US07901771B2
Water-swellable compositions, dispersions and polymer microparticles for their preparation as well as their manufactures and uses are described.
US07901763B2
Porous infusible polymer (IP) parts are made by incorporating 0.2 to 10 volume percent organic fibers, preferably with short lengths, into the particulate IP, consolidating the mixture under pressure and optionally heating, and then “burning off” the fibers. After the fibers are burned off the resulting part has porosity in which the pores are elongated, usually retaining the shape of the organic fibers. When these parts are exposed to moisture (which they usually absorb) and then suddenly heated they tend not to blister from vaporization of the water. This makes them useful as parts for aircraft (jet) and other engines and other applications where sudden temperature increase may occur.
US07901759B2
The invention relates to a flat structure that is at least partially provided with a self-adhesive substance, the latter being present on a first surface layer of the flat structure in the form of a plurality of geometric bodies. According to the invention, the surface of at least some of the geometric bodies is at least partially treated in such a way that the treated part of the surface has a lower degree of adhesion than the non-treated self-adhesive substance.
US07901758B2
The present invention relates to a flexible laminate of films of thermoplastic polymer material mainly for applications in which relatively high yield strength and ultimate tensile strength is required, and a method and apparatus for its manufacture. The laminate comprises a monofilm formed or multifilm-formed ply (A) and another monofilm-formed or multifilm formed ply (B) both mainly consisting of orientable thermoplastic polymer material, in which A has a fluted configuration and B on a first side is adhesively bonded in bonding zones to the crests on a first side of A, in which B also has a fluted configuration, the flute direction of B forming an angle from generally about 30° up to and including 90° to the flute direction of A and the said bonding zones being on the crests of the first side of B to produce spot bonding with the crests on the first side of A, the wavelengths of the flutes in A and/or B are no longer than 5 mm, and the wavelengths of the flutes in both A and B are less than 10 mm.
US07901756B2
The invention provides a functional stretch laminate composite puckered fabric which is robust, laundry-durable and adaptable for securing about any three dimensional body, and a method for forming such puckered fabric. The functional stretch laminate fabric is provided with at least one functional element which can conduct electricity, conduct light, provide electromagnetic fields or provide shielding from electromagnetic fields. Generally, the functional stretch laminate fabric is sufficiently robust for incorporation into garments and for applications in so-called wearable electronics.
US07901752B2
A belt designed for lead acid battery plate pasting that is rendered dimensionally stable and incompressible and is also rendered hydrophobic to allow water handling without absorption and subsequent contamination of lead oxide into the structure.
US07901751B2
The interchangeable sleeve comprises: a substantially cylindrical outer surface (105A); a layer of hardened resin (R); a substantially conical inner surface for connection to a conical central core of the roller. The inner surface is formed at least partially of at least one inner component (102) having greater rigidity than said hardened resin. The inner component is constrained to the sleeve by means of said hardened resin.
US07901743B2
A method and system for treating a dielectric film on a plurality of substrates includes disposing the plurality of substrates in a batch processing system, the dielectric film on the plurality of substrates having a dielectric constant value less than the dielectric constant of SiO2. The plurality of substrates are heated, and a treating compound comprising a CxHy containing compound, wherein x and y represent integers greater than or equal to unity is introduced to the process system. A plasma is formed and at least one surface of the dielectric film on said plurality of substrates is exposed to the plasma.
US07901732B2
A production process of a light amount adjustment member, by which a cheap light amount adjustment member hating excellent optical properties can be simply produced is provided. A light amount adjustment device and a photographing apparatus which are cheap, have excellent optical properties and are equipped with the light amount adjustment member are provided by providing the simple production process of the light amount adjustment member. The production process comprises the step of relatively scanning an ink-jet head, from which an ink is ejected on a transparent base material, on the surface of which an ink-receiving layer has been formed, to the transparent base material to apply the ink to the ink-receiving layer, thereby forming a light amount adjustment region, wherein in the step of forming the light amount adjustment region, the ink is ejected from the ink-jet head in such a manner that the ink is applied to the whole light amount adjustment region.
US07901726B2
According to an aspect of the present invention a method is provided which a porous medical article is contacted with a solution that contains a therapeutic agent and a solvent in order to load the pores of the medical article, after which the solvent is sublimated.
US07901713B2
A natural formulation of compounds isolated or derived from hops which inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and/or 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is disclosed. The hops formulations may be administered to a mammal to treat or inhibit a pathological condition associated with the activity of COX-2 and/or 5-LOX in such a mammal.
US07901706B2
The present invention provides a composite material, preferably an ophthalmic device, more preferably a contact lens, which comprises a vesicle-containing coating including at least one layer of a vesicle and one layer of a polyionic material having charges opposite the charges of the vesicle. Such composite material can find use in biomedical applications, for example, a device for localized drug delivery and an in vivo analyte sensor such as glucose sensing contact lens. By lifting off the vesicle-containing coating from a substrate, a self-standing membrane (film) capable of encapsulating a wide variety of guest materials can be prepared. In addition, the invention provides methods for making vesicle-containing composite and film materials of the present invention.
US07901701B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods related to powder and granular emulsifiable concentrate pesticide formulations. As disclosed, emulsions from non-aqueous based liquid or solvent soluble pesticide actives may be prepared using a high purity, high molecular weight sulfonated lignin as the emulsion stabilizer. The resulting emulsions may then be dried to obtain a powder or granular emulsion concentrate where the high molecular weight sulfonated lignin acts as a solid matrix for the pesticide active. The powder or granular emulsifiable concentrate formulations thus formed have high loading rates, good storage properties and are easily reconstituted when added to water.
US07901693B2
Compositions and methods for the therapy of malignant diseases, such as leukemia and cancer, are disclosed. The compositions comprise one or more of a WT1 polynucleotide, a WT1 polypeptide, an antigen-presenting cell presenting a WT1 polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds to a WT1 polypeptide; or a T cell that specifically reacts with a WT1 polypeptide. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the prevention and treatment of metastatic diseases.
US07901692B2
The invention relates to a mutation within the sap operon of an avirulent clone of a nontypeable strain of Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). The invention also relates to the NTHi sap operon genes and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotide sequences. The invention also relates to a novel 110 kDa NTHi outer membrane protein and the polynucleotide that encodes this outer membrane protein. Methods of screening for NTHi infection, and treating and preventing NTHi related disorders are also contemplated.
US07901690B2
Polyvalent, primary isolate nucleic acid compositions for inducing an immune response against HIV is disclosed. The composition and methods described herein are for the use of a DNA composition that encodes one or more different HIV envelope glycoproteins. The DNA composition can encode an HIV Gag protein. The DNAs encoding one or more HIV proteins are a combination of different nucleic acids, such as DNA plasmids, generated from primary isolate DNA of different HIV major group genetic clades and/or different proteins. HIV protein compositions for inducing an immune response against HIV are disclosed. Methods fro using the protein compositions as boosts following administration of the DNA compositions are provided.
US07901686B2
The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of vertebrate genes, termed here hedgehog-related genes, comprise morphogenic signals produced by embryonic patterning centers, and are involved in the formation of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to generate and/or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.
US07901685B2
This invention provides: agents determined to be capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell, but not a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell; and agents determined to be capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell, but not a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell. This invention also provides: agents capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a macrophage tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 with a CD+ cell susceptible to infection by a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1; and agents capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 with a CD4+ cell susceptible to infection by a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1. The agents include but are not limited to antibodies. This invention further provides: methods of inhibiting fusion of a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 with a CD+ cell susceptible to infection by a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of an agent capable of specifically inhibiting such fusion so as to thereby inhibit such fusion; and methods of inhibiting fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 with a CD4+ cell susceptible to infection by a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of an agent capable of specifically inhibiting such fusion so as to thereby inhibit such fusion.
US07901682B2
Methods and compositions are disclosed that are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of cancer, angiogenesis, and inflammation. The beneficial effects of the compositions and methods are achieved through the use of pharmaceutical compositions that include agents that bind sphingolipids or sphingolipid metabolites. In one embodiment the agent is an antibody or antibody derivative. In some embodiments, the agent is a receptor of a sphingolipid or a sphingolipid metabolite. Also disclosed are methods for identifying and isolating therapeutic agents.
US07901674B2
Fixed-dried blood cells carrying an active agent are described, along with methods of making the same, methods of using the same, and compositions containing the sane. The blood cells may be red blood cells or blood platelets.
US07901672B2
Cells present in processed lipoaspirate tissue are used to treat patients. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Compositions that are administered to a patient include a mixture of adipose tissue and stem cells so that the composition has a higher concentration of stem cells than when the adipose tissue was removed from the patient.
US07901671B2
The invention provides improved compositions and methods for achieving gene therapy in hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic precursor cells, including erythrocytes, erythroid progenitors, and embryonic stem cells. The invention further provides improved gene therapy methods for treating hematopoietic-related disorders. Retroviral gene therapy vectors that are optimized for erythroid specific expression and treatment of hemoglobinopathic conditions are disclosed.
US07901668B2
To provide an emulsifier for cosmetic use which not only has an improved emulsifying power and feel during use, but wherein the emulsifier itself has a skin cell growth-promoting property. The emulsifier contains an aqueous solution of silk protein composed mainly of amorphous silk fibroin, wherein the aqueous solution of silk protein composed mainly of amorphous silk fibroin is an aqueous solution of silk protein obtained by dissolving unscoured, partially scoured or scoured spun silkworm fibers (cocoon filaments) with a neutral salt and then dialyzing the solution.
US07901667B2
The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula: Y-L-BFR-X wherein BFR is a bridged fused ring system; Y is a targeting group; L is optionally present and is a linker for coupling Y to BFR; and X is halogen (e.g., radiohalogen) or a functional group for labelling.
US07901655B2
A process for treating a gas stream comprising H2S that includes the step of selectively oxidizing the H2S of the gas stream within a catalytic zone containing an oxidation catalyst and in the presence of an inert liquid medium and molecular oxygen to form elemental sulfur and a gas stream depleted of H2S. A liquid stream yielded from the catalytic zone and containing the inert liquid medium and liquid elemental sulfur undergoes a separation into a first liquid phase rich in the inert liquid medium and a second liquid phase rich in elemental sulfur. Either at least a part of the liquid stream or at least a part of the second liquid phase, or both, undergoes a combustion to form a fluid stream that comprises sulfur dioxide.
US07901647B2
An apparatus and method for achieving increased NOx removal efficiency from an emissions control portion of a fossil fuel fired boiler while controlling ammonia slip provides excess levels of ammonia above those levels conventionally employed in SCR and/or SNCR applications. The apparatus and methods comprise, in part, use of a NOx reduction system comprising at least one selective catalytic reduction system which receives ammonia in higher amounts than conventional practice from an upstream ammonia injection point, and an ammonia reduction system positioned downstream of one or more ammonia injection points and the NOx reduction system. The excess ammonia achieves increased NOx removal, while the ammonia reduction system contains at least one ammonia destruction catalyst which permits the NOx reduction system to be operated at an increased NOx removal efficiency without a corresponding increase in ammonia slip.
US07901645B2
A mercury reduction system according to the present embodiment is a mercury reduction system that reduces NOx and Hg in flue gas discharged from a boiler, and includes a chemical supplying unit that mixes an NH4Cl solution, an NH3 solution, and an HCl solution in liquid states, and supplies a mixed solution into a flue provided downstream of the boiler, a reduction denitration apparatus that includes a denitration catalyst reducing NOx in the flue gas with NH3 and oxidizing Hg in the presence of HCl, and a wet desulfurization apparatus that reduces Hg oxidized in the reduction denitration apparatus with limestone-gypsum slurry.
US07901641B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a sprayer for distributing at least one fluid in a vessel. The sprayer can include a first member having a first surface and a second surface forming at least one aperture there-through. Generally, the at least one aperture is skewed with respect to a substantially vertical axis passing through a center of the first member for distributing the at least one fluid in the vessel.
US07901640B2
A new reactor design is presented for a counter-current flowing reactor. The reactor has a catalyst flowing down through the reactor, and over baffles. Gas is admitted under the baffles and flows up through the solid catalyst bed. The design includes slotted plates that extend from the bottom of the baffle in the reactor to a position near the catalyst outlet. The gas flows through the slotted plates and is directed up through the catalyst bed, while directing the flowing catalyst to the catalyst outlet ports.
US07901635B2
When fluids A and B are caused to flow together from a fluid introduction portion into a microreactionchannel, they are divided into a plurality of fluid segments A and B in a diametral section of the microreactionchannel at the entrance side, and are mixed with each other by molecular diffusion to perform multiple reaction while being caused to flow as laminar flows.
US07901634B2
An apparatus for processing at least one biological sample accommodated on at least one carrier member (15) in a chamber includes at least one reservoir (18) able to accommodate a fluid arranged on a surface inside the chamber adjacent to and/or facing a substantial part of the at least one biological sample. The apparatus may comprise a bottom member (12) arranged to support at least one carrier member (15) carrying at least one biological sample and a lid (14) including at least one fluid reservoir (18). The reservoir filled with water provides humidity to the chamber and impedes drying out of the sample.
US07901629B2
A cartridge device having a receiving portion for receiving a blood sample and a jack portion for receiving a plug; a stirring device for circulating the blood sample within the receiving portion; and an electrode holder having at least one incorporated electrode wire pair; wherein the electrode holder is attachable to the cell such that one end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a sensor unit for measuring the electrical impedance between the two electrode wires of the at least one electrode wire pair within the blood sample and that the opposite end of the at least one electrode wire pair forms a plug portion being connectable directly to the plug for an electrical connection of the sensor unit to an analyser.
US07901627B2
The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the concentration sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of concentration values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read concentration values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment.
US07901624B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, a system and method for automatically adjusting the inoculum level of a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention may measure a concentration of particles present in a preliminary sample using a sensor device and determine an amount of diluent to be added to or removed from a sample container to prepare a sample having a selected concentration of particles, corresponding to a selected inoculum level. Embodiments of the present invention may also automatically add or remove the diluent using an automated fluidics system so as to prepare a sample having the selected particle concentration. Once the selected particle concentration is achieved and verified, some embodiments may also remove at least a portion of the sample from the sample container such that the container contains a selected volume of the sample.
US07901622B2
The invention relates to a test element with at least one capillary for continuous transport of a liquid sample in a transport direction, with several zones succeeding one another in the transport direction in the capillary and containing different materials with which water has different contact angles α.
US07901611B2
An electrospinning system using a spinneret and a counter electrode is first operated for a fixed amount of time at known system and operational parameters to generate a fiber mat having a measured fiber mat width associated therewith. Next, acceleration of the fiberizable material at the spinneret is modeled to determine values of mass, drag, and surface tension associated with the fiberizable material at the spinneret output. The model is then applied in an inversion process to generate predicted values of an electric charge at the spinneret output and an electric field between the spinneret and electrode required to fabricate a selected fiber mat design. The electric charge and electric field are indicative of design values for system and operational parameters needed to fabricate the selected fiber mat design.
US07901599B2
The invention provides a molding apparatus capable of obtaining a reference mark utilizing characteristics of molding of a polarizing film in the course of molding the polarizing film, and adapted for large items small scale production of the polarizing film. The molding apparatus is made up of a molding box which is opened at an upper face, a closing valve attached to a suction port communicating with an inner space of the molding box, a vacuum source connected to the closing valve, pressing means provided at an opening edge of the molding box, and a mold having a concave spherical molding face and installed in the molding box, allowing the polarizing film to be sucked onto the molding face by vacuum suction to mold a colored concave and convex polarizing film. In the course of molding the concave and convex polarizing film by allowing the polarizing film to be sucked onto the convex spherical molding face by vacuum suction, the polarizing film is differentiated in stretching and is partially deep in color, thereby forming reference marks.
US07901590B2
A piezoelectric ceramic composition that acquires excellent piezoelectric properties even when it is fired at a low temperature is offered. The piezoelectric ceramic composition possesses a composition corresponding to a solid solution that contains a first compound having a rhombohedral crystal-based perovskite structure, a second compound having a tetragonal crystal-based perovskite structure, and a third compound. The third compound is a compound oxide containing Bi as a first component element, Fe or Mn as a second component element, and a hexavalent metallic element as a third component element. The hexavalent metallic element is at least one kind selected from W and Mo.
US07901589B2
A soil resist composition comprises a) a polyfluoro organic compound having at least one urethane or urea, b) 1,3-propanediol, and c) a surfactant, the soil resist composition having freeze thaw stability.
US07901583B2
A process in which material comprising an aqueous liquid with dispersed particulate solids is transferred as a fluid to a deposition area, then allowed to stand and rigidify, and in which rigidification is improved while retaining the fluidity of the material during transfer, by combining with the material an effective rigidifying amount of aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer. The process is particularly suitable for the treatment of the tailings underflow resulting from a mineral processing operation and the co-disposal of fine and coarse tailings fractions. In addition, liquor released during the rigidification step is of high clarity.
US07901580B2
Devices and methods for producing purified water. The device includes a reverse osmosis subsystem, a dehumidification subsystem and a purified water storage tank fluidly coupled to the subsystems such that purified water produced by each can be locally stored. A vehicular platform, such as a ship, can be used to locate the device adjacent a supply of saline water and humid air. A saline water inlet, membrane and purified water outlet cooperate in the reverse osmosis subsystem to allow preferential passage of water relative to salt in a saline water supply, while the dehumidification subsystem includes a heat exchanger that extracts moisture from the ambient humid air. Purified water produced by each of the subsystems can be used as a potable water source. When used in conjunction with a ship, part or all of the reverse osmosis subsystem can be submersed to a depth sufficient to generate a hydrostatic pressure that is in turn sufficient to passively operate the reverse osmosis membrane such that additional pressurizing equipment, such as a pump, is not needed. Furthermore, the temperature of the water purified by the reverse osmosis subsystem may be low enough to be used as a condensing agent for the ambient humid air passing through the dehumidification subsystem.
US07901577B2
Desalination is carried out by a hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration process in which ion exchange is followed by pressure-driven nanofiltration. Monovalent ions of sodium and chloride of saline water are exchanged for equivalent concentrations of poly-valent ions (for example, sodium ions for magnesium ions or chloride ions for sulfate ions) when passed through ion exchangers in the form of those poly-valent ions. The resultant solution has a lower osmotic pressure than the initial solution containing monovalent sodium and chloride ions, and requires less transmembrane pressure for membrane desalination compared to traditional reverse osmosis. The concentrated reject stream from the membrane process is used as regenerant for the exhausted ion exchanger, which has been converted to monovalent anionic or cationic form.
US07901567B2
A process for capturing organometallic impurities comprising at least one of a heavy metal, silicon, phosphorus, and arsenic, contained in a hydrocarbon feed comprising contacting the feed with a capture mass comprising at least one of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) deposited on a porous support at least one of aluminas, silica, silica-aluminas, and titanium, or magnesium oxides used alone or as a mixture with alumina or silica-alumina, the metallic element being in the sulphide form with a degree of sulphurization of at least 60%, and in which the feed to be treated is a catalytically cracked gasoline containing 5% to 60% by weight of olefins, 50 ppm to 6000 ppm by weight of sulphur and traces of arsenic in amounts in the range 10 ppb to 1000 ppb by weight.
US07901564B2
Atmospheric and/or vacuum resid fractions of a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil are added to a blend of crude oil to prevent fouling of crude oil refinery equipment and to perform on-line cleaning of fouled refinery equipment. The HSDP resid fractions dissolve asphaltene precipitates and maintain suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces.
US07901559B2
It is intended to provide a method for easily detecting a phosphorylated peptide (protein) in a test sample by using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) which has been conventionally employed in analyzing a protein; a polyacrylamide gel for electrophoresis to be used in the method; a method of producing the gel; and a synthesizing intermediate in producing the gel. The polyacrylamide gel for electrophoresis to be used in the method of the invention is characterized in that at least a part of the structure thereof has a structure represented by the following formula (I); wherein M2+represents a transition metal ion; and X represents a linker group.
US07901549B2
A gas evolving bipolar electrolysis system is provided which includes multiple cells. Each cell further includes a cathode, an anode, at least one inlet and at least one outlet for flow of electrolyte and the cathode and the anode are configured to maintain a variable interelectrode gap between the cathode and the anode. In some embodiments, the cell includes a membrane disposed between the electrodes and in some other embodiments the electrodes are coated with electrocatalysts configured to provide uniform current density on the electrode surface.
US07901544B2
A paper machine fabric leader includes a leader having a first end, a second end, a first leader face and a second leader face, the first end being connected to a paper machine fabric; and a solid sheet cover attached to the first leader face of the leader. A method for making the paper machine fabric leader is also disclosed.
US07901519B2
A precipitation hardenable martensitic stainless steel that includes, in percent by weight, 11.0 to 12.5 percent chromium, 1.0 to 2.5 percent molybdenum, 0.15 to 0.5 percent titanium, 0.7 to 1.5 percent aluminum, 0.5 to 2.5 percent copper, 9.0 to 11.0 percent nickel, up to 0.02 percent carbon, up to 2.0 percent tungsten, and up to 0.001 percent boron. Articles formed from the stainless steel and methods of forming the same are also disclosed.
US07901518B2
A commercial dishwasher (2) has a spray chamber (4) for holding items (6) to be washed and is designed for loading and unloading batches of items (6) to be washed into and from a region (12) for items to be washed. The dishwasher (2) has a fan (18) for producing an air stream (20) which passes from an air inlet (14) below the region (12) for items to be washed, through the spray chamber (4), to an air outlet (16), with the air stream (20) in the spray chamber (4) being passed through the region (12) for items to be washed in order to dry the items (6) which have been washed. A deflector arrangement (22) acts on the air stream (20) entering the spray chamber (4) through the air inlet (14) in order for the air stream (20) to enter the region (12) for items to be washed in a uniformly distributed manner from below.
US07901517B2
The invention relates to a conveyor dishwasher having at least one washing zone (6, 7), at least one rinsing zone (8, 9) and a heat-recovery device (13) with a suction-extraction means. The dishwasher also comprises a drying zone (11). Openings (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) are provided for the suction extraction of air from the dishwasher. The overall quantity of the exhaust-airstream (24) can be varied by means of closing elements (25, 26, 27, 28), in dependence on the operating state of the dishwasher, by virtue of the openings (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) being completely or partially closed or released.
US07901514B2
A cleaning method of cleaning a surface of a substrate that is processed by a developing process. The method includes pouring a cleaning liquid onto a central part of the substrate. A dry area that is not wetted with the cleaning liquid is created in a central part of the substrate by stopping pouring the cleaning liquid or by shifting a cleaning liquid pouring position to which the cleaning liquid is poured from the central part while the substrate holding device is rotating. The dry area is expanded outward from the central part of the substrate by rotating the substrate holding device at a rotating speed not lower than 1500 rpm without pouring the cleaning liquid onto the dry area. The cleaning liquid is poured onto an outer area contiguously surrounding the dry area on the surface of the substrate.
US07901506B2
In this invention a cementitious capillary crystalline waterproof material with an eka-molecular sieve structure and its manufacturing method is disclosed. The major ingredient of this material is Portland cement; the accessories include silicon dioxide, alumina, magnesia, calcium sulphonate, methlycellulose, quick-setting agent and sodium aluminate, etc. Put separately major ingredient and accessories premixed in given proportion separately into the major ingredient bin and the accessory bins. The major ingredient passing through an impulse flowmeter is carried to the dosing machine; and in the same time, the premixed accessories are automatically weighed by the weighing device using gewichtsabnahme method when they are carried to the above dosing machine; they are mixed in the premixing machine and the refine-mixing machine and prepared to the product. The product is mixed with water and forms slurry. After setting, it becomes coating layer with an eka-molecular sieve structure which is water-tight and breathes freely. The coating has high compressive strength, resistance to very high and low temperatures, and resistant to acid, chlorides, and Sulphates so on. It also has self-healing ability to small crack when meet with water. It is non-toxic, odorless, with long service life, and convenient to application. The material can be used at wide range in underground facilities, tunnel, cave depot, bridge, swimming pool, toilet, sewage treating reservoir, dam, etc.
US07901498B2
The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, n represents 0 or 1, the group A represents a substituted heterocyclic group, R1 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted or the like, R2 represents a cyano group or the like, R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a sulfo group or the like, R5 to R7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted, a C1-C4 alkoxy group which may be substituted or the like, respectively or salt thereof. Said trisazo compound or salt thereof provides a coloring matter compound for black ink and an ink composition thereof where they have high solubility in medium where water is a principal component, their aqueous solution and ink having high concentration is stable even when stored for a long period of time, printed images therewith have very high density, no bronzing is caused on the images printed even with their high concentration solution, and they give black recorded images excellent in fastness, particularly in both light fastness and ozone gas fastness.
US07901489B2
This invention relates to an electrostatic precipitator suitable for removing industrial dust particles. This electrostatic precipitator with high efficiency includes a casing, in which the corona discharge electrode lines and the dust-collecting electrode plates, which form a plurality of sedimentation passages, are arranged in parallel and alternately. The vibration apparatuses for cleaning dust are placed respectively on the corona discharge electrode lines and the dust-collecting electrode plates. The wind shields are arranged alternately at both ends of each two adjacent sedimentation passages to form a plurality of air intake sedimentation passages and air exhaust sedimentation passages which are arranged alternately. The passages, where the wind shields are located on the side of air outlet are the air intake sedimentation passages and the air exhaust sedimentation passages with the wind shields located on the side of air inlet. There is a plurality of air vents distributed on the dust-collecting electrode plates. A valve is mounted on the side of air outlet of each air exhaust sedimentation passage for closing the air outlet.
US07901488B2
Carbon dioxide and other acid gases are removed from gaseous streams using aqueous absorption and stripping processes. By replacing the conventional stripper used to regenerate the aqueous solvent and capture the acid gas with a matrix stripping configuration, less energy is consumed. The matrix stripping configuration uses two or more reboiled strippers at different pressures. The rich feed from the absorption equipment is split among the strippers, and partially regenerated solvent from the highest pressure stripper flows to the middle of sequentially lower pressure strippers in a “matrix” pattern. By selecting certain parameters of the matrix stripping configuration such that the total energy required by the strippers to achieve a desired percentage of acid gas removal from the gaseous stream is minimized, further energy savings can be realized.
US07901480B2
A method is provided for producing a highly porous substrate. More particularly, the present invention enables fibers, such as organic, inorganic, glass, ceramic, polymer, or metal fibers, to be combined with binders and additives, and extruded, to form a porous substrate. Depending on the selection of the constituents used to form an extrudable mixture, the present invention enables substrate porosities of about 60% to about 90%, and enables process advantages at other porosities, as well. The extrudable mixture may use a wide variety of fibers and additives, and is adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments and applications. Additives can be selected that form inorganic bonds between overlapping fibers in the extruded substrate that provide enhanced strength and performance of the porous substrate in a variety of applications, such as, for example, filtration and as a host for catalytic processes, such as catalytic converters.
US07901479B2
A filter cassette rack and tracks wherein the rack is a three dimensional rectangular rack having at least two opposing open sides, sealing and non-sealing support tracks span the rack providing filter cassette guides and sealing means for a plurality of filter cassettes.
US07901477B2
An interior of a machine tool and a machining area are divided for communication by a labyrinth. The machining area is covered by a cover. Air discharged from an air bearing flows from the machine tool interior into the machining area through the labyrinth. The cover for the machining area is provided with an exhaust unit for discharging the air from the air bearing or a mist produced in the machining area to the outside of the machine tool.
US07901469B2
Fuel formulations may be produced from vegetable oil without the need to remove glycerin from the vegetable oil prior to use. The fuel formulations may be used in diesel fuel vehicles and/or as a home heating oil. The fuel formulations may include vegetable oil, kerosene, a fuel stabilizer, and a cetane boost additive.
US07901456B2
A graft fixation system for fixing graft material in a bone tunnel includes an expandable fixation member having a graft receiving eyelet disposed proximate its distal end, opposed bone engaging elements disposed about its periphery, and an expansion plug receiving opening defined in its proximal end. The system also includes an expansion plug having a diameter greater than the diameter of the expansion plug receiving opening so that forceable insertion of the expansion plug into the expansion plug receiving opening causes an expansion of the expandable fixation member driving the opposed bone engaging elements apart so as to fix the bone engaging elements, as well as the graft material, in a bone tunnel.
US07901453B2
A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary tract, or urinary tract, and at least one layer 18 of an immunosuppressive agent posited over at least one surface of the structure 12. Optionally, the device 10 can include at least one porous, preferably polymeric layer 20 posited over the layer 18 of immunosuppressive agent, and can alternatively or additionally include at least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure 12, the at least one layer 18 of immunosuppressive agent being posited in turn on at least a portion of the coating layer 16. The porous layer 20 and the coating layer 16 each provide for the controlled release of the bioactive material from the device 10. The structure 12 is preferably configured as a coronary stent. The polymer of the porous layer 20 is preferably applied by vapor or plasma deposition. It is particularly preferred that the polymer is a polyamide, parylene or a parylene derivative which is deposited without solvents, heat or catalysts, but rather by condensation of a monomer vapor.
US07901443B2
A warming blanket is provided that includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge. An air inlet is provided on the warming blanket where the first sheet and the second sheet are not sealed. An inlet opening device is attached to the inlet opening. The inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force. Methods of forming and using the warming blanket are also provided.
US07901437B2
A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having at least one transition portion and cooperating outer sleeve, both the transition portion and sleeve being disposed between the two bone anchors. The transition portion includes a rigid length or rod having apertures therein and a molded plastic length that extends through the apertures, thus attaching the plastic length to the rigid length. The sleeve surrounds the transition portion and extends between the pair of bone anchors, the sleeve being compressible in a longitudinal direction between the bone anchors.
US07901435B2
Spinal anchoring methods and devices are provided that are effective to correct spinal deformities while allowing some flexibility to the spine. In particular, the methods and devices allow a spinal fixation element to mate to several adjacent vertebrae to maintain the vertebrae at a fixed distance relative to one another, yet to allow the orientation of each vertebrae relative to the fixation element to adjust as the orientation of the patient's spine changes.
US07901431B2
An apparatus and method for Lisfranc repair using a suture-button construct. The method includes the steps of drilling a hole in a medial cuneiform and through a second metatarsal base, passing a needle with a pull-through suture strand through the hole, pulling the pull-through suture strand and simultaneously applying a lateral tension on a first suture strand such that the first button lies sideways and advancing the first button through the hole until the it exits the hole at the medial cuneiform, flipping the first button to engage it against the medial aspect of the medial cuneiform and applying a lateral tension on the first suture strand, pulling free ends of the first suture strand to advance a second button over the second metatarsal base and to engage it against the second metatarsal base, and securing the second button against the second metatarsal base by tying a Surgeon's knot and two reverse half-hitches.
US07901418B2
A clamp has a handle assembly, a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly. The shaft assembly also has a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the shaft can be bent.
US07901413B1
A surgical screw and driver arrangement whereby the end of the driver is vertically inserted and removed from the slotted end of the surgical screw and whereby the end of the driver is attached to and removed from the slotted end of the surgical screw by a quarter turn in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.The driver includes an inner shaft connecting with a center locking cam at one end of the driver and an outer shaft that connects with a pair of blades, one on each side of the locking cam.The surgical screw includes a slotted head at one end and a tapered threaded rod attached to the head. A pair of dovetail slots extending perpendicular within the slotted head receives the locking cam when the driver inner shaft is rotated a quarter turn clockwise to fasten the surgical screw to the end of the driver.
US07901411B2
Methods and devices for performing hip replacement surgery are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising providing an incision locator, the incision locator comprising at least one location indicator and at least one incision indicator, the location indicator configured to align with a central axis of the femur, and the incision indicator configured to guide a proper placement of a surgical incision when the location indicator is aligned, aligning the location indicator with at least one anatomical feature of the patient, making an incision in the proper location as guided by the incision indicator, and completing the surgical procedure is described.
US07901403B2
A bipolar, plasma-generating electrosurgical apparatus and system wherein the return electrode is enclosed within an electrosurgical shaft, and the active electrode is located on the outside surface of the shaft such that in treating the tissue, the tissue is exposed to plasma generated on the active electrode, but is minimally exposed to electric fields generated between the active and return electrodes. Due to the configuration of the electrodes, electric fields generated between the electrodes are directed away from the target tissue and inwardly towards the return electrode within the shaft, thereby electrical stimulation of neuromuscular structures in the tissue by the electric fields is minimized.
US07901397B2
A method is provided for operating a device for the containment and controlled release or exposure of a chemical substance. The method includes (i) providing a device which includes a substrate having a plurality of reservoirs, at least one chemical substance stored in the reservoirs, a plurality of metal reservoir caps, each of which closes an opening of one of said reservoir caps, and power and electrode means for disintegrating each of said reservoir caps; and (ii) disintegrating at least one of said reservoir caps, using said power and electrode means, to expose or release the chemical substance, wherein said disintegration comprises using potentiostatic or galvanostatic control to a voltage potential at said at least one reservoir cap.
US07901392B2
Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.
US07901388B2
A method of treating areas of the body utilizing ultrasonic vibrations to mix different materials together as to create a therapeutic combination is disclosed. The materials are mixed by passing them through an ultrasound horn vibrating in resonance, having an internal chamber. As the materials pass through the internal chamber, ultrasonic vibrations emanating from and/or echoing off the various walls of the chamber mix the materials into a potentially therapeutic combination. Ultrasonic vibrations emanating from the radiation surface of the horn may be used to spray the created therapeutic combination onto the area of the body to be treated.
US07901386B2
A liquid transfusing tube and a liquid transfusing tube set in which a liquid transfusing line can be extended readily and quickly. The liquid transfusing tube comprises a flexible tube constituting the liquid transfusing channel, a connector provided at one end part of the tube, and a pointed bottle needle provided at the other end part of the tube and being connected to the side of a liquid transfusing bag containing a liquid being transfused. A roller klemme and a drip tube are provided in the middle of the tube. The connector has two female connectors, a male connector, and an operating lever and the communication pattern between the inner cavity of the female connector and that of the female connector or that of the male connector can be selected by means of the operating lever.
US07901385B2
A casing (50) for an injection device (10) of the type having a safety device which prevents operation of the device (10), incorporating an actuator means (56) by which the safety means of the device (10) can be actuated to allow operation of the device (10). Also a casing (50) for a medicament container having an opening closed prior to use by a break-off tip (135), having relatively moveable first and second casing parts (51, 52), which on relative movement apply a breaking force to the break-off tip (135). A preferred embodiment includes both such features.
US07901379B2
The present invention provides vascular introducer sheaths incorporating improved passive valves which can maintain hemostasis around medical instruments. A passive sheath valve for creating a hemostatic seal around a medical instrument comprises a valve body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a lumen having an inner and outer surface therethrough. The valve body defines a sealing aperture that is configured nominally to remain open. The upstream end includes an upstream annulus region defining at least one opening and the downstream end includes a downstream annulus region. Each annulus region and lumen outer surface define at least one chamber. The at least one opening transmits pressure from the upstream end through the upstream annulus region so as to allow a fluid to enter the at least one chamber.
US07901376B2
A disposable pumping cassette in one embodiment includes a pump chamber; and a valve chamber in communication with the pump chamber, the valve chamber including an inlet and first and second outlets. A disposable pumping cassette in another embodiment includes a first valve chamber including an inlet and first and second outlets; and a second valve chamber including an inlet and an outlet, the second valve chamber openable to allow dialysis fluid to flow through one of the first and second outlets of the first valve chamber, through the outlet of the second valve chamber. A disposable pumping cassette in a further embodiment includes a valve chamber including a fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets; and a flexible sheet openable to open and close only one of the first and second outlets.
US07901374B2
A fluid injection device includes: a pulse generation section that includes a fluid chamber whose volume is changeable, and an inlet flow passage and an outlet flow passage that are connected to the fluid chamber; a first connection flow passage connected to the outlet flow passage, having an end portion; a second connection flow passage connected to the inlet flow passage; a fluid injection opening formed at the end portion of the first connection flow passage, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outlet flow passage; a connection flow passage tube including the first connection flow passage and having rigidity adequate to transmit pulses of fluid flowing from the fluid chamber to the fluid injection opening; and a pressure generation section that supplies fluid to the inlet flow passage.
US07901368B2
Various embodiments of an ambulation system and a movement assist system are disclosed. For example, an ambulation system for a patient may comprise a biological interface apparatus and an ambulation assist apparatus. The biological interface apparatus may comprise a sensor having a plurality of electrodes for detecting multicellular signals, a processing unit configured to receive the multicellular signals from the sensor, process the multicellular signals to produce a processed signal, and transmit the processed signal to a controlled device. The ambulation assist apparatus may comprise a rigid structure configured to provide support between a portion of the patient's body and a surface. Data may be transferred from the ambulation assist apparatus to the biological interface apparatus.
US07901364B2
A body fluid testing device includes a body member and a tissue penetrator carried by the body member. A test strip holder is carried by the body member, and a test strip is carried by the test strip holder. The test strip is capable of receiving a body fluid thereon and processing the body fluid into a form suitable for yielding test results relating to the content of the body fluid. The body member, tissue penetrator, test strip holder and test strip are designed for a single use and for disposal as a unit without disassembly.
US07901358B2
A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.
US07901345B2
A miniaturized x-ray apparatus for delivering x-rays to a selected site within a body cavity includes a catheter having at least one lumen and an x-ray transparent window at a distal end thereof; an x-ray source in the lumen adjacent said x-ray transparent window; a movable x-ray shield positioned to direct x-rays from the source through the x-ray transparent window to the selected site.
US07901343B2
The present invention provides a self-cleaning drying centrifuge for removing fluid from a concentrated particulate-filled fluid and peeling mostly dried particulate (solid) material from the centrifuge. In some embodiments, a high-efficiency centrifuge performs an initial separation and concentration of small particles from a contaminated fluid, and outputs a clarified fluid for reuse, and periodically purges concentrated particulates with high fluid content. The purged concentrate is then fed into the present invention's drying centrifuge, which substantially reduces the remaining fluid content. In some embodiments, the drying centrifuge is periodically stopped and one or more internal blades (peelers) are rotated around the inner wall of the drying centrifuge bowl to peel the accumulated solids, which drop into a collection container. In some embodiments, partial peelers are arranged in a balanced configuration, but each peel portions of the bowl not peeled by others, to reduce the brake size needed to hold the bowl.
US07901340B2
An exercise machine (1)(101) has a work zone (20)(120) for performing physical exercise in accordance with a predetermined medical/sport program, a service zone (30)(130) adjacent to work zone (20)(120) and provided with a load group (31)(131), with the work zone (20)(120) and the service zone (30)(130) being located adjacent to each other and inscribable completely inside a minimum volume (V) of a predetermined height (H), width (L) and depth (W), and volume indicating means (40′)(140′) capable to render a visually discernible minimum training module (M) of predetermined dimensions which can be easily assembled and rapidly installed in a space of limited dimensions.
US07901337B2
An arm exercise machine for performing isolation exercises has a self-aligning pivoting seat or user support on a main frame and an exercise arm for performing biceps curl and/or triceps extension exercises which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. The user support is pivotally mounted on the main frame so as to automatically align in order to maintain positioning of the user throughout the exercise motion.
US07901334B2
The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus with an adjustable resistance assembly. The adjustable resistance assembly has a screw portion. An user can rotate an operating portion which is connected to one end of the screw portion to move the screw portion to drive a pushing portion toward a rotating member which is pivotally connected on the exercise apparatus. Simultaneously, the pushing portion drives an elastic member to cause deformation and make a friction surface of a resistance member which is connected on the elastic member gradually press the rotating member therefore increases friction resistance. When the user rotates the operating portion reversely, the screw portion is moved outward the rotating member and the elastic member recovered from the deformation thereby decreases the friction resistance relative to the rotating member.
US07901331B1
In the embodiments and methods described, a device is employed having a first multi-bar linkage in mechanical communication with a frame. At least one mechanical input component is in mechanical communication with the multi-bar linkage. The multi-bar linkage is selectively adaptable to provide at least three different motions for the mechanical input component.
US07901326B2
A method for determining an exertion parameter during physical exercise, user-specific performance monitor implementing the method, and computer software product. The method includes determining a propagation variable characterizing the user's propagation; determining a gravitational motion variable characterizing the user's motion in the direction of the gravitational field; calculating an inclination factor proportional to the inclination of a propagation base in accordance with the propagation variable and the gravitational motion variable; calculating a propagation factor proportional to propagation efficiency characterizing the user's ability to move with respect to the inclination of the propagation base, the propagation factor having a different calculated value based on whether the inclination factor is positive or negative for the same base value of the inclination factor; and calculating an exertion parameter that characterizes the user's energy consumption along the propagation route in accordance with the propagation variable, the gravitational motion variable, and the propagation factor.
US07901323B2
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a display system for a fitness trainer is provided. The display system includes a processor, a hardware circuit board in communication with the processor, and a memory in communication with the hardware circuit board and the processor. A base portion is provided in communication with the processor and the memory. The base portion provides exercise information to the user. At least two modules are provided that can be removably attached to the base portion. In one embodiment, the removable modules comprise entertainment modules.
US07901320B2
A shock caused due to a change in the direction of torque transferred to an output shaft is reduced. There is provided a control device for a powertrain including a drive power source that transfers torque to an output shaft connected to a wheel of a vehicle, and a rotary electric machine that transfers torque to the output shaft via a transmission. When electric power generation performed using the rotary electric machine is restricted, if torque that decelerates the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, a control is executed so that torque that does not decelerate the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, and a shift control over the transmission is executed.
US07901310B2
A belt tensioner for a belt drive is designed to connect an engine shaft of an internal-combustion engine to a reversible electric machine which has the function of starting motor and current generator; the belt tensioner comprises a fixed part and a pair of arms, hinged on a common pin carried by the fixed part and provided with respective idle pulleys, and a spring, which forces the two arms towards one another so as to load the pulleys elastically against respective branches of the belt. The two arms of the belt tensioner are provided with respective first arrest elements, which are designed to interact with the fixed portion to define respective positions of arrest of the arms themselves under the action of the spring, and respective second arrest elements, which are designed to interact with the fixed portion to define respective positions of end-of-travel of the arms under the action of the pull of the belt.
US07901307B2
The present invention relates to a protection system for a sports ground comprising a frame-chest with a protection cover, said frame-chest being able to move across the entire length of the ground whilst unfolding or folding said protection cover by means of an unfolding and folding mechanism, in which said frame-chest is connected to a network of cables spread out in advance over the sports ground, said cables being operated by motorized pulleys in order to ensure the motion of said frame-chest over said sports ground.
US07901305B2
A catching machine 5 that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target includes a ball collecting portion 20 for catching a ball pitched toward the target 11 and a ball returning portion 30 for returning the ball caught by the ball collecting portion 20 to the pitcher. The ball returning portion 30 includes a ball-return-distance setting device 32 for changeably setting a ball return distance.
US07901302B2
A golf ball including a core and a cover layer, wherein the golf ball has a lift to weight ratio greater than about 1.7 at a Reynolds number of about 207,000 and a non-dimensional spin ratio of about 0.095, a COR of 0.790 or less, and a weight of about 1.39 to 1.62 oz; and wherein the cover layer has an outer surface including dimples covering 55% to 75% of the outer surface.
US07901300B2
The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball, of which flight distance is improved by accomplishing high launch angle and low spin amount, when hit by golfers, who swing a golf club at low head speed, using a middle iron club to a driver. The present invention relates to multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a center, an intermediate layer formed on the center and a cover covering the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from only one material having a flexural stiffness of 400 to 5,000 MPa.
US07901297B2
This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of score lines on the face. The golf club head includes a plurality of striations formed on the face and extending from a toe side to a heel side. A depth Dp of each striation satisfies 10 μm≦Dp≦40 μm. A cross-sectional shape of each striation is an isosceles trapezoid having an upper base at the face side and a lower base at the back side of the golf club head. The upper base and lower base satisfy the upper base>the lower base. A width Pb of the bottom portion of each protrusion formed between the striations and a width Wb of the lower base satisfy Pb
US07901291B2
A wagering gaming device which includes at least one converter program. The gaming device processor, which operates on a particular platform, can use the converter program to read and use programs otherwise incompatible with such platform, such as platform independent programs. This type of gaming device enables developers to develop code on platforms which are different in type from the gaming device platform, and the gaming device processor can read and use this code to operate the gaming device.
US07901289B2
In one embodiment, a gaming apparatus is provided. The gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The controller may comprise a microprocessor and a memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor. The controller may be configured to generate a representation of a game display in a three dimensional (3D) graphics space, and to convert a view of the 3D graphics space into display data for display on the display unit, the view including the game display. The controller may also be configured to cause the display unit to display the display data, the display data including the view of the 3D graphics space, and to allow a person to make a wager. The controller may additionally be configured to cause the display unit to display a secondary display, the secondary display overlapping, at least in part, the game display, wherein the secondary display appears at least partially transparent.
US07901281B2
Preprinted game tickets, such as pull tab tickets or instant game lottery tickets, are dispensed from a vending machine. Instead of having a fixed cost and a fixed prize amount, the game tickets may be purchased at different bet levels and credit values, both of which change the cost and prize amount. Buy-a-pay payments are also provided to buy additional symbol combinations.
US07901275B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an improved sanding apparatus for minimizing scoring of drywall and other sensitive finishes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a sanding apparatus comprises a flexible, resilient core having a top and bottom sanding surface, a first and second side sanding surface, and a first and second non-sanding surface, each disposed at an angle with respect to the top sanding surface and bottom sanding surface, respectively, and an abrasive aggregate composition disposed on the top sanding surface, bottom sanding surface and the first and second side sanding surfaces, wherein each of the first and second non-sanding surfaces are free of an abrasive aggregate composition.
US07901272B2
Superabrasive tools and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of improving retention of superabrasive particles held in a solidified organic material layer of an abrading tool, a portion of each of said superabrasive particles protruding out of the solidified organic material layer is provided. The method may include securing a plurality of superabrasive particles in the solidified organic material layer in an arrangement that minimizes mechanical stress impinging on the protruding portion of any individual superabrasive particle when used to abrade a work piece. As an example, the arrangement of the plurality of superabrasive particles may be configured to uniformly distribute frictional forces across substantially each superabrasive particle.
US07901270B2
A method of polishing objects using an apparatus comprised of a rotary positioning device comprising a turret; a base mounted on the turret; a drive wheel connected to a rotatable shaft, the drive wheel having a perimeter, and the rotatable shaft disposed in a housing. The polishing wheel assembly may include an elongated arm including a proximal end joined to the base, and a distal end; a rotatable polishing wheel supported at the end of the elongated arm; and a polishing belt comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface engageable with the perimeters of the drive wheel and the polishing wheel. The method is comprised of contacting the outer surface of the polishing belt to a contact region of the surface of the object; and controlling the contact region by rotating the elongated arm around the turret axis.
US07901267B1
A method and apparatus for conditioning polishing pads that utilizes an apertured conditioning disk for introducing operation-specific slurries, without the need for additional tooling, platens, and materials handling. The method and apparatus utilizes a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the polishing pad and through the apertured conditioning disk to evacuate the apparatus through an outlet port. The apparatus also includes a force adjustment system for providing measurement and control of the force applied by the conditioning disk to the polishing pad.
US07901266B2
A toy vehicle collision set. The toy vehicle collision set includes a plurality of launchers that propel collision vehicles through the air. The launchers are aimed to propel the plurality of collision vehicles into a collision zone. The collision vehicles fired from the launchers can collide in the collision zone when fired from the launchers. The toy vehicle collision set further includes a track that directs a target vehicle along a path of travel. The path of travel includes an airborne segment in which the target vehicle jumps across the collision zone. Collision vehicles fired from the launchers can be used to knock the target vehicle off its path of travel.
US07901265B1
A toy drive mechanism having extensions such as leg and neck members covered with a plush covering. The drive mechanism is operative to move the leg, back, and head members in coordinated movements imitating an animal tugging or pulling on a rope. The realistic movement is provided by a series of rotating devices, some on differing axes relative to the drive shaft, and an information processor activated by one or more switches located throughout the body. One switch in particular, located between the neck and head and motivated by a user pulling on the rope in the toy's mouth, will cause the toy to exert a pulling motion accompanied by sound effects.
US07901263B2
A method of manufacturing an LED light string using a jig having a main body and a plurality of spiral grooves formed thereon adjacent to each other is provided. The method includes winding an electrical wire in each of the grooves, removing portions of the electrical wires to provide a plurality of spaced exposed segments at successive locations on each of the electrical wires, placing LED chips on at least some of the plurality of exposed segments formed in one of the electrical wires, connecting each LED chip to a corresponding exposed segment on a different electrical wire by a connector, and sealing each LED chip and connector. A jig for attaching one or more LED chips to a plurality of electrical wires is also provided.
US07901262B2
A method of manufacturing a spark plug includes the step of adjusting a spark gap in the spark plug. In the step, a ground electrode is repeatedly pressed, by a hammer, toward a center electrode. The hammer operates in a first mode when the size of the spark gap falls in a rough-process range which is above a predetermined value, and in a second mode when the size of the spark gap falls in a finish-process range which is between the predetermined value and a target value less than the predetermined value. The amount of pressing the ground electrode in any press stroke of the hammer in the second mode is less than that in any press stroke of the hammer in the first mode. The amount of pressing the ground electrode in every press stroke of the hammer in the second mode is equal to a fixed value.
US07901244B2
This invention discloses a stacked electrical connector including a first connector, a second connector, and a conductive casing. The first connector includes a first signal connection portion and a first group of soldering pins extending along a direction. The second connector includes a second signal connection portion and a second group of soldering pins extending along the direction. The first connector is stacked on the second connector. The conductive casing has a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening. The conductive casing covers the first connector and the second connector. The first signal connection portion passes through the first opening, and the second signal connection portion passes through the second opening. The first group of soldering pins and the second group of soldering pins are exposed to the third opening.
US07901238B1
A terminal block for electrically coupling conductors and terminal contacts. The terminal block includes a terminal base portion that has a mounting side configured to be mounted to a surface of an electrical component. The base portion has contact slots that extend from the mounting side therethrough. The contact slots are configured to receive terminal contacts that are electrically coupled to the electrical component. The terminal block also includes an organizer portion that extends from the base portion and includes channels that extend substantially parallel to the surface of the electrical component. The channels are configured to receive corresponding conductors. The contact slots of the base portion align with corresponding channels of the organizer portion so that the terminal contacts electrically couple the conductors.
US07901237B2
A modular plug attaching and detaching tool includes a first holder configured to accommodate a plurality of modular plugs in an aligned state and a second holder configured to press unlocking claws of the plurality of modular plugs when the second holder is attached to the first holder. The first holder includes an engagement groove extending in an inserting direction of the modular plug. The second holder includes an engagement part configured to engage with the engagement groove of the first holder by being moved in the inserting direction.
US07901222B2
A cable connector may be disclosed. The connector may include a connector housing having a first threaded portion and an insert having compression voids. The insert may be configured for insertion into the connector housing. The connector may also include a compression nut configured to engage the first threaded portion. The compression nut may be configured to compress the insert to close the compression voids when the compression nut engages the first threaded portion. The cable connector may also include an end stop having an adjustable throat diameter configured to adjust in proportion to an adjustable inner diameter of the cable connector as the connector engages or armor of an armored cable.
US07901218B2
An electrical connector includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. A first fixture and a second fixture are each arranged on at least one end in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle and plug connectors, respectively. The first and second fixtures each have connection portions to be connected to a respective substrate. The first and second fixtures include at least three engaging portions and at least three anchoring portions, respectively. The engaging portions and anchoring portions are adapted to engage each other. At least one set of the engaging and anchoring portions engaged each other is caused to be in electrical continuity to use as a power supply connection. The electrical connector thus constructed is capable of sufficiently withstand any accidental external force when being fitted, and is also capable of ensuring a power supply connection without using many terminals, while keeping narrower pitches of conductors, and miniaturization and reduced overall height of the electrical connector.
US07901214B1
A drawing system including a portable storage housing; a drawing surface, moveably coupled to the portable storage housing by a biasing subsystem, the drawing surface including a storage mode and a deployed mode wherein the storage mode provides the drawing surface inside the housing and inaccessible for receipt of content and wherein the deployed mode extends the drawing surface outside of the housing and accessible for receipt of content; wherein transition of the drawing surface from the storage mode to the deployed mode activates the biasing subsystem and wherein the biasing subsystem automatically transitions the drawing surface from the deployed mode to the storage mode when operated by a user.
US07901201B2
A press-molding machine is taught that may include an extrusion apparatus (10), a transfer apparatus (30), and a molding apparatus (40). The extrusion apparatus (10) may extrude a melted resin into a sheet shape. The transfer apparatus (30) may receive and transfer a sheet material that is extruded from the extrusion apparatus and cut in a predetermined length. The molding apparatus (40) may press and mold the sheet material transferred from the transfer apparatus. The extrusion apparatus (10), the transfer apparatus (30), and the molding apparatus (40), are allowed to be independently arranged and constructed.
US07901200B2
A lower punch is arranged to be inserted into a cavity of a die from a lower side of the die. A upper punch is arranged to be inserted into the cavity from an upper side of the die to compact the powder filled in the cavity, in cooperation with the lower punch. A feeder supplies the powder into the cavity. A first cam driving system has a first cam for vertically moving the die relative to the lower punch. A second cam driving system has a second cam for vertically moving the upper punch. A third cam driving system has a third cam for moving the feeder forward or backward relative to the cavity. A contact member is connected to the first cam driving system. A stopper is located above or below the contact member and regulates relative vertical movement of the die with respect to the lower punch, in cooperation with the contact member. A fourth cam driving system has a fourth cam for vertically moving the stopper. The first cam, the second cam, the third cam, and the fourth cam are rotated in synchronism.
US07901192B2
A two stage reciprocating compressor includes a casing. A first compressing unit is disposed in the casing and includes a first piston and a first cylinder, the first compressing unit being driven by a reciprocating motor to linearly reciprocate the first piston in the first cylinder to suck in and compress gas. A second compressing unit is disposed in the casing and includes a second piston and a second cylinder, the second compressing unit being driven by vibration of the first compressing unit to linearly reciprocate the second piston in the second cylinder to suck in and compress gas. A vibration transfer member transfers the vibration from the first compressing unit to the second compressing unit. The first and second compressing units extend in parallel and face toward each other.
US07901187B2
A blade lock structure for blading an axial flow turbine having a rotor and blades. The blades are inserted into an undercut blade groove of the rotor providing a positive lock between the blades and the rotor. The lock structure includes an entry slot located in the blade groove for receiving the blades for insertion to the undercut blade groove, and an insert space axially extending from the entry slot. The insert space defines a radially extending longitudinal axis. An insert piece is located in positive-locking relationship with the insert space, and a lock screw threadably engages between the insert piece and a closing blade inserted to the entry slot.
US07901186B2
A seal assembly (60) for sealing first and second static parts (40A, 40B) with opposed slots (44A, 44B) together forming a pocket (46). The seal assembly (60) comprises a floor strip (70) positioned adjacent the pocket's floor (48) and a ceiling strip (80) positioned adjacent the pocket's ceiling (50). A connection (90) of the strips' central portions (72, 82) provides a flat hinge between cooperating hinge portions (76, 86). A first set of the hinge portions (76A-86A) converge for insertion into the first slot (44A) and a second set of hinge portions (76B-96B) converge for insertion into the second slot (44B). After such slot insertion and pocket installation, the converged hinge portions (76A-86A, 76B-86B) resiliently diverge within the pocket to seat the floor strip's end portions (74A, 74B) against the pocket's floor (48) and to seat the ceiling strip's end portions (84A, 84B) against the pocket's ceiling (50).
US07901178B2
A variable vane mechanism comprises a variable vane, an inner diameter shroud and a synchronizing mechanism. The variable vane comprises a vane body, an inner diameter trunnion extending radially inwardly from the vane body, and a button connected to the inner diameter trunnion and displaced radially inwardly from the inner diameter trunnion. The shroud comprises a shroud body, a socket extending into the shroud body for receiving the inner diameter trunnion, a flange extending into the socket for engaging the button and inhibiting radial movement of the variable vane, and a synchronizing channel extending through the inner diameter shroud aft of the socket so as to be bounded by the shroud body and opening to the socket. The synchronizing mechanism is disposed inside the synchronizing channel and connects to the inner diameter trunnion.
US07901175B2
A load arm for a fork of a low lift industrial truck, with an arm frame which is approximately U- or C-shaped in cross section with upward pointing bridge and downward pointing legs and an arm tip, which is connected to the arm frame via a welding connection, wherein the arm tip, tapered towards the free end, has bearing openings for the bearing of a load roller and introduction and withdrawal surfaces on the lower side, which ascend or fall off, respectively, towards the free end of the arm tip with respect to the lower edges or brims of the arm frame, and wherein the arm tip has an abutting surface at the rear end, which abuts against the blunt end of the arm frame, wherein the arm tip is formed by an integral piece of cast material, the arm tip has arm sections on the end facing the arm frame, which extend below the associated edges or brims of the arm frame and sit snugly on the lower edges or brims of the arm frame when arm frame and arm tip cling together, and the withdrawal surfaces are provided on the lower side of the arm sections.
US07901170B2
A holding device for holding an object having an opening includes: a first member inserted into the opening, having a cylindrical shape, and including multiple divisional portions divided by notches; and a second member including a shaft movable in the cylindrical shape and a head disposed on one end of the shaft and smaller than the opening and larger than an inner dimension of the cylindrical shape. Each divisional portion is expandable by the head so that the expanded divisional portion holds the object when the first member with the second member is inserted into the opening, and the first member is relatively displaced toward the second member.
US07901167B2
When a slide member mounted with a tool reciprocates on a guide member reach one end and the other end positions of the guide member, permanent magnets provided on the guide member and the permanent magnets provided on the slide member repel each other to give the guide member forces for reversing its moving direction. The guide member is provided to be movable with respect to a base and repulsive forces between permanent magnets provided on the base and permanent magnets provided on the guide member are used to retain an axial position of the guide member.
US07901166B2
A tooling system comprises a plurality of elongate elements each having an upper surface, said elements being arranged in an array to present said upper surfaces for machining by cutting tool means; support means for supporting said elements, each said element being supported on said support means for axial movement between upper and lower positions relative to the other elements in the array thereby to enable adjustment of the vertical position of said element surface; and clamping means for clamping the array of elements in a closed position in which the elements contact one another for enabling the free ends of the elements to be machined to produce a desired surface contour. A method of tooling using such a tooling system comprises storing existing data representing the contour of the surface of each element including the z values of the surface at any given x,y coordinate point relative to a datum; storing new data representing a desired contour for the surface of each element position in the array including the z values of the surface at said any given x,y coordinate point relative to said datum; comparing said new data for a first, selected element position with the existing data for a first element in said selected element position; and adjusting the height of said first element to adjust said z values of said existing data at said any given x,y coordinate point to values at least equal to said z values; of said new data at said any given x,y coordinate point.
US07901137B1
Embodiments of present invention relate to a bearing assembly, and a bearing apparatus and motor assembly that employs such a bearing assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, a bearing assembly comprises a support ring including a plurality of recesses and at least one opening. The bearing assembly further includes a plurality of bearing elements, each of which is positioned generally within a corresponding one of the recesses. At least one of the bearing elements includes at least one groove. At least one retention element may be positioned generally within the at least one opening and adjacent to the at least one groove. Further embodiments of the present invention are directed to a thrust-bearing apparatus, a radial bearing apparatus, and a downhole motor that may utilize any of the disclosed thrust-bearing assemblies and radial bearing assemblies.
US07901132B2
Provided is a method of identifying crystal defect regions of monocrystalline silicon using metal contamination and heat treatment. In the method, a sample in the shape of a silicon wafer or a slice of monocrystalline silicon ingot is prepared. At least one side of the sample is contaminated with metal at a contamination concentration of about 1×1014 to 5×1016 atoms/cm2. The contaminated sample is heat-treated. The contaminated side or the opposite side of the heat-treated sample is observed to identify a crystal defect region. The crystal defect region can be analyzed accurately, easily and quickly without the use of an additional check device, without depending on the concentration of oxygen in the monocrystalline silicon.
US07901126B2
A backlight assembly comprises an optical plate that has a fixing portion and a receiving member that has a combination portion combined with the fixing portion. The fixing portion comprises a protrusion that is extended from the optical plate and a connecting portion that is bent with respect to and extended from the protrusion.
US07901118B2
A luminous pedal for a bicycle comprises a pedal, a luminous unit, and a rotary unit. The pedal has slots at two lateral sides respectively and a supporting portion in the middle. One end of the pedal is provided with an axial hole communicating with the supporting portion. The luminous unit has luminous portions and a coil seat. The luminous portions are disposed in the slots and the coil seat is detachably connected with a permanent magnet having a dentate part. The rotary unit includes an axial rod, a first gear, and a second gear. The first gear is disposed at the axial rod that is inserted into the axial hole. The second gear has a first disc and a second disc that are superimposed coaxially and the first disc is smaller than the second disc and the first gear. The two discs are engaged with the first gear and the permanent magnet. Thereby, the permanent magnet can be rotated rapidly by means of the differential ratio of the first and the second gears to produce enough electric power. Consequently, the luminous unit can be lightened stably.
US07901117B2
A safety trailer has semi-tractor hitches at both ends and a safety wall that is fixed to one side of the trailer. That side, however, can be changed to the right or left side of the road, depending on the end to which the truck attaches. A caboose can be attached at the end of the trailer opposite the tractor to provide additional lighting and impact protection. Optionally, the trailer can be equipped with overhead protection, lighting, ventilation, onboard hydraulics, compressors, generators and other equipment, as well as related fuel, water, storage and restroom facilities and other amenities.
US07901116B2
There is disclosed a data receiving device for coupling to an AC power line through a standard light bulb socket. A standard medium lamp base is supported by a frame and connected to a branch circuit of the AC power line. An electrical device having signal terminals and supported by the frame is driven by electrical circuitry having a first input and a first output. The first output is coupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device. A data receiver has a second input for receiving both AC power and a data signal from the AC power line. The second input is coupled to the lamp base and a second output is coupled to the first input of the electrical circuitry.In another aspect, a data interface comprising a standard medium lamp base coupled to a data terminal device having a data receiving and/or transmitting interface circuit therein is threadably engaged to a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit. The data receiving and/or transmitting interface circuit, or data modem, in the data terminal device is configured for extracting data encoded for transmission or encoding data to be embedded and transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.
US07901110B2
A gas discharge lamp includes an arc envelope and a cooling device. Cooling passage is provided between the arc envelope and the cooling device. An airflow blocking structure is mounted rotatably to the arc envelope. The airflow blocking structure blocks airflow between the cooling device and the arc envelope except for a portion of the passage directed towards a top side of the arc envelope.
US07901108B2
An LED light source device using light from luminescent elements at a high level of uniformity and efficiency, and to conduct irradiation with a high level of design freedom an LED light source device is equipped with luminescent elements and a translucent light-guiding member. The translucent light-guiding member has a central convex lens with a first cylindrical light-guiding part formed on the outer periphery of the central convex lens and a second cylindrical light-guiding part formed on the outer periphery of the first cylindrical light-guiding part, such that an air layer is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical light-guiding part and the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical light-guiding part, the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical light-guiding part and the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical light-guiding part being rotated quadratic surfaces with the same focal point.
US07901104B2
A motorcycle safety helmet shell with one or more light emitting diodes molded or embedded therein. The motorcycle helmet shell is designed and arranged in a manner to provide visual recognition and/or identification of the wearer. The LED safety lighting system may be powered by a battery, or any other electrochemical device, i.e., dry cell or lithium-ion battery combination, mounted within or without the helmet shell; and may be manually and/or automatically activated. One or more lenses may cover one or more of the light emitting diodes.
US07901102B2
A backlight unit including a plurality of light-emitting device units with varying arrangement intervals such that the light-emitting device units are more densely arranged at edges of a base plate than at center thereof, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus employing the same. The backlight unit is designed to prevent creation of dark portions on corners due to a shortage in an amount of light, thereby providing improved brightness uniformity.
US07901095B2
A projection system uses a transformation matrix to transform a projection image p in such a manner so as to compensate for surface irregularities on a projection surface. The transformation matrix makes use of properties of light transport relating a projector to a camera. If the resolution a camera is lower than that of a projector within said projection system, then the transformation matrix will have holes where image data corresponding to a projector pixel will have been lost. In this, case, new image are generated to fill-in the holes.
US07901089B2
An optical system, projector and method are provided that include a projection gate between a light source array and a projection lens. The projection lens projects an image of the projection gate. A relay lens group between the light source array and the projection gate prevents the projection lens from projecting an image of the light source array. A lamp housing is provided for use with a projector housing. The lamp housing includes a light source array and a relay lens group located between the light source array and a projection gate in the projector housing. An illumination source for optical fibers is provided that includes a relay lens group between a light source and a coupling in a housing. The relay lens group prevents an image of the light source from being formed at input ends of optical fibers positioned in the coupling.
US07901086B2
For displaying a color image by recombination of several single color images, parasitic noise like speckles due to scattering within the system, in particular when laser light is involved, with the invention a significant improvement with a low number of parts can be realized by use of a color wheel that comprises in radially divided zones refractive elements for redirecting light beams incoming at different impinging angles and redistributing elements, e.g. a hologram, that provide for a defined output beam in an optical axis. The sequence of the individual light processing zones on the color wheel are synchronized with respective laser sources. The invention combines the functionality of plural elements, reduces speckles and avoids losses.
US07901085B2
A projection apparatus including a casing, a lamp module, an imaging system and an optical engine is provided. The lamp module is disposed in the casing and includes a frame, a first fan, a plurality of light sources and a wind guiding device. The first fan is disposed on the frame and provides a cooling airflow. The light sources provide a light beams. The wind guiding device is disposed between the first fan and the frame, and has a baffle disposed on a flowing path of the cooling airflow to divide the cooling airflow into a plurality of cooling sub-airflows for cooling the light sources respectively. The imaging system and the optical engine are received in the casing and disposed on the transmission path of the light beam, and the optical engine is positioned between the lamp module and the imaging system.
US07901074B2
In a lens for safety glasses of the present invention, a first lens element which shields a laser beam is laid on a second lens element for antiglare. The first and the second lens element may be affixed together. In the lens for safety glasses, the first lens element includes a substrate which contains an absorbent for selectively absorbing a laser beam having a specific wavelength in an ultraviolet wavelength region, a visible light wavelength region or an infrared wavelength legion and is transparent in the visible light wavelength region. The safety glasses with the lens may provide comfortable fit and a good appearance, causes less misjudgment of colors and prevents loss of correct color sense, and has both a laser-beam shielding function and an antiglare function.
US07901054B2
An inkjet printhead comprising: a stationary portion; a plurality of moving portions for ejection of ink; and a plurality of seal members. Each seal member connects a respective moving portion with the stationary portion. Each seal member has a non-planar profile configured for facilitating movement of the moving portion.
US07901049B2
An inkjet printhead is provided having ink chambers, ink ejection ports defined in the chambers, and cantilevered ejection arms positioned in the chambers. Each arm has a displacement area that acts on ink in the respective chamber through cantilevered movement of the arm to eject ink via the respective port. Each displacement area is greater than half an area of the respective port but less than twice the area of that port.
US07901040B2
In an ink jet printhead have an elongate ink chamber and a nozzle at one end, a continuous flow of ink is provided through a high impedance channel communicating with the chamber close to the nozzle. Ink is ejected through the nozzle by generating longitudinal acoustic waves in the fluid chamber. A high velocity ink flow into the chamber from the channel sweeps away from the nozzle debris or bubbles that might otherwise block the nozzle.
US07901034B2
In an image forming device including a liquid discharge head in which nozzles for discharging liquid drops are arranged side by side, a drive waveform generating unit generates, within a single drive cycle, a first drive waveform containing a drive signal to discharge an amount of liquid drop used for image formation, and a second drive waveform containing a drive signal to discharge an amount of liquid drop smaller than a minimum discharge drop amount used for image formation. A head control unit causes the liquid discharge head to discharge the amount of liquid drop used for image formation in accordance with the first drive waveform for a region where an image is formed, and to discharge the amount of liquid drop smaller than the minimum discharge drop amount in accordance with the second drive waveform for a region where any image is not formed.
US07901028B2
There is provided a method of calculating a correction value. The method includes forming a first test pattern on a medium by using a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group of a liquid discharging device including a nozzle row, in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid is aligned in a predetermined direction, having the first nozzle group, the second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group, and forming a second test pattern on the medium by using the second nozzle group and the third nozzle group of the liquid discharging device.
US07901027B2
With this invention, compatibility between an image forming apparatus and a component mounted on the image forming apparatus is precisely checked. A cartridge, as the component, stores its ID (first information) and an ID (second information) of the image forming apparatus that can use the cartridge. The image forming apparatus stores its ID (third information) and an ID (fourth information) of the cartridge that can be used in the image forming apparatus. Then, when the fourth information includes the first information or the second information includes the third information, it is decided that the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus can be used. When the fourth information does not include the first information and the second information does not include the third information, it is decided that the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus cannot be used.
US07901025B2
The print permitting ratios of the masks in the first to fourth passes of a C ink are respectively 6.2%, 37.5%, 37.5%, and 18.8%. On the other hand, the print permitting ratios of the masks in the first to fourth passes of an M ink are respectively 12.5%, 37.5%, 37.5%, and 12.5%. In this way, the respective masks are set such that a larger amount of the C ink is applied in a later pass as compared with the M ink. Thereby, it is possible to reduce an amount of the M ink to be applied later with respect to the C ink functioning to “reduce a permeation speed of an ink applied later by filling,” and it is possible to prevent a permeation speed from slowing down overall. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of beading due to a time to complete permeation becoming longer.
US07901017B1
A self-closing, self-locking security file cabinet having one or more lateral and vertical file drawers mounted on sliding supports includes a lock return mechanism for returning the lock to the lock position after the individual has released his/her hold on the key with the key staying with the lock when the lock is in the unlock position for opening the drawers, a plurality of lock catches pivotally mounted to vertically slidable lock bars mounted to the interior cabinet side walls adjacent the cabinet front and which interact with fixed protrusions on the exterior surfaces of the drawer side panels to allow the opening of the drawers upon lock rotation and closure of the drawers upon release of the lock by the individual, and a constant rate coil spring having a distal end attached to each drawer for returning an open drawer to the closed position at a controlled rate of acceleration when the drawer is manually released by the individual so that the drawer is not damaged against the cabinet back wall during closure.
US07901013B2
A motorcycle wheel speed sensor mounting structure, includes an axle holder for supporting a front wheel is disposed below a front fork of the motorcycle and an axle support disposed in a lower part of the axle holder. Further, a caliper mount, for supporting a brake caliper of a disc brake, is disposed on a rear portion of the axle holder and a wheel speed sensor is mounted on the caliper mount, wherein the wheel speed sensor is located above a line connecting a lower end of the axle support to a lower end of the caliper mount.
US07901008B2
A head restraint is guided and at least indirectly held in a frame part of a seat, in particular of a backrest of a motor vehicle seat, via at least one holding element which can be positioned at various height levels relative to the frame part by way of an actuating element. The actuating element interacts with at least one locking element. The actuating element is operated with a first, second, and third operating action. A first operating action of the actuating element permits height adjustment of the head restraint and a second operating action permits removal thereof from the frame part of the seat. The second operating action, for removing the head restraint, can be carried out in parallel with or after a third operating action on at least one blocking member that is integrated in the actuating element.
US07901001B2
A supporting structure for the console of a machine tool comprising a bending-resistant supporting beam pivotably mounted on the base of the machine tool with its machine-side end and carrying a console comprising a keyboard and a display unit on the free end of its portion directed transversely upward.
US07901000B1
A pedestal chair storage enclosure (10) that is designed to be placed and maintained below the seat (102) of a pedestal type chair (100). The storage enclosure (10) is comprised of a box section (12) having at least one, and preferably two, hinged doors (24,26) and a half-circle slot (28) that extends into the box section's rear surface (22). A plurality of trays (50) are located within the box section (12) and are accessible via the doors (24,26). The half-circle slot (28) allows the storage enclosure (10) to securely interface with the pedestal that supports the pedestal chair (100), thereby accommodating and maintaining the support enclosure (10) beneath the pedestal chair's seat (102).
US07900998B2
Vehicle body floor structure includes a floor frame of an upwardly-opening U sectional shape extending in a length direction of a vehicle centrally on a floor panel provided in a floor section of a vehicle compartment, and a collective piping bracket provided under the floor panel between a flange of the floor frame and an outer surface of the floor panel. The collective piping bracket is fixedly joined to the flange of the floor frame in spaced-apart relation to the floor panel.
US07900997B2
A vehicle upper body structure includes an inner member and an outer member assembled together to form a roof side rail, a pillar and a roof cross rail joined together at a junction. The junction includes an inverted U-shaped reinforcement bracket having two legs joined to the inner member and a central web extending between the legs, and a reinforcement panel disposed between the inner and outer members and retained on an upper surface of the central web of the reinforcement bracket. The outer member is joined to an upper surface of the reinforcement panel.
US07900994B2
A pad for absorbing an impact on leg portions excellent in impact absorbing performance at a time of collision of a vehicle and the like, and a floor spacer for a vehicle are provided. A pad 1 for absorbing an impact on leg portions has a plurality of ridges 3, 3, . . . on a bottom surface to be on a vehicle body side when placed in a vehicle, and is constituted of expandable beads. A floor spacer 10 is constituted of the pad 1 for absorbing an impact on leg portions and a horizontal pad 2. The ridge 3 has a wide portion 32 which becomes relatively wide from a midpoint in its longitudinal direction. The heel portions of the feet of an occupant are placed on the region of the wide portion 32.
US07900993B2
A vehicle door sash structure 100 is configured to include a door sash 110 that extends along an edge of a vehicle door window glass 4 and has a closed cross-section portion 111 and a projecting surface portion 112 that projects from the closed cross-section portion 111 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, a molding 120 that extends substantially along the door sash 110 and is arranged as exposed to the outside of the vehicle, a clip 130 that is made of an elastic material, is fixed to the inner surface of the molding 120 and nips the projecting surface portion 112 of the door sash 110, a convex portion that is formed so as to project from either one of the clip 130 and the door sash 110 to the other one, and a concave portion 113 that is formed at the other one and with which the convex portion is engaged.
US07900986B2
A concealment assembly includes a component, a member configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to conceal the component and the second form is configured to expose the component, thereby making the component accessible for use, appearance, or function, and an active material in operable communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form.
US07900984B2
An interface joint for a motor vehicle is provided that serves as a node to connect a longitudinal motor compartment frame rail, an energy absorbing device, referred to as a crush box, and an engine cradle. The interface joint is a unitary component having a plate portion, first and second flange portions, and an engine cradle attachment portion. The first flange portion extends longitudinally from the plate portion and is adapted for engagement with the crush box. The second flange portion extends longitudinally from the plate portion opposite the first flange portion and is adapted for engagement with the frame rail. The engine cradle attachment portion extends between the flange portions and is adapted for attachment to the engine cradle.
US07900972B2
An improved fluid connector for garden use includes a tube body, a resilient retainer and a sleeve associated therewith. The tube body includes a plurality of holes for accommodation of a locking hook respectively and the resilient retainer is peripherally equipped with several pairs of vertical flexible ribs with an expansion space defined therebetween. On an inner wall of the sleeve, a plurality of push protrusions is disposed and is positioned in relationship with the vertical flexible ribs respectively so that, as the sleeve is pushed downwardly, the flexible ribs may be forced to deform and produce an reactive force that can instantly push the push protrusions of the sleeve back to their original place when the sleeve is free of an external force.
US07900960B2
A deployable inflator that includes a quantity of gas generant. The generant is designed to produce a supply of inflation gas during deployment of the inflator. The inflator includes a first burst disk and a second burst disk. The first and second burst disks are separated by a cavity. The inflator also includes an opening (or multiple openings). During deployment, the inflation gas flows into the cavity via the opening(s) and ruptures the first burst disk to allow inflation gas to escape the inflator. The second burst disk ruptures after the pressure in the cavity drops sufficiently below the pressure on the other side of the second burst disk. This inflator reduces the initial onset rate of deployment.
US07900958B2
An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat includes a case that includes a front storage area that has an airbag mounting plane and a rear storage area. A bottom wall of the rear storage area is located at a lower level than the airbag mounting plane of the front storage area. The airbag has a generally square conical contour whose top is disposed at the front end and includes proximate the front end a gas inlet port. The airbag is secured to the mounting plane of the case by the periphery of the gas inlet port. A lower folded-up portion that is formed by folding up a lower inflatable portion of the airbag is stored in the rear storage area of the case. The airbag apparatus further includes proximate left and right edges of an opening of the case in the rear storage area means for restraining emergence of the lower folded-up portion of the airbag from the opening of the case in an early stage of airbag deployment by holding down left and right end regions of the lower folded-up portion.
US07900957B2
A side airbag apparatus includes an airbag 30 and an inflator assembly 20 incorporated in the airbag 30. The airbag 30 is formed by first and second inflation sections 31, 42. An insertion portion 49 in an upper portion of the second inflation section 42 is located in a lower portion of a receptacle portion 38 of the first inflation section 31. The gas discharge passages 57 for discharging inflation gas G in the first inflation section 31 to the outside of the airbag 30 are formed between the overlapped insertion portion 49 and receptacle portion 38. In this state, the first and second inflation sections 31, 42 are connected to each other. When the first inflation section 31 is not restraining the occupant, the inflation gas G in each inflation section 31, 42 causes the insertion portion 49 to closely contact the receptacle portion 38, so that the gas discharge passages 57 are closed. When the first inflation section 31 is restraining the occupant P, a part of the insertion portion 49 is separated from the receptacle portion 38 by using the increase in the internal pressure of the first inflation section 31 due to the restraint, so that the gas discharge passages 57 are opened.
US07900956B2
An embodiment of an interior trim for a motor vehicle integrating a lid for an airbag; the trim having: an inner layer, made of rigid plastic material having a behavior of a thermosetting type, which constitutes the skeleton; an intermediate layer, made of spongy plastic material that bestows softness to the touch; an outer coating layer having aesthetic purposes; and a reinforcement element, which is fixed with respect to the inner layer and involves the entire area of the lid.
US07900951B2
A heel piece of a safety binding for a ski boot that is able to occupy at least two positions, an open position and a closed position in which it is able to hold a ski boot securely for skiing, the heel piece comprising a body (11) that occupies the same position in each of these two positions of the heel piece, the body (11) comprising a release mechanism to allow the boot to be released in the closed position of the heel piece if a force exceeds a predetermined level, the heel piece further comprising a lever (12) comprising jaws (14) in its anterior part, these being able to collaborate with the heel of a ski boot, the lever (12) being mounted so that it can rotate relative to the body (11) about a pivot (13) so as to occupy two different positions corresponding to the two, open and closed, positions of the heel piece, wherein at least one end of the pivot (13) is held near the body (11) of the heel piece.
US07900950B2
A ski or a snowboard in the form of a board-type gliding device has by reference to the board body width, at least one slot in its middle portion extending in the depth direction from the board body top face towards the running surface facing and in its longitudinal direction essentially parallel with the board body longitudinal direction to cause a cross-sectional weakening and reduce the stiffness of the board body transversely to its longitudinal direction. At least one geometry-influencing device produces a cross-sectional board body shape or contour which is variable manually or as a function of load. The slot is then faced with a bridging element which is elastically stretchable or expandable, at least transversely to the longitudinal extension of the slot to prevent snow from being transferred or getting inside the slot from the running surface facing towards the top face of the gliding board body.
US07900941B2
A suspension system for providing a suspension between wheels and a frame of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an arm beam pivotally mounted to the frame at its proximate end and coupled at its distal end to a guiding assembly enabling the arm beam to pivot in a vertical direction and to be restrained in lateral directions perpendicular to the vertical direction. The arm beam includes: (a) a spring and damper assembly near its distal end for providing a dampened resilient mount for the suspension; (b) a wheel axle beam coupled to the arm beam for bearing a load borne by the wheels transmitted directly in-line with a central axis of the spring and damper assembly; and (c) a stabilizer coupled between the arm beam and the frame, the stabilizer resisting a lateral rolling motion of the vehicle. The stabilizer is included between the proximate end of the arm beams and their damper and spring assemblies for rendering the system more compact.
US07900936B2
A metal gasket includes a first metal plate having positioning holes, and a second metal plate laminated under the first metal plate. The second metal plate has positioning projections facing corresponding positioning holes and fitted into the facing corresponding positioning holes. At least one of the positioning holes does not match the other of the positioning holes in case the position holes are overlapped, and at least one of the positioning projections is not fitted into the other of the positioning holes.
US07900935B2
To reduce a shaft insertion load and prevent extrusion of a seal ring to the low pressure side, a sealing device has a seal ring in an installation groove formed on a shaft to have a tapered groove bottom section and a backup ring having a tapered section corresponding to the tapered groove bottom section, a gap is provided between a side wall surface at the low-pressure side of the mounting groove and a side end surface of the backup ring, a peripheral surface of the backup ring at the opposite side of the tapered section has a tapered surface which comes closer to a peripheral surface of a housing at the low-pressure side, and the tapered section is formed to have a two-staged taper.
US07900932B2
A valve stem seal assembly includes a retainer and a sealing element disposed within the retainer. The retainer includes upper and lower portions. The sealing element is attached to the upper portion of the retainer and includes a first sealing lip for sealing a valve stem. An optional second sealing lip may also be included.
US07900930B2
The game apparatus has a plurality of elongate coloured building blocks. During the course of a game a number of the blocks are built up block by block in a desired orientation on an associated plinth forming an upright structure until this structure collapses. Each building block is of square section and is subdivided into five coloured engagement portions each of which has a different colour. When building up the structure the coloured building blocks may only interengage where their touching engagement portions are of the same colour.
US07900925B2
A game apparatus for an abstract strategy pattern building board game that has two walls, each with multiple apertures. A number of dividers are intermediate the two wall and form multiple channels disposed along the two walls. The dividers also form multiple gaps defined by spaces between the channels. Two sets of playing markers are used to build patterns during game play. One set of playing markers fills a single channel along one wall, and one set of playing markers fills two channels and a gap in between the two channels.
US07900919B2
A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.
US07900915B2
Device for the transport and weighing of letters, wherein the letter is conveyed between at least two conveyance elements and is stabilized laterally outside the conveyance elements by at least one guide element so that a deflection or fluttering of the letter can be reduced or avoided, at least when the letter is seized at its front edge by the transport elements.
US07900910B2
A package member (8) of a sheet package has a cut-in portion (54) which is formed by cutting it to a predetermined length from a cutout portion (53), between a side wall portion (41) and a first wrapping portion (50). Accordingly, distortion (movement) of the first wrapping portion (50) can be facilitated and pressing of sheets stored in the sheet package against a pickup roller can be achieved with an adequate degree of force.
US07900909B2
Sheets fed out of a cassette supporting the sheets by a pickup roller are separated and fed by a sheet separation feeding unit having a feed roller and a separating roller which is rotatable in a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction. A charge eliminating mechanism for eliminating charges of the separating roller is arranged on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction in a separation nip portion between the feed roller and the separating roller.
US07900898B2
A fixturing apparatus for locating and supporting a panel, such as an automotive body panel is provided. The fixturing apparatus includes a support structure having at least three generally spherically shaped contactors. The panel includes at least three extending channels sufficiently configured to receive a respective one of the at least three generally spherically shaped contactors to locate and support the panel. At least one clamping arm is operable to selectively retain one of the at least three extending channels with respect to the respective one of the at least three generally spherically shaped contactors. A method of fixturing a panel employing the above described fixturing apparatus is also provided.
US07900892B2
The present invention is directed to enhanced compositions that facilitate the pulling of cables through conduits. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a sufficient amount of boron nitride, which, upon application onto the cable surface, allows the cable to be pulled faster and/or with less force through the conduit than without the boron nitride present. The invention further relates to a method for pulling cables through conduits by applying an effective amount of boron nitride composition onto the cable surface. Lastly, the invention relates to an apparatus for distributing a cable-pulling composition comprising a block of boron nitride onto a cable as it is being pulled through a conduit.
US07900891B2
To an aircraft stringer, a strap is inserted lengthwise through a stringer of an aircraft fuselage, a first end of the strap is secured to a first end of a length of insulation, and the first end of the length of insulation is drawn into a first end of the stringer in response to pulling a second end of the strap.
US07900886B2
A valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly has a housing having a first recess disposed on an interior surface of the housing and at least one valve-supporting element disposed within the housing. The valve assembly also has a washer disposed within the housing, the washer having a first washer surface and a projection for transferring torque. The first washer surface abuts against a first valve-supporting element surface of the at least one valve-supporting element and the projection is received in the first recess. The valve assembly also has a first fastener disposed within the housing and having a first fastener surface abutting against a second washer surface of the washer.
US07900879B2
A device is provided for manually maneuvering a set of switch points, the device includes a housing which is intended to apply a force at a location of a set of rail switch points in order to move the set of switch points relative to the housing from a first switch points position to a second switch points position. The device also includes a guided member for controlling the set of switch points, which can be moved relative to the housing, a guiding member, which can also be moved relative to the housing, a transmission mechanism for driving the guided member in one direction when the guiding member moves in a first direction. The guiding member is capable of being moved in a second direction, opposed to the first direction, while the guided member remains fixed relative to the housing.
US07900876B2
Tip feathers, including forward swept tip feathers, and associated aircraft systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes an aircraft wing having an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and a leading edge having an aft wing sweep angle at the outboard portion. A first feather is fixed relative to, and projects outwardly from, the outboard portion of the wing and has a leading edge with a first, forward sweep angle relative to a pitch axis of the wing. A second feather is fixed relative to, and projects outwardly from, the outboard portion of the wing at least partially aft of the first feather, and has a leading edge with a second, aft sweep angle relative to the pitch axis.
US07900871B2
An arrangement of devices as well as a method for improving the aerodynamics of an aircraft wing are disclosed. In embodiments, a plurality of vortex generators are attached in span-wise alignment on an deice boot along the wing's leading edge. The vortex generators are, in embodiments, constructed of a flexible material such that they are able to be expanded along with the boot during inflation and deflation thus mechanically involving the aerodynamic devices in the ice-shedding process.
US07900869B2
Controlling the pitch of individual rotor blades of a helicopter to reduce control loads, vibration and noise in or from the rotating rotor control elements. The system generates blade dynamics signals representing dynamic forces acting on either or both of the rotating and non-rotating elements of the helicopter, including rotor blades of a rotating assembly. The system extracts information representing at least one dynamic force, generates a dynamic force compensation output that represents a compensation for the dynamic force, and generates, from flight control signals and the dynamic force compensation output, a compensated pitch actuator control signal for each rotor blade wherein the compensation factor of the pitch control signal compensates for the dynamic force.
US07900859B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for conditioning materials for processing such as materials used in a recycling process. The invention includes a conditioning section including a drum associated with teeth. The end of the drum is rounded to prevent material from becoming lodged between the end of the drum and the conditioner section housing. A support bar is added to provide structural support to the teeth and to provide a tooth at the end of the support bar point toward the housing wall to further prevent materials from becoming lodged between the end of the drum and the conditioner section housing. The rotation teeth pass between stationary fingers. The finger may further include finger teeth. The length of the fingers, the distance between the finger and the drum, and the finger teeth configuration may be remotely selected to provide for conditioned materials of different sizes.
US07900850B2
A microdosing apparatus and method include a fluid conduit having a flexible tube with a first end for connecting to a fluid reservoir and a second end where an outlet opening is located. An actuating device with a displacer with an adjustable stroke is provided, by which the volume of a portion of the flexible tube can be changed to thereby dispense liquid as free flying droplets or as a free flying jet at the outlet opening by moving the displacer between a first end position and a second end position, whereby the tube is partly compressed in the first or the second end position.
US07900844B2
The invention described herein represents a significant advancement in user configurable and reconfigurable RFID readable data input. A writing substrate includes a wireless energy transmission circuit and a plurality of switchable contacts. When or after a user writes on the substrate, it can be sense remotely to produce a map of the writing which provides input a character recognition process. Thus a user can write anything they wish to create data and control processes on a cheap, disposable user interface.
US07900839B2
A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window. A printed circuit (PC) board is mounted in the hand-supportable housing, and has front and rear surfaces and a light transmission aperture formed centrally therethrough. An image formation and detection subsystem has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and an area-type image detection array for forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object during object illumination and imaging operations. An automatic targeting illumination subsystem is disposed in the hand-supportable housing for projecting a targeting illumination beam into a portion of the FOV extending outside of the hand-supportable housing.
US07900838B2
An apparatus includes a generation unit configured to encode data and generate a two-dimensional code image; a clipping unit configured to clip an image which fits in a two-dimensional code image display area, from the two-dimensional code image generated by the generation unit; a first display control unit configured to display the image clipped by the clipping unit in the two-dimensional code image display area; a change unit configured to change a size of the two-dimensional code image display area to be equal to or larger than a size of the two-dimensional code image generated by the generation unit according to an instruction from a user; and a second display control unit configured to display the two-dimensional code image generated by the generation unit in the two-dimensional code image display area whose size is changed by the change unit.
US07900836B2
An optical reader system that includes a plurality of substrates. The substrates have an optically readable code disposed therein and a source light assembly that is configured to illuminate the substrates with a code-reading beam and another beam for detecting another optically readable property of the substrate. The code-reading beam and the other beam form beam spots on the substrates that have different shapes. The system also includes a reader that is configured to receive output signals from the code-reading beam and the other beam when the substrates are illuminated. The output signals from the code-reading beam are indicative of the code.
US07900834B2
A method for improving the accuracy and integrity of delivered parcel records and providing the parcel recipient with a record of each delivery, the method including the steps of: delivering a parcel to the intended recipient; obtaining the recipient's signature; electronically linking the recipient's signature to the transaction at the time of delivery; electronically linking an electronic delivery record access slip to the delivery record at the time of delivery; providing the recipient with an electronic delivery record access slip that has a unique transaction number and information sufficient to enable the recipient to retrieve the delivery records from an Internet website, text messaging, e-mail, facsimile, telephone or other device.
US07900831B2
A method of processing data on a server computer is disclosed. The method includes receiving data at the server computer, the data including a first data string including one or more wildcard values. The first data string is specifically associated with a consumer, and the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction. The method also includes comparing the first data string to a second data string by the server computer, and providing an output to the consumer based on the comparison.
US07900827B2
A transaction product includes a subject portion defining a first slot, a stand portion defining a second slot having a similar width as the first slot, and an account identifier. The stand portion is coupled to the subject portion along a line of weakness and is readily separable from the subject portion along the line of weakness without using tools. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the subject portion and the stand portion and links that portion to at least one of an account and a record. When separated, the subject portion and the stand portion are configured to be reassembled such that the first slot receives a thickness of the stand portion and the second slot receives a thickness of the subject portion. Stored-value cards, combinations, methods of facilitating use of a transaction product and other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07900821B2
A method of gaining access to goods or services includes the steps of: writing a signature within a verification zone of an encoded base using an optically imaging pen having a marking nib; optically reading a sequence of absolute locations corresponding to the signature from the encoded base; and checking if the locations are within a region registered as belonging to an authorized user. Access to the goods or services is granted if the location is within the region belonging to the authorized user and the sequence of locations corresponds to a previously registered signature of the authorized user, otherwise access is denied.
US07900818B2
A system and a method for accessing an electronic program guide (EPG) and media content from multiple locations using mobile devices. The media content is available from a content provider via a first network. The system and the method have a first terminal that may be located in a first location or in a second location. The terminal displays, accesses and/or connects to EPG for identifying and/or for accessing the media content. The first location or the second location of the first terminal is identified and/or is determined by the EPG and/or a second terminal in communication with the first terminal and/or the EPG. The first terminal accesses the EPG to identify a first list of media content or a second list of media content which may be consumed by the first terminal in the first location or the second location, respectively. The media content is restricted and/or is supplemented based on the first location or the second location of the first terminal. The first terminal consumes media content from the first list or the second list of media content in the first location or the second location, respectively.
US07900813B2
A tab system for a folder (10a), and a method of making same is disclosed. The tab is enlarged to carry more information/indicia. The visual indicia space (16a), i.e. the viewable space on the front (32a, 36a) of the folder which allows viewing of the enlarged tab is achieve without violating the overall size restrictions (40a) of the file folder. Instead, the front of the folder adjacent to the tab on the back panel, is cut away (32a,34a) to expose a greater portion of the back panel (14a) and allow an increase in visual indicia space. The remaining portion of the front panel, not adjacent to the tab may also be cut away (34a) to allow other enlarged tab files, with offset tabs, (22d, 21a) to be viewable behind the present file.
US07900806B2
A circular stapler with an automatic safety mechanism comprises a stapler body, a stapler head, an actuating mechanism and a transmission adjusting mechanism; wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a handle and a handle coat, the transmission adjusting mechanism comprises a screw rod and an adjusting knob; a stopper is disposed either inside said handle or said handle coat; a safety rod and a pulling sheet are further provided, the safety rod has a safety block on one end and has a protruding block and a pin hole as its middle portion, a cylindrical pin is inserted into the pin hole so as to get the safety rod to be pivotally connected with the stapler body; the pulling sheet has a rear portion mounted on the screw rod and has a pulling hook at its front portion, the pulling hook hooks with the protruding block.
US07900800B2
An apparatus for dispensing a viscous material includes a dispenser body having an inlet and a discharge orifice. A valve element is mounted for movement in the dispenser body between an open position allowing flow from the discharge orifice, and a closed position preventing flow therefrom. An actuator is coupled to the valve element for actuation between the open and closed positions. A heat exchanger having a serpentine passage and a heater is coupled thereto, wherein the heater is in thermal communication with the dispenser body. The passage is configured to deliver the viscous material to the inlet at a uniform temperature. A method of dispensing a viscous material includes positioning a heat exchanger, having a fluid passage and a heater, in thermal communication with the dispenser body, and heating the material flowing through the fluid passage to a uniform temperature prior to delivering it to the inlet.
US07900791B2
A container of a water softening plant, comprises a first shell with a first chamber suitable for holding a brine solution and a second shell with a second chamber, separated from the first chamber, suitable for housing a tank, so keeping the tank separate from the mixture. The first shell and/or the second shell are manufactured by blow moulding.
US07900789B2
Non-removable finish and closure finish system that resists rotational movement so as to be rendered substantially non-removable by the consumer. The closure and finish have complementary thread segments with ratchet-type engaging portions or lugs extending below thread segments on the finish and closure, the closure lugs being disposed on an inner skirt spaced radially inwardly from an outer skirt to inhibit access to the interlocking lugs.
US07900788B2
A closure 10 for a container, comprises a substantially circular base 20, a skirt 30 extending from the periphery thereof, a bore seal 50 in the form of an annulus and a rib 70 lying on the surface of the base 20 in a substantially radial direction and in contact with the radially inner surface of the bore seal 50 at one end for transferring any movement of the center of the base 20, relative to the skirt 30, to the bore seal 50 such that the bore seal 50 is pulled radially inward to allow venting of excess pressure within the container, wherein the end of the rib 70 in contact with the radially inner surface of the bore seal 50 is substantially thinner, in a plane parallel to the base 20, than the other end of the rib 70.
US07900787B2
Capsule containers disclosed in the present invention. In principle, the capsule container is accommodated inside of the opening formed in a common container such as a beverage container, bucket container, etc. and caught and supported by the rim of the opening. The capsule container is advantageous in that it enables blending of the content accommodated inside with a fluid, powder, etc. having different properties as intended by the user; safe blending of contents without flowing-out; and prevention of excessive flow-out of contents as only proper amounts of the contents are discharged through the opening when the contents flow out.
US07900777B2
A compact housing for a dedusting apparatus utilizes a magnetic flux field to disrupt the static charge attracting dust particles to product particles, which along with fluidization and counter current airflow principles that are proven to dislodge dust particles from the product, provides a highly efficient, compact deduster. The housing supports a double wash deck with product flow separated between the back-to-back primary wash decks. A deflector directing the flow of product onto the primary wash decks is provided with an extension that extends parallel to the wash deck to eliminated product bouncing off of the wash deck. The lower air outlets are eliminated, while the upper air outlets are positioned in extensions to the main housing above the product inlet opening. Air flow through the Venturi zones is enhanced by directing clean air through slots formed in the lower deck members into the Venturi zones.
US07900775B2
(EN) The invention relates to a transport unit (1), comprising several panels (2), piled in two or more piles (3), supported by one or more support elements (4) and wrapped in a single film (5). Each of said two or more piles (3) is separately supported by said one or more support elements (4) and the film is a stretch film in the form of a tube (5) with elastic radial properties and non-elastic axial properties which is arranged horizontally around the piles (3) and said one or more support elements (4) to hold the above together and to guarantee the stability of the transport unit (1) during manipulation and transport.
US07900773B2
A tray adapted to be mounted on the top of a portable amplifier having a handle on the top of the amplifier including a top surface. The top surface is particularly adapted to receive musical accessories. At least one rear wall and two side walls is provided. Each wall is adjacent to the top surface. Each wall has a bottom edge extending below the top surface, forming a cavity. A clip is attached to the tray and received in the cavity. The clip includes a protrusion adapted to be received by the handle of the amplifier for securing the tray to the top of the amplifier.
US07900767B2
A manufacturing chain includes a building defining a manufacturing area and having a planar floor. A plurality of modular manufacturing stations are positioned in series within the manufacturing area and above the planar floor. An article transportation system includes a plurality of carrier tracks defining a transportation path, having at least one vertical discontinuity, through the plurality of modular manufacturing stations. A first vertical lift device moves a first carrier track, adjacent the vertical discontinuity, in a vertical direction relative to the transportation path.
US07900766B2
A conveyance device for accumulating and aligning a plurality of articles and conveying a batch of the articles includes a conveyance unit, first, second and third support members, and a drive unit. The conveyance unit is configured to convey the batch of the articles in a conveying direction. The first and second support members are configured to move along the conveyance unit so as to support an article disposed at a front end or a back end among the articles constituting the batch of the articles. The third support member is arranged on the conveyance unit and configured to move with respect to the conveyance unit so as to sandwich the batch of the articles between the third support member and at least one of the first support member and the second support member. The drive unit is configured to independently drive the first, second and third support members.
US07900762B2
A twin clutch device wherein a second clutch is arranged coaxially and radially inside of a first clutch outer which forms an annular plate portion. One clutch inners of both clutches is arranged between a clutch member which constitutes a portion of the outer of the first and second clutches and an annular plate portion. Lifter pins have axes arranged parallel to a rotary axis of first and second clutches and axially movably penetrate both clutch inners to bring one ends thereof into contact with pressure plates. First and second drive control members are capable of applying control forces to disconnect the first and second clutches against spring forces of first and second clutch springs. A second clutch outer is rotated together with the first clutch outer and is arranged coaxially with the first clutch. A pair of clutch outers are connected in a relatively non-rotatable manner with each other.
US07900755B2
An energy absorbing device is provided that includes a damper assembly having inner and outer concentric tubes and a piston movable within the inner tube. The damper assembly is configured to form bi-fold valve-type cavities to operatively connect an inner chamber of the inner tube with an outer chamber formed between the inner and outer tubes. A magnetorheological fluid fills the chambers and the bi-fold valve-type cavities. The magnetorheological fluid preferably contains coated magnetic particles at about 10 to 60 percent by volume. Electrical coils adjacent the bi-fold valves are selectively energizable to such that the energy absorbing device provides a tunable damping force, preferably over the entire range of velocities of the piston, especially in automotive applications.
US07900750B2
The present invention discloses a method and a system for modernizing at least one elevator group, which comprises a plurality of elevators, a group control that controls the elevator group as well as call-giving appliances connected to the group control via the landing appliance bus. According to the solution a new group control, new call-giving appliances for the floor levels and also a new landing call bus are installed in the elevator group; a new group control is connected to the pushbutton interface of the old call-giving appliances for transmitting calls given by passengers from the new group control to the old group control. The elevator calls given by passengers are divided between the modernized subgroup and at least one unmodernized subgroup on the basis of the given selection criterion, and a call addressed to the modernized subgroup is allocated in the new group control to the modernized elevators or a call addressed to the unmodernized subgroup is transmitted via the pushbutton interface to the unmodernized subgroup.
US07900747B2
A balloon landing pad having multiple layers, each layer having its own cushioning properties, wherein the cushioning is provided by the materials of the pad in conjunction with a positive gas pressure within the pad, while offering a gradient of resistance as layers are penetrated so as to prevent a person or object from hitting the ground after falling from a considerable height thereon.
US07900746B2
A lift caddy for a personnel lift having at least one horizontal member, an engaging surface, and a work platform disposed below the horizontal member in spaced apart vertical relation. The lift caddy includes a container, a mounting hook extending from the container, and a pin insertable through an aperture in the upper portion of the mounting hook to limit horizontal travel of the retaining hook relative to the horizontal member when the mounting hook is positioned on the horizontal member. The container is sized so that at least a portion of the exterior surface rests against the engaging surface of the personnel lift to support the container in a substantially vertical orientation when the mounting hook is positioned on the horizontal member.
US07900744B2
This invention relates of a support assembly (10) for a vehicle (16) of the type that includes an enclosed load carrying compartment (17) having a roof (18), said support assembly being adapted to provide support for a person when moving about on said roof. The support assembly includes a guide (11) that is mountable on the roof and a base (12) that is adapted to engage said guide and which is capable of movement along said guide while remaining engaged therewith. The support assembly also includes a support structure that includes a lower end portion that is pivotally connected to the base and a handle (15) that is spaced from said base. The support assembly also includes a lock (73) for selectively locking the support structure in a desired attitude relative to the base.
US07900743B2
An electric power assist device can be compactly disposed with ease in an electric power steering system for a vehicle. The electric power steering system for a vehicle includes: a steering wheel; a steering column incorporating therein a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel and extending downward to the front; and an electric power assist device for assisting a steering torque of the steering wheel. Here, an input shaft and an output shaft of the electric power assist device are connected to the lower end of the steering shaft and the input shaft of the steering gear device, respectively, via universal joints.
US07900739B2
The control system 10 of the first preferred embodiment includes a user interface 12 with a first control 14 that designates a maximum bound of a sub-range of engine speeds and a second control 16 that designates a minimum bound of a sub-range of engine speeds. The control system 10 of the first preferred embodiment also includes a processor 18 connected to the engine and to the user interface 12 that functions to, based on the required power output of the vehicle system, select a discrete engine speed from the sub-range of engine speeds. The control system 10 of the first preferred embodiment was designed for controlling engine speed of a vehicle system having an engine and a required power output, but may be used in any suitable environment.
US07900731B2
A pair of shoes is provided having retractable motorized wheels. Each of the shoes has an upper, a sole, and first and second wheels mounted on the sole and movable from a retracted to an extended position. When the wheels are in an extended position, at least one wheel of one of the shoes engages a battery-powered, DC motor mounted on the shoe. The motor is controlled by a hand-held throttle. A latching mechanism engages to secure the wheels in the desired position. The shoes may be used for skating, with and without power assistance, with the wheels in an extended position, and may be used for walking, with the wheels in a retracted position.
US07900730B2
A canopy installation member for installing a canopy is firmly fixed on a rotation table frame. A rotary working machine having a working machine installed at the front of a rotation table frame (5), an engine (8) mounted on the rotation table frame (5), and a canopy detachably installed at the rear of the rotation table frame (5), wherein the engine (8) is placed and fixed on the rotation table frame (5) with a horizontally placed frame-like engine support member (31a, 31b) interposed between the engine and the frame, and a canopy installation member (32a, 32c) is raised at one side of the engine support member (31a, 31b).
US07900726B2
A charging system for a hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and operable to be driven as a generator to produce a charging voltage and a battery coupled to the electric motor generator and configured to receive a charge voltage. The charging system further comprises an engine control computer coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor generator and the battery. The engine control computer is configured to determine a threshold for a charging specific fuel consumption (CSFC), calculate an instantaneous CSFC; and initiate active charging of the battery if the instantaneous CSFC is less than or equal to the threshold CSFC.
US07900711B2
An agricultural implement pulled by a traction vehicle is convertible between use and transport configurations. The implement includes a carrier frame coupled to the vehicle via the combination of a hitch and a draft tongue having an aft portion pivotally coupled to the carrier frame and including a generally vertical cornered post rotatable about a vertical pivot axis. A lift frame having plural spaced row units includes an integral center frame section with a sleeve closely engaging and vertically slideable along the cornered post. A first displacement arrangement moves the aft portion of the draft tongue between the use position and a first elevated position for avoiding obstructions and to facilitate turning in a field, while second and third displacement arrangements respectively raise the lift frame higher on the vertical post and rotate the post and lift frame about the vertical axis to a longitudinal position for transport.
US07900699B2
A system and method to log a wellbore, comprising a logging tool adapted to be deployed in a wellbore environment, the logging tool including at least one sensor for taking a measurement of the wellbore environment. The sensor is a fiber optic sensor and the system includes a fiber optic line in optical communication with the sensor. The data measured by the sensor is transmitted through the fiber optic line on a real time basis to the surface, Where the data is processed into a real time display. In one embodiment, the fiber optic sensor is a passive sensor not requiring electrical or battery power. In another embodiment, a continuous tube with one end at the earth's surface and the other end in the wellbore is attached to the logging tool and includes the fiber optic line disposed therein.
US07900697B2
An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal bores of the first and second devices, wherein the fracture isolation sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than or equal to an internal diameter of the production casing.
US07900694B2
An air conditioner for a vehicle includes an air conditioner case having an evaporator and a heater core installed therein and having a blower installed at an inlet thereof; a movable filter moving between an air-filtering location and an air-non-filtering location of the air conditioner case; a judging device judging whether air blown by the blower inside the air conditioner case is contaminated; and a driving device moving the movable filter to the air-filtering location when the judging device determines that the air is contaminated and to the air-non-filtering location when the judging device determines that the air is not contaminated. Therefore, when it is determined that the air is contaminated, the movable filter is moved to the air-filtering location. When it is determined that the air is not contaminated, the movable filter is moved to the air-non-filtering location.
US07900684B2
In-Place Cope Molding or “IPCM,” is designed to reduce or eliminate certain inefficiencies present in traditional molding techniques during production of the cope half of a sand mold. IPCM allows the cope half of the mold to be produced on top of the drag half of the mold by use of a separation barrier which supports the sand above the mold cavity in the drag. This method reduces or eliminates parting line flash, and also avoids the need to turn over or otherwise handle the cope, allowing the cope to be made thinner than a traditional cope and allowing for lower material costs.
US07900680B2
A head rail or head rail assembly for an architectural closure, the head rail including an elongate front wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends and an elongate bottom wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends. A left hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a right hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. A first slot is defined between the left hand end structure and the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a second slot is defined between the right hand end structure and the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. At least one of the first and second slots is closed by a removable closure.
US07900670B2
Self-tightening traction assemblies or snow chains having tensioning devices that can be used with snow chains for attachment to a vehicle wheel to provide traction. The preferred tensioning device including a housing having a top including a set of housing teeth, a bottom and at least one aperture; an actuator interconnected to the housing; a ratchet spool within the housing having a set of ratchet teeth that mate with the housing teeth and a channel between upper and under surfaces to receive at least one cord that is interconnected with the ratchet spool; a tension spring that places a bias on the ratchet spool toward a wind-up direction; and a wave spring. Preferred embodiments include a bracket that can secure the actuator to the housing and provide strength to the tensioning device. The tensioning devices of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of applications not limited to self-tightening snow chains.
US07900657B2
A jaw for a sealless strapping machine includes a jaw element having a body that defines a linkage portion, a hook portion and a base portion. The hook portion extends transverse to the leg portion. The linkage portion, hook portion and base portion are contiguous and are formed from a single piece of material. The jaw element includes a plurality of punches extending upwardly from the base portion, and define a juncture of the punches and the base. Each punch is defined by a peak and a valley between the peak and the peak of an adjacent punch. The juncture of the punches and the base is formed as a relieved having a smooth radii transitions along the relieved area.
US07900655B2
A method for repairing and reinforcing a pipeline includes covering a defect in a pipeline section with a composite wrap, isolating the wrap from the ambient environment, and applying a compressive force on the wrap so that the pressure on the wrap is substantially equal to the pipeline pressure. Isolating the wrap involves the use of a housing having a cavity that substantially conforms to the shape of the wrapped section. The cavity may contain a pressurized gas or liquid. Because the pressure acting on the surface of the wrap is at least substantially equal to the pressure of the pipeline section, the wrap cures as if the pipeline is at zero pressure. Once the wrap has effectively cured, the compressive force may be relieved and the housing removed. The composite is now under load and is immediately sharing load with the pipeline.
US07900654B2
A vented barrier cover has a tubular body portion with a first body end and a second body end, an end wall connected to the first body end defining an inside cover space, and a venting component connected to the cover where the venting component is configured to prevent an air pressure imbalance between the inside cover space and the outside of the vented cover.
US07900649B2
A sanitary single-lever mixer comprising a housing, known per se, having a receiving compartment which is open towards the top. The housing is associated with a closing part which covers the upper opening of the receiving compartment and comprises a center passage. The adjusting lever or the handle extends through said passage. The closing part has a convex, spherical top when seen from above. The handle is associated with a cover element that has an outer exposed part with an exposed surface and a sliding element connected to the exposed part.
US07900647B2
Water leak detection and prevention systems and methods in which water is only delivered to the water pipes in the building when a faucet or appliance demands water and water is delivered through a normally closed shut off water valve. During the period that the main water is shut off, the water pressure in the water pipes is continuously monitored to detect a water leak in the building. Detection of a leak causes an alarm to be sounded and a continued closure of the shut off valve.
US07900642B2
A washing apparatus has a housing comprising a spray element such that in use, fluid is forced through at least one aperture creating a substantially elongate spray onto at least one roller wheel or roller sleeve substantially causing the roller wheel to spin and be washed or cleaned. A method of washing a roller in a washing apparatus is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a spray element such that in use, fluid is forced through at least one aperture creating a substantially elongate spray onto at least one roller wheel or roller sleeve substantially causing the roller wheel to spin and be washed or cleaned wherein the following steps include: inserting roller therein by opening the apparatus or sliding the roller therein; connecting the apparatus to a fluid supply element such as a faucet or hose; and initiating fluid flow to wash or clean the roller.
US07900641B2
A cleaning tool to clean a surface of a component of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes a sonic transducer, a liquid supply device configured to provide liquid to a reservoir between the surface to be cleaned and the sonic transducer, and a liquid outlet configured to remove liquid provided by the liquid supply device, the cleaning tool constructed and arranged such that, in use, liquid flows into the outlet under the influence of gravity.
US07900639B2
A reconstituted tobacco material incorporates an exogenous tocopherol or derivative thereof, such as in the amount of at least about 0.1 weight percent. A tobacco blend can be formed by combining reconstituted tobacco material incorporating such an additive with one or more additional tobacco materials, such as burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, and flue-cured tobacco. A smoking article, such as a cigarette, contains such a reconstituted tobacco, as part of the smokable material, as part of tobacco paper wrapping material, or as part of a reconstituted tobacco-containing filter element. The invention also provides a method of forming reconstituted tobacco material wherein a tocopherol or derivative thereof is added to the tobacco material, either by adding the tocopherol to an aqueous extract or water insoluble pulp formed during the reconstituted tobacco process or by adding the tocopherol to the solid reconstituted tobacco sheet after the aqueous extract and pulp are recombined.
US07900631B2
The invention relates to a device for supporting and retaining a tracheal cannula or a similar appliance on a person's neck. The device comprises wings on the cannula projecting in opposite directions from the cannula. Fastening means connected with the wings comprises an element having an adhesive surface for attachment to the skin of the neck.
US07900629B2
A hyperbaric oxygen therapy system includes a pressure vessel containing a gas, an oxygen concentration measurement apparatus for monitoring the concentration of oxygen in the gas, an environmental control apparatus for controlling the temperature of the gas in the vessel, and a pressure/ventilation control apparatus for controlling the pressure of the gas in the vessel. The pressure vessel is capable of accommodating a patient. The oxygen concentration measurement apparatus includes an oxygen concentration analyzer and a plurality of gas lines connecting the oxygen analyzer to the pressure vessel. The pressure/ventilation control apparatus includes a pressure controlling valve, a pressure sensor, a ventilation valve, and a controller having a programmable pressure profile. The environmental control apparatus includes a scrubber, a heat exchanger and a blower located within the pressure vessel. A compressor for the system includes a compressor silencer. An airlock providing access to the pressure vessel includes a safety mechanism.
US07900623B2
A portable freestanding stove designed to combust organic material pieces, having open combustion chamber (1) surrounded with sidewall (2) composed of one inverted truncated upper sheet metal cone (6) of combustion chamber (1) and surrounding thereof circumferential sheet metal ring (7) of combustion chamber (1). Positioned under upper cone (6) is second inverted truncated lower sheet metal cone (8) of air draft. Both truncated cones (6, 8) are rigidly positioned, one relative to the other, with axial gap (h) determined by means of circumferential sheet metal ring (7), rigidly connected to them and positioned at external circumference thereof. The lower part of upper cone (6) connects to grate (3), under which sheet metal ash pan (4) is positioned. Circumferential sheet metal ring (7) of stove rests on supporting structure (5).
US07900618B1
Embodiments of the present invention involve modification of a type of existing ball throwing machine to add the ability to quickly change the type of throw between one and another in a sequence of throws. One illustrated embodiment involves modification of existing components and adding some to the existing machine to add the performance feature. Another illustrated embodiment involves less modification the existing machine but obtaining the performance feature with pre-assemblies of components.
US07900616B2
An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. The sensor malfunction monitor measures a rate of change of a signal from the sensor on detecting a turning point of the signal and detects a malfunction when a rate of change of the signal exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, the sensor malfunction monitor measures a response time interval starting from a point in time at which a diagnostic function begins to force an air-fuel ratio to change (e.g., from lean-to-rich or rich-to-lean) and ends at a point in time when a turning point of the signal is detected. The sensor malfunction monitor detects a malfunction when the delay time of the response time interval, or average delay time from a plurality of measured response time intervals, exceeds a time threshold.
US07900613B2
A high-frequency ignition system for spark ignition engines has a large ignition range with a cover measuring up to a plurality of square centimeters and enables the optional adjustment of the duration of the ignition. The combustion time can be minimized as a result of the large ignition range. Excellent degrees of efficacy can be obtained with this ignition using dielectric electrodes. The high-frequency ignition system can be very economically produced by means of high-frequency electronic components which are available at a very low cost as a result of the telecommunication market, and by means of standard spark plug technology. The high-voltage requirements are also significantly lower compared to classic ignition systems.
US07900608B2
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring reverse flow of fuel vapors and/or air through a vehicle fuel vapor recovery system, said fuel vapor recovery system coupled to an engine intake of a boosted internal combustion engine. One example method comprises, during boost, when the fuel vapor recovery system is commanded to be sealed from the intake, indicating degradation based on a pressure value at a venturi in the fuel vapor recovery system.
US07900601B2
An engine system comprises a temperature determination module, a temperature comparison module, and a fuel injection control module. The temperature determination module determines an engine temperature. The temperature comparison module compares the engine temperature and a temperature threshold. The fuel injection control module adjusts a timing of fuel injection from a first range of an intake stroke to a second range of the intake stroke based on the comparison. The first range and the second range do not overlap.
US07900598B2
A method is described for starting an internal combustion engine. During a run-up in engine speed of the engine starting, the method includes adjusting intake valve closing timing in response to barometric pressure to provide a desired air amount in the cylinder, with a longer valve opening with respect to crankshaft angle at higher altitudes as compared to a shorter valve opening with respect to crankshaft angle at lower altitudes for a given operating constraint.
US07900596B2
A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine are provided which make it possible to implement different deceleration requests to the internal combustion engine by switching over between half engine operation and full engine operation. A deceleration request is received particularly in a nonoperating state. A switchover is made between a first operating state and a second operating state of the internal combustion engine as a function of the magnitude of the deceleration request. The first operating state and the second operating state differ, in this instance, in the number of cylinders whose charge changing process is interrupted.
US07900589B2
A collector assembly is provided for directing products of combustion between segments of a flue of a water heater. The assembly includes an insulator at least partially defining a chamber configured to direct products of combustion between the flue segments. The assembly also includes a cover configured to at least partially surround the insulator. The cover is also configured to be coupled to a water tank of the water heater. The insulator in an uncompressed state is dimensioned to extend outwardly from the cover when the insulator is positioned in the cover. The insulator in a compressed state is dimensioned to permit coupling of the cover to the water tank.
US07900586B2
A tether for use with autistic children includes belts, one each for wear by an adult and a child for maintaining them side by side during a training session. Tether attached rings are confined by fabric closure members on the belts to maintain proximity of child and adult but can yield upon increased tensioning of the tether. The tether has spaced loops for adjusting tether length. A lock is provided to secure a tether end.
US07900579B2
A heat treatment method includes a substrate holder that holds a plurality of substrates at predetermined vertical intervals and is carried into a heat treating furnace for performing a predetermined heat treatment on the substrates. The substrate holder has two holder constituting bodies each having a plurality of columns and substrate holding sections. One of the holder constituting bodies holds the substrates at a first, vertically adjacent distance so that their front surfaces face each other, while the other of the holder constituting bodies holds the substrates at a second, vertically adjacent distance so that their back surfaces face each other wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance to ensure uniformity of the heat treatment. At least one of the holder constituting bodies moves in the vertical direction to change the positions of the holder constituting bodies relative to each other.
US07900571B2
A buoy is provided with first and second fixed hydrodynamic surfaces (15,16). When the buoy is towed through water by a tether (17), the first hydrodynamic surface (15) generates a downward force that reduces with increased speed through the water. The second hydrodynamic surface (16) generates an upward force that increases with increased speed through the water so that the buoy dives up to an upper critical speed through the water speed and rises beyond said upper critical speed through the water. The downward force of the first hydrodynamic surface (15) overcomes the buoyancy of the buoy at a lower critical speed through the water above, which the buoy dives. The hydrodynamic surface (15) comprises first fins (15) mounted on an outer casing (1) of the buoy and are spaced angularity and extend parallel to the center axis of the buoy which is substantially aligned with the direction of towing. The second hydrodynamic surface (16) comprises second fins (16) mounted on the outer casing arranged upstream of the first fins (15) in the direction of towing. The second hydrodynamic surface (16) is set at an angle of incidence such that it creates a stalled flow condition at said upper critical speed through the water.
US07900569B2
A pedestal (1) for a sailing boat comprises a casing (2) and inside such a casing (2): at least one driving wheel (11a, 11b) associated with a motion input shaft (3), at least one driven wheel (12a, 12b) associated with a motion output shaft (4) and at least one motion transmission element (13a, 13b) from said at least one driving wheel (11a, 11b) to said at least one driven wheel (12a, 12b). The pedestal (1) further comprises, also inside the casing (2), a speed variation system selectively activatable to vary the rotation speed of the motion output shaft (4) with respect to that of the motion input shaft (3).
US07900564B2
Disclosed are a method and an assembly for bulk transport. An inflatable bladder is inserted into a container and disposed proximal and above a gravity-fed aperture. The container may be, for instance, a hopper rail car. A bulk material then is introduced into the container, the bulk material being, for instance, a grain-based material such as corn gluten feed. The bladder is positioned and preferably secured laterally with respect to the aperture to impede access to the aperture by the bulk material. When the container has reached the transport destination, the bladder is deflated. If the bulk material has set up during transport, access to the aperture nonetheless will have been maintained.
US07900562B2
An apparatus for removing a wheelset from a railroad vehicle includes a frame configured for motion with respect to the railroad vehicle. The apparatus also includes a lifting yoke cooperatively associated with the frame. The yoke is configured to engage flanges of the wheelset. The apparatus further includes at least one lifting screw interposed between the frame and the lifting yoke, such that upon rotation of the at least one lifting screw, the yoke may be raised and lowered to selectively engage the flanges of the wheelset. A “universal” lifting yoke can include a first portion which engages the at least one lifting screw, a set of extendable transverse members having outward ends, and flange-engaging blocks secured to the outward ends of the extendable transverse members and configured to engage the flanges of the wheelset. The extendable transverse members and the flange-engaging blocks can be cooperatively configured and dimensioned to engage substantially all anticipated wheelsets expected to be encountered in a given application. The “universal yoke” can be employed with screw-actuation, or with other types of actuating members.
US07900561B2
A projectile includes a leading part formed by a tip, a tip base, and a leading rod. A trailing part includes a main base, a truncate base, and a trailing rod. A leading end of a cylindrical interface abuts an annular shoulder where the tip meets the tip base and a trailing end abuts an annular shoulder where the main base meets the truncate base. The tip base and the truncate base respectively support the leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface. A medial extent of the cylindrical interface is unsupported by the leading and trailing rods and is deformed radially inwardly by lands in a barrel when the projectile is fired. The leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface maintain contact with the lands and the medial extent does not, reducing friction between the projectile and the barrel without sacrificing spin of the projectile.
US07900557B2
An automated system and method are provided for application of inoculant products onto forage material. Real time data measurements are taken for relative humidity and moisture content of the forage material in order to timely adjust the dispense rate of the inoculant applied to the forage material. Data gathering capabilities are provided with this system controller to enable an operator to view, adjust, and record various production records, as well as detailed information as to the amounts of inoculant applied. The components associated with the system of the present invention includes an inoculant bin or container including a dispense auger which dispenses a controlled amount of inoculant which is then conveyed to the intake opening of the baling machine the forage material enters the machine. The control system includes various sensors positioned at the intake opening of the baling machine which measures moisture content, and optionally the mass or volume of the incoming forage material. The control system provides a number of user interface options for controlling the dispensing of the inoculant product, as well as capturing data relating to the operation of the baling machine and the application of the inoculant product. In one embodiment, multiple sensors are used to measure moisture over short periods of time in order to provide fine tuning in a control loop that determines the amounts of inoculants to be applied.
US07900555B2
A large square baler is equipped with a plunger drive incorporating a flywheel configured as a fan which creates a flow of air within a housing disposed about the flywheel. A duct arrangement is coupled between the housing and a knotter table housing so that air is directed across and maintains a plurality of knotters located at the knotter table free of debris.
US07900554B2
A method for controlling the roll weighting in roll shellers, in particular in rubber roll shellers for shelling rice or other cereal grains, includes recipe values for the grains to be shelled making it possible to independently regulate motor current, feed quantity and pressure values for roll weighting.
US07900550B2
The present invention relates to a compression chamber unit (1) of an air pump, comprising a cylindrical body part (3) provided with at least one outlet nozzle (4), a number of connecting flanges (6) and a number of connecting bosses (7), wherein the cylindrical body part (3) is an extruded cylinder and a cap (2) is formed with outlet nozzle (4), connecting flanges (6) and connecting bosses (7), where the cap (2) is adapted to engage with a first end part (10) of the cylindrical body part (3). The present invention further more relates to a method for forming a compression chamber unit (1) which method comprises the following steps: the cylindrical body part (3) is extruded, and the cap (2) is moulded onto the cylindrical body part (3).
US07900549B2
A cushion ring which is used between a rod-side cylinder head and a piston rod of a fluid-pressure cylinder and which is externally fitted on the piston rod to cushion a shock in the vicinity of the farthest extended end of cylinder includes a throttling groove that has a V-shaped cross section. The throttling groove extends from an appropriate position of the cushion ring to a rod-side end part and functions to throttle the flow of a working fluid flowing from a rod-side fluid chamber to an input/output port provided in a rod-side cylinder head. The throttling groove is provided at the outer periphery of the cushion ring. The throttling groove terminates at a rod-side end part with an end guide face that guides the working fluid toward a slantwise outward direction of the cushion ring.
US07900537B2
A pliers-type insulation stripping tool includes a releasable fastening device for fastening a knife cassette to at least one of the knife carrier members that are longitudinally displaced by the pivotally connected tool handle members to remove a severed length of insulation from a longitudinally-arranged insulated conductor that is clamped between by the tool gripping jaws. A U-shaped resilient fastener spring wire has leg portions that are resiliently biased apart, at least one of the legs containing a laterally extending bulge portion that extends into a corresponding locking slot contained in a side wall of the knife cassette. To release and replace the knife cassette, the protruding free extremities of the leg portions of the spring wire are displaced together, thereby to remove the leg bulge portion from the slot contained in the cassette outer wall.
US07900533B2
A controller of an automatic transmission can be set to be in a first control mode and a second control mode for controlling a transmission gear ratio of the automatic transmission. The controller in the second control mode automatically changes the transmission gear ratio. The controller obtains an index value and upper limit speed of rotation speed of a transmission output shaft. The controller in the first control mode allows the transmission gear ratio to be changed when an operation member is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio and the index value is equal to or lower than the upper limit speed. The controller has a setting section that sets the upper limit speed. The setting section sets the upper limit speed based on vehicle acceleration when the controller is in the first control mode and the operation member is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio.
US07900529B2
An outer race support plate to which torque of a pinion gear is transmitted from a ring gear via a one-way clutch and thus rotates a crankshaft is provided separately from a flywheel and is mounted to the crankshaft not via the flywheel. As a result, impact noise produced when the one-way clutch engages is not directly transmitted to the flywheel. Accordingly, noise radiation from the flywheel can be suppressed, thereby enabling noise to be reduced.
US07900528B2
Apparatus (2) for sensing parameters, which apparatus (2) comprises a housing (4), a plurality of sockets (6) in the housing (4), a sensor (8) in each of the sockets (6), first electrical contacts (10) on the sensor (8), and second electrical contacts (12) in each socket (6) at an end of the socket (6) remote from the sensor (8), and the apparatus (2) being such that: (i) the sensors (8) are for sensing different parameters; (ii) the sockets (6) are such that when they contain their sensors (8) then the sockets (6) are sealed from each other whereby a liquid caused to be present in a socket (6) consequent upon an operator error is unable to pass to the other sockets (6); (iii) the second electrical contacts (12) define the type of sensor (8) that is appropriate for each socket (6); and (iv) the sensors (8) each comprise a flat sensor part (14), a transversely extending mounting part (16), and a body part (18), the transversely extending mounting part (16) being located in a bore in the body part (18), and the body part (18) being sealingly located in the socket (6) for the sensor (8).
US07900522B2
A gas flow meter for obtaining flow volume readings in a gas conduit, including sensors mounted upstream and downstream of a flow restriction device on a rotor, the rotor further including at least one more flow restriction device that can be rotated into position relative to the conduit.
US07900516B2
To simply and accurately determine the position of an edge, the depth or the height of a flaw including a surface crack, a corroded portion near the surface layer of a thick specimen, and a minute damage.An ultrasonic flaw detection method causes an ultrasonic wave 16 to be incident on a specimen 6 from an oblique direction, detects a diffracted wave 17 generated at an edge of a flaw 20 in the specimen 6 above the flaw, and determines the position of the edge of the flaw 20 from a front surface 13 of the specimen 6 using a triangular method from an entire beam path Wt of a component 18, which directly propagates above the flaw 20, of the diffracted wave, the entire beam path passing through the flaw from the position of incidence of the component 18, and an interval S between the position of incidence and the position of detection of the ultrasonic wave or from the difference (tt−ts) between the propagation time of a surface wave 15, to which the above relations reflect, to reception and the propagation time of the diffracted wave 18, which directly propagates above the flaw, to reception.
US07900515B2
First and second semiconductor layers are attached to each other with an insulation layer sandwiched therebetween. An acceleration sensor device is formed in the first semiconductor layer. A control device for controlling the acceleration sensor device is formed on the second semiconductor layer. Through holes are formed in the second semiconductor layer, and an insulation layer is formed to cover the wall surfaces of the through holes. Through interconnections are formed within the through holes for electrically connecting the acceleration sensor device and the control device to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an acceleration sensor having excellent detection accuracy while having a reduced size, and a fabrication method thereof.
US07900508B2
One subject of the invention is a process for checking the robustness of a particulate filter intended to be used in the exhaust line of a diesel engine, comprising the steps consisting in, having first determined the soot mass limit of the filter, loading a new filter with a level of soot at least equal to two times and at most equal to three times the soot mass limit, then making the filter undergo a severe regeneration then, in any order, determining the filtration efficiency of the filter, measuring its pressure drop and comparing it to the pressure drop of the new filter, measuring its level of cracking, and finally checking its integrity after a mechanical stress. Another subject of the invention is a method for diagnosing the robustness of a filter.
US07900506B2
The present invention provides a multi-dimensional standing wave probe for microscale and nanoscale measurement, manipulation, and surface modification, including: a filament having a first free end and a second end that is attached to at least one actuator to apply oscillation cycles to the filament; wherein the oscillation of the filament during at least one complete cycle of oscillation of the actuator causes the free end to move in a multi-dimensional envelope, producing a defined virtual probe tip at the free end, wherein a shape of the virtual probe tip is defined by both a characteristic shape of the oscillation of the free end and a geometry of the filament. Optionally, the actuator includes a monolithic crystal actuator. Preferably, the monolithic crystal actuator includes a crystal having zero grain boundaries. The monolithic crystal actuator also includes a plurality of thin flexure structures. The monolithic crystal actuator further includes a plurality of metallic electrodes disposed on inside or outside surfaces, or a combination thereof, of the plurality of thin flexure structures.
US07900503B2
An apparatus and method for measuring or comparing rheological properties of fluid samples in parallel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensing elements which are comprised of flow channels and reservoirs in fluid communication. The channels provide flow paths for the fluid samples which are initially contained within external reservoirs. The method includes flowing the fluid samples at variable rates and monitoring simultaneously sample flow rates from the reservoirs through a plurality elements for one or more increments of time. The disclosed method is capable of measuring or comparing rheological properties of at least two fluid samples simultaneously. Useful flow rates monitoring devices include optical array sensors and image analysis systems.
US07900502B2
A seal checker for conveying and pressing a packaging bag by upper and lower conveyance units is provided which is capable of saving space with a compact structure, and is also capable of improving maintainability and cleanability. A lower transfer conveyor is mounted on a main body frame, and an upper transfer conveyor is supported by an elevating mechanism mounted to the main body frame. The elevating mechanism includes first and second link members and a frame that connects upper end portions of the link members to each other. Lower portions of the first and second link members are connected to the main body frame. The frame is configured so as to move in parallel with the lower transfer conveyor.
US07900495B2
A powered conduit bending tool comprises a portable drive housing including a handle and having a powered drive gear. A bracket is secured to the housing defining a pivot connection spaced from the drive gear. A guide is operatively secured to the housing. A platform is pivotally connected to the bracket at the pivot connection and includes a driven gear operatively engaging the drive gear to controllably pivot the platform. A shoe is removably mountable to the platform and comprises a first bender defining a downwardly opening arcuate channel selectively positionable proximate the guide. A hook is proximate one end of the bender for engaging a conduit received in the channel. In use, the guide supports a conduit engaged by the hook and pivotal movement of the shoe driven by the platform deforms the conduit as it passes by the guide.
US07900490B2
In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a method for engaging with a projection of a first component to removably secure a second component to the first component. The method includes positioning a rotatable member of the second component in a first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to receive, via a gap in a perimeter of the rotatable member, the projection of the first component. The method also includes positioning the rotatable member in a second rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is prevented from disengaging with the projection of the first component to secure the second component to the first component. The method also includes returning the rotatable member to the first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to release, via the gap in the perimeter, the projection of the first component to remove the second component from the first component.
US07900488B2
In connection with the non-destructive stretching and fastening of pelts (2) on distention elements/pelt boards (4), where the pelt is stretched and fastened in the stretched position during the drying process by means of a fixing bag, it has shown that the pelts give way (shrink) on each side of the tail root of the pelt, with the result that use is made of a number of staples for the fastening of these places on the stretched pelt. Since it is not at all desirable to use staples, a development of the pelt boards (4) has taken place, so that these have an arched extent around two transverse axes in relation to their longitudinal axes. Moreover, it has long been desirable to be able to stretch the pelts to a greater degree, which has not been possible with the use of the known stretching machines. This development has led to the development of a method and a stretching machine for the execution of the method, where the gripping elements are configured to correspond with the shape of the pelt board, and where the pelt is engaged by the gripping elements along the whole of the lower periphery of the pelt, so that the counter-hold force in the pelt is distributed over the whole periphery of the pelt, whereby the pelt can be stretched to a greater degree without any damage to the pelt in the areas of engagement for the gripping elements.
US07900487B2
A mechanical apparatus for washing/drying is disclosed. Accordingly, the present invention provides a structure for damping and absorbing vibration of a tub in a washer or dryer. The present invention includes a tub accommodating water therein, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, a spring provided to elastically support the tub, and a damping means having one end rotatably connected to the tub by a hinge assembly and the other end connected to a shock-absorbing member fixed to a cabinet.
US07900477B2
There are the steps of conveying a glass plate by a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers; and moving a roller in contact with the glass plate in conveyance to position the glass plate so as to conform a posture of the glass plate to a reference posture.
US07900475B2
Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system for and method of analyzing and cleaning a cullet stream prior to bottle manufacturing. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the system includes a raw materials feeder, a mixing stage, a melting stage, a bottle-forming stage, a cooling/annealing stage, an inspection stage, and a batch controller. The raw materials feeder further includes a cullet bin within which is cullet supply, a feeder, an analysis device, and removal assembly. Certain preferred embodiments of the method include the steps of feeding cullet onto the conveyor, performing real-time composition analysis of the cullet, removing contaminants from the cullet, determining whether the cullet batch is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold, adjusting the glass batch formulation, sending the batch ingredients to the mixing stage, and then completing the overall glass manufacturing process.
US07900474B2
Hollow glass microspheres are made using selenium oxide as the blowing agent. The use of selenium oxide provides two unique advantages: lower density and smaller hollow microspheres are obtained because loss of selenium oxide gas out of the liquid glass bubble during formation is slow, and the hollow microspheres will contain a vacuum due to the condensation of selenium oxide gas blowing agent upon cooling of the spheres below 315 deg. C.
US07900470B2
An icemaker includes a body including an ice mode for receiving water and freezing water to ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side surface and an arcuate bottom surface indisposed between the first side surface and the second side surface. An ice ejector including an ejector member is rotatably connected to the body. The ice ejector defines an axis of rotation. A drive mechanism is operably coupled to the ice ejector. The drive mechanism is configured to reversibly rotate the ice ejector between a first position and a second position. A first cover is fixedly connected to the body for at least partially covering a front portion of the ice mold. A second cover is connected to one of the ice ejector and the body. The second cover is configured to reversibly rotate with the ice ejector between the first position and a third position. The second cover at least partially covers a back portion of the ice mold at the first position. The first and second covers prevent water slosh in the ice mold and buildup of frost on the surfaces.
US07900466B2
An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle includes a coolant circuit, through which it is possible to pump coolant with the aid of a compressor, the air-conditioning system having a torque-determining unit for determining a drive torque required for operating the compressor as a function of a temperature of air, which has flowed past an evaporator integrated into the coolant circuit for evaporating coolant, a pressure of the coolant prevailing in the coolant circuit in front of the compressor relative to a flow direction of the coolant or an actuating signal for setting a settable compressor stroke of the compressor.
US07900464B2
A humidity detecting apparatus includes a humidity sensor for detecting a relative humidity of air on an inner side of a window glass, an air temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the air, a glass temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the window glass, and a glass surface relative humidity calculation unit for calculating a glass surface relative humidity based on output values of the humidity sensor, the air temperature sensor and the glass temperature sensor. A heat conductive member is disposed between the glass temperature sensor and the window glass.
US07900462B2
A HVAC system for a vehicle that includes a propulsion system, a frame, a passenger compartment, and a door coupled to the frame. The HVAC system includes a refrigeration circuit that selectively controls the temperature of the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment. The refrigeration circuit includes an exterior heat exchanger, a first air moving device coupled to the exterior heat exchanger, an interior heat exchanger, a second air moving device coupled to the interior heat exchanger, and a compressor. The HVAC system also includes a controller that is operable to detect a condition of the vehicle that includes at least one of a position of the door, a location of the vehicle, and a load of the propulsion system. The controller is programmed to adjust the refrigeration circuit in response to the sensed passenger compartment temperature and the detected vehicle condition.
US07900453B1
A metal fuel combustion system and method for producing energy. The energy may be used to drive a water vessel such as a submarine. The system and method comprises a combustion device having inner and outer combustion chambers. The metal fuel comprises aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, and is preferably in the form Mg2Al4Si5, and is preferably burnt using water as an oxidant. The byproduct of and the metal oxide byproduct is Mg2Al4Si5O18, which has an appearance and consistency similar to basaltic sea sand. In addition to the combustion device, the system may include additional energy producing elements such as fuel cells, thermoelectric cells, and photovoltaic cells.
US07900448B2
The invention relates to a pulse generator (18) in an impulse generator (2) for a cutting tool (12), which pulse generator (18) is intended to transfer energy from a propulsion device (14) to impulses in the tool (12), where the pulse generator (18) comprises a rotatable cylinder drum (28) comprising at least one piston cylinder (30, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98), in which piston cylinder (30, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) is arranged at least one piston (32, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99), which piston (32, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99) is arranged to compress fluid (29) during rotation of the cylinder drum (28), and that the cylinder drum (28) is arranged to discharge the fluid (29) to the propulsion chamber (6) in the discharge position of the piston (32, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99) via at least one opening (31, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84) opening into the piston cylinder in order to produce an impulse in the tool (12). The invention also relates to an impulse machine comprising an impulse generator (2).
US07900446B2
The invention related to a hydrostatic drive comprising a hydraulic pump (3) which is driven by a drive machine (2) and pumps into at least one first working line (4), and a pressure line (18) in which a feed quantity dependent on the speed of the drive machine (2) flows. When a differential pressure value in the pressure line (18) is exceeded, the pressure means can be extracted from the first working line (4).
US07900443B2
A particle filter arrangement for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine such as a diesel internal combustion engine, includes an inlet and an outlet and at least one particle filter arranged in the flow path of the exhaust gases between the inlet and outlet. The exhaust gases are conducted in a line, with the line having a first segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the outlet. The line has a second segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the inlet. An operating temperature of the arrangement sufficiently high to prevent full loading of the filter is generated particularly quickly in that the line also includes a third segment in which the exhaust gases are conducted substantially in the direction of the outlet.
US07900442B2
The present invention provides an engine including a secondary air supply apparatus for supplying a secondary air to an exhaust gas passage in a cylinder head. The engine comprises a secondary air passage of the secondary air supply apparatus which extends from an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder head through an under-portion of the exhaust gas passage into the exhaust gas passage. The secondary air passage has a groove geometry of passage portion on a matching surface between the cylinder head and a cylinder body.
US07900439B2
A diagnostic system for an exhaust system including a catalyst and a post-catalyst oxygen sensor is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that commands fuel to transition from a rich condition to a lean condition and that commands fuel to transition from the lean condition to the rich condition. A first diagnostic module monitors the post-catalyst oxygen sensor during the transition from the rich condition to the lean condition. A second diagnostic module monitors the catalyst during the transition from the lean condition to the rich condition.
US07900425B2
Systems and methods for vacuum compensation in hot-filled and cooled containers. Each container reduces, via one or more vacuum panels, a first portion of a vacuum created in the container. Each container also has a repositionable portion to reduce a second portion of the vacuum. During hot-filling, no portion of the repositionable portion extends below a standing or bearing surface of the container.
US07900419B2
A method of attaching and aligning reinforcing bars includes providing a plurality of molded plastic clips having first and second parallel seats and a third transverse seat, all seats of equal size. A lower seat of a clip is pressed over a first reinforcement bar, then a second reinforcement bar is pressed into the upper seat to attach two bars of equal size in parallel. Another identical clip can be used to attach a third bar transverse to the first two bars, all the bars being of equal size.
US07900416B1
A floor tile for use in a flooring system comprises an upper surface operable for use as a portion of a flooring installation and a support lattice operable to support the upper surface. The support lattice includes a plurality of support members extending downwardly from an underside of the upper surface and terminating in lower sections collectively defining a subfloor contact profile and a plurality of interconnecting members laterally interconnecting two or more of the support members. At least some of the plurality of support members extend downwardly at an oblique angle to the upper surface.
US07900411B2
Novel building systems, in particular low cost superior strength building assemblies incorporating single or double shear walls, and disaster resistant window attachments are described herein. The inventive building systems are particularly well-suited for adding rooms to existing buildings, such as attached residential room additions, basements, disaster relief housing, and Do-It Yourself (DIY) projects.
US07900408B2
A storm panel of high strength fabric is constructed, reinforced, and installed in such a way as to comply with the building codes as a large missile impact system. When not in use, the fabric can be rolled and stored and placed in an attractive cover without disassembly.
US07900402B2
A telescopic seating system generally includes an innermost lower riser assembly and successive outer elevated riser assemblies. Each elevated riser assembly includes a dual deck surface and a telescopic leg assembly. Each elevated riser assembly supports a toothed belt drive system which provides the interface between each adjacent elevated riser assembly and the motive force to extend and retract the riser system. In operation, electric motors of the toothed belt drive system on each elevated riser assembly are driven by a controller to extend and retract the telescopic seating system between a fully extended position, a half-deployed position and a storage position. The half-deployed position utilizes the dual deck surface to provide half the seating capacity of each riser at twice the rise between each seating row to thereby accommodate particular venues.
US07900394B2
A method for making a hydraulically applied mulch using a natural biofiber material preferably comprising of 100% cotton byproduct or a mixture of cotton byproducts and other biomaterials selected such as, hay, grass, kenaf, straw, coconut, bamboo, hemp, bagasse and plant residue (cereal grains, rice, soybeans, grass seed, wood, sawdust, wood pulp, paper, or mixtures thereof). These fibers bear a natural waxy coating. The method includes the optional step of introducing the shredded biofiber composition into a first steaming chamber to stem the biofiber composition, followed by shredding the biofiber composition, and then introducing the shredded biofiber composition into a second steaming chamber to steam, break down and create porosity in the waxy coating of the fibers causing the fibers to become more hydrophilic. The biofibers are steamed followed by drying causing them to curl or physically deform. The shredded and steamed biofiber composition is then mixed to entangle the fibers, and the shredded, mixed and steamed biofiber composition is introduced into a drying chamber for drying, the resulting composition is then cooled and packaged, ready for mixing with water and spray application. The shredded, steamed and dried composition promotes entanglement of the fibers in a 3-dimensional matrix suitable for use as hydraulically applied mulch, and binding agents (tackifiers), dyes, rewetting agents, activators, and other additives may be added as desired.
US07900389B2
A polymeric revolver including a frame, a cylinder mounted in a rectangular aperture in the frame, a cylinder retaining mechanism and a cylinder releasing mechanism is provided. The cylinder retaining mechanism includes two assemblies: (1) an extractor, locking bolt and locking bolt retainer that house an extractor rod spring, and (2) a ratchet hub driver, hub drive center pin and central pin plate that house a ratchet drive spring. The two assemblies are biased toward one another forming a locking engagement of the extractor and the ratchet hub driver. The locking engagement is enhanced by a star-shaped configuration of grooves and ridges on the extractor and ratchet hub driver, respectively. The cylinder releasing mechanism includes a cylinder release lever that actuates the hub drive center pin and ratchet hub driver out of locking engagement with the extractor, and an ambidextrous thumb piece that facilitates access to the cylinder release lever.
US07900379B2
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper that defines an interior void, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a foot-supporting insert that is positionable within a lower area of the void and removable from the void. A system having a protrusion and an indentation may be utilized to, for example, secure the insert within the void. As an example, a protrusion may extend outward from a surface of the void, and the insert may define an indentation in a corresponding location and with a corresponding shape. When the insert is positioned within the void, the protrusion will extend into the indentation. The locations, shapes, numbers and overall configuration of the protrusion and indentation may vary significantly.
US07900374B2
An automatic drying apparatus and a method of controlling the same is disclosed, enabling exact drying by using a humidity sensor (37) provided at a location having a stabilized output characteristic for automatic drying, the automatic drying apparatus including a heating apparatus (31) for heating air supplied into a drum into which a drying object is introduced, a fan (32) for forcibly drawing air into the drum; and a humidity sensor (37) provided between the fan (32) and the heating apparatus (37) such that a sensing surface is positioned to be parallel to a flowing direction of air passed through the fan (32), for outputting a sensing voltage value for determining dryness of the drying object.
US07900372B2
A clothes dryer has horizontally extending louvres located in its rear cabinet wall that permit ambient air to enter the dryer cabinet during normal dryer operation. U-shaped cover brackets are positioned to horizontally extend and cover the louvres where the brackets each define a horizontally extending airflow channel having opposing open ends. Air entering the dryer flows through the louvres along the airflow channels and out through the open ends. The cover bracket helps to contain a fire within the dryer cabinet should one occur by restricting flow of ignited particles and other debris as a result of a fire from exiting through the louvre.
US07900370B1
An attachment apparatus is provided for a measuring tape having upwardly curving side edges, a downwardly, substantially perpendicular tab at a leading end, and a scale along the length between the side edges. The apparatus includes an end fitting piece and a medial fitting piece. The end fitting piece has a leg and a seat. The leg extends from the piece to provide a measuring edge. The seat is configured to secure with the tab at the leading end of the tape. The medial fitting piece has a leg and a seat. The leg extends from the piece to provide a measuring edge. The seat is configured to mount onto the tape for slidable movement relative to the end fitting leg to define a distance between the measuring edges readable from the scale on the tape.
US07900368B2
A train rail alignment and distance system. The train rail alignment and distance system is a durable, highly accurate, portable electronic measurement system that is used for determining both rail inclination and distance between substantially parallel train rail sections during the processes of railway construction, maintenance, and monitoring. The system is designed to work accurately across a wide temperature range and in extreme weather conditions. It is designed to be easily manufactured, configured and maintained. The system also includes several optional integrated features and functions such as: field calibration, factory configuration, GPS and/or USB integration, PC and/or Internet-based communications, and data logging, data storage, and data analysis capabilities.
US07900367B2
A method of calibrating a measurement probe (10) mounted on a machine is described. The measurement probe (10) has a stylus (14) with a workpiece contacting tip (16). The method comprises determining a probe calibration matrix that relates the probe outputs (a,b,c) to the machine coordinate system (x,y,z.). The method comprising the steps of scanning a calibration artefact (18) using a first probe deflection (d1) to obtain first machine data and using a second probe deflection (d2) to obtain second machine data. The first and second machine data are used to obtain a pure probe calibration matrix in which any machine errors are substantially omitted. Advantageously, the method determines the pure probe matrix numerically based on the assumption that the difference between the first and second machine position data is known.
US07900364B2
Disclosed are an arc-drawing assisting apparatus and a tape measure including the arc-drawing assisting apparatus. The an arc-drawing assisting apparatus, which is disposed at a tape of a tape measure so as to allow a user to draw a circle or an arc by using the tape measure, includes an upper case having a graduation checking part for checking graduations of the tape, the graduations checking part being formed at one surface of an upper portion of the upper case and a center adjusting member which is rotatably assembled with the upper case and includes a lower case having an assembling protuberance, which has a center fixing pin protruding downward, formed at a lower end of the lower case. The an arc-drawing assisting apparatus includes a center adjusting member, which is movably disposed at a tape having graduations formed thereon and is also fixed in the tape when an arc is drawn, a center adjusting assisting member, which is assembled with the center adjusting member and has an angle indicator, and a writing instrument fixing member allowing a writing instrument to be fixed to a front end of the tape so that a circle and an arc in an accurate dimension can be drawn, and they can be drawn at a desire angle.
US07900354B2
A complete refrigeration system (CRS) including at least one heat exchanger which is designed to occupy an irregular volume to reduce the overall profile of the CRS. The heat exchanger may be a condenser or an evaporator, and includes a substantially solid body made of a thermally conductive metal, plastic, or other material. A plurality of fluid and refrigerant passageways are defined substantially within the solid body for conducing fluid and refrigerant, respectively, through the solid body and facilitating the transfer of heat between the fluid and refrigerant. Also disclosed is a method wherein the spatial orientation of each passageway is optimized with respect to all of the other passageways and the walls of the solid body by determining the relative distance of each passageway from all of the other passageways and the walls of the solid body at a plurality of points along each passageway, followed by adjusting the spatial orientation of the passageway accordingly.
US07900350B2
A circuit element comprises a wiring board; the wiring board comprises a substrate and a wiring formed on the substrate, and a lid joined on the substrate containing a part of the wiring with a binder and making a sealed space above the substrate, wherein if a spot of the wiring joined with the lid by a binder is a spot of junction, a flank of both flanks of the wiring comprise bends in the spot of junction.
US07900346B2
In non-limiting, exemplary embodiments a mount assembly is provided for mounting an inspection sensor to a surface of a workpiece. The mount assembly includes a mount having an attachment portion and an engagement portion. The attachment portion is arranged to attach the mount to the surface of the workpiece. The engagement portion is arranged to engage the inspection sensor with the mount. Exemplary mount assemblies may be arranged to mount pulse echo ultrasonic testing transducers, focused ultrasonic testing transducers, through transmission ultrasonic testing transducers, eddy current inspection sensors, or any type of inspection sensor as desired.
US07900337B2
A composite membrane acoustic transducer structure comprising a magnet assembly is arranged adjacent the composite membrane material. The magnet assembly is arranged to produce a flux field. A first layer of thin, elongate composite membrane material is held under tension. A second conductive layer is attached to the first layer of composite membrane material wherein the first and second layers of membrane material are arranged adjacent, generally parallel and offset from the magnet assembly. The assembly is arranged to produce the flux field through at least part of the first layer and the second layer.
US07900334B2
A decorative utility rod assembly that may be attached to a wall or other support surface. The rod assembly has a base rod, a cross rod, a cover plate, a set screw, and a knob or end cap. The proximal (wall) end of the base rod is threaded on its exterior surface. The distal end of the base rod forms a threaded hole. The cover plate forms a threaded hole in a central portion thereof. The cover plate is screwed onto the proximal end of the base rod to hide the wall attachments. One end of set screw is screwed into the threaded hole in the distal end of the base rod. The end cap is screwed onto the other end of the set screw. The cover plate and end cap may be made of a multitude of materials, may have a multitude of surface configurations, may be formed into a multitude of shapes, and may contain indicial of a seasonal, a vanity, an interest of the use, advertising, or decorations to match interior decoration décor. Alternative embodiments include a towel ring, a toilet paper holder, a hook, and shelving.
US07900325B1
A locking enclosure consisting of first and second members joined at one end by a living hinge and having, respectively, a flexible receptacle with an open recess and a foot portion configured to flex the receptacle as it enters the recess to lock the enclosure in a closed position, where damage to the living hinge and inadvertent opening of the enclosure are resisted by a pair of strips that project up from one end of the recess and down toward the recess bottom from the other end of the recess to engage corresponding slots in the foot.
US07900324B2
A device for handling or storing items uses jaw members that hinge to one of several closed positions in which the inner surface of a first jaw is engaged by an engagement device of the second jaw. An external release member in the second jaw is used to move the engagement device between an engaging and a disengaged position. The second jaw also incorporates a retaining surface, positioned opposite the outer surface of the first jaw when the jaws are closed, which opposes outward flexing of said first jaw member, and thus reduces the opportunity for disengagement due to forces from inside the jaws.
US07900323B2
A lamp has multiple arms and multiple hinges mounted between two adjacent arms. The hinge has a stationary leaf, multiple pivot assemblies being mounted in the stationary leaf and multiple brackets being respectively connected to the pivot assemblies and two corresponding brackets are attached to each arm. Each pivot assembly has a shaft and a locking nut being mounted on the shaft and selectively engaging a locking hole of each bracket. Since the locking nuts selectively engage the locking holes of the brackets, an angle between the adjacent arms can be adjusted and fixed. Further, two adjacent arms do not influence each other's position, which is convenient for adjusting.
US07900322B2
A push-out style window assembly including window hardware for frictionally retaining an open position of the window under typical loading conditions. A push-out style window assembly generally includes a friction hinge assembly including a track, a sash arm, a support arm, and a friction arm. The friction arm can include an adjustable and/or detachable slide enabling adjustment of a frictional resistance between the friction slider and the support arm. Using the friction arm, frictional resistance is provided so as to provide control both during opening of the window and in retaining the position of an open window.
US07900321B2
A damping arrangement, in particular for displaceable furniture parts, includes a damper (1) which is provided with a tappet (2) which can be impinged upon, and which can be supported by a support element (3). The support element (3) can be positioned and/or displaced in relation to the tappet (2).
US07900319B2
A hinge structure (1) for self-closing doors or the like comprises a first stationary element (2) attachable to the frame (T) of a door (P), a first movable element (3) securable to the door (P) and pivotally mounted to the first stationary element (2) for rotating about a longitudinal axis (X) between an open door position and a closed door position. The structure (1) further comprises closing means (4) acting on the first movable element (3) for automatically returning the door (P) to the closed position during opening, hydraulic damping means (5) operating on the first movable element (3) to oppose and damp the movement produced by the closing means (4). The closing means (4) and the hydraulic damping means (5) are housed within a first operating chamber (6) locate internally of the first stationary element (2). An assembly incorporates such hinge structure.
US07900308B2
A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank in a predetermined regular pattern includes a reversible water jet drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. The source of the pressurized jet stream can include a pump integral to the apparatus or an external portable pump and/or a pump associated with the pool's filtering and/or circulation system.
US07900304B2
A single tool functioning as a screwdriver, a socket wrench and a brush. A shaft serves as an element of a screwdriver, the shaft of a socket wrench and a handle and support for a brush; In one embodiment, a tube with sockets at both ends is attached at its center to one end of a shaft that is also slidably disposed within an axial channel through a brush, and the other end of the shaft is shaped as a screwdriver blade.
US07900298B1
A method for managing a tax refund account by a taxpayer, comprising obtaining a tax refund account comprising financial information associated with the taxpayer, wherein the financial information comprises tax information, calculating a current refund balance representing a value of the tax refund account for the taxpayer contemporaneously with displaying the current refund balance, wherein the value of the tax refund account is based on the tax information of the taxpayer, displaying a list of contributions, wherein the list of contributions comprises a plurality of activities and a value associated with each of the plurality of activities, adjusting the current refund balance based on at least the list of contributions to obtain an estimated refund amount, and displaying the estimated refund amount comprising an estimated value of a tax refund.
US07900296B2
The present invention discloses a bath apparatus having auxiliary features. The auxiliary features include a handle for providing ergonomic manual transportation of the bath apparatus. Additionally, improvements to conventional therapeutic effects are provided for enhancing the overall therapeutic bathing experience. Further, a bath apparatus is disclosed having a pedicure apparatus for providing a motorized rotary pedicure effect to the user. Even further, a bath apparatus having a fluid dispenser is disclosed for dispensing therapeutic additives.
US07900295B2
A shower handle water supply diverter system includes a water supply in fluid communication with a hose. A handle sprayer is in fluid communication with and extends from the hose. A water diverter is provided within the handle sprayer and is in fluid communication with the showerhead. The water diverter can be operated in three modes: handle sprayer only water expulsion, shower head only water expulsion, and simultaneous handle sprayer and shower head water expulsion. By placement of the first hose and second hose in proximity to provide thermal contact therebetween, stagnant water in one hose at ambient temperature exchanges heat with water flow at a particular temperature in a second hose to change stagnant water temperature towards the temperature of the water flow.
US07900279B2
The present invention is directed to a sports helmet with a clamp that secures an elongated strap of a chin protector assembly against the helmet. The clamp includes a main body having an opening, a finger and a receiver that is positioned between the opening and the finger. The clamp may also include a strengthening insert that extends longitudinally within the clamp. In a secured position, the main body is coupled to the helmet by both a fastener extending through the opening and the finger inserted into an aperture of the helmet. An extent of the chin strap is securedly positioned between the helmet and the receiver. In the secured position, an inner surface of the chin strap member is in contact with an outer surface of the helmet and an outer surface of the chin strap is in contact with the receiver. The receiver includes a plurality of gripping members that engage an outer surface of the chin strap in the secured position. Also, the receiver is recessed from an inner wall of the main body, whereby the receiver has a depth that corresponds to a thickness of the chin strap. Consequently, the receiver accepts the strap and the inner clamp wall makes contact with the helmet shell.
US07900278B2
An ergonomic duty gear belt for carrying duty gear components having a first curved conically shaped side section and a second curved conically shaped side section pivotably hinged together and a lumbar pad wrapped around the hinged connection of the belt to provide support for the lumbar area of the wearer.
US07900275B2
A protective sports glove includes a free-floating subcuff for increased protection of a wearer's forearm and wrist. The glove also includes die cuts in the back portion that are configured to provide increased and more realistic flexibility. The glove also has increased ventilation for a wearer's hand in the form of mesh areas located within the palm portion and within die cuts formed in the back portion of the glove The protective sports glove further includes a multiple piece cuff for increased flexibility and a ventilated liner that provides a secure fit during play.
US07900274B2
Fumble Flaps are disclosed which are cradles strategically located on a vest or shirt to prevent the fumbling of a ball by an offensive player.
US07900269B2
A protector for protecting a wearer is disclosed herein. The protector includes a protection element extending along an axis between first and second ends. The protection element has an inner surface for at least partially contacting a wearer, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an outer edge. The protector also includes at least one elastic band arrangement connected to the outer edge at two places and overlaying the inner surface and being operable to allow at least a portion of the wearer to be received between the at least one elastic band and the inner surface. The protector also includes at least one friction element coupled to the inner surface and discreet from the at least one elastic band. The at least one friction element defines a greater coefficient of friction than the inner surface and is thereby more operable to minimize movement of the protection element relative to the wearer than the inner surface. The at least one friction element and the at least one elastic band are spaced from one another along the axis such that either the at least one friction element or the at least one elastic band can tend to limit sliding movement of the protector as the portion of the wearer expands or contracts during use.
US07904956B2
A facility for providing access authorization is provided. The facility initially enforces a first, less restrictive policy when making its access control decisions. Subsequent to detecting an anomaly, the facility enforces a second, more restrictive policy when making its access control decisions. The facility returns to enforcing the first, less restrictive policy when the anomaly no longer exists. In another embodiment, the facility enforces a policy after detecting an anomaly and until the anomaly has ended.
US07904955B1
The invention is a method and apparatus for detecting shellcode such that a set of computer instructions is scanned for the presence of a null operation instruction. The computer instructions are also examined for the presence of a system call instruction, and reviewed for the presence of a decoder instruction set. A null operation weight value is then determined corresponding to the null operation instruction. Also assessed is a system call weight value corresponding to the system call instruction. In addition, a decoder weight value is calculated corresponding to the decoder instruction set. The null operation weight value, the system call weight value, and the decoder weight value are then analyzed to identify a shellcode.
US07904953B2
Web application code can be interpreted to indicate a pagelet web application. A combined display including a section of the pagelet web application in a page of the first application can then be produced.
US07904951B1
Techniques are provided for securely accelerating external domains locally. Secure client requests directed to an external domain are forwarded to a local domain accelerator. The local domain accelerator communicates securely with the client as if it were the external domain. The local domain accelerator communicates securely with the external domain and acquires data to service the client requests within a local cache. The data is vended from the local cache via secure communications made to the client.
US07904950B2
In a dynamic network security system and method for networks using a firewall, in judging whether packets using unfixed IPs and ports, such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) packets, are to be passed or blocked by a firewall, a current communication condition is reflected, thereby enhancing QoS (Quality of Service) of networks.
US07904949B2
Authentication credentials from legacy applications are translated to Kerberos authentication requests. Authentication credentials from the legacy application are directed to an authentication proxy module. The authentication proxy module acts as a credential translator for the application by receiving a set of credentials such as a user name and password, then managing the process of authenticating to a Kerberos server and obtaining services from one or more Kerberized applications, including Kerberos session encryption. A credential binding module associates a user corresponding to authentication credentials from a legacy authentication protocol with one or more Kerberos credentials. Anonymous authentication credentials may be translated to authentication requests for a network directory services object, such as a computer object or service object.
US07904945B2
A system and method for providing secure communication between nodes (102, 106, 107) in a wireless multihopping communication network (100). The system and method achieve secure communication in a multihopping wireless network (100) by, for example, providing a transport medium for transmission of multihopping authentication messages (400) by the infrastructure devices, such as intelligent access points (106) or wireless routers (107), and user devices, such as mobile nodes (102). The authentication messages (400) are used to verify the identity of a node (102, 107) to thus permit the node (102, 107) to communicate within the network (100). The system and method further use, for example, encryption techniques for protecting the content data packet (1000) traffic being transmitted the nodes (102, 106, 107) within the wireless network (100).
US07904940B1
Configuring a device operating in a network environment comprises receiving a network policy from a policy authority, classifying the network policy based on the identity of the policy authority, determining a local policy according to the classification, and determining a device configuration change to comply with the network policy in accordance with the local policy. Configuring a device joining a network environment includes detecting that a device has joined the network environment, sending a network policy from a policy authority to the device, the network policy including authentication information for the policy authority, and notifying the presence of the device to a policy monitor.
US07904939B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for automated control of devices. A tag is received with Electronic Programming Guide data, and the tag includes control data. The tag is stripped from the Electronic Programming Guide data and communicated to a device.
US07904934B2
A communication card includes a controller configured to forward a request to a device external to the communication card. The controller is further configured to receive HDMI status information associated with at least one HDMI port in response to the request.
US07904933B2
An implementation is described herein that generally pertains to digital video television technology. At least one implementation, described herein, provides an asset definition framework for digital television (DTV) managed applications. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
US07904916B2
A common consolidation management application provides an interface to the multiple different system management software applications and at least one user input console. An adapter in each of the system management software applications supports communication with the consolidation application. A system administrator issues requests to different system management software applications using a common interface provided by the consolidation application. The consolidation application can be installed over an existing complex of computer systems managed by different management applications, without modifying the managed systems or replacing the management applications.
US07904913B2
A data management system that protects data into a continuous object store includes a management interface having a time control. The time control allows an administrator to specify a “past” time, such as a single point or range. When the time control is set to a single point, a hierarchical display of data appears on a display exactly as the data existed in the system at that moment in the past. The time control enables the management interface to operate within a history mode in which the display provides a visual representation of a “virtual” point in time in the past during which the data management system has been operative to provide the data protection service.
US07904896B2
A system is communicably coupled to an external device at least when rewriting, at least in a module, a first application program stored in a first memory of the system into a second application program stored in the external device. In the system, a receiving unit is configured to receive an identifier sent from the external device. The identifier decides a sending timing of the second application program from the external device. In the system, an identification unit is configured to identify that write target data sent from the external device is at least a module of the second application program after the identifier is received by the receiving unit.
US07904892B2
Systems and methods are provided for identifying and displaying dependencies. One aspect of the invention comprises a system having a dependency parser that parses components of a system with dependencies and generates a plurality of component dependency pairs associated with the components, and a component dependency graph generator that generates a dependency directed graph from the plurality of dependency pairs. The system further includes a component levels and cycles analyzer that traverses the dependency directed graph to identify dependencies, strong components and component dependency levels associated with the dependency directed graph, and a graphical user interface that provides a tree view illustrating a dependency tree of the identified dependencies over the identified component dependency levels.
US07904886B2
Method for executing an application in a virtual container forming a virtualized environment session
This invention relates to a method for dynamic insertion of a computer code processing within a running computer task in a transparent fashion for this target task. It also relates to a method using such a dynamic insertion in order to execute a multi-task application in a virtual container forming a virtualized environment session. This method comprises the following steps of storing by a manager task of a hooking datum representing the code processing to be inserted; executing, within the execution of a system routine called by the target task, a hooking instruction initiating a test of the hooking datum; and executing the inserted code, according to the result of said test and instead of the program instruction following the hooking instruction in the execution of said system routine.
US07904869B2
A method of area compaction for integrated circuit layout design comprises determining physical extent boundaries for each layer of at least first circuit and second circuit building blocks. Determining physical extent boundaries includes determining for each respective layer of the first circuit and second circuit building blocks (i) a used portion and (ii) a free portion. The used portion corresponds to a functional portion of the respective circuit building block and the free portion corresponds to a non-functional portion of the respective circuit building block. The method further includes establishing packing keys with respect to the determined physical extent boundaries of each layer of the first circuit and second circuit building blocks, respectively. The packing keys define an interlocking characteristic for packing compaction of the corresponding first circuit or second circuit building block with another circuit building block.
US07904865B2
A method placing items routing wiring pursuant to integrated circuit specifications to create an integrated circuit design. Once the initially placed design is legalized, rather that just starting wiring routing, the method identifies books in the integrated circuit design which contain blocked items. The method allows the routing process to be paused temporarily, and for the items to be moved to a certain extent. This movement process is controlled (limited according to signal power output by the associated books) so that the timing of the integrated circuit design is not affected by any such “mid-routing” movement. If the books do not have any blocked items, the process continues to route wires between the items and the books. If at any point before or during the routing of the wires it is found that the books do have blocked items, the process pauses the routing of the wires and performs any number of different processes to solve the blocked item situation (unblock the blocked items).
US07904863B2
An FPGA-information managing unit included in a circuit-designing CAD apparatus retrieves FPGA information, such as pin assignment information and attribute information, that is created by an FPGA-designing CAD apparatus. A library creating unit creates a symbol library by using the FPGA information. When creating a symbol library, if an FPGA subjected to create the symbol library is arranged in the circuit diagram, the library creating unit manages not to change a portion dividing and a pin layout of the existing symbol library arranged in the circuit diagram as much as possible. When arranging a symbol of the FPGA that a symbol library is newly created, a circuit-diagram reflecting unit arranges the symbol without changing the existing layout.
US07904854B2
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a system and method for checking a mask layout including sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs). A checking program divides each edge of each main feature into sections, forms a set of segments by searching perpendicularly over a distance to determine if any portion of a feature is located within the distance. Segments are then flagged based on whether a feature located within proximity to that segment. A classification program may then classify each of the main features based on the segment data.
US07904844B2
An automated system for checking an integrated circuit cell layout includes searching the cell layout for a sub-area containing a predefined identifier, determining a reference cell layout corresponding to the predefined identifier, verifying the cell layout by comparing the cell layout to the reference cell layout to determine if a cell is of concern, and reporting the cell of concern to a user.
US07904842B1
An implementation of a logic description is improved. The implementation has two signals coupled to two inputs of a fanout-free cone. A swap function is determined of the inputs of the fanout-free cone. The swap function indicates whether there is a difference at an output of the fanout free cone between the fanout-free cone with and without swapping the two signals between the two inputs of the fanout-free cone. A do-not-care function of the inputs of the fanout-free cone is determined for the logic description. The do-not-care function indicates that a modification of the output of the fanout-free cone is not observable at the primary outputs of the logic description. A modified implementation of the logic description is output in response to the do-not-care function covering the swap function. The modified implementation of the logic description has the two signals swapped between the two inputs of the fanout-free cone.
US07904840B2
Disclosed are a method and a system for redistributing white space on an integrated circuit. The method comprises the steps of providing a series of circuit blocks for the integrated circuit, and placing the blocks on the integrated circuit to obtain a predefined optimal wire length. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, we first show that the problem of placing the blocks to obtain an optimal wire length, can be formulated as linear programming. Then, we find it can be solved by efficient min-cost flow implementation instead of general and slow linear programming. The approach guarantees to obtain the minimum total wire length for a given floorplan topology. We also show that the approach is capable of handling various constraints such as fixed-frame (fixed area), IO pins, pre-placed blocks, boundary blocks, range placement, alignment and abutment, rectilinear blocks, cluster placement, and bounded net delay, without loss of optimality.
US07904838B2
An integrated circuit includes a core-logic providing a core-logic output, a latch in communication with the core-logic to store a state of the core-logic output, and an isolation circuit for selectively interconnecting the core-logic output to an input of the latch. The circuit also includes and a power consumption controller in communication with the core-logic, the latch and the isolation circuit, for controlling the latch to store a state of the core-logic output, and output a corresponding signal. The controller is further operable to signal the isolation circuit to isolate the core-logic output from the latch by providing an output corresponding to predetermined value and transition the core-logic from a high power state and a low power state. This prevents transient signals from propagating to interconnected circuit blocks and external devices.
US07904834B2
A graphical user interface control with a plurality of elements can be used to traverse a software application used to effect business processes. In some variations, the control takes the shape of a compass rose with at least two opposite axes, the activation of which cause the information displayed within the software application to become coarser or more granular depending on which of the two axes is selected. Related techniques, apparatus, systems, and articles.
US07904829B2
Techniques are disclosed for enabling users to define one or more areas of a graphical user interface (“GUI”) as being “glue-like”. When the user moves a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, joystick, track ball, etc.) and as a result, the graphical pointer moves into a painted area, the speed at which the graphical pointer will then traverse the GUI is programmatically slowed. Upon exiting the painted area, the graphical pointer speed is preferably restored to its prior setting. In this manner, the user achieves user-specific, application-independent control over the speed at which the graphical pointer moves.
US07904827B2
A sticky note display processing device is connected to an image reading device and a display device and is provided with at least a storage device and a control device. The control device includes image reading unit that controls the image reading device to read an image on a sticky note, and display controlling unit that adjusts a size of the image that should be displayed on a display screen of the display device, and controls a position of the image in such a manner that the image is displayed at a portion of the display screen where there is no display.
US07904824B2
Methods and systems for a user to create a custom menu for medical imaging are provided. To maximize the ease of use and increase user efficiency, the user interface is tailored to a particular user or for a certain application. The user selects from various imaging parameters in a preprogrammed user interface displayed on a monitor or other display device. The selection is by collecting the desired items or by discarding undesired items. After selection, the desired items are displayed in a customized display state. This customized display state can be labeled and stored for later use. An assignable key is also provided. Imaging functions, such as a type of B-mode or Doppler imaging, are assigned to the key. Different or new functions may be later assigned to the key as the most used imaging functions change. Any customization may be different for different users of the same system, such as by saving the customization related to a log-on procedure.
US07904822B2
A system provides an electronic patient parameter Flowsheet offering the flexible features of a paper chart by enabling user configurability of a Flowsheet trend indicative display to incorporate and locate desired patient parameters and associated data items and properties and to hide non-critical supplementary data. A system configures a user interface presenting patient medical parameter data in a trend indicative display indicating a time period comprising user selectable acquisition time intervals. An acquisition processor acquires, from a patient monitoring device, data representing a patient parameter. A processor initiates generation of data representing at least one display image for use in configuring a trend indicative display of a patient parameter and an associated data item by enabling user selection of the data item for trend indicative display and by enabling user association of the data item with a property indicating at least one of, (a) the data item represents volume data to be used in patient fluid infusion or output calculation, (b) the data item represents a rate for use in calculation of volume of patient fluid infusion or output and (c) the data item value is to be used in multiple acquisition time intervals of the trend indicative display.
US07904819B2
An improved technique is provided for recognizing a character based user interface having several host component types and transforming the character based user interface to a web enabled user interface. Agents are deployed to consume a character stream which composes the character baded user interface. Each agent scans the character based user interface to determine which host component types exist in the character based user interface. Each agent is specifically designed to determine the existence of a different host component type from the other agents. When an agent fins a host component type, a match region is defined containing the characters of the found host component type. Each agent renders their associated match regions to compose the web enabled user interface.
US07904818B2
A portal summary controller monitors usage metadata indicating current usage of at least one portlet within at least one portal page for one of multiple events specified to trigger storage of the usage metadata. Responsive to detecting one of the multiple events within the usage metadata which triggers storage, the portal summary controller stores the detected usage metadata at a current time of at least one instance of at least one portlet application within the at least one portal page. Subsequent to storing separate detected usage metadata at multiple different times, the portal summary controller dynamically creates a summary portal page displaying a separate instance of the at least one portlet application for at least one of each of the multiple different times specified according to the separate usage metadata stored at each of the multiple different times, such that the summary portal page provides a summary of at least a selection of previous usage metadata selected by a user of the at least one portal page based on usage metadata stored responsive to trigger events.
US07904817B2
A graphical user interface, implemented in a standard system management environment, accepts selections of logical instruction steps that are external to the standard system management environment. The logical instruction steps may include process steps, specify chemical formulae, or identify other components of master recipes that control drug manufacture or dispensing, as examples. The external logical instruction steps are introduced into the standard system management environment and approved. The standard system management environment subsequently controls the drug manufacturing or dispensing processes according to the external logical instruction steps.
US07904810B2
A system and method for editing ink objects recognized in ink input is provided. An ink parser may recognize an ink object in ink input and then an ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink parser may include a chart detector, shape recognizer, and various ink object recognizers such as a chart recognizer, a list detector and a table detector. The various ink object recognizers may recognize particular ink objects. The ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink editing user interface may include a chart editor, list editor, table editor, mode switcher, and a visualizer. The mode switcher may switch the ink editing system between inking mode and ink editing mode.
US07904809B2
Tools and techniques for dynamically validating editors are described herein. The tools may provide machine-readable storage media containing machine-readable instructions for receiving indications of user edits to a portion of a document, and for determining whether a customized editor is available for the edited portion of the document. The tools may also provide systems that include at least the dynamically validating editor.
US07904806B2
Hiding an XML source in metadata to solve reference problems normally requiring multiple XML sources
The present invention provides a solution that unifies independent data sources into a single data source by hiding one of the data sources in metadata. The non-hidden source, which can reference the hidden source, can be processed by a primary XML processing agent. This agent can initially ignore syntax and semantics of content associated with the hidden source, which is contained within the metadata. A secondary XML processing agent can transform the hidden source into a readable form, which is consumable by the primary processing agent. The primary XML processing agent can receive this readable form as a content stream. The primary XML processing agent can be unaware that the content stream originates from the unified source, which permits the unified source to represent multiple sources while preserving “rules” that typically prohibit multiple data types to be included in a single source.
US07904801B2
Systems and/or methods enabling creation and/or use of a recursive section for an electronic form are described. In one embodiment, a system and/or method enables alteration, responsive to graphical selection of a recursive section component, of an electronic form's schema to permit a recursive section. In another embodiment, a system and/or method enables a user to modify a recursive section in an electronic form through a rendering of the electronic form.
US07904797B2
The present invention provides a unique system and method for facilitating browsing, sorting, clustering, and filtering any number of media objects grouped together in a quick and easy manner. In particular, the invention involves annotating the media objects, which have been clustered, sorted, and/or filtered en masse rather than individually, with metadata. The media objects may be selected by a user and annotated with a plurality of metadata as desired by a user in order to optimize utilization of the media objects. The media objects may also be combined and/or mixed in any number of ways to create new media objects. Media objects may include an audio component, a visual component, a portion thereof, and/or any combination thereof.
US07904796B2
A method is provided for formatting a message, with a first plurality of bits forming a data component, and a second plurality of bits forming a reserved component, for transmission in a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of calculating an initial checksum from the data component, calculating a revised checksum at least from the initial checksum, and storing the revised checksum in the reserved component. The number of bits in the reserved component is less than the number of bits in the data component.
US07904793B2
Data stored in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding and multiple read operations to achieve greater reliability. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding read data of a set of non-volatile storage element. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. If convergence does not occur, e.g., within a set time period, the state of the non-volatile storage element is sensed again, current values of the reliability metrics in the decoder are adjusted, and the decoding again attempts to converge. In another approach, the initial reliability metrics are based on multiple reads. Tables which store the reliability metrics and adjustments based on the sensed states can be prepared before decoding occurs.
US07904792B2
In a communication system, a signal transmission apparatus includes an encoder for encoding an information vector into a low density parity check (LDPC) codeword with an LDPC coding scheme, and a puncturer for puncturing the LDPC codeword according to a coding rate using a puncturing scheme. A signal reception apparatus includes a ‘0’ inserter for inserting ‘0’ symbols in a received signal according to a coding rate used in a signal transmission apparatus, and a decoder for decoding the ‘0’ symbol-inserted signal with a decoding scheme corresponding to a low density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme used in the signal transmission apparatus, thereby detecting an information vector.
US07904789B1
A technique for detecting and correcting errors in a memory device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes a data storage area arranged in a plurality of blocks, wherein each block contains a plurality of words. The memory device also includes an error detection/correction storage area for storing error detection/correction bytes corresponding to each word in each block and error detection words corresponding to each block.
US07904781B2
A data transmitting device and a data receiving device which are capable of conducting an error correction using an FEC stream without requiring a feedback from the data receiving device to the data transmitting device are obtained. The data receiving device includes a media packet transmitting unit for transmitting media streams, a plurality of FEC packet calculating units for calculating FEC packets having different parameters, and a plurality of FEC packet transmitting units for transmitting the FEC packets as a FEC stream. Further, the data receiving device includes a media packet receiving unit for acquiring the media packets, an FEC stream selecting and receiving unit for selecting one or a plurality of FEC streams from the plurality of FEC streams to acquire the FEC packets, and a media packet restoring unit for restoring a lost packet by using the FEC packet.
US07904778B2
In a radio system which allocates resources using as units resource blocks which are formed by frequency components and time components, control information for mobile station devices, and identification information which is used to identify a format for a control information transmission channel which transmits the control information is transmitted from the base station device to the mobile station devices by means of the control information transmission channel.
US07904774B2
Testing of die on wafer is achieved by; (1) providing a tester with the capability of externally communicating JTAG test signals using simultaneously bidirectional transceiver circuitry, (2) providing die on wafer with the capability of externally communicating JTAG test signals using simultaneously bidirectional transceiver circuity, and (3) providing a connectivity mechanism between the bidirectional transceiver circuitry's of the tester and a selected group or all of the die on wafer for communication of the JTAG signals.
US07904767B2
The semiconductor memory testing device includes a test signal decoder decoding burn-in test mode signals which generates a first test signal for use in controlling entire main wordlines and which generates a second test signal for use in controlling sub wordlines. When the first and second test signals are in an disabled state, the semiconductor memory testing device also includes a plurality of bank control units generating a multi wordline test mode signal as a multi wordline test signal corresponding to a bank control signal, and simultaneously enabling a plurality of wordlines in accordance to the multi wordline test signal to perform a test. The semiconductor memory testing device reduces a testing time and current consumption and thus enhances a more stable voltage drop when performing continuous multi wordline test on a per bank basis.
US07904761B1
A method and apparatus for the generation of discrete power series values (PSVs) and associated PSV addresses. Repeated evaluations of a discrete power series are performed by a reduced complexity PSV generator, such that the need for multiplication operations is obviated. Each evaluation cycle performed by the reduced complexity PSV generator is modified by each primitive root of the desired discrete power series. For each PSV generated, a corresponding address is calculated to indicate the correct placement of the PSV generated.
US07904751B2
Systems and methods for error handling are disclosed. The systems and methods may be utilized for single or multiple processor computer systems to handle errors in a coordinated manner between hardware and any firmware or software layers. A computer system includes a non volatile memory and at least one processor. A firmware error handling routine is stored on the non volatile memory. The firmware error handling routine is for handling errors. Each of the at least one processors detects errors. Each processor executes the firmware error handling routine on detecting an error. The executed firmware error handling routine handles the error. The executed firmware error handling routine also logs error information to a log.The systems and methods provide for coordinated error handling that enhance error recovery, provide error containment and maintain system availability.
US07904747B2
A method is disclosed for operating a data storage system having one or more network interfaces and a plurality of data storage nodes configured to provide redundant storage locations. The method includes storing a set of node partitions on a given storage node of the plurality of data storage nodes. The method also includes, following a recovery by the given storage node from a malfunction, making a determination for a node partition in the set whether the node partition is current or noncurrent, and processing the node partition according to the determination.
US07904732B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for encrypting and decrypting database records. Encryption metadata is provided for a database file having fields, wherein the encryption metadata indicates at least one encryption key for the file. A request is received to perform a read or write operation with respect to a record including the fields for the database file. A determination is made from the encryption metadata of the at least one encryption key for the database file. The determined encryption key is used to encrypt or decrypt for the read or write operation with respect to at least one of the fields in the database file.
US07904730B2
The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a computer system which employs a trusted display processor (260), which has a trusted processor (300) and trusted memory (305, 315, 335, 345) physically and functionally distinct from the processor and memory of the computer system. The trusted display processor (260) is immune to unauthorised modification or inspection of internal data. It is physical to prevent forgery, tamper-resistant to prevent counterfeiting, and has crypto functions (340) to securely communicate at a distance. The trusted display processor (260) interacts with a user's smartcard (122) in order to extract and display a trusted image, or seal (1000), generate a digital signature of the bitmap of a document image and control the video memory (315) so that other processes of the computer system cannot subvert the image during the signing process. The user interacts with the trusted display processor via a trusted switch (135).
US07904727B2
Signatures are generated for modules in a computer system. The signatures can be assembled into an integrity log. The signatures are compared with signatures in a database in an integrity validator. Once signatures are either validated or invalidated, a trust score can be generated. The trust score can then be used to determine whether the computer system should be granted access to a resource using a policy.
US07904722B2
A system for securely using digital signatures in a commercial cryptographic system that allows industry-wide security policy and authorization information to be encoded into the signatures and certificates by employing attribute certificates to enforce policy and authorization requirements. Verification of policy and authorization requirements is enforced in the system by restricting access to public keys to users who have digitally signed and agreed to follow rules of the system. These rules can also ensure that payment is made for public and private key usage. Additionally, users can impose their own rules and policy requirements on transactions in the system.
US07904721B2
A method for producing a certificate, the certificate including data, the method including choosing a seed s, the seed s including a result of applying a function H to the data, generating a key pair (E,D), such that E=F(s,t), F being a publicly known function, and including s and t in the certificate. Related methods, and certificates produced by the various methods, are also described.
US07904720B2
System and method for providing secure resource management. The system includes a first device that creates a secure, shared resource space and a corresponding root certificate for the shared space. The first device associates one or more resources that it can access with the shared space. The first device invites one or more other devices to join as members of the space, and establishes secure communication channels with the devices that accept this invitation. The first device generates a member certificate for each accepting device, and sends the root certificate and the generated member certificate to the device through the secure channel. These devices may then access resources associated with the shared space by presenting their member certificates. Further, members of the shared space may invite other device to join the space, and may create member certificates in the same manner as the first device.
US07904715B2
A method is provided for operating a dual-mode access terminal such that a CAVE based authentication process may be used in both an IS-2000 and an HRPD mode of operation. Generally, the access terminal receives a CHAP challenge from an access network, and then derives a RAND challenge based on at least a portion of the CHAP challenge. The CAVE based authentication process is then performed using the RAND challenge to produce a SMEKEY and a PLCM. Thereafter a secret CHAP key is derived from the SMEKEY and PLCM and provided to the access network for purposes of authenticating the access terminal in the HRPD mode of operation.
US07904703B1
A system, apparatus and method for idling and waking threads by a multithread processing device are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a multithread processing device for idling and waking threads including a scheduler configured to determine a bandwidth request mode of a first instruction execution thread and allocate zero execution cycles of an instruction execution period to the first instruction execution thread if the bandwidth request mode is an idle mode. In various embodiments, the multithread processing device may be configured to wake the first instruction thread by allocating one or more execution cycles to the first instruction execution thread if the bandwidth request mode is modified to a wake mode. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07904695B2
A computer array (10) has a plurality of computers (12). The computers (12) communicate with each other asynchronously, and the computers (12) themselves operate in a generally asynchronous manner internally. When one computer (12) attempts to communicate with another it goes to sleep until the other computer (12) is ready to complete the transaction, thereby saving power and reducing heat production. A slot sequencer (42) in each of the computers produces a timing pulse to cause the computer (12) to execute a next instruction. However, when the present instruction is a read or write type instruction, the slot sequencer does not produce the pulse until an acknowledge signal (86) starts it. The acknowledge signal (86) is produced when it is recognized that the communication has been completed by the other computer (12).
US07904690B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for a policy-based storage appliance virtualization that identifies the storage space based on a desired storage management operation type. One example of a storage management operation type is the allocation of storage space from a storage appliance(s) to a host(s). The requested storage space amount to be allocated to a host is first specified in a management console. The management console checks one or more policies and compares the policies with the requested storage space amount and identity of the host, so that the management console identifies the storage space(s) that are available for allocation from a storage appliance(s) to the host. The management console may generate a candidate virtualized storage pool identification that identifies the storage space(s) that are available for allocation from the storage appliance(s) to the host. The server administrator then selects the storage space(s) to be allocated to the host. The policies may also be used as constraints to other storage management operation types besides the above-mentioned storage allocation to hosts.
US07904687B2
A method and apparatus of dynamically storing critical data of a gaming machine by allocating and deallocating memory space in a gaming machine is disclosed. One or more embodiments describe downloading or removing a new game to a gaming machine such that all existing critical data in NV-RAM memory is left intact. In one embodiment, the invention discloses a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating and deallocating memory space to accommodate either permanent or temporary storage in an NV-RAM. A method and apparatus is provided to monitor available memory space and dynamically resize the memory in NV-RAM. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for performing an integrity check of the NV-RAM and determining whether a critical data error has occurred. In one or more embodiments, methods of compacting and shifting contents of an NV-RAM are described to consolidate available memory space or to prevent unauthorized access of NV-RAM memory.
US07904681B1
Methods and systems are disclosed that enable data migration from a source logical volume to a target logical volume in signal communication with the source logical volume with minimal disruption to the accessibility of that data. The coherency of data on the source logical volume and the target logical volume is confirmed. A first pseudoname is unmapped from a source logical volume identifier, and a second pseudoname is unmapped from a target logical volume identifier. A logical volume identifier includes information specific to the logical volume it identifies. The first pseudoname is then mapped to the target logical volume identifier.
US07904678B1
Disclosed is a method implementable by a computer system for maintaining consistency between mirrors of a mirrored data volume. In one embodiment, the method includes the computer system generating first and second write transactions in response to the generation of transaction to write data to a mirrored data volume. The first and second write transactions comprise first and second tags, respectively. The first and second tags relate the first write transaction to the second write transaction. In one embodiment, the first and second tags are identical. After the first and second write transactions are generated, the computer system transmits the first and second write transactions to first and second storage subsystems, respectively. In one embodiment, the first and second storage subsystems store or are configured to store respective mirrors of the data volume. Additionally, each of the first and second storage subsystems include a tag table that stores tags contained in write transactions generated by the computer system. The tag tables can be used to track write transactions received by the first and second storage subsystems.
US07904676B2
A method and system for operating a computer system are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of operating a computer system that includes operating a first cell of the system in accordance with a first memory access configuration, and migrating a first attribute of a first core of the first cell to a second cell of the system. The method additionally includes configuring a portion of the first cell so that the first cell is capable of operating in accordance with a second memory access configuration, and migrating at least one of the first attribute and a second attribute from the second cell back to the first core of the first cell, whereby subsequently the first cell operates in the second mode of operation. In at least some embodiments, the first and second configurations are direct and agent access memory configurations, or vice-versa.
US07904667B2
A static random access memory (SRAM) includes an input read register (IRR) for monitoring the state of external binary devices and an output drive register (ODR) for controlling the state of external binary devices. The SRAM can be a multi-port device for access by multiple processors or controllers. Each bit of the IRR can mirror the state of a connected external binary device. Each bit of the ODR can manipulate the state of a connected external binary device or can be read without changing the state. The memory device may include settable controlling bits and a set of controlled register bits. Setting the one or more controlling bits may define which controlled register bits are associated with the IRR and which are associated with the ODR.
US07904665B2
The multiprocessor system includes multiple cells having identical functions, and each of the multiple cells has a processor, a cache memory, and a main memory. The multiple cells include the first cell as a request cell, the second cell as a home cell, and the third cell as an owner cell. The latest version of the target data stored in the main memory of the second cell is stored in the cache memory of the third cell. When the first cell issues a read request for the target data to the second cell, the second cell issues a snoop request to the third cell in response to the read request. The third cell directly transmits the target data to the first cell in response to the snoop request. Also, the third cell issues the reply write back to the second cell in response to the snoop request. The first cell issues a request write back to the same address as that of the target data in the second cell. The second cell discards the reply write back when the reply write back from the third cell is received later than the request write back from the first cell.
US07904662B2
Under the present invention, when a request for a web page is received from a client on a server, the web page is built and analyzed for cacheability. If the web page is cacheable, an entity tag is generated. The entity tag generally identifies the various sources of dynamic content in the web page, and includes cacheability flags and time values associated with the dependencies. The entity tag is sent to the client with the web page where it is stored in local cache memory. If a subsequent request for the same web page is issued from the client, the request is accompanied with the entity tag (e.g., in a header). The entity tag is decoded and analyzed by the server to determine whether the cached web page is still valid.
US07904657B2
The present invention proposes a novel cache residence prediction mechanism that predicts whether requested data of a cache miss can be found in another cache. The memory controller can use the prediction result to determine if it should immediately initiate a memory access, or initiate no memory access until a cache snoop response shows that the requested data cannot be supplied by a cache.The cache residence prediction mechanism can be implemented at the cache side, the memory side, or both. A cache-side prediction mechanism can predict that data requested by a cache miss can be found in another cache if the cache miss address matches an address tag of a cache line in the requesting cache and the cache line is in an invalid state. A memory-side prediction mechanism can make effective prediction based on observed memory and cache operations that are recorded in a prediction table.
US07904655B2
A branching memory-bus module has one uplink port and two or more downlink ports. Frames sent downstream by a host processor are received on the uplink port and repeated to the multiple downlink ports to two or more branches of memory modules. Frames sent upstream to the processor by a memory module on a downlink port are repeated to the uplink port. A branching Advanced Memory Buffer (AMB) on the branching memory-bus module has re-timing and re-synchronizing buffers that repeat frames to the multiple downlink ports. Elastic buffers can merge and synchronize frames from different downlink branches. Separate northbound and southbound lanes may be replaced by bidirectional lanes to reduce pin counts. Latency from the host processor to the farthest memory module is reduced by branching compared with a serial daisy-chain of fully-buffered memory modules. Point-to-point bus segments have only two endpoints despite branching by the branching AMB.
US07904646B2
A disk array connected to a storage area network via a fiber channel has one or more ports each controlled by a processor. Even the disk array with one port and one processor executes online processing and backup processing at the same time while considering an online processing load. A port controller not only accepts a request from a host computer but issues a request to other storage controllers to allow online processing and backup processing to be executed at the same time. In addition, the disk array, if provided with a plurality of ports, selects ports or schedules processing depending upon the load to prevent backup processing from affecting online processing performance.
US07904641B2
A processor system including: a processor and controller core connected via an internal bus; and a plurality of synchronous memory chips connected to the processor via an external bus; the controller core including a mode register selected by an address signal from the processor core and written with an information by a data signal from the processor core to select the operation mode of the plurality of synchronous memory chips, and a control unit to prescribe the operate mode to the plurality of synchronous memory chips based on the information written in the mode register, wherein the controller core outputs a mode setting signal based on the information written in the mode register or an access address signal from the processor core to the plurality of synchronous memory chips via the external bus selectively; and wherein the clock signal is commonly supplied to the plurality of synchronous memory chips.
US07904635B2
The present invention provides a method of data management for a flash memory medium, characterized in that the status flag of the memory block of said flash memory medium is set as an unfinished state during operating the memory block; after finishing the manipulation, the status flag is set from the unfinished to a finished state. This method ensures that the original data in the flash memory medium will not be lost even if the false power cut occurs when writing the data into the flash memory medium. The present invention also provides a method of writing and a method of recovering the data in the flash memory medium using the above-mentioned data management method.
US07904633B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a switch component, incorporated within a computer system, that receives switch commands from users and that controls internal switches to direct output to, and receive input from, either components of the computer system or one or more external-access ports. The switch component allows one or more external computers to access internal components of, or external peripherals attached to, a computer system that includes the switch component.
US07904629B2
A virtualization of the internal interconnection bus, which results in a virtualized switch or virtualized multi-ported bridge. In the case of a PCI Express switch, one embodiment includes virtualization of the undefined interconnection bus. In the case of a Multi-ported bridge, one embodiment includes virtualization of the internal PCI/PCI-X bus. Through virtualization of the internal interconnection bus, the integrated circuit topology (the physical bridges and ports) may advantageously be spatially separated and remotely distributed far a field from the host computer, yet appear to the host system and host system software as single physical device (i.e. a normal PCIe switch or a normal multi-ported bridge).
US07904628B2
A smart docking system is provided by a portable electronic device that is adapted to dock with a media player shuttle. When docked, the media player shuttle adds the capability for rendering media content that is stored on the shuttle to the native functionality that is supported by the portable electronic device. The native functionality may vary, and may include that provided by a digital camera or handheld game device, for example. The media player shuttle includes storage for media content such as audio and video and a digital media processing system, but does not include a display screen or user controls. Instead, the display screen and user controls are provided by the portable electronic device when the shuttle is docked.
US07904619B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for reducing write operations in memory. In use, write operations to be performed on data stored in memory are identified. A difference is then determined between results of the write operations and the data stored in the memory. Difference information associated with the difference is stored in the memory. To this end, the write operations may be reduced, utilizing the difference information.
US07904617B2
A method and structure for determining when a frame of information comprised of one or more buffers of data being transmitted in a network processor has completed transmission is provided. The network processor includes several control blocks, one for each data buffer, each containing control information linking one buffer to another. Each control block has a last bit feature which is a single bit settable to “one” or “zero” and indicates when the data buffer having the last bit is transmitted. The last bit is in a first position when an additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer indicating an additional data buffer is to be transmitted and a second position when no additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer. The position of the last bit is communicated to the network processor indicating the ending of a particular frame.
US07904615B2
A computer array (10) has a plurality of computers (12). The computers (12) communicate with each other asynchronously, and the computers (12) themselves operate in a generally asynchronous manner internally. When one computer (12) attempts to communicate with another it goes to sleep until the other computer (12) is ready to complete the transaction, thereby saving power and reducing heat production. A plurality of read lines (18), write lines (20) and data lines (22) interconnect the computers (12). When one computer (12) sets a read line (18) high and the other computer sets a corresponding write line (20) then data is transferred on the data lines (22). When both the read line (18) and corresponding write line (20) go low this allows both communicating computers (12) to know that the communication is completed. An acknowledge line (72) goes high to restart the computers (12).
US07904612B2
Improved administering of shared resources in a computer system. In a preferred embodiment, transaction throughput is improved and potential starvation eliminated by a ticket mechanism. The ticket mechanism provides a wait counter and a service counter. When a requested transaction fails, a wait counter is incremented and a wait value is sent to the requesting transaction source. As transactions are completed at the resource, the service counter is incremented and its value broadcast to transaction sources sharing that resource. When a source holds a wait count value that equals the service count value, the source can retry the transaction successfully.
US07904605B2
A computer program product, apparatus, and method are provided for determining a state of an input/output (I/O) operation in an I/O processing system. A request from a channel subsystem is received at a control unit for performing the I/O operation. After a predetermined amount of time passes without the I/O operation completing, an interrogation request is received from the channel subsystem at the control unit for determining the state of the I/O operation. A response is sent from the control unit to the channel subsystem indicating the state of the I/O operation in response to the interrogation request. The response also includes information regarding a state of an I/O device executing the I/O operation and information indicating a state of the control unit controlling the I/O device executing the I/O operation.
US07904604B2
Method and apparatus for servicing commands such as the type issued by a host device to load an operating system from an associated data storage device. A controller is adapted to, upon receipt of a selected command sequence comprising a first command followed by a second command, determine an elapsed time interval between the first and second commands. The controller further uses the elapsed time interval to subsequently service the first and second commands during a subsequent receipt of the selected command sequence. Preferably, a command history table is generated to list the commands in the command sequence and the associated time intervals, and to use the time intervals to predict when the next command will occur. Readback data are pre-fetched to a buffer to expedite servicing of the commands, and the controller selectively enters one or more reduced power modes between successive commands to reduce power consumption levels.
US07904603B2
The present invention includes an adaptable high-performance node (RXN) with several features that enable it to provide high performance along with adaptability. A preferred embodiment of the RXN includes a run-time configurable data path and control path. The RXN supports multi-precision arithmetic including 8, 16, 24, and 32 bit codes. Data flow can be reconfigured to minimize register accesses for different operations. For example, multiply-accumulate operations can be performed with minimal, or no, register stores by reconfiguration of the data path. Predetermined kernels can be configured during a setup phase so that the RXN can efficiently execute, e.g., Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and other operations. Other features are provided.
US07904600B2
A method, program product and system for integrating user specific output options into an upload for a network service, the method comprising: obtaining information regarding user specific output options from an source that is not a part of the network service; and, incorporating the user specific output options into user interface data to be uploaded from a network service to a network service agent of the user. Another embodiment provides an implementation at the client side.
US07904597B2
Disclosed are a system and a process for identifying P2P applications and specific P2P software as well from an original mixed packet trace based on behavioral-signatures. The behavioral-signature based system and process according to the invention is mainly to check whether the application has these specific periodic behaviors or not. The process of this invention comprises the steps of filtering out all irrelative packets; translating the filtered packet trace into discrete-time sequences; processing the sequences to obtain frequency-domain characteristics of original packet trace; and analyzing the frequency-domain characteristics and determining the identification.
US07904595B2
A globalization management system (200) for managing resources of multiple interrelated data sources (1021, 1022, 1041, 1042, 1000, 1200, 1002, 1202) corresponding to a plurality of sites (102, 104, 106) accessed through a communications network (20) is provided. The globalization management system (200) includes a plurality of target application interfaces (222) respectively coupled to the interrelated data sources through the communications network. Each target application interface (222) includes systems (212, 214, 216, 218) for converting a protocol of the respective data source to a predetermined protocol, and the predetermined protocol to the protocol of the respective data source. The globalization management system (200) further includes a global management engine (100) coupled to the plurality of target application interfaces (222). The global management engine (100) includes a site-to-site relationship manager, a system for reading data representing current content from the interrelated data sources, a system for comparing the data representing current content with data representing prior content, and a project manager for transferring the data identified as a content change to at least one of the interrelated data sources that has been identified as a subscriber site.
US07904587B2
A novel communication device (e.g., router or switch) facilitates interoperation between a plurality of middleware. The communication device has in-ports, out-ports, and a configurator. In-ports, IP0, . . . , IPm, are associated with a middleware from a plurality of middleware and out-ports, OP0, . . . , OPn, are associated with a middleware from the plurality of middleware. The configurator configures in-ports and out-ports based on a binding and transport of associated middleware and the novel communication device facilitates interoperation between middleware via a communication path between at least one configured in-port and at least one configured out-port, with the communication path allowing an incoming message to pass from said at least one configured in-port to said at least one configured out-port. Parameters ‘m’ and ‘n’ are chosen such that any of the following conditions are true: m=0 and n≧1, m≧1 and n=0, m=n, m=1 and n>1, m>1 and n=1, and m≠n.
US07904584B2
A method of handling frames in a network device is disclosed. The steps include receiving a frame by a network device of an assembly of network devices, with the assembly of devices divided into a first side and a second side and the network device being on the first side, examining the received frame to determine whether the frame is destined for a member of a specific trunking group, determining whether a destination device identifier for the frame corresponds to one of the network devices on the second side and forwarding the frame to a destination port based on the specific trunk group membership and the destination device identifier.
US07904583B2
A web-enabled automation control module (ACM) system includes at least one network module configured to receive a request for a file from the network, a web server and database module located outside the network module and including a database configured to store the file, and an ACM central processing unit (CPU) configured to send ACM data to the web server and database module to embed ACM data in the file.
US07904582B2
A network relay apparatus which conducts data transfer by using a plurality of network LSIs includes a transfer engine unit having at least two network LSIs and a central control unit which controls the operation state of the network relay apparatus. The transfer engine unit includes the network LSIs capable of changing over at least one of a clock and an operation which differ every function block, a load judgment unit for judging a load laid upon each of function blocks in the network LSI, and a frequency voltage control unit for individually changing over at least one of the clock and operation voltage supplied to each function block on the basis of the load judged by the load judgment unit.
US07904571B1
A method and apparatus for generating at least one aggregate (e.g., a set of aggregates) for a given area of a network such that the number of aggregates is minimized subject to a maximum acceptable path selection error are disclosed. One operational benefit of the present method is that network administrators can select aggregates for an area based solely on the topology of the area without worrying about remaining areas of the OSPF network. Another benefit is that the present method enables trade-offs between the number of aggregates and the bound on the path selection error.
US07904566B2
A method, apparatus and system for employing an enhanced port multiplier are provided. In one embodiment, a network host is configured to be coupled with a port multiplier in a network. The port multiplier is configured into being cascaded into being coupled with a plurality of port multipliers and a plurality of network devices.
US07904563B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for establishing and utilizing terminal server dynamic virtual channels. In some embodiments, a terminal server sends a new channel request to a terminal server. The client receives the new channel request and forwards the new channel request to a listener for a plug-in. The listener creates an instance of the client side plug-in and sends a channel accept to the terminal server. The terminal server receives the channel accept and creates an instance of a server side plug-in. The server and the client agree to use a unique identifier for identifying the established dynamic virtual channel. In other embodiments, data for a dynamic virtual channel is tunneled between computers over a static virtual channel.
US07904559B2
Resources are retrieved asynchronous through the use of resource requests to a feed server. When the feed server returns an initial requested resource, a URI for a next resource is sent to the requesting subscriber. The URI for the next resource was pre-generated by the feed server before the next resource was created, thus allowing the subscriber to have a pending asynchronous resource request at the feed server. This resource request persists on the feed server until the new resource becomes available.
US07904540B2
A system and method for planning placement of virtual machines VMs in a computing environment comprising a set of hosting machines HM. The method includes constructing a bipartite directed graph-based model that represents both a current and a target placement states, both including virtual machine nodes v in VM and nodes h in HM. Using a technique of graph pruning, the method iteratively generates a plan for achieving a desired target placement starting from the current placement without temporarily violating any policy or resource constraint. The application of the pruning algorithm to VM deployment automation necessarily defines a new model. The methodology employed safely manages concurrent changes in a datacenter, so that the environment can adjust faster to changing constraints. Furthermore, the present invention allows detection of migration cycles, caused by deadlocked combinations of capacity and policy constraints, and resolving them.
US07904539B2
Inquiry data received from sequential target devices is stored in a cache memory. In one embodiment, the cache memory is coupled to a router. In one embodiment, when the router receives from a host an inquiry command about a target, the router first checks to see if the inquiry command can be serviced from the cache. If so, the inquiry data about the target is retrieved from the cache and returned to the host. If not, the router checks to see if the target is busy. If not busy, the router routes the inquiry command to the target and stores the inquiry data returned by the target in the cache. If the target is busy, the router places the inquiry command in a queue. When the target becomes available, the router forwards the inquiry command to the target for processing, thereby keeping the inquiry command from timing out.
US07904531B2
The invention provides a method for flexibly, safely, robustly, and efficiently serving user interface pages composed of foreign content supplied by a third-party as well as local content supplied by the first party by allowing the cobrander to serve cobranded page templates. The cobrandee server retrieves the cobranded page templates from cobrander server and inserts the cobrandee contents into the cobranded page templates to generate cobranded Web content pages.
US07904525B2
Techniques for managing electronic mail. Folder rules for associating electronic mail messages with folders are received. The folders are managed by an electronic mail client and stored in a computer usable memory. Electronic mail messages are also received. Each of the electronic mail messages is associated with at least one of the folders according to the folder rules. Furthermore, a visibility condition is received. The visibility condition specifies when a specified folder is visible in a user interface of the electronic mail client. A processor causes the specified folder not to be visible in the user interface when the visibility condition is not satisfied. A visibility condition may instead specify when a specified folder is not visible in the user interface. In this case, the specified folder is caused not to be visible in the user interface when the visibility condition is satisfied.
US07904513B2
A client apparatus which transmits a service request to a server apparatus via a network, the server apparatus generating screen information to be displayed on a virtual screen, the screen information including display data and coordinate data corresponding to the service request, the client apparatus comprises an extraction unit configured to extract screen information corresponding to a designated area, which is a partial area of the virtual screen, from the screen information generated by the server apparatus, and a display unit configured to constantly display the screen information extracted by the extraction unit on a constant display area, which is a partial area of a client screen.
US07904510B2
System and method for removing threads from discussion groups based on ratings of the individual posts within the thread. If a user takes the time to rate a post positively, then the post (and the thread) is considered to be useful to the entire community and should not be deleted. To rate the post, a window is displayed to the user whenever the post is open and queries the user whether the post is useful. A positive rating resets a delete date associated with the post. If there is not positive rating of a post, the thread may be considered useful if the originator of a post marks the post as being answered, in which case delete clock is reset. If however, none of the posts within the thread are rated positively, then the thread is considered not be useful and deleted.
US07904508B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for automating the expression of functional aspects of a target service to a client service via a vehicle referred to herein as a contract are provided. Generally, the methods are performed in the context of a distributed computing environment configured to underlie operations of service application(s). In embodiments, the contract is implemented and bound upon ascertaining that the expressed functional aspects satisfy dependencies of the client service. Generally, the contract defines interfaces and maintains properties that configure the interfaces during installation. During the implementation, one of the interfaces is established and parameterized in accordance with the properties associated therewith. During the binding, the target service and the client service are linked via communication channels that are routed through the established interface. Accordingly, calls from the client service over the communication channels allow for reaching and employing the functional aspects of the target service.
US07904503B2
A client system (200, 220) receives a content item. The user can mark the received content item as being of interest. In response to said marking, tracking means (204, 224) automatically provide identifying data for the marked content item to a remote server system (250). The server receives a portion of the content item from a client system (200, 220), processes the received portion to obtain an identifier for the content item, obtains further information on the content item using the identifier, and transmits the further information back to the client system (200, 220). The tracking means (204, 224) subsequently receive further information on the content item from the remote server system (250). An identifier for the content item can be used in an e-commerce system (160), for example by putting it on a shopping list (161) or to obtain a list of related items.
US07904502B2
According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a network, a server and a browser client coupled to the network. The browser client is operable to receive server documents from the server via the network. The system also includes a printer coupled to the network. The printer is operable to retrieve server documents to be printed from the server upon receiving a command from the browser client. In another embodiment, the browser is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) coupled to the network. The PDA is operable to receive server documents from the server via the network. In this embodiment, the printer is adaptable to retrieve server documents to be printed from the server upon receiving a command from the PDA.
US07904495B2
A repetitive controller scheme with negative feedback and feedforward introduces infinitely many poles on the imaginary axis located at the resonant peaks. The feedforward introduces zeros, which produce notches located in between two consecutive resonant peaks. The latter has the advantage of making the controllers more selective, in the sense that the original overlapping (appearing at the valleys) or interaction between consecutive resonant peaks is removed by the notches. This would allow, in principle, peaks of higher gains and slightly wider bandwidth, avoiding, at the same time, the excitation of harmonics located in between two consecutive peaks. A negative feedback compensator with feedforward is especially useful when only the compensation of odd harmonics is required, but not the even harmonics, like in many power electronic systems. In contrast, the positive feedback controller would try to reinject, and indeed amplify, any small noise, which has components on the even frequencies. The negative feedback repetitive controller includes a simple Low Pass Filter (LPF). This modification restricts the bandwidth of the controller, and at the same time reinforces the stability when the controller is inserted in a closed-loop system.
US07904485B2
A user interfaces can deliver enhanced information regarding media assets stored on a portable media device. A graphical user interface for database browsing and navigation can include a list of values of a metadata item and a graphical representation of the distribution of media assets across the values on the list, such as a pie chart where the size of different wedges reflects the fraction of media assets having a particular value. As a user browses a list, the graphical representation can be modified to emphasize the correspondence between different graphical elements and different entries on the list.
US07904484B2
A project directory structure of an application or service is mapped to a package directory structure. A package is built for the application or service by copying files from the project directory structure to the package directory structure in accordance with the mapping. An event trigger is detected, wherein the event trigger is one of a new file, a modified file, or a deleted file in the project directory structure. An updated package is built for the application or service by performing an appropriate one of copying the new file to the package directory structure, replacing an existing file in the package directory structure with the modified file, or deleting a file in the package directory structure that corresponds to the deleted file in the project directory structure.
US07904483B2
A system and method for presenting digital information is described. The system comprises a local client, a plurality of geo-located objects (GLOBs), a GLOB Data Sheet, a grouping of GLOBS, and a display device are described. The local client is configured to collect a plurality of objects, in which each object is composed of digital information. Each of the geo-located objects (GLOBs) comprises a location component that is associated with each object. One GLOB Data Sheet (GDS) is associated with each GLOB and each GDS is configured as a data structure that comprises one or more auxiliary data fields that are searchable and store auxiliary information associated with each GLOB. The grouping of GLOBs is organized as a function of time and location information that is gathered from each GDS. The display device is configured to present the organized grouping of GLOBs. The display device is also configured to receive at least one computer instruction that allows additional information that is extracted from the associated GDS to be presented on the display device.
US07904481B1
A system and method for collecting work volume data where a work process is modeled into work queues. A link is created between one of the modeled work queues and an implied work queue. Upon the receipt of a first work event, information is updated that is associated with the first work queue. Based upon the receipt of the fist work event and the link, a first implied work event is generated. Based on the first implied work event, information associated with the first implied work queue is updated.
US07904476B1
One embodiment relates to an automated method for compressing an n-partite representation of an access control list or other binary relation. A first joining procedure is applied to join first and second relations in the n-partite representation and so eliminate a first intermediate set of elements, resulting in a first (n−1)-partite representation. A first re-factoring procedure generates updated first and second relations and an updated first intermediate set of elements, resulting in an updated n-partite representation. Other features, aspects and embodiments are also disclosed.
US07904466B1
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for presenting differences in a file system. In an embodiment, an application programming interface receives a request from a host, where the request is for a listing of changes in the file system within a time interval. A comparison unit determines each metadata container that has changed in the file system within the time interval. The application programming interface buffers at least one identifier that corresponds to a metadata container that has changed in the file system within the time interval. The application programming interface packages and transmits the at least one identifier to the host. The at least one identifier is readable on the host.
US07904462B1
Systems and methods for determining whether a first document is a potential duplicate of a second document such that the two documents describe the same or substantially the same subject matter, wherein the first and second documents include attribute data in attribute fields. A set of rules is obtained for determining whether the first document is a potential duplicate of the second document. Moreover, for each rule in the set of rules, a determination is made as to whether data in a first set of attributes of the first document is contained in a second set of attributes of the second document. According to the results of the evaluated rules in the rules set, determining whether the first document is a potential duplicate of the second document. If, according to the evaluated rules in the rules set, the first document is determined to be a potential duplicate of the second document, storing a reference to the first document in a set of potential duplicates of the second document.
US07904457B2
Improved techniques for flow analysis in messaging systems are disclosed. For example, a method for finding correlations between messages of a system based on content includes the following steps. For one or more executions of the system, obtaining the messages of the system, wherein each message has a schema associated therewith. The messages are categorized into groups, wherein each group has a common schema. Pairs of messages from disparate groups are found wherein, for the messages of a pair, there is a feature in common in their contents.
US07904453B2
A computer system, method, and storage medium with embedded code automate analysis of validity of patent document claims. In embodiments, the computer system receives an identifier of the patent document and a claim, retrieves text of the patent document, parses the text to identify contextually important key terms of the claim, and then formulates one or more queries that include key terms and a priority date relating to the patent document. The system launches the queries and receives search results. From the results, anticipatory candidate members and obviousness candidate members are determined. If the total number of the members is excessive, the queries are reformulated more restrictively, and the search repeated. The system determines contextual relevance of the members and arranges the members in order of their relevance.
US07904450B2
Systems and methods are disclosed which enable the establishment of file dates and the absence of tampering, even for documents held in secrecy and those stored in uncontrolled environments, but which does not require trusting a timestamping authority or document archival service. A trusted timestamping authority (TTSA) may be used, but even if the TTSA loses credibility or a challenger refuses to acknowledge the validity of a timestamp, a date for an electronic document may still be established. Systems and methods are disclosed which enable detection of file duplication in large collections of documents, which can improve searching for documents within the large collection.
US07904443B2
Computer-based method of detecting the guidance performance of an information driven web site for a user seeking a desired content, wherein a transition value is assigned to each click based on the effectiveness and efficiency of transition between web pages of such web site, and an indicator value is determined by combining these values into a metric, which reflects guidance performance of such web site.
US07904439B2
The present invention relates to a system and methodology to assist users with data access activities and that includes such activities as routine web browsing and/or data access applications. A coalesced display or montage of aggregated information is provided that is focused from a plurality of sources to achieve substantially one-button access to user's desired web or data source information/destinations in order to mitigate efforts in retrieving and viewing such information. Past web or other type data access patterns can be mined to predict future browsing sites or desired access locations. A system is provided that builds personalized web portals for associated users based on models mined from past data access patterns. The portals can provide links to web resources as well as embed content from distal (remote) pages or sites producing a montage of web or other type data content. Automated topic classification is employed to create multiple topic-centric views that can be invoked by a user.
US07904438B2
A flag and a wait period are used to guarantee that readers of two data values see the updated first value before they see the updated second value, where the second value has to be updated after the first value is updated and thus is dependent on the first value. The first value is updated, and a flag associated with the first data value is set. The flag effectively prevents further updating of the first data value until it has been cleared. A length of time is waited for, such that any reading of the first data value and the second data value is guaranteed to not see the second data value as updated unless the first data value is also seen as updated. The flag is then cleared, such that further updating of the first data value can again occur. The second data value is finally updated.
US07904432B2
A method of identifying and storing data changes of a first compressed database compared with a previous compressed database and updating a second compressed database on a user device based on the stored data changes. Data changes are stored in a compressed data structure and data in the first, second, and previous compressed databases is stored in compressed form in one or more uniquely identified data pages. A data page of the first compressed database and the previous compressed database are decompressed and an entry from the first and previous compressed databases is read and compared. If the read entries differ, a type of action performed on the previous entry is identified and an entry in a delta file based on the read entry comparison is stored. The delta file is then compressed. The second compressed database is updated based on the delta file.
US07904431B1
A method and a system for automated request modelling from a plurality of inputs, imports, interactive sessions, and requirements are provided that rely on various interfaces to both receive the user and other input data and store it. In one instance, the system and models can compares, test, simulate, sort, and analyse incoming data and the processes built with those data, and can execute request models by simulation.
US07904427B2
Systems and methods for facilitating more efficient timestamping in a lazy timestamping transaction time database environment are described herein. A recovery log component can store timestamp information of a transaction in a commit record of the transaction, wherein the commit record of the transaction is included in a recovery log. A volatile reference count component can update reference count data of the transaction in a volatile timestamp table to reflect a number of records of the transaction that do not persistently include timestamp information. Further, a checkpoint component can update timestamp information for a batch of transactions, wherein the timestamp information is updated in a record of the persistent timestamp table to ensure that the timestamp information persists in the record of the persistent timestamp table before the commit record of the transaction that contains the transaction's timestamp information is deleted from the recovery log.
US07904426B2
The identification information about unnecessary files is registered to generate an unnecessary-file database. The identification information about files stored on a plurality of storage devices connected to a host computer is acquired to judge with the unnecessary-file database whether the identification information about files conforms to unnecessary-file conditions. Files nonconforming to the unnecessary-file conditions are checked to determine whether they are already migrated to a different storage device. If all the files stored on a storage device conform to the unnecessary-file conditions or are already migrated to a different storage device, the identification information about the former storage device is displayed to indicate that the storage device can be removed.
US07904423B2
A distributed, web-services based storage system. A system may include a web services interface configured to receive, according to a web services protocol, a given client request for access to a given data object, the request including a key value corresponding to the object. The system may also include storage nodes configured to store replicas of the objects, where each replica is accessible via a respective unique locator value, and a keymap instance configured to store a respective keymap entry for each object. For the given object, the respective keymap entry includes the key value and each locator value corresponding to replicas of the object. A coordinator may receive the given client request from the web services interface, responsively access the keymap instance to identify locator values corresponding to the key value and, for a particular locator value, retrieve a corresponding replica from a corresponding storage node.
US07904409B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a request for content form a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user. One or more rules are retrieved for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, and user profile rules, the one or more business rules includes one or more rules for determining a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered based on membership status of the user with respect to one or more subscription services.
US07904407B2
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for automatically performing Human Factors Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis for a process are provided. At least one task involved in a process is identified, where the task includes at least one human activity. The human activity is described using at least one verb. A human error potentially resulting from the human activity is automatically identified, the human error is related to the verb used in describing the task. A likelihood of occurrence, detection, and correction of the human error is identified. The severity of the effect of the human error is identified. The likelihood of occurrence, and the severity of the risk of potential harm is identified. The risk of potential harm is compared with a risk threshold to identify the appropriateness of corrective measures.
US07904403B2
A computer-implemented method, system and computer usable program code for solving an application failure using social collaboration are provided. A search request to search a central repository of knowledge is received. The search request comprises a user identity and an application failure problem to be solved. The central repository of knowledge comprises data regarding attempts to solve an application failure problem compiled from registered users of the central repository of knowledge. A determination is made as to whether the application failure problem to be solved exists in the central repository. If the application failure problem to be solved exists within the central repository, search results for previous attempts at solving the application failure problem are collected. The search results are ranked based on a frequency of access and feedback from users and are grouped according to social groupings defined by the requester. The results are displayed to a requester.
US07904399B2
A method for determining a decision point in real-time for a data stream from a conversation includes receiving streaming conversational data; and determining when to classify the streaming conversational data, using a measure of certainty, by performing certainty calculations at a plurality of time instances during the conversation and by selecting a decision point in response to the certainty calculations, the decision point not being based on a fixed window of conversational data but being based on accumulated conversational data available at different ones of the plurality of time instances. Systems and computer program products are also provided.
US07904393B2
The instant invention is a method of indexing and displaying interests in real property tracts comprising accepting input of real property descriptions, maintaining a database containing interests in real property descriptions, creating an array index representing interests in real property tracts where each index in the array index represents a tract of real property, indexing of the property descriptions in the database to the related indices in the array index, and controlling a visual display device to indicate conflicting and non-conflicting interests in real property tracts.
US07904391B2
A currency distribution system and method. In accordance with the invention, a first transaction is facilitated by which currency is transferred electronically between a first entity and a second entity, and whereby a first balance of currency is maintained by said second entity. A second transaction is facilitated by which at least a portion of the first balance of currency is transferred electronically between the second entity and a third entity. In particular, the second transaction is facilitated by a processor that includes code for ascertaining data with respect to the third entity, the data pertaining to goods or services unrelated to the currency, and providing a qualification in response thereto. A second processor included for enabling the second transaction in response to the qualification. A database is employed and a query is made to determine the qualification for the second transaction. In an illustrative embodiment, the first entity is a postal service, the second entity is a vendor, and the third entity is a customer of the vendor. In the illustrative application, the currency is postage and the processor communicates the ability to print and utilize postage to the customer. The postage is used to return goods from the customer to the vendor.
US07904382B2
A business method for financing renewable energy systems includes offering a home loan to a homeowner in which the interest payable by the homeowner are tax deductable. A lease is also offered to the homeowner for the installation and use of a renewable energy system. A deposit of cash proceeds from the home loan is put into a trust held by an escrow agent for the single purpose of paying lease payments for the lease as each payment becomes due. Such that the proceeds from the home loan are effectively used to defease the debt represented by the lease.
US07904376B2
A graphical user interface is used along with an automated algorithm selection function to enable market participants to initiate automated, multi-algorithm trading strategies through a single drag and drop motion. A symbol representing a security can be dragged and dropped onto an icon representing a tactical or strategic algorithm. Other features of the graphical user interface show information such as the progress of the algorithms.
US07904375B1
A method of registering a note with a governmental authority including filing a prospectus supplement including detailed descriptions of a plurality of asset classes and a plurality of transaction structures and incorporating by reference a base prospectus, wherein the base prospectus includes an identification of one or more types of securities available from an issuer of the note and characteristics of the issuer.
US07904369B1
The invention relates to a user interface including an input environment adapted to user inputting of search criteria, the search criteria defining a search for at least one entity and the input environment being adapted to user inputting of an order. The user interface further includes a search engine adapted to performing a search on at least two different web-based data sources, means for presenting the search result to the user, and a business transaction engine for initialization of a business transaction based on at least one user input of an order. The user interface features a web-based “search, find, buy” methodology. Hence, the user may specify the desired entity by means of the user-interface, and subsequently be presented with the found entities matching the established search criteria, and then perform a business transaction by applying the same user interface.
US07904366B2
A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code, including obtaining a record of actual rental payments associated with residents of a portfolio of rental units corresponding to a rental unit; obtaining a credit rating for the residents of the portfolio of rental units; classifying the residents of the portfolio of rental units into at least one category based on the record of actual rental payments; and determining, by statistical analysis, a predictive indicator of a credit rating to associate with the at least one category based on the credit rating and the classification of the residents.
US07904364B2
Methods and systems for auctioning units of securities research resources from a supplier of securities research services to potential consumers of the supplier's securities research are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the method includes the steps of receiving from a plurality of the potential consumers at least one bid for at least one unit of the securities research resources services of the supplier in at least one bidding stage, and allocating units of securities research resources services of the supplier to certain of the potential consumers (i.e., winning bidders) based on the received bids of the potential consumers. The units may be, for example, research time units of a research team of the supplier of the securities research. Also, the units may be a preferred service access level to a member of a research team of the supplier of the securities research. The preferred access level may entitle a holder thereof to direct enhanced consultative contact with the member of the research team.
US07904363B2
A multi-session write-once computer tick database operable to store financial market data or “tick data.” The tick database stores market information regarding discrete market transactions in individual ticks. For example, information related to stock trades, and quotes may be stored in the database. The individual ticks vary in length dependent on the information available regarding the particular transaction. Null values are not stored in the database. Various field identifiers may be stored in the tick to identify the various metrics or parameters relevant to the transaction that are also stored in the tick. In various embodiments, one metric or parameter is associated with each field identifier. Different transactions may have different number of field identifiers stored within the tick, accordingly, different ticks may differ in length. The information stored within the ticks may be subsequently retrieved. When market data is retrieved using the embedded three-part hierarchal key structure, it may be stored in a cache associated with the tick database. The stored market data may be retrieved from the cache during subsequent requests.
US07904359B1
Providing accounting services for a communication device includes receiving at a support node a context request to create a communication context for the communication device. An accounting request is sent to an accounting server, where the accounting request initiates accounting for the communication device. The support node waits for an accounting response from the accounting server, where the accounting response indicates that the accounting server is operational. The communication context is created for the communication device only if the accounting response is received from the accounting server.
US07904358B2
Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for monitoring financial information and executing financial transactions are disclosed. A client side interface comprises a number of panels, which are constructed byway of applications from various data sources. The panels can be customized as to content and appearance on the client, and the interface can be any one of a number of interfaces, including web pages, email interfaces and alert interfaces. The data sources are further provided, at least in part, by way of a value added content provider system, which comprises creating, editing and publishing interfaces.
US07904357B2
A system, method and apparatus for monitoring and billing beverage preparation equipment and product. The system includes a controller for monitoring the use of beverage preparation equipment. The beverage preparation equipment or apparatus includes a dilution source and a product source connected to the controller and controllably dispenses a dilution component and product component to mix these two components to produce a resultant combination. Information is provided from the dilution source, product source or both to the controller which relates to the dilution material, product or both used by the apparatus. The information is provided to a data collection portion, also connected to the controller, which uses the information for billing purposes. The method includes a method of billing, servicing and resupplying of the apparatus. Information may be provided to a supplier to periodically deliver a product to the operator of the apparatus.
US07904356B1
A financial computer program includes an icon representing a financial circumstance within the financial computer program, where the icon is selectable by a user to indicate the financial circumstance relevant to the user and manipulatable by the user to support a financial operation, data associated with the icon, and a software module configured to perform the financial operation at least partly dependent on the data associated with the icon.
US07904353B2
A payment processing method and system is described which involves serially processing remittance documents, e.g. financial instruments, remittances, and associated documents obtained from diverse sources, electronically scanning the financial instruments and other remittance documents, thereby converting the information contained thereon into a digital format. The digital information is passed through a series of software programs and associated hardware that read the scanned financial instruments, remittances, and other documents, and compares the information obtained with preexisting information about the payor, detects errors, and the like automatically, with minimal human intervention. It also allows the information to be corrected and passed to a check encoding machine or process which imparts desired information on said checks before they are sent to a bank for deposit.The system is a plurality of electronically interconnected machines and computer servers having unique software programs installed therein, thereby allowing the remittances, financial instruments, and other documents to be processed automatically with a minimum of human interactions.
US07904343B2
Systems, methods and computer program products are provided that can allow users to obtain information about, and participate in, auctions being conducted at a plurality of on-line auction sites. A Web site of an intermediary maintains information about items being auctioned at a plurality of remotely located auction sites in communication with a computer network, such as the Internet. Auction information is displayable to users accessing the intermediary web site via clients, such as Web browsers, via the computer network. Potential buyers accessing an intermediary Web site can search for and place bids for items being auctioned at remote, on-line auctions. In addition, sellers can utilize an intermediary Web site to locate on-line auctions within which to list items for sale.
US07904338B2
A display device is disclosed which may be used in a mobile telephone or other article which is intended to make secure transactions such as financial transactions, as well as other personal transactions such as telephone calls. The device includes a display (24) for displaying information, a financial transaction controller (26) including a processor (28), a display driver (30) for driving the display (24) and a secure memory (32). The financial transaction controller allows the display section (24), and an input keypad (12), to operate under the control of the device to enable personal functions other than financial transactions to be performed. However, in the event of a financial transaction, the financial transaction controller takes over control of the display section (24) and the input keypad (12) so that the financial transaction can be performed while the device is under the control of the financial transaction controller to thereby prevent tampering with or tapping off of data, and also the display of information other than under the control of the financial controller.
US07904336B2
A system and a method whereby e-mail users may send e-mail messages appended with advertising. E-mail sent from the e-mail user's e-mail account is routed through a standard email delivery system. The e-mail message is further processed by a software means which appends thereto another software means operable to cause an advertisement to appear when the e-mail message is opened by the e-mail recipient. In one embodiment, a portion of the revenue generated by the advertising may be distributed to a charitable organization. The e-mail user sending the e-mail message may designate a charitable organization to receive such contributions. The present invention may be used with any e-mail technology.
US07904332B1
A library of available incentive programs is established for an agricultural product. Input is accepted from an agricultural producer or a crop planner to facilitate tailoring the library of incentive programs to the requirements (e.g., needs, objectives, and resources) of a particular producer. The library of available incentive programs is searched based upon the accepted input to select a tailored list of candidate incentive programs from the library. Information on the tailored candidate incentive programs is made accessible to the agricultural producer. The agricultural producer may select a preferential incentive program between or among the candidate incentive programs. Further, the producer may readily seek financing via electronic communications to purchase or otherwise conduct a transaction under the preferential incentive program. If the producer applies for a financial product for financing the transaction under the preferential incentive program, the previously gathered input (e.g., background data on the particular producer) is transferred to a financial screening process to reduce duplicative reentry of data and to reduce or eliminate potential clerical errors.
US07904331B2
A system to determine preference information of part worth values associated with a consumer and a product includes determination of a plurality of attributes of the product, each of the plurality of attributes associated with a plurality of attribute levels, determination of a plurality of piles of attributes based on a first indication of the consumer, each of the plurality of piles comprising one or more of the plurality of attributes, determination of a ranked order of a plurality of attributes of one of the plurality of piles, determination of a relative importance of one or more of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a second indication of the consumer, determination of a scale value of one or more attribute levels of the one or more of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a third indication of the consumer, and determination of a part worth value associated with an attribute level of one of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a determined scale value of the attribute level and a determined relative importance of the one of the plurality of attributes.
US07904329B2
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and content targeting and management techniques.
US07904321B2
A method for electronic information transfer by a sender. The method includes composing an electronic message, typically a calendar and/or task event, on a sender terminal. At least one announcement file is associated with an attribute of the electronic message, the announcement file configured for playing at a recipient terminal upon the recipient terminal receiving the electronic message. The electronic message and the association to the announcement file is sent over a network to a recipient at the recipient terminal. Embodiments include a computer program product for implementing the method.
US07904310B2
A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. The patient data may also include information supplied by a physiological monitoring device such as a blood glucose monitor that is connected to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. When the patient data arrives at the health care provider apparatus, the patient data is processed for further management of the patient's health condition by the health care provider, such as forwarding another script program to the remotely programmable patient apparatus.
US07904304B2
A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.
US07904298B2
This disclosure describes a practical system/method for predicting spoken text (a spoken word or a spoken sentence/phrase) given that text's partial spelling (example, initial characters forming the spelling of a word/sentence). The partial spelling may be given using “Speech” or may be inputted using the keyboard/keypad or may be obtained using other input methods. The disclosed system is an alternative method for inputting text into devices; the method is faster (especially for long words or phrases) compared to existing predictive-text-input and/or word-completion methods.
US07904297B2
Representation-neutral dialogue systems and methods (“RNDS”) are described that include multi-application, multi-device spoken-language dialogue systems based on the information-state update approach. The RNDS includes representation-neutral core components of a dialogue system that provide scripted domain-specific extensions to routines such as dialogue move modeling and reference resolution, easy substitution of specific semantic representations and associated routines, and clean interfaces to external components for language-understanding (i.e., speech-recognition and parsing) and language-generation, and to domain-specific knowledge sources. The RNDS also resolves multi-device dialogue by evaluating and selecting among candidate dialogue moves based on features at multiple levels. Multiple sources of information are combined, multiple speech recognition and parsing hypotheses tested, and multiple device and moves considered to choose the highest scoring hypothesis overall. Confirmation and clarification behavior can be governed by the overall score.
US07904288B1
A hardware emulator having a variable input emulation group is described. Each emulation group comprises two or more processors, where one of the processors (a first processor) is coupled to a data input selector and another one of the processors (a second processor) processes a first amount of data received from a data array. The data input selector receives the first amount of data and a second amount of data from the data array, and selects a third amount of data from among the first and second amounts of data. The third amount of data is provided to the first processor for evaluation.
US07904286B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus and computer program product for extending test coverage in a simulated multiple core integrated circuit. The simulator applies at a first time a first test vector on the simulated multiple core integrated circuit, the first test vector having a duration. The simulator may also apply a second test vector at a second time before the duration but substantially after the first time. The simulator can collect a response from the multiple core integrated circuit based on the first test vector and the second test vector.
US07904282B2
A method for multi-objective fault accommodation using predictive modeling is disclosed. The method includes using a simulated machine that simulates a faulted actual machine, and using a simulated controller that simulates an actual controller. A multi-objective optimization process is performed, based on specified control settings for the simulated controller and specified operational scenarios for the simulated machine controlled by the simulated controller, to generate a Pareto frontier-based solution space relating performance of the simulated machine to settings of the simulated controller, including adjustment to the operational scenarios to represent a fault condition of the simulated machine. Control settings of the actual controller are adjusted, represented by the simulated controller, for controlling the actual machine, represented by the simulated machine, in response to a fault condition of the actual machine, based on the Pareto frontier-based solution space, to maximize desirable operational conditions and minimize undesirable operational conditions while operating the actual machine in a region of the solution space defined by the Pareto frontier.
US07904279B2
Methods and apparatus for data analysis according to various aspects of the present invention identify statistical outliers in data, such as test data for components. The outliers may be identified and categorized according to the distribution of the data. In addition, outliers may be identified according to multiple parameters, such as spatial relationships, variations in the test data, and correlations to other test data.
US07904277B2
Disclosed are methods and electronic devices 102 including a display 104 that is configured to display indicia 114, 116, 118 persistently during a shipping process. The disclosed methods and electronic devices may include an indicia control 110 for dynamically determining the indicia for persistent display based on at least one of a self-diagnostic software tool 112, a selection from a table 122 of predetermined information, or downloaded data 124. In one embodiment, by self-diagnosing a condition in the device 102, repair or other similar indicia may be determined dynamically based on the self-diagnosis, and displayed persistently on the display 104 during a shipping process. In another embodiment, the persistent labeling indicia may include destination information 116 for routing based on the self-diagnosis. In yet another embodiment, product recycling indicia may be persistently displayed when the age of the device is determined in accordance with a self-diagnostic software tool 112.
US07904275B2
Management of countermeasure of pollution particles deposited on an object to be processed is optimized based on a cause of the pollution. Data processing and management equipment 1 comprises a functional approximation part 2 to make a mathematical model of a relation between measured numbers of particles deposited on a substrate during processing in a surface structuring device or a film forming device and accumulated amount processed after cleaning up of the device by a functional equation based on a cause of the deposit of the particles. A judging part 3 specifies the cause of the deposit of particles by comparing the functional equation with the measured numbers of particles.
US07904272B2
A method for calculating coordinate values of a measuring machine is provided. The method includes receiving signals in three dimensions from a raster ruler signal generator, identifying a direction of each signal and multiply a frequency of each signal. The method further includes counting each of multiplied signals in each dimension, sending the counted data to the MCU. The method further includes adding the counted data of each of the multiplied signals in each dimension to obtain an accumulated number in each dimension and calculating coordinate values of the measuring machine according to the accumulated number in each dimension and a proportionality factor of the raster ruler signal generator.
US07904265B2
A controllable delay element is coupled in parallel with a calibration circuit. The calibration circuit receives a periodic reference signal and generates a series of sample voltages responsive to a time-varying analog voltage, the periodic reference signal, and the delayed periodic signal at the output of the controllable delay element. The calibration circuit distributes the series of sampled voltages for determining the components of a first vector. The first vector components are used to calculate the phase that results from a control signal applied to the controllable delay element. After the control signal is modified, a second vector is used to calculate the phase that results from the control signal. The delay can be determined by the product of the period of the reference signal and the difference in phase.
US07904261B2
A method of state estimation is provided, including: (a) acquiring a plurality of positive sequence voltage and current phasor measurements; (b) designating a reference positive sequence voltage phasor measurement from the acquired phasor measurements; (c) correcting the acquired phasor measurements to account for the reference phasor measurement; (d) calculating complex power having a real component and an imaginary component, using the corrected positive sequence voltage and current phasor measurement; (e) using the real component of said complex power as a calculated mega-watt and the imaginary component of the complex power as a calculated mega-volt-ampere; and (f) using the mega-watt and mega volt-ampere calculations in a state estimation algorithm.
US07904254B2
For applications in a facility where a power conversion apparatus is frequently started and stopped, a power conversion apparatus and a power cycle longevity estimation method are provided which improve an ease of use of the facility. The power conversion apparatus comprises power conversion circuits to supply ac power of variable voltage and variable frequency, a detection circuit to detect a temperature of the power semiconductor in the power conversion circuits, and a computation device to calculate a power cycle longevity of the power semiconductor based on a maximum temperature rise detected by the detection circuit.
US07904230B2
A control apparatus for a vehicle is equipped with a detection portion that detects a required output of an internal combustion engine, an acquisition portion that acquires an ignition timing of the internal combustion engine, a setting portion that sets an operation curve of the internal combustion engine such that the operation curve approaches an optimal fuel consumption operation curve as the acquired ignition timing is retarded with respect to a set ignition timing, a decision portion that decides a target power of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the detected required output and the set operation curve, and a control portion for controlling the internal combustion engine on the basis of the decided target power.
US07904220B2
A control system for a vehicle with a plurality of selectively variable characteristics includes a mode selector switch and a characteristic adjustment switch. Rotation of the mode selector switches causes the control system to alternate between first and second modes of operation. In the first mode of operation, rotation of the characteristic adjustment switch causes a first variable characteristic to change. In the second mode of operation, rotation of the characteristic adjustment switch causes a second variable characteristic to change. The control system thus enables a single switch to control multiple characteristics or multiple vehicle systems, which enables a corresponding reduction in the quantity of switches in a vehicle passenger compartment.
US07904217B2
A software algorithm (FIG. 3) determines the strategy by which a controller (34) will manage state of charge (SOC) of a battery pack (32) in a hybrid electric vehicle but always gives the driver the opportunity to make his/her own selection instead. The algorithm causes one of two strategies to be selected each time that the ignition switch is operated from “off” position to “on” position. The manner in which the algorithm executes depends on the value of a calibratable parameter electronically programmed into the controller of the particular vehicle when the vehicle is being built at the factory.
US07904210B2
A vibration control system and a method for controlling vibration in a material surface are disclosed, wherein the vibration control system provides a desired motion of the material surface while militating against any undesirable motion of the surface. The vibration control system includes a sensor disposed adjacent a material surface having a first set of dynamic vibration properties, a displacement generating device disposed adjacent the material surface adapted to generate a localized motion in the material surface, and a controller adapted to receive an input signal from the sensor and transmit a control signal to the displacement generating device thereby controlling the localized motion in the material surface.
US07904205B2
A method of opening a network in a manufacturing system, the system including a plurality of robots, a plurality of robot controllers individually controlling the robots and a plurality of networks connecting the robot controllers with each other. The method includes the steps of opening a first network to the plurality of robot controllers, by setting, in each of the plurality of robot controllers, conditions, including addresses, required for opening the first network; designating an address range prepared in the first network for robot controllers to which a second network is opened and which is selected from among the plurality of robot controllers; and opening the second network to the robot controllers addressed within the address range designated in the first network, by setting, through the first network, conditions required for opening the second network.
US07904204B2
Robotic system for synchronously reproducing facial expression and speech and related method thereof
A robotic system and a related method for reproducing a real person's facial expression and speech simultaneously and synchronously is provided herein. The robotic system comprises at least a robotic head which in turn comprises a speaker, a plurality of face actuators, and a computing engine. The robotic head drives the speaker and the face actuators synchronously based on a speech segment and a sequence of time-stamped control vectors so that the robotic system could mimic a real person's facial expression and speech. The speech segment and the sequence of time-stamped control vectors are retrieved from a storage device of the robotic system, or from an external source via an appropriate communication mechanism.
US07904203B2
A robot control apparatus for controlling walking of a robot includes a control information generating unit that generates control information based on a posture of a robot at a plurality of different points of time including at least a reference posture when the robot is independently standing without falling down, a feedback control unit that, with respect to the robot controlled according to the control information generated by the control information generating unit, performs a gyro feedback control based on a rotation angle measured at two points of time when rolling to left and right becomes maximum by a gyro sensor installed in the robot, and a rolling amplitude correcting unit that, while the robot is in motion, corrects a rolling amplitude that is used by the control information generating unit in generating the control information so that the gyro feedback control performed by the feedback control unit is reduced.
US07904199B2
This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, gripper and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. A unique initialization and calibration system is implemented at start up to determine the positions of shelves and trays of product containers in the machine, and may be implemented at other times if trays or shelves are added or removed, or if tray or shelf positions change. These positions are then used by the positioning and gripping systems to accurately and efficiently retrieve products from the trays. Related methods are also disclosed.
US07904195B2
A method for prognostic maintenance in semiconductor manufacturing equipments is disclosed. The said method comprising: collecting a plurality of raw data from the default detection and classification system for equipments, preprocessing the raw data, using the neural network model (NN model) to find a plurality of health indices, generating health information by using the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the health indices, and using the partial least square discriminated analysis (PLS-DA) to find a health report. The health report provides the engineers with current risk levels of equipments. By the health report, the engineers can initiate prognostic maintenance and repair the equipments early.
US07904189B2
An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file.
US07904184B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate utilizing a motion control timing model to coordinate operations associated with controlling motion within an industrial automation environment. For example, a cycle timing component can implement timing set forth by a timing model (e.g., that can be selected, preset, . . . ). Pursuant to an illustration, the cycle timing component can utilize the timing model to coordinate transmitting data, receiving data, performing calculations associated with data (e.g., to generate command(s)), capturing data, applying received commands, and so forth.
US07904156B2
System and methods provide pacing therapy that modulates the atrioventricular (AV) delay to control ventricular interval variability. A base AV delay is determined as a function of heart rate. For each cardiac cycle, the base AV delay is modulated to reduce beat-to-beat variability of successive ventricular beats. The modulated AV delay compensates for variability of successive atrial beats. For example, modulation of the base AV delay may involve varying the AV delay inversely with a change in atrial interval.
US07904143B2
Methods and systems are provided for locating arrhythmogenic cardiac focus. A training set of electrical signal data is acquired and automatically analyzed to identify CFAE locations. The data representing the CFAE locations are and subjected to determinations of medical significance, such as ablation decisions, by a battery of physicians. The decisions and descriptive statistics of the data are fitted to a binary logistic mixed model, in which the physician decisions are treated as random effects. The model is then applied to patient CFAE data to establish estimates of medical significance, such as suitability for ablation.
US07904124B2
The present invention comprises a docking system for connecting a portable communication device to a further signal transmission line. The docking system may be arranged within a workstation such as a desk or a tray. The system may also envelope a room in a building or be located in a vehicle, to control and restrict the radiative emission from the communication device and to direct such radiation to a further remote antenna and or signal distribution system connected to the transmission line.
US07904118B2
A method of synchronizing a smart antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver includes receiving at the smart antenna apparatus control signals being communicated from a base station transceiver to one or more mobile stations via an antenna unit. The control signals are operable to be used to synchronize the mobile stations with the base station transceiver. The method further includes executing one or more algorithms using the control signals received by the smart antenna apparatus as input to synchronize the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver.
US07904116B2
An examining unit examines the radio wave environments on at least one of a plurality of frequency channels usable in communications. Based on a result of examination by the examining unit, a selector selects a frequency channel to be used for communications. While using the channel selected by the selector, an execution unit transmits signals from a plurality of antennas to a terminal apparatus and performs calibration on the plurality of antennas by receiving signals from the terminal apparatus via the plurality of antennas.
US07904113B2
A method and apparatus for providing a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) with access to at least one peripheral device, and/or at least one peripheral device associated with an available auxiliary device. The current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU are determined. The radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU is scanned to determine if there are any available wireless peripheral devices or wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU. A determination is also made as to whether there is a wired peripheral device or a wired auxiliary device available. A list of currently available peripheral devices is compiled by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device. The list is presented on the WTRU's display and a user selects at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list.
US07904109B1
The wireless communication device, which implements voice communication, which further implements a first function and a second function, wherein when the first function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of two-dimensional text images and the plurality of two-dimensional text images are displayed on the display, and when the second function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of three-dimensional graphic images and the plurality of three-dimensional graphic images are displayed on the display, and when a phone call from a specific caller is received, the wireless communication device refrains from answering the phone call.
US07904082B2
A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
US07904081B2
A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
US07904080B2
This invention generally relates to systems, methods and computer program code for monitoring digital mobile communications networks, in particular digital mobile phone networks, for purposes such as a test, trouble shooting, and evaluation of a network and its usage. A method of processing digital mobile phone network data for analysis, the method comprising: inputting network data captured from a digital mobile phone network, said network data comprising data for a plurality of communications sessions over said network, said network data including a plurality of session related parameters; inputting query data for one or more queries, a query defining a statistic relating to one or more of said parameters, to be computed from said network data; operating with said query on said captured network data to determine one or more intermediate statistics; storing said intermediate statistics in a data store for analysis; and displaying a result of said query in a Graphical User Interface (GUI), said GUI comprising a map having at least one clickable icon, said icon providing information on a result of said query from said statistic and, when clicked, the GUI providing information on data from which said statistic is computed.
US07904074B2
A system and method for the remote configuration and control of a access devices via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. The broadband access gateway may comprise a wireless interface and a broadband network connection for exchanging information via, for example, a digital subscriber loop, a cable connection, a T1 connection, and T3 network connection. A user using any of a plurality of access devices may communicate with the broadband access gateway via the wireless interface or the broadband network connection to make remote requests of another of the access devices. Such requests may comprise, for example, accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating of multimedia information. The remote requests may include enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling of smart appliances and premise systems such as, for example, security, heating, and cooling systems.
US07904069B2
The present invention provides a mobile phone remote control system, a system for programming the remote control, and methods of programming or using the remote control. The mobile phone remote control system is configured to be selectively set up or programmed using a display screen and corresponding function buttons on the remote control. The remote control system may be used to control the channel of a media device such as a television based on an icon displayed on a screen of the mobile phone. The set up process allows channel numbers to be automatically assigned based on icons selected by a user and previously identified geographic information such as a mobile phone user address postal zip code.
US07904060B2
A system for selectively providing an updated PRL to a remote wireless device reduces airtime requirements by determining the PRL to be loaded based on a collection of information relating to the wireless device. Depending upon the nature, connectivity and location of the device, the system loads a partial or full PRL, and may in certain circumstances decline to load any PRL, instead flagging the existing PRL as out-of-date.
US07904057B1
A communication system that facilitates the transmission of audio messages via dispatch communications to subscriber units as members of a distribution list. The system includes a network device (e.g., a message application server) adapted to receive a dispatch communication including an audio message from an originating subscriber unit intended for member(s) of a distribution list; post the audio message for retrieval by the members of the distribution list; send respective notifications of the posting of the audio message to the members of the distribution list; receive requests for the audio message from the members of the distribution list; and send respective dispatch communications including the audio message to the requesting members of the distribution list.
US07904056B2
Apparatus, method and system are provided for recording and reproducing audio channel signals. A processor captures the audio channel signals communicated through communication channels over a network. A circular buffer configured to store the audio channel signals captured by the processor, such that when the end of the circular buffer is reached the storing starts at a beginning of the circular buffer, is also included. An actuator actuates the processor to copy the audio channel signals stored in the circular buffer into a temporary buffer and cause the processor to reproduce the audio channel signals stored in the temporary buffer.
