US07799393B2
The present invention is drawn to a print medium and a method of preparing the same. The print medium can include a media substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the media substrate. The porous ink-receiving layer can include metal oxide or semi-metal oxide including a first portion of amine-functionalized particulates and a second portion of epoxy functionalized particulates, wherein at least a portion of the amine functionalized particulates are covalently coupled to at least a portion of the epoxy-functionalized particulates. A binder can optionally be present in the porous ink-receiving layer as well.
US07799390B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of improving response characteristics while maintaining display characteristics, and a liquid crystal display using such a liquid crystal display device are provided. Provided is the liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates facing each other, and electrodes and a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, where the liquid crystal layer is composed of liquid crystal material including a liquid crystal molecule showing a nematic liquid crystal phase and a molecule providing tilt to the liquid crystal molecule.
US07799389B2
The invention concerns a method for depositing a thin polymer film on a substrate for functionalizing the surface of said substrate, comprising a step which consists in electrohydrodynamic spraying of a polymerizable precursor towards the substrate so as to produce an electrostatic deposition of electrically charged droplets of said precursor and form the thin film on the surface by polymerizing the droplets. The method is characterized in that it further comprises a step for causing the excited species to interact with the droplets of the sprayed precursor, thereby promoting the polymerization reactions of said precursor. The invention also concerns a device for implementing the method, in particular for depositing a thin polymer film on a moving substrate-film.
US07799379B2
The present disclosure provides a method for producing detectable warnings (16) on substrate surfaces (14), which includes providing a mat (30) with a top surface (38) and a bottom surface (36) and a pattern of mat through holes (34) extending through the mat (30). The through holes (34) comprise a lower portion (44) defining a lower mat opening (33) and an upper portion (32) defining an upper mat opening (35), wherein the upper mat opening (35) is larger in transverse dimension than the lower mat opening (33). The method further includes placing the mat (30) on a substrate surface (14), wherein the bottom surface (36) of the mat (30) is adjacent the substrate surface (14), and injecting into the mat through holes (34) a viscous substance (40) having the ability to cure into a solid. The method further includes removing the mat (30) at the appropriate time to form raised detectable warnings (16) on the substrate surface (14).
US07799377B2
Provided is a method for depositing an organic/inorganic thin film. The method includes: i) heating a source vessel containing an organic material and an inorganic material; ii) transferring a deposition gas to a process chamber; iii) distributing the deposition gas onto a substrate disposed in the process chamber; iv) purging the process chamber; v) heating an activating agent source vessel; vi) transferring a heat initiator gas phase to the process chamber; vii) distributing the heat initiator gas phase onto the organic or inorganic material monomer deposited on the substrate through the process chamber, and forming an organic/inorganic thin film; and viii) exhausting the heat initiator gas phase and purging the process chamber. Depositing the organic/inorganic thin film in a time-division manner, the thickness of the thin film can be accurately adjusted and the deposition can be uniformly performed when the thin film is deposited on a large-scale substrate.
US07799370B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing an electronic circuit. The method includes the steps of: forming a nucleus comprising thermo-expandable particles on a conductive layer provided on an insulating substrate; forming an insulating film on the conductive layer having the nucleus-formed thereon; forming an opening by heating the substrate to expand the thermo-expandable particles and form a cleavage in the insulating film; and forming another conductive layer comprising a conductive material on the opening and the insulating film such that the upper and lower conductive layers are electrically connected to each other via the conductive material through the insulating film. This allows formation of a through hole in an electric circuit with ease without photolithographic processes such as exposure, development, and etching.
US07799367B2
Medical catheters are often coated, fully or partially. The present invention relates to systems and methods for coating some portion or all of a medical catheter or one or more of its components.
US07799358B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for enhancing the yield of coagulated milk products including cheese and other fermented milk products. Admixture of structurally expanded celluloses into milk allows substantial incorporation of additional whey solids and fluids into the caseinate matrix. The resulting interactive particle network comprising the cellulosic microfibril substructure and caseinate curd is readily manipulated by standard methods employed in the dairy industry to produce a variety of natural and processed dairy products with increased yield.
US07799355B2
The treatment and prevention of skin irritations, including diaper rash, is facilitated with the topical application of cranberry anthocyanins in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.
US07799352B2
Disclosed are therapeutic hydrogels for atopic dermatitis and a method for preparing the same. The hydrogels comprises a biocompatible polymer, a polyalcohol, and a medicinal plant extract. The hydrogels can carry medicinally effective ingredients for a sustained period of time and absorb wound exudates properly. The hydrogels have suitable gel strength and, when applied to a wound, can prevent bacterial infection of the wound. Moreover, the methods employing radiation allow the polymer chains to be crosslinked to each other, and also bring about a sterilization effect in the final hydrogel. There are no problems of toxic residues in the hydrogels. They are easy to attach to the skin and concomitantly provide a cool feeling. Supported by the laminate of hydrophilic non-woven fabric sheet and polyethylene film, the hydrogel retain water for a prolonged period of time and thus are useful in the treatment of contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.
US07799346B2
A method of treatment, including separately delivering a treatment agent and a barrier having a binding member to a tissue, the binding member having a property adapted to couple to a surface of the tissue, wherein the barrier is present in an amount sufficient to permit transport of the treatment agent from the tissue at a lower rate than transport in the absence of the barrier component, wherein the barrier is biodegradable and hinders transport of the treatment agent away from the tissue but allows the treatment agent to migrate toward the tissue.
US07799334B2
The present invention relates to pyrazolecarboxamides of the formula I in which the variables are as defined below: X is trifluoromethyl; R1 is F, Cl, Br, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-haloalkyl; R2 is hydrogen, halogen or C1-C4-alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C2-C4-alkynyl or C3-C6-cycloalkyl; W is O or S; with the proviso that, if R3 is hydrogen and W is oxygen, a) R1 and R2 are not simultaneously methyl and F, respectively; b) R1 and R2 are not simultaneously trifluoromethyl and hydrogen or fluorine, respectively. to processes for preparing these compounds, to seeds and compositions comprising them and to methods for controlling harmful fungi.
US07799331B2
The present invention relates to novel oral suspension formulation comprising prednisolone acetate, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a thickening agent. The present invention further provides a method of treating patients in need of prednisolone with the novel formulation.
US07799314B2
A method for producing a hydrogen containing gas for use in an internal combustion engine system is provided. The method includes cyclically operating at least two pressure swing reformer reactors such that one is reforming while another is regenerating, thereby producing a continuous stream of hydrogen containing gas. During engine operation exhaust gas is fed to the pressure swing reformer reactor that is undergoing regeneration, thereby supplying at least part of the heat for regeneration. Also, the hydrogen gas produced is used in at least one of (i) the engine; (ii) an engine exhaust treatment device; and (iii) a fuel cell.
US07799310B2
Methods and systems for generating sulfuric acid (102) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes combusting a sulfur-containing material (114) with a gas including oxygen (116) to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide (118), mixing water with the first stream of sulfur dioxide to produce a mixed stream, using an energy, electrolytically converting (108) the mixed stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid (102) and hydrogen (122), generating a source of energy (126) from the hydrogen, and providing the source of energy as at least a portion of the energy for electrolytically converting the first stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In some embodiments, the system includes a first chamber for combusting a sulfur-containing material to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide, an electrolytic cell (108) for converting the first stream into sulfuric acid and hydrogen, and a fuel cell (112) for generating an energy source from the hydrogen.
US07799302B1
A method of making hydrogenated Group IVA compounds having reduced metal-based impurities, compositions and inks including such Group IVA compounds, and methods for forming a semiconductor thin film. Thin semiconducting films prepared according to the present invention generally exhibit improved conductivity, film morphology and/or carrier mobility relative to an otherwise identical structure made by an identical process, but without the washing step. In addition, the properties of the present thin film are generally more predictable than those of films produced from similarly prepared (cyclo)silanes that have not been washed according to the present invention. The present invention advantageously provides semiconducting thin film structures having qualities suitable for use in electronics applications, such as display devices or RF ID tags, while enabling high-throughput manufacturing processes that form such thin films in seconds or minutes, rather than hours or days as with conventional photolithographic processes.
US07799301B2
Provided is a cathode material for a lithium secondary battery composed of an aggregate of Li-A-O composite oxide particles (wherein A represents one or more metal elements selected from Mn, Fe, Co and Ni), wherein the lithium composite oxide contains 20 to 100 ppm (by mass) of P, and the total content of impurity elements excluding essential components is 2000 ppm or less. Also provided is a manufacturing method of such a cathode material for a lithium secondary battery including the steps of suspending lithium carbonate in water and thereafter introducing a metallic salt solution of one or more metal elements selected from Mn, Fe, Co and Ni in the lithium carbonate suspension, adding a small amount of phosphoric acid so that the P content in the Li-A-O composite oxide particles will be 20 to 100 ppm (by mass), and forming an aggregate of Li-A-O composite oxide particles containing 20 to 100 ppm (by mass) of P by filtering, cleansing, drying and thereafter oxidizing the obtained carbonate. This cathode material for a lithium secondary battery and its manufacturing method realize improved sinterability and battery characteristics.
US07799293B2
Methods of separating actinides from lanthanides are disclosed. A regio-specific/stereo-specific dithiophosphinic acid having organic moieties is provided in an organic solvent that is then contacted with an acidic medium containing an actinide and a lanthanide. The method can extend to separating actinides from one another. Actinides are extracted as a complex with the dithiophosphinic acid. Separation compositions include an aqueous phase, an organic phase, dithiophosphinic acid, and at least one actinide. The compositions may include additional actinides and/or lanthanides. A method of producing a dithiophosphinic acid comprising at least two organic moieties selected from aromatics and alkyls, each moiety having at least one functional group is also disclosed. A source of sulfur is reacted with a halophosphine. An ammonium salt of the dithiophosphinic acid product is precipitated out of the reaction mixture. The precipitated salt is dissolved in ether. The ether is removed to yield the dithiophosphinic acid.
US07799290B2
A non-thermal plasma or corona discharge is generated at multiple points and distributed to decontaminate surfaces and objects contaminated with chemical or biological agents. The corona discharge can be generated using very short high voltage pulses. The pulsed corona discharge can be directed at a contaminated surface through the unbraided strands at an end of a dielectric covered conductor. Another pulsed discharge embodiment incorporates a primary coil surrounding a chamber having a void filled with a plurality of secondary coils. A silent corona discharge can be generated using a variety of different configurations of a dielectric coated electrode and a bare electrode. The silent discharge is produced at all intersections between the dielectric covered electrode and the bare electrode. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a blanket-like structure that is useful for decontaminating surfaces or decontaminating a fluid passing between spaced-apart bare electrodes.
US07799289B2
An exhaust treatment system includes a catalyzed particulate filter disposed in a first passageway and configured to receive a first portion of a flow of exhaust. The catalyzed particulate filter is at least partially coated with a catalytic material for converting NO to NO2. The exhaust treatment system also includes a second passageway configured to direct a second portion of the flow of exhaust around the catalyzed particulate filter and a selective catalytic reduction device disposed downstream from the first passageway and the second passageway. The selective catalytic reduction device is configured to receive a combined flow of exhaust including the first and second portions of the flow of exhaust.
US07799285B2
A stripping apparatus is described for the gas-solid separation process in a fluidized bed in a counter-current flow of a stripping fluid. The apparatus includes sets of perforated baffle-plates with holes, fixed in series, alternating central and lateral plates inside a stripping chamber. The holes in the baffle-plates, in number, size and in circular or elliptical lay-out, are oriented in offset position in relation to the holes in the parallel and subsequent baffle-plates, reducing the damage of erosion on the perforated baffle-plates and optimizing stripping of the fluidized solid particles.
US07799283B2
A device for heating or cooling multiple single chamber containers or a multi-chamber container. The device includes: a unitary heat or cold source providing a source of heat or cold; heat exchange elements in thermal communication with the heat or cold source and extending away from the heat or cold source; a thermal barrier between each of said heat exchange elements to thermally isolate the heat exchange elements from each other. Each heat exchange element is thermally associated with one or more chambers that are different from one or more chambers associated with other heat exchange elements to thermally isolate the chambers from each other. Preferably the container is a sample or reagent container used in a clinical analyzer, such as a multi-chamber reaction cuvette or a multi-chamber microtiter plate. An incubator assembly, preferably usable in a clinical analyzer, can include the device for heating or cooling.
US07799280B1
A non-planar, tortuous path chemical preconcentrator has a high internal surface area having a heatable sorptive coating that can be used to selectively collect and concentrate one or more chemical species of interest from a fluid stream that can be rapidly released as a concentrated plug into an analytical or microanalytical chain for separation and detection. The non-planar chemical preconcentrator comprises a sorptive support structure having a tortuous flow path. The tortuosity provides repeated twists, turns, and bends to the flow, thereby increasing the interfacial contact between sample fluid stream and the sorptive material. The tortuous path also provides more opportunities for desorption and readsorption of volatile species. Further, the thermal efficiency of the tortuous path chemical preconcentrator is comparable or superior to the prior non-planar chemical preconcentrator. Finally, the tortuosity can be varied in different directions to optimize flow rates during the adsorption and desorption phases of operation of the preconcentrator.
US07799278B2
A microfluidic system for performing fluid analysis is described having: (a) a submersible housing having a fluid analysis means and a power supply to provide power to said system; and (b) a substrate for receiving a fluid sample, having embedded therein a fluid sample inlet, a reagent inlet, a fluid sample outlet, and a mixing region in fluid communication with the fluid sample inlet, the reagent inlet, and the fluid sample outlet, and wherein the substrate includes a fluid drive means for moving the fluid sample through the substrate, and wherein the substrate interconnects with the housing. At least a portion of the fluid analysis means may be embedded in the substrate.
US07799275B2
A diagnostic test device comprises means for sampling a liquid biological sample and means for reacting the sample with at least one reagent to provide one or more visible indicia. The device also comprises an optical detector for detecting the presence of the one or more indicia. The device also comprises means for causing at least part of the optical detector to move over the one or more indicia.
US07799274B2
A device for the thermal decomposition of a volatile compound, and for deposition of particles which are formed by the decomposition, includes (a) a pressure vessel, (b) at least one reaction tube located inside the pressure vessel such that, an open end of the reaction tube extends into the pressure vessel and an other end of the reaction tube is located outside the pressure vessel and is provided with a gas feed, wherein a longitudinal axis of the reaction tube is oriented in the direction of gravity and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel and wherein the reaction tube can be heated on a gas inlet side and cooled on a gas outlet side, wherein the pressure vessel, in its lower part, comprises a collection cone, wherein the open end of the at least one reaction tube extends into a gas space of the collection cone, wherein the collection cone is connected to an outlet lock for particles, and (c) a gas outlet unit located mainly inside the pressure vessel, the gas outlet unit comprising a gas guide, a gas inlet region, wherein the gas inlet region is in communication with the gas space of the collection cone, a filter system, and a gas outlet, which is located outside the pressure vessel.
US07799273B2
Manufacturing execution systems relating to methods, systems, and software program for validation of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and quality assurance process are described and disclosed herein. Consequently, the methods provide a means to perform validation on an integrated level whereby the quality control unit can ensure data and product integrity and minimize cost.
US07799272B2
A method for reducing biological and/or chemical contaminants within a feed fluid stream includes in one embodiment the following steps: a) introducing the fluid stream into a cold pass of at least one recuperator; b) optionally heating the feed fluid stream using a heater; and c) introducing the feed fluid stream into a compressor, and compressing the fluid stream to an elevated pressure, resulting in heating of the fluid stream to an elevated temperature, thereby producing a decontaminated fluid stream.
US07799267B2
The disclosed invention relates to a method of manufacture of transparent ceramics such as yttrium aluminum garnet by tape casting. The method entails forming a mixture of ceramic oxide, dispersant and organic solvent, milling the mixture to produce a first slurry, mixing the first slurry with an organic binder and a plasticizer to form a treated slurry, milling the treated slurry to produce milled slurry, tape casting the milled slurry to produce cast tape, drying the cast tape to produce dried tape, stacking portions of dried tape to form an assembly, compressing the assembly to produce a preform, heating the preform to produce a green preform, and sintering the green preform to produce transparent yttrium aluminum garnet. The method may be used to produce a unitary ceramic product having differing transparent sections as well as transparent ceramic product having a dopant gradient across a portion of the thickness of the product.
US07799262B1
The invention is directed to a method of making continuous filament by electrospinning, wherein electrospun nanofibers are collected on a multi-layer type collector consisting of two or more, rotating disk-shaped conductive materials by electrospinning a polymer dope onto the multi-layer collector with a high voltage applied thereto and which rotates at a rotational linear velocity of 5 m/sec or more, through nozzles having a high voltage applied thereto, and then collecting the nanofibers on the collector in the form of a continuous filament by the use of a collecting roller, and conveying the nanofibers to a canvas through a traverse, or dried, drawn, and wound consecutively.
US07799255B2
Articles such as melt spun elastic tape and heaving denier monofilament fibers are made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymers. The process to make the articles involves using a substantially horizontal cooling to cool the melt spun articles. Preferably, the cooling is accomplished by a water bath. A crosslinking agent is added to the TPU polymer melt to enhance the elastic properties of the articles.
US07799252B2
A method for making a thermal interface material includes: providing a CNT array on a substrate; providing a first solution with organic matter and ferric ion; soaking the CNT array into the first solution for a period of time; dipping a second solution into the first solution to form a ferric salt deposit; taking out the CNT array, and then heating the CNT array in inert gas; and cooling and peeling off the CNT array from the substrate, and finally achieving a thermal interface material. The thermal interface material made by the present method has a high heat conducting efficiency.
US07799251B2
Devices that include hosts having internal microcapillary networks are disclosed. The microcapillary networks are formed from interconnected passageways. The interconnected passageways may be formed by removing a fugitive material from a cured host material that forms the host. The resultant host material has many applications, including use as a microfluidic device in applications ranging from fluid mixing to structural repair.
US07799249B2
Systems and methods for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. Certain of the present systems include a contact lens mold forming station, a station for filling a contact lens mold section with a lens precursor composition and for placing a second mold section on the filled mold section to form a contact lens mold assembly, a curing station for forming a contact lens, a mold assembly separation station, and an extraction/hydration station. Certain of the present methods include forming a plurality of mold sections, placing a lens precursor composition on a surface of a first mold section, placing a second mold section on the first mold section, polymerizing the lens precursor composition, separating the first and second mold sections, removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from one of the mold sections, extracting extractable components from the contact lens, and hydrating the contact lens.
US07799247B2
A therapeutic device has a first chamber that retains an oxalic ester solution, and a second chamber that retains a hydrogen peroxide and fluorescer solution. The therapeutic device is activated by causing the oxalic ester solution to mix with the hydrogen peroxide and fluorescer solution, which produces chemiluminescent light for treating a wound.
US07799243B2
Shape memory main-chain smectic-C elastomers are described, as are methods for their preparation and monomers used in such methods. The elastomers are prepared by hydrosilylation of a reaction mixture including a liquid crystalline diene, a crosslinking agent, and a bis(silyl hydride) compound. The elastomers exhibit shape-memory properties and spontaneously reversible shape changes. They are useful for fabrication of shape memory articles including, for example, implantable medical devices, contact lenses, reversible embossing media, and Fresnel lenses.
US07799242B2
A liquid crystalline composition is disclosed. The composition comprises at least one liquid-crystal compound and at least one fluoroaliphatic group-containing polymer of a formula (1-1). In the formula, i and j each indicate an integer equal to or more than 1; M represents k types of repetitive units each derived from an ethylenic unsaturated monomer (k indicates an integer equal to or more than 1); a, b and c each mean a mass percentage indicating a polymerization ratio; R11 and R12 each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; X1 and X2 each represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R13)—; R13 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; m1 and m2 each indicate an integer of from 1 to 6; and n1 indicates an integer of from 0 to 3.
US07799241B2
A fixing liquid for properly and economically suppressing or preventing dispersion of dust (asbestos dust) generated through weathering or demolition of a sprayed-on material containing asbestos is prepared by homogeneously incorporating a surfactant and a thickener (e.g., CMC) into a solution of a polysaccharide (e.g., gum arabic). When an appropriate amount of the fixing liquid is sprayed onto a sprayed-on material containing asbestos, dust due to weathering of the sprayed-on material is wetted and retained, and dispersion of dust generated during demolition of the material is suppressed or prevented. Even after drying of the fixing liquid, the viscosity of the liquid is restored by re-wetting with water, and dispersion of dust generated during demolition of the thus-treated material is suppressed or prevented. Since the thickener has an increased volume in the presence of water, the thus-treated material is readily removed.
US07799239B2
Para-type aromatic polyamide short fibers are attached with a phosphate ester alkali metal salt of an alcohol having a carbon number of 12 having a molar fraction of a monoester salt of from 45 to 70% by mol and a molar fraction of a diester salt of from 10 to 40% by mol in an amount of from 0.05 to 1.0% by weight based on the weight of the fibers, whereby such para-type aromatic polyamide short fibers excellent in spinning property are obtained that are excellent in bundling property and antistatic property, and are low in adhesion property causing less twining on rollers and less formation of scums.
US07799235B2
A system and related method for separating floating and nonfloating particulate and entrained, suspended, and/or dissolved contaminants from a fluid. The system includes a tank with a lower chamber spaced from an outlet or upper chamber by a confinement deck. The deck includes one or more sockets for receiving one or more filter units for fluid treatment. In addition, the lower chamber of the tank acts as a pretreatment sump to remove floating and nonfloating particulates, thereby reducing the load on the filter units. The filter units are configured for radial and/or upward flow of the fluid from the lower chamber. The filter units may include one or more filter media through which the fluid pass prior to exiting the tank. The filter units include a removable screening retainer for retaining the filter media and/or to screen relatively large contaminants. The filter unit may be removed for ease of tank maintenance and replacement of filter media. The system allows a method of contaminated fluid treatment under varying flow conditions by directing the fluid radially and/or upwardly through the retainer. Establishing both types of flow through the filter unit improves filtering and extends filter life without compromising desired flow through rates.
US07799234B2
A modular waste disinfection system for the disinfection of substantially liquid infectious waste streams and methods of treating such waste streams are disclosed. The modular waste disinfection system includes a metal ion generation chamber for introducing metal ions into the waste material; an oxidant generation chamber in fluid flow communication with the metal ion generation chamber for disinfection of the waste material with an oxidizing agent; and a chelation chamber in fluid flow communication with the oxidant generation chamber for deactivation of metal ions in the waste material, wherein the waste is discharged to a sanitary sewer after disinfection.
US07799230B2
Method for treatment of oil on a solid or liquid surface to facilitate subsequent removal of the oil from the surface. A fat-soluble metal containing substance comprising an organic anion and a metallic cation is added to the oil. The metal containing substance may be prepared by allowing a metal salt to react with an acidic organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation agent ensures that all the metal in the end product is present at its highest stable oxidation state while at least one volatile compound is formed during the preparation. A polymeric material with a high specific surface area may optionally be added or a prepolymer for allowing subsequent formation of such a polymeric material.
US07799213B2
Reactive phosphorus species can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C2-C4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of reactive phosphorus species into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.
US07799212B2
A method which controls sedimentation occurring at a heat exchanger for cooling hydrodesulfurization/hydrocracking residue containing asphaltenes at a high content and thereby prevents fouling of the heat exchanger is disclosed. A method for preventing fouling of a heat exchanger for cooling hydrodesulfurization/hydrocracking residue, which injects flux oil into hydrodesulfurization/hydrocracking residue containing asphaltenes at 1% by mass or more, wherein the flux oil is at least one species of residue selected from the group consisting of crude vacuum distillation residue and fluidized catalytic cracking residue, and injected into the hydrodesulfurization/hydrocracking residue to control its actual sediment content at 0.2% by mass or less, determined in accordance with IP-375 is also disclosed.
US07799206B2
A method is disclosed for producing a stable pipelineable blend from a heavy residue of a catalytic hydroconversion process operating at high (60-80%) conversion rate by blending the heavy residue with a virgin bitumen, such as a bitumen produced from the Peace River or Cold Lake oil sand deposits in Alberta, Canada, and/or with a Wabasca virgin heavy crude oil wherein the 524° C.+ Fraction of the blend is controlled such that: 1) The blend comprises less than 40 vol % of heavy 524° C.+ components, i.e. components which boil at atmospheric pressure at a temperature above about 524 Degrees Celsius; and 2) The 524° C.+ fraction in the blend comprises less than about 80 vol % of heavy residue originating from the hydroconversion process.
US07799201B2
An electropolishing apparatus and method are provided for polishing stents and other medical implants. The apparatus includes a motor that rotates a roller. The roller continuously rotates the medical implant to be electropolished. One of the advantages of the apparatus and method is that marks generated around the electrical contact between the anode and the medical implant are minimized. In addition, the medical implant is polished more evenly than conventional electropolishing systems.
US07799185B1
An improved process and device for the recovery of the minor actinides and the transuranic elements (TRU's) from a molten salt electrolyte. The process involves placing the device, an electrically non-conducting barrier between an anode salt and a cathode salt. The porous barrier allows uranium to diffuse between the anode and cathode, yet slows the diffusion of uranium ions so as to cause depletion of uranium ions in the catholyte. This allows for the eventual preferential deposition of transuranics present in spent nuclear fuel such as Np, Pu, Am, Cm. The device also comprises an uranium oxidation anode. The oxidation anode is solid uranium metal in the form of spent nuclear fuel. The spent fuel is placed in a ferric metal anode basket which serves as the electrical lead or contact between the molten electrolyte and the anodic uranium metal.
US07799184B2
Process for the electrochemical decomposition of precursors in powder form by introducing a powder batch between two electrodes of an electrolysis cell, electrodes being designed to be liquid-permeable, and the electrolyte flowing through the powder batch perpendicularly to the electrode surfaces, and electrolysis cell suitable therefor, which is essentially characterized in that at least one electrode has a structure which consists of a supporting pierced plate (5), an electrode plate (3) provided with perforations, and a filter cloth (4) arranged between the supporting pierced plate (5) and the electrode plate (3), and in that the cathode (6) is shielded from the cell by means of a liquid-permeable separator (7).
US07799162B2
Composite webs having one or more elastic composite structures located on a substrate, methods of manufacturing the composite webs, and articles including the elastic composite structures and substrates are disclosed. The elastic composite structures may preferably include one or more elastic components attached to anchors at two or more locations, wherein the anchors are themselves attached to the substrate. The anchors may preferably be constructed of inelastic polymeric material (and/or exhibit limited to no elasticity in use) and the elastic components may preferably be constructed of elastomeric polymeric material.
US07799155B2
A reliable and superior joining strength in entire joining parts of resin molded bodies including tilting portions is obtained by devising a shape and a size of each protrusion for welding provided in the joining parts of the resin molded bodies. The joining parts of upper and lower half bodies 10 and 20 have vertical portions 11 and 13 and vertical portions 21 and 23 respectively vertical to a pressurizing direction and tilting portions 12 and 22 tilting relative to the pressurizing direction, and protrusions for welding 11E to 13E or 21E to 23E are provided in at least the joining part of one of the half bodies. Further, referring to a butting area of the protrusions in a butted state, the butting area in the vertical portions is set to be less than the butting area in the tilting portions.
US07799138B2
The method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present invention employ an in-situ particle decontamination technique that allows for such decontamination while a wafer is a vacuum tool or deposition chamber, thereby eliminating the need for another device for performing decontamination. This in-situ decontamination is effective for particle contamination resulting, for example, from tool resident mechanical component. Furthermore, particle decontamination is performed in the presence of plasma, having a potential for helping to maximize a “self bias” voltage, under RF conditions, and is integrated into the vacuum process.
US07799135B2
Protective layers are formed on a surface of an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. Parts defining a reaction space for an ALD or CVD reactor can be treated, in situ or ex situ, with chemicals that deactivate reactive sites on the reaction space surface(s). A pre-treatment step can maximize the available reactive sites prior to the treatment step. With reactive sites deactivated by adsorbed treatment reactant, during subsequent processing the reactant gases have reduced reactivity or deposition upon these treated surfaces. Accordingly, purge steps can be greatly shortened and a greater number of runs can be conducted between cleaning steps to remove built-up deposition on the reactor walls.
US07799134B2
A shower plate 122 has protrusions 22 formed on the front face used with a first electrode in a plasma CVD apparatus. A plane-surface portion 23 is left around apertures of gas inlet holes 21 formed in the shower plate 122. With protrusions 22 being formed, a surface area of the first electrode is increased.
US07799131B2
The present invention provides a method for the continuous production of semiconductor ribbons by growth from a linear molten zone. The creation of the molten zone is achieved by application of an electric current, direct or alternating, parallel to the surface of the ribbon and perpendicular to the direction of growth, and intense enough to melt the said material, preferably using electrodes of the said material. The molten zone is fed by transference of the material, in the liquid state, from one or more reservoirs, where melting of the feedstock occurs. Preferably, the said electrodes and the said reservoir(s) are only constituted by the said material, thus avoiding contamination by foreign materials. The present invention is applicable, for example, in the industry of silicon ribbons production for photovoltaic application.
US07799126B2
Disclosed are a pigment comprising a flake-form substrate, where natural and synthetic clay minerals are excluded as substrate, and an anion-binding layer, in particular comprising a layered double hydroxide, where the anion-binding layer comprises anion-forming organic, inorganic and/or organometallic colorants; and a process for the preparation of said pigment and to the use thereof in cosmetics, paints, coatings, plastics, films, in security printing, in security features in documents and identity cards, for coloring seed, for coloring foods or in medicament coatings, and for the preparation of pigment compositions and dry preparations.
US07799125B2
The present invention relates to improved yellow iron oxide pigments and to their use.
US07799119B2
The invention relates to a microwave plasma exciter device which includes a waveguide (23) for concentrating the microwaves; and a plasma generator (110, 120) for forming a plasma, which are disposed in a microwave concentration zone.
US07799115B2
Systems and methods for processing high purity materials are disclosed. A unit operation processes a material stream, an operational parameter of the unit operation is monitored, and a standby unit is charged with pressurized gas to achieve system pressure. The material stream is diverted to the standby unit in response to the operational parameter of the unit operation registering a threshold value. Flow exiting the standby unit is first vented via an outlet, and then directed toward a point of use after the pressurized gas has been purged. The unit operation may then be serviced and subsequently brought back online. A second unit operation may process a second material stream simultaneously, and the second material stream may be periodically diverted to the standby unit in like manner, thus reducing line pressure variation. The disclosed method may be performed manually or implemented automatically through use of a controller.
US07799114B2
The invention relates to a method for recovering gold in connection with the hydrometallurgical production of copper from a waste or intermediate product containing sulphur and iron that is generated in the leaching of the copper raw material. The recovery of both copper and gold occurs in a chloride environment. The gold contained in the waste or intermediate is leached by means of divalent copper, oxygen and alkali bromide in a solution of copper (II) chloride and alkali chloride, in conditions where the oxygen-reduction potential is a maximum of 650 mV and the pH a minimum of 0.5. The bromide accelerates the dissolution of the gold.
US07799112B2
It is to propose a method of producing super-micro powders of pure metal-alloy in which cheap materials can be used and the production is efficient. In the production method of pure metal super-micro powder by heating a starting material containing a metal chloride and reducing the resulting vapor of the metal chloride with hydrogen gas, an elementary metal constituting the metal chloride is added to the starting material containing the metal chloride and a metal chloride having a large valence among metal chlorides having two or more valence is used as the metal chloride. Also, in the production method of alloy super-micro powder, a metal chloride is used as one to (number of all alloying components—1) alloying components in the starting material and an elemental metal is used as the other alloying component.
US07799108B2
A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements providing volume-efficient bottom-in, top-out flow or top-in, bottom-out flow. In another embodiment, parallel filtering flow paths are provided with multiple filter elements having respective overlapped sections axially aligned, with at least one filter element having a radial extension section non-axially aligned with another of the filter elements.
US07799102B2
In accordance with the present invention a disposable fuel cartridge for use in fireplaces that self regulates the shape, height, width, depth and burn time of the flames produced when the fuel inside the cartridge, such as alcohol gel, is exposed to ambient air and ignited, where the cartridge makes efficient use of fuel so as to produce a desirable, generally rectangular flame pattern without the need for any additional components, such as rectangular “fuel cells” or rectangular damper lids placed over the “fuel cells”.
US07799097B2
Processes for dyeing fabric are provided. The process can include continuously moving the fabric in a machine direction; removing folds or creases from the fabric; spraying a first surface of the fabric with a dye; and exposing the fabric to atmospheric steam after spraying the dye on the first surface but prior to the dye drying on the first surface so that the dye migrates from the first surface to a second surface of the fabric and reacts with and affixes to a component of the fabric.
US07799096B2
The invention relates to an agent for dying fibers comprising keratin, particularly human hair, the agent comprising at least one compound of the formula: together with at least one CH-acidic compound. The invention also relates to methods for shading oxidation dyed fibers, methods for freshening up fibers, methods for making an agent for dyeing fibers and to various compositions.
US07799093B2
Disclosed herein is a composition comprising at least one nonionic polysiloxane/polyurea block copolymer, at least one colored or coloring entity, and at least one volatile nonsilicone organic solvent. Such a composition may make it possible to obtain a coloring which is resistant to external agents.
US07799087B2
The invention relates to a cap-shaped implant for implanting on a prepared stump of a femoral head. The implant is in the form of a ball section (11), having a flat base surface (13) and a polar axis (15) which is arranged in a perpendicular in relation to the base surface (13). According to the invention, a cavity (17) is arranged in ball section (11) which protrudes from the base surface (13), said cavity (17) is rotationally symmetrical and comprises a hollow spatial axis (19) which is arranged below an angle (a) which is different form zero in relation to the polar axis (15).
US07799076B2
Methods of repairing a joint formed by at least two bone sections are provided wherein a biocompatible osteogenic band fabricated from an osteogenic biological material such as bone, tendon, ligament and collagen is affixed to two or more bone sections.
US07799064B2
Systems for delivering a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site comprise catheters and/or bifurcated stents delivered therefrom.
US07799053B2
A spinal stabilization system comprises an elongated stabilization device including a curved configuration along a longitudinal axis thereof. The elongated stabilization device includes a length and cross-section sized for positioning through a pathway formed from an opening in a lateral mass of a first vertebra and into the first vertebra, through the facet joint formed by adjacent articular surfaces of the first vertebra and an adjacent bony structure, and into the adjacent bony structure. Instruments can be provided to form the pathway and insert the stabilization device into the pathway.
US07799051B2
An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient The filter element comprises a collapsible filter body 2 and a filter support 3 for the filter body. The filter body has an inlet end 4 and an outlet end 5, the inlet end 4 of the filter body has one or more inlet openings 6 sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body 2 and the outlet end 5 of the filter body has a plurality of outlet openings 107 sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body 2. The filter support 3 is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system, and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in an expanded position The filter support 3 comprises a generally tubular support frame defined by at least one wire 16.
US07799047B2
A vascular implant formed of a compressible foam material has a compressed configuration from which it is expansible into a configuration substantially conforming to the shape and size of a vascular site to be embolized. Preferably, the implant is formed of a hydrophilic, macroporous foam material, having an initial configuration of a scaled-down model of the vascular site, from which it is compressible into the compressed configuration. The implant is made by scanning the vascular site to create a digitized scan data set; using the scan data set to create a three-dimensional digitized virtual model of the vascular site; using the virtual model to create a scaled-down physical mold of the vascular site; and using the mold to create a vascular implant in the form of a scaled-down model of the vascular site. To embolize a vascular site, the implant is compressed and passed through a microcatheter, the distal end of which has been passed into a vascular site. Upon entering the vascular site, the implant expands in situ substantially to fill the vascular site. A retention element is contained within the microcatheter and has a distal end detachably connected to the implant. A flexible, tubular deployment element is used to pass the implant and the retention element through the microcatheter, and then to separate the implant from the retention element when the implant has been passed out of the microcatheter and into the vascular site.
US07799046B2
A perfusion cannula constructed of a wire mesh or other structure having an expandable portion capable of expanding from a constricted state to an expanded state such that a vessel is stented open while permitting fluid flow through a cannula into the vessel.
US07799041B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow organ. The applicator includes a hole forming element for forming a hole in the wall of the organ, a positioning means for positioning the hole forming element, and a retractor element. In addition, the applicator includes a sequencing means for coordinating the relative movement of the retractor element and the hole forming element in a sequential manner to thereby carry out a procedure for forming a hole in the wall of the hollow organ. The sequencing means may further include a safety latch element operatively coupled to the retracting means and the hole forming element. The safety latch of the invention keeps prevents damage to the internal surface of the organ during the formation of the hole.
US07799037B1
A tool is provided for facilitating determining a proper location for an implantable device or medication, and for then delivering the implant to the precise location determined with the tool. To determine the target location, the tool may include a component for testing target locations, such as a stimulating probe for simulating a miniature implantable stimulator. In one embodiment, the tool is used to test a miniature implantable stimulator prior to depositing the implant precisely at the target location. The components of the tool are configured to maintain the implant at the target location while the tool is withdrawn. In one embodiment, a push rod assembly of the tool keeps the implant in position while it retracts the implant holder from around the implant. The ergonomic and light-weight tool leads to reduced surgical time, number and size of incisions, risk of infection, and likelihood of error.
US07799030B2
Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for treating fractures and other bone maladies. The systems, devices and methods may include one or both of a stabilizing structure, such as an implant, bone plate, or other device and a fastening assembly, such as a lag screw and compression screw assembly. The stabilizing structure in some embodiments has a proximal section with a transverse aperture and a cross-section that may be shaped to more accurately conform to the anatomical shape of cortical bone and to provide additional strength and robustness in its lateral portions, preferably without requiring significant additional material. The fastening assembly may be received to slide, in a controlled way, in the transverse aperture of the stabilizing structure. In some embodiments, the engaging member and the compression member are configured so that the compression member interacts at least indirectly with the stabilizing structure and a portion of the engaging member to enable controlled movement between the first and second bone fragments. This configuration is useful for, among other things, compressing a fracture.
US07799029B2
An instrument for compacting bone material is provided. The instrument includes a first component defining a longitudinal axis of the first component and a second component. The second component is moveably associated with the first component. The second component is moveable at least partially in a radial direction outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the first component.
US07799026B2
The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical instruments for use in sealing various tissues. The instrument includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members attached thereto. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members have an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof with the elastomeric materials including an electrode disposed therein. The electrodes are offset a distance X relative to one another such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to the tissue contacting surfaces.
US07799007B2
An absorbent article of pants shape includes an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element (5), and a liquid-impermeable outer layer (3). The elastic waist portion is made from an elastic first piece (1) which is rectangular and is intended to form the rear portion (8) and side portions (9, 10) of the article. A second piece (2) forms the front portion (11) and crotch portion (12) of the pants-like article. The second piece (2) is elongate, and the width thereof is, at least in the crotch portion (12), smaller than the length of the first piece (1). The absorbent element (5) is in its entirety arranged on the second piece (2).
US07799006B2
A fastening system has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The first member has a retaining element and a substrate element. The retaining element includes a proximal edge and a distal edge and is attached to the substrate element along a line of attachment. The second fastening member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and an elongated opening disposed between the inboard and outboard portions. The elongated opening is configured such that at least part of the retaining element is capable of passing through the elongated opening when the retaining element is in a first orientation and when the retaining element is in a second orientation.
US07799002B2
An improved safety hypodermic syringe includes a reciprocal tubular needle sheath disposed on the exterior of the syringe body, a latch mechanism engaging the syringe body and the sheath to latch the sheath in a needle-covering position after delivering contents from the syringe body, and a spring engaging the syringe body and the sheath and expandable to move the sheath to cover the needle point, where the spring is a non-uniform helical spring having multiple 360° turns each turn uniformly spaced from adjacent turns, each 360° turn comprising first and second alternating angled portions, the first of the alternating angled portions being at a first angle to a plane perpendicular to an axis through the center of the helical spring and the second angled portions being at a second lesser angle to the plane perpendicular to the axis.
US07799000B2
A fixation apparatus for attaching a medical device to a patient includes an attachment feature attached to the medical device and configured to cooperate with one or more surgical staples to facilitate stapling of the medical device to the patient. The attachment feature includes a staple receiving portion including two ends, each of which has a staple retaining end disposed adjacent thereto. The staple receiving portion is configured to receive surgical staples, and the staple retaining ends are configured to inhibit the staple receiving portion from dislodging from the surgical staples.
US07798996B1
System for detecting and removing gas bubbles from a vascular infusion line, including a cassette adapted for disposition intermediate the fluid line, the cassette including a flexible tube having an inlet port for connection to a supply side of the fluid line, an outlet port configured for connection to a patient side of the fluid line, and a purge port intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and a base unit adapted to receive the cassette and monitor fluid flow through the tube, the base unit including a sensor to detect the presence of a gas bubble in the fluid flow, a pinch valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid, and a control unit adapted to operate the base unit so that (i) fluid is permitted to flow past the pinch valve when no gas bubble is detected; and (ii) fluid flow is arrested when a gas bubble is detected.
US07798991B2
A trocar system for endoscopic surgery, cap assembly, and related methods are provided. The cap assembly includes a housing with an opening formed in line with an axis of the housing. The cap assembly also includes a variable opening flexible sealing gland having a stack of valve body sections each including a valve extension extending from a valve ring and having a valve opening and a slit extending between a valve opening and the valve ring. The combination of the individual valve body sections forms a substantially conically shaped iris diaphragm portion of the sealing gland. The iris is positioned to individually and separately receive elongate tools so that when any one of the elongate tools is positioned through the valve opening, a seal is maintained between peripheries of the seal gland surrounding the iris and outer peripheries of the inserted elongate tool.
US07798988B2
The invention concerns a device for back injecting an implant (30) into the skin (22) of a subject, said device (1) include a hollow main body (10), to which a hollow needle (28) is fixed into which the implant (30) is introduced, a secondary body (12; 114) coaxially arranged inside the main body (10) and surrounding the needle (28) and a piston rod (88) able to slide coaxially inside said hollow needle (28) and whose position relative to said needle (28) remains unchanged when the back injection device (1) is pressed against the subject's skin (22) to allow the needle (28) to penetrate said subject's skin and when the secondary body (12) retracts inside the main body (10), the piston rod (88) penetrating the interior of the hollow needle (28) to hold the implant (30) at the required depth in the subject's skin (22) during withdrawal of the hollow needle (28) from the subject's skin (22), during which the secondary body (12; 114) exits the main body (10), characterized in that it includes means for the elastic return of the secondary body (12) from the main body (10).
US07798985B2
In a venous bubble trap (1), having a housing (2) to which fluid, in particular blood, can be delivered essentially tangentially via a fluid inlet (8) and from which fluid can be carried away via a fluid outlet (10), and having a filter device (3) located in the interior of the housing (2), the filter device (3) divides the housing interior into a prefilter region (5) and a postfilter region (6), and the postfilter region (6) surrounds the prefilter region (5) in at least some portions. As a result, air is reliably removed from the fluid.
US07798983B2
In order to provide a walking assistance device that can avoid hampering the motion of the muscles of the user and will not move out of place inadvertently when worn by the user, principal engagement points of a support member for securely mounting an assisting force generator, which is disposed on a side of at least one joint of a lower limb to provide an assisting force to a movement of the lower limb, are provided at portions where a relatively small amount of movement of skin occurs when a trunk or joint is moved. In this way, the support member can be fastened firmly to the portions where an amount of movement of the skin is small and therefore it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable pressure caused during motion while preventing the support member from inadvertently moving out of place.
US07798955B2
Excitation light λex is two-dimensionally scanned onto the living body tissue in the form of condensed light using an x-axis scanning mirror, a y-axis scanning mirror, and a condenser lens, whereby the excitation light λex is cast onto the living body tissue. This allows fluorescence observation with a relatively low output intensity of a laser light source. Furthermore, a white light image is generated by scanning the white light in the same way, thereby enabling fluorescence observation in the same observation region and at the same timing as with normal observation. This enables fluorescence observation of a sufficient area which allows the user to distinguish living body tissues in an endoscope observation image while suppressing deterioration in the laser light source.
US07798951B2
An apparatus for disposal of low-level surface radioactive pollutants has a container body which center has accommodating space with opening at its top. Around the accommodating space there is a layer of barrier space for holding water. At the periphery of the barrier space there is a non-barrier hollow channel for the accommodating space to connect outside. A rotating disk is located at the bottom of the accommodating space in the container body for holding and turning the low-level radioactive waste to be treated and also facilitating the worker to pass through the non-barrier hollow channel for cleaning task.
US07798947B2
A method of replacing a cutting tool in a tool magazine in a machine center includes providing a mounting frame having a pair of guide rails and a tool changing jig, pushing the tool changing jig toward the tool magazine until the tool changing jig contacts a rear positive stop, pivoting the clamp arms to an open position, cranking the lifting assembly upward until a V-shaped block assembly contacts the cutting tool, pivoting the clamp arms to a closed position, dislodging the cutting tool from the tool magazine, pulling the tool changing jig away from the tool magazine until the tool changing jig contacts a front positive stop on the mounting frame, replacing the cutting tool in the tool changing jig, and pushing the tool changing jig toward the tool magazine until the cutting tool is inserted and locked into the tool magazine.
US07798938B2
A control system for a drive unit of a vehicle, including a reaction force establishing device controlling a speed change ratio of a continuously variable transmission, and a clutch mechanism arranged on a power transmission route from the continuously variable transmission to a wheel and in which a torque capacity thereof is controllable. A first input torque control mechanism lowers a torque to be inputted to the clutch mechanism through the continuously variable transmission, by controlling a torque of the reaction force establishing device while the torque capacity of the clutch mechanism is being controlled. The system reduces a change in a torque inputted to a clutch mechanism, in case of carrying out a speed change operation of a continuously variable transmission and engaging the clutch mechanism.
US07798931B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
US07798923B2
A lacrosse head in which one of the opposing sidewall portions is shortened by bringing its lower rim upward relative to the corresponding lower rim of the opposing sidewall. At the same time, the upper rim of each of the opposing sidewalls is maintained at the same level. This moves the pivot point of the shortened sidewall closer to the player's hands and allows faster clamping when facing-off. Faster clamping likely results in an increased number of “wins”, or possessions, that occur after the face-off.
US07798916B2
This invention provides a hollow metal golf club head including at least a face portion, sole portion, side portion, and crown portion. This golf club head includes a head main body having an opening in the face portion, and a face plate engaged and welded with the opening. The head main body comprises a protruding portion which forms a part of the face portion and protrudes upward from a central portion, in a toe-and-heel direction, of a corner portion between the face portion and the sole portion in the golf club head. The face plate comprises s a recessed portion which extends upward from the lower edge of the face plate and engages with the protruding portion.
US07798914B2
In some embodiments, a golf club head has a body with a front section, a first restrictor of a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body, and a weight having a first end coupled to the restrictor mechanism and to the body. The first restrictor has a first stiffness and is non-integral with the weight. Responsive to impact at a first zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react towards each other, and the first stiffness can resist a deformation of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight. Responsive to impact at a second zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.
US07798909B2
A pool table which comprises a planar playing surface and having conventional indent sidewalls and pockets associated therewith, the improvement wherein there is provided a center cushion which is located substantially centrally of the playing surface. Preferably, the center cushion partially surrounds a centrally located pocket.
US07798906B2
In a game management server that manages a network multiplayer game, a game-holding-prior-notice-receiving unit receives a date and time for a prospective multiplayer game being held, and conditions for holding the game, and the unit registers them into a database. An entry-reservation-receiving unit announces a prior notice of the meeting being held and calls for participants. A user who desires to participate requests the entry-reservation-receiving unit to make an entry reservation. When receiving the entry reservation, the entry-reservation-receiving unit registers the reservation into a database. When the date and time that the meeting is expected to be held arrives, the execution managing unit generates data necessary for executing the meeting and manages the execution of the meeting to be held. A result presenting unit presents the result of the meeting.
US07798905B2
A procedure receives a game result from a game console. A rating is determined for the game result. If the rating for the game result meets a predetermined criteria, the recorded game associated with the game result is received from the game console. The recorded game is attached to the rating of the game result such that other players can access the recorded game through an online gaming service.
US07798902B2
A gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager comprises a main display, a secondary display, and a touch screen assembly overlying the secondary display. The secondary display touch screen assembly has an inner bezel frame, an insulated touch screen, a panel having an opening, and an outer bezel frame. The insulated touch screen ha an insulating material around a periphery of the touch screen. The insulated touch screen is positioned within the opening of the panel. The panel and the insulated touch screen are positioned between the inner bezel frame and the outer bezel frame.
US07798899B2
Electronic gaming machines, such as slot machines or video poker machines are interconnected by a computer network. The behavior of each machine is controlled by configuring selected parameters such as game speed, payback percentage, or game appearance. As the machines are played, any of the selected parameters may be changed responsive to commands issued over the network. The commands are issued in response to predetermined changes in variables such as rate of play, player status, and the time of the day, week, or month. The payback percentage may be changed by implementing a new pay table at the selected machine or machines or by implementing a bonus period during which a percentage of all money played on the selected machines accrues in a bonus pool. During the bonus period, the selected machines are eligible for bonus awards that may be random or related to jackpots paid based on the pay tables in the selected machines.
US07798891B2
A venting apparatus includes a projecting member with a projection base, and a mating socket member with a socket base, and first and second ducts in fluid communication with an appliance to vent emissions along an emission flow path. The projection base engages a first one, and the socket base engages a respective other one, of the first and second ducts. The projecting and socket members have default configurations. The projecting member is movable from the default configuration towards a deflected configuration, and biased for return therefrom. The first and second ducts are movable between sliding and locked configurations. In the sliding configuration, the projecting and socket members bear against one another, with the projecting member removed from the default configuration. In the locked configuration, the projecting member is in the default configuration, and secured to the socket member, such that the second duct securely engages the first duct.
US07798883B2
A rotary-wing toy helicopter generally comprising a transverse shaft, a plane body fixedly attached to the transverse shaft and a rotor assembly rotatably attached to the transverse shaft. The rotor assembly generally comprises a primary drive connected to a drive shaft for driving at least one set of lifting blades and a secondary drive connected to the transverse shaft for driving rotation of the transverse shaft and the plane body clockwise or counter-clockwise around the axis of transverse shaft.
US07798871B2
A contact has a coupling portion formed of a material which can be bent and unbent. The contact has a spring portion adapted to be connected to a first connection object and a connecting portion adapted to be connected to a second connection object. The spring portion and the connecting portion extend from the coupling portion. The coupling portion is bent into a shape surrounding an axis and maintained in the shape. An electrical connector may be formed by holding the contact in a housing.
US07798870B2
A male and female connection structure includes a female terminal, and a male terminal to electrically connect to the female terminal by being inserted into a connection position of the female terminal and to electrically disconnect from the female terminal by being withdrawn from the connection position. The female terminal includes a dimple to electrically connect to the male terminal, a male terminal pressing spring disposed opposite the dimple for pressing the male terminal to be inserted on the dimple against the dimple, and a press switching part for switching between a non-pressed state that the male terminal pressing spring does not press the male terminal located in the female terminal and a pressed state that the male terminal pressing spring presses the male terminal located in the female terminal by changing a shape of the male terminal pressing spring. The press switching part switches the non-pressed state to the pressed state, when the male terminal is inserted into the connection position, by using an insertion force applied when the male terminal is inserted into the female terminal, and it switches the pressed state to the non-pressed state, when the male terminal is withdrawn from the connection position, by using a withdrawal force applied when the male terminal is withdrawn from the female terminal.
US07798868B2
A terminal connector assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The terminal connector assembly includes an electrically conductive member having opposing connecting and terminal portions, and a housing having a divider. The connecting portion is electrically connected to a power conductor of the circuit breaker. The divider includes first and second sides and an aperture extending therebetween. A plurality of walls extend perpendicularly outwardly from the first side of the divider to form a cavity, and a plurality of projections extend outwardly from the second side of the divider to engage and align the housing and the electrically conductive member with respect to the molded casing of the circuit breaker. The connecting portion of the electrically conductive member extends through the aperture of the divider and outside of the housing. The remainder of the electrically conductive member is disposed within the cavity.
US07798862B2
An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes a plurality of electrical contact blocks and a sealing member, which are held within a cavity of a base of the assembly. The sealing member includes a plurality of openings, at least one interior surface surrounding a bore and at least one void. Each electrical contact block extends into a corresponding opening of the sealing member, and a conductive sidewall of each block defines a portion of a perimeter of an area for receiving a lead connector, while the bore of the sealing member forms another portion of the perimeter of the area. The at least one void provides a compressible space in a bulk volume of the sealing member. When the lead is inserted within the area, and a cap is engaged with the base, the at least one interior surface of the sealing member is compressed about the lead.
US07798858B1
An exemplary chip card holder used in a portable electronic device for holding a chip card therein is provided. The chip card holder includes a body member and a cover, the body member has a cover accommodating chamber recessed in a bottom wall thereof. The cover accommodating chamber has at least one assembling portion. The cover is configured for holding the chip chard therewith and is accommodated in the cover accommodating chamber. The cover has at least one installing portion detachably, slidably, and rotatably mounted to the at least one assembling portion.
US07798854B2
A connector which is capable of preventing degradation of transmission, and achieving downsizing. Contact portions of first and second signal contacts, and contact portions of ground contacts are arranged in a row in a contact arranging direction. Contact portions of contacts for non-high-speed transmission are arranged in a row in the contact arranging direction. The row formed by the contact portions of the first and second signal contacts, and the contact portions of the ground contacts, and the rows formed by the contact portions of the contacts for non-high-speed transmission are parallel. The contact portions of each pair of first and second signal contacts are disposed between the contact portions of adjacent ones of the ground contacts in the contact arranging direction.
US07798849B2
A connecting assembly for an end of a coaxial cable and having a first element, that is turned around a first axis in a first rotational direction to progressively tighten the first element to a connector, and a housing. The connecting assembly further has: a) an axially elongated first groove in one component; and b) an axially elongated first finger on a second component that resides within the first groove with the connecting assembly in a first state. With the connecting assembly in the first state, turning of the housing in the first rotational direction causes the first finger to cause driving of the first element with a torque up to a predetermined torque. Continued turning of the housing with a torque exceeding the predetermined torque causes reconfiguration of the connecting assembly in a manner whereby the first finger moves circumferentially out of the first groove.
US07798844B2
A lamp assembly (100) includes a lamp base (3) having a peripheral wall (31) and a rear wall (32) connecting to the peripheral wall to form a socket (30) with a front opening, with a cable passage (321) recessed forwardly from a back surface of the rear wall and communicated with the socket, a cavity (37) defined in the rear wall and further communicated with the cable passage (321), and a engaging member (371) located in a lower portion of the cavity and proximate to the cable passage; at least a cable (4) inserted into the cable passage, with the engaging member (371) deformed to lock therein so as to prevent the cable sliding out of the cable passage; a lamp bulb (1) partially received in the socket of the base, with a pair of legs (13) thereof extending into the socket and contacting conductors of the cable.
US07798843B1
A cable assembly (100) includes a housing having a mounting section, a retaining cavity defined in an interior side of the mounting section, and a mounting cavity (1030) defined in an external side of the mounting section. An ejection mechanism is assembled to the housing, the ejection mechanism including a slider (4) mounted to the housing, a bail (3) assembled to the mounting section and engaged with the slider. The bail (3) has a transverse handle portion (30) accommodated in the mounting cavity (1030) and a pair of driving arms (31) connected to the handle portion and pivotally engaged with the housing to cause outward movement of ejector (5) to separate the cable assembly from a mating receptacle. A cable (8) includes a number of wires (85), an inner layer (83) enclosing the wires, a metallic braiding (84) shielding the inner layer, and an outer jacket (81) covering the metallic braiding. A second ring (92) is mounted between the metallic braiding and the inner layer. A first ring (91) is crimped onto an outside of the outer jacket, with the metallic braiding shielding and the outer jacket sandwiched between the first ring and the second ring (92), the first ring accommodated in the retaining cavity (121, 221).
US07798829B2
A basic insulating plug (BIP) provides connection to a deadbreak connector. The basic insulating plug includes a first conductive insert and a second conductive insert. An insulative coupling supports the inserts in spaced apart position. An insulative body is molded substantially about the first and second conductive inserts. One of the conductive inserts and the insulative coupling define a flow path to permit flow of insulative material entering one of the conductive inserts to flow through the coupling so as to surround the coupling and substantially surround the first and second inserts.
US07798825B1
The present invention relates to a plug with connecting device, includes a top housing, one end thereof is extended with a connecting device for being connected to a power adapter; a retaining seat; an electrode sheet base having a pivotal shaft; two copper contact rings; two electrode sheets; one bottom plastic housing engaged with the top housing; when the two electrode sheets are longitudinally rotated, the two electrode sheets are able to be pivotally moved at the outside of the bottom plastic housing and then positioned, an electrical conducting status is formed between the electrode sheets and the connecting device so as to transfer power to a power adapter.
US07798822B2
Microelectronic contact structures are fabricated by separately forming, then joining together, various components thereof. Each contact structure has three components: a “post” component, a “beam” component, and a “tip” component. The resulting contact structure, mounted to an electronic component, is useful for making an electrical connection with another electronic component. The post component can be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate, joined to the electronic component and its sacrificial substrate removed. Alternatively, the post component can be formed on the electronic component. The beam and tip components can each be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate. The beam component is joined to the post component and its sacrificial substrate is removed, and the tip component is joined to the beam component and its sacrificial substrate is removed.
US07798818B2
An electrical connector (1) for interconnecting integrated circuits (ICs) to a circuit board, includes an insulative housing (2, 3) defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough, and a plurality of contacts received respectively in each of the passageways of the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a first base (2) adapted to connecting an IC to a circuit board and a second base (3) which is capable of cooperating with said first base when the connector is used to connecting another IC having a different size to the circuit board.
US07798813B1
A rotatable tissue removing instrument having a tissue engaging member. The tissue engaging member includes one or more prongs or barbs, or both, which grab the strands of granulation tissue and cause the tissue to be wrapped around the tissue engaging member. The granulation tissue continues to be wrapped around the tissue engaging member until pulled free from both the tooth and the bone.
US07798809B2
A method of controlling the operation of a bulk good grate cooler for cooling hot cement clinker, for example, in a process-controlled manner is provided in order to ensure that the volume flows of cooling air in all areas of the cooling grate and/or the residence time in the respective area of the bed of the goods to be cooled can be matched to the cooling requirements occurring in each area. A control intervention is carried out during the operation of the grate cooler with respect to the respective local cooling air volume flow and/or with respect to the respective local speed of conveyance of cooling grid according to the respective bulk good bed height measured per area and/or the bulk good bed temperature and/or the cooling air through-flow resistance such that if a modification occurs in one or several of the measured parameters, i.e., bed height, bed temperature and through-flow resistance, the respective local cooling air volume flow and/or the conveyance speed of the grate system is altered.
US07798803B2
An injection molding device includes a female mold defining a cavity, a male mold having a projecting part protruding toward the female mold corresponding to the cavity, a transport configured for transporting a foil into a position between the female mold and the male mold, a vacuum-pump, and a thermal medium source. A plurality of air discharging holes is defined in the female mold joining in the cavity. A channel is defined in the projecting part of the male mold. The vacuum-pump is connected to the air discharging holes of the female for vacuuming the cavity to suck the foil toward the female mold. The thermal medium source is connected to the channel of the male mold for inputting thermal medium into the mold via the channel to press the foil to cling to the female mold.
US07798802B2
Provided is a dual-side imprinting lithography system that includes a medium supporting unit that supports a medium wherein both surfaces of the medium are coated with a ultraviolet (UV) hardening resin; a first mold supporting unit and a second mold supporting unit that respectively support a first mold and a second mold, disposed respectively above the medium supporting unit and under the medium supporting unit; a vertical moving device that moves vertically at least one of the medium supporting unit, the first mold supporting unit, and the second mold supporting unit; a first UV radiating device that is installed above the first mold supporting unit to radiate UV rays; and a second UV radiating device that is installed under the second mold supporting unit to radiate UV rays.
US07798798B2
A rotary injection molding apparatus and method for manufacturing products containing elastomeric material within multi-section single cavity molds. The apparatus includes a modular frame supporting an injection molding operation station having an injector assembly with a pressure sensitive nozzle assembly. The injector assembly is engaged with an extruder assembly at a check valve assembly. A mold servicer assembly is provided for assembly and disassembly of multi-section single cavity molds. A robotic arm assembly is supported on the modular frame and positioned for inserting and removing products or product components from disassembled molds. Finally; a rotating table is provided on the frame which has a plurality of work station positions supporting clamping assemblies for clamping single cavity molds around the periphery of the rotating table.
US07798795B2
A method and apparatus for depositing synthetic filaments to form a non-woven web, wherein the filaments are drawn off from a spinneret through a drawing unit in a row-shaped arrangement using a feed fluid, accelerated into a guide channel and blown out as a filament stream toward an advancing deposit belt. The filament stream is deflected immediately before it impacts upon the deposit belt unilaterally in the advancing direction of the deposit belt in such a way that the filaments impact upon the deposit belt at an angle of <90°. For this purpose, a deflecting means is mounted immediately above the deposit belt.
US07798794B2
A cross section of a tooth profile of a first screw rotor (17) perpendicular to the rotor axis includes a tooth top arc (A1B1), a tooth bottom arc (C1D1), a first curve (A1C1), and a second curve (B1D1). The first curve (A1C1) is a first trochoidal curve that connects a first end (A1) of the tooth top arc (A1B1) to a second end (C1) of the tooth bottom arc (C1D1). The second curve (B1D1) connects the second end (B1) of the tooth top arc (A1B1) to the first end (D1) of the tooth bottom arc (C1D1). The second curve (B1D1) is a composite curve formed by an involute curve (B1E1) and a second trochoidal curve (E1D1), which extend continuously from each other at a first intersection point (E1). A screw pump (11) thus suppresses leakage of fluid with improved performance.
US07798793B2
A compressor (20) has an unloading slide valve (100). The valve has a valve element (102) having a range between a first condition and a second condition, the second condition being unloaded relative to the first condition. A first surface (200) of the valve element (102) is in sliding engagement with a second surface (202) of the housing (22) during movement between the first and second conditions. The compressor includes means for lubricating the first (200) and second (202) surfaces.
US07798780B2
Disclosed is a modularly constructed rotorblade including a leading and a trailing edge, including a plurality of rotorblade sections in bonded association, and at least one bonding line disposed away from continuous contact with the leading edge and the trailing edge.
US07798773B2
A method of repairing a vane segment for a gas turbine engine includes removing an engine-run cooling baffle from the vane segment, forming a non-engine-run manufacturing detail that includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and an airfoil, attaching the engine-run cooling baffle to the non-engine-run manufacturing detail, and marking the non-engine-run manufacturing detail with a serial number associated with the vane segment from which the engine-run cooling baffle was removed.
US07798771B2
A heat dissipating device includes an outer frame, a first rotor, a base, a second rotor and a driving device. The first rotor comprises a shaft, a first hub and a plurality of first rotor blades disposed around the first hub. The base is disposed in the outer frame. The second rotor comprises a plurality of second rotor blades, coupled to the shaft of the first rotor and disposed next to the first rotor. The driving device is supported by the base for driving the first rotor and the second rotor.
US07798770B2
In a turbine wheel of an exhaust gas turbine comprising a turbine wheel with a hub and a plurality of turbine wheel blades which are arranged on the turbine wheel hub and which extend axially between a turbine wheel inlet and a turbine wheel outlet, the turbine wheel blades are constructed in such a way that the ratio of the hub contour thickness to the external contour thickness of each turbine wheel blade follows a defined function.
US07798763B2
A stacking apparatus for a conveyor system raises a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system and stacks the raised layer of objects on a subsequent layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system. The apparatus then dispenses the stacked layers of objects from the apparatus, whereby the stacked layers of objects can be received by a palletizer for loading on a pallet in a more time efficient manner.
US07798762B2
A cable holding device for a work transfer device that transfers a workpiece between mutually adjacent press machines. The cable holding device is used for the work transfer device that is provided with a supporting portion (3) disposed on a support member (2) placed between press machines (P1, P2) and swingably supports a transfer arm (5). The cable holding device (10) comprises a rack arm (11) that is swingably connected to the top end of the transfer arm (5) and holds a part of the cable; a slide supporter (12) that is disposed above the transfer arm, swingably connects the rack arm (11), and vertically moved via the rack arm as the transfer arm moves; and a cable support (13) that has its one end connected to the slide supporter and its other end connected to a cable fixing portion (6) that is disposed in a direction intersecting a transfer direction of the work with respect to the slide supporter, supports a part of the cable. Even if the space between the mutually adjacent press machines is narrow, the cable can be effectively treated, and thus the pitch between the press machines can be smaller.
US07798761B2
A controller, control system and method for controlling an auxiliary device comprising a wheelchair lift, ramp, or the like are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the auxiliary device controller is microprocessor-based and communicates with a vehicle's OEM controller for receiving a plurality of sensor inputs, which originate from OEM and auxiliary sensors, process the sensor inputs, and control various OEM and auxiliary systems relative to the sensor inputs to effect a number of safety interlocks. The controller may operate to coordinate various OEM and auxiliary subsystems to automate auxiliary device operation to reduce operator error.
US07798759B2
The present invention generally comprises an apparatus for transporting containers between a first transport system and a second transport system. In one embodiment, the first transport system comprises a ceiling-based conveyor and the second transport system comprises a floor-based conveyor. The present invention may further include storage shelves, preferably substantially horizontally aligned about a common vertical plane with a section of one of the transport systems. The transport system may be located either directly above the uppermost storage shelf or beneath the lowermost storage shelf in order to add storage capacity within the fab. A vertical module transports containers between the transport systems and the at least one storage shelf.
US07798757B2
To provide a screw fastening device that, when performing a screw tightening operation, can substantially reduce the running torque directly applied by external force to a screw driving device. A characteristic constitution is adopted that equips a screw driving device α2a with a device body 1 that stacks a plurality of piezoelectric elements 3 and 4 that generate predetermined ultrasonic oscillations with the application of a predetermined AC voltage and excites mechanical oscillations in a predetermined direction on an oscillating end surface 1a based on the ultrasonic oscillations; and a male distal end portion 21 that is correspondingly formed to be capable of fitting in a female recess 103 formed in a screw β1 and integrally fixed to the device body 1 on the oscillating end surface 1a of the device body 1 to impart running torque, which is directly applied to the screw driving device α2 by external force, and transmit the mechanical oscillations in the predetermined direction that the device body 1 excites to the screw β1, with which contact is made by fitting in the female recess 103.
US07798756B2
A screw with wave thread including a head, a shank extending therefrom, and a thread spirally disposed on the shank; in particular, the thread has respective first and second threaded sections. Each thread unit of the second threaded section defines a continuous wave-shaped directrix around the shank for a base. A plurality of thread segments are formed on each thread unit of the second threaded section, and each of which has an upper flank as well as a lower flank extended from the shank and disposed along the wave shape directrix to form into a wavy arrangement around shank, thereby disposing more peaks converged by the upper flank and the lower flank for increasing the drilling capability.
US07798748B2
Disclosed is a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall system for preventing collapse of a retaining wall. The MSE wall system includes: at least two pillars installed on a front surface of the retaining wall; a plurality of screens installed on a rear surface of the pillar and arranged along a vertical direction to intercept a space between the adjacent pillars; at least a connector installed between the adjacent pillars to preserve a space between the adjacent pillars and prevent the screens from being separated into a front direction; and at least a front panel spaced from a front surface of the screen. Since deformation of the screen which supports the load of the backfilling soil is not transferred to the front panel, it is possible to provide excellent appearance.
US07798747B1
The apparatus is an underground reservoir to capture and slowly release stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking areas. The structure is assembled from one or more modules comprising at least two side by side precast fiber reinforced concrete vaulted shaped chambers, each with side walls and an arch top. The side by side chambers have common walls with openings in the walls. Modules placed end to end are mated at reinforced concrete end walls that include lifting pins for moving the module. Ends of the chambers are closed, but the end walls have openings for feeding stormwater in and venting air out.
US07798742B2
A security key tool for unlocking and locking a manhole security device that secures a manhole access opening. The security key tool includes a longitudinal body portion and a handle portion. A security key at a first end of the longitudinal portion is adapted to engage a security lock on the security device for actuating a locking mechanism on the security device to an unlocked position. A slidable member may be used to help engage the security key to the security lock or to protect the security key. A latch release tool at a second end of the longitudinal portion is adapted to release a latch on the manhole security device for actuating the locking mechanism to a locked position. Optionally, the latch release tool may be disposed on a tool head that also includes a lifting tool adapted to engage and lift the security device away from a manhole frame after the security device is unlocked.
US07798739B2
The invention relates to a connection arrangement in which two parts can be coupled to a corresponding engagement means without play. A connection device having at least one elastically resilient portion is located in the engagement region of the two engagement means, the elastically resilient portion being stressed based on the coupling of the two parts due to deformation such that the two parts are in mutual engagement without play. Furthermore, a latch element is formed at the elastically resilient portion or at another resilient portion in the engagement region of the two engagement means. The latch element serves as a transport lock and as an installation aid and latches the second part in a predetermined relative position with respect to a third part before the coupling of the two parts.
US07798737B2
A collapsible ring binder includes a plurality of selectively openable and closable rings that releasably retain hole-punched documents within the binder. The rings may be collapsed and/or detached from the binder to flatten the binder for transportation and/or storage. The rings are easily moved from their collapsed and/or detached configuration to their upright and usable configuration so that an end user can easily ready the collapsed binder for use.
US07798736B2
The present invention is directed to articles such as media binders. In an embodiment the media binder includes spine clamps for securing physical media where the spine clamps define an interior cavity for receiving the physical media; a datum stop for aligning the physical media, the datum stop disposed proximal to one end of the spine clamp; a tension sheet for transmitting an opening force to the spine clamp, the tension sheet affixed with the spine clamp; and a cover affixed with the tension sheet, the cover configured to open such that an opening force is applied to the spine clamp when the cover is opened from a first position to a second position.
US07798733B2
Ribbon tension detecting means (20, 21), which are formed of a plate-like lever body (35) each, are located individually on the upstream side and the downstream side of a platen (7) with respect to its travel. The plate-like lever body (35) has first and second rollers (47, 48) on the upstream and downstream sides with respect to travel of a ribbon, and swings around an axis of rotation of the second roller (48), depending on a tension of the ribbon traveling guided by the rollers (47, 48). If the amount of its swing is not less than or not more than a fixed value, a ribbon feed motor (18) or a ribbon take-up motor (19) is driven. Further, the ribbon tension detecting means (20, 21) are provided with a smoothing member which touches the ink ribbon (13) to remove wrinkles from the ink ribbon (13).
US07798732B2
This disclosure discloses a printing apparatus comprising a feeding device that applies a driving force to feed a print-receiving medium; a print forming device that performs a print forming process on the print-receiving medium; a harmonization controlling portion that harmonizes and controlling a driving speed of the feeding device and the print forming process operation of the print forming device, based on an input of print information by using a predetermined harmonization correlation; and a harmonization changing portion that changes the harmonization correlation according to properties of the print-receiving medium or a bonding medium to be bonded thereto.
US07798729B2
A focal-plane shutter has a first plate having a first opening, a second plate having a second opening, a shutter blade disposed between the first plate and the second plate, for opening and closing the first opening and the second opening, and a thin plate disposed at a side of the first plate facing the shutter blade and extending in such a direction that the shutter blade travel. A distance between an edge of the first opening and a center of the first opening is greater than that between an edge of the thin plate and the center of the first opening.
US07798725B2
A junction box and hybrid fiber optic cable connector which permit repair of damaged fibers or copper conductors carried by a hybrid fiber/copper cable without requiring replacement of the entire cable assembly or retermination of the cable. A hybrid fiber/copper connector including cable management within the connector housing. A method of assembling a hybrid fiber/copper connector.
US07798723B2
A rolling bearing assembly for a wheel includes a cylindrical fixed bearing ring fixed to a vehicle body side, a rotary bearing ring rotatably inserted to inside of the fixed bearing ring, and plural rows of rolling elements rollably arranged between the bearing rings. An annular sensor housing is attached to an inboard side end portion of the fixed bearing ring and includes a plurality of displacement sensors for detecting gaps between the displacement sensors and outer peripheral surfaces of inboard side end portions of the rotary bearing ring in a circumferential direction. Further, an inboard side end portion of the sensor housing is sealed by an inner side seal device.
US07798714B2
The flexible storage bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.
US07798707B2
Circuitry for measuring and/or monitoring device temperature may include a first node coupled to ground, and a second node and a first resistor coupled in series to ground and in parallel to the first node. A first current driven to the first node and a second current driven to the second node can be selected such that a first voltage measured at the first node and a second voltage measured at the second node are substantially equal. The circuitry may also include a third node and a second resistor coupled in series to ground. A third current driven to the third node can be selected such that a third voltage measured at the third node is substantially equal to a reference voltage. Measures of the second and third currents and measures of the first and second resistors can be used to determine device temperature.
US07798705B2
A thermoacoustic tomographic method for imaging an object, wherein the object is thermally excited by a source and the acoustic waves from the object, which are caused by the thermal excitation, from different directions of the object are detected using at least one detector and an image of the object is reconstructed from the detected acoustic waves and the positional information, wherein the acoustic waves detected by the detector are integrated at least in one direction over a length of at least √{square root over (8)}·d, where d denotes the maximum distance from a point of the object to be imaged to the detector.
US07798703B2
An apparatus and method is described for measuring a local surface temperature of a semiconductor device under stress. The apparatus includes a substrate, and a reference MOSFET. The reference MOSFET may be disposed closely adjacent to the semiconductor device under stress. A local surface temperature of the semiconductor device under stress may be measured using the reference MOSFET, which is not under stress. The local surface temperature of the semiconductor device under stress may be determined as a function of drain current values of the reference MOSFET measured before applying stress to the semiconductor device and while the semiconductor device is under stress.
US07798699B2
A layered light guide structure has a number of planar light guides arranged in a stack to receive a number of different color light beams from the edge of the light guides. Each of the planar light guides has one or more diffractive structures imparted or provided on its upper surface. The diffractive structures on each light guide are configured to diffract light of a particular wavelength range so that they efficiently diffract the guided light within that light guide. The diffractive structure can be one or more keypad symbols such that the layered light guide structure can be used as a keypad. The symbols can be pixelized such that the pixels can have different color patterns. The diffractive structure can also be a simple patch so that the layered light guide structure can be used as a back-light source.
US07798693B2
An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a light output surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of spherical depressions, a diffusion layer, and at least one lamp-receiving portion. The bottom surface is opposite to the light output surface. The diffusion layer is formed on the light output surface. The spherical depressions are formed at the bottom surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in the bottom surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
US07798674B2
A device for enhancing the appearance of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and changing the optical properties of light emitted by the CFL is provided. The device for a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) includes a cover configured for obscuring the compact fluorescent lamp; and an attachment mechanism configured for coupling the cover to the compact fluorescent lamp by engaging an inner surface of the compact fluorescent lamp. The attachment mechanism includes at least two resilient fingers for engaging at least two spaced apart inner surfaces of the compact fluorescent lamp.
US07798673B2
An aqua-lamp-based candle-like lighting device includes a stand accommodating therein an incandescent lamp assembly that is engageable with a power source to generate heat. The stand has an open end in which an aqua-lamp base that defines an internal chamber is mounted. An illuminator for lighting purposes is arranged at an opening of the chamber. Thus, the heat generated by the incandescent lamp assembly is employed to cause a liquid contained in the aqua lamp base to flow and show a shining effect; and the illuminator of the internal chamber serves as a twinkling night lamp. As such, the aqua-lamp-based candle-like lighting device shows dual interests of visual effects in both light twinkling and liquid flowing.
US07798661B2
Described is an illumination unit for a field-device display module. The illumination unit generates luminescence light as background illumination for the display. In this arrangement, the illumination element comprises a chemiluminescence element or a radioactive element that generates ionising radiation for exciting a phosphorescence layer.
US07798653B2
A gear portion meshing with the first step of a pinion gear at the side of a motor, which is a driving unit of optical aperture mechanism, is designed to be a two-gears composition of a gear portion abutting on one side surface of the channel of the pinion gear, and a gear portion abutting on the other side surface of the channel of the pinion gear.
US07798651B2
A fixing mechanism includes a first fixing component, a second fixing component, a first elastic component, a second elastic component, and a third elastic structure. The first fixing component has a first end, and a second end where a first holding surface is disposed. The second fixing component has a first end fixed on the optical engine, and a second end where a second holding surface is disposed. The first elastic component has a first end connected to the first holding surface and a second end connected to an interface board. The second elastic component has a first end connected to the second holding surface and a second end connected to the interface board. The third elastic structure has a first side connected to the first holding surface and the second holding surface, and a second side located opposite to the first side and connected to the thermal module.
US07798648B2
An optical path length adjuster enables electro-optical control of a physical path length between two optical elements, suitable for use in the adjustment of an optical path length within three dimensional display devices that generate a virtual image within a defined imaging volume. The adjuster varies an optical path length between an input optical path and an output optical path and includes: a first polarization switch for selecting a polarization state for an input beam on the input optical path; first and second beam splitters having at least two possible optical paths of different lengths therebetween, for passing the input beam along a selected one of said at least two possible optical paths according to the selected polarization state of the input beam and for providing an output beam of light, on said optical output path, that has traveled along the selected optical path.
US07798647B2
One embodiment of the present invention accounts for individual anatomical variation when evaluating optical nerve fiber measurements. In one aspect, contextual information is used to compensate or correct measurement data. In another aspect, reference coordinates are remapped for improved comparison or visualization. In one embodiment of this latter aspect, the method uses measurements of nerve fiber capacity and maps of nerve fiber retinal service to improve sensitivity and specificity in eye function metrics. In one instance, we use the birefringence of nerve fibers to determine the orientation of the fibers within the RNFL. Orientation of the fibers about the ONH is indicative of the service provided by the fibers and is used to improve the interpretation of thickness measurements of the nerve fiber layer. Normalized nerve fiber measurements about the optic nerve head improve specificity and sensitivity as compared to the standard model. These improvements are a result of partitioning the normative database or modifying the measurement data prior to comparison. Statistics on normalized measurements of nerve fiber bundles also show improvements in specificity and sensitivity.
US07798644B2
The present invention relates to lenses that are capable of post-fabrication power modifications. In general, the inventive lenses comprise (i) a first polymer matrix and (ii) a refraction modulating composition that is capable of stimulus-induced polymerization dispersed therein. When at least a portion of the lens is exposed to an appropriate stimulus, the refraction modulating composition forms a second polymer matrix. The amount and location of the second polymer matrix may modify a lens characteristic such as lens power by changing its refractive index and/or by altering its shape. The inventive lenses have a number of applications in the electronics and medical fields as data storage means and as medical lenses, particularly intraocular lenses, respectively.
US07798638B2
Eyeglasses including at least one video display that may be pivoted forwardly and outwardly to a viewing position in front of the lenses of the eyeglasses, and folded rearwardly and inwardly to a stored position for retention by the ear pieces of the eyeglasses when not in use are described. When the at least one video display is disposed in the rearward, folded configuration against or within receiving portions of the temple members of the eyeglasses, the eyeglasses present the appearance and function of conventional eyewear. Video signals may be generated by at least one camera integrated with the eyeglasses, or by an external source thereof.
US07798636B2
The invention relates to an eyewear item, especially glasses frames or an optical mask, comprising a bridge (1) or a browbar (14). According to the invention, the bridge (1) or browbar (14) comprises a support (5) having a thickness (4) consisting of a thermoformable foam (3), and thermally conforming by receiving an impression following the heating of the thickness (4), then being applied to an anatomic region of a carrier, and keeping said impression after cooling. Preferably, the foam has a thermal conductivity of less than 0.040 W/m·K, preferably equal to 0.034 W/m·K. More specifically, the foam is a cross-linked polyolefin. In one mode of embodiment, the support (5) has a concave (6) or convex (7) profile to which the foam (3) is fixed in the form of a film contouring the concave or convex profile.
US07798634B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a recording apparatus, which includes a sensor having a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-receiving elements. The sensor can be configured to perform a detection operation. The detection operation includes at least two of an operation for detecting an edge of a recording medium, an operation for detecting a distance between a recording head and the recording medium, an operation for detecting the density of an image formed on the recording medium, and an operation for detecting the kind of the recording medium.
US07798623B2
An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.
US07798616B2
A fluid ejection device comprises a first metal layer and a second metallayer. The first metal layer comprises an address path portion and a nonaddress path portion. The second metal layer, which overlies the first metal layer, comprises a first portion which comprises a power conducting portion. The power conducting portion is routed only over the non-address path portion of the first metal layer.
US07798614B2
An inkjet head includes a flow-path unit, a reservoir unit and an actuator unit. The flow-path unit includes a common ink chamber and plural individual ink flow paths. The actuator unit includes plural first electrodes and a second electrode. The first electrodes are arranged to correspond to pressure chambers, respectively. The first electrodes are fed selectively with respective drive voltages for varying a volume of the pressure chambers. One of the flow-path unit and the reservoir unit includes a first metal portion, and the other includes a second metal portion. The metal portion of the flow-path unit and the second electrode are electrically connected with each other. The first metal portion and the second metal portion are jointed to each other through an insulating material layer. An electric connection portion, which is in direct contact with the second metal portion, is integrated with the first metal portion.
US07798613B2
Provided is a pagewidth printhead assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of printhead integrated circuits (ICs) each having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for operatively ejecting printing fluid onto a printing medium, each IC defining a plurality of discrete supply channels for supplying the nozzle arrangements with fluid. Each IC has a bonding surface with a plurality of trenches etched therein, the trenches having a width of less than 10 microns to attract a liquid adhesive by capillary action. The assembly also includes an ink manifold having a mounting surface, the bonding surface of each printhead IC bonded to the mounting surface with an adhesive tape comprising a liquid-based adhesive, the adhesive tape having a plurality of laser-drilled holes defined therein, said holes being positioned to coincide with the supply channels, and said adhesive is received, at least partially, in the plurality of etched trenches.
US07798612B2
A microfluidic architecture is disclosed. The microfluidic architecture includes a substrate having an edge and a thin film stack established on at least a portion of the substrate adjacent the edge. The thin film stack includes a non-conducting layer and a seed layer, where the seed layer is positioned such that a portion of the non-conducting layer is exposed. A chamber layer is established on at least a portion of the seed layer. The non-conducting layer, the seed layer, and the chamber layer define a microfluidic chamber. A layer having a predetermined surface property is electroplated on the chamber layer and on at least one of another portion of the seed layer and the exposed portion of the non-conducting layer.
US07798610B2
A groove for a separate liquid chamber opening is provided in the vicinity of a location in a first separate liquid chamber to which a cantilever element is fixed and the groove extends overall in a vertical direction of the separate liquid chamber. The flow resistance of flow across the cantilever element from the upper side to the lower side of the separate liquid chamber through the opening is sufficiently small compared to the flow resistance of flow through the other small gap. Therefore, the ink flow from a common liquid chamber to the lower side of the cantilever element in each separate liquid chamber, which is caused with every ink ejection, passes through substantially two separate liquid chamber openings. As a result, the stagnation of ink flow in the first separate liquid chamber is reduced and the bubbles are smoothly flushed out.
US07798609B2
A printer includes a printhead cartridge, in turn, having a printhead and ink supply for supplying ink to the printhead. The printhead includes a series of ink ejection integrated circuits (ICs) that are complementarily engaged together. Each IC includes spaced apart groups of nozzles configured to eject respective types of ink. The nozzles in each group are arranged to form staggered rows. A cradle unit complementarily engages with the printhead cartridge and has a media transport mechanism for transporting print media past the printhead. A media supply cartridge is configured to supply the media to the cradle unit.
US07798607B2
An inkjet printhead is provided having inkjet printhead modules arranged to successively abut one another and controllers for controlling the printhead modules. A first controller is configured to receive and process print data to generate first ink dot data and a second controller is configured to receive and process print data and at least some of the first dot data to generate second ink dot data. The first controller is arranged to output the first dot data to at least a first printhead module and the second controller. The second controller is arranged to output the second dot data to at least a second printhead module.
US07798599B2
A service station for a fluid-ejection mechanism of a fluid-ejection device includes one or more mechanisms. The mechanisms move back and forth over the fluid-ejection mechanism to wipe the fluid-ejection mechanism. The mechanisms cap the fluid-ejection mechanism during periods of nonuse of the fluid-ejection mechanism. The service station is mounted on the fluid-ejection mechanism, and remains mounted on the fluid-ejection mechanism while the fluid-ejection mechanism is used to eject fluid onto media. The fluid-ejection device is moved by a user to properly eject the fluid onto the media.
US07798595B2
A fuse element can be reliably blown and data that corresponds to whether or not the fuse element has been blown can be stored with high reliability. A resistor element is provided in a circuit through which an electric current flows to blow the fuse element in the ink jet printing head. The resistor element adjusts the electric current so that, in the process of blowing the fuse element, the current continues to flow for a predetermined duration even after a maximum current has passed through the fuse element. The predetermined duration is longer than a period from a time point when the electric current rises to a time point when the electric current reaches the maximum current.
US07798591B2
A capacitive load driving circuit includes: a phase lead compensator, advancing a phase of an output signal of a filter; a series compensator, determining an error between a driving signal and an output signal of the phase lead compensator; a stabilization compensator, performing a derivative action on an output signal of the filter; a voltage comparison unit, comparing a differential voltage between a signal output from the series compensator and a signal output from the stabilization compensator, with a voltage of a predetermined triangular waveform, and outputting a pulse width modulation signal; a voltage amplification unit, amplifying the voltage of the pulse width modulation signal output, and supplying the amplified pulse width modulation signal to the input terminal of the filter; and plural capacitive loads each connected in parallel to the capacitor. A droplet ejection apparatus includes the capacitive load driving circuit.
US07798585B2
A transmission/reception element transmits an ultrasound wave to an ink liquid contained in an ink tank. At this time, a near sound field of the ultrasound wave is formed within a propagating member when it propagates the ultrasound wave transmitted from the transmission/reception element to the ink liquid. The transmission/reception element receives the ultrasound wave that is transmitted, reflected on the surface of the ink liquid, and comes back. An ink remaining amount calculating unit calculates the remaining amount of the ink liquid based on an elapsed time required from the transmission until the reception.
US07798582B2
A fixing apparatus for fixing a slide rail to a first column and a second column includes a first fixing member, a release member, and a second fixing member. The slide rail includes a flange formed perpendicularly at a first end of the slide rail. The first fixing member attached to and slid along the first end of the slide rail includes a tab. The tab and the flange sandwich the first column. The release member attached to and slid along to the slide rail includes a latching hook formed at a first end to engage with the first fixing member, a mounting tab extending from the release member adjacent to a second end, and an opening adjacent to the mounting tab. The second fixing member attached to the second end of the release member includes a fixing tab. The tab and the mounting tab sandwich the second column.
US07798581B2
A fast detachable slide bracket includes a frame, a resilient latching member, and a linkage. A folded plate having a through hole is disposed at one end of the frame. The resilient latching member has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The section between the first end and the second end is pivotally connected to the frame. The first end is relatively disposed to and separated from the folded plate for a proper range. The linkage has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the linkage penetrates the through hold of the folded plate of the frame and the second end of the linkage links the latching member to raise the second end of the latching member thus to move the first end of the latching member to release the bracket from a support temporarily.
US07798575B1
A hub and drum assembly includes a recess around one or more stud holes in the drum and a shipping nut threaded onto a stud and contained in the recess. The recessed shipping nut securely fastens the hub to the drum during shipping. At a destination facility, the shipping nut does not have to be removed before wheels are installed on the huh and drum assembly. A method of assembling a portion of a drive train including a hub and drum assembly with a recessed shipping nut is also provided.
US07798564B2
A reinforcing member for vehicles comprises a pair of fixed parts fastened on spaced-apart portions of a vehicle body, and a bar body for connecting the respective fixed parts. A rotation allowing mechanism is provided on at least one of the fixed parts in order to allow the bar body to rotate with respect to the vehicle body. Therefore, the respective two portions of the vehicle body, on which the fixed parts are fastened respectively, are allowed to have angle variations to each other without changing the space between the two portions of the vehicle body. Consequently, the rigidity of the entire vehicle body can be improved without the degradation in the drivability and the ride comfortableness of the vehicle.
US07798560B2
A vehicle body structure having a closure frame structure and an inner fender structure. The closure frame structure has a tenon. The inner fender structure has a mortise that receives the tenon. A fastener extends through the mortise and the tenon to secure the inner fender structure to the closure frame structure.
US07798559B2
A method for transporting poultry in a coop trailer that includes a trailer section which can carry a number of tiers of poultry cages on its bed and has a vertically oriented tarpaulin system mounted thereon. The tarpaulin system includes tarpaulins which are suspended from a cable that extends between the front and rear ends of the trailer section. The tarpaulins can rapidly and easily be drawn back and forth along the sides of the trailer section to cover and uncover the cages. When the tarpaulins are fully extended along the sides of the trailer section, the tarpaulins effectively aid in preventing the birds from being buffeted about by excessive wind as the coop trailer travels along the roads. The tarpaulins also aid in maintaining a more constant temperature within the trailer section. The tarpaulins can be quickly and easily withdrawn and rotated to lay adjacent one of the front and rear ends of the trailer section and can be secured in that position so as to allow for the loading or removal of the cages from the trailer section.
US07798556B2
An opening device for a flap of a vehicle, in particular for a rear flap, pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis on the upper edge of an opening in the vehicle body from a closed position into an open position having a gas-filled spring coupled to the body by the free end of its piston rod at a distance from the pivot axis and coupled to the flap by its pressure tube at a distance from the pivot axis. The gas-filled spring in the exload direction applies a force to the flap in the opening direction. Furthermore, an actuator can act on the flap in the opening direction. The actuator is an energy accumulator which, applies a force to the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position until a relaxed position of the energy accumulator is reached.
US07798555B2
A roof assembly includes a roof having a roof frame with front, center, and rear sections, and a lever assembly. The lever assembly includes three levers which are respectively linked to three swivel axes on the rear section such that the roof is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The first lever connects the rear section at the first axis to a support such that the rear section is movable about the first axis; the second lever connects the rear section at the second axis to the center section such that the center section is movable about the second axis; and the third lever connects the rear section at the third axis to the front section such that the front section is movable about the third axis. The levers are adjacently situated in a transverse direction with the second lever being between the first and third levers.
US07798554B2
A motor vehicle roof configuration which can be put away has at least two shaping sections, which are movable relative to one another and can be put away together, for lateral convertible top cloth strips. The shaping sections lie in a row next to one another in a closed position of the roof configuration and have water channels which run approximately parallel to each convertible top cloth strip and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and also adjacent to the convertible top cloth strips. It is provided that, at least in a closed position of the roof configuration, an inner edge of each convertible top cloth strip together with at least one sealing configuration forms a leakproof covering for the adjacent water channel.
US07798542B2
A door lock apparatus and methods are provided for preventing a child, or other unauthorized person, from opening an appliance (e.g., refrigerator) or cabinet door, while not unduly reducing or impeding access thereto by an authorized person, such as an adult. In various embodiments, the door lock apparatus is configured for locking in place outwardly swinging doors disposed in a side-by-side relationship. For example, a generally “U” or “V” shaped door lock can be adapted, when in a generally inverted orientation, to be slidably and removably received within channels or recesses formed by closely adjacent elongated handles of respective side-by-side doors. In some embodiments, the door lock apparatus can include, among other things, spaced legs depending from an upper support.
US07798533B2
A ventilation chimney or exhaust fan flue section for hog barns has inner and outer plastic tubes formed by edge welding plastic sheets. A snug fitting insulation sheet is slid between the tubes. Collars of male and female coupling elements are inserted into the ends of the section between the inner and outer tubes and secured by screws passing through the outer tube and into the collars. The chimney can be installed by combining sections using a suitable adhesive.
US07798532B2
A device for connecting parts of an exhaust gas system which comprises at least one metal tube formed from a bellows and optionally further parts disposed coaxially within and/or outside of the bellows and at least one further system part to be connected to the metal tube, are characterized in that one end of a short connecting tube is inserted positively in an end of the metal tube and the other end is inserted positively in the system part to be connected to the metal tube, and the system part is moved to the end of the metal tube facing the system part, thereby leaving an axial gap, and the system part, the connecting tube and the metal tube being connected from the outside in one working step.
US07798526B2
A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.
US07798521B2
A lower limb protecting airbag apparatus M1 is provided in front of the lower limbs L of an occupant D seated in a seat. At the collision of vehicles, the lower limb protecting airbag apparatus is operated to be able to protect the lower limbs of the occupant so that an airbag having inflated in front of the lower limbs is disposed therein. An accommodating part configured to accommodate and hold the airbag is supported by a support arm. A servo motor is activated to cause the support arm to feed the accommodating part from a standby position to a working position at which the airbag is expanded and inflated. The accommodating part has a support portion which can support a front surface side when the airbag having completed inflation at the working position catches the lower limbs.
US07798520B2
An airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag on a side of a backrest of a vehicle seat that when inflated first extends substantially in a direction of a vertical vehicle axis and then forward from a backrest in a direction of travel of the vehicle. The airbag includes at least one inflatable chamber extending substantially forward from the backrest in the direction of travel and that is assigned to a body region of a vehicle occupant to support the vehicle occupant in a side collision. The at least one chamber is extended by a section that extends forward in the direction of travel when the airbag is inflated so that the airbag supports the vehicle occupant if vehicle occupant moves obliquely forward in the direction of travel because the section intercepts the associated body region of the vehicle occupant.
US07798511B2
A steering system for a motorcycle includes a head pipe, a steering stem, a top bridge, a bottom bridge, a front fork, and a steering handlebar. The steering stem is supported by the head pipe. The top bridge has a center portion, a side portion extending from the center portion, and a holding portion provided at the side portion. The top bridge is supported by the steering stem at the center portion to steerably move around the head pipe. The bottom bridge is supported by the steering stem to steerably move around the head pipe. The front fork is held by the top bridge through the holding porting and is held by the bottom bridge. The top bridge has a protruding portion provided on an upper face of the top bridge and extending from the holding portion toward the center portion of the top bridge.
US07798502B2
A lug cart and support table assembly is disclosed comprising a support table having an upper support surface for supporting a breading machine. A lug tub-shaped lug located in the lug cart and a latching system affixed to the lug cart to removably attach the lug cart to a selected one of a front side and a rear side of the table assembly. The latching system includes a first latch assembly and a second latch assembly affixed to an end of the cart in spaced apart relation, each of the first and second latch assemblies includes a support body, a pivoting arm coupled to the support body and pivoting in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis between a locking position and a release position.
US07798494B1
An amusement device which uses a case containing balls that are shot from one side of the case to the other, and pegs are positioned at the bottom of the case to facilitate scoring. A second container is positioned at the top of the case so the game can be turned upside down in order to continue the game or to start a new game.
US07798486B2
An image forming apparatus may include an image forming mechanism to form an image and to transfer the image onto a recording sheet and a container configured to contain the recording sheet. The container may include a container part, a handle attachment part, and/or a handle. The handle may be attached to the handle attachment part. The handle may be attachable to and detachable from the container and to pull out the container from the image forming apparatus. The handle may include an insertion part, a handle part, and/or a grip. The insertion part is configured to attach the handle to the container. The handle part may be configured to protrude from a front surface of the container and to include a through-hole and a grip to be held through the through-hole.
US07798485B2
The present invention relates to a document-feeding device. The document-feeding device includes a sheet-feeding channel and a sheet-separating structure. The sheet-separating structure includes a base, a separation pad, a pinch roller, a separation roller and an elastic element. The base is disposed in the sheet-feeding channel. The separation pad is disposed on a surface of the base. The pinch roller is disposed in the base. The separation roller is in contact with the separation pad and the pinch roller. The elastic element is used for supporting the base such that the separation pad and the pinch roller are sustained against the separation roller.
US07798481B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sheet discharge section that feeds a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus to a post-processing section and leads the sheet that has passed through the post-processing section to a sheet discharge port; a sheet discharge tray that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port and can move to a first standby position and a second standby position higher than the first standby position and nearer to the sheet discharge port; and a controller that controls the height position of the sheet discharge tray by identifying the type of the sheet. The controller changes the height position of the sheet discharge tray to allow the sheet discharge tray to receive the discharged sheet at the first standby position in the case where the sheet is a first type while to receive the discharged sheet at the second standby position in the case where the sheet is a second type.
US07798471B2
A heave compensation system provides a direct acting heave compensator that reduces stress and fatigue on a line, the system includes a single sheave system that compensates for heave as it carries a load line and moves along a curve profile of the heave compensator tangent to the point the load line comes off of a line handling system. The length of the line extending from the line handling system to the sheave remains substantially the same length during heave compensation operations, and the point where the line takes off from the line handling system is substantially the only point of changing stress on the line.
US07798469B2
An apparatus and method for lifting, moving, aligning and lowering a toilet. The apparatus comprises a base frame having three sides, and a lift frame pivotally attached at a first end to the base frame. The apparatus further comprises a jack device, operatively attached to the lift frame, for selectively lifting and lowering the lift frame, and an arm pivotally attached to the lift frame. In one preferred embodiment, the jack device includes a jack cylinder, a piston concentrically disposed within the jack cylinder, and a U-shaped member. In the most preferred embodiment, the U-shaped member is attached at a first point to the piston, and wherein the U-shaped member is pivotally attached to the lift frame at a second point, so that as the piston extends from the jack cylinder, the lift frame is moved. A total of three (3) pivot point sets are included in the most preferred embodiment. Left and right side alignment tubes may also be included.
US07798461B2
A rotating bracket assembly comprises first and second members, each of which defines a channel having opposing sides coupled to a common base. The first member is nested within the second member with adjacent opposing sides being hingedly coupled to one another so that the first member can freely rotate 360° relative to the second member to achieve a plurality of rotational positions. A first plurality of holes formed in the opposing sides of the first member at least partially align with a second plurality of holes formed in the opposing sides of the second member for each of the rotational positions.
US07798460B2
An apparatus to support a display device main body to a ceiling includes a ceiling bracket connectable with the ceiling; a connecting bracket having a swivel hinge coupled with the ceiling bracket to enable the connecting bracket to swivel in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the ceiling bracket; and a supporting bracket to elastically support the display device main body to overcome a weight of the display device main body, the supporting bracket having a tilting hinge combined tiltably with the connecting bracket. Thus, an apparatus to support a display device in which swivel, pivot and tilt movements of the display device main body supported to a ceiling can be performed conveniently and the display device main body can be tilted by a relatively small force is provided.
US07798442B2
A rotor assembly having a rotor hub, a plurality of yokes, and a plurality of swing arms is provided. The yoke depending from the rotor hub. Each swing arm is movably positioned on the rotor hub for rotation between an unlocked position and a locked position. The yokes are freely movable about a pitch axis and a lead/lag axis when the swing arms are in the unlocked position and the yokes are locked in a predetermined pitch position and a predetermined lead/lag position when the swing arms are in the locked position.
US07798441B2
A conductor assembly and method for constructing an assembly of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, induces a voltage. In one embodiment the method includes forming a structure comprising layers of material extending along a first aperture path. The structure includes multiple concentric layer surfaces. A channel is formed in each of the layers of the material and along each of the multiple surfaces. Conductive material is positioned in each channel to provide a spiral configuration. The surfaces of multiple ones of the layers are of tubular shape. The layers of material are sequentially positioned one over another and about an axis along which first and second opposing coil end regions are formed. The layers are formed with a region of a first thickness and a shoulder region. The shoulder region is alternately formed in the sequence at one coil end region or at the other coil end region. Each shoulder region has a greater thickness than the first thickness.
US07798440B2
A fly reel having a spool with multiple line holding portions, permitting a single rod an reel assembly to be simultaneously fitted with different types of fly line, and eliminating the need to remove and reinstall reels when changing types of fly line.
US07798435B2
The present invention relates to a shredder with an automated lubricating system.
US07798433B2
A fuel injection valve device is capable of thinning a nozzle hole plate and improving fuel spray characteristics by a construction for reducing stress concentration that occurs at the weld part of the nozzle hole plate. The fuel injection valve device includes: a nozzle having a fuel passage inside and in which a valve seat is formed at an end; a needle valve for opening and closing the fuel passage by coming in contact with and separating from the valve seat; and an nozzle hole plate that is disposed at the tip of the nozzle and injects a fuel in the fuel passage at the time of opening the needle valve. The nozzle hole plate and the nozzle are fixed by welding in a state of forming an even gap between them.
US07798429B1
The handheld spray receptor provides an apparatus which, when used with a supply of a liquid under pressure, dispenses a liquid material in a pattern that is controlled by an inexpensive and disposable actuator. Such actuators are employed as an industry standard part that would be found on any aerosol spray can, and feature small cylindrical actuators that may be easily interchanged, so as to provide varied spray patterns. A purging model provides for a quick and convenient method of purging liquid from the actuator, so as to prevent hardening of liquid material exposed to the atmosphere, and a subsequent clogging of the receptor. When used with a supply of liquid under pressure and access to a propellant, the handheld spray receptor significantly reduces the amount of hazardous waste, in the form of partially consumed aerosol cans, that would otherwise enter landfills or hazardous waste recycling facilities.
US07798421B2
A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) with a removable liner (13) received in a container (12) having a detachable lid (15). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a planar material, has a shape that corresponds to and is a close fit within the interior of the container (12) and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner (13) during operation of the spray gun (1). The lid (15) has an outlet (16) connected to an inlet on the spray gun (1) for transfer of liquid from the reservoir (11) to the spray gun (1) and the container (12) has a vent (12A) in the base end for admitting air between the container (12) and the liner (13) as liquid is withdrawn from within the liner (13).
US07798416B2
A portable device is provided that carries account data. The account data may include a security code having a value that is time-varying. The value of the security code may be programmatically varied based on at least one of an algorithm or event. Authorization and use of the account may be sought from an authorization agent using the account data provided on the portable device.
US07798412B2
An apparatus for contactless transactions is disclosed. In one embodiment, a transaction fob assembly includes a standardized fob core and an outer shell adapted to secure the core within the outer shell. Various embodiments provide for the fob core to include circuitry, an antenna, a battery, a switch and a LED.
US07798409B2
In an imaging reader for reading a coded symbol located in a range of working distances from the reader, a solid-state imager captures light from the symbol over a field of view, and a controller automatically determines whether an image of the symbol is located entirely within the field of view of the imager, and processes the symbol only when the symbol image is located entirely within the field of view of the imager.
US07798408B2
A method of controlling an imager in a portable data collection device. A plurality of data structures are created with each containing a set of values for controlling an exposure process of an imager in a portable data collection device. One of the plurality of data structures is selected and the values therein are applied to the imager. Thereafter, a frame is captured by the imager and outputted.
US07798402B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method that helps a freight carrier to more efficiently determine if a shipment of freight has been classified with the correct freight classification. In one embodiment, the method includes the use of a handheld communication device that allows an operator of a freight carrier's vehicle to display a description of a freight classification that has been provided by the shipper at the point of origin. The operator can then compare the displayed description to the appearance of the shipment of freight to determine if they match. If they do not match, the operator can flag the shipment of freight for reexamination at the carrier's terminal facility.
US07798401B2
An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that detects a first electronic device in a proximity to a second electronic device; and obtains an end user assistance corresponding to an at least substantially common aspect of the first electronic device and the second electronic device.
US07798394B2
A method. The method comprises, at a reader, performing at least one transaction-based risk management process prior to energizing a contactless interface, initiating communication with a card utilized for the contactless transaction, receiving information associated with the card, and terminating communication with the card to authorizing the contactless transaction.
US07798382B2
A method for regulating a web tension of a continuous materials which is moving using a transport device with a web-tension controller, includes determining controller characteristic parameters, and using for the determining of controller characteristic parameters a characteristic which is specifiable as a function and/or at several support points.
US07798373B1
An airpot beverage dispenser (10) having a composite dispense tube (40) with an exterior outlet (44) adjacent a top of a hollow body (20) and an interior inlet (110) located adjacent a bottom (16) for passing beverage (36) from adjacent the bottom (16) to the outlet when the interior of the hollow body (20) is pressurized has a brew-through assembly with a cover body (24) for substantially closing the open top (18) except for a centrally located brew-through passageway (95) substantially smaller than the open top (18) and extending between an upwardly facing exterior brew-through inlet (30) and an interior outlet (102) that passes through a central passageway extending through a double-walled bellows (74) or extends past a plurality of bellows (FIG. 16, 114) that are laterally spaced from the passageway has an electronic display (48) for indicating a plurality of levels of the beverage (36) within the hollow body and a resistive (FIGS. 11-14) or capacitive (FIG. 21) electronic level sensing assembly carried by the dispense tube (40) for sensing a plurality of different levels of beverage (36) within the hollow body and electrical leads (170, 172) printed on the dispense tube to pass the sensing signals to a display controller (127). The display, controller and portable power source (123) are protectively contained within a plastic watertight compartment (126) integrally formed with the cover body (24) is vented (FIG. 20) to prevent the accumulation of moisture within the compartment (126).
US07798372B2
A system for pouring liquids from a vessel is provided with a mounting flange that engages an inner surface of a vessel sidewall and a spout that extends from the mounting flange. A biasing member depends from the spout to engage an outer surface of the vessel sidewall and securely engage the mounting flange with the inner surface of the vessel sidewall. Guide walls may extend up from the mounting flange on either side of the spout. A separator plate may be removably secured with the mounting flange to strain solids from the liquid being poured from the vessel. The spout, alone or in combination with the separator plate, may form a utensil support.
US07798369B2
An assembly for mounting of a lever member to a housing in which a stop member which normally limits rotation of the lever member about a fulcrum is movable to a position which permits the lever member to be disengaged from the housing and removed.
US07798362B1
A hold down mechanism includes a shaft, ring-shaped member, latch device fixed to the member and latchable with teeth thereon to permit unassisted movement of the member and latch device downward along the shaft due to the influence of gravity on the member but not upwardly along the shaft by manually lifting the member without unlatching the latch device from the shaft, support arms fixedly spaced apart on and extending inwardly from the member, platens independently reciprocally mounted below support arms, and a spring mounted between platens and support arms exerting a weak downward force on platens independently so as to bias platens to move downwardly away from support arms and against items in stacks aligned under platens while at the same time yieldable to permit platens to move upwardly toward support arms to accommodate differences in stack heights as items are successively dispensed therefrom. Optionally, the mechanism may be used without the shaft.
US07798355B2
A water softener system cover assembly includes a cover removably coupled to the water softener system, the cover includes a control panel opening and a salt pour area opening. The assembly also includes a control panel cover portion slidably coupled to the cover for selective movement between a closed position covering the control panel opening and an open position exposing the control panel opening, and wherein the control panel cover portion is at least partially positioned between the salt pour area opening and the salt pour area cover portion when in the open position. The assembly further includes a salt pour area cover portion slidably coupled to the cover for selective movement between a closed position covering the salt pour area opening and an open position exposing the salt pour area opening, the salt pour area cover portion is configured such that said salt pour area cover portion is positioned at least partially above the control panel cover portion when in the open position.
US07798335B2
An apparatus for organizing articles of clothing is disclosed, including a housing having first and second drums rotatably mounted thereto. A drive system is used for rotating a belt around the first and second drums. The belt includes a plurality of hooks for hanging articles thereon. In one embodiment, the apparatus mounts on a closet rod and further includes a posterior end with an adjustable telescoping sleeve to stabilize the mounted apparatus against a wall. The apparatus can include a removable battery pack mounted to the underside of the apparatus. The removable battery pack can have a light bulb mounted on it to illuminate the selection of articles on the hooks. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a rod-mounting apparatus that has a length that prevents or minimizes entanglement of articles hanging on the apparatus with other articles hanging near the apparatus.
US07798330B2
A lockable pill container includes a holder defining at least one compartment having an access opening providing access to a pill holder interior volume. At least one lid is moveable between a covering position and an open position. The lid includes a first locking member that is sized to project into the holder when the respective lid is in the covering position. A second locking member is moveable between a locking position and a release position. The locking position includes a position in which the second locking member engages a first locking member of the at least one lid in the covering position. The release position includes a position in which the second locking member is disengaged from all of the first locking members. The second locking member includes opposite first and second ends. The second locking member is moveable from the locking position to the release position by application of a force against the second end. The second locking member is moveable from the release position to the locking position by application of a force against the first end. A visual indicator, such as color, can be used to help the user know when the container is locked or not locked. A tactile indicator can be used to help the user know when the container is locked or not locked.
US07798328B2
An improved insert card is provided. The various embodiments include improved hinges, locking tabs, ribs, detachable base panel with center bar, grips, fold-resisting abutments, and fold-over panels.
US07798319B1
Some embodiments of a tobacco product package device can be used to enhance freshness and other characteristics of tobacco products or other products contained therein. Certain features can improve product freshness both during shelf life and during consumer use.
US07798311B2
A conveyor (2) which has a plurality of slats (6) for transferring articles around the conveyor (2), some or all of the slats (6) having at least one visible surface (14) through which indicia is displayed.
US07798310B2
A conveyor belt cleaner for scraping material from a surface comprising a mounting assembly operatively attached to a support frame, the mounting assembly comprising at least one scraper blade, a biasing member associated with each scraper blade and a scraper blade arm extending there between. The biasing member and scraper blade arm are configured such that the conveyor belt cleaner provides for full circle deflection of and a floating point of rotation for the base member, scraper blade arm, and scraper blade. The mounting assembly is further configured to enable material cleaned from the conveyor belt surface to pass freely through the mounting assembly to avoid inhibiting the operation of the conveyor belt cleaner.
US07798307B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning fasteners having radially symmetrical polygonal heads in a device for feeding these fasteners to a processing station. A tubular piece having axially running grooves in its interior is provided in a feed channel for the fasteners, the number of these grooves corresponding to the number of edges on the heads of the fasteners, and the diameter of the groove corners on the inlet side of the tubular piece being greater than the width across the corners of the polygonal heads, the grooves tapering from a large width to a narrow width in the transport direction in such a way that fasteners entering the tubular piece are captured with a great clearance in relation to the grooves and leave the tubular piece with narrow clearance and therefore in the aligned position.
US07798301B2
Segmented steel core plates for either double sided or single sided wet clutch friction plates or separator plates and a process for making the same are disclosed.
US07798297B1
An apparatus having in a mutually rotatable configuration, a first fluid shear member connectable to a first moveable body part of a handheld device and a second fluid shear member connectable to a second moveable body part of the handheld device. The first and second fluid shear members are configured to experience mutual rotation when the first and second moveable body parts are connected respectively to the first and second fluid shear members and when the moveable body parts are moved in relation to one another. The first and second fluid shear members are matched and there is fluid between the first and second fluid shear members so as to invoke viscous dampening when the first and second fluid shear members rotate in relation to one another.
US07798295B2
A suspension system for a motorcycle, comprising a motorcycle main frame, a swing arm pivotally mounted to the motorcycle main frame about a pivot axis, and an air-bag suspension system. The air-bag suspension system includes at least one air-bag constructed of an elastomeric material. The air-bag is housed within a housing assembly and is secured at one end to a piston located within the housing assembly and at its other end to an upper plate or end cap of the housing assembly. The housing assembly is attached to a shock absorber, and the shock absorber is attached at its forward end to the cross member plate of the motorcycle main frame and is pivotally attached at its rearward end to the lower transverse cross member of the swing arm.
US07798287B1
A ceiling panel assembly is provided, including: a sound damping layer including a constraining layer and a first viscoelastic layer; and an acoustical absorption layer coupled to the sound damping layer. A suspended ceiling assembly is provided, including: a support structure attached to a structural ceiling of a room, the support structure including a plurality of support flanges; and a plurality of ceiling panel assemblies, each ceiling panel assembly positioned on the support flanges and comprising a sound damping layer including a constraining layer and a first viscoelastic layer. A method of manufacturing a ceiling panel assembly is provided, the method including: providing a sound damping layer including a constraining layer and a viscoelastic layer; and applying an acoustical absorption layer to the sound damping layer.
US07798283B2
A power steering driving device 100 includes an input shaft 6 provided with a serration 8 and connected to an input mechanism 3 linked to a steering handle 2, an output shaft 7 provided with a serration 10 and connected to an output mechanism 5 linked to a vehicle wheel 4, and a torsion bar 15 that connects the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 coaxially. The serration 8 of the input shaft 6 and the serration 10 of the output shaft 7 are formed such that a ratio between the respective numbers of teeth thereof is a decimal, and to specify a relative rotation position of the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 relative to the input mechanism 3 and the output mechanism 5, a tooth on the serration 8 of the input shaft 6 and a tooth on the serration 10 of the output shaft 7 having a relative position deviation angle about an identical central axis which is equal to or smaller than an allowable value are selected as reference teeth.
US07798282B2
A hybrid electrical power assist system (EPAS) for an automotive vehicle that utilizes the advantages of a conventional EPAS system to provide power assist based upon several distinct sensor inputs, in a heavy duty vehicle that requires significantly more assistance forces than a conventional EPAS can provide. The hybrid system utilizes a hydraulic amplifier that is connected to receive the torque output from an EPAS motor actuator and responsively provide a fluid under differential pressure through a pair of high pressure lines to a steering piston.
US07798277B2
A system is provided for controllably absorbing energy associated with a machine. The system may include a power source configured to provide power to a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is configured to provide a flow of fluid to a hydraulic dissipation circuit and to one or more implement system hydraulic cylinders, and wherein the hydraulic dissipation circuit is configured to generate a load associated with the hydraulic pump. The system may also include at least one valve configured to provide the flow of fluid to the hydraulic dissipation circuit in response to one or more control signals and a controller configured to receive an input signal from an operator actuated device, and generate the one or more control signals based on the input signal.
US07798268B2
A system for turning waste heat from the engine of a motorcycle into useable electricity through the use of thermotunneling and thermionic devices. The system described also provides cooling for the engine and driver along with pressurized air flow for use in cooling or forced induction. This air flow can also be diverted and pushed through a pored seat to keep the rider cool and dry. The use of thermionic or thermotunneling devices can also be used to aid in the cooling of the water or engine components.
US07798267B2
Disclosed is a motor vehicle comprising a generator and at least one capacitor in which recuperation power generated in a thrust phase by the generator that can be operated as a recuperator can be stored. The excitation current (IErr) that limits the power of the generator (3) can be varied in the excitation circuit of the generator (3) in accordance with at least one vehicle-specific operational parameter and/or the actual charge of the capacitor (10).
US07798263B2
A system for providing enhanced stability, control, and management of a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly combination by using an electronic stability enhancing system and two processors is disclosed. The first processor on the tow-vehicle and second processor on the trailer include memory with computer instructions for communicating with sensors located on the tow-vehicle and the trailer for detecting force, motion, and combinations thereof, as well as engagement with the trailer. Computer instructions instruct the processors to identify specifications and characteristics representing the tow-vehicle and the trailer and to calculate force values and motion values that affect the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly combination for comparison with known threshold values. Computer instructions provide instructions for stabilization, which can include braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle and trailer using force values, motion values, the electronic stability enhancing system, and specifications of the tow-vehicle and trailer combination.
US07798260B2
A track vehicle includes a cab operable to support an operator. Left and right motors each rotate an output shaft at a first speed, and a speed reduction system is operably coupled to each output shaft. Left and right drive shafts are driven by the speed reduction system at a second speed that is slower than the first speed. Left and right drive sprockets are mounted for rotation with the respective first and second drive shafts. Left and right track carriages support the cab and left and right tracks are mounted for rotation about the track carriages in response to rotation of the respective left and right drive shafts, such that the left and right tracks are driven by the left and right drive sprockets to move the track vehicle along a ground surface.
US07798258B2
A drill bit for cutting a borehole comprises a bit body including a bit axis. In addition, the drill bit comprises a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body. Further, the drill bit comprises a cutter element having a base portion with a diameter and a cutting portion extending therefrom. The cutting portion comprising a first pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form a first elongate chisel crest, and a second pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form a second elongate chisel crest that intersects the first elongate chisel crest in top view. The first crest tangent angle at 10% of the diameter measured radially from the central axis on the first elongate chisel crest in profile view is greater than 75° and less than or equal to 90°.
US07798251B2
During casing-while-drilling, drilling fluid is pumped through a conduit leading to a flow passage a casing string gripper and down the casing string. A bottom hole assembly is mounted at a lower end of the casing string for drilling a wellbore. The bottom hole assembly is retrieved by mounting a circulation sub to the casing string below the casing string gripper, the circulation sub having a lateral outlet. A return flow line is connected from the outlet to the circulation system. The operator flows fluid downward in an annulus of the casing string and back up the casing string, causing the bottom hole assembly to move upward. The fluid flowing back up the casing string is diverted through the outlet in the circulation sub to the circulation system without passing through the flow passage in the casing string gripper.
US07798249B2
A system and method for excavating a wellbore through a subterranean formation that includes a drill string having an inner passage for flowing a suspension of fluid and impactors. The drill string includes a flow control device to block flow in the drill string passage or in the annulus formed between the drill string and the wellbore inner wall from lowing into the bit when flow is reduced or stopped. The flow can take place due to fluid density differences resulting from impactors being in suspension in the fluid. The flow control device includes a selectively openable and closable valve. Valve embodiments include valves having flapper elements, a plurality of cables suspended in an annular configuration, and whisker elements.
US07798247B2
A method for sucking dust in connection with a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. The rock drilling rig (1) comprises a dust collection system provided with a suction device (11) to produce suction for sucking dust from a drill hole (8) through a first suction channel (12). The rock drilling rig further comprises a second suction channel (17) allowing the suction effect of the dust collection system to be utilized for sucking dust from a location other than the drill hole, for example from the control cabin (15). Exhaust suction is controlled by means of a control unit (26, 48).
US07798244B2
A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a lost motion linkage, a biasing member, a ground engaging tool, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by compensating for changes in draft force caused by changes in terrain elevation.
US07798226B2
A cement diffuser and method for allowing a ported tubular to be cemented in place, while keeping an annulus about a port of the ported tubular generally free of set cement. The cement diffuser includes a collection of fibers secured over the port and extending out from an outer surface of the tubular.
US07798221B2
An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.
US07798219B1
Process and a method for enhancing recovery of petroleum from an underground source including injecting into the source, a petroleum displacement agent including fluids and modified liposomes. The liposomes and fluids merge the discrete oil droplets after waterflood into a continuous layer of oil (oil phase) eliminating b-pass of water through oil and employ mobility control through transition of gel phase to liquid crystalline phase.
US07798211B2
An electrical submersible well pump assembly having a progressing cavity pump, a pump motor, a flex shaft connecting the pump motor to the pump, and a gas/liquid separator on the inlet to the pump. An inner and outer housing circumscribe a portion of the flex shaft, each having fluid inlets. The fluid inlets on the outer housing are above the inner housing inlets and an annulus is formed between the inner and outer housing. Wellbore fluid enters the assembly through the outer housing inlets, flows downward through the annulus, and into the inner housing inlets. Gas separates from the liquid as the fluid flows downward from the outer housing inlets to the inner housing inlets.
US07798208B2
The invention provides a wellhead and a method for installing a wellhead assembly. The wellhead or casing head assembly comprises a first tubular having at least one aperture extending through a side wall thereof. The wellhead or casing head also comprises a second tubular having a recessed portion in the exterior thereof. The second tubular is arranged to be at least partially inserted within the first tubular. The wellhead or casing head assembly also comprises at least one fastening member. The fastening member is removably accommodated within the aperture-(s) and recessed portion. The wellhead also comprises securing means for maintaining the fastening member-(s) within the aperture-(s) and recessed portion. The wellhead further comprises seal means arranged to provide a fluid tight seal.
US07798201B2
A rare earth-based core for use in the casting of a reactive metal is described. The core contains a ceramic composition which includes at least about 10% by weight of monoclinic rare earth aluminate (RE4Al2O9), wherein RE represents at least one rare earth element; and at least about 10% by weight of at least one free rare earth oxide. The ceramic phase of the composition may include a microstructure which comprises a multitude of substantially spherical pores which are formed as a result of the removal of aluminum metal from the core composition during a heat treatment step. Additional embodiments relate to a method for the fabrication of a ceramic core, employing a rare earth oxide, aluminum metal, and a binder. Methods for removing cores from a cast part are also described.
US07798200B2
Disclosed is a metal molding system, including a metal molding conduit assembly having a conduit passageway configured to pass a volume of molten metal located downstream of a passageway blockage formable in the conduit passageway. Also disclosed is a mold for forming an article from a molten metallic, including a mold body configured to cooperate with a metal molding conduit assembly, including a conduit passageway configured to pass a volume of molten metal into a mold cavity defined by the mold body, the volume of molten metal located downstream of a passageway blockage.
US07798195B2
A wafer W is supported on the rear surface side thereof by a ring frame R by means of a dicing tape T, and a protection tape H is stuck on the front surface side the wafer W. A suction unit 12 includes a table 16 having a suction face 15 in the upper face. The suction face 15 sucks the dicing tape T to hold the wafer W through performing a predetermined suction. At least in a partial area along the periphery of the suction face 15, a groove 24 is formed. By sucking through the suction face 15, the inside of the groove 24 becomes negative pressure and the dicing tape T is sunk therein.
US07798193B2
Disclosed herein are various waterproof membranes that may be applied to a sill surface of an opening in a building structure to waterproof that surface as well as direct water that penetrates through the opening out of the structure. Generally, one or more flexible waterproof membranes are adhesively applied to the sill surface for purposes of waterproofing that surface. Such membranes may further incorporate a back dam structure that is disposed proximate to the rearward edge of a sill plate (i.e., disposed toward the interior of the structure) to direct water towards the front edge of the sill plate (i.e., toward the outside of the structure). Further, such membranes may include wicking material on one or more surfaces to allow for directing water out of a building structure. In various arrangements, one or more flexible membranes may be utilized to create an open fronted sill pan.
US07798188B2
A laminate of a thermoplastic resin and rubber comprising a thermoplastic resin layer (A) made of a matrix of a polyamide resin matrix containing an elastomer dispersed therein and an unvulcanized diene-based rubber layer (B) containing a diene-based rubber and a low molecular weight diene-based rubber having an acid anhydride group and having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 50,000 laminated partially or totally in at least one layer each to form a laminate integrated at the time of vulcanization and a pneumatic tire using the same.
US07798184B2
Provided herein are couplings useful in the transfer of liquid fuels from a remote storage reservoir to an on-board fuel tank of a motorized vehicle. There is provided a first coupling which is configured to be in fluid communication with the interior of a vehicle's fuel tank, and a second coupling which is intended to be in fluid communication with the contents of a remote fuel storage reservoir. The disclosure also includes a process for charging a fuel reservoir on board of a motorized vehicle from a remote reservoir, wherein the vapor in the fuel reservoir is displaced by an equal volume of fuel delivered from said remote reservoir, and wherein the vapor in said fuel reservoir is simultaneously caused to be transferred to said remote reservoir, thus permitting no escape of the vapor from said fuel reservoir to the surrounding atmosphere. Through use of the present disclosure, spills of fuel are essentially eliminated, and the escape of vapors from the vehicle's fuel tank are prevented, thus preventing atmospheric hydrocarbon pollution.
US07798181B2
Volumetric enclosure(s) provide methods and/or apparatus for teaching, generating and deriving supply chain efficiency improvement. Prime Manifold Enclosure(s) methods and/or apparatus provide for deriving and generating efficiency by volumetric displacement and volumetric replacement of dissimilar material(s) and volumetric displacement and volumetric replacement of material having dissimilar origin. Prime Manifold Enclosure(s) interposed for cooperative coaptation and flow path communication/continuity between gradient matrix flow paths for volumetrically displacing and volumetrically replacing of dissimilar materials, and volumetrically displacing and volumetrically replacing materials of dissimilar origin. In process flow continuity embodying volumetric displacement and replacement of distinct materials of distinct origin interposing manifolds comprising materials having rigid, and/or, semi-rigid, and/or, semi-flexible, and/or flexible characteristics are disclosed for ingressing and egressing fluent materials along gradient flow matrix patterns.
US07798177B1
A transition sleeve is inserted into a transition tube of a vacuum system of a vacuum sweeper. The transition sleeve extends the useful life of the transition tube by sacrificially wearing instead of the transition tube. Such wear arises from abrasive grit and other materials swept up by the vacuum sweeper. The transition sleeve is desirably formed using wear-resistant materials. The transition sleeve can include a flange at one end to allow the transition sleeve to be held in the transition tube without using fasteners or bonding agents. A first portion of an interconnection structure is provided at the other end of the transition sleeve and engages with a second portion of the interconnection structure provided at a first end of an extension sleeve to connect the extension sleeve to the transition sleeve. The extension sleeve allows the transition sleeve to be used with transition tubes of varying lengths.
US07798174B2
A solenoid operated valve has a separate pressure sensing port communicating with the valve outlet port. A circuit board with a pressure transducer mounted over a sensing orifice in the board is attached to the valve body with the sensing orifice communicating with the sensing port in the valve body. The transducer thus provides a feedback signal indicative of the valve outlet pressure.
US07798169B2
A one-piece gas pressure regulator, comprising a main body having a first threaded port at the bottom thereof for a threaded connection with a high-pressure gas bottle. An admission passage is formed above the first threaded port and extended to a hollow pressure chamber within the main body. The hollow pressure chamber has an escape channel for ejecting the gas via an output control element, wherein the main body includes a second threaded port having a greater diameter and is positioned above the hollow pressure chamber. The second threaded port is adapted to receive a cylindrical body. The inside of the cylindrical body is divided by a partition into an upper and a lower chamber. The partition has a through hole in the middle thereof. The upper chamber is adapted to receive a pressure detector while the lower chamber is used to receive a pressure-adjusting element. The through hole is formed in such a way that a connecting head of a pressure detector is extended into the through hole. In this way, the main body and the cylindrical body are integrated into a body, and the upper portion of the cylindrical body and the pressure detector are formed in a one-piece pressure gauge while the lower portion thereof serves as an automatic gas-pressure balancing/regulating chamber for the lifting action of the pressure-adjusting element. As a result, the gas pressure regulator in accordance with the invention achieves an overall sense. Meanwhile, the pressure gauge can be protected from skewing impacts that cause damage.
US07798163B2
An auxiliary modeling structure for playhouse comprises a frame body of playhouse, at least one auxiliary modeling unit, and at least one connecting module. The frame body has a bottom surface of a predetermined area and a cover enclosing the bottom surface. Each auxiliary modeling unit has an external surface which defines an attachable surface of a predetermined area. Each connecting module further includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The second connecting part is connectable with the first connecting part in a detachable manner; wherein one of the first and second connecting parts is furnished on the frame body, while the other one is furnished on the auxiliary modeling unit. By using the second connecting part to connect the first connecting part, the auxiliary modeling unit can be connected to the predetermined location of the frame body so as to make the playhouse shaped like a three-dimensional animal, fruit, daily utensil, transportation, or etc.
US07798158B2
Disclosed is a cleaning system for removing coatings from a hard surface by high pressure liquid. The system employs a combination liquid and vacuum reservoir connected to a high pressure pump for directing ultra high pressure water through a blast head mounted on a front portion of the vehicle. The cleaning system is preferably mounted on a single truck with a single prime mover. The drive-line of the vehicle is constructed and arranged to operate in two distinct modes, e.g. a transport mode and a work mode. In the transport mode, a first transmission coupled to the rear portion of the prime mover delivers torque from the engine to the rear wheels of the vehicle. In the work mode, the prime mover is utilized to mechanically drive the bed mounted equipment as well as provide motive force in the form of mechanical-hydrostatic transmission to propel the system at a speed suitable for marking removal.
US07798148B2
Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided.
US07798146B2
An oral appliance is provided for installation within the oral cavity of a user. The oral appliance is configured to be connected to a negative pressure supply to create a negative pressure environment within the oral cavity of a user. The device includes apertures adjacent the user's teeth.
US07798140B2
Solar collectors heat and self pump heat transfer fluid at reduced system pressure without mechanical intervention for heat exchange with hot water in a storage tank. Slugs of hot fluid are pumped by steam bubbles formed in solar collector tubes through an upper manifold and an exit-tube into an upper hot fluid reservoir. Hot fluid flows downward through a heat exchanger at the tank. Cold fluid returns to a lower reservoir. Vapor flows from the upper reservoir and is condensed by cooler water and walls of the lower reservoir. The cool fluid returns from the lower reservoir to a lower manifold supplying the collector tubes. Below ambient pressure is automatically established in the system. When heat build-up increases pressure in the system, fluid flows to a third closed variable volume reservoir. A float valve in the bottom of the third reservoir allows liquid to return to the system when it cools.
US07798137B2
An adaptor device to be mounted on an elongated portion of a compound archery bow, such as a cable guard, to permit carrying of the compound archery bow on a harness around the body of a user. The adaptor device utilizes a locking mechanism to lock the adaptor onto the compound archery bow. The adaptor device is connectable to a harness to allow the user to carry the compound archery bow by using only the harness. The locking mechanism is openable and closable to permit the user to attach the adaptor device to the compound archery bow for carrying, and to detach the adaptor device from the compound archery bow, such as when the user wishes to use the compound archery bow to shoot an arrow.
US07798133B2
An apparatus improves the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process by producing sufficient amounts of ozone in the air flow to the combustion chamber to enable more complete and cleaner combustion of the fuel. The apparatus may include a plurality of cell elements disposed within a housing that is in placed in the air intake to a combustion chamber such as a diesel engine. The cell elements create an electrical plasma field that produces ozone. The apparatus may also include a scrubber in the housing to cause the air flow to have a vortex action to increase the amount of ozone that flows into the combustion chamber.
US07798109B2
In an internal combustion engine including a housing with cylinders arranged in the housing, a crankshaft, and pistons moveably disposed in the cylinders and operatively connected to the crankshaft, and a device for changing the compression ratio of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, the device comprises an adjusting arrangement with an eccentric which is mounted in the housing and, by means of rotation, controls the position and the direction of movement of the adjusting arrangement, and a drive for operating the adjusting arrangement including the eccentric.
US07798107B2
A system for detecting stacking and controlling temperature in a water heater. A controller with a connection to a temperature sensor and heating element in a water tank of the heater may be designed to limit stacking and its effects. The controller may use a sensing and calculation technique to detect the stacking. If stacking is detected, then the setpoint for the heater may be lowered so that the outlet water temperature is within a safe limit. If stacking is not detected, then the setpoint may be gradually restored to optimize water heater capacity.
US07798100B2
An animal hay and grain feeder may be provided comprising a housing having a central axis and configured to receive feed. A feeding plate having an opening configured to allow a portion of an animal's head to penetrate the feeding plate may be configured to fit within the housing and traverse and rotate about a central axis. In addition, a locking ring may be configured to contain the feeding plate within the housing.
US07798096B2
A batch processing chamber includes a chamber housing, a substrate boat for containing a batch of substrates in a process region, and an excitation assembly for exciting species of a processing gas. The excitation assembly is positioned within the chamber housing and may include plasma, UV, or ion assistance.
US07798087B2
A mounting of a ski line bracket includes the attachment of a ski line bracket (1) of the type whereby the ski line can roll along a circular tube by means of a pulley, wherein attachment of the bracket uses an attachment device of the outboard engine to the transom of the boat. The attachment allows that the operating position of the bracket to be set and fixed while the bracket can be lifted with some friction. Mounting elements have flanges (4) with holes that correspond to those of the outboard engine attachment device.
US07798085B2
In some embodiments, apparatus for disconnecting at least one elongated member extending between a waterborne vessel and at least one other object includes a cable extendable between the waterborne vessel and the other object. When the distance between the waterborne vessel and the other object exceeds a certain distance, the cable causes the at least one elongated member to be released from the vessel or other object.
US07798078B2
A containment assembly and method includes generally side-by-side longitudinal tanks that are oriented substantially along a direction of travel of the containment assembly. The containment assembly includes a frame, a ground engagement member, and a plurality of tanks coupled to the frame. Each tank includes a longitudinal axis defined between a fore end and an aft end that is substantially parallel to the direction of travel. A length between the fore end and the aft end of the tank is greater than the width between a left side and a right side of the tank. A tank bottom surface is contoured to direct the granular material toward the aft end. The plurality of tanks are oriented such that at least a right side or a left side of one tank is proximate at least a right side or a left side of another one of the plurality of tanks.
US07798075B2
A ready-to-assemble without tools furniture structure, structure-scaled duplex fastener, and assembly method having two foldable gates that clamp ends of a longitudinal diaphragm brace where the locks and keepers are the side edge faces of the vertically removable and horizontally movable top surface producing exceptional rigidity. A result is movable top access to a panel desk interior providing computer wiring and accessory management.
US07798069B2
A suspension for a rail vehicle includes a bogie pedestal 10, an axle box 11 and suspension springs 16, 18 and 19 arranged such that the axle box supports load exerted on the pedestal via the springs. The suspension includes a pair of wedge elements 20 urged, by means of springs 18 and 19, into engagement with faces 30 of the pedestal and faces 21 of the axle box. This engagement causes damping of axle box movements. Wedge elements 20 are urged resiliently in opposing directions A and B into frictional slidable contact at the faces 21 by means of additional preset springs 40 mounted at the pedestal 11. This further urging is independent of the load carried by the springs and provides improved suspension characteristics.
US07798060B2
A modular strap dispenser for a strapping machine comprises includes a mount for rotatably mounting a coiled spool of strap and a feeding mechanism for drawing strap directly from the spool, feeding the strap directly to the strapping machine and retracting and tensioning the strap. The feeding mechanism is driven by a variable speed feed motor controlled by a feed motor controller. The feed motor controller is operatively connected to a strapper control system that controls both the feed motor controller and the strapping head of the strapping machine. The dispenser may include a braking system to control the rotation of the spool. The dispenser also may include an accumulator box configured to accept and store take-up strap generated during strap tensioning. The dispenser may further include a strap guide for guiding the strap from the spool to the feeding mechanism.
US07798059B2
A cooking apparatus includes a rapid activation module in communication with a continuous oven. The rapid activation module includes a steam chamber having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of steam knives disposed at select position within the steam chamber. The steam knives may be selectably adjusted to achieve and maintain a desired level of steam condensation within the steam chamber by isolating a main body of the steam chamber from air and/or vapor infiltration from an associated oven and/or the outside environment.
US07798049B2
An electromechanical firearm rest may include a base plate with a front rest attached to the base plate. An electromechanical windage adjustment mechanism and an electromechanical elevation adjustment mechanism may be attached to the front rest or the base plate. A wired or wireless controller may be in communication with both the electromechanical windage adjustment mechanism and the electromechanical elevation adjustment mechanism. Inputs may be made through a joystick. The firearm rest may include one or more interchangeable bag tops for the front and rear rests. The base plate may be one-piece or may include a front plate and a rear plate with a removable center section. The electronic controls may include a variable slew rate to adjust both elevation and windage simultaneously. DC motors or servos may be used to physically move and aim the firearm and manual adjusters may permit quick setup.
US07798046B2
An orifice entry diverging multi vane conical venturi diffuser for a mortar tube that provides a surface at the discharge end of a mortar tube for measuring or sensing instruments. The internal,vanes comprise the primary surface and the conical venturi wall comprises the secondary surface. This apparatus allows a solid object of the equivalent diameter of the entry orifice when propelled by gas pressure to travel through the diffuser into the open atmosphere while at the same time providing an increasing volumetric flow path for the discharge of the propellant gas. The vanes axial parallel primary surface area is used to provide a port for instrumentation. The area between the primary and secondary surfaces of circumferentially spaced vanes provides the gas flow channels when the center section formed by the vanes primary surfaces is obstructed by a solid object with the equivalent diameter of the entry orifice.
US07798044B2
A weapon system comprising a barrel for accommodating a projectile in a breech end portion, a muzzle end portion and a breech. The weapon system further comprises means for purging the barrel comprising a coanda slot, a coanda profile provided downstream of the coanda slot, and a source of pressurized gas, a duct which connects the source of pressurized gas to the coanda slot so that pressurized gas can be selectively supplied to the coanda slot and along the coanda profile, thereby entraining air in the barrel and exhausting debris and/or fumes through the muzzle end portion after firing of a projectile, and a valve for controlling flow of gas through the duct.
US07798043B1
When a kinetic kill vehicle is launched against an incoming ballistic object and the two objects collide, by measuring the deflection angle of the trajectory of the merged object and comparing the deflection angle against a threshold value, a determination is made as to the relative weight of the incoming ballistic object and whether or not the incoming ballistic object is a decoy and not the warhead.
US07798039B2
The invention relates to a cross cutting device and a corresponding operating method for manufacturing cut-out portions from a flat material web which is moved in a direction of transportation. The device has two cross cutting units which each have a fixed blade and a rotating blade arranged on a rotational element, and said cross cutting units are spaced apart from one another in the direction of transportation. The second rotational element can be connected to a suction device in such a way that in a case of application the cut-out portion is at least temporarily secured on the second rotational element. According to the invention, the second rotational element has, along its circumferential face, a plurality of zones, to which suction air can be applied individually and/or in combination, in order to secure cut-out portions of different formats.
US07798035B2
A mechanical arm comprises a forearm, a spring, and an upper arm disposed between the forearm and the spring, wherein the forearm applies a moment to the upper arm. A copying device associated with the upper arm copies a force associated with the moment to the spring. The spring is adapted to apply a counter-force resisting at least a portion of the moment to reduce a torque for urging the forearm.
US07798033B2
A power-assisted steering system includes a gear mechanism, coupled to a steering column, with a gear and a mating gear. The two transmission gears have teeth (4, 5) via which they engage with each other, movement and power being transmitted from one gear to the other gear via effective profiles of their tooth faces (11, 12). In order to provide a gear mechanism that has an enhanced load-bearing capacity and at the same time can be manufactured in a simple and economical way, the effective profiles of the tooth faces (11, 12) of the gear and the mating gear contact over the height (h4, h5) of the teeth (4, 5).
US07798032B2
An electromechanically activated motor vehicle transmission (31, 14) such as an automated manual transmission (31) or a transfer case (14). This transmission includes at least a transmission housing (11), an electromagnetic selecting or shifting device (1) and an electric motor (2, 8, 22) by which the selecting or shifting device (1) can be actuated. In the inventive motor vehicle transmission (31, 14), the electric motor (2, 8, 22) of the selecting or shifting mechanism (1) arranged within the transmission housing (11) and the motor housing (9, 12, 24) of the electric motor (2, 8, 22) is designed so that it corresponds to a portion of the transmission housing (11).
US07798026B2
An instrument cluster assembly includes a pointer assembly that generates a pointer image that moves along the scale to point to a portion of the scale that corresponds with the measured parameter. The pointer assembly projects the pointer image such that a solid pointer is not required and therefore does not obstruct any portion of the dial face. The pointer image tracks along the oval shape of the scale without the limitations imposed on a physical pointer rotated about a fixed central axis.
US07798025B2
A sensor circuit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitive sensor connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal, a field-effect transistor coupled to the output terminal at one of a source and a drain terminal and coupled to the second input terminal at the other one of the source and drain terminals, and a driver implemented to set a potential at a control terminal of the field-effect transistor such that in sensor operation the field-effect transistor is operated in a sub-threshold voltage range.
US07798022B2
A testing device (100) configured for testing a multihole workpiece (10) with a plurality of holes (12), includes a detecting station (120) and an inspecting box (140). The detecting station positions a plurality of detecting pins (124) and a plurality of detecting apparatus (128). The detecting pins correspond to the holes of the multihole workpiece. The detecting apparatus respond for the multihole workpiece and sending detecting signals. The inspecting box receives the detecting signals from the detecting apparatus of the detecting station, and deals with and shows detecting results.
US07798012B2
A device and a method for performing a measurement on a rotating part (11) of rotating machinery includes a measurement device (1), which is mounted at the rotating part (11), for measuring at least one parameter of the rotating part (11), a sender (2) for receiving measuring data from the measurement means (1) and including at least one radio frequency module (22), particularly a Bluetooth® module, for the wireless transmission (8) of data based on the received measuring data, a receiver (5) including a radio frequency module, particularly a Bluetooth® module, for receiving the data transmitted from the sender (2), and a processing unit (4) connected to the receiver (5) and provided for processing measuring data contained in data received from the receiver (5). The device can be applied for particularly long term online monitoring of rotating machinery like steam turbines, gas turbines, or generators.
US07798011B2
An actuatable capacitive transducer including a transducer body, a first capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as an electrostatic actuator, and a second capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as a capacitive displacement sensor, wherein the second capacitor comprises a multi-plate capacitor. The actuatable capacitive transducer further includes a coupling shaft configured to mechanically couple the displaceable electrode of the first capacitor to the displaceable electrode of the second capacitor to form a displaceable electrode unit which is displaceable relative to the transducer body, and an electrically-conductive indenter mechanically coupled to the coupling shaft so as to be displaceable in unison with the displaceable electrode unit.-
US07798007B2
A hydraulic pressure intermediary includes: a platform, which has a bowl-shaped surface having an annular, platform-surface edge region, a platform-surface central region depressed relative to the platform-surface edge region and surrounded by the platform-surface edge region, and an annular platform-surface transition region, which borders, on its inner side, the platform-surface central region and, on its outer side, the platform-surface edge region; a bowl-shaped, separating membrane having a flat, annular, separating-membrane edge region, a separating-membrane central region depressed relative to the separating-membrane edge region and an annular separating-membrane transition region, which borders, on its inner side, the separating-membrane central region and, on its outer side, the separating-membrane edge region. The separating membrane is connected with the platform-surface edge region within the separating-membrane edge region along a surrounding joint. Further, the separating-membrane transition region includes an annular moat having a moat outer side, a moat inner side, and a moat transition zone, wherein the moat outer side has a first annular inclined surface, which borders on the separating-membrane edge region, the moat inner side includes a second annular inclined surface, which borders on the separating-membrane central region, and the moat transition zone extends between the first and the second inclined surfaces.
US07798006B2
A method of manufacturing a pressure monitoring package comprises the steps of mounting a plurality of resonators onto a substrate 1, mounting the substrate 1 in a package base 11, mechanically constraining the package base 11 within a mechanical preloading jig, and adjusting the preload using the jig whilst measuring the frequency of the SAWs until the required frequency is obtained. A lid 7 is then welded onto the package base 11 using a laser welder, after which the preload frequency of the package 10 is fine tuned by using the laser welder to produce laser marks 21-28, 31-38 on the outside of the package 10.
US07797996B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a fiber optic seismic sensing system for permanent downhole installation. In one aspect, the present invention includes a multi-station, multi-component system for conducting seismic reservoir imaging and monitoring in a well. Permanent seismic surveys may be conducted with embodiments of the present invention, including time-lapse (4D) vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and extended micro-seismic monitoring. Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to map fluid contacts in the reservoir using 4D VSP and to correlate micro-seismic events to gas injection and production activity.
US07797990B2
A particle characterization apparatus in which particles suspended in a liquid pass through an orifice or aperture for detection and characterization of the particles utilizing impedance determination. In particular, the apparatus includes a membrane of a polymer as a base material for precision machining of a sub-millimeter orifice. Forming the orifice in a polymer membrane facilitates the construction of a single use cartridge for haematology analysis due to low material and production costs.
US07797988B2
A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry system includes a chromatographic column through which an effluent passes, wherein the effluent comprises a plurality of analytes that correspond to a plurality of chromatographic peaks and an eluent; a post-column splitter having at least two output ports through which the effluent of the column is split to at least a first portion and a second portion; a mass spectrometer configured to receive the first portion from a first of the output ports for analysis; and a tube connected to a second of the output ports configured to prevent substantial evaporation of the eluent in the second portion until undergoing mass spectrometry. The second portion has a plurality of separated analytes corresponding to at least two chromatographic peaks. A method of using the system is also disclosed.
US07797982B2
The present invention relates to a portable, personal breath tester device for testing the blood alcohol content of the user of the device. The breath tester comprises a circuit board, wherein a sensor, a liquid crystal display, and a processing unit are installed on and electrically connected to the circuit board. The processing unit receives a voltage signal from the sensor representing the blood alcohol content of the user and converts the voltage signal to a precise value that is displayed on the liquid crystal display.
US07797980B2
A method for calibrating machines suitable to effect an analysis of a blood sample by measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or aggregation of the red corpuscles, wherein the measurement is effected by exploiting the optical density kinetics obtained from the measurement of the variation in the optical density of the blood sample in an interval of time, to include measuring in which, by the same machine with which the measurement of the optical density is effected on the blood sample, a measurement is effected of the optical density of two latexes, or turbidimetric samples. Each of the two latexes has a known optical density that is reproducible, measurable and different from each other. The method also calibrates in which the difference is calculated between the values of optical density of the latexes as obtained from the measurement performed by the machine and the known values of optical density, to determine at least one correction factor usable to calibrate machine.
US07797979B2
A crimping apparatus includes a support structure with an alignment element and a plurality of retainers movably attached to the support structure and radially arranged about an axis of the crimping apparatus. Each retainer includes an engagement structure. The crimping apparatus further includes a plurality of crimping members with an engagement element. Each engagement element is configured to interact with the engagement structure of a respective one of the plurality of retainers to removably connect each of the crimping members to a respective one of the plurality of retainers. The crimping apparatus further includes a tool configured to simultaneously support the plurality of crimping members. The tool includes an alignment structure configured to interact with the alignment element of the support structure to provide substantial radial alignment between the engagement element of each of the crimping members and the corresponding engagement structure of the respective retainers. The tool can also include a locking member configured to selectively lock the position of the tool with respect to the support structure.
US07797978B2
A method of forming two-piece beverage can components is described. The method requires providing a plurality of pre-punched metallic disks. A disk feeder transfers at least one of the plurality of pre-punched metallic disks to a first process station in a plurality of processing stations. The first disk is deformed during a two-piece beverage can component manufacturing process is performed at the first station. The deformed disk is removed from the first station and transferred to each subsequent processing station in the plurality of processing stations. Further two-piece beverage can component manufacturing processes are performed in each subsequent processing station to produce a substantially finished two-piece beverage can component.
US07797972B2
A security device for engaging a threaded element includes an inner body configured to engage the threaded element and an outer body operatively coupled to the inner body. A pin is operatively coupled to the inner body and movable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the outer body moves relative to the inner body when the pin is disposed in the retracted position and the outer body and the inner body are operatively coupled for simultaneous movement when the pin is disposed in the extended position.
US07797971B2
A drum washing machine has a suspension for supporting a water tub for vibration proof. The suspension includes a cylindrical bearing support, a pair of bearings fixed in the bearing support, a shaft supported on the bearings so that the shaft is linearly reciprocated, a cylindrical friction member damping an amplitude of the water tub and disposed between the bearings so as to be immovable relative to the bearing support, and a lubricant applied between the shaft and the friction member. The friction member has both ends formed with abutment slant faces having outer diameters gradually reduced toward distal ends respectively. A pair of holding members are located in the bearing support for holding the ends of the friction member. Gaps are defined between the friction member and the holding members respectively. A plurality of lubricant reservoirs are defined in the respective gaps to reserve the lubricant.
US07797954B2
In a cooling system, particularly a cooling system for motor vehicles, including a cooling circuit and a refrigerating circuit which are coupled to one another via a refrigerant/coolant heat exchanger and a third medium/coolant heat exchanger arranged in the cooling circuit, a heat source to be cooled is arranged in the cooling circuit and means are provided for controlling the quantity of coolant flowing through the refrigerant/coolant heat exchanger.
US07797949B2
A device for molding foodstuff masses comprises: one or more molds (14) provided with sockets (16) which define pouring cavities; inserts (22) made of thermally conductive material associated, in a relationship of heat exchange, with the pouring cavities (16); and thermal-conditioning units (24), such as Peltier cells, associated to the inserts made of thermally conductive material (2). There is present a control unit (34) for generating signals for control of the thermal-conditioning units (24) so as to provide cycles of thermal treatment of the material undergoing selectively pre-determined pouring.A preferential application is in the sector of the confectionery industry.
US07797948B2
Transition-to-turbine seal apparatus and transition-to-turbine seal junction of a gas turbine engine
A transition-to-turbine seal (320) including an upstream portion (322) adapted to engage a flange (416) of a transition (400). The upstream portion (322) may be U-shaped in cross-sectional profile and include a primary wall (324) that includes a proximal section (325) and a distal section (326) relative to a hot gas path (170). The proximal section (325) includes a plurality of recesses (327) which are spaced apart and separated by intervening wall (328). In each recess (327) is provided one or more outlets (329) of cooling fluid holes (339). The outlets (329) communicate via the cooling fluid holes (339) with a supply of compressed cooling fluid, such as compressed air that is provided from the compressor. During operation the outlets (329) release this fluid into the respective recesses (327). The flow of cooling fluid provides for a more uniform cooling effect that includes impingement and convective cooling.
US07797945B2
A bleed valve assembly for discharging bleed air into a gas turbine engine bypass plenum includes a bleed flow duct, a bleed valve, and a flow deflector. The bleed flow duct is contoured such that it delivers uniformly flowing bleed air to the flow deflector when the bleed valve is in the open position. The flow deflector has a plurality of openings formed therein. Each opening fluidly communicates the bleed air flow passage with the bypass plenum. A portion of the openings are oriented at a discharge angle such that bleed air is discharged from each opening in a direction that does not have a vector component in the direction in which air is flowing in the bypass plenum, and another portion of the openings are oriented to provide stress relief to the deflector.
US07797929B2
A method of controlling an engine having a lean NOx trap in the exhaust is described. The method comprises during a first mode, at a first temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx trap at a rich condition without concurrently supplying oxygen to the trap during the purging and during a second mode, at a second, lower temperature, storing NOx at a lean condition and then purging stored NOx from the NOx, where an exothermic reaction is generated to temporarily raise the temperature of the trap by supplying oxygen and reductants with an overall rich mixture to the trap during the purging.
US07797927B2
The degree of a deterioration in catalyst is determined when the following requirements are satisfied: the operating state of an internal combustion engine (E) is in a predetermined operating state; and the temperature (T1m) of an exhaust gas, which flows into a catalyst (12), is in a second temperature range (ΔT80) in which the upper limit of the second temperature range (ΔT80) is 10% below the upper limit of a first temperature range (ΔT100) between the activation start temperature (Ta) and the activation end temperature (Tb) of the catalyst (12) before a deterioration and the lower limit of the second temperature range (ΔT80) is 10% above the lower limit of the first temperature range (ΔT100). A deterioration index temperature (Tic) is regarded as a shift level of light-off characteristics of the catalyst (12) toward the higher temperature side, and the deterioration index temperature (Tic) is added to the reference determination temperature (T0b) before the deterioration, and the sum is used as the determination temperature (T0) for exhaust gas temperature raising control. According to the above constitution, the degree of deterioration of the catalyst (12) can be estimated without using a concentration sensor for an exhaust gas component such as an NOx concentration sensor with high accuracy, and the worsening of the state of the exhaust gas is suppressed while minimizing the worsening of the fuel consumption.
US07797921B2
A control apparatus of an extracted air booster system of an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant can additionally serve a sufficient pressure control function and a sufficient antisurge control function. For example, when an inlet guide vane is fully closed or has a small opening degree equal to or smaller than a predetermined opening degree, a second control section of the control apparatus performs pressure control based on a pressure deviation, instead of or as well as antisurge control. In the pressure control, the degree of opening of an antisurge valve is controlled so that a booster outlet pressure detection value can become equal to a set pressure value. In a case where a pressure ratio is larger than a set pressure ratio value, it is also effective that the second control section performs the antisurge control even when the inlet guide vane is fully closed.
US07797916B2
Systems for harvesting cotton from plants are provided. In this regard, a representative system incorporates an extracting zone and nozzles. The extracting zone is operative to receive therein stalks of plants from which cotton is to be removed. The nozzles are operative to direct vacuum pressure toward the stalks of the plants received within the extracting zone such that cotton is removed from the stalks and drawn into the nozzles. The nozzles also are operative to move relative to the extracting zone.
US07797906B2
An improved anchoring system for fastening an elastomeric membrane to a roof comprises an anchoring plate with a top planar surface, spaced apart, raised sidewalls over which the membrane may be laid and at least one aperture for securing to a roof. Each sidewall has a retaining lip that extends inwardly from the top planar surface for retaining a spacing insert, a top surface of which has raised flanges, each flange having a retaining lip with a plurality of longitudinally extending gripper ridges. Preferably, the retaining lips on the spacing insert extend over the top surface of the anchoring plate and taper toward one another at one or more areas between their end points. The system further includes a wedge for inserting into a cavity defined by the spacing insert.
US07797899B2
A temporary floor joint filler may include a base member having a cross-sectional profile including a first set of opposing sides and a second set of opposing sides, a cap coupled to the base member, a first fin coupled with a first side of the second set of opposing sides of the base member, and/or a second fin coupled with a second side of the second set of opposing sides of the base member. The base member may be configured for insertion into a floor joint, the first fin and the second fin may be configured for retaining the base member in the floor joint, and the cap may be configured for covering the floor joint.
US07797895B1
A device for fixing the sheathing of an end of a tendon within an anchor body of a post-tension anchor system has an anchor body having a cavity formed in an interior thereof, a tendon extending into the cavity having a sheathing extending at least partially thereover and having a sheathed portion and an unsheathed portion, a pair of wedges in engagement with the unsheathed portion of the tendon in the cavity of the anchor body, and at least one wedge member engaged with the sheathed portion. The wedge member has a wide end and a narrow end, the wide end being adjacent to the pair of wedges. The wedge member has a decreasing thickness from the wide end to the narrow end.
US07797890B2
An interlocking tile system comprises tiles that has a body, interlocking cap structure with a first surface and a second surface; a first curved portion connecting the first surface with a radius of R1 to the second engaging surface with a radius of R2, wherein R1>R2; and a stem supporting the cap structure. The cap is a mushroom-like shape. Such configuration of the connector aids in installation by lessening instances of binding and align and guide the caps into their corresponding receiving areas. The tiles are preferably square, and are connected along all four sides.
US07797885B2
A modular enclosure may include a number of interlocking components, such as panels, that may be interconnected to form sidewalls, roof and/or floor. The panels may be constructed from blow-molded plastic and a first pattern may be disposed on one surface and a second pattern may be disposed on an opposing surface. One or more points of intersection may be located where the first pattern and the second pattern overlie, and a depression may be disposed at the points of intersection. The depressions are preferably sized and configured to increase the strength and/or rigidity of the panel.
US07797875B1
An interface device is provided for securing a range finder to a Picatinny rail. The device has a longitudinal direction with first and second mounts, which are pivotably connected to open and closed configurations. The mounts are in substantially parallel and coaxial mutual positions along the longitudinal direction while in the closed configuration, and instead rotated along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in the open configuration. The device further includes a stock onto which the Picatinny rail attaches along the longitudinal direction, the stock being pivotably connecting to the first mount along a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis to one of a lock configuration to be substantially parallel to the first mount and a release configuration to pitch said stock relative to the first mount.
US07797874B2
A rear aperture sight for use in conjunction with a front sight post sight on a rifle. The front sight post has a horizontal top edge and vertical side edges. The rear aperture sight comprises a rear sight adapted to be mounted on the rifle. The rear sight has a horizontally elongated aperture formed therein having height and width dimensions. The width dimension is greater than the height dimension. The height dimension is of such a value that the aperture is adapted to cause the horizontal top edge of the front sight post and a horizontal edge of a target to be sharply focused. The width dimension is of such a value that the aperture is adapted to permit a sufficient amount of light to pass through the aperture so that the front sight post and the target are bright.
US07797872B1
A display clamp, and related method, are disclosed for removably attaching a second, interchangeable barrel to a fully assembled long gun (i.e., a shotgun or rifle) for display purposes only, wherein the extra barrel's gas cylinder or lug is suspended from the long gun's magazine tube, and held in place by the shotgun's/rifle's removable magazine cap. The method and apparatus allow a retail store (or buyer) to display the firearm and extra barrel as a combination unit either vertically or horizontally oriented within display cases.
US07797867B2
An apparatus for retaining and selectively tensioning a sheet material display on a billboard which includes a base plate, a handle connected to the base plate, a draw bar operationally associated with the handle, a spring detachably connected to the draw bar, and a chain with one end connected to the spring and the other end capable of being detachably connected to the sheet material display. The draw bar is selectively positioned about the handle in at least two different positions to exert a different amount of tension to the sheet material display when the handle is place in a sheet material display tensioned position.
US07797862B2
A coupler for a construction attachment includes a frame including: (i) an upper portion adapted to be secured to an associated excavator; and, (ii) a lower portion adapted to be releasably coupled to a construction attachment. The lower portion of the frame includes a first hook and a second hook. A lock member is movably connected relative to the frame and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The first and second hooks include respective open mouths and the lock member obstructs the open mouth of the second hook when the lock member is in the extended position. An actuator is operably connected to the lock member and is adapted to move the lock member between its extended and retracted positions. The lock member slides and pivots sequentially relative to the frame when moved by the actuator from the extended position to the retracted position, and the lock member pivots and slides sequentially relative to the frame when moved by the actuator from the retracted position to the extended position.
US07797859B2
A snowplow and mount assembly comprising a mount frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle, and a snowplow frame. One of the mount frame and the snowplow frame has first and second arms and the other of the mount frame and snowplow frame has first and second receivers, the first and second receivers receiving the first and second arms, respectively. Respective ones of first and second latch pins removably secure the first and second arms in the first and second receivers. A latch lever is operably associated with the first and second latch pins and simultaneously actuates the latch pins to latched and unlatched positions. The snowplow frame includes a jack stand movable to and between an extended ground contacting and snowplow frame supporting position and a retracted ground noncontacting and snowplow frame nonsupporting position. The latch lever operably frees the jack stand for movement into the extended position when the latch pins are in the unlatched position and operably prevents jack stand movement maintaining the jack stand in the retracted position when the latch pins are in the latched position.
US07797854B2
An apparatus serves for the treatment of particulate material and comprises a process chamber for the reception and treatment of the particulate material. The process chamber has a bottom provided with a passage orifice through which the process air can be introduced into said process chamber and an outlet for the discharge of said process air from said process chamber. A device for conditioning said process air and for circulating said process air in a circuit through said process chamber said outlet and back to said bottom has at least one fan for circulating said process air at least one condenser and at least one process air heater. A filter arrangement is provided for removing solids from said process air flowing out of said process chamber. A second chamber is arranged around said process chamber within said second chamber at least parts of said filter arrangement at least parts of said device for conditioning the process air are received.
US07797840B2
A stud punch head for a power tool includes a head housing and a first arm movably coupled to the head housing. The first arm supports a punch. The stud punch head also includes a second arm movably coupled to the head housing and relative to the first arm. The second arm supports a die opposite the punch. The stud punch head also includes a drive mechanism positioned at least partially within the head housing and operatively coupled to a motor of the power tool. The drive mechanism is operable to move the first arm and the second arm toward and away from each other.
US07797839B2
A trimmer head for a rotary line trimmer including a housing operatively connected to the trimmer and a spool for carrying cutting line thereon. The spool is operatively connected to the housing for rotation therewith and defines a line receptor channel having opposed open ends and traversing the spool. The channel is formed by line guide inserts held within the spool body preferably utilizing the shrinkage of the molded spool material about the inserts. The channel can be aligned with the eyelets in the housing skirt such that cutting line can be inserted therethrough and wrapped about the spool upon relative rotation of the spool and housing without having to interrupt the operative connection therebetween. A central portion of the channel is exposed to provide access to the line so that the line can be pulled from the head without having to interrupt the operative connection therebetween.
US07797837B2
A carpenter knife with locking member having a handle having a left shell and a right shell coupled together, a slit defined in the left shell, a stage formed rounding the slit; a knob being roughly of oval shape and having a central opening; a blade having a cutting edge and contained in and slidable with respect to the handle, an installing notch defined in the blade on a side opposite to the cutting edge; a blade seat contained in the handle, the blade seat having a bottom plate, two side walls, a spring tongue, and at least one installing protrusion, a top protrusion and a side protrusion formed on a free end of the spring tongue; and, a pin passing through the central opening of the knob and having a hole in which the top protrusion being firmly inserted in.
US07797834B2
A device for shaving hairs growing from skin including a base portion having a grip, a shaving head which carries at least one cutting member having at least one cutting edge, and an actuator for effecting a periodical motion of the cutting member relative to the base portion to improve the cutting action of the cutting member. The shaving head is pivotable relative to the base portion about a pivot axis and the periodical motion of the cutting member is a periodical motion relative to the shaving head. The position and orientation of the geometrical path of the periodical motion of the cutting member relative to the skin is well-defined, so that the risk of skin irritations and skin injuries is considerably reduced.
US07797832B2
A process is provided for manufacturing aluminum vehicle wheels by a casting process that is followed by processing including flow forming and heat treatment steps while one or more risers remain on the cast wheel blank. The process can include directing cooling fluid onto an exposed surface of the casting mold to enhance wheel strength. One-by-one transfer of wheel blanks can be practiced to avoid negative aspects of batch processing.
US07797828B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for an adaptive machining and weld repair process useful for repairing airfoils, particularly damage to an airfoil leading edge and tip. The process first machines away damaged portions of the airfoil. Next, the actual profile of the airfoil subsequent to the removal of the damaged material is measured using a Coordinate Measuring Machine. The data is then used to generate a deformation profile. Filler material is then added to the machined area using the data of the deformation profile to produce an airfoil that approximates the ideal shape of a restored airfoil. At this point, the actual profile of the welded airfoil is measured using the Coordinate Measuring Machine. The data is then used to generate a deformation profile and the airfoil is machined using the date of the deformation profile to produce that shape. The adaptive technology minimizes the amount of stock on material that needs to be removed by hand. The technique thereby significantly reduces costly manual processing.
US07797825B2
A process for the manufacture of small sensors with reproducible surfaces, including electrochemical sensors. One process includes forming channels in the surface of a substrate and disposing a conductive material in the channels to form an electrode. The conductive material can also be formed on the substrate by other impact and non-impact methods. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes cutting the substrate to form a sensor having a connector portion and a transcutaneous portion, the two portions having edges that define one continuous straight line.
US07797823B2
Apparatus and method for providing high density component assemblies, such as electromechanical or electro-optical assemblies.
US07797822B2
An electronic component mounting method of thermo-compressing and mounting electronic components onto a plurality of unit boards segmented in a multi-piece board which avoids the occurrence of adverse thermal influences on the thermosetting bonding material which is placed on the unit boards before mounting the electronic components. The thermo-compression tool used in the method is removably fitted on a thermo-compression head in an electronic component mounting apparatus; the thermo-compression tool includes a base member and a suck-up member which is smaller than a lower surface of the base member and which is fixed on the lower surface of the base member at a position displaced from a center thereof.
US07797818B2
A flexible modular system for constructing a wireless communication terminal includes a keypad module and a display module. The keypad module includes a keypad module housing and a keypad mounted on the keypad module housing. The display module includes a display module housing and a display device mounted on the display module housing. The flexible modular system further includes a connector subsystem to selectively alternatively mechanically join the keypad module and the display module to form an integral wireless communication terminal having a first form factor and, alternatively, an integral wireless communication terminal having a second form factor different from the first form factor.
US07797814B2
A process for the manufacture of small sensors with reproducible surfaces, including electrochemical sensors. One process includes forming channels in the surface of a substrate and disposing a conductive material in the channels to form an electrode. The conductive material can also be formed on the substrate by other impact and non-impact methods. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes cutting the substrate to form a sensor having a connector portion and a transcutaneous portion, the two portions having edges that define one continuous straight line.
US07797812B2
A method of manufacturing a disc brake in which a pair of pads are disposed on opposite sides of a disc. A caliper body extends over the disc. The method includes forming, in the caliper body, a prepared hole for a bore into which a piston is slidably fitted and a recess extending from a bottom portion of the prepared hole outwardly in a radial direction of the prepared hole. The bore and recess are formed by means of a core during casting. A linear passage opening is formed by cutting from an exterior surface of the caliper body so as to communicate with the recess. Thus, an opening for forming a brake fluid passage can be easily formed by machining, and the position of the opening can be determined with a high degree of freedom.
US07797808B2
A method for making a thermal interface structure is provided. The method may include disposing a thermal transport layer on a resin layer to form a stacked structure, and slicing the stacked structure to form a cross-sectional slice having a first exposed portion of the thermal transport layer on a first surface of the slice, and a second exposed portion of the thermal transport layer on the second surface of the slice.
US07797807B2
A double-layer vacuum container includes: an inner container having a bridging member supported by an outer container in a bridging manner; the outer container through which the bridging member extending from the inner container is externally exposed; and a cover member for externally covering the portion of the outer container through which the bridging member is exposed and for sealing a space inside the cover member and a space between the inner container and the outer container in a vacuum state between the cover member and the outer container. With such a structure of the double-layer vacuum container, the inner container other than a lip is supported by the outer container with a good heat retaining property to prevent the displacement or damage of the inner container.
US07797796B2
A hinge assembly for vertical-movement doors comprises two articulated-quadrilateral hinges each including a first plate designed to be fastened to the furniture flanks, a second plate designed to be fastened to the door and two superposed arms pivotally mounted between the plates to form the quadrilateral connecting-rods. The assembly comprises brackets for removable fastening of the bar ends to the hinges, where the brackets can be alternatively mounted at two different fastening seats present at locations spaced apart from each other, along the upper arm of each hinge.
US07797781B2
A robot mechanism adopts a dry cleaning method to clean the surface of live-line insulators without using water and can perform cleaning and inspection of the surface of the live-line insulators while automatically moving along an insulator string. The robot mechanism includes a main unit having upper and lower wing frames connected with each other by a connecting bracket to surround the insulator string, a cleaning unit disposed between the upper and lower wing frames and including a base frame to perform dry cleaning with a rotational brush and a CM guide, a lift unit including a clamp and a ball-bearing screw to move the main unit up or down, and an inspection unit to electrically inspect the insulators; and a coupling unit to couple a pair of the main units to allow the pair of main units to move along a tension insulator string or a suspension insulator string.
US07797779B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing footwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to a construction method wherein a first front portion of a shoe is manufactured by a first method and a second rear portion of the shoe is manufactured by a second different adhesive gluing method. The present invention provides a novel incorporation differing shoe construction methods to overcome substantial manufacturing detriments while retaining the ability of the shoe construction to respond to fashion or appearance type needs.
US07797777B2
A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine in which wash water is heated to generate high temperature and high-pressure steam while passing through the steam supply unit in the wash or rinse cycle, and the generated steam is injected into the wash tub at the top of the wash tub. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly achieve the wetting of clothes with wash water while achieving an enhancement in sterilization and washing performances. In addition, consumption of water and electrical energy can be reduced.
US07797774B1
A carryall baby changing station has a body member with an open top and a series of internal cavities each designed and dimensioned to hold a needed changing product. One or more of the cavities has a plate that biases that cavity's contents either sidewardly or upwardly. Some of the cavities may have a removable cover overtop the cavity. One or more pads are attached to a side wall of the body member and capable of folding and unfolding for laying a child thereon. A receptacle is attached to an end of the body member and holds a trash liner. A cover is attached to the body member and is capable of being removably placed overtop the body member and zipped into such position.
US07797769B2
A flushing system with a sensing module, having at least one sensor and a controller circuit having a sensor detection and trigger sub-circuit operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and a flushing mechanism operatively coupled to the motion sensing module.
US07797768B2
The present invention is directed a splash guard for containing the contents of a toilet during plunging, comprising: a substantially ovular pliable shield having a top side, a bottom side, a peripheral edge and a blunted posterior end, the pliable shield having a size from 5-20% greater than the size of said toilet seat; a drape member having an upper edge, a bottom edge, and a distance between the upper edge and said bottom edge of 3 to 8 inches; and a resilient element; the top edge of the drape member circumferentially affixed to the peripheral edge of the pliable shield at a seam, the resilient element being tensioned and operatively affixed along the length of the seam but optionally the elastic element not being affixed to the seam at the blunted end; the pliable shield further having a minor opening sized and positioned for slideably receiving a plunger handle, whereby when the splash guard is positioned on the underside of the toilet seat and the resilient element is stretched outwardly, and then upwardly to engage the top of the toilet seat, the top of the pliable shield covers the bottom of the toilet seat and is held in position by the tension in the resilient member, and when the toilet seat is in the down position, the drape member drapes down sufficiently into the toilet bowl and in proximity to the rim so as to shield the rim from receiving splashes or waste during plunging with the plunger.
US07797766B2
A toilet odor exhaust device for a toilet having a toilet bowl with a rim portion and a hinged seat. The device comprises an air intake nozzle and a vacuum filtering unit. A conduit connects the air intake nozzle to the vacuum filtering unit. A structure is for removably attaching the vacuum filtering unit to the rim portion of the toilet bowl, so that the air intake nozzle will fit between the rim portion of the toilet bowl and the seat. A mechanism is for activating the vacuum filtering unit, when a person sits upon the seat on the toilet bowl. Foul air in the toilet bowl will be sucked through the air intake nozzle, the conduit and into the vacuum filtering unit, in which clean air will exit from the vacuum filtering unit.
US07797764B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a military helmet incorporating a neck shield extension is described. The neck shield extension is coupled to the body of the helmet using a plurality of elongated flexible straps. Accordingly, the neck extension moves upwardly whenever the wearer tilts his/her head back or to the side so that the wearer's head mobility is not hindered. The straps are comprised of a material having both a high tensile strength and tensile modulus that helps firmly hold the extension in place relative to the helmet when the extension is impacted with a ballistic projectile or other shrapnel.
US07797763B2
In a protective helmet, especially a bicycle helmet, having a head band made of plastic, which is fastened to the helmet calotte and which is height adjustable for adapting to the head anatomy of the wearer, provision is made that the head band is supported on both sides of the helmet calotte so as to be pivotable and that extensions are provided that extend at both end regions of the head band approximately perpendicular to the same toward the top and interior of the helmet, which engage into holding elements that are fixed in the helmet calotte, the extensions being adjustable lengthwise relative to the holding elements.
US07797759B2
A kneepad comprises a base defining an interior side and a sizing piece attached to the interior side of the base. Moving the sizing piece relative to the base determines the size of a knee that can be accommodated by the kneepad. To accommodate a large knee, the sizing piece may be rotated away from the center of the interior side of the base. To accommodate a small knee, the sizing piece may be rotated towards the center of the interior side of the base.
US07802306B1
A system and method for providing Digital Rights Management (DRM) using multiple watermarks are disclosed. In one embodiment, upon purchase of a digital asset, a copy of the digital asset that is watermarked with a content specific watermark and a user, or purchaser, specific watermark and a digital certificate including content specific watermark information and user specific watermark information corresponding to the watermarks in the copy of the digital asset are generated. The copy of the digital asset and the digital certificate are provided to the user. Thereafter, access to the copy of the digital asset is controlled based on a comparison of the watermarks in the copy of the digital asset and the watermark information in the digital certificate.
US07802304B2
Reputation information, associated with a source that utilizes different communication formats, is accessed. First reputation information for one of the communication formats used by the source is correlated with second reputation information for another of the communication formats used by the source. A reputation measure is determined. The reputation measure provides a measure of the source's reputation, using the first and second reputation information.
US07802300B1
In one embodiment, an anti-rootkit module compares operating system kernel binary files to their loaded kernel file image in memory to find a difference between them. The difference may be scanned for telltale signs of rootkit modification. To prevent rootkits from interfering with memory access of the kernel file image, a pre-scan may be performed to ensure that paging functions and the interrupt dispatch table are in known good condition. If the difference is due to a rootkit modification, the kernel file image may be restored to a known good condition to disable the rootkit. A subsequent virus scan may be performed to remove remaining traces of the rootkit and other malicious codes from the computer.
US07802296B2
A method and system has been provided for identifying and processing secure data frames flowing between a source port and a switch port in a network. A data frame from the source port is received at the switch port. The network address of the source port is detected from the data frame. An entry corresponding to the network address of the source port is searched for in a forwarding table. The data frame is identified as a secure or a non-secure data frame on the basis of the entry in the forwarding table. Non-secure data frames are redirected and processed.
US07802289B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US07802286B2
Method and apparatus for optimizing network bandwidth utilization by delivering to users only the minimum number of programs required by service provider policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises switching some users from lower quality versions of programs to higher quality versions of the same programs, and removing those lower quality versions of programs from a given service group. In another embodiment, some users are switched from higher quality versions of programs to lower quality versions of those same programs, and the higher quality versions of programs removed from a given service group.
US07802266B2
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magnetic disk 29, optical disk 31, ROM 24, or RAM 25, including an operating system 35, one or more application programs 36, other program modules 37, and program data 38. The hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM, RAM, and the like can be termed computer readable-storage media. A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer 20 through input devices such as a keyboard 40 and pointing device 42. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, touch sensitive pad, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 21 through a serial port interface 46 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). In addition, input to the system may be provided by a microphone to receive audio input.
US07802256B2
A method and apparatus for enabling a general purpose operating system to maximize the probability of time-sensitive threads, e.g., multimedia threads, gaining access to CPU resources quickly enough to meet the demands of time-sensitive tasks while allowing time-insensitive threads to meet the demands of time-insensitive tasks, is disclosed. The priorities of time-sensitive threads in an operating system are adjusted so that the time-sensitive threads have a high probability of gaining access to CPU resources quickly enough to meet the demands of time-sensitive tasks while allowing time-insensitive threads to meet the demands of time-insensitive tasks. A system responsiveness cell (SRC) value is used to determine how quickly the operating system needs to respond to time-sensitive threads and time-insensitive threads. Priorities of threads are dynamically changed according to the relative CPU resource access requirements of system profile tasks. Criteria for mapping time-sensitive tasks are contained in system profile tasks. Priorities of cross-process groups of time-sensitive threads related to specific instances of tasks are adjusted according to the criteria in the system profile tasks. System profile tasks are stored in a system profile which may vary by machine. Priorities of system profile tasks are the regrouped priorities used by the operating system.
US07802255B2
A processing system includes a plurality of processors capable of executing a plurality of threads and supporting at least one of hardware context switching and software context switching. The processing system also includes at least one hardware scheduler capable of scheduling execution of the plurality of threads by the plurality of processors. The at least one hardware scheduler is capable of scheduling execution of the threads by performing instruction-by-instruction scheduling of the threads.
US07802251B2
Computerized information system and method having multiple virtual machines share common resources such as the system storage resources. The system contains a host computer executing multiple virtual machines, system resources organized into multiple resource groups, and a resource controller associating a resource group with a virtual machine executing on the host computer. When a state of the virtual machine changes, the resource controller releases the previously allocated resource group and when a request to execute another virtual machine is received, a new resource group is allocated to the host computer.
US07802233B2
The intuitive display of trace historical data in a manner that processing control transfer between processing entities is represented in the context of trace data from multiple processing entities. For each processing entity, a set of one or more trace entries are identified for that processing entity and displayed in a manner that the trace entries for the processing entity are shown associated with the processing entity. The transfer of control between processing entities is also shown in a manner that illustrates a transfer of processing control.
US07802232B2
Software program robustness is improved by successfully masking memory safety errors in the software program. For instance, at least some memory safety errors in a software program can be masked by using a runtime memory manager that approximates the semantics of an infinite heap memory manager. In one example, an approximation of an infinite heap memory manager is implemented by configuring a parameterized memory manager with parameter values such as padding to be added to each allocation on the heap and the amount of deferment before executing a call to free memory on the heap. Ideal configurations balance expected robustness with costs such as added memory and processing time. Ideal configurations can be identified through systematic search of a coordinate space of selected parameters. Ideal configurations can also be identified by statistically correlating success/failure data collected from execution of deployed instances of the software program to the configuration of the memory managers used therein.
US07802226B2
A method for preparing data to create two or more masks required to print a desired feature pattern with a multiple mask technique. In one embodiment of the invention, a target feature pattern is separated into two or more groups or data layers with a coloring algorithm. Coloring conflicts or adjacent features that are within a predetermined distance of each other and are assigned to the same group or data layer are identified. Cutting boxes are added to a feature to divide a feature into two or more smaller features. A coloring algorithm is re-applied to the layout including the cutting boxes to assign the features into different groups or data layers. Data in each group or data layer is used to define a mask to print the target feature pattern.
US07802208B1
A method and technique of routing interconnects of an integrated circuit providing improved routing quality. In an embodiment of the invention, the technique provides linear spine interconnect routing. In memory array blocks, such as in DRAM and SRAM memory designs, connected pins are generally separated by large distances in a first direction and small distances in a second direction, or a spine or channel region. A route area is defined within the spine region. In one embodiment, obstacles in the route area are identified and corresponding forbidden areas are demarcated. The linear spine interconnect is routed in the first direction within the route area while avoiding the forbidden areas. Pins are connected to the spine interconnect by stitching interconnects. Stitching interconnects are generally routed in the second direction.
US07802204B2
A method for generating information associated with items being serviced comprises receiving information associated with at least one item for servicing, wherein a priority value, a due date and at least one service request are associated with each item and receiving at least one message for each item, wherein a message includes an updated priority value for each item. The method further comprises receiving a status update for each item and generating an icon for each item, wherein the icon visually indicates the updated priority value, the due date and the status update for each item.
US07802188B2
A method is disclosed for identifying a selected portion of a video stream. A user interface is provided for designating a reference frame of a selected portion of a video stream. A processor is configured to compare the reference frame with other portions of the video stream to establish a similarity measure, process the similarity measure to identify a candidate region as a boundary of the selected portion of the video stream, and provide user access to the candidate region to designate the boundary for storage via the user interface.
US07802186B2
“In-situ editing” of a control property within a design surface is provided. “In-situ editing” refers to a feature that can allow a user (e.g., developer) to easily perform multi-pass configuration operations on their user interface (UI) components. This can be achieved by introducing the concept of a new editing mode or view to the integrated development environment (IDE)—(e.g., a Property Editing View (PEV)). The PEV mode can be active. In other words, the user will be presented with a mechanism of viewing and editing all properties without having to move off of the design surface. For example, editing can be performed in-place eliminating the conventional need to enter a property grid.
US07802183B1
An electronic record management system utilizes semi-structured documents that contain both authenticated partial texts created by an author and pointers to audio recordings that will be processed later by transcribers. The transcribed material is held in temporary storage until reviewed and approved by the author. When approved, the transcribed text may be combined with the original authenticated partial text to produce a final authenticated document. In addition, the record management system may further include a mechanism for assigning multiple context-dependent meanings to at least a portion of the information items included in a document. The record management system therefore allows a variety of encoding schemes to be automatically overlaid on each document. This creates opportunities to re-use the information for secondary purposes, such as preparing bills (such as Medicare bills) that must conform to arbitrary sets of rules.
US07802181B2
A new content distribution technique is provided.A document processing apparatus 100 provides a function as a browser that allows the user to browse a document held by a Web server 25. Specifically, the document processing apparatus 100 acquires a document from the Web server 25 via the Internet 29, and displays the document thus acquired. A mode detection unit 78 detects a mode transition to a value-added operation mode, i.e., a mode that allows the user to reuse the Web page, examples of which include: a mode that allows the user to edit the Web page, a print mode, a storage mode, and a mode which allows the user to duplicate a part of the Web page. In such a case, an advertising display unit 79 displays additional content such as an advertisement. A business model is proposed, whereby, in a case of executing the mode transition to the mode that allows the user to reuse the content, instead of charging the user, advertising is displayed.
US07802179B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing data between different editor views. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to incrementally parse a portion of a document using a mark-up language (e.g., HTML) snippet. The parsed snippet is then merged back into the main document. Accordingly, code changes in a text view can be integrated into a design view's main document structure (e.g., parse tree) such that the preservation information for the parsed snippet is merged with the preservation information for the rest of the document. Fully reparsing the document is not required and incremental reparsing can be done in automated fashion. Thus, a document can be automatically re-outputted with full preservation of what the document would have looked like in code view without fully reparsing the document.
US07802164B2
A method for encoding a rate-compatible block Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code. The method includes designing specific LDPC codes for a predetermined number of coding rates, and generating a pruning pattern by comparing information node degrees of the predetermined number of LDPC codes; matching check node degrees of the predetermined number of LDPC codes; generating a predetermined number of puncturing patterns according to the check node degree when the matched check node degree is calculated; determining whether a first condition given for the generated puncturing patterns is satisfied; and determining the generated puncturing patterns as rate-compatible puncturing patterns when the puncturing patterns satisfy the first condition.
US07802163B2
Various systems and methods for code based error reduction. For example, in one digital information system including a channel detector and a decoder, the channel detector receives an encoded data set and is operable to perform a column parity check. The channel detector provides an output representing the encoded data set. The decoder receives the output from the channel detector and is operable to perform two checks. The two checks may be one of: two pseudo-random parity checks, a pseudo-random parity check and a slope parity check, and two slope parity checks. In addition, the decoder provides another output representing the encoded data set.
US07802159B1
A logic built-in self-test (LBIST) module and a method of online system testing. In one embodiment, the LBIST module includes: (1) first and second data sources selectable to provide alternative respective first and second data to at least one scan chain and (2) a scan clock modifier associated with the first and second data sources and configured to drive the at least one scan chain with a selectively aperiodic modified scan clock signal.
US07802151B1
A communication decoding method comprises receiving processed binary data including a binary code word and an indication of whether bits of the binary code word are inverted and inverting each bit of the binary code word if the indication indicates that the bits are inverted.
US07802144B2
Model-based system monitoring includes identifying multiple monitors configured to monitor multiple components in a system, and accessing multiple health models associated with the multiple monitors. A monitoring policy is generated to monitor the system. The monitoring policy is derived, at least in part, from the multiple health models.
US07802140B2
A diagnostic program includes a first software module that diagnoses a diagnostic object test module; a plurality of second software modules respectively corresponding to the type of the non-diagnostic object test module, and controlling the non-diagnostic object test module to receive a signal for diagnosis output by the diagnostic object test module or to output a signal for diagnosis to the diagnostic object test module; a third software module specifying the second software module that corresponds to the type of the non-diagnostic object test module, in response to a call received from said first software module which instructs said third software module to receive the signal for diagnosis from or send the signal for diagnosis to the non-diagnostic object test module; and a fourth software module which calls the second software module specified by said third software module, and causes the signal for diagnosis to be input or output.
US07802139B2
A method and apparatus for providing intelligent error messaging is disclosed wherein a user of a mobile communications device is provided with descriptive error messaging information to assist the user in overcoming errors associated with the processing of electronic messages and data. For example, when the mobile device is being used to decrypt a cryptographically secured electronic message, and a problem is encountered, program logic of the device provides the user with (1) an indication of exactly what problem is preventing opening of the message, for example, a required cryptographic key is not available; (2) an indication of exactly what may be done to overcome the problem, for example, what utilities should be run on the device; and (3) exactly what data, if any, needs to be downloaded to the device, for example, what cryptographic keys should be downloaded.
US07802115B2
A vehicle includes a power supply and an ignition. A computer includes a mother board with a converting circuit for converting electricity. A switching circuit controls the transfer of electricity to the converting circuit from the power supply. A detecting circuit detects the state of the ignition, sends an ON signal and instructs the switching circuit to conduct the transfer if the ignition is turned on, and sends an OFF signal and instructs the switching circuit to interrupt the transfer if the ignition is turned off. A central processing unit receives electricity from the converting circuit and turns on or off the computer. A south bridge controller receives electricity from the converting circuit and instructs the central process to turn on the computer on receiving the ON signal or turn off the computer on receiving the OFF signal.
US07802113B2
An integrated system on a chip includes processing circuitry that performs predefined digital processing functions on the chip. The processing circuitry operates responsive to a regulated voltage. An on-chip boost converter generates the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off chip voltage source. The regulated voltage source has a voltage level greater than the off-chip voltage.
US07802112B2
An information processing apparatus includes a TPM, a key management module for managing a key database, a memory, and a file processing module for encrypting and decrypting a file. The TPM stores a first TPM key therein and encrypts a third TPM key. The key management module stores and manages the third TPM key in the database. When the information processing apparatus starts communicating with the tamper-proof device, the key management module receives, from the TPM, a parameter for generating a second TPM key, provides the received parameter to the tamper-proof device, receives from the tamper-proof device the second TPM key which has been encrypted using the first TPM key, and provides the TPM with the second TPM key and with the third TPM key which has been encrypted using the second TPM key. When the second TPM key contains password check information, the TPM receives from the tamper-proof device a password associated with the password check information, and verifies the received password using the password check information. When it is verified that the password is correct, the TPM decrypts the second TPM key using the first TPM key, decrypts the third TPM key using the decrypted second TPM key, and decrypts, using the decrypted third TPM key, an encrypted encryption key for decrypting the file. The file processing module decrypts the file using the decrypted encryption key.
US07802110B2
A system comprises a memory and a processor that supports different privilege levels. Only program code executing at a certain privilege level is permitted to map memory and to assign access permission to the mapped memory, such as read-only, writable, and executable. Control code executing on the processor at that privilege level, in response to a request from other code executing at a different privilege level, maps a portion of memory for loading an executable file. After the executable file has been loaded into the mapped memory, the control code then verifies a signature associated with the executable file. If the signature is verified, the control code permits the executable file to be executed by the processor at a privilege level other than the one at which the control code executes. Otherwise, the control code prevents the executable file from being executed on the processor.
US07802105B2
A method of securely storing and authenticating biometric data against attacks of a third party includes encoding input biometric data, and applying a one-way function to the encoded biometric data. A first exclusive OR operation is performed to the result of the one-way function and a selected secret key. The result of the first exclusive OR operation is encoded, and a second exclusive OR operation is performed to the encoded result of the first exclusive OR operation and the encoded biometric data. The result of the second exclusive OR operation is stored. In the same manner, the biometric data is authenticated. Accordingly, the biometric data can be securely stored against the attacks of a third party by processing and storing the biometric data according to a predetermined procedure.
US07802104B2
A system for performing authentication of a first user to a second user includes the ability for the first user to submit multiple instances of authentication data which are evaluated and then used to generate an overall level of confidence in the claimed identity of the first user. The individual authentication instances are evaluated based upon: the degree of match between the user provided by the first user during the authentication and the data provided by the first user during his enrollment; the inherent reliability of the authentication technique being used; the circumstances surrounding the generation of the authentication data by the first user; and the circumstances surrounding the generation of the enrollment data by the first user. This confidence level is compared with a required trust level which is based at least in part upon the requirements of the second user, and the authentication result is based upon this comparison.
US07802099B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that establishes a secure connection with a peer. During operation, the system obtains an identity for the peer. Next, the system looks up the identity for the peer in a local store, which contains identities for trusted peers. If this lookup fails, the system asks a user if the peer can be trusted. If the user indicates that the peer can be trusted, the system establishes a secure connection with the peer.
US07802094B2
Detection of a signature in a data packet comprises performing a pre-classification of the packet, using header information and particularly a 5-tuple access control list, into one of a multiplicity of flows and directing the payload of the packet to a respective one of a multiplicity of deterministic finite state machines each of which stores a plurality of signatures as a sequence of states and acts only on the respective flow.
US07802091B2
A proxy server that is inserted between a plurality of network access servers, typically an access points, and an authentication server. When an original authentication request is received by a network access server, the network access server forwards the request to the proxy server which forwards the request to an authentication server. The authentication server then sends the session information to the proxy server which stores the keying material as a dynamic credentials. When the client re-authenticates with one of the plurality of access servers, the re-authentication request is handled by the proxy server using the dynamic credentials. The proxy server may re-authenticate the client using a different method than the method that was originally used. For example, the original authentication may be by Extensible Authentication Protocol—Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) and subsequent re-authentications may use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
US07802088B2
A user interface for creating and joining meetings over a peer-to-peer network involves presentation of user interface windows including windows for selecting parameters corresponding to the ad-hoc network, activating sharing of Internet connections and joining an existing ad-hoc network by entering network name and optional password. The user interface further provides for entry of a country to select an appropriate wireless network protocol for use in that country when an attached wireless device supports such agility, for example, an 802.11(d) wireless network adapter.
US07802086B2
A method for recovering a content of a basic input output system (BIOS) of a computing system, includes the steps of: providing an externally electrical connection to said BIOS and said computing system; providing an operable recovery source for said BIOS and connectable with said computing system via said externally electrical connection; recording recovery information from said recovery source via said externally electrical connection; and switching said externally electrical connection of said recovery source to another electrical connection between said BIOS and said computing system so as to replace said content of said BIOS by said recovery information.
US07802085B2
In some embodiments, a method and apparatus for distributing private keys to an entity with minimal secret, unique information are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the storage of a chip secret key within a manufactured chip. Once the chip secret key is stored or programmed within the chip, the chip is sent to a system original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in order to integrate the chip within a system or device. Subsequently, a private key is generated for the chip by a key distribution facility (KDF) according to a key request received from the system OEM. In one embodiment, the KDF is the chip manufacturer. Other embodiments are described and claims.
US07802081B2
Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles may operate to store one or more parameters associated with a pseudo-device in a device configuration table associated with a first partition within a multi-partition computing platform. An inter-partition bridge (IPB) may be exposed to an operating system executing within the first partition. The IPB may be adapted to couple the first partition to a second partition sequestered from the first partition. The IPB may be configured by the parameter(s) associated with the pseudo-device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07802080B2
A processor 6 is provided with an instruction decoder 18 which is responsive to memory access instructions to determine whether the base register value being used matches a null value and if such a match occurs then branches to a null value exception handler.
US07802071B2
Device, system, and method of publishing information to multiple subscribers. For example, a data publisher capable of communication with one or more subscribers includes: a memory allocator to allocate a memory area of a local memory unit of the data publisher for storing data to be accessible for Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) read operations by one or more of said subscribers.
US07802058B1
In a computing system, cache coherency is performed by selecting one of a plurality of coherency protocols for a first memory transaction. Cache coherency is performed on appropriate caches in the computing system in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of coherency protocols. For a second memory transaction, another selection is made of the plurality of coherency protocols. The selected one of the coherency protocols for the second memory transaction may be the same as or different from the selected one of the plurality of coherency protocols for the first memory transaction.
US07802054B2
A storage system includes a storage medium configured to store data and a buffer memory configured to buffer data to be written to the storage medium. The storage system further includes a controller configured to selectively transfer the buffered data to the storage medium responsive to an invalidity indicator received from an external source. For example, the invalidity indicator may comprise unwrite information received from an external source, e.g., information that indicates that selected buffered data corresponds to deleted file data.
US07802049B2
Machine-readable media, methods, and apparatus are described for flexibly establishing lanes of links. In some embodiments, any port of a device may be connected to another port of another device. Further, the device may determine interconnections of its ports to ports of other devices by issuing requests on its ports.
US07802046B2
A method of and architecture for controlling board elements in an orthogonal system architecture is provided. The method and architecture preferably utilize an internal bus architecture between control boards, such that a first control board can access board elements in its stack via I/O on a second control board and the second control board can access board elements in its stack via I/O on the first control board. Most preferably the internal bus architecture is a HyperTransport bus architecture.
US07802043B2
Methods and apparatus for adding an autonomous controller to an existing architecture such as by way of example, portable devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras. A circuit interposed between the memory card and the system controller of the device is controllable to couple the memory card to the system controller, or to couple the memory card to a high speed I/O controller on the circuit. When the memory card is coupled to the high speed I/O controller on the circuit, the circuit provides signals to the system controller indicative of a memory card removal event. In systems having an I/O connection such as a USB connection, the circuit also disconnects that connection from the system controller, provides signals to the system control indicative of a USB disconnect and connects the I/O connection to the memory card through a high speed data transfer unit to provide a higher speed I/O capability. Various features and capabilities are disclosed.
US07802041B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus has a pair of first system boards, each of the first system boards including a processor and being adapted for sending duplicate requests, in parallel, respectively, a second system board including a processor and being adapted for sending requests, a first transfer device for transferring requests, having a first arbiter for selecting and outputting one of the duplicate requests sent from each of the first system boards, and a second arbiter for selecting and outputting one of the requests sent from the second system board and a second transfer device for transferring requests, having a third arbiter for selecting one of the duplicate requests sent from each of the first system boards and outputting the selected request in synchronization with the selected request outputted by the first arbiter, the second transfer device having a forth arbiter.
US07802032B2
A dummy node is enqueued to a concurrent, non-blocking, lock-free FIFO queue only when necessary to prevent the queue from becoming empty. The dummy node is only enqueued during a dequeue operation and only when the queue contains a single user node during the dequeue operation. This reduces overhead relative to conventional mechanisms that always keep a dummy node in the queue. User nodes are enqueued directly to the queue and can be immediately dequeued on-demand by any thread. Preferably, the enqueueing and dequeueing operations include the use of load-linked/store conditional (LL/SC) synchronization primitives. This solves the ABA problem without requiring the use a unique number, such as a queue-specific number, and contrasts with conventional mechanisms that include the use of compare-and-swap (CAS) synchronization primitives and address the ABA problem through the use of a unique number. In addition, storage ordering fences are preferably inserted to allow the algorithm to run on weakly consistent processors.
US07802030B2
The present invention provides an interrupt generation circuit that can reduce the time between the moment a monitored object actually enters a desired state and the moment an interrupt is generated. An external event detection unit 101 detects the effective edge of an external event signal. A count period generation circuit 103 generates external event division signals which are counted by the main timer 104 and each of which has a period that is 1/N of the time interval between the effective edges of the immediately preceding external event signal. A compare register 105 stores a value corresponding to the time at which an interrupt is to be generated. When the count value of the main timer 104 becomes equal to or larger than the value stored in the compare register 105, the interrupt determination circuit 106 generated an interrupt. If the count value of the main timer 104 is smaller than the value stored in the compare register 105 when the effective edge is detected, the interrupt determination circuit 106 immediately generates an interrupt.
US07802029B2
Provided are a system and article of manufacture, wherein in certain embodiments an I/O command from a host is received at a first storage unit. An identifier is generated that identifies a destination to which the I/O command is to be transmitted from the first storage unit. The I/O command is augmented with the generated identifier at the first storage unit. The augmented I/O command is transmitted. In certain other embodiments, an I/O command is received at a storage unit, wherein the storage unit is associated with a storage unit identifier. A determination is made at the storage unit, whether the I/O command is associated with an identifier that identifies a destination for which the I/O command is intended. A further determination is made, at the storage unit, whether the identifier is the same as the storage unit identifier, in response to determining that the identifier associated with the I/O command identifies the destination for which the I/O command is intended.
US07802027B2
The process acquires data blocks in real-time with a fast scanner. The acquired data blocks are then transmitted to a computer system (23). The data blocks are then processed as a function of a frame burst ratio (N). The transmission of the acquired data blocks to the computer system is a function of the frame burst ratio (N). The frame burst ratio (N) may be either fixed or variable. In any case, optimal utilization of the computer system's (23) performance is important. The frame burst ratio (N) is selected by the user or by the computer system (23) itself as a function of the processing characteristics of the computer system (23).
US07802020B2
An I/O module for use with I/O devices such as pumps, valves, thermocouples, and mass flow controllers includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) associated with each electrical signal interface to an I/O device. Additionally, a matrix switch is incorporated into each of the ASICs in order to enable electrical signals related to the I/O device to be distributed between the ASICs. Matrix switches within the different ASICs are electrically connected by at least one signal path that is dedicated to electrical signal distribution within the I/O module and the matrix switches are configurable on an ASIC-by-ASIC basis such that the desired electrical signal distribution can be achieved on a per-application basis. Incorporating configurable matrix switches into the ASICs enables electrical signals to be easily distributed among the ASICs in an I/O module.
US07802008B2
An apparatus for ensuring quality-of-service in a network is provided. A first stream sender having a flow control parameter and transmitting a first stream. A network interconnection receiving the first stream and a second stream. First stream being a non-realtime stream and the second stream being a realtime stream. A bandwidth control being associated with the network interconnection. The bandwidth control adjusting the flow control parameter for supporting quality-of-service parameters associated with the second stream.
US07801993B2
A storage system includes a virtual volume configured on a storage controller and mapping to a physical storage capacity maintained at a remote location by a storage service provider (SSP). The storage controller receives an I/O command in a block-based protocol specifying a logical block address (LBA). The storage controller correlates the LBA with a file name of a file stored by the SSP, translates the I/O command to an IP-supported protocol, and forwards the translated I/O command with the file name to the SSP for processing. In the case of a write command, the SSP stores the write data using the specified file name. In the case of a read command, the SSP enables download of data from the specified file name. In an alternative embodiment, a NAS head may replace the storage controller for correlating the LBA with a file name and translating the I/O command.
US07801979B2
In a communication system, a mail server and a plurality of electronic devices, which are connected with a network, are provided. A predetermined e-mail address is assigned to the plurality of electronic devices. Each of the plurality of electronic devices includes a first determination system that determines whether an e-mail address of an e-mail message transmitted to the mail server coincides with the predetermined e-mail address, a second determination system that determines, whether the e-mail message addressed to the predetermined e-mail address is directed to the electronic device to which the second determination system belongs in accordance with contents of the e-mail message addressed to the predetermined e-mail address, and a processing system that executes a procedure corresponding to the e-mail message when the second determination system determines that the e-mail message is directed to the electronic device to which the second determination system belongs.
US07801976B2
A computer-implemented method includes capturing service properties in one or more service process profiles, receiving a request for service, and interrogating the request and possible services by reviewing service properties captured in the service process profiles. A computer architecture includes a service manage profile and a service meter profile. A computer infrastructure includes a service component including a service-oriented architecture and a serviceware component including a manager for interpreting the service-oriented architecture.
US07801966B2
Data is shared over a network which has a plurality of network connected terminals, each including memory and a processor. The memory includes instruction for managing object duplication, wherein in response to a data requirement of a first of the network terminals, a second of the network terminals duplicates the object at the first terminal. Data is accessed is the using locally executed object instructions at the first terminal. Data consistency is maintained between duplicated objects. said the duplicate objects include a duplicate master and duplicates and, performing a load balancing task or in the case of a network connectivity failure, the respective state thereof may be switched.
US07801965B2
A method for processing data is proposed, particularly image data in a medical system, in which a plurality of imaging modalities for capturing the data and their associated apparatus for locally processing and storing the data are connected to one another via a data transmission unit for the purpose of data interchange. Common data for all modalities are respectively stored locally and are coordinated with one another such that the respective modality remains active regardless of the state of the data transmission unit.
US07801961B2
A system and method for e-mail authentication. The method includes aggregating a plurality of headers associated with an e-mail message and transmitting the aggregated plurality of headers to a validation service. A validation response is then received from the validation service. The e-mail is authenticated based on the validation response.
US07801950B2
A method for monitoring and visualizing user access made to a web site is disclosed. The method comprises: embedding in a web page to be monitored code to request a thumbnail image from a site when the page is loaded into a browser. The embedded code also includes a user-activateable link to a page within the system server. At the system server, the requested thumbnail image is returned to the web browser, and the IP address from which the thumbnail was requested is recorded. For each recorded IP address, the server determines a corresponding geographical location. The server creates and stores an image that is a geographical representation of the geographical distribution of the recorded IP addresses, and a thumbnail representation of that image. Upon activation of the user-activateable link, the linked page within the system server that includes the image previously created is retrieved by the browser. The thumbnail image requested by the embedded code is the thumbnail image created in this step. A number of threshold, updating, clustering, storage and archiving routines are deployed to ensure large scalability.
US07801949B2
Embodiments of a method and system for utilizing a configurable interface are disclosed. An interface server may include a configurable interface. The configurable interface may provide a user interface to enable communication in a system with a client operating on a client machine. An interface data structure comprising may include a structure application program interface (API) and one or more functional components. The structure API may provide an interface for communication between the configurable interface and an application server. The one or more functional components may provide functionality to the configurable interface server-side for enabling communication through the structure API with an application hosted on the application server.
US07801939B1
Improvements to optimal interval operators are developed for interval expression evaluation using arithmetic and real power operators applied to complex and hypercomplex number systems. A method for determining efficacy of numeric precision, incorporating minor changes to interval operators, provides detection of insufficient numeric evaluation precision.
US07801936B2
Methods for generating complex waveforms, including step functions, impulse functions, and gate pulses are provided, as well as methods for generating modulated waveforms employing a number of known and newly developed modulation formats. The methods of the present invention employ a continuous linear function, wherein all output points are defined. Discontinuities and singularities are eliminated, yet pulses having nearly instantaneous transitions may be achieved. Thus, gate pulses step functions, binary waveforms and the like may all be generated from a single function, where they entire output range of the function is defined over a continuous input domain.
US07801931B2
A system and method for common storage object model is provided. In one aspect, one or more classes representing respective one or more storage devices are provided. One or more plugin modules are operable to discover and provision one or more storage devices connected to a storage network using the one or more classes. A wrapper module is operable to handle selecting and loading of the one or more plugin modules.
US07801927B2
This invention is to provide a technique for properly correcting video metadata related to and synchronized with the video. This video metadata correction apparatus includes: a section identification unit that identifies a section including incorrect video metadata based on information concerning video metadata in a first video metadata storage for storing the information concerning the video metadata as sensor information synchronized with video and a first video feature value, which correlates with the information concerning the video metadata and is extracted from the video; and a corrector that corrects the video metadata in the identified section based on the first video feature value or a second video feature value, which correlates with the information concerning the video metadata and is extracted from the video. In this manner, only an incorrectly measured part can be corrected in an effective manner.
US07801924B2
A decision tree can be constructed via frequent predictive itemsets and best item splits. A hierarchical frequent predictive itemsets tree data structure can be used to construct the decision tree. A bottom-up traversal of the data structure can be used during determination of best item splits. The described technologies can construct decision trees with superior accuracy as compared to conventional greedy decision tree construction approaches.
US07801918B2
A file access control device included in a file management system having a storage unit has an access control management unit that controls access to the storage unit or to a file for which an access is requested while checking a file access right referring to access right information which is set for the storage unit and for each file stored in the storage unit, an access right setting processor that sets, when a file is read from the storage unit and transmitted in response to a file acquisition request when access is permitted by the access control management unit, to a file to be transmitted, an access right based on an access right which is set for the storage unit and an access right which is set for the file and adds, to the file, access right information, and a transmission processor that transmits the file.
US07801912B2
Method and apparatus for a searchable data service are described. The searchable data service may be implemented as a Web service with a Web service interface that allows the storage of locators and other attributes associated with entities stored in a data store in a searchable index. The attributes may be expressed as {name, value} pairs. The interface may allow client applications to query the searchable index to retrieve locators for entities in the backend data store according to the attributes associated with each locator. Search speed may be automatically optimized using, for example, indexes, query planning, and parallelism. The searchable data service provides a searchable index and is not a data store per se. The searchable data service separates searching and indexing of data from the actual storage of the data.
US07801908B2
A data mapping tool facilitates database engineer interaction with a data mapping document design system that facilitates creating the technical specification for migrating legacy databases. The data mapping tool provides a flexible selection of mapping modes, including a fully automated mode that resolves conflicts that may occur during the creation of the technical specification. The available modes also allow the database engineer to fully specify the intermediate staging tables used in the technical specification, and to request an partially automatic and partially interactive role over the execution of the data mapping document design system.
US07801901B2
The claimed subject matter relates to a system and method that effectuates queryline tracking by constructing and utilizing incremental aspect models that employ probabilistic and/or spectral techniques to discover themes within documents delivered in a stream over time. The system and method upon discovery of a theme or enhancements to already induced or surfaced themes can generate a notification for propagation to a user via one or more user specified communications and/or computing modalities.
US07801899B1
The way in which targeting keywords are suggested to advertisers, particularly in instances where different suggestion tools or techniques provide a number of different sets of targeting keyword suggestions, may be improved by (a) accepting at least two heterogeneous sets of suggestions (where each of the sets of suggestions includes suggestions that are ranked and/or scored), (b) determining, for each of the sets of suggestions, a new score for each of the suggestions of the set, where the new score combines an cardinal aspect of the suggestion and an ordinal aspect of the suggestion, and (c) combining at least some of the suggestions from each of the sets using the new scores to generate a final set of ordered and/or scored suggestions. Each of the suggestions may include information for targeting the serving of an online advertisement. For example, each of the suggestions may include a keyword for targeting the serving of an online advertisement. Each of the suggestions may include a keyword type.
US07801898B1
Systems and methods for compressing indices are described. In one aspect, a plurality of items are selected where each item has an entry in an inverted index and each item entry comprises a listing of articles that the item appears in. At least a first item entry and a second item entry are determined for compression and the second item entry is compressed into the first item entry resulting in a compressed first item entry.
US07801892B2
Provided is a keyword advertising system extracting search listings in response to a search request, the system comprising: an interface receiving bid price information corresponding to a keyword from an advertiser; a search information database storing search listings associated with the advertisers in association with each of the received bid price information; a ranking module generating a search result list by referring to the search information database, in response to a search request from a searcher; and a search results providing module providing the searcher with the generated search result list; wherein the ranking module generates the search result list by performing the steps of: identifying a keyword received from the searcher in association with the search request; selecting N of search listings from the at least one search result listing corresponding to the identified keyword, based on the bid price information; and ordering the selected search listings in order of click through rate.
US07801890B1
A system identifies purchasable digital content to be used in development of a digital composition by receiving a request to identify a set of digital content, and retrieving access history for individual portions of digital content that match the request. The access history includes a number of times the individual portions of digital content have been accessed. The system then produces a set of digital content indicative of the access history for each individual portion of digital content, and outputs the set of digital content that matches the request, and that reflects the access history for individual portions of digital content.
US07801887B2
A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a document database includes generating an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query, and processing vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents. Respective relevancies of the vocabulary words based on the occurrences thereof and the user search query are generated. A re-ranking of the retrieved documents is generated based on the relevancies of the vocabulary words.
US07801881B1
Methods and systems for a sitemap generating client for web crawlers are described. The client accesses one or more sources of document information about the documents available on a website, such as the file system, access logs, or pre-made URL lists. Document information is extracted from the sources and one or more sitemaps are generated based on the extracted document information. A notification is transmitted to a remote computer, informing that the sitemap(s) are available for access and likely have been updated. If the remote computer is associated with a web crawler, the remote computer may access the sitemap(s) and use the sitemaps to schedule a crawl of documents included or available on the website.
US07801880B2
A system facilitates the search engine to search for pieces of information in various databases and application documents without the need to know the specific protocols to communicate with the various databases and application documents, such as Microsoft Excel documents. Despite the multitude of possible protocols which a crawler would have to use to connect to the databases, the system includes a unifying application programming interface to unify the way to access pieces of information in the databases and application documents.
US07801871B2
An encrypted file storage solution consists of a cluster of processing nodes, external data storage, and a software agent (the “File System Watcher”), which is installed on the application servers. Cluster sizes of one node up to many hundreds of nodes are possible. There are also remote “Key Servers” which provide various services to one or more clusters. The preceding describes a preferred embodiment, though in some cases it may be desirable to “collapse” some of the functionality into a smaller number of hardware devices, typically trading off cost versus security and fault-tolerance.
US07801870B2
A method of effectively managing information shared by synchronizing between a plurality of Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) devices is provided. According to the method, all devices exchange version information of the devices at initial synchronization, and when shared information stored in some of the devices is changed, a device changing shared information transmits new version information to the other devices via an event message, so that all of the devices can maintain the latest shared information. Also, by having a counter indicating an update state of respective parts of shared information, when shared information is changed by a plurality of the UPnP devices, it is easy to recognize which part from among the respective parts of the shared information is the latest.
US07801869B2
A partial revocation list and a system and method for using the partial revocation list for tracking the authenticity of replacement cartridges in a manufactured device to inhibit cloning of the cartridges is provided. A revocation pool is maintained by a manufacturer who chooses a partial revocation list from the revocation pool to store in the memory of the cartridge. The device stores its own revocation list, informs the manufacturer of cartridges which have been used and checks when a new device is installed to ensure a cloned replacement is not being used. The partial revocation list distributes enough revocation information to devices to statistically impair the cartridge yield of a cloning operation.
US07801868B1
Surrogate hashing is described, including a memory configured to store data a hash value and data associated with a portion of a file, and a processor configured to run a hashing algorithm against a portion of a file to generate a hash value, to determine whether the hash value is substantially similar to a stored hash value associated with another portion of another file, the portion and the another portion being standardized, wherein at least one of the portion and the another portion is an extremely small dataset, and to identify a location of the another file if the hash value is substantially similar to the stored hash value associated with the another portion of the another file.
US07801867B2
Application data associated with an application program located on a storage device is restored utilizing tracked changed blocks of the storage device. The changed blocks of the storage device are tracked as the application program modifies the application data. When a system failure has occurred, file change data is generated for each file of the application data as a function of tracked changed blocks of the storage device and file system metadata of the storage device. Additionally, a file difference record for each changed file is generated to indicate changes between the application data and the last backup. The file difference record is applied to the application data such that application data corresponds to the state of last backup.
US07801866B1
A “lazy commit” allows database transactions to be committed faster by not waiting for log records of the transaction to be written to disk. When a system crash occurs during the commit process, transactions may be lost because the log data is not available to recreate the transaction. While lazy commits speed up processing, they also increase the potential for data inconsistency. This invention introduces the concept of “durable reads”—transactions that require isolation from lazy commit transactions and which must be guaranteed to read only durably committed data. When durable read transaction attempts to read data changed by a lazy commit transaction, the system ensures the lazy commit transaction's changes are first made durable.
US07801861B2
Techniques for making a replica of a particular group of database objects of a database on a particular node that does not initially have the particular group of database objects include determining whether conditions for copying a full database from a first node are satisfied. If conditions for copying the full database from the first node are not satisfied, then a database-object-copy routine is employed for each database object in the particular group of database objects. If conditions for copying the full database from the first node are satisfied, then a full-database-copy routine for performing a copy of an entire database is employed.
US07801858B2
A file system that is organized in an operating system to manage a file to be recorded in a recording device in compliance with a file access request from an application. The file system includes a first recording section recording in a recording device a file that includes a management information section and a data section. A second recording section, which, when the first recording section records the file that includes the management information section and the data section, adds, as needed, an extended management information section that records information other than the management information section about the data section.
US07801853B2
A method for starting up an application in a mobile data processing device, for the operation of which an information database is required in the device. The inventive method includes the following steps: a) provision of a permanent portion and a temporary portion of the information database; b) wire-bound transmission of the permanent portion from a central server to an intermediate server; c) transmission of the permanent portion from the intermediate server to the device via a first transmission path and storage in the device; d) transmission of the temporary portion via wireless communication, the wireless communication representing a second transmission path that is distinct from the first transmission path; and e) execution of the application.
US07801852B2
A checkpoint free log mining mechanism comprising a capture process and an apply process that are logically associated with each other may be provided in a database system. In an embodiment, log mining information published by the capture process to the apply process comprises a complete set of log information for each interesting transaction. A system change number of a start transaction record of a transaction may be used to represent a start time of the entire transaction. The capture and apply processes may work cooperatively to establish a safe time point in the form of a particular system change number in logs to begin mining, under various circumstances such as in an initial startup state, in a steady state, in a process restart scenario in the middle of checkpoint free log mining, or in a transition between the checkpoint mode and the checkpoint free mode.
US07801851B2
During replication of transaction data from a source database to a target database via a change queue associated with the source database, one or more multiple paths are provided between the change queue and the target database. The one or more multiple paths cause at least some of the transaction data to become unserialized. At least some of the unserialized data is reserialized prior to or upon applying the originally unserialized transaction data to the target database. If the current transaction load is close or equal to the maximum transaction load capacity of a path between the change queue and the target database, another path is provided. If the maximum transaction threshold limit of an applier associated with the target database has been reached, open transactions may be prematurely committed.
US07801850B2
A system of and method for maintaining data objects in containers across a network of distributed heterogeneous resources in a manner which is transparent to a client. A client request pertaining to containers is resolved by querying meta data for the container, processing the request through one or more copies of the container maintained on the system, updating the meta data for the container to reflect any changes made to the container as a result processing the request, and, if a copy of the container has changed, changing the status of the copy to indicate dirty status or synchronizing the copy to one or more other copies that may be present on the system.
US07801841B2
A method, system and software arrangement in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are provided to extract descriptive narrative from numerical experimental data augmented with ontological controlled vocabulary. One exemplary application of such system, method and software arrangement is in organizing gene-expression time course data in terms of biological processes that may be activated and deactivated as the biological system responds to its normal or perturbed environment. The present invention may also have biological applications to drug-or-vaccine discovery, understanding behavior of a cell in an altered diseased state (e.g., cancer, neuro-degeneration or auto-immune disease, etc.), genetically modifying a natural wild-type organism, genetic-engineering, etc. Other exemplary applications may include understanding neural behavior, market behavior of a population of users interacting on the Internet, etc.
US07801839B2
The invention is directed to a method for training at least one learning-capable system comprising the steps of providing a predetermined training data set corresponding to a predetermined number of subjects comprising a predetermined input data set and a predetermined outcome data set, augmenting the input data set and/or the outcome data set, and training each learning-capable system using the augmented input data set and/or the augmented outcome data set.
US07801836B2
A predictive data mining model can be selected based on how well the model meets an objective function. In certain implementations genetic algorithms can be used to search a space of predictive data mining model building parameters to determine an optimal predictive data mining model based on a score function corresponding to, for example, the accuracy of the selected predictive data mining model.
US07801833B2
A system and method for identifying and controlling the movement of various items, e.g., suitcases, associated with respective ones of various individuals, e.g., those desiring to travel on a selected means of transportation such as an airline, railway or the like. The system includes a plurality of programmable fingerprint readers each associated with a respective one of the items, a fingerprint scanner for scanning fingerprints from each individual and associating it with one or more of the items, a CPU for receiving readings from each of the item fingerprint readers and information from the scanner, and a retrieving unit (e.g., such as one owned by the transporting party) which retrieves selected ones of the fingerprint readings stored by the CPU for comparing with also retrieved readings from the respective fingerprint readers when the traveling individual presents an item to the transporting party for travel.
US07801830B1
The present invention relates to systems and methods for intellectual property marketing, management, and maintenance. An intellectual property marketing system manages the marketing of an intellectual property asset, where the intellectual property asset is based at least in part on an innovation submission of an innovator. An innovation maintenance management system manages rewarding of the innovator based at least in part on the innovation submission.
US07801825B2
A formatted data structure is provided for conveying the results of ecommerce authentication programs that are used to authenticate a cardholder's on-line transactions. The data structure, which has at most a 20-byte length, is designed to be compatible with 3-D Secure message protocols used in e-commerce. The data structure includes designated fields that include a hash of the merchant's name, identify an authentication service provider, identify the authentication method used, and include a merchant authentication code which ties cardholder information to the transaction. Secure payment algorithms are provided for use by the e-commerce authentication programs to generate authentication results in the desired format. In one secure payment algorithm, a secret key is used to encrypt a concatenation of a cardholder account number with information from designated fields of the data structure. In another secure payment algorithm, a pair of secret keys is used to encrypt a concatenation of the cardholder's account number, card expiration date and service code. In both cases, portions of the encryption results are used to define the merchant authentication code.
US07801824B1
A method and system is described to facilitate variable pricing for electronically viewing content online. Consumers pay different amounts to view portions of electronically viewable content obtained from a tangible work, where the amount paid is based on a characteristic of the work (e.g., the genre or publisher), the consumer's past viewing behavior or purchases, including the portions of content (e.g., the number of pages or chapters) previously viewed from the same or other work, or the number or amount of purchases made of other works or products, or the aggregated viewing behavior or purchases of a number of consumers.
US07801819B2
Methods and systems for controlling the distribution of digital content are provided. A license holder acquires protected content and an original digital license to the protected content from a content provider system. The license holder in turn delegates all or part of the grants in that original license to other qualified devices or clients. The content remains in its original, protected or encrypted form while it is delivered from the license holder to the client along with a digital sublicense that the client receives from the original license holder, whereupon the content can then be rendered. The original digital license defines or governs the conditions under which such delegation occurs, and includes terms under which such delegation is permitted to continue in order to enforce the intent of the content provider.
US07801815B2
A reverse rating system determines the duration for which a phone call or other transaction may continue, given an account balance on a pre-paid customer account. The duration may take into consideration multiple time bands, applicable discounts, rating plans and other characteristics of the customer account and telecommunications service. The telecommunications service provider may employ the duration information to determine when to disconnect an ongoing transaction. As a result, the telecommunications service provider avoids substantial revenue loses from continuing to allow a pre-paid customer to continue their transaction longer than their account balance will support.
US07801813B2
A method is employed to impound funds from merchant sales electronically in an escrow account for later use such as payment of associated sales taxes. An electronic funds processor (EFP) determines escrow information for credit/debit card charge payment requests made by the merchant via a credit/debit card terminal, forwards the requests to one or more credit/debit card issuers, extracts an escrow amount from payments made by the issuers to the merchant, and credits an escrow account of the merchant with the extracted amounts. An escrow agent periodically makes payments from the escrow account, and provides associated reporting to the merchant. The merchant is able to report cash sales via the credit/debit card terminal, and associated escrow amounts are extracted from credit/debit card payments or from another merchant account.
US07801812B2
Characteristic normalization (or leveling) is a process that yields consistent and equitable characteristic definitions across multiple sources of credit information. This leveling ensures that when the same data is present for multiple credit sources, for example two or more credit reporting agencies, it is interpreted in the same manner, acknowledging that differences in the data itself may still be present.
US07801805B2
A credit derivative trading system comprises a credit derivative authority configured to receive defined positions for credit derivatives and update a plurality of trade clients in real-time whenever there is movement in the market for a particular credit derivative.
US07801798B1
A bid evaluation tool is provided for evaluating proposed bids for commodity sales contracts. The tool displays historical price data and forecasts in a graph. A user of the tool defines a date range for a proposed contract by entering starting and ending dates for the contract. The tool analyzes price data for the date range and generates a corresponding proposed bid for the date range. A bid window may be used to gather user inputs for the tool. The user can select between multiple bid pricing models for the bid evaluation tool to use when processing the price data to produce the proposed bid. Bid models for the tool include models such as a flat average model, a linear fit model, and an offset model. The user can adjust which historical data is included in the graph and can select which data set is used to generate bids.
US07801785B2
A project management system is enabled to handle multiple currencies within managed projects. An exchange series includes currency definition parameters such as currency pairing, frequency of rate change, and effective date of exchange rate. Using the exchange series and a strong definition of cost for tasks and resources (i.e. indicating currency type along with value of cost), the project management system allows costs to be entered in local currency. Project level roll-ups are calculated employing time-phased currency conversion based on whether the cost is variable or fixed. For scheduling, speculative conversions are facilitated based on latest actual exchange rate information. Local and project currency costs are provided to a project server for enterprise level roll-ups and multi-project management.
US07801782B2
Object oriented design strategies and patterns are applied to financial data processing systems for processing and modeling of financial products (also referred to as financial instruments) with an emphasis being on derivative products. The system employs valuation independent, well-defined financial components (also referred to as financial events) that can be combined to build new financial structures. A general purpose software model is provided for representing the structure and characteristics of these products. A declarative specification language is provided to describe financial instruments in a consistent manner that lends itself to processing in such an object oriented system. A general traversal process is provided that can be applied to the macro structure of a financial instrument to implement various functions that produce results based on such information, such as the stream of financial events associated with the instrument, or the pricing or valuation of the instrument. Techniques including double dispatch and other mechanisms are further provided to provide flexible means of associating the appropriate processing methods with the diverse range of instrument characteristics that are encountered in a typical financial institution's course of business.
US07801777B2
A system and method for managing the development and manufacturing process of a beverage is disclosed. The method comprises capturing and recording the development and manufacturing history of the beverage in order to generate a product history. The product history is stored on a computer and is searchable in multiple data dimensions in order to easily retrieve information. The system automatically provides compliance management procedures in order to comply with regulatory standards for the beverage industry.
US07801770B2
A unified ordering, warehousing, accounting, inventory, sales, delivery and communications system and method. Although the system and method pertain to the furniture operations and sales, the system and method can also be used by different entities in other retail and wholesale operations. The system is accessed over the Internet by the sales representatives, dealers, manufacturers and consumers by mobile sales representatives' laptops, dealers' servers, manufacturers' servers and consumers' computers. The method utilizes the system for all aspects of the furniture industry including handling raw material, organizing inventory and coordinating communications between salespeople, customers and manufacturers.
US07801755B2
A method of organizing, storing and representing a hierarchy of human resource information and organizational responsibilities of an enterprise provides a human resource user the ability to define and view an organizational chart for a plurality of organizations within a company or enterprise. The method may be used to define a top node and a plurality of other nodes that then can have responsibilities and managers assigned to each node in the hierarchy. Each other manager can have multiple responsibilities, multiple managers or multiple delegations. A graphical user interface may allow users to select and manipulate different combinations of managers and responsibilities to view a hierarchy in an employee centric manner, using menus and drill down charts.
US07801754B2
Methods, systems and computer-implemented architectures are provided for performing supply chain planning. In one implementation, a system is provided that comprises a database configured to store master data descriptive of supply chain items, a model generator coupled to the database and configured to derive a master data-based core model representative of a supply chain planning problem, and a solver configured to translate the core model into a mathematical model and determine a solution to the mathematical model. In addition, the system may comprise a preprocessor configured to preprocess the core model by subjecting the core model to a set of rules to derive a preprocessed core model, wherein the solver establishes the mathematical model from the preprocessed core model. By applying a set of preprocessing rules to the core model, where the business logic of the supply chain planning problem still exists, the solving process of the planning problem can be improved and the performance of the solver can be enhanced. Moreover, meaningful results obtained from the preprocessing can be reported to a customer.
US07801751B2
An unspecified-time airline ticket representing a purchased seat on a flight to be selected later, by the airlines, for a traveler-specified itinerary (e.g., NY to LA on March 3rd) is disclosed. Various methods and systems for matching an unspecified-time ticket with a flight are also disclosed. An exemplary method includes: (1) making available an unspecified-time ticket; (2) examining a plurality of flights which would fulfill the terms of the unspecified-time ticket to determine which flight to select; and (3) providing notification of the selected flight prior to departure. The disclosed embodiments provide travelers with reduced airfare in return for flight-time flexibility and, in turn, permits airlines to fill seats that would have otherwise gone unbooked. Because of the flexibilities required of the unspecified-time traveler, unspecified-time tickets are likely to attract leisure travelers unwilling to purchase tickets at the available published fares and, at the same time, are likely to “fence out” business travelers unwilling to risk losing a full day at either end of their trip. Moreover, the flexibilities required of the unspecified-time traveler need not be limited to a departure time; the flexibilities may also include the airline, the departing airport, the destination airport, or any other restriction that increases the flexibility afforded the airline in placing the traveler aboard a flight. The disclosed embodiments thus permit airlines to fill otherwise empty seats in a manner that stimulates latent and unfulfilled leisure travel demand while leaving their underlying fare structures intact.
US07801736B1
A system, method, and article of manufacture for locating or communicating with a patron at a hospitality facility includes a server and a plurality of client terminals. The server may receive, from one of the plurality of client terminals, a patron identifier identifying a patron and a location identifier identifying a location in the hospitality facility and storing the location identifier in an account corresponding to the patron identified by the patron identifier. A patron, using a client terminal may send a request for the location of a particular patron to the server. The server retrieves, from an account corresponding to the particular patron, a location identifier for the particular patron and sends a message based on the location identifier for the particular patron.
US07801732B2
An audio codec system and an encoding method using the same are provided. According to the method, encoding and decoding processes are repeatedly performed so as to determine optimized coding parameters when analog audio signals being inputted are encoded. The processes of encoding and decoding inputted analog audio signals using initial coding parameters, and computing new parameters using a differential computed during the encoding process are repeatedly performed.
US07801729B2
Embodiments of the present invention improve content selection systems and methods using speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising storing content on an electronic device, wherein the content is associated with a plurality of content attribute values, adding the content attribute values to a first recognition set of a speech recognizer, receiving a speech input signal in said speech recognizer, generating a plurality of likelihood values in response to the speech input signal, wherein each likelihood value is associated with one content attribute value in the recognition set; and accessing the stored content based on the likelihood values.
US07801727B2
A method for generating a language component vocabulary VC for a speech recognition system having a language vocabulary V of a plurality of word forms is disclosed. The method includes: partitioning the language vocabulary V into subsets of word forms based on frequencies of occurrence of the respective word forms; and in at least one of the subsets, splitting word forms having frequencies less than a threshold to thereby generate word form components. Also disclosed is a method for use in speech recognition including: splitting an acoustic vocabulary comprising baseforms into baseform components and storing the baseform components; and, performing sound to spelling mapping on the baseform components so as to generate a baseform components to word parts table for use in subsequent decoding of speech. A method for decoding a speech utterance using language model components and acoustic components, includes the steps of: generating from the utterance a stack of baseform component paths; concatenating baseform components in a path to generate concatenated baseforms, when the concatenated baseform components correspond to a baseform found in an acoustic vocabulary; mapping the concatenated baseforms into words; computing language model (LM) scores associated with the words using a language model, and performing further decoding of the utterance based thereupon.
US07801714B2
A flight simulator adapted for a family of aircraft may include a computer having a hardware unit common to the family of aircraft and capable of carrying out a function by implementing a software program that is supported by a nonvolatile memory of a module. The module is electrically and mechanically connected in a removable manner to the hardware unit and has a plurality of independent memories. Each of the memories stores a specific software program for implementing the function related to a given type of aircraft. A controllable component of the module may select, when the module is connected to the hardware unit, one of the memories whose software program is then implemented by the hardware unit.
US07801711B2
A method for configuring the physical model of a heat recovery steam generator that can estimate the state quantity of generated steam from the state quantity of the exhaust gas to be introduced, and capable of establishing the physical model of a combined cycle power generation facility thereby. The optimum values for the flow rates Flp and Fhp, pressures and temperatures Tlp and Thp of the low pressure main steam and high pressure main steam are computed in such a way as to ensure that an objective function E stored in advance will come close to zero.
US07801709B2
A simulation system includes an input acceptance unit that accepts a measured dimension of a transfer pattern; a calculation unit including a light intensity calculation unit that calculates a light intensity at each position, and a modified light intensity calculation unit that adds a modified value including the product of the light intensity and a tentative optical reaction coefficient to the light intensity, thereby giving a modified light intensity; and a decision unit that decides the threshold value and optical reaction coefficient by regression calculation such that a difference between the measured dimension and the calculated dimension becomes minimal under the modified light intensity, with a constant being the threshold value of the light intensity at a pair of edges defining the calculated dimension of the transfer pattern in the simulation.
US07801705B2
In various embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining a mass distribution solution for a mathematical model of a part to be structurally analyzed is provided. The method includes utilizing a finite element modeling (FEM) device to generate a nodal data of a part to be structurally analyzed. The nodal data is exported into a mass distribution solution (MDS) generating device where a three dimensional graphical illustration of the nodal data is rendered on a monitor of the MDS generating device. Mass properties data relating to the part to be analyzed is then imported into the MDS generating device from a weight accounting data source (WAD). The MDS generating device includes a processor that executes a MDS algorithm to thereby generate a MDS for the nodal data based on the imported mass properties data. A three dimensional graphical illustration of the weight distribution across selected nodes of the nodal data in accordance with of the mass distribution solution is rendered on the monitor. The MDS generating device then exports the MDS to the FEM device where structural analysis of the part is performed.
US07801703B2
An integrity management system predicts abnormalities in complex systems before they occur based upon the prior history of abnormalities within the complex system. A topology of the nodes of a complex system is generated and data is collected from the system based on predetermined metrics. In combination with dynamic thresholding, fingerprints of the relevant nodes within a complex system at various time intervals prior to the occurrence of the abnormality are captured and weighted. The fingerprints can then be applied to real-time data provide alerts of potential abnormality prior to their actual occurrence.
US07801701B2
An integrated logic analyzer system that provides enhanced troubleshooting capabilities for an inserter machine. The system includes sensors positioned within the inserter machine. A controller is coupled to the sensors, and also provides control signals for operation of the machine. The controller generates error signals upon the occurrence of predetermined instances of sensor signals. A display coupled to the controller indicates machine status based on the signals from the plurality of sensors. An integrated logic analyzer is also coupled to the controller and to the plurality of sensors. The integrated logic analyzer provides a continuous readout of sensor signals from the sensors, and control and status signals from the controller. The controller provides a representation of the continuous readout to the display. In the preferred embodiment, the controller provides a visual representation of individually selectable modules of the inserter system. Machine status, from the controller, is displayed as vertical lines overlaying continuous readout at various points in time. In the preferred embodiments, the integrated logic analyzer further provides a continuous readout of control signals from the controller.
US07801697B2
A novel method for testing a communications circuit is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: (a) connecting an internal balanced circuit to a well-balanced resistor network; (b) measuring a first plurality of real and imaginary components of the voltages with the internal balanced circuit connected to the well-balanced resistor network; (c) calculating an error for the internal balanced circuit based on the first plurality of voltages; (d) connecting the internal balanced circuit to the communications circuit; (e) measuring a second plurality of real and imaginary components of the voltages with the internal balanced circuit connected to the communications circuit; and (f) calculating a corrected balance for the communications circuit based on the second plurality of voltages and the error for the internal balanced resistor network. A novel device and software program that incorporates this novel method are also disclosed.
US07801693B2
A method and apparatus for improving accuracy of measurement of fluid pressure at a fluid port, such as at a supply port or control port of a fluid control valve, involves a closed-loop precision pressure measurement method with barometric pressure and temperature compensation.
US07801691B2
Method of acquisition and processing of an intake pressure signal in an internal combustion engine without an intake manifold; the internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder that receives fresh air through an intake duct, which is controlled by a butterfly valve and is provided with a pressure sensor connected to an electronic control unit. The acquisition and processing method provides for the following steps: measuring, via the pressure sensor, the instantaneous induction pressure at a plurality of different crank angles distributed over an engine cycle; storing, during each engine cycle, the instantaneous induction pressures in a fast acquisition buffer of the electronic control unit; and determining, at the end of each engine cycle, the mean induction pressure in the engine cycle by calculating a mean of the instantaneous induction pressures previously stored in the fast acquisition buffer of the electronic control unit.
US07801690B2
A method and system determines probable strength degradation in a tensile support in an elevator system by monitoring an electrical characteristic of the tensile support as a whole, such as the total electrical resistance of the tensile support, that varies as the remaining strength in the tensile support varies. One example system determines a relationship between strength degradation and various physical factors, such as the rate of degradation for a given load (102), operating environment information for the tensile support (104), and estimated usage data (106), to obtain a map of mean degradation (100). This map of mean degradation (100) is then used to generate one or more maps linking the strength degradation and electrical characteristic.
US07801687B1
Methods for using modified single wall carbon nanotubes (“SWCNTs”) to detect presence and/or concentration of a gas component, such as a halogen (e.g., Cl2), hydrogen halides (e.g., HCl), a hydrocarbon (e.g., CnH2n+2), an alcohol, an aldehyde or a ketone, to which an unmodified SWCNT is substantially non-reactive. In a first embodiment, a connected network of SWCNTs is coated with a selected polymer, such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polystyrene and/or polyvinylalcohol, and change in an electrical parameter or response value (e.g., conductance, current, voltage difference or resistance) of the coated versus uncoated SWCNT networks is analyzed. In a second embodiment, the network is doped with a transition element, such as Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, Os and/or Au, and change in an electrical parameter value is again analyzed. The parameter change value depends monotonically, not necessarily linearly, upon concentration of the gas component. Two general algorithms are presented for estimating concentration value(s), or upper or lower concentration bounds on such values, from measured differences of response values.
US07801683B2
A method for determining the optimal test order for diagnosing mutations that relate to a disease. The method includes receiving data, creating a database, receiving new data, applying at least one decision tree algorithm to score each possible test order, and generating a recommendation. The method may also determine the projected costs and the projected times to perform each test in the optimal test order. A computer readable medium for determining an optimal test order for diagnosing mutations that relate to a disease. A computer system for determining an optimal test order for diagnosing mutations that relate to a disease. The system includes a computing environment, an input device, an output device, and a plurality of decision tree algorithms. The system may also determine the projected costs and the projected times to perform each test in the optimal test order.
US07801681B2
The method for correcting the phase of measured electric signals or magnetic signals of field data from a controlled source electromagnetic survey (CSES) by comparing the measured field data corresponding to a selected frequency to the simulated data for various signal source receiver offsets (71) and correcting the phases of the actual data based on the phase difference for a selected range of small signal offsets (76) based on a go-electric model.
US07801679B2
A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display, a navigation data producing device for producing first data that is to be displayed on the display, and a transmitting device for transmitting intermediate data to the vehicular meter device. The vehicular meter device includes a receiving device for receiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device and a navigation data display area for displaying second data. A display size changing device for changing the first data into the second data is included in at least one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meter device. A display size of the first data is different from the display size of the second data.
US07801678B2
In a navigation system mounted on a moving object, when the current position exists on a road with time-based regulation on map data, route search is retried ignoring the time-based regulation. It is further possible to conduct the route search ignoring only the time-based regulation on the road where the current position is located.
US07801675B2
A system and method splices into, or replaces routes identified based on road geometry with routes taken by the same user or other users to create alternate routes that may be selected by a user to display, for example, on a map or for which driving directions can be displayed. Communication of routes traveled by different devices may be received from a server or from another device. A naming convention for road segments and ordered paths of road segments is described.
US07801662B2
A method is disclosed for managing power in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having multiple components, including an engine, a motor, a generator and a high voltage battery. Power losses in the individual components are computed. An engine speed corresponding to a minimum value for the power losses is selected to achieve optimal total powertrain efficiency.
US07801655B2
A signal processing system with rapid signal processing, for example for controlling the transmission of a motor vehicle, with an input module that calls for a desired reaction by emitting a request signal, a signal processing module, and a target module that implements the desired reaction, which, to accelerate processing, provides that several steps are carried out in parallel, such that the said signal processing module comprises a check module and a clock module each of which receives the request signal, the signal processing module also comprises an actuator module acting between the input module and the clock module, the clock module is connected to the output of the check module, and the actuator module is connected to the target module for transmitting the output signal of the signal processing module.
US07801648B2
An automatic trip device, a network system using it and control method thereof is related to providing the prediction of a potential electrical accident, in which measuring data including a temperature and a current from each of temperature and current sensors is received, the measuring data is stored in a data memory, the measuring data and a setting data are compared with each another and analyzed, an indicating portion display the life spans of an appliance equipment and mechanism and a power line section accommodating the interrupter, a temperature resistance coefficient based on the temperature stored is calculated, the temperature resistance coefficient is compared with one previously stored for the warning, the power line is interrupted and a warning portion is controlled to generate a warning signal if the calculated temperature resistance coefficient is higher than the warning temperature resistance one, thereby interrupting an accidental high current, rapidly, to protect persons and installments in itself, preventing the spreading of a general failure of power supply and minimizing an amount of damages.
US07801644B2
The present invention provides methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for a generic robot architecture providing a framework that is easily portable to a variety of robot platforms and is configured to provide hardware abstractions, abstractions for generic robot attributes, environment abstractions, and robot behaviors. The generic robot architecture includes a hardware abstraction level and a robot abstraction level. The hardware abstraction level is configured for developing hardware abstractions that define, monitor, and control hardware modules available on a robot platform. The robot abstraction level is configured for defining robot attributes and provides a software framework for building robot behaviors from the robot attributes. Each of the robot attributes includes hardware information from at least one hardware abstraction. In addition, each robot attribute is configured to substantially isolate the robot behaviors from the at least one hardware abstraction.
US07801642B2
A system and method are provided for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill in a pharmacy that includes activating an electronic scale coupled to a network, providing a user the ability to access a prescription to fill and displaying to the user data associated with the prescription. The method also includes providing the user the ability to cause data to be entered that is associated with a stock container selected by the user, wherein the stock container contains a drug corresponding to the prescription; determining if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription; and measuring a weight of a plurality of pills in the prescription. The method further includes comparing the measured weight to a predicted total weight of the plurality of pills, determining if the comparison is within an acceptable range, and generating an authorization for the prescription fill.
US07801635B2
The invention can provide a method of etch processing a wafer using a Real-Time Parameter Tuning (RTPT) procedure to receive an input message that can include a pass-through message, a real-time feedforward message, or a real-time optimization message, or any combination thereof. The RTPT procedures can use real-time wafer data to create, modify, and/or use etch recipe data, etch profile data, and/or etch model data. In addition, RTPT procedures can use real-time wafer data to create, modify, and/or use process recipe data, process profile data, and/or process model data.
US07801633B2
A scheduling method for a substrate treating apparatus having a plurality of treating units for treating substrates, wherein, based on a procedure including a plurality of treating steps, a controller determines an order of treating a plurality of lots successively in the treating units. The method includes a step of preparing a plurality of schedules through execution of a basic allocating method, based on a systematic chart representing combinations of the treating steps for the respective lots, for allocating a first treating step of one of the lots, and thereafter, while following the systematic chart from the treating step, for searching and allocating as a next treating step a treating step selected from among succeeding treating steps in the lots, whose preceding treating step has an earliest expected completion time of all preceding treating steps; and a first allocating method for allocating treating steps based on the basic allocating method, and when a waiting time occurring with one of the treating steps exceeds an allowed time for enabling a standby at one of the treating units, for avoiding allocation of the one of the treating steps and restarting a search at one branching point before a branching point upstream of the one of said treating steps. The method further includes a step of selecting one schedule having been completed within a specified time, from the plurality of schedules prepared.
US07801626B2
Instrumented retrievable implantable device (2), comprising an expandable section, for placement inside a body lumen, preferably in a blood vessel. The device (2) comprises a joined sensor (70) for monitoring one or more physiological parameter for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Data access is assured by a passive RF transponder, in communication with an external readout unit or an implanted device, providing as well to the energy supply of the sensor (70). The shape of the device of the invention (2) allows repositioning and retrieval by micro-invasive methods, by means of a link section (20) capable of being coupled with a grabbing device (45) mounted on a catheter (40).
US07801617B2
The automatic measurement of evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds of the auditory nerve; that is, a neural response, concurrently with the performance of psychophysics measurements of a prosthetic hearing implant recipient. During the fitting process, a stimulus signal comprising two components is applied to each stimulation channel. One signal component is configured to elicit an ECAP neural response, referred to herein as a neural response signal component. The other component is configured to elicit a response to a psychophysics stimulation, referred to herein as a psychophysics signal component. Indications of the psychophysics measurement and the concurrently obtained neural response measurements are provided to the user. For the psychophysics measurement, this includes the selected characteristics of the psychophysics signal component since the results of the applied stimulation is a recipient behavioral or auditory response.
US07801611B2
A system and method for providing communications between a physically secure programmer and an external device using a cellular network is described. A set of uniquely identifying credentials is securely maintained on a programmer configured to interface with an implantable medical device. A transient connection is automatically established between the programmer and a security server over a cellular network. The credentials are registered with the security server and an operational status is assigned to the programmer following examination of the credentials against a security roster maintained on the security server. The operational status of the programmer is confirmed and a data exchange session is conducted over the cellular network between the programmer and at least one external system subsequent to the confirmation.
US07801610B2
Methods and systems for classifying cardiac responses to pacing stimulation and managing retrograde conduction and pacemaker mediated tachyarrhythmia are described. An atrial pacing pulse and a ventricular pacing pulse are delivered during a paced cardiac cycle. A post ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) is timed following the ventricular pacing pulse. The system determines if the atrial pacing pulse captures the atrium. An atrial depolarization occurring after the paced cardiac cycle is sensed. Retrograde management is initiated if the atrial pacing pulse did not capture the atrium and the atrial depolarization occurred during the PVARP. Pacemaker mediated tachyarrhythmia (PMT) is initiated if the atrial pacing pulse did not capture the atrium and the atrial depolarization did not occur during the PVARP.
US07801605B2
A disposable electrode assembly for a portable defibrillator (12) comprises defibrillator electrodes (14), batteries (24) for powering the defibrillator, and a connector (22) for connecting the electrodes and batteries to the defibrillator. The connector has power output terminals (20) for connecting the battery to the defibrillator and high voltage input terminals (20) for applying a defibrillation voltage to the electrodes. The batteries (24) are housed in the connector (22) or mounted on the rear of one electrode.
US07801604B2
Described herein are methods and devices that utilize electrical neural stimulation to treat heart failure by modulating a patient's autonomic balance in a manner that inhibits sympathetic activity and/or augments parasympathetic activity. Because other therapies for treating heart failure may also affect a patient's autonomic balance, a device for delivering neural stimulation is configured to appropriately titrate such therapy in either an open-loop or closed-loop fashion.
US07801600B1
Systems of techniques for controlling charge flow during the electrical stimulation of tissue. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a charge setting describing an amount of charge that is to flow during a stimulation pulse that electrically stimulates a tissue, and generating and delivering the stimulation pulse in a manner such that an amount of charge delivered to the tissue during the stimulation pulse accords with the charge setting.
US07801594B1
A morphology discrimination scheme extracts shape characteristics from cardiac signals and identifies an associated cardiac condition based on the shape characteristics. For example, internal data structures may be updated to match the shape characteristics of a known condition (e.g., a patient's normal sinus rhythm). Similarly acquired shape characteristics obtained in conjunction with a later event (e.g., QRS complexes acquired during a tachycardia episode) may be compared with the previously stored shape characteristics to characterize the later event. In some aspects the shape characteristics relate to inflection points of cardiac signals.
US07801591B1
System for diagnosis, medical decision support, and healthcare information management that performs analysis of serial health data, adapts to the individual data, and represents dynamics of the most significant parameters (indicators), using at least two scales. The system uses the first-scale (low-resolution) analysis of a snapshot measurement of at least one indicator (primary element) such as heart rate or blood pressure and uses a second-scale (higher-resolution) analysis to determine serial changes in each of the said primary elements. The system optimizes information flow, usage of medical knowledge, and improves accuracy of analysis of serial changes, and adaptability to each individual's data. The information can be distributed in parallel to separate databases at different locations.
US07801586B2
The invention provides a device, and method for in vivo imaging, for example, using an in vivo imaging device including a circuit board having rigid sections and flexible sections. The circuit board may include one or more layers and an antenna may be embedded into one or more layers.
US07801585B1
A system for analyzing and treating abnormality of human and animal tissues includes a subsystem for modulating a magnetic field, having a strength of between about 0.1 gauss and 4 Tesla, across an EM spectrum of between about 1 Hz and about 1 GHz. The system also includes a subsystem for subjecting the tissue to the modulated magnetic field and further includes a subsystem for measuring resultant EMR peaks of a signal emitted by the tissue, in which each peak represents a potential in-phase or out-of-phase EMR relative to a normal signal of the tissue. The system further includes a subsystem for generating and applying to the tissue a wave form and resonance substantially inverse to that of out-of-phase resonances of the tissue signal to increase or nullify EMR peaks of the signal associated with an abnormality.
US07801582B2
Method and apparatus for providing multiple data receiver units in a data monitoring and management system such as analyte monitoring system where a first data receiver includes all of the functionalities for the data monitoring and management system receiver unit, and a second data receiver unit is configured with a limited functions to provide application specific convenience to the user or patient is disclosed.
US07801579B2
A positional relation sensing section (23) of a control section (22) senses the relative position relation between first and second cabinets (30 and 31) based on output of magnetic sensing elements (20a and 20b) and outputs a position determination signal (S3). If the state is “transition state” in which one cabinet slides and moves based on the position determination signal (S3), a voice control section (24) outputs a mute control signal (S4) to a voice processing section (11) as a muting instruction. Accordingly, all outputs of voice signals collected by a microphone (10) to a receiver (12), a loudspeaker (13), a wireless communication section (16), a short-range wireless communication section (17), and a voice output terminal (14) are stopped.
US07801578B2
An electronic device and a rotating mechanism thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a first casing, a second casing, and a rotating mechanism. The first casing has a first receiving space and a first hole disposed a first side thereof, wherein the first receiving space is intercommunicated with the first hole. The second casing has a second receiving space and a second hole disposed a second side thereof, wherein the second receiving space is intercommunicated with the second hole. The rotating mechanism includes a shaft, a first fixing element and a second fixing element. The shaft has a center axis, wherein part of the shaft is received in the first receiving space and part of the shaft is received in the second receiving space, such that the first casing can be rotated around the center axis with respect to the second casing.
US07801572B2
A device holder (1) for portable electronic devices, in particular for telephone devices (18), to be connected to a hands-free-speaker device on board of motor vehicles, with electric contact members on the receiving side (2″) of the device holder (1) to be connected to corresponding contact members of the electronic device, with a drawer (4) swiveling about the drawer axis (7) and having side walls (2′, 3), and with holding dogs (14′, 14″) formed in the corners of the drawer for reaching over the segments of the electronic device, with the drawer (4) swivel-seated in the device holder having at least one contact plug (5) to be seated movably throughout a hole in the receiving side (2″), which contact plug is integrated with a rider (6), and the rider (6) is seated rotatably in the housing (12) of the device holder (1), with the rider axis (8) of the rider (6) and the drawer axis (7) in the housing (12) of the device holder (1) going parallel to each other and being displaced from each other by a distance, and with the rider (6) freely sliding by means of a slide-shoulder into a cavity (11) of the guide-rail (10) running across the drawer axis (7) under the bottom of the drawer (4), and letting itself be guided along the swinging bottom of the drawer (4).
US07801571B2
The invention concerns a mobile communications unit (100) having at least one transducer (120) that can broadcast audio through a direct port (110), at least one leak port (114) for leak tolerance of the unit, in which the leak port can have a first opening (116) and a multi-use opening (118). The multi-use opening can be coupled to the first opening of the leak port to complete a path for the leak port, and the multi-use opening can also receive a part of an accessory. As an example, the mobile unit can be a monolith mobile unit. As another example, the accessory can be a holster having a hook mechanism that fits within the multi-use opening and can secure the mobile communications unit to the holster.
US07801565B2
A method of synchronizing a smart antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver includes receiving at the smart antenna apparatus control signals being communicated from a base station transceiver to one or more mobile stations via an antenna unit. The control signals are operable to be used to synchronize the mobile stations with the base station transceiver The method further includes executing one or more algorithms using the control signals received by the smart antenna apparatus as input to synchronize the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver.
US07801557B2
A mobile communication terminal includes an input unit having a plurality of number keys and a plurality of call keys; a controller for instructing a call connection to a wired communication network or to a mobile communication network with reference to a ‘telephone network connection method’ arbitrarily set by a user when a phone number of a receiving side and a specific call key are inputted through the input unit; a mobile communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the mobile communication network according to an instruction from the controller; and a wired communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the wired communication network according to an instruction from the controller. The mobile communication terminal is implemented to be connected with the wired communication network through the AP installed in a building (or in a room), for which a subscriber can arbitrary set the telephone network connection method, simplifying the procedure for selectively connecting to the mobile communication network (the CDMA network) and the PSTN. Thus, the subscriber can easily and conveniently operate the mobile communication terminal.
US07801547B2
A system and method for determining a downlink transmit power level for a downlink signaling channel such as the E-DCH HARQ Indicator Channel (E-HICH) in a cellular radio communication network, wherein the transmit power level is calculated to achieve a desired signaling message error rate. The base station determines a diversity order of an uplink control channel from a mobile station, and sets the downlink E-HICH transmit power based on the desired signaling message error rate and the diversity order of the uplink control channel. Optionally, the base station may first determine whether the cell transmitting the E-HICH is the serving cell for the High-Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH). If so, the base station determines the downlink transmit power level for the downlink signaling channel as an offset from the reported Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) value.
US07801538B2
A public service message broadcast system and method for managing the submission and transmission of a broadcast agent message to at least one geographically distinct geo-fenced peer public service message broadcast system includes creating a broadcast message record by a broadcast message originator defining the broadcast message and the broadcast target area and authenticating the broadcast message authority of the broadcast message originator. The method also includes transmitting the broadcast message record to a peer public service message broadcast system and validating the received broadcast message record for transmission to an associated broadcast message network.
US07801532B2
A method for transmitting a signal by a transmitter in a frequency overlay communication system. The method includes generating y first signal groups by shuffling input information data with a length yN on an N-by-N grouping basis according to a first shuffling scheme; generating y second signal groups by performing N-point IFFT on each of the first signal groups; generating y third signal groups by multiplying each of the second signal groups by preset values; generating N fourth signal groups by de-shuffling the third signal groups on a y-by-y grouping basis according to a de-shuffling scheme; generating N fifth signal groups by performing y-point IDFT on each of the fourth signal groups; generating y sixth signal groups by shuffling the fifth signal groups according to a second shuffling scheme, and serial-converting the sixth signal groups; and performing a transmission RF process on the serial-converted signal and transmitting the RF-processed signal to a receiver.
