaped is secured on the blade at a location matching with the blade frame, having one end cut with two engage notches corresponding to two adjacent fasteners below and the other end provided with an elastic engage portion. The clamping member can be quickly pressed and fixed on the blade by means of its engage notches and its elastic engage portion to enable the blade to be assembled on the blade frame quickly and stably.
US07780415B2
A turbine blade including an airfoil defining an airfoil cavity forming a cooling system in the blade. First, second and third ribs are positioned in the airfoil cavity to form first, second and third generally elongated cooling cavities along at least a portion of the span-wise direction of the airfoil in an area adjacent the trailing edge of the airfoil. Each of the ribs includes a plurality of orifices for conveying a cooling fluid into each of the cavities. Each of the cavities includes a pair of converging walls, angling inwardly relative to an outer surface of the airfoil, to increase the impingement of cooling fluid from the orifices onto the cavity walls, and increase the cooling effectiveness within the trailing edge of the airfoil.
US07780413B2
A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine and having at least one cooling system. At least a portion of the cooling system may be positioned in an outer wall of the turbine airfoil for receiving cooling fluids from a cooling fluid supply source, passing those fluids through the chambers in the outer wall, and exhausting those fluids into central cooling fluids collection chambers. The outer wall may include a plurality of outer wall cooling chambers that may be configured to pass cooling fluids in a counter flow direction. The outer wall cooling chambers may include a plurality of ribs including a plurality of impingement orifices for increasing the cooling efficiency of the cooling system.
US07780412B2
Methods and apparatus for continuing wind turbine operation when normal wind turbine motor control is unavailable due to overheating of one or more wind turbine control motors. Technical effects of the present invention include providing an effective control strategy continuing operation during over-heating of a wind turbine control motor, such as a pitch control motor and a yaw control motor.
US07780396B2
A system for automatically forming stacks of cartons for feeding a magazine for supplying cartons to a packaging machine includes a primary support on which the stacks of cartons are formed, and a secondary support for temporarily receiving a series of the cartons thereon as a previously formed stack of cartons is removed from the primary support. The stack of cartons collected on the primary support is moved onto a transport conveyor for transport to a loader for the magazine for feeding into the packaging machine.
US07780383B2
A locking system for locking a container to a vehicle includes a locking assembly mounted to a hoist frame and a striker assembly mounted to the vehicle chassis. The locking assembly has at least one hook for hooking over a frame member of the container. The hook has a center of mass that biases the hook to an unlocked position. The striker assembly strikes the hook at a location to move the hook against the bias of the hook's center of mass into a locked position in which the hook is hooked over the frame member of the container. As the hoist frame supporting the container is lowered, the striker assembly contacts the hook and rotates the hook against the bias of the hook's center of mass into the locked position. As the hoist frame is raised, the hook rises as well and loses contact with the striker assembly, thereby falling away from the hoist frame and unlocking the container. A positive or mechanical unlocking mechanism prevents the hooks from binding to the container.
US07780375B1
A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g. oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g. welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform.
US07780362B2
A lens barrel includes a linear guide member, a linearly advancing/retracting member guided by the linear guide member along an optical axis of an imaging optical system to be movable between operating and retracted positions, and a displaceable element supported by the linearly advancing/retracting member to be movable between an on-axis position in which the displaceable element is positioned on the optical axis and an off-axis displaced position in which the displaceable element is displaced from the optical axis. The linear guide member includes a linear guide projection which extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis to be engaged with the linearly advancing/retracting member. The linear guide projection includes an accommodation through-cutout formed through the linear guide projection in a radial direction, at least part of the displaceable element entering the accommodation through-cutout when the linearly advancing/retracting member is in the retracted position.
US07780357B2
An antifriction bearing (A) for accommodating rotation about an axis (X) comprises an inner race (2) having a raceway (12), an outer race (4) having a raceway (22), rolling elements (6) positioned between the inner and outer races (2, 4) and contacting the raceways (12, 22) of those races (2, 4) so that when relative rotation occurs between the races (2, 4) the rolling elements (6) roll along the raceways (12, 22), a cage (8) positioned between the inner and outer races (2, 4) and having pockets (40) in which the rolling elements (6) are received with the cage (8) being rotatable between the races (2, 4) as the rolling elements (6) roll along the raceways (12, 22), the outer race (4) having a power transmitting coil (50) and a receiver (60), the cage (8) having a power receiving coil (52), a sensing unit (D) for sensing a condition of the bearing (A), and a transmitter (54) for sending a signal indicative of the sensed condition of the bearing (A) to the receiver (60).
US07780355B2
A carry bag (10) intended to accommodate a surfboard, the bag (10) comprising a pair of major panels (11, 13) which have the general configuration of the surfboard to be accommodated by the bag (10), the major panels (11, 13) being interconnected around their perimeter by a side wall (15) formed of a flexible sheet material, a fold line (21) being formed for substantially the full extent of the side wall (15) substantially intermediate to the major panels (11, 13).
US07780354B2
A pillow packaging bag, a pillow type packaging body, a heat seal bar for pillow packaging machine, and a pillow packaging machine. The pillow packaging bag enabling the suppression of the occurrence of pin holes in a handling step and a transportation course after packaging comprises two lateral seal parts positioned roughly parallel with each other and a contents filling part held by the two lateral seal parts. Damping portions connected to the contents filling portion are formed near both side end parts of the lateral seal part from the border line thereof with the contents filling part near the center part of the lateral seal part toward the lateral seal part.
US07780353B2
A bag for retaining the warmth and crispiness of food items contained therein is disclosed. The bag is made of cellulose-based, oven-durable outer and inner plies that are adhesively affixed together by adhesive layers, a bag interior defined by adjacent faces of the inner ply, and at least one pocket formed between the outer and inner plies defined by adjacent adhesive layers. The outer and inner plies are pierced with a plurality of apertures such that the apertures pierced within the outer ply are offset from the apertures pierced within the inner ply by a predetermined dimension. Due to a temperature differential, vapors emitted by a warmed food item inserted in the bag interior are driven into each one pocket and remain within the corresponding pocket for a useful period of time. A process for producing the bag is also disclosed.
US07780350B2
The invention concerns a device for detecting a faulty positioning between a first element and a second element comprising an electromagnetic wave emitting unit designed to be secured to the first element and an electromagnetic wave receiving and processing unit designed to be secured to the second element. The latter unit co-operates with the electromagnetic wave emitting unit to detect a faulty positioning of the first element relative to the second element. When used for a mobile radiology facility, the first element is, for example, an X-ray generator, and second element is, for example, a radiological image sensor.
US07780345B2
A method and apparatus for an irreversible temperature sensor for measuring a peak exposure temperature. The apparatus is fabricated by printing an admixture of conductive nanoparticles on a dielectric substrate to form a film. The film has an electrical resistance that is inversely proportional to the exposure temperature. The electrical resistance also irreversibly decreases as the exposure temperature of the film increases. A portion of the film is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic energy sufficient to render it substantially more electrically conductive than the portion that was not exposed. In use, the peak exposure temperature is determined by measuring the electrical resistance of the non-altered portion of the film and the electrical resistance of the portion that was exposed to the pulse of electromagnetic energy, and subtracting the electrical resistance of the altered portion from the electrical resistance of the portion that was not altered, to provide a difference value. The peak exposure temperature is then be calculated as a function of the difference value.
US07780344B2
The estimation method of the invention for estimating the deteriorations of a magneto-resistive effect device by heat shocks involves applying heat shocks by laser irradiation to a structure including a thin-film magnetic head comprising a magneto-resistive effect device to propagate them to the magneto-resistive effect device, thereby causing the deteriorations of the magneto-resistive effect device. Thus, (1) the deterioration mode phenomenon of “local overheating plus vibration” can be imitated in a simple yet very approximate state so that a device likely to undergo characteristics deteriorations due to the thermal asperity problem can be detected early at an initial fabrication process stage, and (2) what specifications a head device structure less likely to offer the thermal asperity problem is in can be judged at a product development stage.
US07780332B2
An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light guide plate (3) including two light incident surfaces (31), two light sources (4) provided adjacent to the light incident surfaces of the light guide plate, and a holding frame (5). The holding frame includes two sliding frames (52) and a bottom plate (51). Each sliding frame includes two side walls opposite to each other and a connecting wall perpendicularly connected with the side walls. The sliding frame defines a sliding structure. The bottom plate is slidingly received in the sliding structures of the sliding frames. The bottom plate and the sliding frame cooperatively form a space to accommodate the light guide plate and the light source therein.
US07780328B2
Described herein is an apparatus which is, under a range of atmospheric conditions, capable of maintaining the emission of light at a point remote from a light source. Notably, the apparatus is able to heat and distribute a fluid, and by doing so, prevents condensation and ice from forming which could hamper the emission of light. The apparatus comprises a light source and a light emitter, with a light conduit and a fluid conduit running between.A method for using such apparatus is also described.
US07780323B2
An illumination apparatus comprises an illumination unit, a holder unit and a coupling unit with at least one coupling element suitable to be received in the receiver of the vehicle receiver hitch. The coupling unit pivots to rotate the holder unit from a generally horizontal transport position to a generally vertical operating position and the holder unit comprises an extendable stand which allows the illumination unit to be erected at a suitable illumination elevation.
US07780322B2
The invention relates to a mirror in a motor vehicle, in particular a make-up lighted or/vanity style mirror. At least one preferably reflective organic light-emitting diode display abuts the periphery of said mirror.
US07780318B2
An LED flood lamp includes an LED lamp and a primary bracket and an accessorial bracket. The lamp includes a pair of lateral sidewalls. The primary bracket pivotally connects with the lateral sidewalls. The accessorial bracket has one end pivotally connecting with one lateral sidewall, and another end connected to the primary bracket via a fastener. Each of the primary and accessorial brackets defines an elongated slot. The fastener is slidable along the slots of the primary and accessorial brackets to vary an illumination angle of the lamp. The LED lamp has a substrate, a plurality of LED modules mounted on a top surface of the substrate and a heat sink mounted on a bottom surface of the substrate, whereby heat generated by the LED modules can be transferred to the heat sink via the substrate to be dissipated to ambient air.
US07780309B2
A battery powered electrical appliance (100) operates using batteries (406, 408) of more than one size and provides preparedness information (120) which may be used to assist in preparing for an emergency or otherwise obtaining desired supplies. The electrical appliance (100) may be employed to provide a first task illumination function, at least a first visible signaling function, and an audible signaling function.
US07780307B2
An illumination control apparatus for being applied to a hand tool has a modulized structure and easy to be assembled and operated. The illumination control apparatus primarily comprises a modulized switch circuit, and a housing for enclosing the modulized switch circuit. By pressing a pressing switch of the modulized switch circuit, a light emitting element electrically connected to the modulized switch circuit can be controlled to provide or shut illumination thereof. Besides, the illumination control apparatus is firmly affixed to the hand tool by a screwing method.
US07780300B2
A large, thin, variable focus lens that would be practical in a variety of applications, such as eyeglasses. An example of the present invention is a surface that can be deformed to a desirable shape in a simple, controllable fashion. In particular, a surface shape with desirable optical properties is achievable. The surface has the ability to produce a reflective or refractive surface with a variable optical power.
US07780292B2
An ophthalmologic examination apparatus has a main unit housing an illuminating optical system that illuminates a fundus of a subject's eye to be examined and an imaging optical system that images the illuminated eye fundus. First and second attachment units are removably and exchangeably mounted to the main unit for providing different ophthalmologic functions. The first attachment unit houses an imaging device that captures an image of the eye fundus via the imaging optical system housed in the main unit. The second attachment unit houses a light source that emits stimulating light for an electroretinogram and which is projected onto the eye fundus via the imaging optical system housed in the main unit.
US07780280B2
A seal for an ink-discharge port on a printer ink cartridge, according to various embodiments of the present invention, is disclosed. The seal has a surface containing channels that oppose a direction in which the port is configured to discharge ink from the ink cartridge. Such channels facilitate the retention of ink by the seal during removal of the seal, thereby reducing the likelihood of ink spillage during such removal.
US07780277B2
Provided is a liquid injecting apparatus equipped with a liquid injecting head, which is mounted on a carriage and moved reciprocally in a widthwise direction of a target, and a valve unit, which is mounted on the carriage to be supplied with liquid via a supply passage from a liquid retainer and to supply liquid to the liquid injecting head. The valve unit has a pressure chamber connected to the liquid retainer via the supply passage; a valve, which opens or closes the supply passage to supply liquid to the pressure chamber; and a flexible film member, which is displaced based on a negative pressure generated as liquid in the pressure chamber decreases to thereby operate the valve.
US07780276B2
Systems and methods for refilling inkjet printer cartridges are described. The system includes at least one rotary valve that contains a plurality of ports and a common port. The system further includes at least one pump in liquid communication with the common port of the rotary valve. At least one ink source is in liquid communication with at least one of the ports of the rotary valve, and at least one dispensing line is connected to at least one of the ports, where the dispensing line is configured to provide ink to an inkjet printer cartridge.
US07780274B2
A droplet ejection device including: a cavity unit having nozzles and pressure chambers; an actuator unit including actuators corresponding to the respective pressure chambers, such that each actuator is operable to change a volume of the corresponding pressure chamber whereby a droplet is ejected from the corresponding pressure chamber through the corresponding nozzle; and a controller for controlling ejection of the droplet from each pressure chamber. The actuators are provided by at least four electrodes and a piezoelectric body. The pressure chambers are sorted into groups in at least two different manners, such that each pressure chamber belongs to at least two groups formed by sorting in the respective different manners. Each of the electrodes is arranged to correspond to at least one of the pressure chambers belonging to one of the groups formed by sorting in a corresponding one of the at least two different manners, so that each pressure chamber corresponds to at least two of the electrodes. The controller controls an electric voltage to be applied to each of the electrodes, for controlling ejection of the droplet from each of the pressure chambers.
US07780271B2
A thermal inkjet printhead of the roof shooter type that slightly offsets the nozzle aperture centroid from the heater element centroid to correct drop trajectory misdirection caused by vapor bubble asymmetries.
US07780266B2
A method processes electrical connections in a micro-fluidic device to reduce mechanical cross-talk and improve actuator performance. The method includes applying conductive adhesive to an electrode overlying a piezoelectric material, contacting the conductive adhesive with an electrical contact pad mounted to a support member to cover the electrode and piezoelectric material with the support member, and removing a portion of the support member that covers the electrical contact pad, the electrode, and the actuator.
US07780265B2
An ink-jet head includes a flexible print cable (FPC) supplying a driving signal to an actuator unit. The actuator unit has a piezoelectric member, an inner electrode, individual electrodes formed on a surface of the piezoelectric member, a first surface terminal and second surface terminals. A partial area of the FPC confronts the surface of the piezoelectric member and an adjacent area continuous to the partial area extends in a direction away from the surface of the piezoelectric member. A distance between an end of the surface of the piezoelectric member closest to the adjacent area and the first surface terminal is equal to or greater than a distance between the end surface of the piezoelectric member and the second surface terminal disposed closest thereto. The FPC is adhered proximate the end of the piezoelectric member via a thermosetting adhesive.
US07780263B2
A head for a liquid discharging apparatus includes a cavity unit having a cavity plate in which pressure chambers are formed and a vibration plate and a base plate which are joined to upper and lower surfaces of the pressure chambers respectively. In a joining surface of the cavity plate and the vibration plate and in a joining surface of the cavity plate and the base plate, test grooves are formed corresponding to column portions which partition mutually adjacent pressure chambers among the plurality of pressure chambers, and communication grooves capable of supplying air communicate with the respective test grooves. By supplying air to the respective test grooves through the communication grooves and detecting a change in supply pressure thereof, it is possible to test a joint state of the cavity plate with the vibration plate and with the base plate at the column portions.
US07780262B2
A printing cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided having an ink supply and a printhead assembly which has at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the printhead integrated circuit(s). The ink distribution support distributes ink from the ink supply to the nozzles. The printing cartridge is mounted to the printer at the ink distribution support which is provided with at least one reference feature. The reference feature(s) serves to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printing cartridge to the printer. The printhead integrated circuit(s) has at least 6400 nozzles.
US07780251B2
A retracting device for a drawer, including a pulling device which can be connected to the drawer, a drive unit having an electric motor, and a roller drivable by the drive unit for winding up the pulling device, wherein the drive unit is activatable by a rotation of the roller.
US07780250B2
A collapsible bar (10) includes first and second support members (12), a surface element (14), and members for releasably latching the surface element (14) to the first and second support members (12). Preferably, the releasable latching members include an elongate channel (36) on each support member (12) and two skirt-portions (38) on the surface element (14). Each skirt-portion (38) is receivable in a respective elongate channel (36) as a close fit.
US07780244B2
Normally opened control valves 5A, 5B are configured into short-time rating valves, and normally opened opening/closing valves 4A, 4B, which are electrically controlled to open and close and are configured into long-time rating valves, are connected in series to the normally opened control valves 5A, 5B between a fluid pressure generating unit M and wheel brakes 8A to 8D.
US07780239B1
A wheelchair leg support includes a pad having an inclined upper portion for supporting an upper leg and a lower portion extending angularly downward from the upper portion for supporting a user's leg and preventing a user's lower legs or feet from passing beneath a moving wheelchair avoiding injury. The lower portion includes a relief or cut-out to cradle the lower leg to resist the leg from slipping off the leg support and for comfort of the user.
US07780232B2
A multi-piece slipcover for a piece of furniture having a base including a back, a seat, and a pair of armrests, and one or more seat cushions and back cushions that are unattached to the base. A base cover of the multi-piece slipcover includes one or more panels for covering the back, the left and right armrests, and at least a portion of the seat of the base. One or more seat cushion covers and one or more back cushions covers cover the one or more seat cushions and back cushions, respectively. At least one of the one or more back cushion covers has trapezoidally-shaped front and rear surfaces, and is made from a fabric having a stretch in length which behaves dynamically with respect to a stretch in width. A minimum stretch in fabric width is 60%, while a minimum stretch in fabric length is 40%.
US07780223B2
An active front skirt for a vehicle includes an airfoil positioned in an air stream existing when the vehicle is moving forward. An airfoil positioning mechanism attached to the vehicle and the airfoil allows the airfoil to move between a first position when the vehicle is at rest and a second position when the vehicle has attained an upper limit velocity, the airfoil being moved to the second position through interaction with the air stream. A retracting mechanism returns the airfoil to the first position. A movable front skirt connected to the airfoil correspondingly moves with the airfoil between raised and lowered positions. In the raised position, ground clearance of the skirt is increased. In the lowered position, the skirt deflects an increased portion of the air stream to lower aerodynamic drag on the vehicle.
US07780220B2
A sunshade apparatus for use with an automobile having a roof includes a plurality of panels, the panels, in use, having respective retracted positions wherein they are disposed on top of one another in stacked relation on or in the roof, and each being movable from its retracted position to an extended position projecting beyond the roof. The panels are substantially coextensive with one another when viewed in overhead plan in their respective retracted positions. In their extended positions, the panels define a substantially contiguous sunshade extending beyond the roof both lengthwise and sideways with respect to the automobile. The apparatus also comprises a panel guide mechanism for constraining each panel for movement along a respective substantially linear path between its extended and retracted positions. One version of the apparatus can shade both the roof and the windows of a vehicle.
US07780207B2
A door latch system of a motor vehicle comprises a latch unit mounted to the vehicle body. The latch unit has a latch condition to latch the door at a closed position and an unlatch condition to unlatch the door thereby to release the door. The system further comprises a power latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body. The power latch canceling mechanism includes an actuator that, when energized, enforcedly causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition. The system further comprises a manual latch canceling mechanism mounted to the vehicle body. The manual latch canceling mechanism includes a handle member that is placed at a position other than a vehicle cabin of the vehicle and a power transmitting member that transmits a movement of the handle member to the latch unit. The manual latch canceling mechanism causes the latch unit to assume the unlatch condition when the handle member is manipulated.
US07780204B2
An electromechanical push to close latch has a pawl positioned for linear movement in a housing, with the pawl being biased to the outward extended position. An electric motor operates a cam to change the position of the pawl thereby retracting it into the housing. An electronic circuit board controls the operation of the electric motor under the direction of an outside control signal. The circuit board also senses the position of the pawl to stop the operation of the motor when the pawl is fully retracted. The pawl mounting can be reconfigured for the pawl to extend and thereby operate in a plurality of selectable directions.
US07780197B2
A tractor includes a motor, transmission, drive shaft and rear differential for driving the rear axles mounted on a main tubular frame of a variable configuration. Forwardly extendable telescoping tubular frame members are actuated by respective rams to selectively vary the spacing between the frame and the front wheels. The front and rear lateral telescoping tubes supporting each of the wheels are selectively extendable and retractable to significantly vary the wheel width or track of the front and rear wheels.
US07780190B2
A middle pillar trim and a rear pillar trim positioned to the front and rear of a side window glass are each harder than a roof trim. A curtain air bag fixed to a rear pillar is deployed in a vehicle cabin while a predetermined end edge of the front of the rear pillar trim in the widthwise direction of a vehicle is deformed toward the front. The separation distance of the curtain air bag in a stored state from the side window glass in the widthwise direction of the vehicle is L1 (L2) in the portion of the curtain air bag along the rear edge of the side window glass, and L4 in the portion of the curtain air bag at the upper edge of the side window glass near the middle pillar trim, and the separation distance L1(L2) is smaller than the separation distance L4.
US07780184B2
A vehicle for pushing and riding, the vehicle including a frame having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion of the frame has a lower connection post containing braking and steering components and the rear portion of the frame has an upper connection post containing braking and steering components for the rear portion. The upper and lower connection posts are threadedly engaged within a steering portion of the frame. A hitch beam on the front portion forms part of the frame. A hitch clamp on the rear portion of the frame is fastened around the hitch beam for connecting the front portion and the rear portion of the frame. A pair of front wheels is operationally connected to the front portion of the frame. At least one rear wheel is operationally connected to the rear portion of the frame.
US07780174B2
With a door seal for a gas turbine engine, a gap (3) existing between an axially symmetrical component (1) and an assembly formed by several segments (2) is sealed by seal doors (11), which are held via retaining holes (10) at retaining bolts (9) on one of the components, the seal doors (11) being pressed against sealing edges (5, 7) of the two components, with the sealing edges (5, 7) being disposed at a certain distance from each other. The retaining bolts and holes are located outside the pressure surface (A) of the seal doors, formed between the two sealing edges, thus preventing cooling air losses via a gap remaining between the retaining bolts and bores.
US07780171B2
A game machine (1) includes a game board (3) having a housing section opened on a game surface, a target which is provided to the housing section so as to freely appear and disappear, and a target driving mechanism which is provided into the game board and allows the target (9) to appear and disappear from and into the housing section. The game machine is provided with a supporting pedestal (2) which supports the game board, a rotation driving device (20) which rotates the game board supported to the supporting pedestal about a pivot axis line RC extending to a direction where the line crosses the board surface in a reciprocating manner, and a tilt giving mechanism which is provided between the supporting pedestal and the game board and gives a motion to the game board according to the rotating motion of the game board about the pivot axis line RC so that the game board tilts with respect to the pivot axis line.
US07780168B2
An object of the invention is to provide a game machine in which sensations are stimulated individually for each player and the enjoyment of each player is enhanced.The game machine has a game controller for receiving input from a player; a monitor for receiving externally or generating internally and showing a game screen, generated according to a multi-player fighting game program; a seat for seating the player; and a sensation generating part for generating sensations according to input from said game controller and input from an opposing player.
US07780151B2
A mixer assembly and a method for forming a fuel-air mixture is combinable with a burner system of a heat engine, especially a gas turbine plant. A flow-through component (1) provides a flow deflecting region (8) which provides at least two air inlet openings (2, 3, 4) to which is each connected a flow passage section (5, 6, 7), which flow deflecting region deflects the airflow which enters the respective flow passage section (5, 6, 7) by a deflection angle β≠0°, and each has an outlet opening, and that a mixing passage section (11, 12, 13) is connected to each of the outlet openings of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), in each of which mixing passage section is provided at least one flow vortex generating structure (14), and which each provides an outlet opening; or that a fine mixing region (15) is connected to the outlet openings of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), which fine mixing region has a multiplicity of individual flow passages (23) which, in each case, have a passage cross section which is dimensioned smaller than the passage cross section of the flow passage sections (5, 6, 7) in the region of their outlet openings; or that a mixing passage section (11, 12, 13) is connected to the outlet openings of the each of flow passage sections (5, 6, 7), in each of which mixing passage section at least one flow vortex generating structure (14) is provided.
US07780145B2
A load compensating device, especially one for lifting appliances, includes a detector for detecting an overload or an underload and designed to cause actuation of the compensating device. The device comprises an actuator attached to one of ends of a rope or ropes that support the load for producing positive or negative displacement of the rope or ropes over a short distance compared with the length of the rope or ropes. The actuator is operated by a brushless electric motor connected to an infinitely variable-speed transmission. The transmission is connected to the detector.
US07780141B2
A method of making a wall block and a mold box therefore. The wall block design maximizes the use of the mold box. The method produces wall blocks having a large surface area front face compared to the front face size of prior art blocks. The blocks have about one third more front surface area. This results in faster construction of walls and a faster construction sequence. The method of making the blocks makes efficient use of mold space and material, resulting in higher production yields and/or higher total daily production square footage.
US07780139B2
The present invention is a support system that includes a receptacle mountable to a surface, and a base for providing lateral support to a mountable object. The base includes a skirt and a tube for retaining the mountable object. The tube extends through the skirt and is retained in the receptacle.
US07780132B1
A construction hanger used in connection with a beam, the construction hanger including a bracket defining an opening for receiving a portion of the beam, a first receiver having an internal thread, and a second receiver through which a support member or fastener is slidably received, where the support member or fastener has a threaded end that may be received in the first receiver. The construction hanger further includes a retainer that engages the threaded end after it is inserted through the second receiver to prevent bracket from sliding downward on the support member or threaded fastener allowing the installer to position the bracket on the support beam before fastening the threaded end in the first receiver.
US07780131B2
A motorized mounting system includes a plurality of actuators that extend the distal ends of the plurality of actuators in a substantially horizontal manner. The distal ends of the plurality of actuators are adapted to couple to the backside of the monitor. The distal ends of the plurality of actuators define a plane such that extending or retracting at least one of the distal ends adjust the orientation of the plane relative to the reference plane, thereby adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor. The motorized mounting system can be controlled with a remote control.
US07780127B2
A height adjusting apparatus, for adjusting the height of a projector, includes a support leg, an air-pressure cylinder connected to the projector, and a switch. The air-pressure cylinder and the support leg together form a sealed chamber. When the pressure of the air inside the chamber is regulated, the height of the air-pressure cylinder and the height of the projector change. The switch is mounted on the air-pressure cylinder to create a gap to allow air to exit or enter the chamber when the switch is open.
US07780119B2
A modular spacecraft incorporating a launch vehicle interface design that also functions as a berthing or docking interface for the spacecraft. The vehicle interface utilizes existing launch vehicle components to minimize cost and time to flight. In addition, the spacecraft is constructed from off-the-shelf launch vehicle components that enable a low cost construction as well as a secondary payload carrying functionality.
US07780113B1
The invention relates to an assembly for an aircraft comprising a wing element (2) and a suspension pylon (4) for an engine (10) under the wing element, the suspension pylon (4) comprising a rigid structure (6) forming a box provided with an aft closing element (28), and the wing element (2) having a forward spar (34) extending substantially parallel to a leading edge (30) of the wing element. According to the invention, the rigid structure is assembled on the wing element such that the aft closing element bears in contact with the forward spar (34).
US07780112B2
A lock mechanism for a dispenser in combination with an exchangeable roll of material is provided, wherein the roll includes at least one end plug with a bearing pin for mounting the roll to the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism comprises a lock housing with a guide slot for insertion of the bearing pin. The guide slot has a first section with a first width and a second section with a second width which is smaller than the first width. First and second sections are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide slot and in a longitudinal direction of the bearing pin. A sliding element is mounted to the lock housing and movable between a first position closing or narrowing the width of the guide slot and a second position opening the guide slot. A lock element is mounted to the sliding element and is rotationally movable about an axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock element has an engagement portion which, in a locked position, is engaged with a locking geometry of the lock housing.
US07780103B2
A method for winding a skein-shaped windable product onto a spool formed of two spool halves (12, 14) which converge conically towards a middle radial plane (10) with two flange discs (16, 18) at the outer ends, includes the steps of rotating the spool about its central axis during the winding process, and feeding the windable product by a guide that moves along the length of the spool. There is further step of winding the windable product in layers substantially parallel to the lower conical surface up to the top conical surface, and the winding layers end respectively in a cylindrical surface connecting the circumference of the two flange discs (16, 18).
US07780096B2
An agricultural machine includes a dispensing system configured to dispense an agricultural fluid; a pump fluidly coupled to the dispensing system; and an arrangement configured to provide the agricultural fluid to the dispensing system. The arrangement includes at least one first reservoir configured to store the agricultural fluid, the at least one first reservoir being fluidly coupled to the pump; a second reservoir configured to store the agricultural fluid, the second reservoir being fluidly coupled to the pump; and a throttling device in fluid communication with the second reservoir and the pump. The throttling device is configured to throttle a flow of the agricultural fluid from the second reservoir.
US07780094B2
A diffuser for an air freshener product includes a casing having front and rear casing portions fastened together. A neck opening is formed inside said casing into which a neck of an air freshener reservoir is secured. A wick extends from the neck of the air freshener reservoir into the interior of the casing. The casing has openings in the front and back through which air flows. An air flow control element is provided in the casing to permit a user to change the air flow to the wick and thereby vary the air freshener product dispersed into the air. The air flow control element has a knob extending from the casing that is operable by the user. The rear portion of the casing has a fastener to which is attached a clip having two extended flexible arms that engage into a vent grill of an air conditioner system of a vehicle. The clip is securable in the fastener at positions oriented 90 degrees from one another to enable the clip to be fastened to vertically or horizontally oriented air conditioner grill slats.
US07780088B2
An illumination assembly for emitting light for imaging a target object having an illumination source that emits at least one light beam upon activation toward an illumination guide. The illumination guide has a first and a second side such that the light beam from the illumination source is scattered between the first and second sides. A textured surface is located substantially along the first side of the illumination guide. The scattered light exits the illumination guide from the textured surface to form a prescribed illumination pattern for imaging a target object.
US07780087B2
An optical system and method for data reading. In one system, a scanner includes a laser diode and a beam splitter for generating first optical beam and a second optical beam, the first optical beam being directed toward one side of a scanning optical element such as a rotating polygon mirror and to a first mirror array, the second optical beam being simultaneously directed toward a second optical element such as another side of the rotating polygon mirror and then to a second and a third mirror array. The first mirror array is configured to generate a scan pattern through a vertical window and the second and third mirror arrays are configured to generate scan patterns passing through a horizontal window. In combination, the three mirror arrays generate three sets of scan lines so as to scan five sides of a six-sided item (e.g., the bottom and all lateral sides of an object) being passed through the scan volume.
US07780078B2
A system includes automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records. Transactions may also be carried out through communication with local and remote service providers. An automated banking machine (322) operative to conduct transactions including cash dispensing for users responsive to data read from user cards and through communication with a transaction host (336). The machine is also operative to provide output signals which drive external displays (328, 330). The processor in the machine is also operative to cause the machine to receive visual and/or audio content from one or more content sources (342, 343) and to store data corresponding to such content. Such content is then output through the external displays.
US07780077B1
An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash is dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check.
US07780075B2
Methods and systems for transferring funds are disclosed that utilize a transfer card issued to a sender that enables the sender to transfer funds at independent host locations. The transfer card may be encoded with information about the sender and the intended receiver so that transfer forms are not required for each transaction. The receiver obtains the finds via a distribution center, wherein the personal identity of the receiver is verified before the funds are distributed.
US07780071B1
An automatic banking machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and a cash dispenser. A movable camera is positionable within the ATM housing. The automated banking machine carries out transactions related to user accounts based on information read from cards. Service personnel are enabled to direct the camera toward regions of machine components while conducting service activities that are not directly visible by a servicer. A camera assembly includes a microphone to sense sounds associated with machine components during test operations. The generated data may be used by an on-site servicer, or sent to an entity at a remote location. The visual images may be used to enhance diagnostic and servicing capabilities.
US07780066B2
A method for manufacturing a power capacitor including at least one capacitor element and equipment for carrying out the method. The capacitor element includes a roll of alternate dielectric films and electrode films. The roll has first and second end surfaces facing away from each other. The electrode films are connectably exposed. A solder tip is preheated in a pot with a preheated solder. The solder tip is coated with solder, whereupon at least one of the surfaces of the capacitor element is coated with solder by bringing the solder tip into contact with the end surface. The contact is brought to cease. At least one lead is fixed by soldering to the end surface.
US07780063B2
A mask having a plurality of through holes and a mold having a plurality of cavities are provided, and the through holes and the cavities are aligned. Conductive balls are dispensed into the aligned through holes and cavities Substantially one ball is dispensed into each aligned through hole and cavity, and the mask with the holes and the cavities in the mold are configured and dimensioned such that the balls are substantially flush with, or recessed below, an outer surface of the mask. The mask is removed, the conductive balls are aligned with pads of a semiconductor device, and the conductive balls are transferred to the pads by fluxless reflow in a formic acid environment. Vibrational, electrostatic, and direct transfer aspects are also disclosed.
US07780062B2
An assembly may include at least two structures having angled edges disposed adjacent to one another forming a first gap between the at least two structures. A plurality of angled joining members may be linear friction welded adjacent to one another between the adjacent angled edges of the at least two structures in the first gap. A second gap may be disposed between the plurality of linear friction welded angled joining members. At least one hole may be disposed at a location of the second gap. The at least one hole may extend into and between adjacent edges of the welded angled joining members, and may extend into and between the adjacent angled edges of the at least two structures. A plug member may be rotary friction welded at least partially into the at least one hole.
US07780061B2
In one embodiment, a holding fixture is disclosed for locating and stabilizing substantially identical repeated units during joining of the repeated units. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a structure comprising substantially identical repeated units. In still another embodiment, a welded structure is provided comprising a plurality of welded together substantially identical repeated units.
US07780057B2
A soldering apparatus has a conveyor which conveys an electronic circuit board, a fluxer which applies a flux having water as a solvent to a surface of the electronic circuit board to be soldered, a first heating device which heats the electronic circuit board, a water removal device which removes water attached to the electronic circuit board, a second heating device which heats the electronic circuit board to maintain the electronic circuit board at a temperature at which the flux exerts its activating action, a flow soldering bath in which molten solder is attached to the electronic circuit board, and a cooler. The water removal device includes a gas blowing portion having a first jig which blows a gas to an electronic component disposition surface, and a drawing portion having a second jig which draws water from the surface to be soldered.
US07780055B2
A disposable loading unit is provided which includes a tool assembly and a body portion. A drive assembly is movably positioned at least partly within the body portion and is operably associated with the tool assembly to operate the tool assembly. A locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the drive assembly in a prefired position prior to and during attachment of a DLU to a surgical instrument. The locking mechanism includes a locking member and a locking member actuator. The locking member actuator is movable to move the locking member to an unlocked position in response to linear insertion of an insertion tip of the DLU into a surgical instrument.
US07780054B2
A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use articulates an end effector by including a laterally sliding member in a proximal portion of a shaft that pivots the end effector to a selected side. Differentially opposing actuating forces (e.g., hydraulic, fluidic, mechanical) act against the laterally sliding member without binding by incorporating guidance mechanisms between the laterally sliding member and a frame of the shaft.
US07780047B2
A portable electronic device includes a carrying structure and defines a mounting hole and an opposite strap hole. The carrying structure includes a snap module received in the mounting hole, having a pressing element, a snap element, a knuckle element and an elastic element, and a strap. The strap has two strap connecting ends connecting to the knuckle element and the strap hole. The pressing element has two extending portions, each of which has a wedge-shaped surface. The snap element has three wedge-shaped engaging portions. One engaging portion engages the knuckle element, latching the snap element with the knuckle element. The knuckle element and the snap element are unlockable by pressing the pressing element, where the one engaging portion disengages from the knuckle element, and anther two engaging portions slide aslant along the wedge-shaped surfaces. The elastic element has two ends resisting the snap element and the pressing element.
US07780044B2
The invention is a pump for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid product, designed and intended to be used in particular in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field. The pump has a needle valve and a dispensing head manually movable on a pump housing between an inactive position and a dispensing position. The head includes a first cylinder forming a metering chamber for the pump, which draws in fluid from a container's reservoir by an intake tube and a check valve. A piston sealingly secured to the metering chamber pushes fluid through a passage into a second dosage chamber that is sealed from the dispensing orifice by a biased needle valve that is biased by a spring that is sealingly isolated from the second dosage chamber, the chamber that holds the elastic spring has a conduit that allows a user to test and verify that the second dosage chamber does not leak.
US07780043B2
A fastener device for fastening a dispenser member (4), such as a pump or a valve, onto a receptacle neck (31). The device includes a fastener ring (1) including both an abutment (13) and a fastener (12) for fastening onto the receptacle neck; and a covering hoop (2) that is engaged axially from top to bottom around the ring (1). The hoop includes a hook (25) co-operating with the abutment for acting together to axial retain the hoop on the ring. The retention mechanism includes a plurality of mutual engagement elements defining distinct axial engagement positions for engaging the hoop on the ring.
US07780039B2
A pump head assembly for a soap container. The pump head including a drip guard member which applies a vacuum to an internal passageway of the pump head assembly following dispensing of soap in order to draw an residual soap out of the internal passageway and thus prevent dripping.
US07780034B1
A portable bar including an ice chest, a removable tray, and a plurality of beverage containers attached to the upper surface of the tray. The ice chest has a rim located on the interior thereof adjacent its upper perimeter edge. The removable tray is adapted to rest on the rim with either its upper or lower surface facing towards the interior of the ice chest. Each of the beverage containers has a manually operated pump dispenser removably attached thereto and providing a lid thereto. In its transportation and storage configuration, the upper surface of the tray and attached beverage containers face downwardly towards the interior of the ice chest. In its service configuration, the upper surface of the tray and attached beverage containers face upwardly.
US07780027B2
A wildlife feeder system is disclosed comprised of a first barrel having an open top and an open bottom, a second barrel having an open top and a substantially closed bottom (having orifices as necessary to dispense feed), said barrels being, for example, 30, 55 or 85 gallon steel barrels, the first barrel being axially coupled to the second barrel, the open tops of each barrel being conjoined, a lid adapted to cover the open bottom of the first barrel and rotatable lid handle mechanism adapted to couple the lid proximate the open bottom of the first barrel, a platform and leg support assembly adapted to be coupled circumferentially to the second barrel proximate the longitudinal center thereof, a ladder adapted to be coupled to the platform and leg support assembly, a plurality of removable legs adapted to be coupled to the platform and leg support assembly and a barrel coupling assembly comprising an inner ring (made of plastic or metal) and an outer ring clamp.
US07780021B2
A rail road car has draft sills, and draft gear mounted in the draft sills, by which loads are passed along the train line of cars. The draft gear is mounted to the drafts sill webs between front and rear draft stops. The front and rear draft stops have portions that protrude beyond the plane of the inner face o the draft sill webs. The rear draft stops have a boss that extends past the plane of the inside face of the draft sill web, such that the peripheral weld about the boss may tend to be placed in stress in the plane of the web.
US07780016B1
A tool holder assembly is provided and includes a base portion and a holder portion. The holder portion is pivotably disposed within the base portion for reciprocating movement between a stored position and a removal position. The tool holder assembly also includes at least one interference member associated with one of either the base portion or the holder portion. The at least one interference member engaging a portion of the other of either the base portion or the holder portion and defining an interference fit therebetween for selectively restraining the holder portion in the stored position until a predetermined load is applied to overcome the interference fit.
US07780008B2
The present invention relates to an assembly for the storage and distribution of solid loosely packed products unit by unit. The assembly generally comprises a storage container, a sealing means and a discharge control device inserted into the neck of the container to permit the passage of the products to be distributed. Inviolability and sealing of the container are achieved by means of a peelable heat seal, sealed thermally onto at least one surface defined by an annular, peripheral surface of the neck of the container and/or all or part of an upper surface of the device and/or a surface of a distribution opening.
US07780004B2
A package for a compacted stack of stick electrodes comprising a thin metal foil encapsulating the stack with at least one axial seam and two end closures. One end closure includes a generally flat end portion extending from the stack and terminating in a sealed section of the metal foil spaced outwardly from the stack. The flat end portion including a structure to open the package for access to the stack of electrodes. This package is used in combination with an elongated shipping carton with a vision opening exposing a package therein.
US07779988B2
The present disclosure provides a method of delivering a container (103) to a marking apparatus (100), wherein the marking apparatus (100) is of the type having a marking device for selectively applying a mark to a container (103). The method comprises providing a plurality of containers within a staging assembly (104), and isolating at least one container (103) within a singulator assembly (112), wherein the singulator assembly (112) is in communication with the staging assembly (104). The method further comprises transporting the at least one container (103) from the singulator assembly (112) to a portion of the marking apparatus (100) with a shuttle (210).
US07779986B2
In a transfer system used for transferring articles that are conveyed on a main conveying path to branching conveying paths, change-over guiding sections of change-over units have an upper guiding body and a lower guiding body and the change-over action of the upper guiding body is caused by the motion force of an article side-push body in the direction of a main conveying path, and the change-over action of the lower guiding body is caused integrally in the second half of this change-over action. As a result, a sufficient change-over guiding length in the change-over unit can be ensured and change-over can be performed smoothly via both guiding bodies at all times.
US07779985B2
The invention relates to a linear conveyor device (30) for objects (20), whereby the objects are taken by drive tongues (40), arranged on circulating toothed belts (31, 32). The objects are secured against lifting off the conveyor device, particularly mechanically, by a cover strip (50). Light objects can thus also be conveyed at high rate in intermittent operation.
US07779978B2
A clutching device includes an outer race, an inner race, a plurality of rollers and an actuator plate. The outer and inner races have axial ridges to define opposed outer and inner race pockets. The rollers are positioned in the outer and inner race pockets. The clutching device further includes an axial projection coupled for rotation with one of the inner and outer race. An actuator plate is coupled for rotation with one of the inner and outer race and axially moveable between a first position wherein the actuator plate engages the axial projection and a second position wherein the actuator plate does not engage the axial projection.
US07779977B2
A vehicle shifting mechanism configured for actuation of a clutch and gear-shifting of a shift drum in a transmission is disclosed, which includes a camshaft linked to the shift drum; an actuating motor for driving the camshaft to allow the camshaft to make one revolution to shift the shift drum with one gear; and a cam connected to the camshaft to coaxially rotate with the camshaft and abutting against a release bearing actuating element to actuate engagement and disengagement of the clutch. The cam has a symmetrical contour such that the camshaft driven by the actuating motor is capable of making one unidirectional revolution to enable actuation of the clutch and the gear-shifting of the shift drum to occur concurrently.
US07779971B2
A speed reducer 32 has an eccentric rotating member 56 which rotates along with a motor shaft 55 of an electric motor 11, an outer gear 57 which is rotatably supported by the outer circumference of the eccentric rotating member 56, an inner gear 58 which is fixedly disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to engage with the outer gear 57, an output member 59 which is connected to an input member 37 of the motion converting mechanism 22 disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to be not relatively rotatable about the input member 37, and an Oldham mechanism 60 which is disposed between the outer gear 57 and the output member 59 so as to transmit only a rotational component of the outer gear 57.
US07779969B2
A wheel assembly includes a wheel hub and brake rotor that rotate about an axis. The brake rotor includes an outer circumferential surface area that cooperates with brake pads to provide braking for the wheel assembly. The brake rotor includes an inner circumferential surface area that has two different sets of mounting bosses. A first set of mounting bosses is spaced circumferentially about the axis and provides a mounting interface for a tone ring as used in an anti-lock brake system. A second set of mounting bosses is also spaced circumferentially about the axis but does not overlap the first set of mounting bosses. The second set of mounting bosses provides a mounting interface for securing a brake rotor and tone ring assembly to the wheel hub.
US07779957B2
A framework of a vehicle provided with an engine mounted in an engine room and having a crank shaft, includes a subframe extending in the lateral direction of a space at the back of the engine. A steering gear box provided above the subframe extends in the lateral direction and an exhaust pipe that extends in the longitudinal direction crosses the gear box. A longitudinally extending recessed portion is formed on a top surface of the subframe so that the exhaust pipe provided under the steering gear box enters the recessed portion. Arch-shaped reinforcing members spanning over the exhaust pipe are provided on a top surface of the subframe at longitudinally spaced positions. The reinforcing member toward the front of the vehicle breaks when a physical impact is applied to the front of the vehicle before the reinforcing member disposed toward the rear of the vehicle.
US07779956B2
Vehicle seat including a seat portion including a container having an interior containing fluid and a mechanism, material or structure therein to restrict flow of the fluid from one portion of the interior to another portion of the interior, a back portion arranged at an angle to the seat portion, and a measurement system arranged to obtain an indication of the weight of the occupant when present on the seat portion based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid in the container. The weight of the occupant can be used to control components in the vehicle or the seat itself.
US07779947B2
A system for controlling slip of a machine is disclosed. The system has a power source configured to produce a power output, at least one driven traction device, and a transmission operably connected to transmit the power output from the power source to the at least one driven traction device. The system further has at least one sensor configured to detect an acceleration of the machine and to generate a corresponding signal, and a controller configured to receive the signal and to reduce a magnitude of power or torque transmitted to the at least one driven traction device when the detected acceleration indicates slip of the at least one driven traction device.
US07779944B2
The top wall of a snowmobile tunnel, which accommodates the endless drive track of the snowmobile, is provided with recesses at locations corresponding to the path followed by studs carried by the endless track. The rear of the tunnel is connected to a molded rear member having a pattern of recesses matching that of the top wall of the tunnel. In yet another aspect of the invention, a heat exchanger for cooling engine coolant may be provided at the rear of the tunnel. The heat exchanger may be mounted to and partially spaced from the molded rear member. The heat exchanger may bear rearwardly extending ridges with upwardly extending lip at the far end. In some embodiments, a channel is provided on the upper end of the heat exchanger to promote air and snow flow over the rearwardly extending ridges.
US07779942B2
A motor vehicle (KFZ) including an electric power source (EQ) for providing DC current, a converter (U) for converting the DC current into three-phase AC current of identical phase angle or polyphase current as a function of the vehicle operating state, and an electric machine (EM), to which the current provided by the converter is fed, is provided.
US07779935B2
An apparatus for mechanically engaging and releasably coupling two tubular members may include a first housing member, a second housing member and a piston member, wherein, in a first position, the first and second housing members are fixed relative to each other by the piston, and wherein, in a second position, the second housing member is rotatable relative to the first housing member. Certain embodiments include matingly engaged axially disposed and axially offset splines. Other embodiments include first and second interlocking mechanisms that are in an opposed relationship to couple first and second tubular members in a fixed position. Some embodiments include a method of reacting a first rotational coupling against a second axial coupling to resist both axial and rotational movement between first and second tubulars. Other embodiments include displacing a moveable member to both axially and rotationally release first and second tubulars.
US07779933B2
Steerable drilling systems for facilitating drilling according to a prescribed, three-dimensional trajectory are described. Steering may be achieved using passive actuators which require little or no power. For example, damping elements which couple a drill bit to a drill collar can be used to tilt the drill bit with respect to the drill collar. Alternatively, rotary cutting elements disposed on the drill bit may be used to control the force between the drill bit and the formation at different axial locations. The passive elements used to control the tilt or rotation of the rotary cutting elements are actuated in a certain pattern, e.g., geostationary, in order to achieve a desired deviation of the well bore while drilling ahead. One way to achieve this is through the use of field-sensitive materials, e.g. magnetorheological (MR) fluids, that change viscosity in response to an applied magnetic field.
US07779931B2
An apparatus to accomplish rotational work on a securing element. The apparatus has a main body portion and an articulating arm. The main body has a power source, a drive motor, and a drive shaft. The drive shaft extends into the articulating arm which has a first section rotatable about the drive shaft. The articulating arm also has a second section which is seated on a first transversely aligned drive shaft interoperating with the drive shaft itself. The first transversely aligned drive shaft transmits rotational work to a second transversely aligned drive shaft which supports a third section. A third section interoperates with a spindle section which receives the rotational work from the second transversely aligned drive shaft to accomplish rotational work on the securing element.
US07779930B2
The invention relates to a striking device (5) comprising a striking mechanism (8) which is driven by a pressure medium. Said device comprises a percussion piston (13) which can be displaced back and forth by means of a control device and a control valve which is embodied as a pressure shut-off valve (19) or as a stop valve, said control valve automatically stopping the striking mechanism if it exceeds a predetermined maximum value based on the working pressure controlling the inlet line, blocking the pressure line (3) or maintaining the control device in one of the and positions thereof. The inventive striking device also comprises a hydraulic catcher buffer which is used to brake the percussion piston when it exceeds a predetermined impact plane. According to the invention, the control valve must remain deactivated at least as long as the percussion piston is displaced on the hydraulic catcher buffer.
US07779929B2
In certain embodiments a soil aerator may include a hinged frame assembly that cooperates with one or more weight transferring systems adapted to permit an aeration subassembly to lift off the ground when an aeration tine impacts a hard obstacle such as a rock in the soil. The weight transferring systems may in the preferred embodiments be calibrated so that only minimal upward force, such as that caused by impact of an aeration tine with a rock, may cause the aeration subassembly to lift thereby significantly reducing or preventing damage to the aeration tines and drive assemblies and substantially prolonging the life of the aerator.
US07779928B2
A non-metallic element system is provided as part of a downhole tool that can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation, and is considerably faster to drill-up than a conventional element system. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees. In another aspect, a mandrel is formed of a non-metallic polymeric composite material. A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided. The tool comprises a support ring having one or more wedges, an expansion ring, and a sealing member positioned with the expansion ring.
US07779926B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an adapter kit for use between a setting tool and a wellbore plug. In one embodiment, a method for setting a plug in a cased wellbore is provided. The method includes deploying a tool string in the wellbore using a run-in string, the tool string comprising: a setting tool coupled to the run-in string, an adapter kit, comprising an adapter sleeve, and a plug comprising a sealing member. The method further includes actuating the setting tool, wherein the setting tool exerts a force on the adapter sleeve which transfers the force to the plug, thereby expanding the sealing member into engagement with an inner surface of the casing. The method further includes separating the setting tool from the plug, wherein the adapter sleeve remains with the plug.
US07779924B2
A hanger assembly and method for its use is included, along with various examples of alternative constructions for the hanger assembly. Also included are examples of new tool strings having capabilities facilitated as a result of use of the hanger assemblies. The hanger includes a deformable section that facilitates engaging contact with a surrounding structure. In preferred examples this engagement is achieved by use of a first deformable section of the hanger that extends radially outwardly from the remainder of the hangar body when the hanger is set; and a contact member that is further urged radially outwardly relative to that deformable section when the hanger is set.
US07779910B2
An expandable liner hanger system includes an expandable liner hanger and an expansion cone having a first outer diameter when driven through the expandable liner hanger in a first direction to expand the expandable tubing. The expandable liner hanger system also includes a polished bore receptacle having a lower end coupled to an upper end of the expandable liner hanger by a coupling, the coupling having an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter. In the run in condition, the expansion cone is positioned below the coupling.
US07779906B2
A downhole tool has a mandrel and an expandable packer element for sealingly engaging the well. A slip assembly is positioned on the mandrel and will anchor the downhole tool in the well. The slip assembly may include a slip ring that moves from an unset to a set position. A retaining ring is disposed about the slip ring and will hold the slip ring in the unset position until sufficient force is applied to break the retaining ring. The retaining ring may comprise a retaining band with a dampener to suppress the spring effect experienced by the retaining band when it breaks upon the application of force.
US07779905B2
A well tool with multi-stage remedial system improves the durability of a subterranean well tool having an expanded elastomeric member, such as a packer, for use inside a tubular member. The well tool with multi-stage remedial system has a plurality of mandrel members shiftable within the tubular member for anchoring and for setting the seal system. A floating tandem mounted annularly around the lower mandrel members has one end (upon shifting) proximate an end of the seal system, and the floating tandem has an opening to ambient bottom-hole-pressure of the subterranean well. A locking tandem is interposed with the floating tandem and at least one of the lower mandrel members. The floating tandem and the locking tandem together assist in abating elastomeric member extrusion under high temperature, high pressure environments as well as other conditions lending to failure within the well.
US07779904B2
A guide rail plate for top drive of a drilling system, including a guide rail plate consisting of 5-7 guide rail sections, characterized in that there is a boss and a mated recess on a surface of an upper guide rail section and an opposite surface of a lower guide rail section interconnected with the upper guide rail section. A hydraulic cylinder is centrally and longitudinally fixed at the lower end of the upper guide rail section. A cone plate is connected to the lower end of a piston of the hydraulic cylinder. The right and left sides of the cone plate are connected with lock shafts. The lock shafts are placed in corresponding transverse lock shaft holes of the upper and lower guide rail sections.
US07779900B2
Both an air mixing door (9) for the cold air for adjusting a passage area of the cold air passage (6); and an air mixing door (10) for the hot air for adjusting a passage area of the hot air passage (7) are composed of a sliding door for adjusting the passage area when the air mixing door (9) for the cold air and the air mixing door (10) for the hot air are slid in a direction perpendicular to the flow of air in both the passages (6, 7), and while one of the air mixing door (9) for the cold air and the air mixing door (10) for the hot air is maintaining one of the passages (6, 7) in a fully opened state, an operating position of the other door is adjusted so that a passage area of the other passage is adjusted and a temperature of the air blowing out into a vehicle compartment is adjusted.
US07779899B2
A plate-fin heat exchanger having alternating layers for exchanging heat between fluids to be warmed against fluids to be cooled. One or both of the layers is subdivided into flow passages to allow for the flow of two or more fluids flowing through one of the layers to engage in indirect heat transfer with one or more fluids flowing through another adjacent layer. The flow through the heat exchanger is parallel to the width of the heat exchanger. The first and second layers provide a greater cross-sectional flow area for each of the fluids than otherwise would have been provided had the fluids flow been parallel to the length of the heat exchanger with layers thereof dedicated to the flow of each of the fluids.
US07779891B2
In manufacturing a magnesium alloy, continuous casting is performed using a movable mold. A magnesium alloy to be processed by presswork, forging, and the like can be efficiently provided.
US07779888B2
A architectural mesh hanging system includes an architectural mesh panel having a predetermined width, a first support member having a predetermined length substantially equal to the predetermined width of the architectural mesh panel, and a second support member having a predetermined length substantially equal to the predetermined width of the architectural mesh panel. At least two upper hanger assemblies support the first support member and are attachable to a support surface for hanging the architectural mesh panel. At least two lower hanger assemblies support the second support member and are attachable to the support surface for hanging the architectural mesh panel. The architectural mesh panel is disposed at least partially about the first support member and the second support member such that, when hanging, the first and second support members are substantially obscured from view by the architectural mesh panel.
US07779887B2
An end cap for use in a shade assembly for use in a vehicle wherein the end cap is a rotating end cap. The end cap is capable of rotating and twisting and includes a base and a rotating connector partially arranged within an end of the base. The rotating end cap also includes an extension with the rotating connector partially arranged within an end of the extension. The rotating end cap will allow for the end cap to effectively reduce its length by rotating the extension with relation to the base from a generally parallel position to one having an orthogonal position between the extension and base.
US07779886B2
A Venetian blind and a control mechanism therefore, comprising a plurality of slats suspended from a headrail by lift cords, the control mechanism comprising a hollow rod articulated to the headrail and accommodating the lift cords extending to a elevation assembly manipulable by an actuator slidingly received over the rod. Upward displacing of the actuator entails lowering of the slats and downwards displacing of the actuator entails raising of the slats, and a friction mechanism for arresting the slats at any respective elevation.
US07779885B2
A label peeling mechanism for a label printer comprising a web-bending guide having a convex curved surface for bending a continuous web having labels affixed to the web; an upstream web pressure guide disposed downstream of a said print head in the label printer and having a plurality of ribs disposed upstream in the web transportation direction from the convex curved surface of the web-bending guide opposite an upstream guide surface of the web-bending guide for contacting the web before peeling the labels from the web and a downstream web pressure guide disposed downstream in the web transportation direction.
US07779875B2
The invention concerns a method for peeling veneer from a log (2). Veneer (4) is peeled tangentially from the circumferential surface of a log rotated around its longitudinal axis under conditions determined by the distance (knife gap) between the knife (3) and the nose bar pressing the surface of the log immediately in front of the cutting point. The peeling knife as well as the nose bar is moved towards the rotation axis of the log corresponding the proceeding of the peeling. At the ending stage of the peeling, the distance between the peeling knife and the nose bar is reduced substantially in accordance with the thickness of the veneer being peeled.
US07779868B2
A duct structure, includes: a vessel forming therein a chamber, the vessel including: an inlet port, an outlet port, wherein the vessel is configured such that a fluid flows into the chamber through the inlet port and flows out of the chamber through the outlet port, and a swirling flow suppressing member disposed in a position inside the chamber adjacent to the outlet port, wherein the swirling flow suppressing member is configured to suppress a swirling flow from occurring to or adjacent to the outlet port.
US07779863B2
The present invention describes, generally, a method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique asymmetric pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The asymmetric pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator because of its capabilities, utilizes different sized free floating spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in interior cavities of respective corresponding different sized valving components that make up the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure. The dual spools of the pressure control valve, although physically independent of one another, function in cooperation with one another in an attempt to maintain a state of equilibrium in the system, namely to keep pressure acting on or within the actuator (the load pressure), or the feedback pressure corresponding to the load pressure, the same as the control or pilot pressure. Moreover, pressure regulation and control is intrinsic to the asymmetric pressure control valve because of the configuration and function of the dual spools and the feedback system acting on the spools, thus eliminating the need for electronically or mechanically user controlled systems.
US07779857B2
A hot water system includes a hot water source; a hot water delivery line connected between the hot water source and at least one plumbing fixture along with a cold water delivery line connection between said plumbing fixture, a cold water source and said hot water source; a pump, interconnected between the hot and cold water delivery lines, enables circulation of water from the hot water delivery line through the cold water delivery line and into the hot water source, thus eliminating the need for a separate recirculation line. A thermostatic valve is disposed in a serial arrangement with the pump between the hot and cold water lines for blocking flow of water from the hot water line into the cold water line when the pump is not operating.
US07779853B2
A proportional pressure control valve particularly for electro-hydraulic transmissions. The valve includes a cage having pump, clutch, and tank port openings. A spool is received within the cage for controlling flow between the clutch port and the pump and tank ports of the system. The spool has a feedback pressure surface responsive to an applied feedback fluid pressure urging the spool to move towards a first position allowing flow between the clutch and tank ports. A feedback pressure chamber is defined within the cage for developing the feedback fluid pressure. A clutch port pressure feedback passage couples the clutch port with the feedback pressure chamber for admitting flow from the clutch port into the feedback pressure chamber to develop the feedback fluid pressure. The clutch port pressure feedback passage is formed within the cage wall to couple the control pressure chamber in fluid communication with the system clutch port.
US07779852B2
The present invention is a water conservation safety shut-off valve assembly for use on locations which normally have intermittent water usage but need to indicate when there is constant water usage, such as a leak. The valve assembly has a valve body with a fluid pathway and a valve plug held in an open position allowing water to flow through the pathway. As water flows through the pathway, a flow detection switch monitors water flowing through the pathway and begins timing duration of water flowing through the pathway. If the water flow through the pathway stops, the timer value is reset to zero. If the water flows through the pathway, and the timer circuit reaches a predetermined value, the valve closes the pathway, stopping the flow of water through the valve assembly.
US07779850B2
The present invention relates to the field of medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to therapeutic walkers and devices for preventing tipping of a walker during use. The inventive anti-tipping device can be retrofitted to existing walkers and has at least three or more degrees of freedom relative to the walker along which the anti-tip device can be adjusted to provide for a walker with customizable safety supports.
US07779847B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for efficiently and effectively manipulating spreadable materials. Such apparatus and methods may be incorporated for uses such as applying spreadable materials such as hair color, relaxers, and the like to a surface such as the surface of strands of hair for the purpose of highlighting or otherwise processing hair. A variety of applicators including varying edges, surfaces, tapers, and dimensions are disclosed, wherein each applicator configuration creates a different effect when used for hair processing. Furthermore, a hair stylist may select one or more of the disclosed applicators based upon ease of use for the particular hair stylist, personal preference, and/or the type of hair to be processed. The applicators disclosed herein retain their rigidity during use, are fast-drying, create less waste, and are easy to clean. In one embodiment, a user may tailor the applicator's head design to meet his or her personal needs.
US07779835B2
A liquid ejection device of the present invention includes an inhaling port portion, an ejection head for ejecting a liquid to be inhaled by a user through the inhaling port portion, a first sensor for detecting an action of the user relating to inhalation, a second sensor for detecting another action of the user relating to inhalation, the second sensor being different from the first sensor, and a determining portion for determining an operation of ejecting the liquid of the ejection head in response to both a first signal output from the first sensor and a second signal output from the second sensor, wherein the determining portion enables ejection of the liquid from the ejection head when both the first signal and the second signal are signals indicating inhalation intention of the user.
US07779834B2
A substance delivery apparatus for use with a system for supplying breathable gas to a human or animal includes a sensor to measure the pressure of the supplied breathable gas and to detect inhalation by the human or animal; and a reservoir, a conduit, a pump, and a diaphragm to deliver the substance to the human or animal during inhalation at a pressure higher than the supplied pressure of the breathable gas.
US07779832B1
A universal headgear is easy to use and creates an effective seal between a patient interface device, such as gas delivery mask, and a patient. The headgear of the present invention includes a halo-like headband formed from an elastomeric material. The headband includes contoured panels that allow the device to fit most people without circumference length adjustment. The halo headband is designed to maintain a substantially frusto-conical shape when worn. The present invention preferably includes an adjustable crossover strap on the top connecting the contoured panels that is adapted to hold the halo headband in position. The headpiece further includes connecting straps to adjustably connect the headgear to a patient interface device. The present headgear fits a wide range of head sizes and shapes, is easy to use, and provides increased stability.
US07779831B1
A nebulizer includes a piezoelectric transducer for aerosolizing a drug solution in a disposable cup module disposed above the transducer. Acoustic waves generated by the transducer propagate sequentially through transmitting medium, a first barrier, coupling medium, and a second barrier that forms part of the cup module, and into the interior of the cup module. The transducer at least partially comprises silver. The silver fluidly contacts the transmitting medium to discourage bacteria growth in the transmitting medium. The device includes electronics components that drive the transducer and measure an electrical characteristic associated with the transducer during operation. The electronics components measure changes in the electrical characteristic to determine when the drug solution level falls below a predetermined threshold, and deactivates the device accordingly.
US07779821B2
The invention provides an intake-air cooling device for an internal combustion engine that can be installed compactly. The invention provides an intake-air cooling device for a gasoline engine equipped with an intercooler that cool intake air with outside air and an evaporator that cools intake air with refrigerant circulating in a bypass refrigeration circuit, disposed in this sequence in an intake-air channel from a supercharger to the gasoline engine. The intercooler is disposed in an outside-air duct through which outside air passes, the evaporator is disposed inside a case through which the intake air passes, and a bottom plate of the case forms part of the outside-air duct.
US07779820B2
A liquid separator that can be used in a vehicle fuel system can have, among other components, an inlet portion, a deflector surface, and an outlet portion. The inlet portion can receive fluid from a fluid tube that communicates with a fuel tank. The deflector surface may cause a change-in-direction that separates liquid and fuel vapor from the fluid. The outlet portion can carry separated fuel vapor to a vapor tube that communicates with a canister. A space adjacent the inlet portion can be defined by a fuel system component such as partly by a fill tube or by a vessel.
US07779813B2
A system for a multi-fuel engine includes adjusting delivery of one or more fuels in response to a condition of an ignition spark in the engine. In one example, the system adjusts one or more fuels in response to spark plug ionization detection to improve performance of the engine.
US07779811B1
A gas turbine engine control component includes at least one electronic device, electronics such as an integrated circuit associated with the device, and a thermoelectric cooler for cooling the electronics mounted in a compartment. The thermoelectric cooler may be disposed in or on a wall of the compartment with a heat sink connected to a hot side of the thermoelectric cooler and a cold side of the thermoelectric cooler exposed to an interior of the compartment. Data about and/or operating instructions for the device may be stored in memory on the integrated circuit. The data may be calibration information for the device. A bus connector is connected to the integrated circuit for transferring operating instructions and/or data from the integrated circuit out and/or out of the component. A controller or control system incorporating these devices and components have the devices electronically connected to the integrated circuit.
US07779807B2
An intake/exhaust valve seal structure for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A sealing surface is formed by a valve seat surface in a ceiling of a combustion chamber and a valve face surface provided on an intake/exhaust valve. The sealing surface lies on a first conical surface having an axis of the intake/exhaust valve as its rotation axis and includes a line of intersection of the first conical surface with an inner wall face of the ceiling of the combustion chamber. A method for manufacturing the intake/exhaust valve is also disclosed.
US07779802B2
A method is provided for estimating a cam shaft position of one bank of a V-type engine based on crankshaft acceleration and cam shaft position of the other bank of the engine.
US07779799B2
A device (1) for modifying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100) is provided, including a drive gear (13), a driven element (4) and a swashplate mechanism (2). The torque of the crankshaft (101) is transferred via a primary drive to the drive gear (13), and via the swashplate mechanism (2) to the driven element (4) which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft (11). The drive gear (13) can be rotated in relation to the driven element (4) via the swashplate mechanism (2), whereby a continuous phase modification of the camshaft (11) relative to the crankshaft is possible. According to the invention, foreign body collecting pockets (33) are provided in the housing of the swashplate mechanism (2), wherein foreign substances entering into the lubricant can be collected.
US07779798B2
In a method for determining the switchover condition in order to initiate a valve lift changeover in an internal combustion engine, the torque requirement (TQ REQ) is determined. Also, an operational variable of the internal combustion engine, which is representative for an operational state of the internal combustion engine, is determined. According to the operational variable, a duration of time (T), which is required in the current operational state in order to carry out at least one prepared amount for the valve lift changeover, is determined. An alteration value, which is representative for the alteration of the torque condition (TQ_REQ), is determined. The valve lift changeover is initiated by the duration of time (T) and the alteration value (TQ_REQ) according to the torque requirement (TQ REQ).
US07779782B2
A method is provided which includes dispensing a deposition solution at a plurality of locations extending different distances from a center of a microelectronic topography each at different moments in time during an electroless plating process. An electroless plating apparatus used for the method includes a substrate holder, a moveable dispense arm, and a storage medium comprising program instructions executable by a processor for positioning the moveable dispense arm. Another method and accompanying electroless deposition chamber are configured to introduce a gas into an electroless plating chamber above a plate which is suspended above a microelectronic topography and distribute the gas to regions extending above one or more discrete portions of the microelectronic topography. An exemplary microelectronic topography resulting from the aforementioned methods and apparatuses includes a layer having distinct regions each including a comparatively different thickness and comparatively different concentrations of one of the one or more elements.
US07779773B2
A stowage device for a mobile conveyance such as a watercraft. In the case of a watercraft, the stowage device replaces an inspection port cover. The stowage device is adapted to screw into the existing inspection port with no modification. The stowage device incorporates a stowage cavity to securely hold a drink bottle or other liquid refreshment container or object easily accessible within an arm's length of an operator.
US07779770B2
A pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system wherein seed from the auxiliary hopper enters the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter. And a retrofit kit for existing on-demand seed delivery systems, and method of retrofitting such existing pneumatic on-demand seed delivery systems, so as to provide an auxiliary hopper that communicates seed to the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter.
US07779756B2
A juice extractor may include a juice extraction assembly and a drive assembly connected thereto. The drive assembly may include a shaft, at least one cam having a hub, and a shaft-hub coupler frictionally securing the shaft and the hub of the at least one cam together. For example, the at least one cam may include at least one cup-drive cam. Each of the shaft and the hub of the at least one cup-drive cam may be cylindrically shaped and devoid of keying. Accordingly, the cup-drive, shaft-hub coupler permits ready attachment of the cup-drive cam to the drive shaft. One or more orifice tube-drive cams may be similarly secured to the shaft with a frictional shaft-hub coupler.
US07779740B1
A revolving firing pin system is mechanically linked to a screw-block in a breech-loading mortar system, wherein the revolver firing pin assembly rotates on a centerline that is offset from the centerline of the screw-block assembly. When the revolver firing pin assembly is rotated, the firing pin assembly also rotates. However, until the screw-block assembly is locked, the firing pin is in a safety position that is not in line with the primer of the munition loaded into the mortar system. Only when the screw-block is rotated into a locked position does the firing pin align with the primer of the munition to thus be able to strike the primer when the solenoid is electronically actuated.
US07779739B2
A food chopper and slicer includes a lower receptacle for holding chopped food items and one or more blades at the top. A pushing element is secured within an outer housing, with the outer housing being configured to snugly and slideably fit around the receptacle. The housing forms a guide path such that the pushing element follows a generally straight and vertical path as it moves downward toward the blades.
US07779729B2
A tool for removing the lid of a metal drum wherein the lid is clamped over the drum rim without protruding edges, the tool having an elongated handle with a blade carried by an angularly positioned holder affixed to the midsection of the handle, the blade being of selected width to slice between lid lip and the drum rim and, when the blade is so positioned, upward motion of the blade handle will cause the blade to pry the lip from the rim and allow the lid to be removed.
US07779725B2
A pump housing assembly includes a bearing cage assembly for supporting an input axle and a pump for communicating pressurized lubricant from a sump to specific driveline components. The pump housing assembly is installed to a gear housing that includes a gear assembly for driving axles supported within an axle housing. An input shaft is supported on a first end by the bearing cage within the pump housing assembly. The pump housing includes an inlet that communicates with oil contained within a sump of the gear housing. A rotor pump is driven by rotation of the input shaft to pump oil from the sump into passages defined within the input shaft. The passage within the input shaft communicates lubricant with the desired driveline components at a desired pressure.
US07779721B2
A small and low-energy consuming operation input device enabling the adjustment of an operational reaction, comprising a rigidity adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relation of the displacement amount of an input part to the deformation amount of an elastic body by changing the position of the load acting point on the elastic body.
US07779711B2
A drive force transmission device that causes a plurality of driven members to operate in different operational areas for different operational purposes includes a lead screw and at least one movable member. The lead screw has a threaded portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotated about the axis of the lead screw when a drive force is generated. The at least one movable member has an engagement portion that is arranged to engage with the threaded portion of the lead screw. The movable member is moved along the axial direction of the lead screw through the engagement portion guided by the threaded portion when the lead screw rotates. While moving, the movable member associates with the driven members in a state in which the drive force is transmissible from the lead screw to the driven members and operates each of the driven members by the drive force.
US07779710B2
A cable cover for an ultrasonic flow meter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cable cover includes multiple interlockable pieces configured to couple to a spoolpiece of an ultrasonic flow meter. Each interlockable piece includes a body having a dowel and a slot. The interlockable pieces are assembled in a series with the dowel of each interlockable piece inserted into the slot of another interlockable piece.
US07779703B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for aligning a removable device relative to a vehicle using an angle sensor device and a computer system operatively connected to the angle sensor device. The angle sensor device has a first local axis and a second local axis orthogonal to the first local axis and a plurality of accelerometers. The first pair of the accelerometers is mounted along the first local axis, spaced apart a first predetermined distance, and oriented such that each of the first pair of accelerometers is operatively configured to sense a respective acceleration when the angle sensor device is rotated about the second local axis. The computer system is operatively configured to derive a first angular displacement based on the respective acceleration sensed by each of the first pair of accelerometers when the angle sensor device is rotated about the second local axis.
US07779684B2
A system for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well includes a downhole tool configured to be coupled to a work string that includes a tool body having a longitudinal bore for circulating a fluid and at least one aperture configured to receive at least one module. The system further includes a plurality of modules that are each configured to engage the at least one aperture and at least one cavity configured for receiving a probe, and a plurality of probes that each include at least one orifice configured for testing the formation, wherein a first of the plurality of probes has a first configuration and a second of the plurality of probes has a second configuration.
US07779683B2
Tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore using real time temperature measurements. A method of tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore includes the steps of: monitoring temperature in real time in the wellbore; and observing in real time a variation in temperature gradient between fluid compositions in the wellbore. Another method of tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore includes the steps of: monitoring temperature along the wellbore; and observing a variation in temperature gradient due to a chemical reaction in the wellbore. Another method includes the step of causing a variation in temperature gradient in the fluid while the fluid flows in the wellbore.
US07779682B2
A pressure transducer, particularly adapted to measure the pressure in a tire and to enable the tire to be filled includes a first housing, having an internal hollow. Positioned in the hollow of the first housing is a second housing, also having an internal hollow. The second housing is supported within the first housing so that a passageway for airflow exists between the housings. The second housing has a pressure port for monitoring the pressure of a tire. The first housing has an inlet port for receiving a source of pressure. The inlet port contains a valve which is selectively operated. The valve, when operated, permits air to flow into the hollow of the first housing and to flow about the periphery of the second housing to enter the pressure port associated with the second housing. The pressure port may, as indicated, be associated with a tire and the second housing contains a pressure sensing device which monitors the pressure in the tire via the pressure port. In this manner, the pressure in the tire can be monitored while additional air can be added through the valve which air flows around the second housing to enter the tire or other device coupled to the pressure transducer.
US07779681B2
A SAW based tire pressure sensor assembly comprising a body having a tubular stud 1 formed on an end thereof which is engageable in an inflation tube formed in a tire inflation valve 3 so as to fasten the body to the valve 3. A through passage extends through the stud 1 into said body and is in fluid communication with the atmosphere surrounding the assembly by means of apertures 2 in the sides of the body, thereby providing a fluid coupling between an inflation duct of the inflation valve 3 and the atmosphere surrounding the body. A SAW based pressure sensor is mounted within said body so as to be in fluid communication with the atmosphere surrounding the body, and an antenna 4 is connected to the sensor to enable remote interaction therewith. A grounding plate 5 connected to the antenna is sandwiched between the assembly and has arms which engage against the inner surface of the wheel so as to enhance the sensor antenna earth.
US07779680B2
A method and system for estimating engine-out NOx from a diesel engine. The estimation is calculated from a mathematical model that expresses engine-out NOx as functions of cylinder pressure, intake oxygen, and effective temperature, respectively. Input data for each of these functions may be obtained from fuel quantity data and from measured data, the latter including intake pressure, cylinder pressure, intake oxygen concentration, coolant temperature, and intake manifold temperature.
US07779679B2
A method for diagnosing combustion within a direct-injection, internal combustion engine including a plurality of combustion chambers and operative lean of stoichiometry includes monitoring combustion in the combustion chambers and estimating mass fraction burn therein. Mass fraction burn of sequential ones of the plurality of combustion chambers are compared and combustion phasing differences between sequential ones of the plurality of combustion chambers based on said mass fraction burn comparisons are identified.
US07779676B2
An apparatus for isolating and/or testing a section of a pipe includes a generally annular body having, on each end, a boss. A resilient member such as an O-ring is provided between the annular body and each boss. A series of electromagnets are provided for forcing or urging the bosses towards each other thereby resulting in deformation of the resilient members resulting in a seal being formed between the apparatus and the pipe. A method for isolating and/or testing a pipe segment is also provided.
US07779658B2
A locking device comprising: a lock body; a plurality of dial rings; and a fixing member which is elongated in shape and is locked by being directly fixed with the plurality of dial rings, wherein said fixing member includes a convex-concave part with repeated concaves and convexes formed in the longitudinal direction of said fixing member, each of said dial rings includes a cutout which is provided on a part of the circumferential direction in such a manner that allows said fixing member to be freely inserted/withdrawn at a rotation position which is the unlocking position and that one of said dial ring abuts the convexes of the concave-convex part at a rotation position except for the unlocking position, said locking device includes a passage for inserting/withdrawing said fixing member, a part of the passage is a hole which reaches said dial rings from outside said locking device, and the hole is curved or flexed such that said dial rings are invisible from outside said locking device via the hole, and thus preventing the part for unlocking from being seen from outside the locking device.
US07779653B2
A method of reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions in a rotary glass fiberization process utilizes a fiberizing spinner with fiberizing holes through which molten glass is passed by centrifugal force to form primary fibers which pass through an annular heat bath region and attenuation fluid emitting apparatus that forcefully emits an attenuating fluid to attenuate the primary fibers into finer diameter fibers. Oxygen is introduced into the annular heat bath region to oxygen enrich the annular heat bath region and is combusted in the annular heat bath region to materially reduce carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions produced by the process.
US07779646B2
The invention relates to a housing that encloses an inner chamber, a cold air pipe that extends in a wall of the housing separated from the inner chamber by an insulating layer, and a transition piece that connects one end of the cold air pipe to an air inlet of the inner chamber. The transition piece includes a guide wall that extends from one end of the insulating layer to an edge of the air inlet adjacent to the one end of the insulating layer, connecting a wall of the cold air pipe that is adjacent to the insulating layer to the adjacent edge of the air inlet in a continuous manner.
US07779643B2
Methods and apparatus that improve the effectiveness of a compression-based refrigeration cycle dehumidifier by allocating thermally distinct sections of the condenser to different air flows are disclosed. A bypass opening and divider plate direct ambient air to the refrigerant inlet section of the condenser. Air that has been cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator is directed to the rest of the condenser, with the air from the refrigerant outlet section of the evaporator being preferentially directed downstream, in the refrigerant flow path sense, from that section of the condenser already allocated to the ambient air coming from the bypass opening. The flows of ambient air and dehumidified air can be adjusted to improve moisture removal rates and avoid blockage of the evaporator by freezing of the condensate onto the evaporator. The system may also be used to remove condensates other than water.
US07779641B2
An ice supplier includes an ice maker configured to make ice, a case configured to store ice made by the ice maker, a sensing unit configured to sense a quantity of ice stored in the case, and a controller configured to control the ice maker according to a result of sensing from the sensing unit.
US07779639B2
A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed, the HVAC system including at least one thermoelectric device for providing supplemental heating and cooling for air supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the HVAC system has at least a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit can be configured to remove heat from an electric side of a hybrid vehicle. The second circuit can be configured to remove heat from a fuel-fed side of a hybrid vehicle.
US07779636B2
A lean direct injection fuel nozzle for a gas turbine is disclosed which includes a radially outer main fuel delivery system including a main inner air swirler defined in part by a main inner air passage having a radially inner wall with a diverging downstream surface, an intermediate air swirler radially inward of the main inner air swirler for providing a cooling air flow along the downstream surface of the radially inner wall of the main inner air passage, and a radially inner pilot fuel delivery system radially inward of the intermediate air swirler.
US07779626B2
An intake pipe of an engine has an injector, while an exhaust pipe has an A/F (air/fuel) sensor that contains a heater. An ECU detects an element impedance of the air/fuel sensor, and computes an emitted heat quantity of the A/F sensor based on the detected element impedance. The ECU further controls energization of the heater of the A/F sensor and computes a heater release quantity associated with the energization of the heater. Furthermore, the ECU estimates exhaust temperature from a balance between the emitted heat quantity of the A/F sensor and the heater heat release quantity by using at least one of an emitted heat quantity-related parameter and a heat release quantity-related parameter. These two parameters can be calibrated.
US07779621B2
An air fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine can freely change an oscillation width of an amount of oxygen occlusion so as to adapt to or diagnose catalyst degradation without changing the settings of the period or width of the air fuel ratio oscillation. The apparatus includes a first air fuel ratio feedback control section that adjusts the air fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to an engine in accordance with an output value of an upstream air fuel ratio sensor and a predetermined control constant thereby to make the air fuel ratio periodically oscillate in rich and lean directions, and an average air fuel ratio oscillation section that operates the control constant based on an amount of oxygen occlusion of the catalyst so that an average air fuel ratio obtained by averaging the periodically oscillating air fuel ratio is caused to oscillate in the rich and lean directions.
US07779620B2
In an air-fuel ratio feedback control device for a fuel injection control system, a catalyst deterioration diagnosing means for carrying out deterioration diagnosis of the catalyst is equipped with a diagnosis permission judging means for judging permission of the deterioration diagnosis of the catalyst on the basis of a driving area of the internal combustion engine, an air-fuel ratio varying means for varying the target upstream air-fuel ratio at the catalyst deterioration diagnosis time, a catalyst deterioration judging means for judging the deterioration of the catalyst on the basis of the downstream air-fuel ratio detection output at the catalyst deterioration diagnosis time, and a catalyst deterioration diagnosis prohibiting means for setting a deterioration diagnosis prohibition time of the catalyst after the catalyst deterioration diagnosis.
US07779614B1
A method of filling a multi-dose blister card first includes selecting a first intermediate blister card comprising a plurality of tablets of a first product stored within a first plurality of intermediate blisters. Additionally, a multi-dose blister card including a plurality of multi-dose blisters that are empty is selected. The plurality of tablets of the first product from the first plurality of intermediate blisters are transferred into the plurality of multi-dose blisters. Next, a second intermediate blister card including a plurality of tablets of a second product stored within a second plurality of intermediate blisters is selected. The plurality of tablets of the second product are then transferred into the plurality of multi-dose blisters such that at least one of the multi-dose blisters contains one tablet of the first product and one product of the second product.
US07779613B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a cushioning package containing an article to be packaged, characterized by comprising an article storage space forming unit that forms an article storage space by overlapping a cushioning sheet that includes small cells that inflates with air filled therein, a sheet adhering unit that adheres the overlapped cushioning sheet together and closes an article storage opening, an article disposing unit that disposes an article to be packaged in the article storage space, and an air-filling unit that fills air in the small cells.
US07779605B2
A unit operation station for use in a web processing machine comprising: a shuttle system including an input roller for receiving a web and an attached zipper, an output roller and a the connecting element for maintaining the input roller and the output roller in a fixed position relative to each other; a plurality of stations performing distinct operations for mechanically altering the attached zipper, one of the plurality of stations including a slider-insertion mechanism for placing a slider onto the zipper; a web path located beyond the input roller and including the plurality of stations; a driver for providing reciprocating movement to the shuttle system to cause intermittent movement of the web and the attached zipper along the web path; wherein the output roller releases the web and the attached zipper at a rate substantially equal to a continuous input feed rate of the web and the attached zipper, and wherein the shuttle system moves at a speed substantially equal to the continuous input/output feed rate of the web as it enters and exits the plurality of stations.
US07779603B2
A central support section 1 having a rectangular cross-section was arranged at a central position, and a plurality of winding support sections 2-5, 6-9 . . . of a substantially elongate platelike shape were combined and arranged around the central support section, while being sequentially swirlingly and spirally wound, and each support section was fixed in a laminated condition between inside and outside. Furthermore, the support unit bodies 15 were engaged into a fitted condition from vertical directions and connected together by adhesive, thereby forming a square pillar 16. With this, there is provided a support structure that is capable of freely setting the size of the outer diameter while securing axis of the support and obtaining a sufficient strength.
US07779594B2
A siding panel of a siding assembly has a nailing hem and a first upwardly opening channel connected to the nailing hem. A downwardly opening channel is connected to the first channel. An upper portion of an upper course forms a portion of the downwardly opening channel. An upper shoulder extends inwardly and upwardly from the upper course to an upper edge of a lower course. A lower shoulder extends inwardly and upwardly from a lower edge of the lower course. A planar member extending upwardly from the lower shoulder, the lower shoulder and a portion of the lower course form a second upwardly opening channel. A rib of an insulating panel is received in the first downwardly opening channel. A projection is received by the second upwardly opening channel. A shoulder abuts the upper shoulder of the siding panel.
US07779587B1
A raised floor access panel is provided which includes a substantially flat panel having an upper load supporting surface and a lower surface to be supported on a plurality of pedestal support members each adjacent to a corner of the panel, and at least one panel lifter having a top wall and two side walls, the side walls slidably extending through a first and second slots in a plate rigidly attached to the lower surface for vertical travel of the top wall and side walls upwardly, through a generally rectangular panel recess.
US07779575B2
An electric pulse counter for counting and recording the number of insects killed in a commercial insect electrocutor through an on-site field server is disclosed. The pulse counter is configured of field servers 100, an internet 40, an administrative computer 60, and user terminals 50. An insect electrocutor 20 is positioned near each of the field servers 100 for attracting insects present in the agricultural region and killing them by electrical discharge. An electromagnetic detection coil 10 is disposed above or around the insect electrocutor 20 for detecting changes in the electromagnetic field caused by such electrical discharges. An AC signal converter circuit 30 is disposed in each field server 100 and connected to the lead wire of the corresponding electromagnetic detection coil 10 for generating a digital count pulse from the signal outputted by the electromagnetic detection coil 10. The count pulse is accumulated in a storage unit 4 in the field server and the accumulated value is transmitted to the administrative computer 60 in response to a request therefrom. The administrative computer 60 functions as a Web server to provide this data to users via the Internet.
US07779568B2
An adaptable mounting system for mounting an LED display panel on an existing support structure for a billboard is provided, where the support structure including a plurality of posts having brackets arranged to support the billboard. The adaptable mounting system includes a lower arm and upper arms, each arm having a first end and a second end and one or more notches supported on the brackets of the existing support structure; a yoke coupled to the arms proximate the first end and configured for attachment to the LED display panel; and a brace coupled to one of the upper arms proximate the second end and coupled to the yoke of an arm beneath the one of the upper arms.
US07779559B2
A boot for Alpine skiing has a shell and sole. The heel has a cavity, including a seat for the insertion of a removable metal insert for engagement by the heel fixing unit of a standardized “Dynafit” binding. However, when the boot is prepared for use with newer, different bindings, the metal insert is replaced by a plastic insert that fits over the cavity and forms a continuous, unbroken rim on the heel of the ski boot.
US07779539B2
A method for preventing broken circuits of an FPC is provided, which is to attach a film to a surface of the FPC so as to enhance the strength of the FPC.
US07779538B2
A method for connecting circuit boards, comprising: (i) preparing a first circuit board having connection parts assigned to end parts of a plurality of conductor wirings, and a second circuit board having connection parts assigned to corresponding end parts of a plurality of conductor wirings; (ii) disposing the connection parts of the first circuit board to face the connection parts of the second circuit board with a thermosetting adhesive film between the connection parts of the circuit boards; and (iii) applying heat and pressure to the connection parts and to the thermosetting adhesive film sufficiently high to thoroughly push away the adhesive film so as to establish electrical contact between connection parts of the circuit boards facing each other and to allow for curing of the adhesive; wherein the conductor wirings constituting the connection parts of at least one of the first and second circuit boards contain non-linear wirings.
US07779537B2
An ablation probe and method of manufacturing the ablation probe are provided. The probe comprises a probe shaft and a unibody electrode element. The unibody electrode element comprises a common electrode base located at the distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of electrode tines distally extending from the electrode base. The electrode element may be created by forming divisions (such as slits or slots) from a first end of an electrically conductive elongate member towards an opposing second end of the elongate member. Alternatively, the divisions can be formed from a first end of an electrically conductive sheet towards an opposing second end of the sheet, and then bent or rolled to form the elongate member. In either case, the common electrode base can either be separately mounted to a probe shaft, or the probe shaft can be formed from the elongate member, in which case, the electrode base will be integrated with the probe shaft as a unibody structure. The electrode tines can be optionally shaped, e.g., to proximally evert.
US07779536B2
Apparatus for wire coil lead placement in machinery for producing dynamo electric machine components
Apparatus for forming wire coil leads that depart from wire coils inserted into a dynamo-electric machine component is provided. A plurality of wire coils may be received on an insertion tool. A wire lead may be anchored at a location on the insertion tool. A wire coil corresponding to the wire lead may encircle the location in a plane of the insertion tool. None of the plurality of wire coils preferably surmounts a first portion of the wire lead anchored at the location. In some embodiments, a template for winding the wire coils may be provided that has a seat portion on the underside of the template. The seat portion may receive a wire lead such that the lead is aligned with the anchoring location on the insertion tool.
US07779524B2
An apparatus and method is described to form and join a short flange on a periphery of a sheet material supported in a nest (30). The apparatus includes a positional pressure forming steel (PPFS) assembly (50) located on the end of a robotic arm (42). The PPFS assembly (50) includes a hub (52) slidably supported in a cylinder (56). At least one tool steel (70, 70′, 70″) is located on an extension (68, 68′) from the hub (52). A biasing element (58) interposed between the cylinder (56) and the hub (52) enables precise control of the forming pressure by defining a tool path control program which maintains a relative relationship between the PPFS assembly (50) and the nest (30).
US07779519B2
A device for securing shoelaces that includes a member for encapsulating free ends of a shoelace, the member has a pair of openings positioned within a rear wall of the member. Further, a reinforcement area is included along the rear wall of the member. A slit is extended along the length of the top part of the member. Lastly, a shoelace storage compartment formed within the member and receives the free ends of the shoe lace after one of each of the free ends has passed through at least one of the pair of openings.
US07779508B2
A door closer to adapt a storage device having a body and a swinging door for automatic closing includes a hinge having first and second hinge elements. Each of the hinge elements include a length dimension and a height dimension parallel the axis of the hinge and are configured to rotate about the axis. A panel is provided which is coupled with the second hinge element and has a length dimension greater than a length dimension of the first hinge element. The door closer is configured via a spring force of a biasing device to bias a swinging door of a storage device toward a closed position against the body of the storage device, at least in part via an interaction between one of the hinge elements and the door, and an interaction between the other of the hinge elements and the body via the panel.
US07779507B2
Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner including a suction nozzle; a dust collecting assembly including a dust collecting container having an opened top surface, a top lid for opening and closing the top of the dust collecting container, an inlet, a filtering device provided in the dust collecting container, a separation plate for preventing the impurities collected in a lower part of the dust collecting container from being risen by air flow, and an outlet for discharging clean air; and a cleaner body including a dust collecting assembly receiving recess for detachably receiving the dust collecting assembly, a polluted air outlet coupled with the inlet of the dust collecting assembly, and a clean air inlet provided on an inner wall of the dust collecting assembly receiving recess, so as to face the direction of mounting the dust collecting assembly, and communicating with the outlet of the dust collecting assembly, and a clean air conduit having a fan provided therein and discharging the clean air to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
US07779506B2
A vacuum cleaner is provided that including suction device that provides suction force, a suction nozzle that draws air by the suction force provided from the suction device, a dust collecting box that cleans and discharges the air drawn through the suction nozzle, the dust collecting box having an opening in an upper surface thereof, a filter assembly including an upper holding part selectively fastened to an edge of the opening, the upper holding part having an air discharge hole at a central portion thereof, a lower holding part spaced a distance downward from the upper holding part, and a filter between the upper holding part and the lower holding part that filters dust from air, the filter having a discharge passage therein, and a lower cover that selectively opens/closes a lower portion of the dust collecting box. This structure permits easy cleaning and replacement of the dust collector assembly in a vacuum cleaner.
US07779504B2
A cleaner system having an improved connecting position and structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station for achieving an improvement in dust removal performance of the docking station. The docking station performs manual cleaning. The robot cleaner has a dust outlet at a top wall of the robot body to discharge the dust collected in the first dust collector into the docking station, and the docking station has a connection port at a position thereof corresponding to the dust outlet to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet. The robot cleaner or docking station includes a connector to connect the dust outlet to the connection port. The docking station includes a suction part, suction pipe, and suction hole for manual operation. A channel switching member is mounted in the docking station to selectively apply power required to suck dust to the connection port or suction hole.
US07779494B2
A bed is provided having a decreased length foot deck to allow the bed to be converted to a chair bed and lowered close to the floor even when the foot deck is in a substantially vertical position. In one embodiment, the bed has a frame assembly, a deck supported on the frame assembly, and a mattress supported on the deck. The deck has a length extending from a head end of the head section to a foot end of the foot section when the deck is in a substantially horizontal position. The mattress has head, seat and foot mattress portions corresponding, respectively, to the head, seat and foot sections of the deck. The mattress has a length extending from a head end of the mattress to a foot end of the mattress when the mattress is in a substantially horizontal position. The length of the mattress is greater than the length of the deck, such that in one embodiment the mattress has a foot end that overhangs and is cantilevered from the edge of the foot deck section.
US07779493B2
The present invention provides a control apparatus that can be ergonomically and movably connected to a patient support apparatus. The control apparatus comprises a control module which is operatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and can provide a means for controlling the plurality of patient support apparatus functions. The control module is adapted for connection to a housing and the housing is movably connected to the patient support apparatus by a coupling device. The coupling device enables the relative movement of the housing and as such the control module relative to the patient support apparatus. In this manner access to the control module, and therefore to the functionality of the patient support apparatus, can be provided independent of the configuration of the patient support apparatus.
US07779492B2
A self-storing combination blanket and neck roll assembly which can be draped over a person and supported on a seat back, having a flat, generally rectangular fabric panel with two sides and four side edges, a flexible neck roll centrally located and removably disposed adjacent to a portion of the fabric panel, disposed adjacent to one of the side edges and a pouch having an opening which is attached to a side edge of the fabric panel adjacent to the neck roll so that the opening of the pouch opens towards one of the sides of the fabric panel. The fabric panel and neck roll are movable between a folded stored position within the pouch and an open position disposed exteriorly of the pouch. When the assembly is in its open position, the opening of the pouch can be received over and atop of a seat back.
US07779489B2
A potty bench includes a base supporting a potty seat, and a potty seat opening into the base formed in the potty seat. The potty seat opening has opposing forward and rearward ends. A basin is carried by the base underlying the potty seat opening to collect waste from the potty seat opening. A splashguard carried by the basin, which has a shield projecting through the potty seat opening at the forward end thereof from the basin and upwardly relative to the potty seat. The shield includes a urine deflecting face upwardly relative to the potty seat facing the rearward end of the potty seat opening for deflecting urine from above the potty seat into the basin through the potty seat opening.
US07779485B2
A garment, and methods of using the garment, including a main body portion, a collar attached to the main body portion, and a hood attached to the main body portion adjacent to the collar. The collar includes first and second flaps that define a collar pocket. The hood is moveable between a non-deployed position where it is received within the collar pocket and a deployed position where it is not received within the collar pocket.
US07779483B2
An absorbent protective finger cover to be worn by aestheticians to protect the surface of their skin while performing facial extractions. The finger cover includes an inner sheath of protective elastomer material and an outer sheath of absorbent material attached to the inner protective sheath. An additional tip piece of absorbent material is disposed at a finger tip portion of the finger cover between the protective sheath and absorbent sheath to provide additional absorbency for body fluids released during the facial extraction.
US07784103B2
A copy protection system and method enabling storage of copy protection information separately from protected content is disclosed. One embodiment includes a mechanism for playing a recording medium, the recording medium having stored thereon a digital content file and a copy protection information file, the mechanism producing a digital content signal from the digital content file and a copy protection signal from the copy protection file; a digital to analog converter operatively connected to the mechanism for converting the digital content signal to an analog signal; a copy protection detector connected to the mechanism for detecting a copy protection trigger present in the digital content signal; and a signal modifier connected to the copy protection detector for modifying the analog signal to include the copy protection signal in response to detection of the copy protection trigger.
US07784089B2
A system and method for providing secure communications between remote computing devices and servers. A network, device sends characteristics of a client computing device over the network. A network device receives characteristics of a client computing device over the network. A plurality of credentials are generated where at least one of the plurality of credentials based on both the received characteristics of the client computing device and a unique client key, and at least one of the plurality of credentials based on both the received characteristics of the client computing device and a generic key. A network device sends the plurality of credentials over the network. A network device receives the plurality of credentials via the network.
US07784081B2
An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to select a program for recording onto the digital storage device. The program guide may then provide the user a list of programs that includes at least one listing for a recorded program. The user may select a recorded program listing and the program guide will transfer the corresponding program from the digital storage device to a secondary storage device.
US07784078B2
The present invention relates to an information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, recording medium and program, adapted to exchange picture-recording schedule information between the terminals. A user apparatus 3-2 registers generated picture-recording schedule information to a server 2-1 through a network 1, together with the information representative of a providing destination. The server 2-1, when registering the picture-recording schedule information, makes a notification to a user apparatus 3-1 as a providing destination thereof. The video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 of the user apparatus 3-1 accesses the server 2-1 through the network 1, and designates a picture-recording schedule program desired for scheduling of picture-recording of among the programs registered in the picture-recording schedule information. The server 2-1 sends the schedule information on a designated program to the video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 through the network 1. The video recording/reproducing apparatus 11 receives this and makes a scheduling of picture-recording on the basis of the picture-recording schedule information. The invention is applicable to the hard-disk video recorder.
US07784075B2
The invention concerns a system for distribution of television-type (TV) video signals comprising: a first input processing unit (1) including a coaxial input terminal (10), at least a low-current output terminal (11) for twisted wire pairs and processing means (14) for processing the TV signals derived from the coaxial cable so as to transform them into signals having substantially the same transmission characteristics on the same frequency band on a twisted wire pair, at least a second output processing unit (3) including a low-current input port (33) for twisted wire pairs (12) connected to the first input processing unit (1) to transform them into signals substantially identical to those derived from said coaxial cable (41), and at least a connection cable (23) consisting of twisted wire pairs connecting the first processing unit (1) to the second processing unit (3).
US07784068B2
A disk transport mechanism in a disk drive is connected with a transmission gear mechanism. A loading motor drives the disk transport mechanism. When the loading motor rotates forwards, an optical disk is carried by the disk transport mechanism to a chuck position. When the loading motor rotates backwards, the optical disk is moved back to an ejection position. In failure of the loading motor, an emergency pin is pushed to actuate an emergency disk ejector. A first gear wheel in the transmission gear mechanism is disengaged by the emergency disk ejector to separate the transmission gear mechanism into a disk transport mechanism side and a motor. A second gear wheel on the disk transport mechanism side is rotated to actuate the disk transport mechanism. The emergency pin is pushed repeatedly to cause the disk transport mechanism to move back the optical disk to the ejection position.
US07784066B2
An automatic disc eject device for a disc-loading tray of an optical disc drive comprises: a disc-loading frame, a movable disc-loading piece and a pivot. The movable disc-loading piece is connected to the disc-loading frame by a pivot to form a disc-loading tray. When ejecting the disc, the movable disc-loading piece rotates downward about the pivot to allow the optical disc to fall by gravity without having to take the disc out of the disc-loading tray manually. Therefore, the automatic disc eject device can improve the disc-burning efficiency and speed, reduce the labor consumption and improve the productivity.
US07784065B2
Described is a system and method including an auxiliary display platform having an interface (API) set that provides a way for client applications running on a main computer system to interact with various types of auxiliary displays, irrespective of differences between various device implementations. Interaction includes displaying content and notifications provided by the application, and returning events to the application. In one implementation the API set comprises a set of COM objects that register and perform configuration checks of a client application, send content and notifications to attached devices, and return events from the attached devices. The application may send data to an endpoint corresponding to a communication destination (e.g., a particular auxiliary device application) and a contract (e.g., a format) for the data. The platform and API set thus provide an abstraction layer for applications to provide information independent of any particular auxiliary device implementation.
US07784061B2
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for allowing communication among nodes in a system. A request is received in a source node from a source object executing in the source node to send a message to a destination object executing in a destination node. Each node includes a processor capable of multitasking multiple program objects and a communication interface to transmit and receive data with the other nodes. A determination is made in the source node as to whether the destination node and source node are a same node. The message is sent in the source node to the destination object within the source node if the destination node is the source node. If the destination node is not the source node, then the source node transmits the message to the destination node through the communication interface. The destination node sends the message to the destination object within the destination node.
US07784060B2
A system, method and computer program product for communicating between two virtual machines including utilizing first and second virtual machine queues associated with respective first and second virtual machines to communicate between the virtual machines.
US07784057B2
A method and apparatus are provided for operating a processor. The method comprising the steps of providing a single call stack for execution of a plurality of tasks that operate on the processor, parallelly operating the plurality of tasks and allowing a context switch from a first task to a second task of the plurality of tasks, but only when operation of the first task is blocked.
US07784051B2
A database system may provide definition of a first plurality of tasks associated with coroutine execution, and a second plurality of tasks associated with task-specific thread execution. Also provided may be spawning of a control thread and a plurality of threads, each of the plurality of threads associated with one of the second plurality of tasks, and running of the control thread to determine if a task of the first plurality of tasks and the second plurality of tasks is associated with coroutine execution or with task-specific thread execution. If the task is determined to be associated with coroutine execution, the control thread may be run to swap a coroutine context of the control thread with a coroutine context of the task. If the task is determined to be associated with thread execution, the control thread may be run to resume a thread associated with the task and to suspend the control thread.
US07784050B2
A multiple unit processing system which processes tasks using a plurality of different processing units. Each of the processing units is individually monitor for temperature. A new task is assigned to the processing units based on their level of sale, based on their temperature, and based on the rate of change of temperature. In this way, the temperature of the multiple units can be managed based on the assignment of different tasks.
US07784048B2
A mobile communication terminal comprises: a download portion which downloads an application program from an outside WWW server, and secures a data region for reference parameters to which the application program refers at the time of execution; a control signal receiving portion which receives a control signal containing the reference parameters to which the application program refers, and a parameter saving portion which saves the reference parameters contained in the control signal to the data region.
US07784047B2
Custom management capability is provided through MBeans over a distributed management domain. The management domain is a collection of distributed servers that are managed as a unit, wherein the management system of the present invention presents an API for providing management services across a network. The common management system allows application designers to accomplish a broad range of management goals. The management network is also simple, abstract in that it separates an application author from the implementation, and is scalable. The system of the present invention supports both configuration and monitoring and is Java standards based. The management system is extensible in that a user can add additional types of management objects, schema attributes and extended persistence features.
US07784045B2
A method and system for computer-based testing that includes a storage device that has a first storage location, which stores a first segment of a test definition language, and a second storage location, which stores a second segment of the test definition language, a validation expansion module that validates the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language, a test packager that amalgamates the first storage location and the second storage location and transmits the amalgamated segment to the validation expansion module such that the validation expansion module can determine whether the amalgamated segment forms a complete and valid set, and a test driver that has an executable code that controls functionality that enables the test driver to deliver the test to an examinee. The computer-based test provides for producing a test and delivering the test to an examinee.
US07784043B2
A method and system for class loading in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) environment. Specifically, the system includes a code-source index and a mapper. The code-source index is associated with at least one class loader in a class loader tree in the JVM environment. The code-source index includes a plurality of parameters for cross-referencing packages in the at least one class loader to code-sources. The system also includes a mapper for referencing the code-source index. That is, the mapper maps a package associated with a class to one or more associated code-sources that potentially can access the class in the class loader tree.
US07784039B2
A compile converts a program having a multiple execution paths so as to expand a basic block on a specific execution path while maintaining the program integrity. The complier generates new basic blocks B103 and B104. The basic block B104 is composed of (i) statements generated by replacing replacement target variables in a partial source program (basic blocks B1-B7) on a hot path 200, and (ii) a branch instruction that includes a branch condition for executing the hot path, generated by modifying a branch instruction on the hot path 200. The basic block B103 is composed of statements for restoring restoration target variables out of the replacement target variables. The source program is then converted to execute, subsequently to the basic block B104, the basic block B103 if the branch instruction in the basic block B103 is true, and to execute the basic block B1 if false.
US07784036B2
Methods and systems for transforming a complex representation of computer code into a simplified representation of computer code are described. Parse nodes in a parse graph are traversed. Selected information contained within the parse nodes is hidden to create condensed parse nodes. The hiding prevents further processing of the selected information. Selected complex patterns in the parse graph are simplified to create simplified parse graph patterns. Branches on an AND/OR command tree are created from the parse nodes, the condensed parse nodes, and the simplified parse graph patterns.
US07784034B1
A hooking system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a component object model (COM) interface is hooked. To this end, a function may be performed based on the hooking.
US07784027B2
The invention comprises a system and method for monitoring the performance of an application. The invention includes a monitoring system graphical user interface (GUI) having an interactive window with on-screen graphics representative of the application architecture and component performance. The GUI comprises straightforward and intuitive icons, panels, and dataflows, representing the existence, capacity, or number of processes, memory structures, and the like of the application being monitored. In addition, the monitoring system includes an alert firing mechanism and process for alerting an administrator to potential or actual performance problems in the application.
US07784024B2
An accepting unit (110) accepts various parameters required to create a program from a parameter managing unit (109). A producing unit (112) loads a model of a program code from a model storing unit (128) on the basis of the parameters and replaces a part of the program code with the parameters to produce a source code. An instructing unit (120) detects that the producing unit (112) produces the source code to start a compiling unit (114). The compiling unit (114) compiles the source code produced by the producing unit (112) to create a research program. In this manner, a research program can be automatically created without advanced special knowledge.
US07784022B2
A method, system, computer readable medium containing instructions to execute a method for an intermediary, such as a controller, to interact between the interface of an older application and a newly programmed User Interface in order to take advantage of existing transactional logic while still allowing a user to interface with a new User Interface.
US07784019B1
A method for modifying an integrated circuit design layout is presented and can include placing a plurality of target points in the proximity of a polygon representing a portion of the integrated circuit design; modifying the target point placement for some or all of the placed target points; fitting a curve to the target points; and redefining the portion of the integrated circuit as a contour defined by the fitted curve to modify the design layout. In some applications the modified design layout can be used as a target for an optical proximity correction algorithm or for other purposes.
US07784011B2
An FPGA-information managing unit retrieves FPGA information, such as pin assignment information and attribute information, that is created by an FPGA-designing CAD apparatus. A library creating unit creates a symbol library by using the FPGA information. A pin-swap processing unit retrieves pin swap information from a package-designing CAD apparatus, and reflect the pin swap in the symbol library, the FPGA information, a circuit diagram, and a constrained condition. A change-history storing unit stores therein a change history of the FPGA information. A history output unit outputs information for notifying the pin swap to the FPGA-designing CAD apparatus 10 based on the change history stored in the change-history storing unit.
US07784006B1
Method and apparatus for implementing a circuit design for an integrated circuit is described. In one example, matching elements between a modified version of the circuit design and an implemented version of the circuit design are identified. Recommended placements for the matching elements are established based on placement information from the implemented version of the circuit design. An initial placement of the modified version of the circuit design is generated using the recommended placements. Timing-critical elements in the initial placement are identified. Locked placements for elements other than the timing-critical elements are established. An optimized placement of the modified version of the circuit design is generated using the locked placements.
US07784004B1
Integrated circuits, key components in thousands of products, frequently include thousands and even millions of microscopic transistors and other electrical components. Because of difficulties and costs of fabricating these circuits, circuit designers sometimes ask fabricators to produce skew lots for testing and predicting manufacturing yield. However, conventional skew lots for CMOS circuits, which are based on increasing or decreasing transistor transconductance, are not very useful in testing certain types of analog circuits, such as oscillators. Accordingly, the present inventors developed a new type of skew lot, based on increasing or decreasing gate-to-source capacitance of transistors, or more generally a transistor characteristic other than transconductance. This new type of skew lot is particularly suitable for simulating, testing, and/or making yield predictions for oscillators and other CMOS analog circuits.
US07783998B2
A solution for prototyping electronic devices is proposed. The solution uses a carrier which allows mounting the desired components with different configurations. In order to achieve this result, for some of these components, such as discrete capacitors, the carrier includes more contacts than the corresponding terminals. In this way, each capacitor may be mounted in multiple positions (such as a working one based on the manufacturing standards, an advanced one with gaps between the components below the corresponding safety margins, and as control one with larger gaps). As a result, it is possible to assemble different prototypes by using a single type of carrier, thereby substantially reducing the cost of the process.
US07783995B2
A system and method for scaling a circuit design to a new technology includes designating a first set of components including design scaled elements having a designed scaling in two dimensions to render the first set of components inactive for scaling of a second set of components. The second set of components includes pitch-matched circuits. The second set of components is scaled. Then, the second set of components is designated to render the second set of components inactive for scaling of the first set of components. The first set of components is scaled in accordance with a plurality of scale factors including scaling the design scaled elements in accordance with reference scale factors and scaling other components in the first set of components in accordance with one of the reference scale factors.
US07783990B2
A system and method is provided for displaying a display element on a display in which a display element may be displayed responsive to a command, the display element being associated with another display element. Also, in another example, the association between the display elements is also displayed. In one example, the association between the display elements is depicted via an animation.
US07783989B2
An apparatus and method for managing the layout of a window is provided. The apparatus includes a display unit that displays the window on a screen; the screen is divided into a plurality of display areas; a pointer-position-checking unit that checks the coordinate position of a pointer moved by a user and determines the one display area corresponding to the position of the checked pointer; and a window-size-adjusting unit that moves the window to the one display area where the pointer is positioned and adjusts the size of the window in proportion to the size of the one display area.
US07783972B2
An ensured workflow system for editing a consolidated file, such as a portable document formatted (PDF) file, which may be in the form of a plug-in application that communicates with a host application through an application program interface. The system comprises means for storing identifying information in association with the consolidated document indicating that the document was edited using the system, and means for storing edit information relating to each editing session. The edit information includes at least a listing of one or more edits made during the session, user information relating to the user who conducted the edit, and any comments entered by the user relating to the session. The system may also comprise means for storing native application information identifying one or more native application format documents from which the consolidated document was created and/or means for storing a preflight profile to be used for preflighting the document and means for preflighting the edited document in accordance with the preflight profile.
US07783966B2
A system for performing a calculation processing for each cell in a sheet by setting a calculation formula to calculate values for the cell. The system includes: an input data selection unit for sequentially selecting, in response to association of a or a plurality of cells in a sheet having a plurality of input data recorded therein with a first cell, the plurality of input data as values for the first cell; a calculation unit for performing, in response to selection of the respective input data as values for the first cell, calculations of a calculation formula set in a cell other than the first cell and referring to the first cell; and a data output unit for outputting calculation results of the calculation formula obtained by the calculation unit for each of the input data as values of a or a plurality of second cells.
US07783959B2
A system and method for reduced power consumption communications over a physical interconnect is described. In an embodiment, an input/output circuit includes a port to receive a transmission unit via an interconnect, a combining module coupled to the port to append at least one of a first and a second indicator to the transmission unit, a first adder module to generate the first indicator, indicating that the transmission unit is a starting transmission unit of a set of related transmission units, a second adder module to generate the second indicator, indicating that the starting transmission unit of the set of related transmission units has already been received, and logic to determine at least one of the start and end boundaries of the set of related transmission units.
US07783955B2
The present invention teaches a method and device for implementing error-correction code (ECC) in flash memory. The present invention discloses methods which utilize a modified ECC algorithm, and a flash memory device which incorporates these methods.
US07783948B2
Today many instances of IEEE 1149.1 Tap domains are included in integrated circuits (ICs). While all TAP domains may be serially connected on a scan path that is accessible external to the IC, it is generally preferred to have selectivity on which Tap domain or Tap domains are accessed. Therefore Tap domain selection circuitry may be included in ICs and placed in the scan path along with the Tap domains. Ideally, the Tap domain selection circuitry should only be present in the scan path when it is necessary to modify which Tap domains are selected in the scan path. The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus which allows the Tap domain selection circuitry to be removed from the scan path after it has been used to select Tap domains and to be replaced back into the scan path when it is necessary to select different Tap domains.
US07783947B2
An emulator for emulating operations of data processing circuitry normally connected to and cooperable with a peripheral circuit includes serial scanning circuitry connectable to the peripheral circuit. The serial scanning circuitry provides to and receives from the peripheral circuit signals which would normally be provided and received by the data processing circuitry. The serial scanning circuitry is connectable to an emulation controller for transferring serial data between the emulation controller and the emulator. The serial scanning circuitry includes a first state machine having plural states controlling the transfer of serial data. The emulator further includes control circuitry connected to the serial scanning circuitry and connectable to the emulation controller. The control circuitry, when connected to the emulation controller, effects the providing and receiving of signals and the transferring of serial data between the emulation controller and the emulator continuously without interruption while the first state machine remains in one state.
US07783939B2
A cache memory built in a processor comprising a plurality of independent memory blocks, pass/fail information memory unit memorizing a presence/absence of a failure occurring in each of the memory blocks, and a screening control function substituting a sound memory block for a failed memory block based on a memory content in the pass/fail information memory unit.
US07783937B1
A method comprises obtaining a first sequence of binary digits that collectively have a characteristic Hamming weight, inverting each of the binary digits in the first sequence of binary digits if the Hamming weight of the first sequence of binary digits is below a predetermined threshold Hamming weight value, and providing an indication of whether the binary digits in the first sequence of binary digits have been inverted.
US07783933B2
Methods, parallel computers, and products are provided for identifying failure in a tree network of a parallel computer. The parallel computer includes one or more processing sets including an I/O node and a plurality of compute nodes. For each processing set embodiments include selecting a set of test compute nodes, the test compute nodes being a subset of the compute nodes of the processing set; measuring the performance of the I/O node of the processing set; measuring the performance of the selected set of test compute nodes; calculating a current test value in dependence upon the measured performance of the I/O node of the processing set, the measured performance of the set of test compute nodes, and a predetermined value for I/O node performance; and comparing the current test value with a predetermined tree performance threshold. If the current test value is below the predetermined tree performance threshold, embodiments include selecting another set of test compute nodes. If the current test value is not below the predetermined tree performance threshold, embodiments include selecting from the test compute nodes one or more potential problem nodes and testing individually potential problem nodes and links to potential problem nodes.
US07783932B1
A method of generating a microcore file, which is a subset of a full core dump, for a networked storage system includes generating a microcore file according to a microcore specification, and dynamically defining the microcore specification at runtime of the network storage system. The microcore specification is dynamically defined with information provided by results of an event that triggers the generation of the microcore file. After the microcore specification is defined, a region of a system memory is identified according to the microcore specification. The method further includes dumping the data from the region of the system memory into the microcore file.
US07783931B2
An enterprise network interface client application and a local, central electronic complex (CEC) in a dual CEC environment implement an alternative method of communication. Upon a send failure of a command to a first CEC in the environment, the command is sent to a second CEC using a CEC to CEC message mechanism. A method of communicating an asynchronous event is implemented between a microcode layer and an enterprise network interface client application in a dual central electronic complex (CEC) environment. A copy of the event is retained. Upon a send failure of the event to a first CEC in the environment, the copy of the event is sent to a second CEC in the environment.
US07783929B2
A method and structure for a controller for a memory unit includes a switch that provides a first identification code for the memory unit and a comparator that compares the first identification code with at least a second identification code for the memory unit.
US07783928B2
A method for describing activities in software products is provided. The method provides for identifying a plurality of activities in a software product that are of interest, defining an event structure to describe each identified activity as an event, associating each identified activity with one or more problem determination technologies, executing the software product, and responsive to detecting one of the plurality of identified activities during execution of the software product, creating one or more event records for the one detected activity based on the defined event structure, initiating the one or more problem determination technologies associated with the one detected activity, and passing the one or more event records to each of the one or more problem determination technologies.
US07783924B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system for communication between a controller and a power supply using a communication interface. In an embodiment, a communication system includes a power supply having one or more diagnostics. The communication system also includes a controller, configured for controlling the power supply and monitoring the one or more diagnostics of the power supply. In addition, the communication system includes a communication interface, configured to receive from the controller and send from the power supply one or more signals. The communication system also includes a load, configured to operate using the power provided by said power supply.
US07783919B2
A system and method of identifying and storing memory error locations is disclosed. In one form, a method of using a memory is disclosed. The method can include detecting a memory error during execution of a run time environment within an information handling system, and determining if the memory error is a correctable memory error. The method can also include identifying a first memory location within a first memory device causing the memory error, and storing a first reference to the first memory location within a persistent memory. The method can further include disabling use of the first memory location during use of the run time environment.
US07783915B2
Disclosed is an automation system (1) for executing safety-relevant automation functions. Said automation system (1) comprises one or several control componentries (10) and one or several input/output componentries (30, 30′,50) that are connected thereto. The control componentry (10) is provided with standard program parts (11, 12) and fail-safe program parts (13, 14) to communicate with the connected input/output componentries (30, 30′,50) via corresponding standard bus protocols (S) and fail-safe bus protocols (F). At least one of the input-output componentries (30) is controlled by both the standard program parts (11, 12) via the communicated standard bus protocol (S) and the fail-safe program parts (13, 14) via the communicated fail-safe bus protocol (F), said fail-safe bus protocol (F) having greater priority for said input/output componentry (30) than the standard bus protocol (S).
US07783903B2
A power management scheme is disclosed wherein power limits are imposed on devices of an electronic system using selective airflow reduction. In one embodiment, each server in a rack system includes a throttling system for maximizing processor throughput within a fixed temperature constraint. An airflow system is capable of providing a variable amount of airflow to each server. The power consumption for each server is detected by an external power meter circuit and monitored by a controller operatively connected to the airflow source. The controller selectively reduces the amount of airflow to each server in relation to its power consumption, to induce an amount of throttling of each server sufficient to impose its respective power limit.
US07783900B2
A client-server relational database system, wherein data from the client computer is encrypted by the client computer and hosted by the server computer, the encrypted data is operated upon by the server computer, using one or more operators selected from a group of operators comprising: (a) inequality logic operators, (b) aggregation operators, and (c) wildcard matching operators, to produce an intermediate results set, the intermediate results set is sent from the server computer to the client computer, and the intermediate results set is decrypted and filtered by the client computer to produce actual results. The group of operators is limited because the encrypted results set, when decrypted, includes inaccuracies therein. The client computer applies a set of correction procedures to the decrypted results set to remove the inaccuracies therein.
US07783895B2
A controller of a recording device issues a secure command to a storage device, and then waits the time estimated necessary for the storage device to execute the secure command before issuing the next secure command. When a controller of the storage device is executing the previous command, it notifies the recording device of being in process. When the previous command has been completed normally, the controller moves to the next process. Information for estimating the execution time of the command is obtained from the storage device in advance.
US07783890B2
A multimedia recording system verifies whether or not multimedia data created from an object belongs to the intended object, and has a multimedia recording apparatus which acquires object-specifying information specifying the object, creates first digest data from the multimedia data and creates authentication data by encrypting the first digest data with the object-specifying information, and records the authentication data, a server apparatus which decrypts the authentication data by using the object-specifying information previously registered on the server apparatus to create second digest data, compares the second digest data with the first digest data of the multimedia recording apparatus, and outputs a result of comparison of the first digest data and the second digest data as comparison data, and a verification apparatus which displays a result of verification of whether or not the multimedia data created from the object belongs to the intended object based on the comparison data sent from the server apparatus.
US07783882B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture recovering remnant encrypted data on a removable storage media. An end of data (EOD) marker is detected on a removable storage media, wherein a first encryption key is associated with data preceding the EOD marker. Following the EOD marker, an identifier of a second encryption key associated with data following the EOD marker is read in response to detecting the EOD marker. The identifier is used to access the second encryption key and the second encryption key is used to decrypt the data following the EOD marker.
US07783867B2
Instruction execution is controlled by a single test that determines whether processing should continue in mainline processing or fall through to a test set. The single test compares a dynamically set variable to an instruction counter. If the test is met, mainline processing continues. Otherwise, processing falls through to a test set.
US07783850B2
A method and device for performing a volume copy is provided. The volume copy method allows access to both the Volume Copy Source and Volume Copy Target while the volume copy process is occurring. This allows a system administrator to initiate a volume copy without worrying that host access to the Volume Copy Source and Volume Copy Target will be interrupted.
US07783848B2
A storage system maintains a journal of journal entries and at lease one snapshot of one or more data volumes. By assigning a unique sequence number to journal and snapshot, it is easy to find a journal which can be applied to the snapshot. A technique is described for detecting an overflow condition of running out of journal space and recovering the journal space.
US07783845B2
The present invention presents a number of improvements for managing erase processes in non-volatile memory. Such memory systems typically manage the memory by logically organize the basic unit of physical erase (erase block) into composite logical groupings (meta-blocks or logical group), where an erase block generally consists of a number of sectors. When an erase command is received, the specified sectors are checked against the memory system's control data. If the specified sectors span any full logical grouping, the full logical groupings can each be treated as a whole and erased according to one process (such as performing a true, physical erase), while other sectors are “logically” erased at the sector level by standard techniques.
US07783844B2
In a computer system where a site including a storage device system connected to high-rank apparatuses, via a network such as a SAN, and a site including a storage device system similarly connected to high-rank apparatuses via a network are connected to each other via an inter-high-rank-apparatuses network, arbitration-emulation software is installed in each of the high-rank apparatuses. A two-step arbitration is performed, thereby determining one high-rank apparatus. At first, a shared/exclusive control using an already-existing shared volume is performed based on an arbitration conducted within the site. Next, a shared/exclusive control based on an arbitration conducted between the sites is performed by high-rank apparatuses each of which has won the arbitration within each site.
US07783830B2
A method and apparatus for receiving data at a non-solid state storage device, which includes a store cache and a storage medium. The received data is written to the store cache and transferred from the store cache to the storage medium. In response to receiving a signal at the storage device that is indicative of a power off condition of a data source device from which the data was received, at least a portion of the data remaining in the store cache is transferred to the storage medium prior to powering off the storage device.
US07783826B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a memory system is provided, including concurrently reading data from a plurality of memories of the memory system and outputting the data from the memory system at an output channel capacity of an I/O port of the memory system by converting a data bus width of data read from at least some of the plurality of memories to a data bus width of the I/O port.
US07783813B2
Provided is a system comprising a first node comprising a plurality of processor cards each including a processor fabric, wherein the processor cards in the first node connect via their processor fabrics; a second node comprising a plurality of processor cards each including a processor fabric, wherein the processor cards in the second node connect via their processor fabrics; and a plurality of communication interfaces, wherein each interface connects one processor card in the second node to one processor card in the first node to enable communication between the connected processor cards to coordinate processor operations between the connected processor cards in the first and second nodes.
US07783806B2
A method for preventing deadlocks in a multiprocessing environment is provided. The method comprises receiving one or more strongly connected components (SCCs) as input, wherein a first SCC represents a set of locks such that each pair of locks in the set may potentially be involved in a deadlock situation; creating a first gate lock for the first SCC, wherein a first process or process element acquires the first gate lock before acquiring a first lock in the first SCC and releases the first gate lock after releasing a number of locks in the first SCC; and removing the first gate lock, in response to determining that the first gate lock introduces new deadlocks.
US07783805B2
In one embodiment, a solution is provided wherein a lock client sends lock requests to a lock manager upon receipt of an input/output (I/O) and receives back a lock grant. At some point later, the lock client may send a lock release. The lock manager, upon receipt of a lock release from a lock client, remove a first lock request corresponding to the lock release from a lock grant queue corresponding to the lock manager. Then, for each dependency queue lock request in a dependency queue corresponding to the first lock request, the lock manager may determine whether the dependency queue lock request conflicts with a second lock request in the lock grant queue, and then may process the dependency queue lock request according to whether the dependency queue lock requires conflicts with a second lock request in the lock grant queue.
US07783803B2
Pairing service technologies is described. In embodiment(s), peripheral devices can be discovered, such as by a computer device, and a peripheral device can be configured with multiple services that each correspond to one or more data communication protocols. The multiple services of the peripheral device can be determined, and a pairing sequence can be prioritized for the multiple services. The data communication protocol(s) can then be paired according to the pairing sequence to configure the multiple services of the peripheral device.
US07783796B2
The present invention provides a method for releasing data of a storage apparatus. The method manages the data output of the storage apparatus by using a virtual output queue, a data storing memory, and a bit map output port memory. In such method, the output ports, which use the data stored in any data column of the data storing memory, are recorded in the bit map output port memory. In addition, the addresses of the data storing memory for storing the data output from any output port are provided by the virtual output queue. After all data of a certain data column is completed read out, the data storing column in the data storing memory and a corresponding part of the bit map output port memory are released by the storage apparatus.
US07783794B2
An improved remote USB access method allows a local host to access USB devices on a remote host in a manner that reduces network traffic in certain situations. When the local host copies a file from a USB device A to a USB device B both located on the remote host, the operation is initially handled in a conventional manner by which data is transferred from device A to the local host over the network, and then from the local host to device B over the network. The remote host is provided with an ability to detect such an operation as a special case where the data transfer from the local host to device A is unnecessary. Thus, the remote host copies the data from device A to device B, and notifies the local host to stop the network data transfer from the local host to device B.
US07783789B2
A method for programming a touch screen of an apparatus is provided. The touch screen includes sensors for sensing locations of inputs and generating corresponding signals, and keys each of which consisting of a group of the sensors. The method includes: designing a group of the sensors as a key; setting an associated function to the designed key; generating a layout file of the designed keys; showing the layout file to prompt position and the associated function of each of the keys; acquiring the associated functions according to the key indicated by the signals; and executing the acquired functions.
US07783788B1
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to virtualized access to input/output (I/O) subsystems. In one implementation, the present invention allows multiple stand-alone application servers or virtual servers to share one or more I/O subsystems, such as host-bus adapters and network interface cards. In one implementation, I/O access is managed by one or more virtual I/O servers. A virtual I/O server includes a multiplexer, and associated modules, that connect application servers over an I/O switch fabric with one or more HBA and/or NIC drivers. Implementations of the present invention can be configured to consolidate I/O access, allowing multiple servers to share one or more HBAs and NICs; dynamic control over network and storage I/O bandwidth; and provisioning of network and storage I/O access across multiple application servers.
US07783787B1
A mechanism for reprioritizing high-latency input/output operations in a file system is provided. The mechanism expands a file access protocol, such as the direct access file system protocol, by including a hurry up command that adjusts the latency of a given input/output operation. The hurry up command can be employed in the Direct Access File System.
US07783774B2
An audiovisual distribution system includes a central server and a plurality of audiovisual units. Each unit includes structure for interactively communicating with the user for selecting a piece or a menu, a payment device, a computer network card, and a permanent semiconductor memory containing a multitask operating system comprising at least a hard disc access management task. The order for performing a selected piece is processed as a hard disc sequential access task. The hard disc is declared as a peripheral corresponding to the network card of the unit, enabling a request to be sent through the network to the server for processing.
US07783770B2
A packet transmitting method of wireless network is provided. The packet transmitting method determines whether the packet to be transmitted is a real-time packet or not, and, when the packet is a real-time packet, a re-transmission mechanism of the packet is determined to be ON or OFF according to the transmission status of the wireless network itself.
US07783764B2
The functionality of a C12.22 application layer is overlaid on an IP-based infrastructure, by employing an IP DNS server as the registration host for both IP- and C12.22-based communications. Communication can occur at either the IP layer or the C12.22 application layer. At the IP layer, a host application can interrogate network nodes. To extend this service to C12.22 communications, C12.22 registration and resolve services are implemented on the DNS server. Similar to the manner in which an IP-based service uses a native, IP-based DNS resolve request, a C12.22 host can utilize a C12.22 resolution request against the C12.22-enabled DNS server for C12.22 application-layer interrogation of endpoints
US07783761B2
A scheme for dynamically connecting I/O devices through a network is disclosed. It enables separating I/O devices from a host system unit and connecting them to the host system unit through a network. In one preferred embodiment, provided in the host side is a converter that encapsulates an I/O command into one or more data link frames so that the frames containing the I/O command are sent through the network. Also provided in the device side is a counter-converter that retrieves the I/O command from the data link frames received through LAN. The network may be either a wired or wireless network.
US07783760B1
Two computers of a standard size, such as 1U, are mounted in a single standard size space. This arrangement almost doubles the space utilization of a rack and thereby halves the cost of hosting a dynamic computing environment. Also, a plurality of chassis are mounted on a rack where each chassis can hold more than one single-board computers. This arrangement enables provisioning of computing environments computing power in increments other than multiples of 1U.
US07783759B2
A method and structure for dynamic allocation of servers to customers in a server farm which supports a flexible contract structure such that the total revenue of the farm is maximized. The invention creates a resource allocation plan based on a long term forecast for the server farm, taking into account traffic, number of servers, customers' contracts and revenue optimization algorithms. The plan is then modified as indicated by short term forecasting using currently monitored load metrics to reallocate to maximize revenue for particular time periods.
US07783753B2
Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a system, apparatus and method for monitoring a user's activities and displaying and presenting unsolicited content to users over a wide area network. Embodiments of the instant invention include a monitoring system comprising an activity monitor and a content transfer and display means, wherein the activity monitor comprises an event identifier and a timer. The monitoring system monitors user activities, identifies trigger events, measures the elapsed time of inactivity of the user and initiates the presentation of unsolicited data, or content, to the user computer. In general, the monitoring system identifies trigger events and measures the elapsed time between trigger events. If the elapsed time between the trigger events exceeds a predefined time period the monitoring system causes unsolicited data to be presented on the user computer.
US07783748B2
Methods and apparatus for sampling usage information from a pool of terminals in a data network. A method is provided to perform usage tracking in a data network. The method includes determining a targeted set of terminals from a pool of terminals on the data network, and transmitting tracking parameters to the pool of terminals. The method also includes receiving tracking data from the targeted set of terminals, and mapping the identities of the targeted set of terminals to device log identifiers. The method also includes associating the device log identifiers with the tracking data.
US07783746B2
A system, apparatus and a method are described that synchronizes multiple element management systems with a network element. The synchronization between the management entities within the element is maintained by employing special attributes, such as sentry identification for managed objects and guard attributes for managed object tables. Using these attributes, resynchronization between the management systems is improved by reducing the amount of data retrieved by the systems and reducing the processing load caused by the resynchronization process.
US07783738B2
A method and associated apparatus are described that enables unattended, remotely distributed appliances, such as vending machines, utility meters, thermostats and kitchen appliances (ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) to be connected inexpensively to each other and to a centrally located server. The apparatus 1) uses relatively simple “personality” modules to adapt the apparatus to the application in combination with a sophisticated core module that provides the intelligence needed to process data locally, to format that data and to transfer it to a remote server and 2) uses existing Internet-based communication links, thereby avoiding the costly proprietary links used with current state-of-the-art solutions.
US07783736B2
A timing network is provided that includes a plurality of servers. The servers of the network obtain information used to maintain the servers in time synchronization, thus ensuring the integrity of the servers.
US07783732B2
A self calibrating network comprises a first node and a second node. The first node transmits a calibration data packet. The second node receives the calibration data packet and determines a calibration value for the second node to optimize the transfer of data from the first node to the second node.
US07783731B2
Firmware cache coherence is described. In embodiment(s), a remote management service can establish a client session with a client device and provide an address that redirects the client device to a firmware download service when the client device initiates a session request with the remote management service. The firmware download service can cache the executable program code, and then initiate a download of the executable program code to the client device when the client device initiates a download request for the executable program code.
US07783729B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for transmitting mobile device data. A method includes querying a first mobile device for data residing on the first mobile device; wirelessly transmitting, to a computer system, a specification of the data residing on the first mobile device; determining suitability of data for a second mobile device; and receiving, at the second mobile device, a specification of data for the second mobile device that is based on the specification of the data residing on the first mobile device. Another method includes wirelessly receiving, at a computer system, a specification of data residing on the first mobile device; and wirelessly transmitting, to the second mobile device, a specification of data for the second mobile device that is based on the specification of the data residing on the first mobile device.
US07783727B1
A diskless host computer is automatically configured upon adding it to storage-area network (SAN). Upon physically connecting the diskless host computer to the network, the host computer alerts the network and a control station of its presence. A suitable identifier provided by the host, such as a Fibre Channel World Wide Name, is used to look up a configuration corresponding to a host of its type. Configurations corresponding to all types of hosts expected to be connected to the network are pre-stored in the SAN data storage system. Each configuration includes an operating system and can include any other software related to configuring or installing a new host. The control station then provides access to a storage device on which the operating system is stored so that the host can boot from it or access it for any other purposes.
US07783726B2
A protection relay with integrated communications may include a protective relay portion to perform protective relay operations associated with a load operatively connected to the protection relay, and a communications server portion to perform communications operations as an independently operating communications server.
US07783721B2
A computer network (20) includes a first processor (22) for maintaining a Web page (34) having an embedded first code module (36) and accessible through a Web address (38). A second processor (24) supports a Web browser (52) for downloading the Web page (34) and executing the first code module (36). When executed, the first code module (36) issues a first command (93) to retrieve a second code module (90) from a server system (26). The server system (26) includes a database (68) having a service response (162, 176, 186) associated with the Web address (38). A processor (62) assembles the second code module (90) having the service response (162, 176, 186). When the second code module is retrieved, the first code module (36) issues a second command (106) to initiate execution of the second code module (90) to provide added function to the Web page (34).
US07783715B2
A method of managing electronic mail messages in an email account includes displaying an open email message to a user on a display screen of a device. While the open email message is displayed to the user, intent of the user to perform an action that will result in closing the open email message is detected. In automatic response to detecting the intent of the user and before the action can be completed, a plurality of deletion options is presented to the user, from which the user selects one deletion option. A selection of one of the deletion options is received from the user. A deletion criterion is set for a given email message based on the selected deletion option and the action that will result in closing the open email message is completed, in automatic response to receiving the selection from the user.
US07783714B2
Methods and systems consistent with the invention manage messages transported between a first computer system and a second computer system. For instance, in one embodiment, According to another exemplary embodiment, a method obtains a business object identifier that identifies a business object associated with a first message to be transported over a network from the first computer system to the second computer system. The method may then generate a transport identifier associated with the transported message. The method may then route the first message the second computer system, such that the routing generates a second message that is transported to the second computer system. The method then obtains the second message transported to the second computer system. Finally, the method creates a data structure in memory including the transport identifier, the business object identifier, and the second message.
US07783713B2
A method and apparatus for creating associations between messages in a stateless system. The method comprises adding a unique identification to a notification message at a gateway, and upon receiving a response from a user, identifying the unique identification within the response, and utilizing the unique identification to associate the response with the notification message.
US07783711B2
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. Embodiments of the system may include various features, including but not limited to: (1) secure transfer of e-mail messages, without the need for users to replace existing e-mail clients or to change e-mail addresses; (2) tracking of all actions performed in connection with an e-mail transmission; (3) the ability for a recipient to view information about an e-mail message, optionally including information about how other addressees have responded to it, before deciding whether to retrieve the e-mail message; (4) the aggregation of entire e-mail conversations into a single threaded view; (5) the ability to include both private and public messages in a single e-mail communication; (6) sender control over downstream actions performed in connection with an e-mail message; (7) flexible control over cryptographic methods used to encrypt emails messages for storage.
US07783709B2
A program provides an electronic message incorporating a visual object therein. The electronic message containing a previously generated unique combination of parameters is transmitted over an electronic network from a platform server to a client. Each time the electronic message is accessed, the unique combination of parameters is transmitted from the client back to the platform server, which generates a visual object of which the current content is determined by dynamic data related to the unique combination of parameters, and transmits the visual object with current content to the client.
US07783700B2
There is provided with a method of performing in a server apparatus sharing an image to be displayed on a screen with a client terminal, including: updating a part of an image in a frame buffer; generating a first packet which includes first area information indicating a first area updated in the image, a first image which is an image after update in the first area and a sequence number assigned by a sequence number counter and transmitting it; storing a set of the first area information and the sequence number in a storage; receiving a retransmission request including a sequence number from the client terminal; detecting a second area which is not updated in the first image which corresponds to the sequence number included in the retransmission request after the transmission of the first image by referring to the storage; acquiring a second image in the second area from the frame buffer.
US07783691B2
A circuit for calculating a discriminating function with successive iterations and with a work register on data divided into blocks, including: a single operator in wired logic for executing the function; a plurality of work registers sharing the operator; and an element for selecting one of the work registers to be associated with the operator.
US07783683B2
In a computer-readable storage medium storing a generational garbage collection program used to direct a computer to perform a generational garbage collection process, the generational garbage collection process includes a generational garbage collection environment preparing and initializing process, and the generational garbage collection environment preparing and initializing process includes a process of allocating a single virtual memory space as a virtual memory space of all generations, and distributing the single virtual memory space to each generation such that the virtual memory space of each generation can be continuously arranged in order of generation in the single virtual memory space.
US07783680B2
A method and system for processing a schema mapping M from a source schema S to a target schema T by executing program code on a processor of a computer system. A schema mapping M′ from T to S is determined via processing the schema mapping M. The schema mapping M includes at least one constraint σ. Each constraint σ consists of a source-to-target tuple-generating dependencies (s-t tgd). The schema mapping M′ includes at least one constraint σ′. Each constraint σ′ consists of a disjunctive tgd with constants and inequalities among the constants. The schema mapping M′ is stored in at least one computer usable storage device of the computer system and/or is outputted in at least one output device of the computer system.
US07783666B1
An apparatus and a method that limits a user's access to data of the storage system based on an access quota. The method may include determining an access pattern of data access requests to storage resources by a user, and comparing the access pattern of the user against an access quota, as defined by an access policy. Based on the comparison, if the user's access to the storage resources has exceeded the access quota, the storage system can limit access to the user to the storage resources.
US07783665B1
A system, method and computer program product for sharing files among users of multiple Virtual Environments (VEs). Each VE user has private objects, such as files or directories, that contain links to selected shareable files or directories in a common memory storage area. Each VE user also has a private file area to store files. If a VE user wishes to access a shareable file to perform an action that does not modify the shareable file, then the VE user private file allows the VE user to access the sharable file in a common memory storage area. The VE user private file contains a metadata attribute specifying the link to the shareable file. If the VE user wishes to access a shareable file and perform an operation that modifies the shareable file, the system makes a copy of the shareable file and places the copy in the VE user's private file area.
US07783663B2
A mechanism is provided for balancing I/O among available paths connected to a device. The mechanism partitions paths so a device can use all or only a subset of available paths to a device, depending on the load of I/O for other devices that are sharing the paths. The partitioning of paths is dynamic, readjusting as I/O loads change for the devices.
US07783651B2
Methods and apparatuses enable generation of a tree structure that integrates the objects of the tree with access interfaces. A tree worker receives an indication of a base node object of a tree, and a list of children related to the base node object. In response to receiving the indication of the base node object and the list of children, the tree worker can generate a tree structure having the object and its related (children) objects.
US07783645B2
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate retrieval of context relevant information. According to some embodiments, an event associated with a computer system is captured. In response to the captured event, a subset of data objects are selected that may be related to the event. A list associated with the subset of data objects may then be created, wherein the list is at least partially ordered based on a degree of relevance between a data object in the list and the event. Information associated with the created list may then be provided.
US07783640B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically summarizing a document are described. One method embodiment includes computing term scores for members of a set of terms in a document to be summarized and computing sentence scores for sentences in a set of sentences in the document. The method embodiment also includes computing a set of entries for a term-sentence matrix that relates terms to sentences. The method embodiment also includes computing a dominant topic for the document and simultaneously ranking the set of terms and the set of sentences based on the dominant topic. The method embodiment provides a summarization item(s) selected from the set of terms and/or the set of sentences.
US07783637B2
A method stores and uses labels in a business solution software program having multiple languages. Instead of having a single resource file for each language, the information related to the labels is stored in a database. Each label is assigned its own unique identifier in a label ID structure, that also contains information related to how the label is used in the system. The text for the label is stored in a separate label text structure. The label text structure contains the text of the label in all of the available languages. When a new label is written the developer can search the current labels to find a label that matches the intended use. If a match is found for the desired text the label is duplicated to the new label. If no match is found a new label must be generated.
US07783634B2
A device for recording positions within an electronic document and capable of recreating those recorded positions afterwards even if the electronic document has been changed to some extent. An index data creation unit in an information terminal creates index information for a page to display from the electronic document, and records it along with time information in an index database. When a time is specified, the index data search unit searches the index database for index information recorded near that time, and identifies the page position of that electronic document from the searched index information. A data display unit displays the beginning of the electronic document at the identified position. The information terminal is capable of managing information by linking electronic data from handwritten information written on paper with a digital pen, with the display page the electronic document by utilizing a stroke set database and a pen data processor.
US07783629B2
A query and a factoid type selection are received from a user. An index of passages, indexed based on factoids, is accessed and passages that are related to the query, and that have the selected factoid type, are retrieved. The retrieved passages are ranked and provided to the user based on a calculated score, in rank order.
US07783625B2
Data in materialized query tables (MQTs) are used as statistics for determining the optimal execution plan for a query. When an MQT is defined, it is examined to determine whether its data provides statistics for determining an optimal execution plan for a query. If so, then the MQT is identified, in the RDBMS, as a source for statistics. Information needed to exploit the MQT data as statistics is cataloged in the RDBMS. This information includes a characterization of the type of statistics provided by the MQT, the table and column distributions represented by those statistics, and a query for later retrieving relevant data from the MQT during the query optimization process. When a query is accepted for execution, the cataloged relevant information about MQTs is examined to determine whether an MQT exists that provides statistics relevant to optimization of the query. If such an MQT exists, then the relevant data is retrieved from the MQT using the cataloged query. Using the retrieved statistics, an optimal execution plan may be determined for the query.
US07783622B1
Content that is significant to a user may be determined. An indication that a user finds content within a document significant may be received. In response to the received indication, the document may be analyzed to identify a set of topics associated with the content of the document. From the set of topics, a subset of topics responsible for the user finding the document significant may be identified. A user profile associated with the user may be updated based on the subset of topics.
US07783619B2
In one aspect, the invention comprises a computer system for searching databases and displaying search results, comprising databases storing information regarding publications and authors comprising author, title, date of publication, cited references, and citing references data; and Internet servers in communication with those databases; wherein at least one of those Internet servers is in communication with and operable to transmit data to a Web browser resident on a user's computer, and wherein the data is sufficient to enable the browser to display a citation overview page comprising: (a) a list of one or more titles of publications or names of authors, and (b) one or more displayed numerals representing how many publications in one or more specified categories cite to each of the publications, or, for author names, how many publications in one or more specified categories cite to publications on which those names are listed as authors.
US07783617B2
A computer implemented method of searching personals ads comprising: performing a criteria search to identify one or more personals ads; and performing an affinity search to identify personals ads having an affinity to at least one of the personals ads identified by the criteria search.
US07783616B2
A system and method for controlling access to data within a hierarchically organized document, such as an XML document. Elements may have their access rights specified, for example as a variable in an XML tag. If not specified within an element of the document, access rights are inherited from its nearest ancestor. Specified access rights may refer to a collection of entitlement expressions, which describe with arbitrarily fine granularity which users and user types may access the data.
US07783613B2
Middleware can accept transaction requests from a client device and tailor the request to a backend transaction server. The server's response can be tailored to the client device. For example, characteristics of the client device such as screen real estate and supported functionality can be taken into account when generating a tailored response. Features such as caching can avoid repeatedly contacting the backend server. Pagination and column truncation can be supported. A transaction model can represent a transaction as device independent configuration information. The transaction model can be added or changed without coding. Useful for implementing an application across a wide range of devices transparently to the backend server.
US07783611B1
A system and method for enabling write operations to files undergoing write allocation is provided. The system and method generate a shadow state entry of metadata associated with an inode of the file upon receipt of a write operation. During the write allocation process for the inode, the shadow state information is merged with the data stored in the inode to be written to disk.
US07783605B2
An availability metric is obtained for groups of databases or other computer resources by capturing related stop and start events which are set. Event data, including the stop and start events, can be communicated from agents associated with the databases to a central manager. An availability monitoring server periodically queries the central manager to obtain the stop and start events, and analyzes the event data to determine time periods in which the databases are unavailable. The availability metric can be determined based on a ratio of: (a) a sum of the downtimes of the databases in a given time period and (b) a product of the total number of databases and the time period, e.g., expressed in units of database-minutes. The availability metric can be determined separately for separate clusters of databases and used to provide a service level agreement.
US07783592B2
Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.
US07783589B2
Systems and methods for improving indexing are described. In one exemplary method, a 2-level table is used to improve performance when searching an index. A first table contains a subset of more frequently occurring terms and a second and larger table contains terms that occur rarely, with the first table optimized for updating and the second table optimized for searching. The second table is searched only when a search of the first table is unsuccessful. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US07783582B2
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for analyzing clinical-laboratory results and data in order to detect erroneous clinical-laboratory results. Embodiments of the present invention employ Bayesian networks and modified Bayesian networks that are constructed using cleaned clinical-laboratory results into which various types of synthetic errors have been introduced and that are optimized using different, cleaned clinical-laboratory results into which synthetic errors have been introduced.
US07783572B2
Downloading configuration data to program card terminals and providing real-time data of activity occurring at card terminals. A merchant can log on to a system server and enter information to program options for its card terminals such as via a web page on an Internet site. The system server formats the information into a file based upon a communication protocol and programming rules for the card terminal, and downloads the file to it as a data stream. The card terminal programs itself according to the configuration data. A merchant can also view data for activity occurring at its card terminals, possibly in real-time proximate to detection of the activity by the system server. In conjunction with processing transactions or other activity from the card terminals, the system server replicates the records for the activity and makes them available to merchants such as via a web page on an Internet site. Both the entry of configuration data and viewing of real-time activity can occur at a network connection remote from the card terminals, allowing the merchants to program the card terminals and view their activity at any location having network access.
US07783570B2
To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.
US07783569B2
A system and method for consumer control over card-based transactions and associated accounts. An interface is provided between a merchant or the merchant's bank and the bank or banks at which the consumer has accounts for card-based transactions. The interface acts as an intermediary which is accessible to the consumer so that the consumer may place a variety of controls on card-based transactions. For example, multiple transaction cards may be linked to a single credit account with each card having a different credit limit. As another example, each transaction card may be restricted to a particular merchant. As yet another example, a consumer may link several credit and/or debit accounts to a single transaction card; the consumer may pre-select criteria to be utilized for directing charges for a particular transaction to be applied the different accounts. The consumer may access the interface via a web site or a telephone for making changes and receiving account information. Flexibility and control over the use of transaction cards is, therefore, provided for card-based transactions and for debit and credit accounts used in connection with such card-based transactions.
US07783563B2
Systems and methods are described for building, maintaining, and using a repository of information about payors of second-party checks presented at a check-cashing entity for cashing. In various embodiments, the repository comprises stored information useful for determining the location of a payor of a second-party check. In one embodiment, information from the check that identifies an account on which the check is drawn, such as magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line information from a paycheck, is used to access a repository of employer location information. In one embodiment, the payor location information is used to determine a proximity between the payor location and the check cashing entity location. In one embodiment, when a check is presented for which stored payor location information is not available, identifying information about the payor and/or the payor location is requested and is added to the repository.
US07783560B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for transacting credit derivatives. The methods and systems allow for the calculation of the final cash settlement prices for credit derivatives following a credit event, such as a corporate bankruptcy.
US07783530B2
Parking reservation systems and methods for a parking lot having a plurality of individual parking spaces include an electronic database of an inventory of available parking spaces; and at least one processor in communication with the electronic database. The processor can be configured to: (a) accept user input regarding a request for a reserved parking space; (b) automatically reserve a parking space for a patron upon receipt of a payment therefor; (c) generate a confirmation of the reservation for the patron; and (d) automatically adjust the database of the inventory of available spaces based on the reservation. Other systems and methods are configured to identify parking lots with vacancies in a geographical region of interest.
US07783529B2
A method of determining a winning allocation in an auction or exchange includes receiving at least one buy bid that includes a price-quantity demand curve and/or receiving at least one sell bid that includes a price-quantity supply curve. The received curves are utilized to determine clearing prices therefor that maximize a clearing surplus. A winning allocation is determined based on the clearing prices.
US07783524B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods that facilitate the prevention of fraud occurring in connection with credit cards, debit cards, smart cards and other payment cards that are used in transactions involving goods sold by a seller, delivered by a shipper, and purchased by a buyer. Specifically, the present invention provides systems and methods that allow for physical verification of a payment card (e.g., credit card) upon delivery of goods that are purchased in the context of a remote transaction between a buyer and a seller, including, for example, goods that are ordered via phone, mail order, fax or the Internet.
US07783523B2
A method and system for a rapid and automated creation of a price schedule comprising steps and an implementation for providing a set of construction plans created with an architectural software design tool, such as CAD, and a palette of 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional architectural parametric symbols that correspond to respective construction plan elements, such as windows, doors, acrylic glass blocks and/or sky lights. At least one parametric symbol corresponding to a construction plan element is inserted into the construction plans. A cost value for each of the inserted parametric symbols is calculated corresponding to respective plan elements. A price schedule is then created which includes the total cost for all of the inserted parametric symbols corresponding to respective plan elements.
US07783522B2
The disclosure relates to an automated method for product ordering and other operations via the Internet, while acting as a substitute or surrogate for another entity. According to the method, a user may connect to a web site and request a list of entities (also, “partners”) for which the user is authorized to place orders or perform other operations. Nodes of a hierarchical data structure may be used to represent the entities and the user. The hierarchical data structure may be processed to determine which of the nodes the user is authorized to perform operations for. The instructions may return a list of eligible nodes to the user, filtering out ineligible nodes.
US07783520B2
A method is provided of accessing product information for listing a product on a network-based auction service. The method includes selecting via a user interface the product from stored product information and electronically sending to the auction information about the selected product. The selected product is to be listed on the auction and the stored product information includes a data structure. A computer readable medium is provided that includes instructions adapted to execute a method of accessing product information for listing a product on a network-based auction service.
US07783515B1
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products for: (1) receiving transaction data from a transaction involving a consumer, where the transaction data comprises product-level information; (2) storing the transaction data in memory; and/or (3) posting the transaction data to an account accessible to the consumer.
US07783514B2
A method, apparatus and article for displaying targeted content on web pages by predicting the group membership of individual visitors based on data items relating to a web browser request for a web page. The method includes applying the data items to a set of transfer functions to obtain a series of confidence factors relating to a plurality of predefined visitor groups, selecting one of the plurality of visitor groups based on the series of confidence factors, selecting content targeted to the selected group, and delivering the selected targeted content to the web browser for display. Data items are extracted from a header accompanying the web browser request. These include browser type and version, operating system, referring URL and IP address. These data items are supplemented with data items derived from the data items present in the header, such as location, time of day, day of week, and industry cycles.
US07783509B1
A time series of data values representing occurrences of events at plural time points is received. Durations between successive events are computed, and a burst of activity based on the computed durations is detected. It is determined that a change has occurred in response to detecting the burst of activity.
US07783507B2
Method and system for managing a plurality of remote assets, such as a fleet mobile assets is provided. The method allows for collecting data regarding each of a plurality of remote assets. The collected data is used to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each remote asset. The information is distributed via a global information network.
US07783500B2
A method and system for providing expatriate risk management are disclosed. The method includes receiving intelligence from at least one intelligence source, receiving asset information, and generating a risk assessment report based on the intelligence and an employee profile.
US07783498B2
An electronic guide information processing system includes: an information distributing apparatus 19 for converting the guide information D1 into electronic guide information, and then distributing the resultant data; and a portable terminal apparatus 14 for recording and reproducing the electronic guide information distributed from the information distributing apparatus 19. The electronic guide information D1 is visually displayed or/and audibly output in the portable terminal apparatus 14. Due to this structure, the information user can obtain the guide information about customers attracting facility in the form of electronic guide information D1, instead of in the form of conventional paper materials such as guidebooks and guide maps. Besides, by employing a system in which the electronic guide information D1 is distributed through broadcasting or communication infrastructure, the information user can easily and timely obtain the guide information about the customers attracting facility before he or she actually visits there.
US07783496B2
An encoding device (200) includes an MDCT unit (202) that transforms an input signal in a time domain into a frequency spectrum including a lower frequency spectrum, a BWE encoding unit (204) that generates extension data which specifies a higher frequency spectrum at a higher frequency than the lower frequency spectrum, and an encoded data stream generating unit (205) that encodes to output the lower frequency spectrum obtained by the MDCT unit (202) and the extension data obtained by the BWE encoding unit (204). The BWE encoding unit (204) generates as the extension data (i) a first parameter which specifies a lower subband which is to be copied as the higher frequency spectrum from among a plurality of the lower subbands which form the lower frequency spectrum obtained by the MDCT unit (202) and (ii) a second parameter which specifies a gain of the lower subband after being copied.
US07783491B2
A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.
US07783488B2
Methods and systems are provided for remote tuning and debugging of an automatic speech recognition system. Trace files are generated on-site from input speech by efficient, lossless compression of MFCC data, which is merged with compressed pitch and voicing information and stored as trace files. The trace files are transferred to a remote site where human-intelligible speech is reconstructed and analyzed. Based on the analysis, parameters of the automatic speech recognition system are remotely adjusted.
US07783487B2
There is provided a mobile phone that detects bio-information on the user and makes information communications reflecting the detected bio-information. The mobile phone (1) includes sensors (18) that detect bio-information data. The bio-information data detected by the sensors (18) are sent to a sensor data analyzer (19) in which psychology corresponding to the detected bio-information data is analyzed based on bio-information data stored in a psychology memory (20) and psychology of the user. The sensor data analyzer (19) extracts characteristic signal patterns from the bio-information data detected by the sensors (18) and analyzes psychology corresponding to the extracted signal patterns. The psychology includes, for example, “pleased and delightful”, “discouraged”, “excited”, etc. and these states of mind are stored in association with bio-information data in the psychology memory (20). When the bio-information data are detected by the sensors (18), psychology most matching the bio-information data is selectively read out of the psychology memory (20).
US07783486B2
The present invention is an autonomous response engine and method that can more successfully mimic a human conversational exchange. In an exemplary, preferred embodiment of the invention, the response engine has a statement-response database that is autonomously updated, thus enabling a database of significant size to be easily created and maintained with current information. The response engine autonomously generates natural language responses to natural language queries by following one of several conversation strategies, by choosing at least one context element from a context database and by searching the updated statement-response data base for appropriate matches to the queries.
US07783481B2
A noise reduction apparatus includes an analysis unit for converting input into a signal of a frequency area, a suppression unit for suppressing the signal, and a synthesis unit for synthesizing a signal of a time area. The apparatus further includes an estimation unit for estimating, using the output of the analysis unit, information corresponding to at least pure voice element excluding noise element in an input voice signal as voice information which is the basic voice information for calculation of a suppression gain of a signal, and a unit for calculating a suppression gain corresponding to the output of the estimation unit and the analysis unit and providing it for the suppression unit.
US07783477B2
A method for modelling, i.a. analyzing and/or synthesizing, a windowed signal such as sound or speech signals, by computing the frequencies and complex amplitudes from the signal using a nonlinear least squares method is disclosed. The computations complexity is reduced by taking into account the bandlimited property of a window.
US07783458B2
An optical system employs filtered broad band light for determining the specific components in a material sample. The system forms an r by n matrix C representing r principal components of the measurement to be analyzed at n different frequencies. Each sample contains a known quantity of the different materials in the sample being analyzed where r represents the number of different analytes or components in the sample. The system measures m different samples at n different frequencies, said m samples containing unknown quantities of the material, where “m” is a selected integer representing the number of samples. Using the measured results from the m samples the system forms an n by m matrix P, where P=C·R, and where R is an m by r matrix representing r unknown values of the r principal components which are being measured in the m material samples. The system then solves the equation P=C·R for R by inverting C in the equation R=(CT·C)−1·CT·P. This gives the value of each of the r principal components in the sample.
US07783450B2
A method and system (10, 23) for determining vehicle weight to a precision of <0.1%, uses a plurality of weight sensing elements (23), a computer (10) for reading in weighing data for a vehicle (25) and produces a dataset representing the total weight of a vehicle via programming (40-53) that is executable by the computer (10) for (a) providing a plurality of mode parameters that characterize each oscillatory mode in the data due to movement of the vehicle during weighing, (b) by determining the oscillatory mode at which there is a minimum error in the weighing data; (c) processing the weighing data to remove that dynamical oscillation from the weighing data; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the error in the set of weighing data is <0.1% in the vehicle weight.
US07783449B2
A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.
US07783444B2
Methods and systems of alternative overlay calculation and of calculating overlay stability based on alternative overlay settings in a fabrication unit, and a computer readable medium are disclosed being capable of calculating alternative overlay error values based on alignment model parameters, alternative alignment model parameters, and overlay error values for a plurality of measurement positions.
US07783427B1
An incursion detection system can be utilized with an aircraft. The incursion detection system can be utilized to determine a possible presence of obstacles associated with a runway, taxi-way, or other path of an aircraft. The incursion detection system preferably utilizes a sensor, such as a radar system, and a signal received on a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver can be part of an ADS-B system. A processing device determines a presence of at least one obstacle in a path based upon first data derived from the wireless receiver and/or second data received from the sensor.
US07783423B2
An improved position determination system and method are described. The method includes determining that a failure to generate an acceptable GNSS position fix has occurred. In response to determining that the failure to generate an acceptable GNSS position fix has occurred, terrestrial positioning information is accessed which is derived from at least one broadcast signal. A second position fix based upon the terrestrial positioning information is generated.
US07783422B2
A navigation device includes a position detector, a controller, a display portion, an imaging portion and an image processor. The imaging portion images a forward view in front of the vehicle as a forward image from a predetermined distance before a guidance point. The image processor extracts and analyzes visual information of an on-road object from the forward image. The controller specifies a position of the on-road object based on the visual information and map information. The display portion displays and highlights an image of the on-road object at a true position in a road map image, when the position of the on-road object corresponds to the guidance point.
US07783415B2
A traffic information processing apparatus for alleviating the problem of discrepancy between a plurality of traffic information which may be acquired from different sources is disclosed. In the case where a plurality of traffic information are acquired, the information are corrected into reference traffic information selected from the plurality of the traffic information. For example, the traffic information processing apparatus acquires first traffic information (VICS information) used for the navigation process and second traffic information (probe traffic information) having a different source from the first traffic information. From the first and second traffic information, the traffic information for a common object is extracted, and based on the difference between them, the correcting information used for correcting the second traffic information is generated. The traffic information on an object not contained in the first traffic information is acquired by correcting the second traffic information on the object using the correcting information.
US07783412B2
The invention concerns a method for determining the timing of an injection cycle relative to an operating cycle of a four-stroke engine (ECH, ADM, COMP, DET), the timing being possibly correct or wrong, the method including the step of operating the engine while modifying a first operating parameter of the engine adapted to bring about on the engine operating effects which are different depending on whether the timing is correct or wrong; it consists in simultaneously modifying a second operating parameter of the engine adapted to bring about on the engine operating mode effects which compensate the effects modifying the first operating parameter of the engine when the timing is correct, and which do not compensate the efforts modifying the first operating parameter of the engine when the timing is wrong.
US07783410B2
A pressure surface is propelled within an engine chamber. Air is introduced into the chamber. The air in the chamber is compressed with the pressure surface. The compressed air is charged with fuel. The fuel is combusted to propel the pressure surface within the chamber. The air and the combusted fuel are exhausted from the chamber. A turbocharger is powered with the exhaust to compress air to an extremely high level, 20+ atmospheres. The air compressed by the turbocharger is passed into the chamber to propel the pressure surface in the chamber without additional fuel. Since compressing the high pressure air in the chamber would cancel the gains of the previous cycle and possibly damage the engine, this invention proposes to open the exhaust valve at the bottom of the intake stroke to relieve the excess pressure, close the exhaust valve and compress the remaining air in the cylinder.
US07783408B2
An engine has cylinders respectively connected to branch pipes branched from a main pipe as an intake manifold. Fuel injection valves are attached to branch pipes, respectively. Further, branch pipes are connected to branch pipes branched from an EGR pipe on a downstream side of EGR valve, and exhaust gas introduced from EGR valve is fed to each of branch pipes. ECU detects imbalance of air-fuel ratio among cylinders, based on cylinder-by-cylinder air-fuel ratio detected by air-fuel ratio sensors provided on branch pipes as an exhaust manifold. If there is an imbalance in air-fuel ratio among cylinders, EGR valve is closed and imbalance in air-fuel ratio among cylinders is again detected.
US07783406B2
A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The device, system and method further provide for communicating a subject vehicle's speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.
US07783404B2
Calibration of an FNR lever, wherein signal outputs as the FNR lever is transitioned to and from the neutral position and through a range of positions, are determined. It is then determined whether the values are within expected norms. If not, a fault condition exists. The operator is also prompted to input acknowledgments when the FNR lever is at the fully rearward and forward positions. Signal values outputted by a neutral switch are sensed when the lever is initially moved to the neutral position, and at a predetermined time thereafter, to test a propulsion enable or latch relay which is to provide a predetermined output for a predetermined time after the lever moves into the neutral position, for transitioning of the system to neutral operation.
US07783401B2
A method and device for managing a task upraised according to receiving a processing request of services in in-vehicle electronic control units are provided. The method and device include the steps of: allocating a plurality of services to one task and determining whether or not the task assigned with the service is in process of execution in receiving the processing request of the service; and upraising the task to process the service of the received processing request when determination is made that the task is not in process of execution in the determining step, and making the task in process of execution continuously process the service of the received processing request without newly upraising the task when determination is made that the task is in process of execution in the determining step.
US07783399B1
A turn signal apparatus includes a heading indicator which provides a heading signal and a control circuit which provides a turn direction output signal. The turn direction output signal is chosen to indicate a turn direction in response to the heading signal and a corresponding turn direction input signal. The turn direction can be for a right turn, a left turn, or a neutral turn. A left or right turn indication can be changed to a neutral turn indication in response to the heading signal.
US07783398B2
Program data stored in the recording medium of a general control apparatus coupled to a network is stored in the recording medium of a control apparatus as a rewritten subject of program data in the following manner. First, program data stored in a recording medium contained within the general control apparatus is sent via the network of a vehicle to the recording medium of a second control apparatus as the rewritten subject of program data (see a path L1). In this case, the program data 21 stored in the recording medium contained in the general control apparatus for generally controlling the control apparatuses is sent to the network of the vehicle when it is determined to be optimum by the CPU 12c of the general control apparatus. The program data sent to the network of the vehicle is sent via the network of the vehicle to the second control apparatus as the rewritten subject of program data. Then, the second control apparatus as the rewritten subject of program data stores the program data sent via the network of the vehicle into the recording medium.
US07783394B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for constructing a low-altitude flight path to be followed by an aircraft. The device comprises a database including a terrain profile concerning the terrain to be flown over by the aircraft, a set of data sources, first unit for determining a lateral trajectory of the flight path, and second unit for determining a vertical trajectory of the flight path, the second unit being formed so as to determine the vertical trajectory during the aircraft flight, successively as the flight proceeds, segment by segment, and including an element for retrieving from the database a profile section, and an element for determining a vertical trajectory segment, using the retrieved profile section, based on the climb-out and let-down performances of the aircraft derived from the set of data sources.
US07783393B2
A vertical situation display system for use in a vehicle such as, for example, an aircraft, is provided. A side view of an intended route of flight may be shown with altitude restrictions, airspace and instrument approach information, a projected flight path and range to airspeed symbol. The system may show terrain, weather, and traffic information along the intended route of flight. The system may be used in conjunction with a navigational display to enhance situational awareness. The system includes a computer, an electronic display device, an electronic entry device, a memory and a database. The database may contain terrain, airspace and flight planning data and may be updatable.
US07783389B2
A power storage equipment management system has a power storage equipment, and a management server for managing power information of the power storage equipment. The power storage equipment includes a power receiving unit for obtaining power for charging, a power supplying unit for supplying charged power to a load, an information controller for generating power information by charging and discharging of the power receiving unit or the power supplying unit, and a communication unit for transmitting the power information to the management server. The management server includes an information management unit for determining a consideration with respect to the power information transmitted from the power storage equipment by using consideration information which has been set beforehand.
US07783387B2
A robot system (X-Z) includes a plurality of manipulators (1x-2x, 1y-2y, 1w-2w, 1z-2z) and a portable terminal (3), said terminal being able to connect to the manipulators in wireless mode. The system is conceived so as to enable the terminal (3) to connect to a first manipulator (1x-2x) in a programming mode (Main) and, during the same session, to connect to a second manipulator (1w, 2w) in a monitoring mode (Secondary).
