US07829421B2
By forming a portion of a PN junction within strained silicon/germanium material in SOI transistors with a floating body architecture, the junction leakage may be significantly increased, thereby reducing floating body effects. The positioning of a portion of the PN junction within the strained silicon/germanium material may be accomplished on the basis of implantation and anneal techniques, contrary to conventional approaches in which in situ doped silicon/germanium is epitaxially grown so as to form the deep drain and source regions. Consequently, high drive current capability may be combined with a reduction of floating body effects.
US07829412B2
A method of manufacturing a flash memory device is disclosed. A first oxide layer, a nitride layer, a second oxide layer, and a first polysilicon layer, which is a part of a polysilicon layer for a control gate, are formed to a predetermined thickness on a semiconductor substrate. A first etch process is performed to form gate patterns. An insulating layer is formed on the entire surface. A second etch process is implemented so that insulating layer spacers are formed on both sidewalls of each gate pattern while exposing the first polysilicon layer. A second polysilicon layer for the control gate is formed on the entire surface.
US07829407B2
A semiconductor device including semiconductor material having a bend and a trench feature formed at the bend, and a gate structure at least partially disposed in the trench feature. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure including forming a semiconductor material with a trench feature over a layer, forming a gate structure at least partially in the trench feature, and bending the semiconductor material such that stress is induced in the semiconductor material in an inversion channel region of the gate structure.
US07829399B2
A method of forming capacitorless DRAM over localized silicon-on-insulator comprises the following steps: A silicon substrate is provided, and an array of silicon studs is defined within the silicon substrate. An insulator layer is defined atop at least a portion of the silicon substrate, and between the silicon studs. A silicon-over-insulator layer is defined surrounding the silicon studs atop the insulator layer, and a capacitorless DRAM is formed within and above the silicon-over-insulator layer.
US07829394B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which suppresses a short circuit and a leakage current between a semiconductor film and a gate electrode generated by a break or thin thickness of a gate insulating film in an end portion of a channel region of the semiconductor film, and the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. Plural thin film transistors which each have semiconductor film provided over a substrate continuously, conductive films provided over the semiconductor film through a gate insulating film, source and drain regions provided in the semiconductor film which are not overlapped with the conductive films, and channel regions provided in the semiconductor film existing under the conductive films and between the source and drain regions. And impurity regions provided in the semiconductor film which is not overlapped with the conductive film and provided adjacent to the source and drain regions. Further, the conductive films are provided over the channel regions and regions of the semiconductor film which are provided adjacent to the channel regions.
US07829393B2
A copper gate electrode, applied in a thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display (LCD) device, at least comprises a patterned copper layer formed on a glass substrate, and a barrier layer formed on the patterned copper layer. The barrier layer comprises at least one of nitrogen and phosphorus, or comprises an alloy formularized as M1M2R wherein M1 is cobalt (Co) or molybdenum (Mo), M2 is tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), rhenium (Re) or vanadium (V), and R is boron (B) or phosphorus (P).
US07829385B2
Printed tape is used to form a leads on chip (LOC) ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor device. Leads for a plurality of devices may be applied simultaneously. Bond wires, glob top encapsulant, and the ball grid arrays for the devices may be formed in single process steps. A low temperature curing adhesive material may be used to reduce the effects of differential thermal expansion between the tape and surface of the wafer. In another embodiment of the invention, anisotropically conductive adhesive material is used to connect bond pads on a wafer to leads printed on a tape.
US07829381B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of (1) applying an underfill composition to a surface of a silicon wafer, (2) dicing the silicon wafer into chips, (3) positioning the chip, and (4) bonding the chip to the substrate, characterized in that the underfill composition consists of a first underfill composition and a second underfill composition, the step (1) comprises the steps of (i) applying the first underfill composition on the surface of the silicon wafer and then bringing the applied first underfill composition into a B-stage to form a layer of the first underfill composition having a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 time the height of the solder bump, and (ii) applying the second underfill composition on the B-stage first underfill composition layer and bringing the applied second underfill composition into a B-stage to form a layer wherein a total thickness of the B-stage first underfill composition and the B-stage second underfill composition ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 times the height of the solder bump, and that the first underfill composition comprises an epoxy resin and a filler, the filler being in an amount of from 30 to 85 wt % of a solid content of the first underfill composition, and the second underfill composition comprises an epoxy resin, a flux and/or a curing agent functioning also as a flux.
US07829377B2
Masked and controlled ion implants, coupled with annealing or etching are used in CVD formed single crystal diamond to create structures for both optical applications, nanoelectromechanical device formation, and medical device formation. Ion implantation is employed to deliver one or more atomic species into and beneath the diamond growth surface in order to form an implanted layer with a peak concentration of atoms at a predetermined depth beneath the diamond growth surface. The composition is heated in a non-oxidizing environment under suitable conditions to cause separation of the diamond proximate the implanted layer. Further ion implants may be used in released structures to straighten or curve them as desired. Boron doping may also be utilized to create conductive diamond structures.
US07829373B2
Disclosed herein is an organic polymer semiconductor compound, a method of forming an organic polymer semiconductor thin film using the same, and an organic thin film transistor using the same. Example embodiments of this invention pertain to an organic polymer semiconductor having a side chain including a removable substituent, and to an organic thin film transistor using the organic polymer semiconductor for an organic active layer, which has lower leakage current, higher charge mobility, and/or a higher on/off ratio.
US07829364B2
A suspension microstructure and its fabrication method, in which the method comprises the steps of: forming at least one insulation layer with inner micro-electro-mechanical structures on an upper surface of a silicon substrate, the micro-electro-mechanical structure includes at least one microstructure and a plurality of metal circuits that are independent from each other, the micro-electro-mechanical structures have an exposed portion on the surface of the insulation layer, and the exposed portion is provided with through holes or stacked metal-via layers correspondingly to the predetermined etching spaces of the micro-electro-mechanical structures, the above predetermined etching spaces and the stacked metal-via layers only penetrate the insulation layer; forming a photoresist with an opening on the upper surface of the exposed portion, and the opening of the photoresist is located outside all the through holes or the stacked metal-via layers; subsequently, conducting etching to realize the suspension of the microstructures.
US07829352B2
This disclosure relates to a system and method for creating nano-object arrays. A nano-object array can be created by exposing troughs in a corrugated surface to nano-objects and depositing the nano-objects within or orienting the nano-objects with the troughs.
US07829351B2
Methods and systems for depositing nanomaterials onto a receiving substrate and optionally for depositing those materials in a desired orientation, that comprise providing nanomaterials on a transfer substrate and contacting the nanomaterials with an adherent material disposed upon a surface or portions of a surface of a receiving substrate. Orientation is optionally provided by moving the transfer and receiving substrates relative to each other during the transfer process.
US07829344B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for the detection of hydrogen in a gas volume by means of an exothermal catalytic recombination of hydrogen and oxygen present in the gas volume into water. The amount of energy that is released during such an exothermal catalytic recombination is measured in the form of a temperature difference and is compared with a stored limit value. When a corresponding limit value is exceeded an appropriate signal is output.
US07829338B2
Dominant negative alleles of human mismatch repair genes can be used to generate hypermutable cells and organisms. By introducing these genes into cells and transgenic animals, new cell lines and animal varieties with novel and useful properties can be prepared more efficiently than by relying on the natural rate of mutation.
US07829333B2
The present invention provides transcription factors associated with the hedgehog signaling pathway that are regulated by dephosphorylation by phosphatases. Hedgehog response elements (HRE) that interact with the dephosphorylated transcription factors are also provided as well as methods for identifying compounds that are phosphatase inhibitors. Methods of treating tumors in a subject by modulating the phosphorylation of the transcription factor are also included.
US07829331B2
The invention relates to a method for infiltration of polypeptides in cells. The invention further relates to the use of the cells and urea-adjuvated polypeptides for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of diseases. The invention further relates to the detection of polypeptide-specific immune cells.
US07829330B2
The invention provides novel nucleic acids and polypeptides, referred to herein as stresscopin 1 and stresscopin 2, which preferentially activate the CRH-R2 receptor over the R1 receptor. Stresscopins, analogs and mimetics, and related CRH-R2 agonists suppress food intake and heat-induced edema; but do not induce substantial release of ACTH. Stresscopin also finds use in the recovery phase of stress responses, as an anti-inflammatory agent, as a hypotensive agent, as a cardioprotective agent, and in the treatment of psychiatric and anxiolytic disorders. Stresscopin nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways.
US07829328B2
Hollow particles for use in various types of assay devices are provided. Due to their hollow or voided structure, the particles may exhibit a variety of beneficial properties. For instance, hollow particles are generally lightweight, and thus, relatively inexpensive in comparison to other types of particles. Hollow particles may also form a stable system without requiring refrigeration or rotation. In addition, hollow particles may possess enhanced light diffraction capabilities, which may be particularly beneficial in certain types of assay devices, e.g., diffraction-based assay devices.
US07829309B1
This invention relates generally to the field of cell culture. More particularly, the invention relates to improving viability of recombinant cell cultures and the yields of secreted polypeptides therefrom by the addition of betaine to the tissue culture medium.
US07829305B2
The invention is directed to a method for detecting the presence of biofilm-forming microorganisms in a paper or board making process for determining the need of an anti-biofilm agent in the process. The method comprises the steps: (a) subjecting a sampler device in the process line for a period of time to enable said microorganisms to form a biofilm in situ in said process on the surface of the sampler, (b) optionally treating said formed biofilm in a solution of a test anti-biofilm agent for a period of time, then (c) contacting said biofilm with a liquid growth medium in a recession of a culturing device for a period of time, and (d) removing the growth solution from the recession of said device and detecting qualitatively and/or quantitatively the presence or absence of a biofilm adhered on the walls of the recession. An assembly kit is also provided.
US07829304B2
Ketoamine compounds and related methods for reactivation of tumor suppressor protein p53.
US07829303B1
The x-ray crystal structure of BACE or BACE-like proteins is useful for solving the structure of other molecules or molecular complexes, and identifying and/or designing potential modifiers of BACE activity.
US07829289B2
The invention relates to methods of modulating an immune response in a mammal by modulating the activity of Jα33 T cells or of MR1 polypeptide in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. The invention also relates to methods of regulating the activity of immune cells, particularly of T lymphocytes and/or B lymphocytes by regulating the activity of MR1 in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. The invention further comprises methods of screening active compounds using MR1 or fragments thereof, or nucleic acid encoding the same, or recombinant host cells expressing said polypeptide. The invention also deals with a pharmaceutical composition comprising Jα33 T cells, MR1 polypeptide or a compound that modulates the activity of Jα33 TCR T cells or of MR1 polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or carrier. The invention further deals with methods of diagnosis for intestinal diseases related to a defect of the activity of said Jα33 T cells or MR1 polypeptide.
US07829287B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a branched or multichain nucleic acid switch adapted to switch from a first conformation to a second conformation upon ligand binding. The switch includes a probe strand, P, which includes the ligand binding domain; a switching framework which includes a cover strand (C), and a tether that holds P and C together and a signaling apparatus. Some embodiments include a toggle strand (T) where now the tether holds P, C, T, and the signaling apparatus together. As the switch changes between the first and second conformations; the signaling apparatus reports the state of the switch. The signaling entity is typically a lumiphore and a quencher located along the switching framework. Nucleic acid switches have applications in real time assays for diverse agents including infectious agents, environmental toxins, and terrorist agents, as well as screening methods for such agents. Further applications are found for nanoelectronics, nanofabrication and nanomachines.
US07829279B1
Compositions and methods for diagnosis or treatment of epilepsy disease with EFHC1, EFHC1 agonists, or EFHC1 analogs are provided. Compositions and methods for diagnosis or treatment of epilepsy disease with EFHC1a, EFHC1a agonists, or EFHC1a analogs are provided.
US07829275B2
A method of detecting the presence of an analyte, such as a target nucleic acid sequence, protein sequence or small molecule, which can also be employed to detect the formation of duplex structures, is disclosed. The method can comprise nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules, employing photoelectrochemically active nanoparticles, branched polymers or other structures that carry photoelectrochemically active molecules capable of generating a photocurrent when excited by light in the presence of an electric field is disclosed. The method can be employed to detect hybridization on an array and can be employed in sequencing, mutational analysis (for example, single nucleotide polymorphisms and other variations in a population) and for monitoring gene expression by analysis of the level of expression of messenger RNA extracted from a cell. The method is applicable to the detection of antibody binding or other protein binding for analyte detection in an array format. The creation of an array addressable by light is disclosed.
US07829271B2
The present invention relates especially to a process for the localized distribution of drops of a liquid of interest on an active surface. The process comprises the following steps: an introduction of liquid of interest into a box containing the said active surface, and an extraction of liquid of interest from the said box, the said active surface and also the other surfaces inside the box being substantially non-wetting with respect to the liquid of interest, with the exception of several uptake areas localized on the said active surface, which are each suitable for taking up a drop of liquid of interest. The uptake areas may surround working areas. The present invention also relates to processes for the electrochemical and optical detection of at least one analyte in a liquid of interest, and to an electropolymerization process.
US07829263B2
Disclosed are an exposure method and apparatus, a coating apparatus and a device manufacturing method, wherein, in one preferred form, the exposure method is used to expose a resist having been applied onto a substrate by one of a plurality of resist coating units, and it includes a selecting step for choosing an exposure amount pattern that represents exposure amounts corresponding to a plurality of shots on the substrate, respectively, on the basis of a resist coating unit data that specifies which unit among the plurality of resist coating units should be used to apply a resist onto the substrate, and an exposure step for exposing the resist on the substrate in accordance with the exposure amount pattern chosen by the selecting step.
US07829260B2
A method of treating a laser exposed lithographic printing plate with a deactivating solution followed by overall irradiation is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of photo hardening. The deactivating solution is capable of deactivating the photo hardening capability of the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas so that the overall irradiation does not cause hardening of the photosensitive layer in the non-hardened areas. The deactivation and overall irradiation cause one or more chemical or physical changes to the photosensitive layer, such as further hardening of the imaged areas, improved contrast, improved developability, or improved substrate hydrophilicity. The overall irradiated plate is further developed on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a developer. For off-press development, the developer may be used as the deactivating solution.
US07829257B2
Photosensitive compositions comprising (A) an alkali soluble compound; (B) at least one compound, of formula I or II wherein R1 inter alia is C4-C9cycloalkanoyl, C3-C12alkenoyl, or benzoyl which is unsubstituted or substituted; Ar1 is either C6-C20aryl or C6-C20aryloyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted; x is 2 or 3; M1 when x is 2, inter alia is a group phenylene or naphthylene, each of which optionally is substituted i.a. by OR3, SR4 or NR5R6; or M1, when x is 3, is a trivalent group, optionally substituted; R3 is for example hydrogen or C1-C12alkyl; C2-C6alkyl which is for example substituted by —OH, —SH, —CN, C3-C6alkenoxy, or —OCH2CH2CN; R4 is for example hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted; R5 and R6 independently of each other inter alia are hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, C2-C4hydroxyalkyl, C2-C10alkoxyalkyl, C3-C5alkenyl, C3-C8cycloalkyl, phenyl-C1-C3alkyl, C1-C4alkanoyl, C3-C6alkenoyl, benzoyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted; and (C) a photopolymerizable compound; exhibit an unexpectedly good performance, in particular in photoresist technology.
US07829256B2
A photocuring composition includes black particles (A), black particles (B), an organic binder (C), a photopolymerizable monomer (D), and a photopolymerization initiator (E). The black particles (B) have a volume resistivity lower than the volume resistivity of the black particles (A) and an average diameter larger than the average diameter of the black particles (A).
US07829253B2
Toner compositions having high molecular weight and improved melt flow are provided.
US07829251B2
Disclosed herein is a flexible imaging member having a high concentration of a charge transport compound having optimum enhanced mechanical and electrical characteristics. By increasing the concentration of the charge transport compound to a level of from about 55 weight percent or more, including from about 55 weight percent to about 70 weight percent, and from about 55 weight percent to about 65 weight percent, a flexible imaging member can be produced with reduced residual voltage and/or improved sensitivity. Furthermore, the fatigue cracking resistance of the charge transport layer can be improved through the implementation of a heat stress release process described more particularly herein.
US07829248B2
The present disclosure provides a mask-pellicle system for lithography patterning. The mask-pellicle system includes a mask substrate; a predefined pattern formed on the transparent pattern; a pellicle configured approximate the transparent substrate; a pellicle frame designed to secure the pellicle; and a stress-absorbing feature configured between the pellicle frame and the mask substrate, to reduce stress of the mask substrate.
US07829245B2
A mask for sequential lateral solidification capable of preventing pattern deformation that may be caused by laser beam, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The mask includes a transparent substrate, and a heat-resistant oxide film pattern, disposed on the transparent substrate, blocking a laser beam.
US07829243B2
A method for etching a chromium layer is provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for etching a chromium layer includes providing a filmstack in an etching chamber, the filmstack having a chromium layer partially exposed through a patterned layer, providing at least one halogen containing process gas to a processing chamber, biasing the layer disposed on a substrate support in the processing chamber with a plurality of power pulses less than 600 Watts, and etching the chromium layer through a patterned mask. The method for plasma etching a chromium layer described herein is particularly suitable for fabricating photomasks.
US07829235B2
First, a solid-state electrolyte layer that has conductivity for ions of one of hydrogen and oxygen is formed. After that, a dense layer made of an electrode material that has electron conductivity, catalyst activity to accelerate the electrochemical reaction, and a characteristic of allowing permeation of ions and/or atoms of the other one of hydrogen and oxygen is formed on a surface of the electrolyte layer. Then, a fuel cell structure that includes the electrolyte layer and the dense layer is built. After that, the electrochemical reaction is caused to progress by supplying a fuel and oxygen to the fuel cell structure, so that in the dense layer, many micropores extending through the dense layer in the film thickness direction are created due to the generated water that is created between the electrolyte layer and the dense layer.
US07829222B2
Artificial graphite particles, having a secondary particle structure in which a plurality of primary particles composed of graphite are clustered or bonded together, and having a layer structure in which the edge portion of the primary particles is bent in a polyhedral shape.
US07829219B2
A cathode for lithium secondary batteries coated with a slurry including an active material, a binder and a solvent, and further including a polymerization inhibitor, is disclosed. Gelation of the slurry is prevented during production of the cathode so that adhesion of the slurry is enhanced, thus achieving improved coating properties of the cathode and facilitating the coating of the slurry.
US07829214B2
A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery subassemblies. The battery subassemblies are operable to be mechanically and electrically connected together to form a battery assembly and are provided to be shipped such that an additional shipping fee that would be incurred due to a battery characteristic that is not the total weight of the battery assembly is avoided. The plurality of battery subassemblies includes a first battery subassembly and a second battery subassembly. The first battery subassembly includes a first subassembly to subassembly electrical connector, a first subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector, and a device power connector operable to supply power to a battery powered device. The second battery subassembly is operable to be electrically and mechanically connected to the first battery subassembly and includes a second subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the first subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly and a second subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the first subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.
US07829212B2
Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
US07829209B2
A solid polymer electrolyte for a fuel cell has high proton conductivity, large heat resistance, an excellent mechanical strength. A fuel cell may include such solid polymer electrolyte. The solid polymer electrolyte for a fuel cell includes a proton conductive resin with side chains R1, R2, R3, and R4 that are bonded to an aromatic polyurea resin backbone.
US07829203B2
Compositions of a mixture of a thiol material and a material that contains a reactive unsaturated carbon-carbon bond that can be polymerised to form a charge-transporting or luminescent film are described, as is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device comprising at least one such charge-transporting or emissive layer that has been formed by polymerising a thiol material and an ene material. The process for forming such an OLED, including the deposition of a layer of material comprising the polymerisable composition, from solution, exposing said layer to actinic radiation through a mask, and then optionally developing said film to form a photopatterned film, is also disclosed.
US07829193B2
The present invention relates to novel coating compositions, or surface-treatment compositions, in particular paint compositions. These compositions can be used in various applications, such as interior or exterior water-based paints, render, varnish, a semi-thick coating, formulations for finishes for architectural textiles, rigid or flexible plastic surfaces, or surface-protection products.
US07829192B2
Laminated glazing (2) comprising a viscoelastic plastic insert (3) comprising at least two damping films (30, 31) each having a loss factor tan δ greater than 0.6 and a shear modulus G′ less than 2×107 Pa over two temperature ranges tA et tB respectively, characterized in that the film which has, at a frequency of 200 Hz, the highest loss factor tan δ over a given temperature range included within the temperature range tA or tB, has an equivalent shear modulus G′eq less than the equivalent shear modulus or moduli of the other film or films, with G eq ′ = G ′ e tot e where G′ is the shear modulus of the material constituting the film, e is the thickness of the film and etot the total thickness of the insert.
US07829191B2
A lighting system that produces a high intensity beam of light in the visible and infrared spectral regions that can be used for non-covert and ultra-covert operations. The lighting system is comprised of a HID lamp, a reflector, a lens, and a filter. The lamp utilizes a short arc gap and a unique combination of xenon gas, mercury and metal halides that produce a highly collimated beam of light in the visible and near-infrared regions. The lens is coated on both sides with an antireflective coating that reflects ultraviolet light and enhances the transmission of visible and infrared light. The lens is also coated on its outer surface with a hydroscopic material that protects the glass lens and the second antireflective coating from abrasion while facilitating the dispersion of water on the outer surface.
US07829190B2
An anisotropic electrically conducting interconnect is disclosed in which an adhesive comprising particles having a breakable coating of at least one electrically nonconductive material is compressed between a first contact and a second contact. Compression to two contacts breaks the breakable coating exposing an electrically conducting material which makes contact with the first and second contacts. The electrically conducting material may be a metal conductor or a two-part reactive conductive resin/catalyst system. Also disclosed are processes for making such electrical interconnects and adhesives for use in making electrical interconnect.
US07829188B2
Epoxy compositions exhibiting low viscosity in the uncured state and low coefficient of thermal expansion in the cured state are provided. Also provided are processes for making the epoxy compositions. The low dielectric constant compositions are well-suited for use in multi-layer printed circuit boards. The desired properties are achieved by employment of a bimodal distribution of nano-scale fillers in the epoxy compositions.
US07829185B2
A selectively permeable film supported membrane comprises a selectively permeable film comprising at least one ionomer; a bilayer formed on the film; and at least one transport substance incorporated into the bilayer. Methods for forming a selectively permeable film supported membrane comprise the steps of forming a bilayer on a selectively permeable film comprising at least one ionomer and incorporating at least one transport substance into the bilayer. Fuel cells, toxins detectors and protective devices comprise a selectively permeable film supported membrane.
US07829178B2
A delamination development preventable structure is provided to prevent the development of delamination in a sandwich panel including a core and surface plates attached to the opposite surfaces of the core with respect to the thickness of the core.Arresters 5 are protruded inward with respect to directions parallel to the thickness of a core 3 from surface plates 4a and 4b. The development of a delaminated part formed by the separation of a part of the surface plate 4a from the core 3 and that of a delaminated part formed by the separation of a part of the surface plate 4b from the core 3 beyond the arresters 5 can be prevented. Thus delamination can be limited to a narrow local region and the spread of the delaminated part over the entire sandwich panel 2 can be prevented. Thus the development of delamination in the sandwich panel 2 can be prevented and the durability of the sandwich panel 2 can be enhanced.
US07829176B2
Surface structured decorative boards (1) having a first and a second opposite edge (1I and 1II respectively). The board (1) include an upper side decorative surface (2) an upper side surface structure and a base layer. The structure is comprised by at least two surface grades (10) forming a decorative surface pattern on said upper side, said pattern being applied in predetermined fixed positions (P) on the first and the second edges (1I and 1II respectively). The first edge pattern positions (PL) and the second edge pattern positions (PR) are matched so that the pattern continues over the first and second edges (1I and 1II respectively) of adjacent boards (1).
US07829172B2
A double-face velour fabric article consists of a fabric body having a technical face formed by a filament stitch yarn and a technical back formed by a filament loop yarn. The filament stitch yarn includes a heat sensitive material, e.g. a hot melt material or a heat shrinkable material, and/or an elastomeric material, such as spandex. The fabric body has a velour surface formed at both the technical back and the technical face. Raised fibers of at least one of the technical face and the technical back may be entangled, including in and/or through interstices of the fabric body, toward the other of the technical face and the technical back, e.g., by a hydroentanglement process applied after finishing. The fabric body has permeability of about 80 ft3/ft2/min, or less, under a pressure difference of ½ inch of water across the fabric body.
US07829171B2
Improved expanded PTFE materials and improved gasket materials made therefrom, the gaskets being capable of forming a seal with greater bolt load retention than is possible with existing PTFE gaskets. The expanded PTFE membranes of the invention can be tailored to exhibit a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 25,000 psi, a matrix tensile strength ratio in two orthogonal directions of between 0.25 and 4, an orientation index of 50° or less, and a density of 2.0 g/cc or less. The improved gaskets exhibit improved mechanical properties such as high bolt load retention, low creep, high tensile strength, low stress to seal and high crystallinity index.
US07829170B1
Improved expanded PTFE materials and improved gasket materials made therefrom, the gaskets being capable of forming a seal with greater bolt load retention than is possible with existing PTFE gaskets. The expanded PTFE membranes of the invention can be tailored to exhibit a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 25,000 psi, a matrix tensile strength ratio in two orthogonal directions of between 0.25 and 4, an orientation index of 50° or less, and a density of 2.0 g/cc or less. The improved gaskets exhibit improved mechanical properties such as high bolt load retention, low creep, high tensile strength, low stress to seal and high crystallinity index.
US07829167B2
A disc having a relief pattern and a transprint method thereof are provided. The transprint method for transprinting the relief pattern on a substrate of the disc includes the following steps. First, a transprint template is provided. A first surface of the transprint template has a complementary pattern corresponding to the relief pattern. Next, a pattern layer is formed on the substrate. Then, the transprint template is placed on and covers the pattern layer until the first surface of the transprint template closely contacts a second surface of the pattern layer, so that the relief pattern is formed on the second surface. Afterward, the pattern layer is cured by irradiation. Later, the transprint template is removed for exposing the second surface with the relief pattern.
US07829148B2
An aqueous polymer coating composition containing at least one latex or pseudolatex is coated on a substrate in a high humidity coating process followed by heat treatment of the coated substrate above the film forming temperature of the coating at low humidity. The coated substrate gives a stable reproducible dissolution profile substantially insensitive to temperature or humidity conditions upon storage. The high humidity coating process is achieved by addition of water to the coating chamber through dilution of the coating formulation or humidification of inlet air. Contrary to the conventional low humidity coating process, residual water is retained in the coating layer of the coated substrates in the coating step. When the coated substrates are heat treated at a temperature greater than the minimum film forming temperature, the residual water in the coating layer will ensure adequate capillary force for the completion of film coalescence. High humidity heat treatment is not needed.
US07829143B1
Organic films can be annealed by exposure to a solvent vapor. The solvent vapor annealing renders the organic film insoluble even in a solvent of a solution from which it was deposited. This enables deposition of two or more organic films in sequence without having one deposition alter an underlying organic film. Devices can be easily fabricated with organic films annealed in this manner when no other solution processing method is possible.
US07829135B2
In the process of forming, on a substrate, a multi-layered circuit pattern with layers each having a portion made of the same material throughout the different layers in the direction in which the different layers are stacked, the position of nozzles with respect to the substrate when at least one of the layers is formed is shifted from that when the other layers are formed.
US07829132B2
A consumable composition with antioxidants is described. The consumable composition comprises theaflavin, thearubigin and catechin and has good taste and appearance characteristics. The consumable composition can be black tea having green tea catechins as additives.
US07829129B2
Methods for production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms, including the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium, using low levels of chloride ion are disclosed. Specifically, methods of increasing production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms while growing in low chloride media by manipulating sodium ion and potassium ion levels. The invention also relates to methods of production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine organisms at low pH levels, and includes methods for generation of low pH tolerant strains.
US07829124B2
The disclosure relates to a method of inhibiting synthesis of viral DNA in a mammal infected with a hepatitis B virus. This method includes administering at least one Phyllanthus component or substance to a mammal infected with the hepatitis B virus. It also includes inhibiting hepatitis B viral DNA synthesis in the mammal using the Phyllanthus component or substance. The disclosure also relates to a method of inhibiting viral gene expression in a mammal infected with a hepatitis B virus. This method includes administering at least one Phyllanthus component or substance to a mammal infected with the hepatitis B virus. It also includes inhibiting expression of at least one hepatitis B viral gene in the mammal using the Phyllanthus component or substance. These methods may form part of a method of preventing or treating hepatitis B infection.
US07829123B2
A process for preparing particles of a substance, such as a protein or polypeptide, comprising: (a) preparing a first liquid comprising water, the substance and a modulator, wherein the modulator has a solubility in water which decreases with increasing temperature; and (b) contacting the first liquid with a second liquid comprising a fluid gas and an organic solvent using an anti-solvent fluid gas technique under conditions of temperature and pressure which result in the precipitation of particles comprising the substance, wherein the temperature of the first liquid is at or above the cloud point temperature of the first liquid when the first liquid contacts the second liquid. Also claimed are particles obtained according to the process and compositions containing the particles.
US07829102B2
Chimeric human-bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are infectious and attenuated in humans and other mammals and useful in vaccine formulations for eliciting an anti-RSV immune response. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a chimeric RSV genome or antigenome which includes a partial or complete human or bovine RSV “background” genome or antigenome combined or integrated with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain. Chimeric human-bovine RSV of the invention include a partial or complete “background” RSV genome or antigenome derived from or patterned after a human or bovine RSV strain or subgroup virus combined with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain or subgroup virus to form the human-bovine chimeric RSV genome or antigenome.
US07829086B2
The present invention provides chimeric and humanized versions of anti-CD22 mouse monoclonal antibody, HB22.7. The anti-CD22 antibodies of the invention comprise four human or humanized framework regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (“VH”) and four human or humanized framework regions of the immunoglobulin light chain variable region (“VK”). The invention further comprises heavy and/or light chain FW regions that contain one or more backmutations in which a human FW residue is exchanged for the corresponding residue present in the parental mouse heavy or light chain. Human or humanized VH framework regions of antibodies of the invention may comprise one or more of the following residues: a valine (V) at position 24 of framework region 1, a glycine (G) at position 49 of framework region 2, and an asparagine (N) at position 73 of framework region 3, numbered according to Kabat. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions, immunotherapeutic compositions, and methods using therapeutic antibodies that bind to the human CD22 antigen and that preferably mediate human ADCC, CDC, and/or apoptosis for: the treatment of B cell diseases and disorders in human subjects, such as, but not limited to, B cell malignancies, for the treatment and prevention of autoimmune disease, and for the treatment and prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), humoral rejection, and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in human transplant recipients.
US07829078B2
The use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) virions for delivery of DNA molecules to muscle cells and tissue in the treatment of anemia is disclosed. The invention allows for the direct, in vivo injection of recombinant AAV virions into muscle tissue, e.g., by intramuscular injection, as well as for the in vitro transduction of muscle cells which can subsequently be introduced into a subject for treatment. The invention provides for sustained, high-level expression of a delivered nucleotide sequence encoding erythropoietin, and for in vivo secretion thereof from transduced muscle cells such that systemic delivery is achieved.
US07829073B2
The present disclosure relates to anhydrous compositions for making up or caring for the skin, for example foundations, comprising at least one liquid organic phase comprising at least one non-volatile oil, at least one amorphous gelling polymer formed by polymerization of an olefin, and poly(methyl methacrylate) particles, wherein the amount of the at least one non-volatile oil present in the composition is greater than the amount of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles present in the composition.The compositions may exhibit a smooth and melting creamy texture, spread easily over the skin, and make it possible to obtain a homogeneous make-up that has a powdery and matt finish and that confers a pleasant softness on the skin. The make-up may also exhibit good properties of hold.
US07829070B2
Ampholytic copolymers which contain a molar excess of anionogenic and/or anionic groups, polyelectrolyte complexes which contain such an ampholytic copolymer, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions which contain at least one such copolymer or polyelectrolyte complex and the use of these copolymers and polyelectrolyte complexes are described.
US07829060B2
Nano-particle of MoO3. The nano-particle of the present invention has a surface area in the range of 33 to about 68 m2/g as determined by BET. The nano-particle may also have a rod-like non-hollow configuration.
US07829057B2
Methods of producing carbon black in a multi-stage reaction are described. Also described is carbon black formed from the processes.
US07829044B2
The invention provides a process by which rare earth metal ions can be efficiently extracted by easy operation, and effective extracting reagents for the process. Specifically, phosphonamides represented by the general formula [1]; a process for producing the same; reagents for extracting rare earth metal ions, containing the phosphonamides; and a process for extraction of rare earth metal ions with the phosphonamides: [1] wherein R1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that each group may be substituted; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that each group may be substituted; R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that each group may be substituted, or the two R3s may be united to form alkylene, cycloalkylene, or arylene.
US07829039B2
A mixer system for mixing at least two fluids includes a plurality of micromixers that are fluidically connected in parallel. The micromixers are integrated into a guide matrix and are fluidically connected via feed lines for the fluids to be mixed.
US07829037B2
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
US07829022B1
A centrifuge tube assembly comprising an elongated vial having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a lid mounted on the upper end thereof. The lid has a central opening formed therein which rotatably receives an elongated inner tube extending downwardly into the vial with the bottom of the inner tube being received by an upstanding bottom tube. The lower end of the inner tube has a pair of vertically spaced-apart upper and lower ports. The bottom tube has a pair of upper and lower ports formed therein which are radially offset with respect to one another. A tube actuator is secured to the upper end of the inner tube to facilitate the rotation of the inner tube between first and second positions. When the inner tube is in its first position, the lower ports of the inner tube and bottom tube are in register. When the tube actuator is in its second position, the upper ports of the inner tube and the bottom tube are in register. The method of using the centrifuge tube assembly of the invention is also described.
US07829018B2
A disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit employed during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery performs gas exchange, heat transfer, and microemboli filtering functions in a way as to conserve volume, to reduce setup and change out times, to eliminate a venous blood reservoir, and to substantially reduce blood-air interface. Blood from the patient or prime solution is routed through an air removal device that is equipped with air sensors for detection of air. An active air removal controller removes detected air from blood in the air removal device. A disposable circuit support module is used to mount the components of the disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit in close proximity and in a desirable spatial relationship to optimize priming and use of the disposable, integrated extracorporeal blood circuit. A reusable circuit holder supports the disposable circuit support module in relation to a prime solution source, the active air removal controller and other components.
US07829013B2
The present invention includes consolidated hard materials, methods for producing them, and industrial drilling and cutting applications for them. A consolidated hard material may be produced using hard particles such as B4C or carbides or borides of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Zr, and Cr in combination with an iron-based, nickel-based, nickel and iron-based, iron and cobalt-based, aluminum-based, copper-based, magnesium-based, or titanium-based alloy for a binder material. Commercially pure elements such as aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, iron, or nickel may also be used for the binder material. The mixture of the hard particles and the binder material may be consolidated at a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the binder material using a technique such as rapid omnidirectional compaction (ROC), the CERACON™ process, or hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After sintering, the consolidated hard material may be treated to alter its material properties.
US07829012B2
A method for treating a porous item constructed of metal powder, such as a powder made of Series 400 stainless steel, involves a step of preheating the porous item to a temperature of between about 700 and 900° C. degrees in an oxidizing atmosphere and then sintering the body in an inert or reducing atmosphere at a temperature which is slightly below the melting temperature of the metal which comprises the porous item. The thermal stability of the resulting item is enhanced by this method so that the item retains its porosity and metallic characteristics, such as ductility, at higher (e.g. near-melting) temperatures.
US07829007B2
An injection-moulding system for an injection-moulding machine including a clamping assembly, a temperature-adjusting system, and an ejector. The clamping assembly comprises two horizontal beams for mounting on the platens of the injection-moulding machine and two vertical beams for crosswise mounting on the horizontal beams in multiple positions. The clamping assembly allows dies of various sizes to be clamped in one and the same machine. The temperature-adjusting system includes at least one cooling tube for detachable insertion into a blind hole formed in the die. The cooling tube is attached to coolant conduits which are permanently attached to a source of coolant. Dies can thereby be replaced quickly and easily without spilling any coolant. The ejector is adapted to eject the cooled product after opening of the die. The injector pins are in an inexpensive way glued to the ejector plate. Use of the injection-moulding system provides considerable cost savings over conventional devices.
US07829005B2
A method and assembly for molding golf balls is disclosed herein. The invention includes an injection mold assembly (20) with a first mold half (22a) having a plurality of cavities and at least one locating pin (92) and a second mold half (22b) having a plurality of cavities and at least one aperture for engagement with the at least one bushing (94) and a spring (250) for exerting a lateral force against the second mold half (22b). Preferably, the locating pin has a first taper section (93) and a second taper section (95). Preferably, the bushing (84) has a first cavity 1(115) and a second cavity (117).
US07829003B2
A mask is used to make an article having two or more layers. The layers are formed from either a paint or polyurethane elastomer composition. The article is made in a mold including a surface defining a mold cavity and having a first and second effect region. For the method, a mask is placed into the mold cavity adjacent the first effect region. Pressure is applied to the mask to retain the mask adjacent the first effect region. A first composition is applied into the mold cavity to form a first layer adjacent the second effect region. The mask is removed from the first effect region. A second composition is applied into the mold cavity to form a second layer adjacent the first effect region. Benefits of pressure applied to a mask are also realized when making the article from a preformed part using the mask outside of a mold.
US07828996B1
The current invention relates to methods of making nano-particles of a material with a narrow polydispersity. The particle materials are active agents, organic compounds, polymers, and combinations thereof.
US07828992B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one type of liquid crystal, to a liquid crystal cell and liquid crystal display device comprising such composition and to a method of preparing such a composition and/or such a liquid crystal cell.
US07828979B2
A method for converting animal waste, in the form of waste slurry, to energy and useful byproducts. A screen mesh filters out large objects from waste slurry and the filtered slurry is chopped and fragmented to reduce binding of fibrous materials. The fragmented slurry is mixed at a rate to maintain solids in the fragmented slurry in suspension while minimizing aeration and turbulence within the mixing unit. A solids recovery unit recovers about 95% of the suspended solids. An additive is introduced into the solids recovery unit for providing agglomeration of solids particles. The recovered solids are gasified to produce at least methane/ethane gas. The produced gas is provided to an energy production unit to generate electrical and/or heat energy. Liquid remaining after the solids recovery is treated to remove undesirable contaminants to an extent in compliance with water quality standards set for animal waste flushing, animal washing and animal drinking water, as the case may be.
US07828977B2
This relates to an apparatus and method for removing solutes from a solution using nano-filtration to provide a treated wine.
US07828976B2
A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
US07828974B2
The induction of reducing conditions and stimulating anaerobic process through the addition of dried micro-blue green algae (Spirulina, Arthorospira Platensis, Arthrospria Maxima, Aphanizomen flos-aquae, and chlorella) and seaweed (Dulse, Nori, and Kelp) to accomplish accelerated dechlorinization of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.
US07828963B1
The pool jet filter cleaner includes a tube in fluid connection between a t-handle and a multi-directional nozzle, a coupling, sleeve, base, and shut-off valve. The cleaner works by resting the filter upon the base, inserting the coupling sleeve about the top end of the filter, and inserting the sprayer into the hollow cylindrical center of the filter. The pressurized water passes through the t-handle, down the tube, and out the multi-directional nozzle thereby cleaning the filter from the inside out.
US07828958B2
Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude feed has a residue content of at least 0.2 grams of residue per gram of crude feed. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. The crude product may include at least one of the catalysts.
US07828953B2
The present invention relates to a process for treating sludge by the combined action of electro-osmosis and pressure. This process comprises providing a cell for treating the sludge, the cell comprising at least two electrodes including at least one cathode and at least one anode. At least one of the electrodes is movable, and at least one of the electrodes is perforated so as to drain effluents. Then, the sludge is introduced into the cell between the at least two electrodes, each of the electrodes defining a surface adapted to constantly contact the sludge. Then, the sludge is submitted to an electric current by applying a voltage to the electrodes, and applying a pressure to the sludge by means of the at least one movable electrode so as to permit a constant contact between the surfaces and the sludge. An apparatus for carrying out such a process is also disclosed.
US07828950B2
A dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus including a concentration gradient generating unit, a method of separating a target material in a sample solution using the DEP apparatus, and a method of screening the optimum condition for separating a target material are provided.
US07828943B2
A hollow anode for a galvanic coating apparatus of the running surfaces of cylinders is provided with a plurality of passages in its top portion. The total area of the passages reduces the surface of the anode by at least 50%, the top portion having a height between 4 and 12 mm. Thus, a decrease in the electrical field at the top of the cylinder is achieved without affecting the deposition in the rest of the cylinder and it is therefore possible to obtain a perfect coating up to the corners of a closed cylinder, while decreasing the deposition on the vault of the combustion chamber. Furthermore, it is also possible to increase the flow rate of the electrolyte through the apparatus thus decreasing coating time and exploiting a greater hydraulic pressure of the electrolyte, which provides a mechanical effect that favors deposition, especially at the corners.
US07828940B2
An onsite chemistry air filtration system to remove gaseous contaminants from air is disclosed. The onsite chemistry air filtration system of the present invention comprises: a conventional particulate filtration section, a photochemical filtration section, a static gas phase filtration section and a catalytic filtration section. The conventional particulate filtration section captures solids and condensables. In the photochemical filtration section, UV lamps generate bio-destruction and surface photochemical activity on a semiconductor catalyst material, provide a radiation source to irradiate airborne contaminant molecules and to energize their states to promote reactions and generate airborne ozone and radicals. In the static gas phase filtration section, gas phase filtration media is used to capture contaminants, concentrate them in a relatively confined space and allow airborne generated chemistries to concentrate and react in-situ, thereby creating a regeneration effect on the media. In the catalytic filtration section, catalytic media scavenges and converts airborne radicals and ozone to harmless by-products.
US07828934B2
This invention relates to resins useful for imparting strength to paper, the process of incorporating these resins into paper and the paper produced containing the resins. In particular the invention relates to resins useful for imparting dry-strength and wet-strength to paper under conditions of high sulfite ion concentrations.
US07828928B2
A vacuum processing apparatus includes an outer chamber comprising a vacuum container, an inner chamber in which a plasma used for processing a wafer is generated, the inner chamber being detachably disposed inside of the outer chamber, a wafer holder on which the wafer is located is disposed inside of the inner chamber, and an exhausting device disposed below the wafer holder which exhausts the inside of the inner chamber. The inner chamber is sealed in air-tight manner with respect to a space between the inner chamber and the outer chamber while the space is maintained at a vacuum pressure.
US07828927B2
A plasma processing device comprising a chamber (1) for accommodating therein a substrate (11), a high-frequency power supply (5) for generating microwave, and an antenna unit (3) for radiating microwave into the chamber (1). Microwave generated in the power supply (5) is sent to the antenna unit (3) via a waveguide (6). A top plate (4) forming part of a partition wall of the chamber (1) is formed at the upper portion of the chamber (1). A specified annular delay pass unit (2) formed of the same material as that of the top plate (4), for delaying the propagation of microwave, is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the top plate (4). Accordingly, the plasma processing device can restrict an abnormal discharge and the production of the foreign matters.
US07828925B2
The invention relates to a process for flat edge-to-edge assembly of two portions of textile parts by means of a gluing ribbon overlapping the two edges. According to this process, before the gluing ribbon is put into place, two borders adjacent to the edges are glued onto each other, so as to hold the edges close to each other. The two glued borders are shorn close to where the two edges are fixed together, and the gluing ribbon (28) is applied overlapping the two edges that are brought together. The shorn glued borders, are flattened when applying the gluing ribbon.
US07828922B2
Methods of making fibrous webs having a visible transparency variation image and products constructed from such methods are generally disclosed. The variation in transparency creates a transparency variation image in the fibrous substrate in the form of a false watermark and/or a false shadow mark. In the method disclosed, a transfer sheet having a transfer coating is utilized. A portion of the transfer coating is removed from the transfer sheet by heat transfer with a printable sheet having a toner image applied thereon. The transfer coating of the transfer sheet includes a powdered thermoplastic polymer and a film-forming binder. The film-forming binder can have a melting point that is less than that of the powdered thermoplastic polymer. In the final step of the method, the remaining transfer coating is transferred to a fibrous substrate to form the transparency variation image in the fibrous substrate.
US07828918B2
The invention relates to a method for the thermomechanical treatment of steel. According to said method, the parent material is heated to a temperature in excess of the re-crystallization temperature, the structure is austenitized, held at an equalized temperature and then formed and subsequently quenched to form martensite and tempered. Round steel bars, whose re-crystallization temperature is adjusted over the bar length in a compensation furnace, constitute the parent material. The round steel bars are subsequently re-modeled by cross-rolling, remaining substantially straight and after the critical deformation degree has been exceeded are subjected to dynamic re-crystallization processes. The round steel bars are then subjected to a post-heating process above the Ac3 temperature, in order to undergo a complete static re-crystallization and finally are quenched from the austenitic state to form martensite and tempered.
US07828915B2
A method for making Mg(magnesium)-based intermetallic compound uses a thermal process during a melting process to produce largely the Mg-based intermetallic compound. The vapor pressure of Mg is high, thereby Mg is prone to be vaporized from a melt and a wrought solid alloy in the melting process of high temperature, for purifying the wrought Mg-based intermetallic compound. The method may simplify the process and devices for making the Mg-based intermetallic compound, and produce efficiently a larger of high purity Mg-based intermetallic compound.
US07828909B2
A mist generating device includes a mist generation vibrator, and a sealed vessel accommodating therein a fluid and provided at a side of a vibrating surface of the mist generation vibrator. A wall portion which constitutes a part of the sealed vessel and faces the mist generation vibrator has a thin film membrane and a mist of liquid outside the sealed vessel is generated by ultrasonic vibration transmitted from the mist generation vibrator via the fluid in the sealed vessel and the thin film membrane.
US07828897B2
A pulling apparatus and a method with which especially heavy crystals (5) can be pulled using the Czochralski method utilizing the pulling apparatus. For this purpose the neck (4) of the crystal (5) has an enlargement (10) beneath which extends the support device. This device includes latches (7), which are moved from a resting position into an operating position in which the latches (7) extend beneath the enlargement (10). Each latch (7) is supported on the base body such that it is swivellable about a pivot axis (8) and can assume two stable positions, namely the resting position and the operating position. Each of these positions is defined by a stop on the base body. When the latch rests on the one stop, its center of gravity, viewed from the neck (4), is located on the other side of the pivot axis (8). When the latch rests on the other stop, the center of gravity is located on this side of the pivot axis (8). The actuation of the latches (7) takes place with actuation means disposed stationarily in the apparatus.
US07828894B2
A crystallization method, includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; forming a first crystallization region by irradiating the amorphous silicon layer with a laser beam having a ramp shaped cross sectional profile that decreases in a scanning direction; and performing a second crystallization by moving a predetermined length in a scanning direction so as to be partially overlapped with the first crystallization region formed by the first crystallization.
US07828888B2
An inkjet-recording non-aqueous ink composition including a metallic pigment, an organic solvent, and a cellulose acetate butyrate resin having a butyl content of 16.5 to 48%.
US07828879B2
A carbon dioxide-absorbing material containing lithium titanate, the lithium titanate comprising 70 mol % or more of Li4TiO4 and 30 mol % or less of Li2TiO3. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide-absorbing material is obtained by the method for producing a carbon dioxide-absorbing material described below. That is, the absorbing material is obtained by the production method which produces the same by mixing given raw materials such that the atomic ratio between lithium and titanium is from 3.5 to 5.0, and subjecting the resulting mixture to heat treatment. The method for absorbing carbon dioxide includes a carbon dioxide absorption step. The apparatus for absorbing carbon dioxide is provided with carbon dioxide absorption means that absorbs carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide-absorbing material.
US07828872B2
There is provided a process comprising mixing a divalent copper oxide with a reducing agent in the presence of a complexing agent and a protective colloid in a liquid medium to thereby produce copper microparticles without formation of a univalent copper oxide from the divalent copper oxide. Further, there is provided a process comprising reducing a divalent copper oxide in the presence of a complexing agent and a protective colloid, such as a protein, to thereby form metallic copper microparticles, adding a protective colloid scavenger, such as a protease, to thereby remove the protective colloid and effect agglomeration of metallic copper microparticles, and filtering the mixture by means of a pressure filter, a vacuum filter, a suction filter, etc.
US07828863B2
A method and an arrangement for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel such as dimethyl ether (DME), methanol, ethanol, propanol, or any variants or other oxidized fuels is disclosed for generating hydrogen especially for supplying a fuel cell. Furthermore, a fuel cell system is disclosed which includes such an arrangement, especially for providing power to a stationary or mobile power consuming unit like especially an auxiliary power unit (APU) for application in aircraft, ships and vehicles, or as a part of a hybrid drive or as a sole driving unit for, e.g., a ship or a vehicle.
US07828860B2
Method of laminating fuel cell-use separator and film/electrode junction element and device therefor
The present method corrects a warp in a separator (78) applied with a sealant (97) during production of fuel cells. The correction is performed at a correcting device (47). With the warp being corrected at the correcting device, a membrane/electrode assembly is superimposed on the separator.
US07828857B2
A method and system for determining a grip or grasp pattern of a prosthetic terminal device or other orthotic device using the position of the thumb or other digit as the initial determination of the grasping function. The system comprising sensors, an electronic control system and a motor drive.
US07828853B2
A method is provided for delivering an implant for replacing a portion of an articular surface. The method may include forming a socket in an articulating feature that is capable of moving relative to the articular surface. An implant may be placed in the socket and the articulating feature may be moved relative to the articular surface to generally align the socket with an implant site formed in the articular surface. The implant may be transferred from the socket into the implant site.
US07828852B2
A method is provided for performing a total knee arthroplasty. The method includes making a primary incision near a knee joint of a patient and resecting medial and lateral condyles of the femur of the leg to create at least one femoral cut surface. The resecting step is performed without dislocating the knee joint. The method also includes balancing various ligament tensions to obtain desired tension and moving a femoral component of a total knee implant through the primary incision. The method further includes positioning the femoral component with respect to the at least one femoral cut surface.
US07828849B2
A device for processing vertebral members having a spacer, a delivery device, and a deployer. The spacer includes at least first and second members with the first having at least one angled section and a contact surface, a second member having at least one angled section and a contact surface. The delivery device is attached to at least one of the first and second members. The first and second members being movable relative to one another for the angled sections to contact and expand the height of the device. The device is positionable between a first closed orientation having a first height, a second open orientation having a second height greater than the first height, and gradations therebetween. Methods of spacing vertebral members using the spacer are also disclosed.
US07828839B2
A system for anchoring an endoluminal prosthesis comprises a barb. The barb comprises a base, a retractable body extending distally from the base towards a distal anchor, and a hinge disposed between the base and the anchor and spaced apart from the base. The anchor pivots about the hinge between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US07828836B2
The present invention is directed to bistable cells and their use in devices, particularly medical devices such as stents, clamps and valves. An expandable stent formed of a plurality of bistable cells is described. The stent has two or more stable configurations, including a first stable configuration with a first diameter and a second stable configuration with a second, larger diameter. A valve comprising a bistable cell for use in eliminating incontinence is also disclosed.
US07828835B2
An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length but thicken in width to maintain a density of stent element area which much more constant than otherwise between the inside and the outside of the curve. As a result, when the stent is coated with a medicine the more constant density of stent elements results in an even dose being applied to the inside wall of the lumen, avoiding the possibility that a toxic dose be supplied at one area while a less than effective dose is applied to another area.
US07828823B2
A device for connecting bony portions, such as a dynamic intervertebral connection device, includes a female member (2) having a cavity (5) and intended to be connected to a first bony portion, a male member (1) articulated in the cavity (5) and intended to be connected to a second bony portion, the male member (1) having a lateral articulation surface (13) coacting with a lateral surface (6a) of the cavity (5) to guide movements of inclination of the male member (1) relative to the female member (2), and resilient elements (8) arranged to exert an action countering the inclination movements. The resilient elements (8) are disposed in a recess (10) of the male member (1) delimited laterally by a surface (12) that is opposite the articulation surface (13).
US07828816B2
Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.
US07828809B2
Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.
US07828808B2
Articulating mechanisms, link systems, and components thereof, useful for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, the remote manipulation of instruments such as surgical or diagnostic instruments or tools are provided. The link systems include links wherein at least two adjacent links are pivotable relative to one another around two distinct pivot points. Mechanisms for locking the links are also provided.
US07828807B2
One embodiment is directed to instrumentation for performance of a spinal implantation procedure. In one form, this instrumentation includes: a tube device with an inner surface defining a passage from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion, a conveyor including a threaded conveying rod to be received in the passage of the tube device that can be rotated in the tube or moved in translation along the passage, and a deformable prosthesis structured to move through the passage of the tube by rotating the threaded conveying rod while at least a portion of the deformable prosthesis is positioned between the inner surface and the rod. Optionally, a tool to maintain position of the tube device can be included that has a jaw mechanism, among other things.
US07828803B2
The present invention concerns a device for reaming the intramedullary canal of a bone, including a body elongated along an axis roughly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the canal, with variable cross section, and of a shape that can cooperate with the inner wall of the intramedullary canal of the bone, characterized in that a helicoidal channel is formed on the body in order to receive a removable and disposable band provided with cutting elements. The present invention also concerns a mounting system for the band onto body of the device.
US07828800B2
The present invention is directed to a variety of interbody spinal fusion implants having at least a partially frusto-conical configuration. An external thread is employed to increase implant stability and implant surface area, and for the purpose of advancing the spinal fusion implant into the fusion site. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may be relatively solid or hollow and may have surface roughenings to promote bone ingrowth and stability. The spinal fusion implants of the present invention may have wells extending into the material of the implant from the surface for the purpose of holding fusion promoting materials and to provide for areas of bone ingrowth fixation.
US07828796B2
A method for creating a channel through an occlusion located in a substantially elongated body vessel of a patient, The method uses a channel creating apparatus defining an apparatus distal end portion insertable into the body vessel, the channel creating apparatus including an energy delivery component operatively coupled to the apparatus distal end portion for delivering energy substantially adjacent the apparatus distal end portion. The method includes: inserting the apparatus distal end portion into the body vessel; creating a channel first portion through the occlusion harder section using, at least in part, a delivery of energy into the occlusion harder portion; and creating a channel second portion through the occlusion softer portion by pushing the apparatus distal end portion through at least a portion of the occlusion softer portion substantially without delivering energy into the occlusion softer portion.
US07828794B2
A system and apparatus for controlling operating room equipment during an electrosurgical procedure is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator, a controller in electrical communication with and configured to control the electrosurgical generator and at least one operating room device, and a handpiece having a housing and a cable extending proximally from the housing providing electrical connection to the controller, the handpiece further includes first controls for controlling the generator and second controls for controlling at least one operating room device.
US07828787B2
The disclosure relates to a connector for packaging containing medical fluids, in particular infusion or transfusion bags, including a tubular connection part for receiving a spike for the withdrawal of fluid, and having a lower opening on the packaging side and an upper opening on the connection side. A self-sealing membrane, which is pierced by the spike, is located in the connection part. The membrane has an upper, annular section leading into a lower, plate-shaped section, said annular section of the membrane surrounding the spike in a sealing manner, when the latter pierces the plate-shaped section. The membrane acts as a guide for the spike and also reseals the connector, once the spike has been removed.
US07828786B2
A bicompartment bag adapted to prepare a liquid solution has an assembly of two flexible outer sheets with an access bushing affixed through one of the sheets. The interior of the bag is divided into two chambers by a third flexible sheet having a screen-like stripe with its distal end located at the bottom of the bag. The third sheet has a bore affixed around its edge onto the annular plane of the bushing end projecting into the bag. The first chamber communicates with, through the bushing, a solvent inlet and is partially filled with powdered solute. The inside of the second chamber has a layer separate from the bag. The second chamber layer, constructed of a woven or injected material, extends from a semicircular recess made in correspondence with the bushing to the bottom of the second chamber. The bushing provides the opening for removal of the resulting solution.
US07828776B2
The present invention provides a chemical liquid injection system in which a chemical liquid injector can detect whether or not the injection of a liquid from a liquid syringe into a patient is inappropriate for a personal reason such as the development of a side effect although the liquid is of an appropriate type for the injection system, and the chemical liquid injector can issue an alarm to notify the inappropriate injection. Chemical liquid injector 100 acquires a product ID of the liquid recorded on liquid chip 214 of liquid syringe 200 and an inappropriate ID recorded in a electric chart to output a notification when the product ID matches the inappropriate ID.
US07828775B2
An apparatus may serve as a surgical portal for the reception of surgical instruments for use in laparoscopic or similar surgery. The apparatus may include inner and outer tubular elongate members adapted for a longitudinal translation relative to one another to effect a length adjustment of the apparatus. An interface between the two elongate members includes a helical thread providing a mechanism for the translation of the elongate members, and indentations in one of the members provides a locking mechanism for affixing the length.
US07828755B2
A control device and a control program for a walking assist apparatus set a desired lifting force to act on a user from a seat and distribute the desired lifting force to each leg link of the walking assist apparatus according to the ratios of treading forces of the legs of the user measured on the basis of outputs of force sensors so as to determine the share for each leg link. Then, an actuator of each leg link is controlled to generate a force for the determined share. Thus, a force required for the user to support himself/herself with his/her leg or legs on a floor can be reduced while using a reduced number of parts to be attached to each leg of the user. Moreover, an assist force for achieving such a reduced required force can be properly shared between the leg links associated with the legs of the user.
US07828754B2
An ultrasonic cerebral infarction therapeutic apparatus that does not produce side effects of destruction of brain cells, occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage, destruction of nerve cells, etc. by avoiding formation of a standing wave by interference between an irradiated beam of an ultrasonic wave irradiated to the inside of the cranium and its reflected beam. An ultrasonic probe cap is constructed by arranging a plurality of laminated small transducers each made up of a PVDF film, a PZT ceramic, or the like in a mosaic-like pattern or in other form on the inside of the cap and one or more transducers are selected and activated according to a thrombus position. As a high frequency for actuating a transducer, a continuous sinusoidal wave, a burst wave, or a pulse wave shall be used so that no standing wave may be produced inside the cranium.
US07828747B2
The invention relates to pressure generating units, in particular to pressure generating unit arranged in the hand piece of a vacuum biopsy device in the form of a singe (2). In said units, air intake is open by a piston when said piston (5) is in the rear position thereof in the space of a vacuumed cylinder (11) which is switched for generating a superpressure, thereby initiating the outflow of a tissue liquid by the air introduced into the space of the vacuumed cylinder. For this purpose, the space of the vacuumed cylinder is connected to the space of an atmosphere pressure cylinder (12) arranged behind the piston, by means of a connection line (15), and an absorbing element (14) is placed on the piston axis.
US07828721B2
An insertion unit has a channel through which a treatment tool can be inserted. A distal end of the insertion unit has a single-focus objective optical system or a focal-point-variable objective optical system to focus the optical image on a light receiving surface of an image capturing element. At a short object distance from the distal end, an image signal with a sufficient resolution is obtained from the image capturing element. In this state, a treatment tool projected by a reduced amount from a distal end opening of the channel is captured on a light receiving surface of the image capturing element. A required resolution is also provided for a far side.
US07828720B2
A surgical system is provided that includes a device body that has a working channel providing a pathway for an instrument, an extension adjuster engaged with the device body, the extension adjuster also including a stop. The stop is disposed a predetermined distance from the working channel such that the stop and the distal end of the working channel cooperate to define an effective working channel length. The instrument may be inserted through the working channel and protrude outwardly from the distal end of the working channel. The extent of the protrusion is limited by the effective working channel length whereby the stop prevents further insertion of the instrument.
US07828716B2
An implantable device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as the urethra of a patient to treat urinary incontinence. The device includes an expandable element or membrane such as a balloon attached pressure-tightly to a flexible conduit at its forward end and includes a rear port portion containing an elastic septum and flow connected to the expandable element by a first passageway. The conduit contains a second passageway which allows it to be slid along an elongated guide probe initially inserted surgically into a patient's body adjacent the body lumen which is to be adjustably restricted. A suitable flowable material is injected from a syringe source into the device rear port sufficient to expand the membrane element and restrict the body lumen to the desired degree. The syringe and guide probe are removed and the skin incision is closed over the rear port end of the implanted device. The rear port septum is located under but near the patient's skin so that if it becomes necessary to post-operatively increase or decrease the degree of body lumen restriction it may be easily accessed with the needle of the syringe.
US07828707B2
An image drum for selectively adsorbing toner in a printing apparatus is provided. A method and a configuration of ring electrodes formed on an outside of a drum body is also provided. That is, a control board is mounted inside the drum body, of which a plurality of terminals is externally exposed in the cylindrical drum body, and a photocurable resin is coated on the circumferential surface. Ring electrodes are then formed on circumferential surface of the drum body, by rotating the drum body and allowing an ultraviolet ray through the mask pattern onto the drum body to harden the liquid photocurable resin after contacting a mask-patterned mold mask to the circumferential surface of the drum body.
US07828703B1
The present invention provides a compact, portable, centripetal force-driven exercise device. The device employs a handle equipped with a rotational member. One end of a strap is attached onto the rotational member; the other end to a soft bag. The soft bag, preferably of a heavy duty cloth or synthetic fiber construction, is capable of holding one or more water-refillable, reclosable plastic bags. The strap can have adjustable length. The soft bag itself is also capable of being filled with a desired amount of water. The handle preferably is covered on its exterior surface with a hand grip material. The user places the desired amount of contained water weight into the soft bag, holds the handle and swings the bag in an orbital pattern at a desired number of revolutions per minute to achieve the desired degree of centripetal force resistance to exercise, strengthen and condition the user's muscular system.
US07828701B1
A kung fu training device of the present invention includes a positioning portion, a body pole, a shoulder portion, two joint portions, two arm portions and several pins. Polygonal holes and corresponding polygonal poles are disposed on pivoting ends of the shoulder, the first and second joints of the joint portions, and the arm connectors of the arm portions respectively. Thereby, the fist pads disposed on the distal ends of the arm portions are height-adjustable and angle-adjustable about the body pole, and the heights of the shoulder portion and the head portion are also adjustable. As a result, the training device of the present invention is suitable for the trainees with different body sizes to simulate fighting with simulating enemies with different body sizes, so as meet the trainees' need.
US07828700B1
An exercise machine has a stand, a linking assembly, an elastic member, a seat, two handles, two pedals and two wheels. The linking assembly is mounted pivotally on the stand. The elastic member is connected to the stand and the linking assembly. The seat is mounted on the stand. The handles, the pedals and the wheels are attached to the linking assembly. The handles are operated against the elastic members and the linking assembly moves to drive an exerciser's legs to stretch out. Therefore, the exercise machine provides the exerciser to train the muscles of the arms and the legs synchronously.
US07828692B2
A control device causes a motor-generator to stop while a shift lever is set to a neutral position, and changes the rotation speed of an electric oil pump from a first rotation speed to a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed if a state of the electric oil pump in a hydraulic pressure control device enters a state where it is not preferable to continue operation at the first rotation speed. Preferably, the control device warns a driver to change the shift lever position from the neutral-position to another position if the vehicle satisfies a prescribed warning condition. Further preferably, the control device sets the vehicle to a running non-permitted state if the shift lever position is not changed from the neutral position to another position after warning.
US07828689B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, a split sun gear, two fixed interconnections and a grounded member. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US07828687B2
An apparatus and method for a planetary gear assembly and drive is provided. The planetary gear assembly and drive has a space index of 60 and includes at least one planet gear with 15 teeth. The gear assembly and drive is capable of employing 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 planet gears and if multiple planet gears are employed, they are equally spaced about the circumference of the sun gear. The planetary gear assembly and drive further achieves a low frequency of tooth reconnection.
US07828683B2
A CVT hydromechanical drive having: an engine (12) rotating a propeller shaft (11); a hydrostatic unit (13), in turn having a hydraulic pump (14) and a hydraulic motor (15) connected hydraulically to each other; an epicyclic transmission (16); a number of clutches (CH1, CH2, CH3); a differential; and an assembly (PTO). The hydromechanical drive (10) is characterized in that the hydrostatic unit (13) is substantially U-shaped, and in that a longitudinal axis of symmetry (b) of the pump (14) is substantially in line with a longitudinal axis of symmetry (a) of the propeller shaft (11).
US07828682B2
A gearbox for a wind turbine includes a ring wheel unit provided in a housing; a driving shaft designed to be coupled to the rotor of the wind turbine and a single main bearing or a pair of main bearings which rotatably support the driving shaft in the housing. The ring wheel unit is formed of a sun wheel, a planet wheel, ring wheel which is fixed to the housing in a non-rotating manner and a planet carrier which is rigidly connected to the driving shaft. An additional bearing rotatably supports the planet carrier or the driving shaft relative to the housing. Between the part of the housing having the main bearing or the main bearings and the part of the housing with the additional bearing and the ring wheel, an elastic part is provided with relative torsional stiffness, yet relatively flexible to loads in the axial and/or radial direction.
US07828662B2
A plastic slip clutch for an adjustable drive in an automobile includes a hub (3) which exhibits an inner profile (4), and a shaft (1) which exhibits an outer profile (2). For the purpose of transmitting torque, the shaft with the outer profile is introduced into the inner profile of the hub in form-fitting and force-fitting fashion. The inner profile (4) of the hub (3) exhibits plastic elements (5) for the transmission of force, such that the plastic elements (5) become elastically deformed under the effect of a force exceeding a given threshold force and thereby permit the outer profile (2) of the shaft (1) to slip through inside of the hub (3).
US07828639B2
A method for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, with the processing utilizing instructions, such as instructions from a customer. The method comprises the steps of registering one or more of an identification of one piece of meat from the plurality of meat items, an identification of a supplier of the one piece of meat, and an identification of the animal from which the one piece of meat originated; allocating the one piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations; registering an identification of the workstation; processing the one piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at the workstation utilizing the instructions; and further processing one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings, wherein traceability is established between the one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings and one or more of the one piece of meat, the supplier, and the animal from which the one piece of meat originated.
US07828638B2
A transport device having a screw conveyor for transporting products hanging on loops, in particular for transporting sausage products, the transport device includes a first screw conveyor section, a drive for the first screw conveyor section, wherein the drive torque is transferred to the screw conveyor section via an outer circumferential area of the first screw conveyor section, and further includes a first bearing assembly for the first screw conveyor section, wherein a second screw conveyor section that immediately adjoins the first screw conveyor section in the direction of transport is provided.
US07828632B2
A power sanding machine (10) has three circumferentially spaced cogged belts (40) to drive three discs (52) rotatably mounted to an inner bowl (30) which is rotatably mounted to a housing (12), which in turn is connected to an operating handle (14). Mechanical lock can rotationally affix the inner bowl (30) to the housing to circumferentially position a pulley at the left or right edge (326, 322) of the sanding machine or at the front end (330) of the sanding machine. Power cleaning and sanding machines (412, 500, 600) incorporate the three disc (52) arrangement or a direct-drive one disc arrangement (572, 672). The machines (412, 500, 600) include multiple floor finishing units (420, 514, 614) ganged together in unique arrangements.
US07828630B2
A power tool (2) includes a motor (22) pivotally mounted within the housing of the tool. The tool is able to accept any one of a plurality of attachment members (44, 46, 48).
US07828616B2
A portable computer including a housing having first and second sections, the first section having an information input device and the second section having a case having a first fastening element; a display panel including a second fastening element at a rear surface of the panel, the case and the display panel being attached through the first and second fastening elements; a hinge coupling the first and the second sections to each other; and a display panel support member having a third fastening element, the display panel support member being attached to the display panel through the third fastening element.
US07828615B2
An amphibious shoe has a sole with a fin compartment integrated therein retractably houses of a lightweight fin that converts the shoe from a walking shoe to a swimming shoe. The amphibious shoe includes a fin comprising ridges intermittent between material arranged in an accordion construction. The fin is capable of being ejected from the compartment and expanded to a fan configuration. The shoe is further provided with a pivotal stabilizing strap for enhanced stability during swimming. In one embodiment the fin is removed by a release button in communication with a spring. Other embodiments provide for manual deployment by pulling on the fin from the fin compartment. In operation, the wearer can comfortably run or walk swiftly along the land as the integrated fin has a thin lightweight construction. Upon reaching the water's edge, the shoe is readily converted for swimming by ejecting and positioning the fin.
US07828607B2
A connector is provided with a housing 10 fittable into a receptacle 52 of a mating connector 50 and a retainer 20 to be inserted into the housing 10 sideways. Cavities 12A, 12B for accommodating terminals are arranged side by side in the housing. The retainer 20 includes a main body 21 with side by side engaging portions 26A, 26B for engaging the terminals. Side walls 31 are provided at the opposite ends in an arrangement direction of the engaging portions 26A, 26B and projecting forward from the main body 21 in a connecting direction with the mating connector 50. Reinforcements 34 project in from front end portions of the side walls 31 in the connecting direction with the mating connector 50 and are at the rear ends of the side walls 31 in an inserting direction of the retainer 20 into the housing 10.
US07828605B1
A conducting mechanism includes a conducting member, an engaging member, a spring, and an insulting member. The spring connects the conducting member to the engaging member. The conducting member and the engaging member are slidably received in the insulating member, and a portion of the conducting member extends out of the insulating member.
US07828602B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a receiving cavity (110) and a passageway (1130) in communication with the receiving cavity therein, and an electric contact (3) received in the passageway and extending into the receiving cavity for contacting with a complementary connector. The receiving cavity has a pair of surfaces opposite to each other, with one of said surfaces attached to said passageway and the other one standing far away from the passage. The contact has first and second elastic contact engaging portions (311, 313) for physically and electrically connecting with the complementary connector, and the first contact engaging portion is closer to said the other surface of the receiving cavity than the second contact engaging portion.
US07828601B2
The invention relates to a connector system for the transmission of high-frequency signals, in particular on twisted-pair lines, wherein the connector system has a socket for accommodating a plug, a terminal for the connection of an at least two-conductor cable and a printed circuit board with at least two electric signal conductors for connecting the socket to the terminal, wherein at least one conductor path section with free floating potential is provided in the area of the printed circuit board, which section is coupled capacitively and/or inductively to at least two different signal conductors.
US07828597B1
Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein and extending along a mating direction. A plurality of terminals are designated as signal terminals and grounding terminals and respectively received in said terminal grooves in a manner of two neighboring signal terminals adjacent to one grounding terminal which are designated as a terminal group. The grounding terminal and signal terminals which are in a same terminal group face to each other through a path defined therebetween so as to control impedance of the electrical connector.
US07828589B2
A cable assembly includes an electrical connector and a cable. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a first wall and a second wall, and a plurality of contacts received in the housing and at least a shell attached on the first wall of the housing. The cable includes at least a grounding wire and a plurality of signal wires connected to their corresponding contacts received in the housing. The shell includes at least a grounding portion extending from the shell and located between the shell and the second wall of the housing. The grounding portion includes a strain relief and a crimping portion. The grounding wire includes an inner contact crimped by the crimping portion and an insulative jacket crimped by the strain relief.
US07828578B1
An electrical connector and a terminal thereof are disclosed. The base portion of the terminal extends upwards to form two flexible arms. Each of the two flexible arms extends towards each other to form a leaning portion. There is a gap between the two leaning portions. Two arm portions extend from two sides of the base portions. The two arm portions respectively have a contact portion. The two contact portions and the two leaning portions are disposed at a front location and a rear location. The two leaning portions and the two contact portions surround to form a receiving space. The present invention can prevent the pins of the chip module from being deformed, improve the usage life of the terminals, and assure that the chip module is electrically connected with the electrical connector.
US07828575B2
Disclosed herein is a test and burn-in socket for integrated circuits. The socket includes a socket body (37). A lead guide (36) is provided under the socket body. A slide (35) is mounted to the socket body to move horizontally. A plurality of slide springs (39) is elastically supported between the slide and the socket body, thus allowing the slide to smoothly restore an original position thereof. A contact guide (31) is provided above the slide to guide positions of upper contact terminals of contacts. An IC guide (30) is provided above the contact guide to guide a position of an IC. A cover (21) is provided to move vertically from the socket body (37). A latch (29) presses the IC. The socket also includes the contacts (33).
US07828571B2
A connector to which an object is to be connected, includes an insulator having at least one contact support groove, and at least one contact which is fixed to the insulator by being inserted into the contact support groove, the contact being contactable with the object after the object is inserted into the insulator. The insulator includes at least one holding portion formed as one of a recess and a through-hole, which is communicatively connected with the contact support groove, and the contact includes a locking protrusion, which comes into engagement with the holding portion to hold the contact to the insulator when the contact is inserted into the contact support groove.
US07828565B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a socket body defining a receiving cavity, a pick up cap attached detachably onto the socket body and a movable fixing mechanism surrounding the socket body. The fixing mechanism includes a rotatable cover defining an open position and a close position and having two pressing portions extending towards the receiving cavity of the socket body. The pick up cap covers all terminals in the socket body and includes a planar body having concaved portions for receiving the corresponding pressing portions to prevent the pressing portions from interfering with top surface of the planar body of the pick up cap.
US07828560B2
A card edge connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a pair of side walls (10) with a central slot (11) formed therebetween, a set of terminals (5) including first terminals (51) and second terminals (52) and a spacer (3). Each side wall has a set of passageways (12). Each first terminal has a first contacting portion (511) protruding into the central slot, a first tail portion (513) mounted on a PCB, and a first connecting portion (512). The first connecting portions and the first tail portions are arranged in two rows. Each second terminal has a second contacting portion (521) protruding into the central slot, a second tail portion (523) mounted on the PCB, and a second connecting portion (522). The second connecting portions and the second tail portions are arranged in another two rows. The spacer (3) has a set of first protrusions (31) and forms a plurality of first grooves (32) located between each two adjacent first protrusions. The first protrusions each has a second groove (33) formed thereon. The spacer defines a set of second protrusions (34) and forms a plurality of third grooves (35) located between each two adjacent second protrusions (34). The second protrusions each has a fourth groove (36) formed thereon.
US07828556B2
The disclosure relates to the use of magnets, which may be permanent magnets or electromagnets, to align and physically connect two adjacent audio components, or similar electronic components. Alternatively, a groove or similar mechanical aligning configuration may be used in combination with the magnetic configuration.
US07828552B2
A method and system for administering an assessment to a student are disclosed. The expected weight of evidence may be calculated for each of one or more tasks based on a student model pertaining to a student. A task may be selected based on the calculated expected weights of evidence. The selected task may be administered to the student, and evidence may be collected regarding the selected task. The student model pertaining to the student may be updated based on the evidence. A determination of whether additional information is required to assess the student may be made. If additional information is required to assess the student, the above steps may be repeated. Otherwise, a proficiency status may be assigned to the student based on the student model.
US07828544B2
A concrete building panel has a slab and a plurality of ribs and beams. A series of horizontal holes in the end ribs are spaced at a selected constant spacing such that adjacent panels may be fastened together through them. In one type of panel, the slab is separated from the ribs to provide an air gap. Connections between holes in two adjacent concrete wall panels are made by a hollow conduit having an abutment at either end to engage the concrete wall panels. Other connections between adjacent panels involve a stitch with legs which extend through holes in the beams. Other connections involve a space made by vertical channels of horizontally adjacent panels. A plate fitted into the space aligns the adjacent panels and may extend upwards to align upper panels. Load bearing horizontal holes through the ribs are reinforced with reinforcing bar in the concrete arranged in generally triangular shapes. The concrete panels are formed vertically in a gang form. Connections between a roof panel and another roof panel or a wall panel are described.
US07828538B2
A method of increasing the intrinsic viscosity of polyester by means of solid state polymerization, wherein a polyester plastics melt is granulated and after granulation is conveyed into a thermal treatment container (13) for thermal treatment therein, the granules being produced slightly below their melting temperature and being fed into the thermal treatment container (13) immediately after granulation so as to utilize the residual heat in the granules, as well as an arrangement for increasing the intrinsic viscosity of polyester by means of solid state polymerization with a granulating and a thermal treatment unit, with an unheated, thermally insulated container (13) or a container (13) having wall heating means (15) being provided as the thermal treatment unit, which is directly connected to the granulating unit via a conveying device (11, 36, 37).
US07828536B2
Low-pressure screw compressor provided with a rotor housing (2) with an inlet side and an outlet side, and enclosing two rotor bodies (3 and 4) including shafts (5, 7 respectively) and screws (6, 8 respectively) mounted on the shafts. The rotor shafts (5 or 7) are bearing-mounted in the rotor housing (2), with the bearing mountings on the inlet side of the rotor housing each using a single loose bearing and the bearing mountings on the outlet side of the rotor housing each using a single fixed cylindrical roller bearing. Spring devices acting on the bearing mountings at the inlet side urge the shafts and rotors toward the outlet side to maintain minimum clearance between the rotors and the housing at the outlet side of the rotors.
US07828528B2
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may include an occlusion sensor system that communicates with control circuitry to detect the presence of an occlusion. In some embodiments, the occlusion sensor system includes first components that are located within a disposable and non-reusable pump device, and second components that are located within a reusable controller device, the second components being in operable communication with the first components to determine whether a fluid is flowing from the pump device.
US07828522B2
A modular fan housing unit designed to create a focused column or columns of downwardly moving air such that there is little deflection when the column or columns of downwardly moving air arrives at the ground level. The modular fan housing includes an elongated body element having a fluid impelling device to create the downwardly moving air. At least one plate disposed within the elongated body element directs the downwardly moving air into columns. The modular fan housing unit may be coupled to another modular fan housing unit to provide additional columns of downwardly moving air. The modular fan housing units may be coupled in various configurations, depending on the type of application. Furthermore, the modular fan housing unit or multiple modular fan housing units may be coupled to an elevated structure.
US07828507B2
An apparatus for forming stacks of flat objects 12, in particular printed products, comprises a compartment 10 which is mounted for selective rotation about a vertical axis and whose compartment space 10′ is bounded on two mutually opposite sides by bounding elements 68, 72. In the ejection direction A, the compartment is bounded by upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70. The flat objects 12 are fed to the compartment 10 from above and come to lie in a stack formed on the compartment base 28. The upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70 can be moved independently of one another in order, firstly, to permit the ejection of the stack formed and, secondly, to permit the stacked objects 12 to be held firmly during the rotation of the compartment 10.
US07828479B1
A three-terminal, dual-diode system is compatible with both fully differential remote and single-ended remote temperature measurement systems. Fully differential remote temperature sensor systems offer better noise immunity and can perform faster conversions with less sensitivity to series resistance than single-ended systems. The two diode system can be used with either fully differential or single-ended temperature measurement systems, which can be used when upgrading from a single-ended architecture to a fully differential architecture, and which can provide backwards compatibility to single-ended architectures for users of fully differential architectures. The simultaneous forwards and backwards compatibilities reduces development risk associated with switching from a proven architecture (e.g., single-ended) to a newer, less-proven, architecture (e.g., fully differential).
US07828478B2
A thermal detecting device for sensing temperature at multiple locations proximate to the detecting device is provided. The detecting device has a pair of infrared detectors each configured to measure temperature of two locations by receiving infrared energy of the two locations. A housing encloses the pair of infrared detectors. The housing is configured with an aperture to allow the infrared energy of the two locations to be received by the pair of infrared detectors. A reflective mirror or two mirrors focus the infrared energy of the two locations towards the pair of infrared detectors. The detecting device may be configured to determine if there is a temperature differential at a location as the housing moves with respect to the location.
US07828474B2
A shot pump including a cylinder standing upright and an inlet having a check valve which allows a paste-like transferred substance to only flow into the cylinder therethrough. The shot pump also includes an outlet having a check valve which allows the transferred substance to only flow out of the cylinder therethrough. Additionally, a piston is configured to vertically reciprocate in the cylinder, causing the transferred substance to be sucked from the inlet and then to be discharged from the outlet. The ratio of a clearance between a side face of the piston and an inner side face of the cylinder to an outside diameter of the piston is 1/50 to ½. The transferred substance is sucked from the inlet, is then caused to pass through the clearance between the side face of the piston and the inner side face of the cylinder, and is discharged from the outlet.
US07828468B2
A louver assembly is disclosed for use in an overhead lighting system. The louver assembly comprises a series of thin, lightweight stringers and blade ribs arranged perpendicular to one another such that the respective side surfaces of the respective stringers are positioned at an acute angle with respect to a ceiling plane and the reflective faces of the blade ribs are positioned substantially transverse with respect to the ceiling plane.
US07828466B2
A light-emitting device of a very simple configuration in which uniform LED light illumination can be obtained with a low light quantity loss, the device having a low production cost, improved emission characteristic and excellent cost efficiency and reliability. A transparent body is disposed in the vicinity of a LED, and a light-scattering layer that scatters the light of the LED is formed by coating on the light-illuminating surface of the transparent body through which the light of the LED passes. The light-scattering layer contains 2.5 parts by weight to 4 parts by weight of a filler and has a thickness of 5 μm to 20 μm.
US07828465B2
LED-based lighting fixtures suitable for general illumination in surface-mount or suspended installations, in which heat dissipation properties of the fixtures are significantly improved by decreasing thermal resistance between LED junctions and the ambient air. In various examples, improved heat dissipation is accomplished by increasing a surface area of one or more heat-dissipating elements proximate a trajectory of air flow through the fixture. In one aspect, various structural components of the fixtures are particularly configured to create and maintain a “chimney effect” within the fixture, resulting in a high air-flow rate, natural convection cooling system capable of efficiently dissipating the waste heat from the fixture without active cooling.
US07828460B2
A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and first and second groups of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would have a correlated color temperature which differs by at least 50 K from a correlated color temperature which would be emitted by a combination of (3) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of emitters, and (4) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of lumiphors.
US07828457B2
A modular organizer system including a first pouch having an opening for securely receiving and positioning an item in a preferred position. A fastening mechanism is disposed on the first pouch and is adapted to modularly fasten a second pouch to the first pouch in any preferred orientation surrounding the first pouch. The modular organizer may be arranged within a carrying bag and molded to fit within an open compartment of the carrying bag. The modular organizer system can easily transfer the pouches with all of the contents from one carrying bag to another carrying bag.
US07828456B2
A lighting apparatus having a base member and a directional member are shown and described. The base member includes a first surface having a plurality of reflective elements extending therefrom. The base member also including a plurality of openings arranged in a pattern. Each openings is configured to receive a respective light source. The directional member has a portion of a reflective surface positioned relative to at least one opening to reflect light radiating from a lighting source disposed within the opening towards a portion of at least one of the reflective elements extending from the base member.
US07828454B2
A machine tool having a protective cabinet and an illumination system comprising at least one discharge lamp installed in the interior space of the protective cabinet. The discharge lamp is formed as a flat lamp radiating over a large area with a uniform luminous intensity and disposed on a cabinet wall in order to obtain an enhanced illumination of the entire workspace of the machine as well as of the interior space of the protective cabinet.
US07828453B2
An LED lamp cover structure containing luminescent material, its fabrication methods, and an LED package using the LED lamp cover are disclosed. The LED lamp cover is comprised of a first lens cap providing the outer surface of the lamp cover, a second lens cap providing the inner surface of the lamp cover, and an encapsulating layer sandwiched between the first and second lens caps. The lamp cover of the invention covering a color LED package such as blue color can provide white light output.
US07828449B2
An adjusting mechanism for a rod module adapted to an optical engine is provided. The adjusting mechanism utilizes two wedge-shaped blocks moving in perpendicular directions so as to convert the vertical adjustment of horizontal adjusting component into horizontal adjustment of an LIR module. Therefore, operators may adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the rod module from the same side of the projector, thus increasing the convenience in adjusting the position of the rod module.
US07828447B2
A projector includes a light-source unit, a color wheel, and a connecting portion. The light-source unit with a first support structure is configured for providing light beams. The color wheel includes a color filter, a rotating portion, a motor and a second support structure. The color filter is rotatable together with the rotating portion driven by the motor, which is fixed on the second support structure. The connecting portion is configured for connecting the first and second support structures together and aligning the light-source unit with the color wheel.
US07828436B2
A system for performing quasi-elastic light scattering and fluorescent ligand scanning on a subject's eye includes a light source configured to transmit light toward the subject's eye, a lens configured to focus light sent from the source and scattered by the subject's eye, a measurement reflector disposed to receive at least a portion of the focused light and configured to reflect a first portion of the received light, a camera configured and disposed to receive the first portion of the received light and configured to provide indicia of an image corresponding to the first portion of the received light, and a processor coupled to the camera and configured to analyze intensities of light in the image to determine a location of a reference point corresponding to an interface of a portion of the eye.
US07828429B2
An eyeglass retainer device attachable to an eyeglass frame includes a plurality of flexible tubular segments which are interconnected to form a string of flexible tubular supports and adjustable to change the length of the string. One or more clamps are employed to lock the flexible tubular segments against movement once adjusted.
US07828420B2
A drop generator is operated to form large-volume and small-volume droplets by providing a droplet generator having a nozzle and an adjustable stimulation device; supplying liquid to the droplet generator such that a stream of diameter D emanates from the nozzle; activating the stimulation device to produce a first set of perturbations on the liquid stream, the perturbations having a period x such as to cause the liquid stream to form into small-volume droplets; selectively adjusting the stimulation device to produce a second set of perturbations on the liquid stream, the second set of perturbations having a period Nx such as to cause a segment of the liquid stream to form into a large-volume droplet, whereby the large-volume droplet is N times the volume of the small-volume droplets; and further adjusting the stimulation device to produce a third set of perturbations on the liquid stream during the period Nx.
US07828414B2
A head adjustment method of adjusting overlaps of a plurality of print heads, which are arranged in a widthwise direction of a print medium in an image forming apparatus, in the widthwise direction. The head adjustment method includes setting a theoretical input pattern image to be formed by the print heads, outputting a practical output pattern image on the print medium by driving the print heads according to the input pattern image, estimating practical overlap values of the print heads through the output pattern image, and adjusting degrees of overlap between the print heads according to the estimated overlap values.
US07828409B2
The present invention provides an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, which enable an ink that overflowed to the outside from the edge of a printing medium to be fully absorbed by a platen. More specifically, the present invention provides an inkjet printer, including a platen, which absorbs a pigment ink that overflows to the outside of a printing medium when edgeless printing is carried out on the printing medium by using an ink that employs a pigment as a colorant, moving a printing head along a guide shaft, and ejecting the pigment ink from the printing head, and also an inkjet printing method, wherein the platen is impregnated with a humecant, a base, and the like.
US07828408B2
A liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head, a maintenance portion that maintains the liquid ejection head, a pressure source that applies pressure to the maintenance portion, and a valve unit that controls the pressure applied from the pressure source to the maintenance portion. The valve unit includes a valve body, a first passage defining member, a second passage defining member, a first passage, and a second passage. The first passage defining member and the second passage defining member are located at opposite sides of the valve body. The first passage is defined between the valve body and the first passage defining member. The second passage is defined between the valve body and the second passage defining member. The valve body has a first passage valve that closes the first passage when the valve body moves in the first direction and a second passage valve that closes the second passage when the valve body moves in the second direction. The first passage valve and the second passage valve are provided at opposite sides of the valve body and associated commonly with the valve body. The first passage valve is capable of selectively opening and closing a pressure line defining a portion of a passage extending between the maintenance portion and the pressure source. The second passage valve is capable of selectively opening and closing an atmospheric air passage that exposes the maintenance portion to the atmospheric air.
US07828394B2
In response to detection of a slip-down of a vehicle under restriction of a motor torque Tm*, which is required for a drive shaft linked with drive wheels, due to the occurrence of a slip caused by spin of the drive wheels on an ending slope, the technique of the invention multiplies a torque insufficiency by a ratio (reflection ratio β) specified according to a vehicle speed V in a t direction, so as to set a brake tourgue Tb*. The torque insufficiency corresponds to a difference between the restricted motor torque Tm* and a balancing torque Tgrad corresponding to a road surface gradient set according to the relation between an acceleration of the vehicle and a torque output to the drive shaft The setting of the brake torque Tb* makes the velocity of the slip-down of the vehicle approach to a preset vehicle speed. The brake torque Tb* is applied by hydraulic brakes attached to driven wheels which am different from the drive wheels. The arrangement of the invention regulates the velocity of the vehicle that slips down the ascending slope by the restriction of the motor torque Tm*.
US07828393B2
A vibratory milling machine has a vibratory housing confined to substantially linear reciprocating motion relative to a base, causing a tool carried by the housing to impact a mineral formation or other work piece substantially in a primary milling direction. The vibratory motion may be generated by two or more eccentrically-weighted rotors rotated by a common drive mechanism. The rotors may be arranged in pairs with the rotors of each pair rotating in opposite directions about parallel axes so that lateral oscillations cancel and longitudinal vibrations in the milling direction reinforce one another. In one embodiment, a hydrostatic fluid bearing is provided between the outer surface of each rotor and the housing.
US07828391B2
The seat belt system includes a locking device for locking the retractor having a sensor-weight type acceleration sensor for activating the locking device, a posture controller for controlling a posture of a sensor weight of the sensor-weight type acceleration sensor, an angle detection device for detecting a rotation angle of a backrest, and an interlocking member for allowing the angle detection device to interlock with the posture controller. The angle detection device allows the interlocking member to rotate in accordance with the reclining angle of the backrest. The posture controller F is controlled by means of the rotation of the interlocking member 11 so as to keep the sensor-weight type acceleration sensor horizontal when the reclining angle is within a range where a passenger wears the seat belt and not to interlock with the angle detection device K when the reclining angle is outside of the range.
US07828389B2
An armrest device comprises an armrest base plate on the upper end of an armrest support rod. A support block is provided on the armrest base plate. An engagement portion of the support block engages in a slot of the armrest base plate. A plurality of grooves are formed on a projection along the slot. An elastic tongue of the support block engages with the projection to allow the armrest base plate to slide back and forth smoothly.The armrest support rod is surrounded by an intermediate tube and an armrest support tube. A turning lever in the armrest support rod is pivotally mounted to an operating lever on the upper end of the armrest support rod. A pin which passes through a hole of the turning lever engages in an opening of the intermediate tube. The opening comprises a vertical elongate portion and a plurality of horizontal engagement portions. The pin selectively engages in any one of the engagement portions to allow the armrest to be held at respective height.
US07828377B2
Articles of furniture having a collapsible frame including a support assembly having a pair of collapsible longitudinally extending members coupled for angular movement about a pivot axis between open and closed positions and movable transversely of and through the axis between extended and retracted positions. Also includes mechanism for releasably securing each of the members in extended position and for preventing angular movement of the members from the closed to the open position when either and both of the members are out of extended position.
US07828370B2
A vehicle body structure in which the rigidity of a flat floor panel is increased by increasing the rigidity of intersecting portions between a cross member and floor frames. A plurality of floor frames extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body are aligned in straight rows in the longitudinal direction on either sides of a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction. Terminal ends of the plurality of floor frames are positioned in proximity to the cross member. The intersecting portions between the floor frames and the cross member are joined together by T-shaped connecting members in order to increase rigidity.
US07828363B1
A removable protective cover for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of separate flexible magnetic sheets. Each is specifically cut to fit over a particular magnetic body panel of a particular make and model of vehicle. The plurality of separate flexible magnetic sheets is constructed of flexible magnetically impregnated materials incorporating a flexible waterproof outer coating and a flexible solid magnetic base. The plurality of separate flexible magnetic sheets are designed in a manner that when more than one magnetic sheet is needed to cover a single body panel, they are shaped to fit in an overlapping manner whereby a first magnetic sheet is positioned closest to a front of the vehicle and overlaps a second magnetic sheet adjoining it rearward thereof.
US07828361B1
A tonneau cover and a method of operating a tonneau cover that covers a cargo box on a pickup. The tonneau cover is positionable in a closed configuration, a rolled-up configuration and a front access configuration. The method includes rolling up the tonneau cover to uncover a first part of the cargo box. The method also includes pivoting a portion of the tonneau cover to uncover a second part of the cargo box.
US07828330B2
Vehicle front body structure includes, in each of its left and right sections, a damper housing having mounted thereon an upper portion of a suspension damper; a front side frame having the housing attached thereto; a damper housing connection bracket inserted in an opening of the frame; a welding section formed on the housing and fixed to the bracket; a lid fitted in the opening to form the frame as a closed-sectional-shape structure. The body structure also includes a collar nut provided within the side frame and supporting a sub frame, and each of the housings has a lower section connected to the collar nut.
US07828329B2
A transport frame includes a plurality of polymer beams interconnected to form the frame with a first group of the polymer beams intersecting and extending through a second group of the polymer beams. The first group of the polymer beams is secured to the second group of polymer beams by an adhesive at their respective intersections. At least one of the polymer beams provides a non-conductive raceway for routing electrical wires or cables through the frame.
US07828328B2
A headboard assembly connected to a machine frame includes a stationary gate that is pivotally connected to the frame and a moveable gate disposed in slidable engagement with the stationary gate. A linear actuator pivotally connects the moveable gate to the frame via first and second pin joints. The linear actuator selectively extends and retracts the moveable gate relative to the stationary gate when the headboard assembly is in an operating position. The linear actuator is further arranged to selectively tilt the headboard assembly relative to the frame when the headboard assembly is in a service position.
US07828327B2
An airbag apparatus includes a tether interconnecting a front fabric of an airbag and an inflator to retain the airbag in an occupant restraining deployed configuration. Back fabric of the airbag has an opening portion for discharging gas, ejected from the inflator into the airbag, to outside the airbag. A fabric member that has an outward peripheral portion greater in size than the opening portion of the back fabric is mounted to the inflator, and the fabric member is disposed within the airbag.
US07828326B2
Airbag module for protecting an occupant of car with a bag (11) that includes a main front panel (17) and main rear panel (19) connected by its ends and a retention band (21) connected to the panels in two opposite ends (31, 33), capable of withstanding maximum pressure during the unfolding of the bag (11) without breaking or disconnecting from said panels, and whose length L is less than the maximum distance D that would exist between said opposite areas (31, 33) during the unfolding of the bag should said retention band (21) not exist; the bag has a ventilation orifice (23) around one of the union areas (31, 33) that can be covered by the main front and rear panels (17, 19) when the bag (11) contacts the occupant (15).
US07828324B2
A gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has a pyrotechnical propellant (16), a combustion chamber (12) filled with the pyrotechnical propellant (16), an igniter (14) associated with the combustion chamber (12), a pressure chamber (18), filled with compressed gas, which is adjacent to the combustion chamber (12) and has a first opening (22) remote from the combustion chamber (12) closed by a first diaphragm (26), the diaphragm (26) being destroyed upon activation of the igniter (14), and a second pressure chamber (28) which is filled with compressed gas and has a second opening (34) closed by a second diaphragm (36). The second diaphragm (36) is likewise destroyed upon activation of the igniter (14), and the openings (22, 34) and the gas volumes of the pressure chambers (18, 28) are adapted so that compressed gas flows out from the second pressure chamber (28) for a longer period than compressed gas from the first pressure chamber (18) to increase a gas supply time of the gas generator (10). Further, a method of activating a vehicle occupant restraint system is described.
US07828318B2
The airbag system for vehicles includes an airbag housing, a sliding door and a connection member. The airbag housing has a gas injection hole, through which inflation gas is injected into an airbag cushion when a vehicle collision occurs. The sliding door moves over the gas injection hole to control the amount of inflation gas injected into the airbag cushion. The connection member is connected between the airbag cushion and the sliding door such that the sliding door is moved by the inflation of the airbag cushion.
US07828298B2
A firewall sealing assembly is provided for use between a firewall and a penetrating member. The assembly comprises a flexible coupling and a secondary seal. The flexible coupling is configured to provide a primary seal between the firewall and the penetrating member. The secondary seal is configured to provide a secondary seal between the firewall and the penetrating member. The secondary seal is positioned spaced apart from the flexible coupling to define a seal cavity there between.
US07828291B2
In a sheet conveying mechanism, a first bulging space and a second bulging space are provided on a downstream side and an upstream side, respectively, of a conveying path. The second bulging space has a length L1 along the conveying path. The conveying path between the first and second bunging spaces is defined to have a length L2. The lengths L1 and L2 are set to satisfy a predetermined relationship with a frequency of noise propagating through the conveying path. The sheet conveying mechanism can inexpensively reduce noise generated inside the conveying path during sheet conveyance without hindering the conveyance of the sheet.
US07828290B2
An ADU transport roller driving device, an image forming apparatus and an ADU transport roller driving method, in which a phenomenon of a warp does not occur on a succeeding sheet, are provided. There are included one drive motor that drives plural transport rollers to transport sheets in an ADU, a first one-way clutch that transmits only rotation force of the drive motor in a forward direction to an entrance side transport roller disposed at an ADU entrance side in a sheet transport direction among the plural transport rollers, a second one-way clutch that transmits only rotation force of the drive motor in a reverse direction of an opposite direction to the forward direction to an exit side transport roller disposed at an ADU exit side in the sheet transport direction among the plural transport rollers, and an electromagnetic clutch capable of transmitting only the rotation force of the drive motor in the forward direction to the exit side transport roller.
US07828284B2
A mailpiece selector device including at least one guide co-operating with a plurality of opposite selector rollers passing through a deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces. The guide co-operating with the rollers to select the mailpieces one-by-one and to transport them downstream. The guide presenting a predetermined inclination at an angle θ relative to a horizontal plane defined by the deck, with a distance between the deck and a low end portion of the guide that is larger at the portion of the guide that is closer to a referencing wall than at the portion of the guide that is further away from the referencing wall.
US07828270B2
A quick attach stabilizing device for skid steer loaders and similar machines for performing off-road recovery, winching, and loading operations. Primarily used by wrecker service and other service companies when 4 wheel drive winch vehicles cannot drive to the off-road location due to the extremely bad ground surface conditions caused by excessive rain, snow, or ice.
US07828268B2
The present invention provides a valve actuator for a valve that includes a cylindrical body that is thermally nonconductive and configured to engage a valve stem. A cylindrical adjuster is positioned coaxially with the body. A shaft extends through the adjuster and the adjuster is axially movable between a first position and a second position such that when the adjuster is in the first position a first engaging means engages a second engaging means thereby fixing the position of the adjuster relative to the body. When the adjuster is in the second position the adjuster is radially movable relative to the body. A spring is aligned with the shaft and configured to bias the adjuster toward the first position such that the first engaging means engages the second engaging means thereby fixing the position of the adjuster relative to the body.
US07828254B2
A hair accessory organizer for holding many different types of hair accessories. The hair accessory organizer is magnetized to hold hair accessories either wholly or partially made of metal. In addition, the hair accessory organizer holds non-metal hair bands and hair accessories. The hair accessory organizer is capable of resting on a countertop, in a drawer or hung on a wall or door. The hair accessory organizer has a curved top member that holds substantially “U” shaped hair bands both on its top surface, and on its bottom surface. Two rings allow for attachment sites of hair clips and hooks. The hooks provide attachment sites for elastic hair bands and the like.
US07828252B2
An electronic display and lighting arrangement for viewing by, and illumination for, a person in a resting position includes: an electronic display assembly including a first carriage movable along a translation axis, a first pivot arm coupled to the first carriage with the first pivot arm pivotable about a first pivot axis, and an electronic display coupled to the first pivot arm; and a lighting assembly including a second carriage movable in a direction parallel to the translation axis, and a light coupled to the second carriage and adjustably positionable by movement of the second carriage. The electronic display is adjustably positionable both along the translation axis by movement of the first carriage, and about the first pivot axis by movement of the first pivot arm about the first pivot axis.
US07828241B2
An endpiece which forms an integral part of a mandrel used to support a roll of material engages a guide. The endpiece comprises a cylindrical part which can be inserted into the mandrel, a collar which rests against a facing surface of the endpiece, and a projecting attachment. A guiding and retaining groove is provided along the length of the projecting attachment to form a guide path. A cooperating guide is provided on a bracket that supports the roll of material. The guide is disposed on an inner side of the bracket and comprises slightly-projecting flats which form and define a channel to receive the projecting attachment of the endpiece as so enable the endpiece to be inserted and retained therein. The channel extends into a part for receiving the endpiece following the insertion thereof.
US07828240B2
A bearing journal projects from an end of a material web wound into a roll. The bearing journal has a bearing surface formed as a rotating surface, a fitting surface not formed as a rotating surface, and an axial guide surface. A dispensing system includes a dispenser that is adapted to receive the roll of web material and to cooperate with the bearing journal.
US07828234B1
The containment wall of a basket media mill is constructed of a porous synthetic polymeric material having porous openings each of a pore size less than the predetermined size of the media for confining the media within the bed in the basket as feedstock is passed through the porous openings in the containment wall. The containment wall extends over an overall area and the porous openings provide an open area through which the feedstock flows as the feedstock passes through the containment wall, and the open area is at least about fifteen percent of the overall area of the containment wall for enabling a concomitant increased volumetric flow of feedstock through the containment wall. A substantially flat sheet of porous synthetic polymeric material having porous openings is formed into a cylindrical configuration to establish a cylindrical containment wall with porous openings each increasing in pore size from the interior of the cylindrical wall toward the exterior of the cylindrical wall.
US07828233B2
A fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines, in particular for direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine, including an actuator, a valve needle which is mechanically linked to the actuator and is acted upon by a restoring spring in a closing direction, for actuation of a valve closing body, which together with a valve seat face forms a sealing seat, and including a sleeve which pre-stresses the restoring spring. An adjusting body is situated adjustably in the sleeve so that a fuel amount flowing through the fuel injector per unit of time is a function of the position of the adjusting body in the sleeve.
US07828228B2
An inflection point sensing arrangement of an electronic drive unit, which drives a fuel injection valve, senses an inflection point in a pressure-changing process of the pressure in the control chamber. A charging and discharging condition changing arrangement of the electronic drive unit changes a charging condition for charging of the electric current to a piezoelectric actuator of the fuel injection valve or a discharging condition for discharging of the electric current from the piezoelectric actuator upon sensing of the inflection point, which is sensed with the inflection point sensing arrangement.
US07828225B2
A system and method for delivering catalytic molecular structure to a combustion chamber is disclosed. Catalyst base materials are reduced to a micronic fog by a device using the ultrasonic vibration of a piezoelectric disc. The liquid base materials evaporate instantly upon entering the engines air stream therefore releasing pure catalyst molecules into the combustion zone, thus reducing the time taken for catalytic combustion to the lowest denominator possible and allowing for the greatest effect achievable. This further reduces the amount of catalyst needed in the base solution compared to any other type of device or additive. The system also allows a user to control the delivery rate of the catalyst to the combustion chamber.
US07828224B2
Disclosed herein is an air conditioning diffuser having a function of changing an air supply direction. The diffuser of the present invention includes a frame (10) and a temperature sensing cylinder (20), which is coupled to the frame (10). A wax (21) is charged in the cylinder (20), and a piston rod (22) is provided in the cylinder (20). The diffuser further includes a blade support body (50), coupled to the cylinder (20), a pushing member (23), coupled to the piston rod in the blade support body, and a vertical movable member (40), which is provided in the blade support body (40) and is pushed downwards by the pushing member (23) when the wax is expanded. The diffuser further includes air guide blade assemblies (30), which are supported by the blade support body (50) and are coupled to the vertical movable member (40) so that, when the vertical movable member is moved upwards or downwards, blades (35) are rotated. An elastic member is provided under the vertical movable member (40).
US07828220B2
A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation). Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may also be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number.
US07828217B2
The invention concerns a method and a system for production of RFID smart labels or smart label inlays, in which a multiplicity or RFID straps (11) are connected in succession with a multiplicity of antennae (20), where in a first step the RFID straps (11) to be arranged on a strap substrate band (5a) are separated (8, 9) and mounted on a substrate band (1, 1a, 1b, 1c; 10, 10a-c) for the smart labels or smart label inlays to be produced, and in a subsequent second step the antennae (20) are mounted on the substrate band (1, 1a, 1b, 1c; 10, 10a-c) and on first connection surfaces (26) of the RFID straps (11) such that the connection surfaces (26) of each RFID strap (11) electrically contact second connection surfaces of the antennae (20) allocated to the RFID strap (11) or the first connection surfaces (26) are positioned for electrical contact and fixed on the second connection surfaces.
US07828215B2
A ballot reader images a ballot, checks the ballot, and displays the ballot image for voter review. The voter may cast the ballot causing it to be collected and the vote thereon recorded, or may have the ballot returned. Checking may include, e.g., checking for a complete ballot, undervotes and/or overvotes.
US07828209B2
The ‘IP Diagnostics’ software is a new and innovative method of aiding the deployment and troubleshooting of IP enabled POS terminals. Its purpose is to identify where a failure in the IP connection is occurring. The IP Diagnostics application does this by testing major failure points within the IP chain from the POS terminal to the host.
US07828207B2
The apparatus and method described herein provides for creating multiple spatial patterns, such as magnetic patterns on credit cards. The invention includes storage of information from which patterns may be created, a pattern creation device for creating the spatial patterns, and control whereby the information which is stored is selectively utilized to cause the pattern creation. This allows multiple desired patterns to be simulated, allowing convenient replacement of a number of separate pattern carrying devices.
US07828203B2
An object is to easily store a data required for actuating a portable terminal, which is used in association with an identification data of a user, while maintaining the security.The present invention comprises a data reading/writing device having a function of reading out data stored in a memory medium of a portable terminal and a function of writing, to the memory medium, an applicable data which is required for the portable terminal; and a data collation device for collating an identification data which is peculiar to a user of the portable terminal, which is read out from the memory medium by the data reading/writing device, with a user registration data which is registered in advance, and for outputting a writing command to the data reading/writing device only when the data are consistent. The data reading/writing device writes the applicable data to the memory medium on condition that there is an input of the writing command.
US07828198B2
A duct (1) applicable to a container (4) presents a connecting portion (9) with four substantially flat connecting surfaces (9a) and a internal bridging surface (13) by which the side walls (7a) of the container (4) are joined seamlessly to a spout (5) afforded by the duct (1); the bridging surface (13) is contoured in such a way that a flow of liquid food product can be directed through the spout (5) without becoming trapped and stagnating between the duct (1) and side walls (7a) of the container (4).
US07828197B2
A container having an integrated bottom end closure subassembly. The container includes a top opening and bottom opening. The top opening is initially closed and sealed with a top membrane while the bottom opening is closed by the end closure subassembly. The subassembly includes an end cap and a bottom membrane. The subassembly is configured so that positioning the end cap onto the container to close the bottom opening positions the bottom membrane near the container. The bottom membrane may be sealed to the container. Once the bottom membrane is sealed to the container, the end cap may be removed from the container independently from the bottom membrane. The end cap provides protection to the bottom membrane during shipping and handling and then is used by the consumer to reclose the top opening once the top membrane is removed.
US07828196B2
A container for flowers and such includes a stackable holder with upright walls, a carrier supported on the walls, an upper holder being placeable on the carrier, and also A ventilation element located in at least one of the walls and also at the top of the carrier. The ventilation element includes at least one recess opening out at the upper edge of the wall.
US07828194B2
Plate members 17 are respectively rested on first and second tables IA and IB relatively movable toward and away from each other. The plate members 17 are caused to abut against reference positioning members 16a and 16b of reference positioning devices protruded ahead of and over opposing ends 1′ of the tables IA and IB so that opposing ends of the plate members 17 are positioned in protrusion ahead of the opposing ends 1′ of the tables IA and IB, and the plate members 17 are positioned laterally. Then, the positioned plate members 17 are locked on the tables IA and IB. After the reference positioning devices are retracted, the tables IA and IB are relatively moved toward each other to cause the opposing ends of the plate members 17 to abut together for formation of weld line X.
US07828188B2
Surgical stapling apparatus including an anvil and cartridge each having cooperating mating surfaces
Surgical stapling apparatus are disclosed including an anvil having a working surface with a shaped topography; and a staple cartridge, in juxtaposition with the anvil. The staple cartridge includes a working surface with shaped topography which is complementary to the shaped topography of the working surface of the shaped anvil. When the anvil and the staple cartridge are approximated with or toward one another, at least a portion of the working surface of the anvil cooperates with at least a portion of the working surface of the staple cartridge to enhance alignment of the staple cartridge and the anvil in at least one of a transverse and longitudinal direction.
US07828183B2
A device for attaching fasteners has a casing having a grip, a lever supported by the casing rotatably about its upper end and urged forward, a link arm actuated by the rotation of the lever, a piston engaged slidably by the upper end of the link arm, a driving rod slidable with the piston, a hollow needle situated at the leading end of the driving rod and having a slit and a guide formed behind the hollow needle for fitting an assembly of plastic fasteners. A guide attachment which can be changed to another is removably held below the assembly fitting guide for guiding a connecting bar in the assembly in the direction of its ejection.
US07828181B1
A universal pill splitter as an upper pill splitter body with a cutting blade affixed to a lower side of the upper body and a lower body rotating affixed to the upper body, with two pill stops affixed to the upper side of the lower body, with a slide slidingly affixing to the lower body, wherein the slide further contains two pill guides at either side of a slot centrally located in the slide body, so that when a pill is place on the lower body against the pill stops and the slide is pushed forward so that it engages the pill, pressing it securely against the pill stops, the pill may be split by rotating the upper body toward the lower body, thereby driving the cutting blade against a top of the pill.
US07828163B2
The invention concerns a lattice boom crane, which is composed of at least two individual lattice boom cranes (1, 11), which each comprise a luffing lattice boom (4, 14), whose luffing angle is adjustable by a luffing mechanism (5, 15). The lattice booms (4, 14) of the individual lattice boom cranes (1, 11) are connected with each other and oriented in parallel and adjacent to each other and the luffing mechanisms (5, 15) of the lattice boom cranes (1, 11) are synchronously operated, such that the rigidly-connected lattice booms (4, 14) are synchronously luffable.
US07828153B2
A system and apparatus for processing recyclable materials, including a header box, a plurality of routing channels connected to the header box, and a temporary storage container for each routing channel. During use, a user deposits one or more recyclable items into an intake header box, and the user then presses a selected button, corresponding to the material of the item, to control routing of the deposited item to a pre-sorted storage area. The header box includes a mirror, showing the routing channels, to allow a user to determine if the system is clear or blocked. The routing channels are made from modular units, so that the apparatus can be modified or adapted to meet the needs of different users, or the changing needs of a single user.
US07828145B2
A bag for the storage and transport of golf equipment includes at least two sections, each including an upper and a lower edge, respectively, where the sections are pivotably interconnected in a hinge, where the bag is openable by folding the sections apart along the hinge, towards an open position in which the interior of the bag is uncovered. At least one section includes a fastening element for golf club shafts in its upper part, in that at least one section includes club head separating element in its lower part for receiving club heads of one or more golf clubs whose shafts are fastened to the fastening element, in that the hinge is arranged along the lower respective edge of each section, and in that the bag includes a support element so that the bag can stand in a stable manner on a supporting surface when in its opened position.
US07828140B2
A cap with a storage space for containing a secondary material includes a storage portion having a storage space and provided with a seal plate formed on a lower end of the storage space, an outer cap foldably formed on the storage portion and coupled to a spouting portion, a spouting member inserted in the spouting portion, and an operational member for breaking the seal plate when the spouting member is in operation.
US07828133B2
The present invention provides a bill handling device which can realize a reduction in size, an increase in capacity and a reduction in processing time and improves satisfaction of users. The bill handling device includes a bill discriminating portion for discriminating bills, recycle stores for storing bills and separating the bills again, a loading store for supplying bills to the recycle stores or collecting bills from the recycle stores, a reject store and a loading reject store which store reject bills rejected by the bill discriminating portion, and conveying paths for conveying bills to the respective portions, wherein the conveying paths are formed as an annular conveying path which can convey the bills in two directions, and the recycle stores, the loading store, the reject store, and the loading reject store are arranged around the conveying paths.
US07828126B2
A magnetorheological (MR) piston assembly (10) includes an MR piston (12) and a rod (14). The MR piston (12) includes a central longitudinal axis (16), first and second longitudinal ends (18 and 20), an MR passageway (22), a main electric coil (24), and a valve (26). The MR passageway (22) extends from the first longitudinal end (18) to the second longitudinal end (20). The main electric coil (24) is disposed to magnetically energize the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) is operatively connected to the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) has a first state when electrically activated which is less restrictive of the MR passageway (22) and has a second state when not electrically activated which is more restrictive of the MR passageway (22). The rod (14) is attached to the MR piston (12). A more detailed MR piston (12) and an MR damper system (60) are also described.
US07828125B2
A system for controlling an electric device comprises: a power supply for supplying electric power to an electric device; switch portion connected between the power supply and the electric device for controlling the electric power supplied to the electric device; an LC filter disposed between the switch portion and the electric device; and current detection portion for detecting an electric current supplied to the electric device.
US07828124B2
An electric disk brake is capable of determining an abnormality of a parking brake mechanism while the parking brake mechanism is in operation. A brake force is generated in the following manner. A rotation of an electric motor is slowed down by a differential speed reducing mechanism, and is converted into a linear motion by a ball ramp mechanism so as to advance a piston, which then presses a brake pad against a disk rotor to generate a brake force. A parking brake mechanism can lock a rotation of a rotor of the electric motor and maintain a braked state by rotating an engagement pawl through a plunger of a solenoid and causing the engagement pawl to be engaged with a ratchet wheel coupled to the rotor of the electric motor. A play is provided at a coupling portion of the engagement pawl and the plunger. The play enables the plunger to move within the range of the play while the engagement pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel, thereby enabling the determination of whether the parking brake mechanism operates normally or abnormally based on whether the plunger moves or not upon application of an electric current to the solenoid while the parking brake mechanism is in an actuated state.
US07828122B2
In a vibration damping device for an elevator, an actuator for generating a vibration damping force acting on an elevator car is provided in parallel with a spring for urging a guide roller against a guide rail. The actuator is controlled by a controller. The controller determines the vibration damping force to be generated by the actuator based on information from a car frame acceleration sensor for detecting horizontal acceleration of a car frame and a car cage acceleration sensor for detecting horizontal acceleration of a car cage.
US07828118B2
A railcar step mounts to the stirrup of a rail vehicle. The railcar step comprises a support sized to support a rail worker. A coupling is supported in relation to an end of the support. The coupling is sized and configured to hold the support in fixed relation to the stirrup. The support is sized to extend outward beyond the rail vehicle and support a rail worker.
US07828117B2
A combination chair and ladder assembly including a center leg, a rear leg and a front leg wherein the rear leg is pivotally connected to the center leg and swings outwardly away from the center leg. The assembly includes a lower step or platform assembly including a first platform having first and second portions with a hinge connecting the first and second portions. The front leg is connected to the first platform. In addition, the chair and ladder assembly may include an upper step or platform assembly having a plurality of platforms pivotally connected to the center leg and to a front support member. The lower step or platform assembly operates independently of the upper step or platform assembly.
US07828105B2
A seatbelt device for a vehicle provided with: a webbing that restrains a passenger seated on a seat; a belt reel on which the webbing is wound; a motor that rotation-drives the belt reel; a motor control device that controls the motor; an input determination device that determines whether or not an input signal from a seatbelt operation section including the webbing is an artificial input signal; and a command output device that outputs a setting change command to the motor control device according to a determination result from the input determination device.
US07828104B2
A travel safety device for a vehicle comprises: an object detecting unit (114) for detecting an object existing in the traveling direction of the vehicle (100); a correlation calculating unit (39) for calculating a correlation involving the distance between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of a detection result of the corresponding object detecting unit (114); an automatic brake unit (120) for automatically decelerating the vehicle (100); a safety device (122) including a seatbelt device (15) for automatically tightening the seatbelt (14) and releasing the tightening thereof; and safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) for determining a possibility of a contact between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of the correlation calculated by the correlation calculating unit (39) and for controlling the operation of the safety device (122) where it is predicted that there is a possibility of a contact; wherein the safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) simultaneously actuate the automatic brake unit (120) and seatbelt device (15) where it is predicted that there is a possibility of a contact.
US07828099B2
An electric tractor including a frame having a front end and a longitudinal axis between its front and rear ends. At least one drive wheel is provided for propelling the electric tractor and at least one electric motor for powering the at least one drive wheel. A pair of rails extend parallel to one another in a spaced apart relationship along the longitudinal axis and a first battery pack sized to be received in a plurality of locations along the rails, the first battery pack being selectively in electrical contact with the at least one electric motor once received on the rails.
US07828082B2
Apparatus and methods are described for highly attenuating vibrations of a drillstring assembly while drilling. In one embodiment, vibrations are attenuated by introducing one or more vibration attenuation modules at appropriate assembly locations. For example, vibration attenuation modules may be inserted at locations where vibration energy is expected to be maximal. In one embodiment the vibration attenuation modules include cavities loosely packed with particles of solid material such as sand or metallic powder. In one embodiment, the cavity walls are rough and/or include geometric features that enhance vibration energy transfer to the loosely packed particles in the cavity(ies). The vibration energy is dissipated via friction and inelastic particle-particle and particle-wall collisions that occur as a result of drillstring motion.
US07828073B2
A rotary-percussion hand-held power tool includes a vibrating percussion mechanism (2) for applying blows along a percussion axis (A), a guiding handle (4) vibrationally decoupled from the percussion mechanism (2) and provided with a motor switch (5) displaceable in switching region (X) for blocking the motor switch (5), an operational mode selection switch (3) arranged in the percussion mechanism (2), and a switching bar (9) displaceable by the operational mode selection switch (3) and having a stop (10) that projects into the switching region (X) of the locking switch (7) in the drilling operational mode.
US07828071B2
An agricultural machine including a chassis, an engine, a driver's cabin, a hitch, and at least two working units connected to the hitch by a hitching frame. The at least two working units are configured to be pivoted between a working position in which the working units extend substantially horizontally and transversely to a direction of travel in work and a transport position in which the working units extend substantially over the chassis. The hitch is connected to the chassis via a rigid structure, the rigid structure connected to the chassis by a transverse articulation, at least one actuator being provided between the chassis and the rigid structure to allow the rigid structure to tip about the transverse articulation.
US07828070B2
A safety locking device 18 for a quick hitch/coupler 10 of an earth working machine. The safety locking device 18 has a locking element 21 which is biased into a locking position to automatically lock a front pin of an implement when it is engaged in the hook 14 of the coupler 10. The safety locking device 18 has an hydraulic operable mechanism to move the locking element 21 to an unlocking position. The hydraulic supply to the safety locking device 18 is independent of the hydraulic supply to a locking mechanism 16 of the coupler 10.
US07828069B2
The present invention is a spraying system that extinguishes flying embers that may land on a roof from brush fires or forest fires. This includes a submersible pump at the bottom of a well that is attached to a supply pipe that allows water to be pumped into a reservoir. Another submersible pump is inside the reservoir that pumps water thru a supply pipe that is attached to the roof. This area is called a water station that may also be equipped with a generator for a backup power source. The supply pipe has pipe couplings attached at certain intervals and has sprayers installed into the couplings. These sprayers will then give off an adequate amount of water to soak down the entire roof area in the event of an approaching fire. All of this is assembled and placed in specially designed roof fasteners that are installed throughout the entire hip and ridge of the roof.
US07828064B2
What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.
US07828062B2
An extension sub for a downhole fishing tool, the extension sub comprising a tubular having a threaded pin end and a threaded box end, the tubular having an interior wall defining a bore, and cutting elements fixed to the interior wall of the tubular and extending into the bore of the tubular. Such a device may be referred to as a string shoe.
US07828056B2
Method and apparatus are disclosed for connecting internal shunt tubes to tubular end components of a sand screen assembly by coupling each end of each shunt tube to ports formed in the tubular end components in an annular space between a base pipe and a filter media using a tubular coupler.
US07828053B2
A multipart frac head with replaceable components permits the frac head to be refurbished in the field. In one embodiment, a bottom leg of the multipart frac head is replaceable. In another embodiment, inlet ports of the frac head are also replaceable.
US07828051B2
An improved perforating gun having a tubular housing, a tubular carrier and a charge carried by the tubular carrier. The tubular carrier comprises an inside diameter, an outside diameter and an opening disposed between the inside diameter and the outside diameter. The charge comprises a forward end positioned in the opening between the inside diameter and the outside diameter. The tubular carrier increases a collapsible-pressure rating for the housing and positions the charge closer to the formation.
US07828043B2
A level sensing system and method for determining the level of a conductive material in a casting mold are disclosed, wherein the level sensing system a drive circuit and an inductive component disposed adjacent to the casting mold, and a position of the conductive material in the casting mold may be determined by a change in an electrical characteristic of the drive circuit.
US07828037B2
An apparatus for opening and closing a portal in a structure in which a curtain having elongated side portions is placed adjacent opposing sides of the portal. A first end of the curtain is attached to a first end of the portal. An opposite end of the curtain is upturned and attached to a varying means at the first end of the portal to vary the height of a pocket formed in the curtain. Magnetic sealing means are placed on the elongated side portions of the curtain and on the opposing sides of the portal. The portal is closed as the varying means lowers the height of the pocket, wherein the magnetic sealing means on the curtain engage the magnetic sealing means on the opposing sides of the portal, thereby sealing the portal. The portal is opened as the varying means raises the height of the pocket, wherein the magnetic sealing means on the curtain disengage the magnetic sealing means on the opposing sides of the portal, thereby unsealing the portal.
US07828036B2
A powered awning assembly has an awning frame with a first side arm member having a first distal end and a first proximate end for attachment to a wall and a second side arm member having a second distal end and a second proximate end for attachment to a wall. A connecting member has a first end attached to the distal end of the first side arm and a second end attached to the distal end of the second side arm. A roll awning is attached to the awning frame. A wind sensor assembly is attached to one of the first side arm and the second side arm.
US07828032B2
An end of a sheet drawn out form a feeder is clamped by a pair of upper and lower clamping devices of two or more pairs. The sheet is drawn out from the initial position to the end position in a spread state. While the spread sheet is being tentered on pin tenters, another pair of upper and lower clamping devices at the end position is separated from each other and moved along the respective rails into the initial position. The end of the sheet drawn out from the feeder is clamped from above and below at the initial position with the upper and lower clamping devices that has returned to the initial position.
US07828031B2
An apparatus and a method are proposed for aligning and fixing a ribbon onto the groove of a solar cell for avoiding undue stress on the ribbon as well as crystal damage of the solar cells by hardening of the ribbon. The apparatus includes a frame, a leading arm, and a trailing arm, the leading and trailing arms being movably mounted on at least one linear guide arranged on said frame. The apparatus further provides for upward and downward movement of the at least one linear guide, and a shear for cutting said ribbon. Both the leading arm and the trailing arm have a gripper for gripping the ribbon. These grippers are provided to apply a predetermined longitudinal tension to the ribbon when the leading and trailing arms are moved relative to one another.
US07828018B2
Four light-transmitting mono filaments each having an almost circular cross section and surface substantially being mirror surface are arranged in a single layer and in parallel, and a flat yarn formed by fusing or melt-bonding adjacent mono filaments to each other and fixing them is twisted. Twisting is imparted over a full length of a light diffusing yarn continuously at a frequency of more than one time with a length five times as long as the width of the flat yarn. The twisting cyclically reverses the front and rear surfaces of the flat yarn along the longitudinal direction of the light diffusing yarn to continuously change the longitudinal-axis direction of each mono filament along the longitudinal direction of the light diffusing yarn. Therefore, when parallel lights enter the light diffusing yarn, the center axis directions of conical-surface-like diffused lights differ from each other according to individual portions in the longitudinal direction of the light diffusing yarn even if the incident angle of the parallel lights is constant to produce wide-range diffusion light at one cycle of twisting.
US07828016B2
A process gas line (255) for carrying WF6 gas for nucleation, a process gas line (259) for carrying WF6 gas for film deposition after nucleation are joined at a single joint (280) to a carrier gas line (256). A gas line (270) is connected to the joint (280) to carry a mixed gas of the carrier gas and WF6 gas to a processing chamber defined by a processing vessel. Sections of the carrier gas line (256) and the gas line (270) extending on the opposite sides of the joint (280) extend along a straight line, and the process gas lines (255, 259) are perpendicular to the gas line (270).
US07828015B2
A stack or assembly of fluid, mechanical, and/or electrical components permits removal of some components for maintenance, without compromising the fluid integrity of the remainder of the assembly. A fastening bolt, attached to at least one fluid component, is screwed into a stacking bolt, attached to another fluid component, the bolts being screwed together inside the bore of an adapter plate. A resilient insert sits between the head of the stacking bolt and the bore. At least a portion of the bore has a continuous taper, such that the diameter of the bore decreases in the vicinity of the insert. The taper creates a reduced diameter hole on one surface of the adapter plate, thus preventing interference between fluid ports on an adjacent fluid component. The taper also prevents loss of the insert during transportation and storage, and prevents undesired extrusion of material of the insert when the components are fastened together.
US07828005B2
A freezeless hydrant includes an operating screw positioned within a head member, an operating coupling mating with the operating screw, an operating rod coupled to the operating coupling and a plug and a valve seat. Movement of the operating rod in one direction disengages the plug from the valve seat permitting water to flow through the casing and an opening of a set screw forcing a ball against an O-ring seal. Movement of the operating rod in an opposite direction causes alignment of a radial opening in the operating coupling with a passageway in the operating screw. The operating rod engages the valve seat preventing water from flowing through the casing and allowing the ball to fall away from the O-ring seal. Air enters a chamber of the operating screw thereby draining water from the chamber and out of the radial opening of the operating coupling.
US07827993B2
A magnetic levitation system for immobile patients in a wheelchair is disclosed. A magnet multi-pole configuration that is mechanically stable is provided that lifts the body and/or load shifts (rotates the body from side to side) the body. Based on a multi-pole configuration of permanent magnets in the pelvis, a corresponding multi-pole configuration for magnet repulsion is placed below the patient, typically as part of the wheelchair. Alternatively, a unipolar repulsion with mechanical patient restraint is implemented to achieve body lift or levitation. Either permanent magnets or electromagnets, optionally with magnetic sensor-mediated active computerized feedback control below the body, are sufficient to implement a complete multi-pole repulsive configuration that is mechanically stable. The apparatus reduces compressive force on soft tissues disposed between a human pelvis and a wheelchair seat.
US07827986B2
Apparatus, methods, and kits for treating symptoms associated with common ailments, such as headaches, rhinitis, asthma, epilepsy, nervous disorders and the like, are provided. The apparatus comprises dispensers for carbon dioxide and other therapeutic gases. The methods comprise delivering small volumes of these gases to patients in a manner where the gas infuses into a body region in order to bathe the mucous membranes therein. It has been found that even very short exposure of patients to small volumes and high concentrations of such gases can provide significant relief from symptoms.
US07827978B2
A device is provided for locking a front end of a spear shaft in a spear gun. The device comprises a bridge extending crosswise over a distal end of the gun with a substantially U-shaped nosepiece joined to the distal end and revolving relatively freely about a crosswise axis thereof. The nosepiece includes at least two arms connected to respective ends of a relatively elastic cable that may be tensioned against a rear end of the shaft, when the shaft is placed on a support surface along the body of the gun. The bridge is attached to and integrally with the ends of the elastic cable and is located a selected distance from the support surface such that the shaft is retained against the surface when the spear is in a stowed or loaded position.
US07827973B2
An integrated positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) channel is formed along a structural weld line between two shell components that are welded together to form an air intake manifold. The integrated PCV channel can be used to uniformly distribute blow-by gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine to a plurality of combustion chambers via the air intake manifold.
US07827972B2
An adsorption/desorption device is communicated with an upper space of a fuel tank via a vapor passage. The adsorption/desorption device is configured to selectively adsorb or desorb air components contained in vapor. The adsorption/desorption device and the vapor passage are not communicated to the external atmosphere. The fuel tank is provided with a pressure detecting device for detecting the internal pressure of the fuel tank. A pressure regulating device is provided to the vapor passage for controlling and maintaining the pressure applied to the adsorption/desorption device. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank is higher than the atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure of the fuel tank is pressure-fed to the side of the adsorption/desorption device via the pressure regulating device until the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank is lower than the atmospheric pressure, vapor is pressure-fed to the side of the fuel tank via the pressure regulating device until the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure.
US07827970B2
A vapor separator includes a fuel pump, and a container at least partially defining a fuel reservoir to hold fuel and a pump chamber to hold the fuel pump. A closure is carried by the container to close the fuel reservoir and at least partially defines a vapor chamber above a level of fuel in the fuel reservoir and in fluid communication with the pump chamber. A vapor vent device is carried by the closure to allow fuel vapor to vent out of the vapor separator from the vapor chamber and prevent liquid fuel from flowing therethrough when the vapor separator is declined.
US07827963B2
In a method for adaptation of closed-loop control of a pressure in a common-rail injection system (3) for an internal combustion engine (1), with the closed-loop control having a pilot control and the common-rail injection system (3) with at least a correction device (11) able to corrected by corrective signals in each case corresponding to corrective values for influencing the pressure, a pilot control value for generating at least one corrective signal for the correction device (11) is determined, and using the pilot control value by generating the at least one corrective signal and issuing it to a correction device, the current pressure is corrected to a predetermined setpoint pressure. For adaptation the pilot control is adapted as a function of at least one current value of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine (1) and of the corrective value corresponding to the at least one corrective signal.
US07827960B2
A controller of an engine that can use a blended fuel with alcohol blended therein, the controller includes: an ignition timing controller, operable to control an ignition timing of the engine; an exhaust air-fuel ratio detector, operable to detect an exhaust air-fuel ratio of the engine; a concentration detector, operable to detect concentration of the alcohol in the blended fuel; an operation state detector, operable to detect an operation state of the engine; and a corrector, when the operation state which is detected by the operation state detector is a high-speed, high-load operation state, as the concentration of the alcohol which is detected by the concentration detector is higher, operable to control an injection amount which is injected from a fuel injection valve to correct a target equivalence ratio more in a lean direction, and operable to correct the ignition timing which is controlled by the ignition timing controller more to a spark advance side.
US07827957B2
A control device is provided that controls the injection quantity and injection timing of fuel injected into the cylinder of a diesel engine, in which are provided two control modes of: a normal injection mode in which the injection quantity and injection timing are controlled so that the injected fuel ignites near compression top dead center during an injection period; and a premixed injection mode in which the injection quantity and injection timing are controlled so that fuel injection is completed before compression top dead center and the injected fuel ignites near compression top dead center after a premixing period, and target values of control parameters (pilot injection timing, and the like) are set in advance separately for each control mode, the control device comprising change means for gradually changing target values V1 of one control mode into the target values V2 of the other control mode when switching from one control mode to the other control mode.
US07827952B2
A variable tappet includes a tappet body; a variable portion in the tappet body, configured to open and close a valve; and a control portion to maintain the variable portion in either a first state, at which it can open and close the valve, and a second state, at which it cannot open and close the valve.
US07827948B2
A variable valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a drive rotary member rotated by an engine crankshaft, a driven rotary member fixedly connected to a camshaft and transferring a turning force from the drive rotary member to the camshaft, and a phase-change mechanism changing a relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members and having an intermediate rotary member installed between the drive and driven rotary members for a relative rotational phase control. The variable valve timing control apparatus further has a holding mechanism and a releasing mechanism. The holding mechanism forces the intermediate rotary member and holds the relative rotational phase between the drive and driven rotary members, and the releasing mechanism releases a holding state of the holding mechanism.
US07827942B2
Disclosed is a lubrication structure for an engine comprising pistons 12 for slide motion in cylinders 11 of a V-type engine and lubricating means 13 and 14 for injection of oil to cool the pistons 12. The lubricating means 13 or 14 being arranged on an anti-thrust load side of each of the cylinders 11 with respect to a sliding surface for the piston 12, a notch of each of the pistons 12 required for said lubricating means 13 and 14 being formed on the anti-thrust load side of the cylinder 11 so as to increase strength of the cylinders 11 and pistons 12.
US07827938B2
A system and method for operating a manure conveyor device. The method includes driving a first return roller about which a manure conveyor belt circulates at a first rotational speed, and driving a second return roller about which the manure conveyor belt circulates at a second rotational speed. During a first interval the first rotational speed exceeds the second rotational speed, and during a second interval the second rotational speed exceeds the first rotational speed.
US07827928B2
A tactile warning pad composed of a polymer material, the pad comprising contact structures on its upper surface and embedded shearable anchor members in the form of a corrugated mesh webbing, wherein the upper portions of the mesh webbing are embedded within the pad and the lower portions of the mesh webbing extend below the pad, such that the pad may be positioned atop an uncured concrete base with the lower portions of the mesh webbing embedded within the concrete, and further such that the anchor members retain the pad on the concrete base once the concrete has hardened, and further such that the pad is removable from the concrete by shearing the anchor members at the interface between the concrete base and the polymer pad using a bladed shearing implement.
US07827919B2
A multiple track railroad system for use with two adjacent sets of parallel continuous tracks with the tracks having a distance therebetween and each set of tracks including two continuous rails having a distance therebetween. The railroad system includes an engine for pulling a train that has a set of wheels riding on at least two of the rails, and the engine has a width equal to at least one set of the tracks. The railroad system also includes at least one rail car connected to and propelled by the engine, wherein the rail car spans and extends beyond the outer rails of both sets of tracks. The railroad system further includes at least four car-trucks supporting the rail car, with two of the car-trucks on each of the sets of tracks, and each car-truck includes at least four wheels, with two wheels each riding on opposing rails of a set of the tracks; and trundle carrier assemblies, one each mounted to a bolster on each of the car-trucks with the upper end of the carrier assemblies being attached to the rail car to permit the car-trucks to move vertically or horizontally transverse on the tracks relative to the rail car to accommodate variations in the elevation or distance between the tracks.
US07827918B2
Disclosed is a series of stacked intermodal containers, being pulled by a locomotive of a train, with aerodynamic drag reducing devices. A first set of containers has an aerodynamic drag reducing device with a drag reducing fairing and an attachment frame attached thereto. The attachment frame includes first and second mounting devices configured to be removably mounted to connection openings of the corner fittings of the top container of the first set of containers. The first mounting device(s) may be rotatably locked within the top connection openings, while the second mounting device(s) may be hooks for latching into the bottom connection openings. A method of attaching the aerodynamic drag reducing device is also disclosed.
US07827915B1
A muzzle loading bullet gas check has external recess and ridge system, and/or an internal locking ridge system. The preferred gas check has an opening or recess on its front end for receiving and frictionally engaging a rearwardly extending post of the bullet, the opening also preferably including an internal radial ridge for gripping the post and/or locking with an indent on the post. The barrel-interacting part of the gas check has one or more external recesses and adjacent radial ridges/edges protruding relative to the recesses, which serves to reduce the total surface area of the gas check contacting the bore. The recesses do not touch the bore of the firearm, resulting in less friction and easier loading, while the outer ends/surfaces of the ridges/edges do touch the bore to retain the bullet in the bore during handling and hunting and to effectively capture gasses after the firing explosion.
US07827912B2
An optical imaging head for direct engraving of flexographic printing plates, comprising: at least two groups of radiation sources, each group comprising at least one radiation source, wherein the radiation sources within each group emit radiation having the same intensity and spot size, different from the intensity and spot size of radiation sources in the other groups, said groups of radiation sources operating simultaneously.
US07827891B1
A shears device including a rolling table, a rail-guided drive carriage coupled with the rolling table, a U-shaped frame mounted on the drive carriage, and a drive apparatus arranged on the drive carriage for driving the shears. The frame has a first side adjacent the drive apparatus and a second side opposite the first side on which holding elements for the shears are provided. At least one of the holding elements on the second side of an upper of the horizontal arms includes a pressure plate. A drive is provided for moving the drive carriage transverse to the transport line. A clamping element is arranged at the second side of the frame and has congruent gliding plates that overlap the pressure plate. The clamping element together with the gliding plates is movable along a horizontal path across the pressure plate to couple the clamping element and the holding element.
US07827878B2
A bevel gear mechanism, especially a bevel spur-gear mechanism having one or more gear mechanism stages, including a gear mechanism housing that surrounds the gear mechanism stages, and a motor cage, which is connected via a spacer flange to the gear mechanism housing, and is connected to an electric motor. The drive side shaft of the bevel gear mechanism stage is supported in a flanged bushing. Spacer flange and drive side end wall of the gear mechanism housing have a common bore. The common bore extends around the flanged bushing of the drive side shaft. The flanged bushing has a cylindrical outer surface that centers the gear mechanism housing, the spacer flange and the flanged bushing. Furthermore, the flanged bushing, the spacer flange and the drive side end wall are interconnected by screws.
US07827877B2
A gear-rolling apparatus includes two gear units and a base. Each gear unit has a rolling portion, a rolling shaft extends from the rolling portion, a clicking column and two location columns extend from edges of a free end of the rolling shaft along an axle direction of the rolling shaft. The clicking column and the two location columns are spaced out from each other to form three grooves therebetween, a clicking clasp extends inward from the top of the clicking column. The clicking clasp has an inclined inner surface which inclines inward from top to bottom. The two rolling shafts are inserted into the hole of the base, the clicking column of one of the rolling shafts mates the groove opened between the location columns of the other rolling shaft, the location columns of one of the rolling shafts mate the grooves opened between the clicking column and the location columns of the other rolling shaft respectively, bottom surfaces of the two clicking clasps are against each other.
US07827873B2
An apparatus automatically removes soil samples at intervals over a field of interest. The apparatus comprises a sampling assembly that rotates on a track. The probe of the sampler assembly is extended through the track and into the ground, then retracted on each revolution of the track. The sampler assembly is hinged and guided along a track in order to minimize soil compaction as the probe rotates around the rear wheel of the apparatus. Soil is ejected by means of a “rumble path” along the top of the track. The soil samples are pneumatically transferred to a bagging assembly located in the tractor pulling the apparatus.
US07827872B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for guiding a strip, in particular a metal strip. Known apparatuses of this type have a carrier device (110) on which bearing blocks (120) arm fastened. Rollers (130) are rotatably mounted in the bearing blocks in order to guide the strip. So that the roller force acting on the roller in the loading case, i.e. during the guidance of the strip, can be measured in a lasting and reliable manner, it is proposed according to the invention to detect the deformation of the bearing block, in particular in the loading case, by means of a sensor device and ten to calculate the roller force required from the deformation of the bearing block by means of an evaluating device.
US07827864B2
A microelectromechanical gyroscope having a microstructure with a first mass, which can oscillate according to a first axis, and a second mass constrained to the first mass so as to oscillate according to a second axis in response to a rotation of the microstructure, and a driving device coupled to the microstructure to maintain the first mass in oscillation at a resonance frequency, the driving device provided with a low-pass filter having a passband such that the resonance frequency is in the passband and a disturbance frequency associated with disturbance signals due to coupling between the first mass and the second mass is not in the passband.
US07827859B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for obtaining downhole well pressure during wellbore operations. One method comprises providing a well intervention tool comprising a straddle sealing assembly having upper and lower annulus sealing elements and a fluid injection port positioned therebetween, the well intervention tool comprising a fluid injection bore having positioned therein a pressure measurement tool; placing the tool in straddle position about a wellbore region to be intervened, with the pressure measurement tool fluidly connected to a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element; and performing the wellbore intervention operation while communicating fluid from below the lower annulus sealing element to the pressure measurement tool, thus obtaining a pressure measurement below the lower annulus sealing element during the wellbore intervention operation. This abstract will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07827852B2
A gas sensor is disclosed. The gas sensor includes a gas sensing layer including doped oxygen deficient tungsten oxide and a dopant selected from the group consisting of Re, Ni, Cr, V, W, and a combination thereof, at least one electrode positioned within a layer of titanium, and a response modification layer. The at least one electrode is in communication with the gas sensing layer and the gas sensing layer is capable of detecting at least one gas selected from the group consisting of NO, NO2, SOx O2, H2O, and NH3. A method of fabricating the gas sensor is also disclosed.
US07827847B2
This gas sensor is provided with: a detection element that measures a gas concentration of a detection target gas contained in an examination gas; a substrate having a heating element; and a supporting member that is fixed to the substrate, protrudes from the heating element, and supports the detection element.
US07827842B2
A hot forging facility enabling the manufacture of a hot forged product excellent in fatigue properties and cold workability is provided. A heating furnace for heating a steel material and a hot forging apparatus for performing forging of the heated steel material are sequentially arranged on a transport line. A partially cooling apparatus/apparatuses for partially cooling a forged product after hot forging is provided on an exit side of the hot forging apparatus.
US07827839B2
According to a bulging device and a bulging method using a profile element pipe, for example, even when a profile steel pipe having a cross sectional shape varying in the axial direction as in a tapered pipe is hydraulically bulged, a bulging in which an internal pressure loading and an axial pressing are combined with each other can be performed to provide a larger expansion ratio than a conventional case and a joining and socket connection thereof to the other part can also be easily performed.
US07827832B2
A suds container for a washing machine includes plastic and is disposed so as to vibrate inside the machine housing, and includes first and second joint pieces. The first joint piece has a first bore therethrough and the second joint piece has a second bore therethrough aligned with the first bore. The first and second joint pieces are configured to fasten a vibration absorber with a fastening eye of the vibration absorber disposed between the joint pieces. A fastening element is at least partially received in the first and second bores and configured to fasten the vibration absorber. An S-shaped molded part is disposed on the joint pieces and includes third and fourth aligned bores and a first and a second arched area. The first arched area has a U-shape and is disposed between the joint pieces. The second arched area extends so as to overlap a free end of the first joint piece at an outer portion thereof.
US07827825B2
A tool holder device supporting at least one tool configured to collaborate with at least one substrate positioned on edge. The tool holder device makes the tool move translationally and rotationally relative to the substrate, it being possible for the substrate to be moved translationally relative to the tool as the tool is operating. Collaboration between the tool and the substrate occurs with or without contact relative to the edge face of the substrate.
US07827820B2
A thermodynamic machine for the absorption and emission of heat at different temperatures has at least one thermodynamic device with at least one membrane separating a gas phase and a liquid phase provided for transport of heat, wherein the at least one membrane is permeable for at least one component contained in the gas and liquid phases. The at least one membrane is a porous membrane or a solution diffusion membrane or a modification of the porous membrane or a modification of the solution diffusion membrane.
US07827818B2
An apparatus and method for processing products by chilling or freezing includes a conveyor for conveying the products along a plane of travel; lifting means disposed for intermittent contact with the conveyor during processing; cam means rotatable for contacting and displacing the lifting means to contact and displace the conveyor from the plane of travel, thereby displacing the products on the conveyor to prevent the products from adhering to the conveyor and other of the products; and drive means operatively associated with the cam means to impart rotational movement to the cam means for intermittently contacting and displacing the lifting means.
US07827812B2
A humidity controller (1) has a configuration composed of a cold/hot water circuit (10) through which cold/hot water circulates, an adsorption heat exchanger (20) that is provided in the cold/hot water circuit (10) and supports an adsorbent on its surface, and an air passage (30) that supplies air that has passed through the adsorption heat exchanger (20) at the time of hot water circulation to the inside of a room.
US07827811B2
A refrigerator includes a cabinet within which is defined a fresh food compartment and/or a freezer compartment. The refrigerator further includes a control panel or user interface that enables a consumer to input desired operating parameters. The interface is also provided with a plurality of temperature control elements and at least one auxiliary control element. The temperature control elements enable a consumer to set compartment temperatures in a first or basic mode. The auxiliary control element, in addition to serving a function in the basic mode, provides access to a hidden or advanced features menu. Once the hidden menu is accessed, the temperature control elements enable a consumer to select and adjust advanced operating parameters, such as enabling a Sabbath mode, setting a temperature display, altering an intensity of ambient light required to activate a dispenser light, activating an audible warm alarm and initiating a super cool feature.
US07827808B2
The invention relates to a method for washing cooling or air conditioning circuits, according to which a washing agent is conducted through said cooling or air conditioning circuit. Said agent dissolves and absorbs the soluble substances that adhere to the cooling or air conditioning circuits and discharges the mechanical contaminants. The washing agent is conducted through the cooling or air conditioning circuit that is washed in a closed cycle without escaping into the environment, by the pressure differential between the pressure chamber and the distillation chamber and is returned to the pressure chamber after being cleaned in the distillation chamber, compressed by a compressor and cooled in a condenser. The invention also relates to a device for washing cooling or air conditioning circuits, said device consisting of a pressure chamber containing a washing agent. The outlet pipe for fluid of the pressure chamber is connected to the cooling or air conditioning circuit that is washed. A compressor and a condenser, which is connected to a supply line for fluid to the pressure chamber, are connected upstream of said chamber. A distillation chamber is connected between the cooling or air conditioning circuit that is washed and the compressor and inert gas that is compressed by the washing agent is contained in the pressure chamber.
US07827806B2
A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.
US07827793B2
To provide a power generation system that prevents a reduction in the efficiency of a steam turbine due to an aperture adjustment of a turbine governing valve. There is provided a power generation system comprising: a furnace in which a solid fuel or a liquid fuel is combusted; a steam turbine that generates electric power by rotating a turbine rotor using steam generated by the furnace; a superheater that is provided between the furnace and the steam turbine and that superheats the steam; a first steam piping that connects the furnace to the superheater; a second steam piping that connects the superheater to the steam turbine; a first valve provided in the first steam piping; a turbine governing valve provided in the second steam piping; and a control section that adjusts an aperture of the first valve according to a load of the steam turbine.
US07827780B2
A protocol for assembling a fuel shut off pin valve assembly for a turbo fan engine. The protocol outlines a specific sequence of events in order to ensure failsafe incorporation of a fuel shut off valve assembly within the low pressure turbine area and specifically within the engine casing of the turbo fan.
US07827777B2
A combustor arrangement for a gas turbine engine (31) has a split line (42) and a plurality of burners (20,37) arranged in an annular ring (40). The burners (46) of the combustor on either side of the split line (42) have a separation distance of at least two times the average separation distance between burners (48) distant from the split line (42).
US07827776B2
A power generation system. The exemplary system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a gas turbine (28), a gasifier (10) for generating gaseous fuel and a gas combustor (26) configured to receive the fuel and power the gas turbine (28). A drain collection and separation system (5) is positioned to collect gaseous fuel entrained in liquid and to separate the gaseous fuel from the liquid so the gaseous fuel can be cycled or disposed of separately from the liquid.
US07827772B2
A marking assembly for attachment to a vehicle for distributing a marking agent on a substantially grass-covered field to mark one or more lines in one or more predetermined areas thereof. The marking assembly includes a deck having a grass-cutting subassembly for mowing the grass and removing the cuttings thereof to provide freshly-mown grass in the predetermined area, the deck being attachable to the vehicle. The marking assembly also includes one or more nozzle subassemblies positionable downstream relative to the grass-cutting subassembly when the vehicle travels in a forward direction. The nozzle subassembly includes one or more nozzles for releasing the marking agent to mark the line on the predetermined area.
US07827769B2
A method of folding a sheet of packing material, having an extraction opening, about a group of cigarettes; the method includes the steps of: bringing a first end wall of the group of cigarettes into contact with the flat sheet of packing material, so that the major transverse edges of the group of cigarettes are parallel to the short sides of the sheet of packing material, and the minor transverse edges of the group of cigarettes are parallel to the long sides of the sheet of packing material; folding the sheet of packing material into a U about the major transverse edges of the first end wall, so that the sheet of packing material covers both the major lateral walls of the group of cigarettes completely; folding the sheet of packing material onto a second end wall of the group of cigarettes; and folding the sheet of packing material onto the minor lateral walls of the group of cigarettes; the first end wall of the group of cigarettes is positioned asymmetrically with respect to the sheet of packing material, so that the first end wall of the group of cigarettes is closer to the short side of the sheet of packing material opposite the extraction opening, and is further from the short side of the sheet of packing material located close to the extraction opening.
US07827766B2
A bulk material is compacted from its bulk state into a rectangular parallelepiped so that it can readily be wrapped with stretch film. To this end, a stretch film is wrapped spirally around a cylindrical skirt section having an open end while the stretch film is being moved towards the open end of the skirt section, thereby forming a cylinder of such stretch film. While the cylinder of wrapped film is being moved further, a pressed load material is pushed out of the skirt section to push the pressed load material into the cylinder of wrapped film fed past the open end of the skirt section. The wrapped cylindrical film is severed at positions spaced from opposite ends of the load material covered therewith or is sealed at these opposite ends.
US07827760B2
A spacer profile (50) for a spacer profile frame mountable in the edge area of an insulating window unit for forming an intervening space (53) between window panes (51, 52), has a profile body (10) made of synthetic material and comprises one or more chambers (20) for accommodating hygroscopic material. A metal film (30) encloses the profile body on three-sides such that, in the bent/assembled state of the spacer profile, the non-enclosed inner side of the profile body is directed towards the intervening space between the window panes. The not-enclosed inner side of the profile body comprises openings (15) for moisture exchange between hygroscopic material accommodated in the chamber(s) and the intervening space between the window panes. The metal film comprises a profile (31a-g, 32a-g) on each end directed towards the intervening space of the window panes. Each profile has at least one edge or bend.
US07827752B2
A knocked-down insulating concrete form including two spaced apart lightweight panels maintained in position by a tie assembly. The tie assembly including a pair of vertically elongated anchors which are each attached to one of the two panels, and a tie engaging the anchors to maintain the panels in spaced apart relation. The tie engaging the anchors via a slideable locking mechanism for selectively preventing slideable movement between the tie and the anchors.
US07827748B2
A tower foundation (10) comprises a base slab (11), a plurality of pillar slabs (12), and a crown stab (13). The base slab (11), pillar slabs (12) and crown slab (13) are all retained in position by six steel guide rods (18) that extend upwardly from the base slab (11). The six guide rods (18) have externally threaded ends configured to receive internally threaded mounting bolts (20). The guide rods are arranged in a generally triangular pattern. The pillar slabs are rectangular with their sides being undercut or sloping outwardly from the bottom surface to the top surface, i.e., the sidewalls diverge outwardly as they extend upwardly. The outwardly sloping sidewalls aid in preventing the foundation from tilting over time.
US07827746B2
There are currently two major types of exterior building envelope finishing systems: window wall systems, and curtain wall systems. Window wall systems use panels which fit between concrete floor slaps, and hence, are prone to leakage and are not aesthetically appealing. Curtain wall systems are installed proud of the concrete slabs, so have better performance, but are expensive to install. The system of the invention has the high performance of a curtain wall system, with the ease of installation of a window wall system. The invention uses rigid panels which cover the face of a building like a curtain wall system, providing a complete gasketed seal without the need for caulking as in the case of window wall systems. The vertical mullions are notched, so that the mullions can be easily anchored to the upper and lower surfaces of the concrete slabs.
US07827741B2
A device for anchoring one or more guy wires used to support a transmission tower is provided. The device includes an equalizer plate having a front surface and a back surface, and an anchor rod affixed proximal to a first end thereof such that a flat end surface of the first end of the anchor rod is completely exposed. The equalizer plate of the anchoring device includes a recess for receiving the first end of the anchor rod. The recess comprises a first elongated region having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the anchor rod, and an opening formed at an end of the elongated region. The flat end surface of the first end of the anchor rod preferably extends into the opening beyond the point where the opening meets the elongated region.
US07827738B2
Construction systems for erecting building structures comprise a plurality of prefabricated interconnectable modular building units, each unit not meeting at least one of the ISO certification criteria for transport of cargo, but each unit comprising a frame shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other units, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame conforming to ISO shipping standards such that each unit is transportable using the ISO intermodal transportation system, and such that when the units are aggregated horizontally and vertically and adjacent units are interconnected, a building structure comprising at least one habitable space is formed. The modular units are assembled in a factory remote from the job site, and are there constructed to a semi-finished state, including installation of one or more of interior fit-out systems and finishes, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, environmental systems, and fire protection systems, following which the semi-finished modular units are transported from the factory to the job site, where they are craned into place and secured to form the structure being erected, a plurality of adjacent pairs of semi-finished modular units also being “stitched” together, and the semi-finished modular units are thereafter constructed to a finished state.
US07827735B1
A liftgate assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel having an external periphery and a skeletonized, trussform inner panel joined to the outer panel at their mutual external peripheries. A latch assembly is mounted within a latch cavity defined by a section of the trussform inner panel and a facing portion of the outer panel. At least one standoff structure is interposed between the outer panel and the inner panel at a location adjacent to the latch cavity so as to resist deformation of the outer panel and consequent reduction in size of the latch cavity in the event that an impact is imposed upon the outer panel at a location near the latch cavity.
US07827732B2
A fish catcher having a handle connected to a base wherein the base is tubular in shape having two ends. On a first end is a large opening less than the diameter of the tube. On the second or distal end is an opening smaller than the large opening. The body is made of an opaque rigid material.
US07827730B1
A fishing lure includes a rattle that is adjustable between a rattling mode and a muted mode. The fishing lure includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface. Inside the body is a rattle chamber and a muted chamber, with a channel connecting the rattle chamber with the muted chamber. The rattle is moveable between the muted chamber and the rattle chamber to determine when rattling is available and when the rattle is muted.
US07827726B2
A weapon accessory integrates multiple illumination sources and a mechanism for dispensing a chemical irritant within a single housing for attachment as a fore grip to a firearm. The weapon accessory has selectable microprocessor-controlled multi-modes of operation for providing illumination, sighting or target debilitation. Switches on the outside of the housing enable user setting and control of the multiple modes of operation, which include one or a combination of (i) activating high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate an object or human subject with either visible or infrared light, (ii) activating a visible or infrared laser for sighting a target, (iii) activating a frequency modulation mode that alternates pulsing white and blue LEDs at three superimposed frequencies to temporarily disable, distract and degrade the vision of a human subject, and (iv) activating the chemical irritant dispenser.
US07827724B1
A scope mount base design which readily accepts onto a preexisting rear sight base without any alteration of the sight base except for the easy removal of the original sight leaf and mainspring. This scope mount invention achieves solid lockup by the use of the appropriate sized threaded support fixtures and scope mount configuration to successfully engage these rear sight slots that originally contained the sight leaf and mainspring, and thus achieve strong lockup of the scope mount to the sight base.
US07827720B1
The autoloading handgun is a short recoil, locked breech, semiautomatic service pistol. A rear located safety latch is provided for ambidextrous usage. A hold-open lever opens the pistol after the last round in the magazine is fired. A recoil spring guide rod, which alone is used for field stripping, is provided. Only three moving elements, a trigger, trigger bar, and a striker are required for firing. The hold-open lever is formed from a single piece lever acting laterally and cooperating with the magazine follower. A standard Browning swinging barrel lock is utilized wherein at the instant of firing, barrel and breechblock remain locked with each other, recoil backward for a small distance, and then swing vertically away from each other via cam elements. The swinging barrel lock construction has no intermediate parts.
US07827715B2
A multi-sided hand-held sign includes two substantially planar panels having a preselected shape interlocking substantially perpendicularly at a common central vertical axis and held in position partly by a handle for engaging with and holding the sign panels. Indicia typical of signs held by school crossing guards are disposed on all the planar surfaces of the planar sign panels, and a slotted top end cap is engageable with the top horizontal edges of the planar sign panels.
US07827712B2
An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.
US07827708B2
A cycling shoe substantially defined by an appropriately shaped vamp, a rigid sole stitched and/or glued to the bottom of the vamp, and one or more Velcro-fastened straps by which to tighten the vamp and immobilize the user's foot inside the shoe; each strap having a slip ring secured stably to the vamp, close to a first lateral edge of the vamp defining the longitudinal opening for insertion of the foot; and a fastening strip, of appropriate length, which has a first end secured stably to the vamp, close to a second lateral edge of the vamp defining the longitudinal opening for insertion of the foot, and is designed to fold back on itself about an intermediate portion, so that the second end of the strip rests on one of the two faces of the strip, close to the first end of the strip.
US07827704B2
Methods of making molded articles and the articles formed by the method, particularly viscoelastic gel articles.
US07827696B2
A corn scraper for removing whole kernels from the core of a corn includes a handle portion and a utility portion connected to the handle portion. The utility portion includes a bridge member and a base plate. The bridge member is connected to the base plate against which an ear of corn is put in use. The bridge member is provided with at least one tooth means for engagement and cutting into the root of the kernels of the corn.
US07827684B2
The invention relates to a process for finish-machining of bearing positions on main bearing journals and connecting rod bearing journals of crankshafts for motor car engines, whereby the crankshafts have roundings between the bearing positions and transitions adjacent in each case to the bearing positions. The roundings are deep rolled with a deep rolling tool and then, while maintaining a distance interval to an individual transition in each case the bearing position concerned is machined with removal of material with a small cutting depth.
US07827683B2
A method is provided for cold forming center web or webless tapered piston pins in one forming sequence. The method eliminates secondary operations such as but not limited to machining, annealing, coating and secondary forming.The method includes the steps of cutting a metal rod into a substantially cylindrical slug piece, die extruding the slug piece to form a first cavity in the slug piece, optionally die extruding the slug piece to form a second cavity in the slug piece, piercing the slug piece to form the slug piece into a hollow cylindrical piece, die extruding the hollow cylindrical piece at either end to form a hollow cylindrical piece having a taper on an internal surface of the hollow cylindrical piece at either end.
US07827682B2
Apparatus and method for making circuitized substrates using a continuous roll format in which a layer of conductor is fed into the apparatus, layers of photo-imageable dielectric are applied to opposite sides of the conductor layer, thru-holes are formed through the composite, and then metal layers are added over the dielectric and then patterns (e.g., circuit) are formed therein. Several operations are performed in addition to these to form the final end product, a circuitized substrate (e.g., printed circuit board), all while the conductor layer of the product is retained in a solid format, up to the final separation from the continuous layer.
US07827680B2
An electroplating process of electroplating an electrically conductive substrate is described. The process includes electroplating intermittently to a predetermined plating thickness using the substrate surface as a cathode and a plating metal as an anode at a constant voltage between the anode and the cathode by repeating application of a voltage between a cathode and an anode and interruption of the application alternately. It is described that a voltage time/interruption time ratio is 0.1 to 1.0, a voltage time is not longer than 10 seconds, and an interruption time is not less than 1 x 10-12 seconds.
US07827679B1
A thermal management circuit board comprises a heat sink, at least one insulating layer and at least one electronic circuit. The heat sink comprises a heat conducting material having tooling holes disposed therethrough and raised portions disposed on at least one surface thereof. The raised portions of the heat sink provide mounting surfaces for heat producing electronic components on a plane above a chemically etched surface of the heat sink. The electronic circuit comprises a prepreg and a circuit material wherein the circuit material is laminated to the prepreg, has a photoresist laid thereupon with at least one circuit image printed thereupon. The photoresist is then developed and the circuit material is chemically etched to define a circuit trace of the electronic circuit. The insulating layer comprises a thermally and electrically resistant material and has apertures disposed therethrough corresponding in size and shape to the raised portions of the heat sink. The circuit trace has an upper surface for receiving surface mount electronic components thereupon and the electronic circuit also has apertures disposed therethrough corresponding in size and location to the raised portions of the heat sink. The insulating layer, the electronic circuit and the heat sink are laminated together with heat and pressure with the raised portions disposed through the apertures wherein the plane of the mounting surfaces of the heat sink is on the same plane as the upper surface of the circuit trace of the electronic circuit.
US07827678B2
A device for making a shielded electrical wire comprising a first folding die that folds a first and second edge of a shield tape in an opposite direction from the central portion of the shield tape, a second folding die that wraps the shield tape around the insulated conductors and folds the first edge back over onto the central portion of the shield tape to form a receiving area, a third folding die that tightens the shield tape around the plurality of conductors while positioning the receiving area to receive a drain wire, a wire guide that installs a drain wire in the receiving area, and a closing die that closes the shield tape around the plurality of conductors and the drain wire to form an enclosure around the plurality of conductors with the second edge overlapping the receiving area at an outside surface of the enclosure, in order to better define the claimed invention.
US07827672B2
In a stator for an automotive alternator, the inner circumferential surfaces of the bridge portions are placed in contact with the end surfaces of the stator core without any gaps so that the spatial ratio occupied by the clusters of stator windings belonging to the bridge portions in the coil ends of the stator coil is at high density. The method of manufacture comprises a step of manufacturing a parallelepiped laminated body having a plurality of slots by laminating a plurality of comb-shaped strips each having a band portion and a plurality of teeth, a step of inserting into the slots from the side of the openings of the slots a stator coil comprising bridge portions and axially parallel portions having current generating portions, a step of extending the ends of the teeth of the laminated body in the longitudinal direction of the laminated body, and a step of bending the laminated body to form a cylindrical shape.
US07827667B2
A packaging arrangement for smoothly and conveniently providing small hardware items to an assembly line operator is described. The items are fastened onto a flexible band, lined up in the order in which they are to be installed on an article being assembled. The band is divided into equal segments defined by index marks, each segment containing the hardware items required for the assembly of one article. The items are fastened to the band off-line using securing features fashioned from the band itself in a manner and orientation by which each item can be plucked from the band with a tool that can grasp the item, pull it off the band, transport it to the article being assembled, and install it on the article without intermediate disengagement from the tool. The utilization of the band improves the productivity and reliability of manually assembled articles such as disk drives.
US07827664B1
An apparatus for automatically and simultaneously removing connector clips of a workpiece from a gauge. The present invention includes at least one gauging fixture having at least one aperture extending therethrough in a predetermined position. The at least one aperture is adaptable to receive a connector clip connected to the workpiece wherein the connector clip is engageable with the aperture between a non-engaging position, wherein the connector clip does not engage the aperture, and an engaging position, wherein the connector clip engages the aperture for securing the workpiece against the gauging fixture to gauge the position of the connector clip. At least one linear actuator is connected to the gauging fixture adjacent the aperture to move between a retracted position, wherein the connector clip remains engaged with the gauging fixture, and an extended position, wherein the linear actuator disengages the connector clip from the gauging fixture.
US07827654B2
In a self-traveling cleaner of the present invention, a cleaning mechanism includes a brush mechanism rotatable along a floor surface and a driving mechanism for rotatingly driving the brush mechanism. The brush mechanism includes a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the floor surface, one arm projecting laterally from a lower end of the rotation axis, and a brush planted on the arm. The rotation axis is provided within a reverse side of the main body, and the arm has a rotation angle range in which the arm projects outwardly from an outer periphery of the main body and a rotation angle range in which the arm is contained within the outer periphery of the main body.
US07827648B2
Disclosed is a cleaning brush for cleaning toilet bowls and the like. The brush has a permanent handle and replaceable/disposable brush heads that are flushable after each cleaning. The brush is a stack of sheets of water-dissolvable and/or agitation-dissolvable material. The sheets can be attached together at an end by pressure bonding or by a water-soluble adhesive and formed with bristles at an opposite end. The wand provides a remote system for clamping and unclamping the brush head.
US07827644B2
A powered toothbrush is provided and includes a handle portion having a neck formed at one end and a head coupled to the neck. The head includes a first carrier coupled to the head and operatively connected to a drive mechanism for moving the first carrier in a first path of motion. The first carrier has at least one of a plurality of bristles and elastomeric cleaning members extending outwardly therefrom to deliver oral care benefits to the user. The head also includes a second carrier coupled to the head. The second carrier is formed of an elastomeric material and has at least one of a plurality of bristles and elastomeric cleaning members extending outwardly from an upper surface thereof. The second carrier is constructed so that upon application of a force to the upper surface thereof, the second carrier moves in a second path of motion that is different from the first path of motion.
US07827638B1
A multi-function tool with a battery tester. The multi-function tool has a scissors-like cutter and a ceramic tool for scoring thin plastic wrap, such as cellophane type wrap. The battery tester can test a variety of battery types and voltages, especially 9 volt and 1.5 volt batteries due to distinct terminal pair arrangements carried on one or both handles.
US07827636B2
The present invention is directed to a gelastic cushion. The gelastic cushion is made from a conventional gelastic composition. The gelastic cushion has a structure having a first wall that defines an opening area and buckles when a force is applied to the first wall. When the first wall buckles a predetermined amount, a second wall, interconnected to the first wall, also buckles. The second wall decreases the chance that the first wall bottoms out. Bottoming out increases the pressure on the patient (a.k.a., the force) overlying the gelastic cushion. That increased pressure is undesirable.
US07827633B2
A bed clothing assembly for a mattress including a mattress band and a unitary sheet assembly that is removably attachable to the mattress band for attaching and changing bedding. The mattress band encircles the sidewall of the mattress, and includes upper and lower edge portions that extending inwardly and continuously around the peripheral edges of the top and bottom surfaces of the mattress, respectively, when the mattress band is installed on the mattress. The unitary sheet assembly includes a bottom sheet and top sheet connected together as one unit. A plurality of fasteners around the bottom sheet permit the detachable securment of the bottom sheet to the mattress band to facilitate placing the unitary sheet assembly on the mattress. This particular construction and arrangement is advantageous to a person that is physically disabled and permits easy changing of bedding without having to lift the mattress.
US07827630B2
The invention disclosed herein is a novel Home Lift Position and Rehabilitation (HLPR) apparatus designed to provide stable movement along several critical axes of motion including lift capability. The HLPR apparatus is capable of moving along a desired floor path (“x-axis”), moving on a vertical axis to lift a patient (“z-axis”), rotating the HLPR apparatus itself (along an “outer rotational axis”), and rotating a patient within the HLPR apparatus while the HLPR apparatus itself remains stationary (along an “inner rotational axis”). The telescoping, double-nested C-frame structure of the HLPR apparatus and pivot assembly allow any patient support structure known in the art to be suspended securely and to move in a stable, torque-resistant manner to assist patients in rehabilitation and in independently performing activities of daily living.
US07827626B2
A toilet seat includes a toilet bowl and a toilet platform. A toilet platform includes a bowl seat having a seating portion and a mounting portion. A seat hinge mechanism includes two spaced apart retention bases adapted for securely mounting at the toilet platform of the toilet bowl wherein the joint members are detachably engaged with the retention bases respectively for detachably mounting bowl seat on the toilet platform of the toilet bowl in a tool-less manner.
US07832007B2
An exemplary method is provided for managing and mitigating security risks through planning. A first security-related information of a requested product is received. A second security-related information of resources that are available for producing the requested product is received. A multi-stage process with security risks managed by the first security-related information and the second security-related information is performed to produce the requested product.
US07831998B2
A protocol for closing all active communication links between one device (110.1) and one or more other devices in a group provides that the first device sets up the group by generating an input to a predefined function (e.g. one-way function) according to some random distribution, computing the output of the one-way function, and sharing the output value with all other devices in the group. Then to close all communication links, the first device broadcasts the stored input to all other devices in the group. The other devices may check that the one-way function applied to this input results in the shared output value, and if so, close the communication link.
US07831996B2
Techniques for authenticating clients of differing capabilities in an efficient manner. Two or more authentication techniques, including one preferred authentication technique, are initiated to run in parallel to authenticate a client. Upon determining that the client can support the preferred authentication technique, the preferred technique is used to authenticate the client and the other authentication techniques are aborted. If it is determined that the client cannot support the preferred authentication technique, then one of the other authentication techniques is used to authenticate the client. In this manner, based upon the capabilities of the client, an appropriate authentication technique is used to authenticate the client in an efficient manner.
US07831994B2
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.
US07831974B2
A mechanism that associates a mutual exclusion lock with a shared data item and provides ownership of the mutual exclusion lock to multiple execution threads that execute code operating on the shared data item in a sequential order.
US07831958B2
Systems and methods for distributing updated property information to interrelated components based on property changes in other components are provided that allow the use of component abstraction. In one embodiment, the present invention may include a property broker system that monitors property changes in components, analyzes the which interrelated components may be affected by the property change, and updates any affected components accordingly.
US07831947B2
A semiconductor layout design apparatus has an inter-block connection information extracting part, a block global placement part and a cell placement setting part. The inter-block connection information extracting part configured to extract the number of wiring connections between a plurality of blocks including standard cells and macrocells based on a net list, library information, floor plan information and technology information. The block global placement part configured to roughly place the plurality of blocks in a placement region on a semiconductor substrate. The cell placement setting part configured to set placement positions of the macrocells in the block based on a positioning relationship with the other block and the number of the wiring connections with the other block with respect to each of the plurality of blocks roughly placed by the block global placement part.
US07831942B1
Systems and methods for creating and implementing two-dimensional (2D), image-based design rules (IBDRs) are disclosed. Techniques for creating 2D IBDR can include identifying a search pattern that is representative of a 2D pattern of interest of a design, creating a pattern representation based on the search pattern, defining an anchor point for the pattern representation, and assigning weights to elements of the pattern representation. The 2D IBDR can be used in systems and method for searching a design by comparing the 2D IBDR to the design. A number of 2D IBDRs can be merged into a subset of similar 2D IBDRs by characterizing desired rule geometries, sorting the 2D IBDRs into groups according to the desired rule geometries, merging the groups of 2D IBDRs into a single representative search pattern. Additionally, standard design rules can be created from the disclosed 2D IBDRs. The standard design rule can be created from a 2D pattern of interest by defining an origin of a shape within the 2D pattern of interest, identifying features within the 2D pattern of interest, deriving parameters relative to the origin for each of the identified features, and writing the standard design rule script using the derived parameters.
US07831939B2
In a semiconductor integrated circuit design method for carrying out a design of circuit patterns, a plurality of circuit patterns are defined, and each of the circuit patterns is composed of at least one minimum unit area. One of the circuit patterns is selected, and an expansion area is defined with respect to the selected circuit pattern so that the selected circuit pattern is at least included in the expansion area. An area ratio of an area size of the circuit pattern or circuit patterns included in the expansion area to an area size of the expansion area is calculated, and the area ratio is compared with a reference value.
US07831914B2
A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging.
US07831913B2
Item selections along with user inputs are leveraged to provide users with automated item tagging. Further user interaction with additional windows and other interfacing techniques are not required to tag the item. In one example, a user selects items and begins typing a tag which is automatically associated with the selected items without further user action. Tagging suggestions can also be supplied based on a user's selection, be dynamically supplied based on a user's input action, and/or be formulated automatically based on user data and/or tags and the like associated with selections by an external source. Machine learning can also be utilized to facilitate in tag determination. This increases the value of the tagged items by providing greater item access flexibility and allowing multiple associations (or tags) with each item.
US07831911B2
A spell checking system includes a letter spelling engine. The letter spelling engine is configured to select a plurality of candidate letter target strings that closely match a misspelled source string. The spell checking system includes a phoneme spelling engine. The phoneme spelling engine is configured to select a plurality of candidate phoneme target strings that closely match the misspelled source string. A ranker module is configured to combine the candidate letter target strings and the candidate phoneme target strings into a combined list of candidate target strings. The ranker module is also configured to rank the list of candidate target strings to provide a list of best candidate target strings for the misspelled source string.
US07831905B1
A portal can create and send one or more pages, such as markup language documents, to an information device. The portal can create the page using one or more stylesheets. The stylesheets may include one or more pre-conditions, such as data requirements, in order to use the stylesheet. The portal may use the pre-conditions in obtaining data used to construct the page.
US07831904B2
The invention concerns a method of creating an XML document on a web browser. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: receiving data input from a web browser; duplicating a source XML document stored in advance, the source XML document including predefined structures and predetermined source data; replacing the source data included in the duplicated XML document by the received input data; and storing the XML document resulted in the above replacing step as a new XML document. According to the invention, an ordinary user can easily create XML documents in a given form, e.g., resumes, commercial agreement sheets, official documents, etc., using only current web browsers widely used, without a specified XML editor.
US07831899B2
A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.
US07831893B2
A programmable decoder includes at least one programming input for a plurality of programmable, reduced state trellis parameters. A programmable device is connected to the at least one programming input and implements a Reduced-State Sequence Estimation (RSSE) decoder comprising at least one reduced-state trellis structure based upon the plurality of programmable reduced-state trellis parameters, including one of at least the number of super-states, the number of full-states, the number of branches per super-state, a reverse super-state trellis table, a decoder super-state survivor as a full-state, a forward full-state table, a full-state to super-state mapping table, a decoder super-state path metric and decoder super-state traceback array.
US07831890B2
A transceiver is designed to share memory and processing power amongst a plurality of transmitter and/or receiver latency paths, in a communications transceiver that carries or supports multiple applications. For example, the transmitter and/or receiver latency paths of the transceiver can share an interleaver/deinterleaver memory. This allocation can be done based on the data rate, latency, BER, impulse noise protection requirements of the application, data or information being transported over each latency path, or in general any parameter associated with the communications system.
US07831888B2
A controller includes a link interface that is to couple to a first link to communicate bi-directional data and a second link to transmit unidirectional error-detection information. An encoder is to dynamically add first error-detection information to at least a portion of write data. A transmitter, coupled to the link interface, is to transmit the write data. A delay element is coupled to an output from the encoder. A receiver, coupled to the link interface, is to receive second error-detection information corresponding to at least the portion of the write data. Error-detection logic is coupled to an output from the delay element and an output from the receiver. The error-detection logic is to determine errors in at least the portion of the write data by comparing the first error-detection information and the second error-detection information, and, if an error is detected, is to assert an error condition.
US07831886B2
A stopping rule for Turbo decoding that is applied for both good and bad code blocks is disclosed. If the iteration either converges or diverges, decoding is terminated. In an alternative embodiment, the result of the stopping rule testing may be used for H-ARQ acknowledgement generation: if the iteration converges, an ACK is generated and if the iteration diverges, a NACK is generated. Optionally, the maximum number of decoding iterations may be dynamically selected based on MCS levels.
US07831884B2
A method of correcting errors in a message transmitted over a digital communication channel, where the message was encoded using a CRC for purposes of error detection. A parity-check matrix representation of the CRC is computed for any fixed-length message, and that parity-check matrix is combined with the parity-check matrix for any error correcting code that used in conjunction with the CRC. The combined parity-check matrix is extended using sparsification algorithms to allow it to work well under a message passing decoder (MPD). Received messages are decoded using the message passing decoder, making it possible to correct more errors than if the CRC were decoded in a conventional manner.
US07831882B2
A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
US07831873B1
An integrated circuit is used to monitor and process parametric variations, such as temperature and voltage variations. An integrated circuit may include a temperature-sensitive oscillator circuit and a temperature-insensitive oscillator circuit, and frequency difference between the two sources may be monitored. In some embodiments, a parametric-insensitive reference oscillator is used as a reference to measure frequency performance of a second oscillator wherein the second oscillator performance is parametric-sensitive. The measured frequency performance is then compared to a tamper threshold and the result of the comparison is indicative of tampering.
US07831871B2
Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
US07831866B2
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for link failure detection in a parallel computer including compute nodes connected in a rectangular mesh network, each pair of adjacent compute nodes in the rectangular mesh network connected together using a pair of links, that includes: assigning each compute node to either a first group or a second group such that adjacent compute nodes in the rectangular mesh network are assigned to different groups; sending, by each of the compute nodes assigned to the first group, a first test message to each adjacent compute node assigned to the second group; determining, by each of the compute nodes assigned to the second group, whether the first test message was received from each adjacent compute node assigned to the first group; and notifying a user, by each of the compute nodes assigned to the second group, whether the first test message was received.
US07831851B2
A switching regulator is disclosed that includes a switching transistor controlling output of an input voltage by switching in accordance with an input control signal; a smoothing circuit part configured to smooth the output voltage of the switching transistor and output the smoothed voltage to an output terminal; a control circuit part configured to control the switching of the switching transistor in synchronization with an externally input clock signal so that a voltage at the output terminal is a predetermined constant voltage; and a clock signal detector circuit part configured to detect the presence or absence of inputting of the clock signal. Upon detecting stoppage of the inputting of the clock signal, the clock signal detector circuit part causes the control circuit part to stop operating and perform a standby operation for reducing power consumption and thereby to turn off the switching transistor.
US07831849B2
A host chipset heartbeat may be utilized, in some embodiments, to handle interrupts from external devices on a power efficient basis. The availability of the host chipset heartbeat may be signaled to external devices and those external devices may time their activities to a period of time when not only are resources available, but the assertion of the activity is advantageous because the host chipset is already transitioning from a lower power consumption state.
US07831843B2
A method of controlling power supplies in an information handling system, comprising measuring a power consumption of each of a plurality of electrical devices in the information handling system and adjusting a number of operating power supplies based at least in part on the measured power consumption of each of the plurality of electrical devices.
US07831833B2
A secure mechanism for transparent key recovery for a user who has changed authentication information is disclosed. A password manager agent intercepts requests by a user to access secure resources that require user credentials. Upon detecting changed authentication information for the user, the password manager agent automatically regenerates the components of a cryptographic key associated with the user that was previously used to encrypt user credentials for the user and then destroyed. After regeneration of the original cryptographic key, the password manager agent uses the key to decrypt the user credentials necessary for the requested application. The regenerated key is then destroyed and the user credentials are re-encrypted by the password manager agent using a new cryptographic key associated with the user made up of multiple components. Following the re-encryption of the user credentials, the components used to assemble the new key are securely stored in multiple locations and the new key is destroyed.
US07831830B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.
US07831805B2
Provides methods, systems and apparatus for coupling a general purpose processor (GPP) to an application specific instruction set processor (ASIP) in such a manner that the GPP can include execute instructions that do not normally comprise part of its instruction set architecture (ISA). The GPP is coupled to the ASIP via a coprocessor port such that instructions issued by the GPP to the port are conveyed to a novel pre-decoder module of the ASIP. The pre-decoder module translates the GPP instruction into operation codes for ASIP instructions to be executed in the ASIP or to an address in the ASIP instruction memory that identifies a start address for a plurality of ASIP instructions defining a complex application specific function. Once the ASIP has executed the instructions it shares the result of the execution with the GPP. In this way, the GPP takes advantage of the ASIP in its ability to more quickly execute an application specific program/procedure.
US07831804B2
A processor architecture includes a number of processing elements for treating input signals. The architecture is organized according to a matrix including rows and columns, the columns of which each include at least one microprocessor block having a computational part and a set of associated processing elements that are able to receive the same input signals. The number of associated processing elements is selectively variable in the direction of the column so as to exploit the parallelism of said signals. Additionally the processor architecture of the present invention enable dynamic switching between instruction parallelism and data parallel processing typical of vectorial functionality. The architecture can be scaled in various dimensions in an optimal configuration for the algorithm to be executed.
US07831803B2
Executing MIMD programs on a SIMD machine, including establishing on the SIMD machine a plurality of SIMD partitions; booting a first SIMD partition in MIMD mode; executing, on a compute node of the first SIMD partition booted in MIMD mode, a MIMD accelerator program; executing a SIMD program in a second SIMD partition, one instance of the SIMD program executing on each compute node of the second SIMD partition, each instance of the SIMD program carrying out a portion of the data processing effected by the SIMD program; and accelerating, by an instance of the SIMD program through the MIMD accelerator program, a portion of the data processing of the instance of the SIMD program.
US07831794B2
A memory card is attached to a host device, and includes a data control circuit which transfers data with respect to the host device in synchronism with a rise edge and a fall edge of a clock signal.
US07831792B2
In a computer system an object of this invention is to reduce physical resource contentions during the parallel migration of volumes. The computer system of this invention has the host computers, the storage systems and the storage management server. When parallelly migrating two or more volumes of data in the storage systems to the same number of other volumes, the storage management server selects volumes having few physical conflicts of the controllers or storage devices in the storage systems and executes the parallel migration operation.
US07831785B2
A data collection management system comprises collection logic configured to store incoming data in a memory at a collection rate, and memory management logic configured to automatically downsample at least a portion of the stored data in response to a usage level of the memory reaching a threshold.
US07831778B2
A method and system that utilizes a shared nonvolatile memory for initializing multiple processing components in a device. The startup logic and configuration data for processing components within a device is stored in a single nonvolatile memory. Upon receipt of a command to initialize the device, the shared memory system copies the startup logic and configuration data from the nonvolatile memory to a volatile main memory. Then, each processing component accesses the main memory to find its startup logic and configuration data and begin executing. The shared memory system reduces the number of nonvolatile memory components used to initialize multiple processing components.
US07831771B2
A system and method for managing cachable entities (i.e., entities stored in a cache and/or entities which may be stored in a cache) in a data processing application. In one aspect, a method for managing cachable entities comprises the steps of analyzing program code to determine if there is at least one statement which affects a desirability of performing at least one cache transaction; and performing the at least one cache transaction if it is desired. In another aspect, a program analysis tool statically analyzes program code to locate points where object state changes occur, where objects are created and where objects are deleted, and then generates regularized dependencies at such points for and employing the dependencies to invalidate dependent cached queries. Query specific keys are generated to insert query results into and retrieve query results from a dependency managed cache. Regularized dependencies are generated at the object query points and are attached to query results inserted into a dependency managed cache, which facilitates consistency of query results from the dependency managed cache.
US07831762B2
In bit alterable memories, a particular header of a particular block may be programmed to a particular code to indicate that the block is to be considered empty. This saves the time of resetting all the bits in both the header and the data section of the block.
US07831753B2
A data flow control and bridging architecture that enhances the performance of removable data storage systems. In one implementation, the present invention provides a bypass bus implementation where the data transfer phase associated with select commands occurs directly between the host computing system and the target removable data storage unit. In one implementation, the present invention further provides a data flow and bridging architecture that emulates a removable media interface, such as the ATAPI interface, to the host computing system, and translates these commands for a target removable storage unit that implements a fixed media interface, such as the ATA interface. In yet another implementation, the present invention provides a data flow and bridging architecture that supports the serial ATA interface.
US07831744B2
A storage system that includes: a plurality of microprocessors; a plurality of storage areas to be formed to a drive group; an assignment section that assigns, to each of the microprocessors, an ownership of accessing any of the storage areas; a management section that manages, as an operating ratio, a proportion of a time to be taken for each of the microprocessors to execute a request issued to each of the storage areas; a search section that searches, for transferring the ownership assigned to an arbitrary one of the microprocessors to any of the another microprocessor determined based on the operating ratio, one or more of the storage areas under the ownership of the arbitrary microprocessor for a transfer-target storage area; and a transfer section that transfers, to the another microprocessor, the ownership of the transfer-target storage area that is assigned to the arbitrary microprocessor. The resulting storage system can make full use of the performance capabilities of a storage device, and an ownership transfer method can be provided.
US07831740B2
A control circuit used to transfer data to a programmable memory in an electronic device can be separate from a general operation processor circuit that controls general operations of the electronic device. The controller circuit may allow a transfer of data to the programmable memory without the use of Random Access Memory (RAM) or a Read Only Memory (ROM) that is under the control of the general operation processor circuit. The general operation processor circuit can be disabled by the controller circuit while data is transferred (i.e. programmed to) programmable memory.
US07831737B2
An apparatus, method, system for communicating with a counterpart communication apparatus via a network using more than one communication procedure or protocol. The communication procedure or protocol is selected based on the presence information or location information of a firewall on the network.
US07831734B2
The present invention provides a method and system for remote configuration of heterogeneous network devices from a centralized location.
US07831731B2
A method and system for handing-off TCP states in a communication network. Specifically, the present invention allows for handing-off TCP states between nodes in an associated network that is optimized for rare handoff of TCP states. The handoff occurs between dynamically loadable modules that wrap around the TCP/IP stack located at a front-end node and a selected back-end web server. A handoff protocol implemented by the loadable modules works within the kernel level of the existing TCP/IP code. As such, no changes to the existing TCP/IP code is necessary. The loadable modules at the front-end are able to select a back-end web server depending on the content of the web request, coordinate handing off TCP states, and forward packets to the back-end web server. Loadable modules at the selected back-end modify response packets going out to reflect the proper TCP state of the front-end node.
US07831730B1
A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network and for building-up a good quality version of the media information. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided from a media server, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. Once the media server receives the request, the media server begins to stream a copy of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth to the user device via the network and proxy device. If a version of the media information for the bandwidth is not available from the media server, the version for the largest bandwidth that does not exceed the bandwidth of the user device connection, is streamed to the user device. If the version of the media information has missing packets, the proxy device sends retransmission requests to the media server to obtain the missing packets, thereby building-up a good quality version of the media information.
US07831726B2
An MPEG-4 based multimedia system in connection with a service provider therefore, and a remote communication device therefore, is presented. The interactive content based remote communication unit simplifies and reduces the number of steps and buttons required for receiving interactive service by the use of MPEG-4 encoded data. Additionally, new ways are disclosed for the data processing at the service provider side. Further, an improved way of exchanging data between the service provider (broadcaster, cable provider) and the customer (viewer) is presented. Still further, there is disclosed how digital equipment (server, set-top box, remote control unit and display) involved in the data processing can be optimized for the task of controlling the available channel bandwidth and displaying the data.
US07831721B2
A system for providing IPv6 services, including a node registration agent for use in applying for a home address for the device, registering the device to a home agent and informing the device of the home address. A method for providing IPv6 services, comprising: the device accessing an IPv6 network and acquiring a forwarding address; the device making a remote registration to the node registration agent; the node registration agent applying for a home address for the device, registering the device to the home agent, and informing the device of the home address; the communication counterpart of the device sending messages using the home address as the destination address; the home agent receiving the message and forwarding the message to the forwarding address of the device; and eventually providing the device with the IPv6 services. Application of the system and method reduces the cost, and makes possible the IPv6 services.
US07831716B2
A server that provides a plurality of types of content to another device selectively executes a control function or a function of being controlled in response to a type of a request from the other device, the request requesting the server to provide at least one of the plurality of types of content, and an operational status of the control function or the function of being controlled. The control function is a function of a controller that establishes and controls a wireless network. The function of being controlled is a function of a controlled component in a wireless network established and controlled by another controller.
US07831714B2
A display apparatus management system having at least one display apparatus with a display part to display an image, a memory to allow data to be stored and/or removes, and a display controller to control a display state of the image displayed on the display part; at least one client connected with each display apparatus and to output an image signal to the display apparatus; and a host having an input part to allow input of a display identification to each display apparatus, a database registered with the display identification of each display apparatus inputted via the input part and a client identification of each client, and a host controller to transfer the display identification to the display apparatus through the client to enable the display controller to store the display identification to the memory. The display apparatus management system, thus, identifies and/or manages the display apparatus connected with each client from the host. Further, by adding the lock function to the display apparatus, the present invention provides protection against a theft.
US07831710B2
A method for communication of offline status between nodes includes detecting an impending deactivation of a physical port and sending a message from a sending node to a receiving node notifying the receiving node of the impending deactivation of the physical port. The method further includes deactivating the report of any error for the physical port and sending a response from the sending node to the receiving node verifying that deactivation of the physical port.
US07831708B2
A method to aggregate evaluation of at least one metric across a plurality of resources may include determining an aggregate evaluation of a selected metric for a group of resources of the plurality of resources. The method may also include adjusting the aggregate evaluation of the selected metric in response to any evaluation criteria and determining if any predetermined thresholds have been violated.
US07831701B2
Systems and methods are provided to implement a dynamic and efficient cascading policy management framework architecture for both wired and wireless networks. A plurality of Policy Functions (PFs) are assigned to a plurality of Policy Enforcement Points (PEP). The PFs make decisions regarding local policy control at the specific PEP. The PFs then delegate the policy requests or IP flows to a separate PEP that is more conducive to enforcing that policy request. Thus, policy decisions are made at the point where the most information is available, leading to fewer policy requests traversing back and forth across a network. Additionally, this cascading Policy Management Framework Architecture allows for unified policy management across multiple types of networks, including wired (Internet) and wireless (UMTS).
US07831688B2
A system and method for incorporating software modules into a website or other information source that is searchable and updateable, which helps to create a dynamic user assistance environment. The system searches based on context/category sensitive natural language requests. This dynamic environment becomes “smarter” over time and will track questions and answers by a number of methods to assure the answers are up to date and that there is a high confidence match for the user's inquiry. The entire collection of data resides in a centralized location where the information can be leveraged to answer a user's question and aid in the creation of question/answer pairs for later use. Additionally, the assistance system supports a method for incorporating new informational content and answers to unanswered questions, for example by authorized support persons, that are categorized and stored in the existing system for later reference and use.
US07831686B1
Various methods and systems for ending a communication protocol connection in response to detecting the failure of a cluster node are disclosed. One method involves detecting a failed node within a cluster. The failed node communicates with a client via a communication protocol connection. In response to detecting the failed node, a communication protocol message is sent to the client. Receipt of the communication protocol message causes the client to terminate the communication protocol connection.
US07831681B1
A method, apparatus, system and computer program product that provide a virtual worldwide name (vWWN) nameservice in a Fiber Channel storage area network (SAN) are provided. Embodiments of the vWWN nameservice can receive a request for a vWWN from a node in the SAN, where the request includes a identifier associated with resources in the SAN, then determine if the identifier matches contents of a field in one or more entries in a vWWN table or database, and provide the vWWN associated with a matching entry to the requesting node.
US07831680B2
A system and method for enabling deterministic or time-triggered data exchange between a first graphical program and a second graphical program. A first variable is assigned to a first time slot in a network cycle. A first graphical program may be configured to write data to the first variable. A second graphical program may be configured to read data from the first variable. The first graphical program may be executed on a first computer system, where executing the first graphical program comprises writing data to the first variable. Writing data to the first variable may cause the data to be delivered over a network to a second computer system when the first time slot occurs. The second graphical program may be executed on the second computer system, where executing the second graphical program comprises reading from the first variable the data sent from the first computer system.
US07831666B2
The present invention relates to an application that is configured to be operated in a multi-participant environment on a computer network. The application manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application so that if one of the participants exits the session, the session can continue without interruption. The application initiates an online session of the multi-user application, wherein the online session includes two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network. If the application detects that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application, then the application broadcasts a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session. The initiating application then re-assigns the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session. The participants can be communicating in a peer-to-peer arrangement or can be performing server duties in a client-server arrangement.
US07831663B2
A client device is in communication with a first storage device over a wide area network. The first storage device is of multiple storage devices in a networking system and stores media files. The client device can access a media file at the first storage device and the media file includes at least a reference to a video portion and at least a hyperlink that references a second media file.
US07831661B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server computer are presented. The method includes receiving from a client computer an action request to be executed at the server computer, where the server computer is configured to generate display views for the requesting client. The method further embeds, at the server computer, a first encoded pixel into a first image frame that is communicated to the client computer when acknowledging receipt of the action request. Further, the method embeds a second encoded pixel into a second image frame that is communicated to the client computer after completion of the action associated with the action request. Action performance time is stored in memory, where the action performance time is the time between arrivals of the first and second image frames at the client computer. The stored timing information is used to generate statistical performance data.
US07831655B2
A service adapter can be used to connect a client application to an enterprise system, or to connect application components, that otherwise might be unable to communicate with each other. A service adapter can invoke a service in the enterprise system, and can allow requests to be received to, and responses received from, the enterprise system. The service adapter can pass these requests and responses in a format such as XML, and can transform data passing between the enterprise system and an application or application component. An application view component can be used to provide an interface to an enterprise system for an application.
US07831650B2
In a method for modular multiplication using a multiplication look-ahead process for computing a multiplication shift value and a reduction look-ahead process for computing a reduction shift value, a modulus is first transformed into a transformed modulus that is greater than said modulus. The transformation is carried out such that a predetermined fraction of the transformed modulus has a higher-order digit with a first predetermined value that is followed by at least one low-order digit having a second predetermined value. During the iterative working off of the modular multiplication using the multiplication look-ahead process and the reduction look-ahead process, the transformed modulus is utilized so as to obtain at the end of the iteration a transformed result for the modular multiplication. Finally, the transformed result is re-transformed by modular reduction using the original modulus. By means of the transformation according to the invention, iterative working off of the modular multiplication is simplified so that the modular multiplication can be performed faster.
US07831642B1
A method, system, computer system, and computer-readable medium to efficiently coordinate caching operations between nodes operating on the same file while allowing different regions of the file to be written concurrently. More than one program can concurrently read and write to the same file. Pages of data from the file are proactively and selectively cached and flushed on different nodes. In one embodiment, range locks are used to effectively flush and invalidate only those pages that are accessed on another node.
US07831639B1
Various systems and methods are disclosed for storing one or more point-in-time images of data stored in a block device in a sparse file. In one embodiment, a method involves identifying a block of data within a block device and copying the block of data to a sparse file. The block of data is identified in response to being modified. The sparse file stores an incremental image of data stored in the block device. In addition to storing an incremental image, sparse files can be used to store full images. Furthermore, a sparse file can store multiple images (full and/or incremental) of data stored in a block device.
US07831632B2
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for migrating entity relationship data residing in an object oriented program environment to a relational database schema. Further, functionality is provided to facilitate more efficient searching and reconstruction of the entity relationship data in the relational database.
US07831630B2
A method for providing access to an electronic database for business intelligence is provided. The method includes receiving a request to create a new universe to interface with the electronic database to access the electronic database for business intelligence, receiving an input of a first set of universe details to populate the new universe, executing at least a first application macro to populate the new universe with the received first set of universe details by calling a business intelligence application to create the new universe with the populated first set of universe details; and providing the created new universe as a metadata layer that interfaces with the electronic database to provide access to the electronic database.
US07831610B2
A contents retrieval device (100) presenting an appropriate related keyword to a user even when an object user wishes to retrieve dynamically changes. The contents retrieval device (100) includes a contents estimation unit (107) retrieving contents according to a search keyword, a document space database (103) storing document spaces according to an occurrence frequency of the keyword, a document space selection unit (104) selecting a the narrowing-down document space and an expansion document space from the document space database (103) according to the search keyword and the occurrence frequency of the document space indicating a degree of relevance with the contents according to the search keyword, a related keyword estimation unit (108) selecting keywords corresponding to the narrowing-down document space and the expansion document space as a narrowing-down keyword and an expansion keyword, respectively, and an output unit displaying the selected narrowing-down and expansion keywords.
US07831608B2
Identifying service candidates in legacy source code, including a source code analyzer performing structured and unstructured analyses of computer software source code procedures, a repository storing results of the analyses, a target profile analyzer analyzing a target service description of a Service Oriented Architecture and formulating a query therefrom, a search module querying the repository to identify source code elements that match the target service description, and combining any matches within a predefined distance from each other within the source code, a ranking engine ranking the combined matches in accordance with predefined heuristics, and a procedure aggregator aggregating the combined matches by their location in propinquity to the procedures, comparing interface definitions defined for the service description to entry and exit points of the procedures to identify candidate procedures having similar input and output parameters, and producing a ranked list of candidate procedures that map into the target element.
US07831607B2
Memory architecture provides capabilities for high performance content search using regular expressions and patterns of strings. The architecture creates an innovative memory that can be programmed with content search rules which are used by the memory to evaluate presented content for matching with the programmed rules. When the content being searched matches any of the rules programmed in the Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) action(s) associated with the matched rule(s) are taken. Content search rules include of regular expressions which are converted to finite state automata and then programmed in PRISM for evaluating content with the search rules. The PRISM memory provides features for complex regular expression symbols like interval symbol, range detection, complement control, bit masking and the like and enables complex symbols and compact regular expression representation.
US07831604B2
A method for enterprise application integration that uses “connectors” that can be instantiated via downloading (e.g., using Java® or other such technologies) to provide interfaces to respective disparate database systems. The databases systems may comprise any variety of now or heretofore known systems, e.g. SAP, Oracle, and so forth. The connectors can, for example, translate between a native language (or API) of the respective database systems and an internal language/protocol of the enterprise application integration system. To this end, the connectors can utilize a scripting language to access the respective database systems. Data retrieved from the database systems can be stored in a central data store in the form of RDF triplets, from which directed graphs can be generated for to generate presentations consolidated from the multiple database systems.
US07831600B2
A cluster manager application program library includes an event handler to communicate an event from an application server instance to which the library is linked to a message server in a cluster of application server instances. The library further includes a notification handler to receive at the application server instance a notification of an event in the cluster from the message server, and a message server communication handler to exchange messages between the application server instance and other application server instances in the cluster via the message server.
US07831599B2
A database has chronologically ordered images classified into event groups based upon a time difference threshold, and into subgroups based upon a similarity measure. In a method and system for combining new images into such a database, new images are ordered into clusters based upon assessed image features. A representative image is selected in each cluster. A database segment chronologically overlapping the new images is designated and a set of database images similar to each representative image are identified in the segment. Different subgroups including one or more retrieved images are associated with each cluster to provide matched subgroups. The new images are assigned to matched subgroups associated with respective clusters.
US07831591B2
There is provided a file search method executed in a file search apparatus for searching for a file relevant to an application, the file search apparatus having an interface, a processor coupled to the interface, and a memory coupled to the processor. The file search method comprising the steps of: obtaining process information which includes an execution start time and file path of the application; identifying, from the obtained file path, a directory that serves as a start point in a search for a file relevant to the application; and searching, with the identified directory as the start point, for a file accessed after the execution start time of the application.
US07831585B2
A task-based advertisement system and method are provided. The system employs high-order concepts (e.g., booking a flight, checking stock quotes etc.) embodied in “task(s)” which can then be bid upon by advertisers. The task(s) employed by the system are based upon a semantic solution to a natural-language query. The system includes a search engine that is capable of serving content in response to user query(ies). The system further includes a task server that can include hardware and/or software to retrieve task(s) in response to user query(ies). The task(s) retrieved by the task server can be presented to advertiser(s) who can bid on the task(s).
US07831582B1
A method and system for associating keywords with online content sources. According to one embodiment, a method may include identifying a result set including one or more of a plurality of online content sources, wherein each of the included one or more online content sources satisfies a keyword query including one or more keywords. The method may further include, for a given one of the online content sources included in the result set, identifying one or more aggregate paths including the given online content source, wherein a given one of the one or more aggregate paths includes one or more navigation paths among the plurality of online content sources, and in response to detecting a selection of a particular online content source from one of the identified aggregate paths, associating the one or more keywords included in the keyword query with the particular online content source.
US07831563B2
A data storage management system comprises a workflow engine, a lifecycle module, and a storage application. The workflow engine is configured to manage a plurality of defined business processes and to execute at least one process step associated with at least one data item. The lifecycle module is configured to detect a change in lifecycle of the at least one data item. The storage application is configured to perform at least one storage action on the data item as a result of the data item reaching a step in a business process, the data item having a change in lifecycle, the data item having a change in metadata, or an event occurring to the data item. Application layer information about data derived from operation of the system allows the system to make more accurate determinations of business value of data and to determine appropriate storage actions to perform on data.
US07831560B1
A snapshot-aware secure delete event identifying a file for snapshot-aware secure deletion on a computer system is received, and the file to be deleted is identified from the snapshot-aware secure delete event. Each file snapshot associated with the file on the computer system is accessed at the volume level and each non-duplicate file extent of the file snapshots is identified. The raw data identified by each non-duplicate file extent is securely overwritten using a secure overwrite technique, and each file snapshot is deleted from the computer system. In this way the raw data of the file and the raw data of all the diff areas of file snapshots associated with the file are securely overwritten and deleted.
US07831558B2
Systems and methods for synchronizing data between endpoints, including the modification of data on an endpoint without necessarily modifying data that is communicated between endpoints are disclosed. In such systems and methods the representation of data on an endpoint may be modified so that constraints on that particular endpoint are enforced, without requiring a similar or the same modification to the data when it is synchronized to other endpoints.
US07831549B2
A device and a method provide for selection of a database from a corpus using an, optimization function. The method includes defining a size of a database, calculating a distance using a distance function for each pair in a set of pairs, and executing an optimization function using the distance to select each entry saved in the database until the number of saved entries equals the size of the database. Each pair in the set of pairs includes either two entries selected from a corpus or one entry selected from a set of previously selected entries and another entry selected from a set of a remaining portion of the corpus. The distance function may be a Levenshtein distance function or a generalized Levenshtein distance function.
US07831530B2
A method of the present invention is processed by a selector. The selector selects each member constituting a learning data set from a data set source. Each member of the source is feature data extracted through a transducer and assigned to any one of categories in advance. The selector calculates each member's divergence degree of the source to obtain an average divergence degree. If an output neuron of the output layer of a neural network is related to different categories of all the categories represented by the output layer, the selector includes every member of the source corresponding to the category of the minimum average divergence degree in the selection from the source to the learning data set. The selector also excludes, from the selection, every member of the source corresponding to every remaining category of the different categories.
US07831523B2
A method and system for automated bargaining in a round by round manner is disclosed. The method and system are capable of multiple rounds. The method and system are used in testing non-equal values in normal rounds for satisfaction of a predetermined criterion. If the criterion is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values are tested for satisfaction of a power round criterion. If the power round criterion is satisfied, a binding bargained payment is calculated. Additional options involve an automated facilitator, windfalls to initiators, automatic payment initiation, multiparty aggregation and automatic agreement document generation.
US07831496B2
A method for providing a financial instrument includes determining an initial account balance associated with a financial instrument based upon an initial deposit amount, wherein the financial instrument includes an account with an account balance that changes over time. The method further includes establishing a first guarantee of a protected value, the protected value including at least an amount based upon the initial account balance growing at a minimum growth rate for a defined period of time or until one or more defined events occur, whichever is sooner; and establishing a second guarantee that a beneficiary may periodically receive a transfer of an amount of money for the life of a designated party, wherein the amount comprises a percentage of the protected value at the time of a particular event, provided that the amount may vary based upon withdrawals from the account in excess of a first particular limit.
US07831492B1
Property valuation that uses multiple transactions in predicting a value for a property. Instead of choosing only one prior transaction, valuation uses multiple transactions for a given property to provide a more accurate mark-to-market value. Preferably, a weighted combination of mark-to-market values provided by an HPI and individual ones of the multiple transaction records provide a predicted value for the given property. Weighting factors recency and transaction type to correct for both sources of potential inaccuracy.
US07831486B2
The present invention provides a method for verifying customer addresses before using those addresses in an asset tracking system. More specifically, the enhanced asset tracking system can accept multiple characteristics of the location. An operator or GIS system can check that these descriptors are identifying the same location. If descriptors do identify a same location, then the operator or GIS system can allow the location information to pass to the assets.
US07831483B1
A method of providing recommendations is disclosed and includes receiving input from a visitor of an online site. The input indicates a request to receive data related to an offering from an expert associated with the offering. In some embodiments, the method also includes sending a communication to the expert in response to the request. The communication requests data related to the offering.
US07831480B2
A method and system for automated bargaining is disclosed. The method and system are used in testing non-equal values in normal rounds for satisfaction of a condition. If the condition is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values are tested for satisfaction of a power round condition. If the power round condition is satisfied, a binding bargained payment is calculated. Additional options involve an automated facilitator, windfalls to initiators, automatic payment initiation, multiparty aggregation and automatic agreement document generation.
US07831469B2
An apparatus and method for verifying the audio output at a client device are provided. With the apparatus and method, when a user requests access to resources, a profile for the user is retrieved and used to determine whether the user is to be presented with audio advertisements. If so, a test audio advertisement is sent to the client device. An agent application on the client device outputs the audio advertisement, via a speaker, to the user and records the audio that is being output by the speaker using a microphone or other recording device. The recording of the audio output is then sent back to the server that sent the original test audio advertisement for comparison. The server then compares the recording of the audio output to the original test audio advertisement. If the recording matches the original test audio advertisement, access to the resources is granted.
US07831467B1
A system and method for providing incentives to customers where the incentives are tailored to the customer's needs and expectations while achieving profitability to the provider are presented. The present invention determines a set of incentives based on customer segmentation, card segmentation, call type as well as other factors. Upon receiving a request for termination or other request, the customer may be routed to an appropriate person, department, or group. Information regarding the account may be identified and retrieved and the customer may be verified. Based on customer payment history and other information, the customer segment may be identified. Incentives are then determined based on customer segmentation data, product information, and call type. These incentives are offered to the customer for approval. If the customer does not accept the incentive, other sales opportunities may be offered to the customer in an effort to retain customer loyalty.
US07831463B2
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide a supplier performance measurement that uses historical data combined from disparate data sources to evaluate suppliers and rank the suppliers according to key performance indicators or attributes. The supplier rankings are used in a qualitative model to allocate customer demand to the suppliers based upon the supplier rankings and other factors.
US07831462B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a method, apparatus, and computer program product for distributing targeted audible advertisements as ringtones. A user profile associated with a user is identified. An audible advertisement is selected from a plurality of audible advertisements using criteria matching the user profile. A currently selected ringtone is substituted with the audible advertisement on a communication device associated with the user.
US07831459B2
A system and method for balancing production capacity between different production technologies. The system includes at least an order management module, a reservation module and a capacity management module. The order management module receives a first order, and generates a dummy order corresponding to the first order. The reservation module reserves a first capacity of a first production technology for the first order and a second capacity of a second production technology for the dummy order. The capacity management module cancels the first order and directs the dummy order to substitute the first order if a second order requesting the first production technology is received, and releases the first capacity to fulfill the second order.
US07831445B2
The present invention provides a quality assurance system and method that generates a quality assurance (QA) scorecard for administrators that oversee use of digital devices in a radiological-based medical imaging study. According to one embodiment, client computers, servers, imaging devices, databases, and/or other components may be coupled to provided a unified data collection system. According to one embodiment, systems and methods are provided that analyze various parameters that are derived from the unified data collection system to calculate a QA score for analysis by administrators. The QA score provides a combined subjective and objective feedback system that includes performance evaluations from other users, including clinicians, radiologists, technologists and patients. According to one embodiment, the feedback may be provided in real-time.
US07831444B2
A system and method that remotely accesses and diagnoses the medical condition of an individual patient and of each patient in a group of patients and provides treatment based upon the diagnoses of the individual patient and the risk stratification the individual patient assumes in the group of patients.
US07831443B2
A method and computer program product is provided that, in various embodiments, may provide a measure of efficiency of resources used in medical treatment plan options. A normalized Relative Resource Value (RRV) may be obtained that measures the level of resources required to satisfy a “normal” case for a particular aspect of medical care. Applying this value against actual costs allows ranking and/or comparison of health care providers relative to one another on the basis of the price or resources applied or utilized. Moreover, applying the RRV against the quality of outcome allows comparison and ranking of providers on overall value. The invention may be applied to the components of medical care comprising, inter alia, acute inpatient, non-acute inpatient, outpatient, professional office-based care including scheduled outpatient, and pharmacy/prescriptions. The normalized RRV obtained under various embodiments of the invention may measure resource use for medical treatment plan options/resources independent of price. The RRV may be relative across, as well as within, each of the components of medical care. Thus, provider profiling generally as well as profiling across treatment plan options based on efficiency generally is within the scope of various embodiments of the invention. Moreover, providers may be compared based on efficiency for specific conditions, as well as across conditions, across treatment plan options and across components of care using various embodiments of the invention.
US07831441B1
Responding to an account reactivation request includes receiving an account reactivation request from a former subscriber having a deactivated account and automatically accessing stored account information related to the deactivated account based on the account reactivation request. The stored account information is compared with a reactivation standard to produce a comparison result. Based on the comparison result a response to the reactivation request is provided. The receiving, accessing, comparing, and responding may be performed by a computer without interaction between the former subscriber and a service representative.
US07831434B2
An audio encoder receives multi-channel audio data comprising a group of plural source channels and performs channel extension coding, which comprises encoding a combined channel for the group and determining plural parameters for representing individual source channels of the group as modified versions of the encoded combined channel. The encoder also performs frequency extension coding. The frequency extension coding can comprise, for example, partitioning frequency bands in the multi-channel audio data into a baseband group and an extended band group, and coding audio coefficients in the extended band group based on audio coefficients in the baseband group. The encoder also can perform other kinds of transforms. An audio decoder performs corresponding decoding and/or additional processing tasks, such as a forward complex transform.
US07831433B1
Described is a navigation system. The navigation system comprises a route planning module and a route guidance module. The route planning module is configured to receive a request from a user for guidance to a particular destination. Based on a starting point, the route planning module determines a route from the starting point to the particular destination. The route guidance module is configured to receive the route, and based on the route and current location of the user, provide location-specific instructions to the user. The location-specific instructions include reference to specific visible objects within the vicinity of the user.
US07831431B2
A method and a system are provided for dynamically updating voice recognition commands available for controlling a device in a vehicle. A receiver unit of a voice recognition system, located in the vehicle, receives a remotely transmitted broadcast signal. A processor of the voice recognition system extracts voice recognition data from a remaining portion of the broadcast signal and updates voice recognition commands stored in a memory unit, coupled to the processor, with the extracted voice recognition data. A voice input device of the voice recognition system receives a spoken command from a user. A voice recognition engine, coupled to the voice input device and the memory unit, determines whether the spoken command matches one of the stored voice recognition commands in the memory unit. If a match occurs, a recognized voice command is generated. The recognized voice command is sent to an affected device in the vehicle.
US07831422B1
Methods and systems for handling speech recognition processing in effectively real-time, via the Internet, in order that users do not experience noticeable delays from the start of an exercise until they receive responsive feedback. A user uses a client to access the Internet and a server supporting speech recognition processing, e.g., for language learning activities. The user inputs speech to the client, which transmits the user speech to the server in approximate real-time. The server evaluates the user speech in context of the current speech recognition exercise being executed, and provides responsive feedback to the client, again, in approximate real-time, with minimum latency delays. The client upon receiving responsive feedback from the server, displays, or otherwise provides, the feedback to the user.
US07831419B2
A method for designing a fixed cutter drill bit, includes simulating the fixed cutter drill bit drilling in an earth formation, determining radial and circumferential components of imbalance forces on the drill bit and a Beta angle between the radial and circumferential components of the imbalance forces during a period of simulated drilling, and adjusting a value of at least one design parameter for the fixed cutter drill bit at least based upon the Beta angle. To facilitate drill bit design, the Beta angel can be displayed to a drill bit designer. To improve performance, the method can include repeating the simulating, determining, and adjusting to change a simulated performance of the fixed cutter drill bit. A drill bit may be made according to the design resulting from the method.
US07831417B2
Method of preparing a calibration curve and determining the amount of an analyte polynucleotide present in a test sample, particularly using real-time amplification data. The method involves determining indicia of amplification for both the internal calibrator and analyte polynucleotide standards, each as a function of the amount of analyte polynucleotide standard input into the amplification reaction.
US07831416B2
A method is provided for designing a product. The method may include obtaining data records relating to one or more input variables and one or more output parameters associated with the product; and pre-processing the data records based on characteristics of the input variables. The method may also include selecting one or more input parameters from the one or more input variables; and generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records. Further, the method may include providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a compliance state for the product; and using the computational model and the provided set of constraints to generate statistical distributions for the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters, wherein the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters represent a design for the product.
US07831408B2
A device for measuring and displaying body parameters includes a sensor that generates a signal representing a detected body parameter, such as body fat, body water and weight, and blood pressure of an individual; a transmitter to wirelessly transmit the signal; a receiver to receiver and display the sensed measurements as well as a user's name, time, date and temperature. The invention also pertains a method for determining fitness comprising the steps of: inputting, data pertaining to one of date, time, an individual's name, and fitness statistics, sensing parameters of one or more of a body fat, a body water, blood pressure and a weight; recording sensed parameters and said data; and transmitting the sensed parameters and said data; receiving said sensed parameters and said data and a signal proportional to a temperature and displaying one or more of said sensed parameters, data and temperature on a portable display unit.
US07831407B2
An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on vehicle U-turn maneuvers. A process determines if the vehicle has started a turn if the yaw rate is greater than a first yaw rate threshold, and determines a vehicle heading angle based on the yaw rate and a sampling time if the vehicle has started a turn. The process then determines whether the vehicle maneuver has been completed by determining if the yaw rate is less than a second yaw rate threshold. The process then determines that the completed maneuver was a U-turn maneuver if the yaw rate is less than a third yaw rate threshold during the maneuver, the final vehicle heading angle is within a heading angle range and the duration of the maneuver is less than a predetermined time threshold. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heading angle range is between 165° and 195°.
US07831393B2
The present invention discloses a computer program and a method including an algorithm for computing the uncertainty of drug concentration in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The invention also provides a computer system, a website and an IC chip incorporating the program product. The invention determines the allowable sensitivity of the instruments measuring each of the components and the least allowable weight (LAW) within a maximum allowable error of each ingredient at the predetermined assay standard. The method and products allow the accurate error evaluation of drug dose in pharmaceutical mixtures and unit dosage forms, which may be composed of an infinite number of ingredients that are measured on multiple equipments of variable sensitivities. Thus this invention provides instant guidance on the pharmaceutical ingredient preparation.
US07831390B2
A navigation system includes data storage that contains map data, a current position detection portion that detects a current position of a host vehicle, an acceleration lane remaining distance determination portion that determines a distance from the current position to the end of an acceleration lane where it merges with a main thoroughfare, based on the map data and the current position of the host vehicle, a merging support guidance selection portion that selects a type of merging support guidance for supporting the merging of the host vehicle from the acceleration lane into the main thoroughfare, based on information for the host vehicle in the acceleration lane, information for another vehicle so located on the main thoroughfare as to be accounted for in merging, and the distance from the current position to the end of the acceleration lane, and a guidance execution portion that executes the selected merging support guidance.
US07831386B2
A navigation system and method uses loops as opposed to existing search techniques to more expeditiously find routes on a map from a starting point to a destination. Roads on a map are traced to form one or more continuous loops. Information regarding the loops is stored for future reference. A starting point and at least one destination are specified, and loops that connect the loops containing the starting point and destination are determined. A route is then formulated from the starting point to the destination using road segments or intersections where the identified loops are mutually contiguous. A list is generated including the loops and the road segments associated therewith. The road segments of an initial loop are examined and, if a road segment or intersection common to a next loop is identified, the road segments of that loop are examined, and so on, until a route from the starting point to the destination is found. Alternatively the route may be formulated by searching for routes along the roads that form one or more continuous loops connecting the starting point and the destination. Various speed-up algorithms and/or heuristics may be applied to the route formulation. The method finds application is many fields of endeavor, including wireless client-server navigation; embedded/dedicated automotive navigation, and logistics control, to name a few.
US07831385B2
In offering a route guidance service at a plurality of sites, passage through the same route as before is excluded from the route guidance as much as possible. In order to achieve this object, a route guidance providing system according to this invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a server through a network and provides route guidance to a user. The system includes a unit which acquires, on the basis of, history information until the user travels to the installation location of the image forming apparatus, a unit which acquires, on the basis of the document, destination information of the user, a unit which acquires additional destination information, and a search unit which finds route guidance on the basis of the destination information, additional destination information, and history information. The found route guidance is printed.
US07831378B2
A system and method are provided for estimating NOx produced by an internal combustion engine. The flow rate of fuel supplied to the engine and a plurality of engine operating parameters are monitored. NOx produced by the engine is estimated based on a product of the flow rate of fuel and a function of the plurality of engine operating parameters. The NOx estimate is stored in memory.
US07831362B2
The invention is intended to provide a position measuring system for a working machine, which can accurately measure the position of a monitoring point and can ensure high working efficiency even when measurement accuracy of a machine-equipped GPS has changed. A panel computer (45) computes the position of the monitoring point, which is set on an operating mechanism, in a three-dimensional space based on values measured by GPS receivers (43, 44) and angle sensors (21, 22, 23). When measurement accuracy of at least one of at least two GPS receivers lowers, the panel computer (45) corrects the computation for the position of the monitoring point based on a yaw angle measured by a gyroscope (25) for measuring the yaw angle of a machine body.
US07831357B2
An apparatus for triggering restraint devices includes crash sensors inside and outside of a control unit. The apparatus checks a crash signal of the crash sensors using a plausibility signal. To check the crash signal, the apparatus receives the plausibility signal from a vehicle sensor outside of the control unit, and then triggers the restraint devices as a function of the crash signal and the first plausibility signal.
US07831352B2
A system for controlling motion of a hydraulic actuator during a portion of its range of motion is described, including a sensor on the hydraulic actuator for providing a signal indicating that the actuator is near a portion of its range of motion, and a pneumatic control valve that is configured to selectively modify a pressurized air control signal to in turn restrict flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator control system further includes an electronic controller for controlling the pneumatic control valve in response to a signal from the sensor. The hydraulic actuator control system thereby slows the motion of the hydraulic actuator near the portion of its range of motion.
US07831351B1
Systems and methods are provided for processing control inputs at a receiver for one or more servos coupled to a vehicle. A signal containing a plurality of control inputs generated in response to an activation of at least one control element on a transmitter is received at a receiver mounted on a vehicle. The plurality of control inputs is mapped to a vehicle-specific set of servo control signals at the receiver using operations such as reversing, shifting, scaling, delaying, and mixing.
US07831332B2
A method for generating a tool path for machining a pocket with a milling cutter is disclosed. The tool path includes a first portion, a second portion and a transition portion connecting together the first portion and the second portion. The method includes the steps of: determining a radius of a first arc; determining a radius of a second arc; situating the first arc so as to connect the first portion to the second portion in a tangent continuous manner; situating a third arc so as to be tangent continuous the first arc and intersecting the first arc; and situating a fourth arc, so as to be: (1) tangent continuous with the third arc, (2) tangent to the second arc and (3) tangent continuous with either the first portion or the second portion.
US07831331B1
An apparatus and method for detecting the position of a knife on a tufting machine. The apparatus includes a grounded needle, an electrically-insulated knife adapted to send a knife signal, a solenoid adapted to move the knife, and a programmable logic controller adapted to send a pattern signal to the solenoid, receive the knife signal from the knife, compare the knife signal to the pattern signal, and determine if the knife is in the position prescribed by the pattern signal. The method includes providing such an apparatus, inputting the pattern signal into the programmable logic controller, sending the pattern signal from the programmable logic controller to the solenoid, sending a knife signal from the electrically-insulated knife to the programmable logic controller, comparing the knife signal to the pattern signal, determining if the electrically-insulated knife is in the position prescribed by the pattern signal.
US07831323B2
A flexible control system and method of controlling a processing operation. The control system and method may be employed to control a high speed manufacturing system for processing articles of manufacture requiring processes to be performed on the articles at a pre-selected processing rate includes a trunk for simultaneously conveying a plurality of the articles of manufacture at the pre-selected processing rate in a first mode of motion from the beginning of the manufacturing system to the end of the system. At least one branch processing station is positioned intermediate the beginning and the end of the trunk wherein the branch processing station during its operation performs at least one process on articles of manufacture conveyed on the branch processing station and where the articles are conveyed in a second mode of motion. At least one transfer device is positioned intermediate the trunk and the branch processing station to continuously extract articles of manufacture from the trunk and transition the movement of the extracted articles of manufacture from the first mode of motion to the second mode of motion for transfer to the branch processing station. The transfer device also extracts each of the processed articles of manufacture from the branch processing station and transitions the movement of the articles from the second mode of motion to the first mode of motion for transfer to the trunk.
US07831321B2
An appliance configured to perform an operation cycle to effect a physical operation on an article, the appliance includes at least one component configured to effect the physical operation, and a cycle engine on the component. The cycle engine can build a cycle structure for the operation cycle to enable the component to perform the physical operation.
US07831307B1
A tissue stimulation system and computer software and method of monitoring a neurostimulation lead having a plurality of electrodes implanted within a patient (e.g., adjacent the spinal cord) is provided. Neurostimulation lead models are provided, each of which includes estimated electrical parameter data (e.g., electrical field potential data) corresponding to a predetermined position of the neurostimulation lead. Electrical energy is transmitted to or from the electrodes, and electrical parameter data (e.g., electrical field potential data) is measured in response to the transmitted electrical energy. The measured electrical parameter data is compared with the estimated electrical parameter data of each of the neurostimulation lead models, and a position of the neurostimulation lead is determined based on the comparison.
US07831305B2
A neural stimulation system responsive to collateral neural activity that may arise in association with a neural stimulation procedure includes a stimulation interface configured to deliver stimulation signals to a target neural population, a monitoring interface positioned to receive signals corresponding to a neural activity within the target neural population, a stimulus unit coupled to deliver stimulation signals to the stimulation interface, and a sensing unit coupled to the monitoring device and the stimulus unit. The neural stimulation procedure may be directed toward rehabilitating, restoring, and/or enhancing one or more neural functions by facilitating and/or effectuating a neuroplastic change or reorganization; and/or affecting a neurological condition that exists on a continuous or essentially continuous basis absent the stimulation procedure. The sensing unit determines whether evidence of an collateral neural activity exists, whereupon the stimulus unit attempts to abate the collateral neural activity.
US07831300B2
A method of utilizing a maternal-fetal monitoring system to monitor the physiological properties of both a maternal patient and a fetus. A series of ECG electrodes are placed across the maternal patient's abdomen and receives ECG input waveforms across sixteen separate channels. The sixteen channels of information are processed using an ICA algorithm to generate a series of ICA output waveforms and a transfer matrix. Following the current epoch, the transfer matrix is applied to the input waveforms on a continuous basis. The conditioned input waveforms are displayed immediately following the first epoch and prior to the expiration of a subsequent epoch. The transfer matrix for the second epoch is combined with the transfer matrix for the first epoch to generate an updated transfer matrix. Various filtering operations on the transfer matrix coefficients may be used to find the updated transfer matrix before the end of the current epoch.
US07831299B2
A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for a cardiac arrest victim, the method comprising transforming one or more time domain electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into a frequency domain representation comprising a plurality of discrete frequency bands, combining the discrete frequency bands into a plurality of analysis bands, wherein there are fewer analysis bands than discrete frequency bands, determining the content of the analysis bands, and determining the type of treatment based on the content of the analysis bands.
US07831297B2
A device for gripping a guide wire includes a body portion having an opening therethrough, and has an open position and a closed position. When the device is in the open position the guide wire may be passed through the opening. When the device is in the closed position the guide wire is gripped at more than one location thereby allowing force or torque to be applied to the guide wire. A device according to the invention may optionally, or instead, include (a) a snout to act as a guide wire director, (b) a structure, such as an opening, configured to receive an end of a guide wire package, (c) a structure for securing a body member to the device, and/or (d) a mechanism for advancing or retracting a guide wire. If the device includes one of these optional features, it need not be designed to grip a guide wire at two or more locations.
US07831295B2
A method and apparatus for cross checking points palpated with a localization device. Points corresponding to the palpated points are obtained from a preoperative image of an object such as an X-Ray of a tibia bone. During a surgical procedure, the accuracy of palpated points are determined based on the palpated points and corresponding points obtained from the preoperative image. If a palpated point is inaccurate, an indicator is generated to indicate the inaccuracy of the palpated point.
US07831284B2
A device for preventing an unintentional key input in a mobile terminal with a removable outer case is provided. The device includes a connection section to which the outer case is connected, a sensing unit for sensing whether the outer case is opened or closed, and a control unit for sensing whether the outer case is connected to the mobile terminal through the connection section. The control unit activates a key input unit of the mobile terminal when the sensing unit senses that the outer case is opened.
US07831279B2
A wireless-enabled memory module provides host devices access to a memory via a standard memory expansion interface and further incorporates embedded processing capability and a wireless network capability. The wireless-enabled memory module can be used in any host device providing a compatible memory card controller and interface. Host devices so equipped become wireless-memory enabled devices and can provide memory access to any other remote device enabled for compatible wireless communications. It is thereby possible for a remote device to access the memory content of the memory module, and cause transfers of either full-size or scaled versions of the content to the remote device through a first network, and optionally further transfer the content from the remote device through a second network to the Internet in the form of an e-mail message or MMS attachment.
US07831275B2
In an information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function, the object of the invention is to impart a predetermined torque to a camera so as to render the camera easily rotatable by the force of a finger in a desired direction and to continue its state of standstill when the rotation is stopped.An information terminal apparatus with a camera having a rotating function in accordance with the invention comprises: a camera unit including a cylindrical member 62 having a shaft portion 62C at one end thereof and for accommodating a camera therein, and an annular member 72 which is fitted over the shaft portion 62C; a main body portion 1 having a bearing portion 42 for holding the annular member 72 and for rotatably supporting the camera unit; and an elastic member 74 provided between the main body portion 1 and the cylindrical member 72, wherein the elastic member 74 is arranged to impart a direction-of-axis force in an axial direction of the camera unit while moving together with the rotation of the camera unit.
US07831274B2
An apparatus and method for exchanging frequency bands used by a plurality of base stations are provided. A base station for exchanging frequency bands includes a receiving unit to receive first quiet time duration information of an adjacent base station, a frequency band measuring unit to determine first frequency band measuring information with respect to a first frequency band used by the adjacent base station based on the first quiet time duration information, a frequency band exchange-determining unit to determine whether to exchange frequency bands with each other based on the first frequency band measuring information, and a transmitting unit to transmit data to a terminal using the first frequency band according to the determined result.
US07831263B2
A repeater is disclosed with position location capability. The repeater includes a position location device for determining the location of the repeater. The position location device uses radio-location signals received independently or by a receiver to determine the location of the repeater. The location of the repeater can be used to update a base station almanac.
US07831262B2
A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device may be configured for use with an online service provider. The mobile telecommunications device may include a processor. The mobile telecommunications device may include memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions may be stored in the memory for setting a presence based on the motion state of the mobile device. The instructions may be executable to connect to the online service provider. The instructions may be executable to determine whether the mobile telecommunications device is moving. The instructions may be executable to set the presence based on the motion state. The instructions may be executable to communicate the presence to the online service provider.
US07831258B2
An electronic message server (400) including a message receipt module (408) operable to receive at least one electronic message (500) having a message size from at least one sender (402); a message size comparison module (410) operable to compare the message size to at least one message size limit; a message parsing module (412) operable to parse at least one message having a message size larger than at least one message size limit into at least a first message portion (504) and a second message portion (506); a message portion forwarding module (414) operable to forward the first message portion (504) to a mobile communication device (116) via a wireless link; and a message portion return module (416) operable to return the second message portion (506) to the sender (402).
US07831255B1
A software defined radio system is described. The software defined radio comprises a modem bank at least partially defined by software running on a processor. The software defined radio also comprises an antenna group translator coupled to the modem bank. The software defined radio also comprises at least one antenna coupled to the antenna group translator. Further, the software defined radio comprises a program stored in a memory and running on the processor. The program is configured to generate a test signal to be leaked by the first of the at least two channels and to be received by the second of the two channels. The program is configured to automatically and autonomously verify the availability of a function of one of the at least two channels and determine the integrity of the function of the one of the at least two channels.
US07831246B1
A mobile merchant service allows payment information, credit information, or other transaction information to be processed utilizing a mobile user device. The information can be transmitted utilizing USSD technology that provides a session oriented transaction. Information relating to the customer payment or account details are not maintained in the user device, providing security of personal information. The user device can be synchronized with other devices to facilitate reconciliation and performing financial or other functions.
US07831239B2
An apparatus for use in a mobile communications system is provided. The apparatus is adapted to store messages for subsequent retrieval by a subscriber of the mobile communications system. The apparatus is further adapted to identify a first subscriber making a call to retrieve a message by using an identification signal automatically forwarded to the apparatus during call establishment. The signal may identify the equipment being used by the subscriber. The apparatus may be further adapted to identify a second subscriber, on receipt of a request from the second subscriber during the call, by using information supplied by the second subscriber during the call.
US07831234B2
A mixer arrangement includes a mixer cell coupled by a signal input to a mixer input, and is embodied for frequency conversion of a signal present on the input side to an intermediate frequency. A first current source is coupled to the signal input of the mixer cell, and a second current source is coupled to a signal output of the mixer cell. The mixer arrangement furthermore includes a sensor circuit embodied for detection and for outputting of a value which is derived from a current of one of the current sources. A desired value regulating circuit is coupled by a feedback input to the sensor circuit and is designed for outputting a regulating signal to the one current source derived from a comparison of a signal present at a feedback input with a desired value.
US07831228B2
An integrated circuit radio receiver includes radio frequency (“RF”) front end circuitry for receiving and transmitting digital data received through a wireless interface. A baseband processor is operable to process the digital data received through the wireless interface. A plurality of digital filtering logic is included wherein each digital filtering logic includes a level of digital filtering based upon a received digital data signal format. The integrated circuit radio receiver includes logic that is operable to select between each digital filtering logic of the plurality of digital filtering logic based upon the received digital data signal format to process the digital data received through the wireless interface with the selected level of digital filtering.
US07831225B2
A radio frequency power load and associated method. A radio frequency power load apparatus includes a container and a fluid having an ion source therein, the fluid being contained in the container. Two conductors are immersed in the fluid. A radio frequency transmission system includes a radio frequency transmitter, a radio frequency amplifier connected to the transmitter and a radio frequency power load apparatus connected to the amplifier. The apparatus includes a fluid having an ion source therein, and two conductors immersed in the fluid. A method of dissipating power generated by a radio frequency transmission system includes the steps of: immersing two conductors of a radio frequency power load apparatus in a fluid having an ion source therein; and connecting the apparatus to an amplifier of the transmission system.
US07831219B2
A matching network for matching an antenna to a transmitter or receiver comprises an input port for receiving high-frequency power, an output port and a switchable impedance transformation circuit, which is connected between the input port and the output port. The impedance transformation circuit comprises a CMOS switch in a high-frequency path, which has a first switching state and a second switching state. The impedance transformation circuit is implemented to match a first impedance applied to the output port to a first predetermined impedance in the first switching state, and to match a second impedance applied to the output port to a second predetermined impedance in the second switching state. The inventive matching network allows a particularly good utilization of power provided by a transmitting amplifier or an antenna.
US07831209B2
To provide a data transmitter-receiver bidirectional transmitting system, and data transmitting-receiving method capable of reducing influences of a transmission delay when performing bidirectional communication with an other-communication-party apparatus in an environment in which various states are dynamically changed depending on time.A data obtaining portion 11 of a terminal 10 obtains positional directional information D(Tn) and a time information obtaining portion 12 obtains time information Tn. The terminal 10 stores D(Tn) and Tn in a memory portion 13 and a transmitting portion 15 transmits D(Tn) and Tn to a server 20. A data generating portion 21 of the server 20 generates stereophonic data S(Tn) by using D(Tn), a time information copying portion 22 copies Tn, a transmitting portion 24 transmits S(Tn) and Tn to the terminal 10. A data obtaining portion 11 of the terminal 10 obtains positional directional information D(Tm), the time information obtaining portion 12 obtains time information Tm, and a correcting portion 14 corrects the difference between D(Tm) and D(Tn) to generate S′(m).
US07831208B2
A wireless mobile phone is provided with one or more buttons and complementary logic to facilitate entry of encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme of alphanumeric data. As a result, a user may use the provided facilities to engage in non-verbal communication for sensitive subject matters in the middle of a call. In one embodiment, the encoded representations are Morse codes. In another embodiment, the encoded representations are custom designed. In one embodiment, the complementary logic further facilitates echoing on a display, alphanumeric data corresponding to any entered encoded representations. Additionally, each of the code entry buttons includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are lit to visually echo the encoded representations of the variable length encoding scheme of letters, numbers or punctuations entered through a standard input keypad.
US07831205B2
Disclosed are embodiments of methods and systems for wireless data transmission by magnetic induction. In one embodiment, a network of magnetic induction units is provided. The units may be configured to transmit a data signal by modulation of a time-varying magnetic field. One or more units may also be configured to receive a data signal received from another magnetic induction unit. In one specific implementation, a network of underground magnetic induction units is provided, each having a sensor connected thereto. Each of the units, or a subset of the units, may be configured to transmit its sensed data to an adjacent or nearby unit, which, in turn, may retransmit the original data, along with additional appended data, to another adjacent unit. The network data may thereby be relayed in a multi-hop fashion until it reaches a desired destination.
US07831204B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast, hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US07831198B2
A terrestrial broadcast tuner section is disposed in an area A1, and frequency-converts an externally supplied terrestrial broadcast signal into an IF signal. A terrestrial broadcast analog demodulation section is disposed in an area A3, and demodulates the IF signal frequency-converted by the terrestrial broadcast tuner section. A satellite broadcast tuner section is disposed in an area A2, and frequency-converts an externally supplied satellite broadcast signal into a signal having a frequency band lower than that of the satellite broadcast signal. A digital demodulation section is disposed in an area A4, and demodulates the signal supplied from either one of the terrestrial broadcast tuner section and the satellite broadcast tuner section. With this arrangement, a broadcast receiving apparatus easily changeable from the one for analog and digital broadcasting to the one for digital broadcasting only can be provided.
US07831190B2
A cover opening and closing unit for an image forming apparatus, includes a cover removably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus mounting therein a developer cartridge, a developing unit, a transferring unit and a waste-developer receptacle, and a locking device fixing the cover to the main body of image forming apparatus. The locking device is released from the main body only after the waste-developer receptacle is removed from the main body.
US07831182B2
A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.
US07831178B2
Electrographic printing of one or more optical elements having a particular profile by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming one or more final optical elements utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.
US07831174B2
A rotary developer for an image forming apparatus. Development cartridges accommodated in a rotary unit at a predetermined set position are selectively moved between development and non-development positions. A self-attachment locking mechanism including a pre-pressure applying mechanism self-locks a development cartridge at the predetermined set position when the development cartridge is inserted by a predetermined insertion amount that does not reach the predetermined set position. The pre-pressure applying mechanism includes a pressing member on one of the rotary unit and development cartridge and a pressed member on the other of the rotary unit and development cartridge. The pressed member includes gently sloped and steeply sloped surfaces. When the development cartridge is inserted by the predetermined insertion amount, the pressing portion transitions from contact with the gently sloped surface to contact with the steeply sloped surface.
US07831173B2
An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.
US07831167B2
This invention involves a control panel that is removable from a marking machine housing. This removable control panel is used to lower or raise the entire marking machine or just a module or modules of the machine. Wheelchair users have difficult times using a conventional marking machine such as a copier or printer. The user with the removable control panel can lower the entire machine so that access to all components is possible. In addition, the wheelchair user can raise the paper trays to be side by side with the processor module. It is important that the copier raise-lower function be on the control panel in addition to a control for horizontal movement of the module(s). Any other function can be put on the control panel.
US07831159B2
An apparatus is configured to charge an image bearing member in a charging section, develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, and transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member to a transfer medium in a transfer section. The apparatus includes a charging auxiliary apparatus for changing a charge amount of toner on the image bearing member. The charging auxiliary apparatus includes a charging auxiliary member contacting with the image bearing member downstream of the transfer section and upstream of the charging section and a voltage applying device to apply a voltage to the charging auxiliary member. The apparatus includes a first detector to detect a current flowing in the charging auxiliary member during a period of non-image formation when the voltage is applied to the charging auxiliary member, a second detector to detect information regarding a toner density in the developing apparatus, and a control device to control toner supply to the developing apparatus based on detection results of both the detectors.
US07831157B2
A total layer thickness detection apparatus for a charged body includes: a saturated charge amount detection unit that detects a saturated charge amount of a charged body having plural coating layers with mutually different relative dielectric constants; a storage unit that stores relation information indicating relation of change of the saturated charge amount of the charged body with respect to a change of layer thickness of a surface layer of the charged body; and a calculation part that calculates a total layer thickness of the plural coating layers of the charged body based on the change of the saturated charge amount detected by the saturated charge amount detection unit and the relation information stored in the storage unit.
US07831151B2
An optical module has multiple optical devices. At least two of the multiple optical devices are a group. Each of the optical devices in the group are individually selectable relative to the others. The optical module also has a controller, coupled to the devices such that the controller can select which of the devices in the group will be active at a given time. A communications network has a first transmitter having a number of usable channels, a first receiver, and optical fibers connecting the first transmitter to the first receiver. The first transmitter has multiple lasers, at least some being selectable as either active or backup lasers. The multiple lasers are controllable such that, if a specific channel is in use by an active laser and a laser failure occurs for that channel, a redundant laser can be substituted for the active laser and, after the substitution, the specific channel can be used using the redundant laser.
US07831150B2
A combat IFF system, for use in a combat exercise or on the battlefield, including a helmet-mounted passive IFF response unit and a weapon-mounted IFF interrogatory unit for each soldier. Infrared (IR) signals are employed for both challenge and response. The IR response signal is a very narrowly-targeted reflection of the relatively narrow IR transmit signal, thereby minimizing interception opportunities. The transmit and response signals are encoded in a transaction that cannot be compromised even when either or both signals are intercepted and decoded by the enemy. The combat IFF system includes biometric anti-spoofing features that prevent any use by an enemy in possession of captured units. Military radio-frequency (RF) spectrum is not required so there are no bandwidth limitations on simultaneous IFF transactions in the battlefield. A combat IFF transaction is completed in milliseconds.
US07831149B2
An optical transmission device capable of preventing deterioration in the transmission quality of a signal beam. A wavelength-multiplexed signal beam from a transmission path is split by a splitter, and the split signal beams are input to first and second optical paths, respectively. An add/drop unit for adding/dropping a wavelength-multiplexed signal beam is removably insertable in the second optical path. A switch outputs the wavelength-multiplexed signal beam, received from one of the first and second optical paths, to an optical amplifier. The optical amplifier amplifies the wavelength-multiplexed signal beam output from the switch and outputs the amplified signal beam to a subsequent circuit. A supervisory controller collects alarm information from the optical transmission device as well as from other optical transmission devices, and controls the switch in accordance with the collected alarm information such that the wavelength-multiplexed signal beam from the second optical path is input to the optical amplifier.
US07831136B2
An ocular fundus is photographed as an electronic image via photographic stops, and the image of the photographed ocular fundus is recorded in a recording apparatus. The photographic stops are selected by moving a movable stop unit. Alignment observation or monocular photography is performed when a center photographic stop is selected. Left and right images for stereoscopic viewing are acquired when left and right photographic stops are selected. The acquired ocular fundus images are recorded in association with the position of the photographic stop used when the images were acquired. Therefore, the left image can be displayed on the left side of the monitor and the right image can be displayed on the right side by referring to the information of the photographic stop position when the left and right images for stereoscopic viewing are displayed on the monitor. This makes reliable stereoscopic viewing of the ocular fundus possible.
US07831129B2
According to one embodiment, a capturing apparatus includes a capturing unit configured to capture a moving image video, a storage unit configured to store the moving image video captured by the capturing unit, an operation unit configured to include a plurality of keys used to instruct playback of the moving image video stored in the storage unit, a skip playback unit configured to play back the moving image video while skipping the moving image video at predetermined time intervals every time a predetermined operation is made on the operation unit, and a playback control unit configured to switch the time intervals skipped by the skip playback unit based on the total playback time period of the moving image video.
US07831126B2
A waveguide core made of hydrogel serves as an immobilization matrix having receptor molecules embedded therein.
US07831124B2
An active area includes a photonic-crystal optical waveguide formed by periodically arranging a plurality of holes in a primary plane direction of an active-area core layer in an active-area growth portion. A passive area includes a passive optical waveguide formed in a passive-area growth portion. An effective refractive index of a growth structure of the active-area growth portion is larger than an effective refractive index of a growth structure of the passive-area growth portion, and an active layer has a gain at a zero group-velocity point positioned on a high-frequency side of a dispersion curve of the photonic-crystal optical waveguide.
US07831123B2
The invention provides a waveguide with a waveguide core having longitudinal sidewall surfaces, a longitudinal top surface, and a longitudinal bottom surface that is disposed on a substrate. An interface layer is disposed on at least one longitudinal sidewall surface of the waveguide core. A waveguide cladding layer is disposed on at least the waveguide core sidewall and top surfaces, over the interface layer. The waveguide of the invention can be produced by forming a waveguide undercladding layer on a substrate, and then forming a waveguide core on the undercladding layer. An interface layer is then formed on at least a longitudinal sidewall surface of the waveguide core, and an upper cladding layer is formed on a longitudinal top surface and on longitudinal sidewall surfaces of the waveguide core, over the interface layer.
US07831116B2
An optical waveguide, an optical printed circuit board equipped with the optical waveguide, and methods of manufacturing the optical waveguide and the optical printed circuit board are disclosed. The optical waveguide can include: a first cladding layer; a core formed on the first cladding layer; an alignment pattern, having a predefined positional relationship to the core, formed on the first cladding layer; a target mark formed on the alignment pattern to indicate a position of the alignment pattern; and a second cladding layer formed on the first cladding layer to cover the core, the alignment pattern, and the target mark. In such an optical waveguide, circuit patterns, etc., formed over the second cladding layer may be precisely and efficiently aligned with the core.
US07831115B2
Optical die structures and associated package substrates are generally described. In one example, an electronic device includes a package substrate having a package substrate core, a dielectric layer coupled with the package substrate core, and one or more input/output (I/O) optical fibers coupled with the package substrate core or coupled with the build-up dielectric layer, or combinations thereof, the one or more I/O optical fibers to guide I/O optical signals to and from the package substrate wherein the one or more I/O optical fibers allow both input and output optical signals to travel through the one or more I/O optical fibers.
